The young veteran in the this video articulates far better than I could the primary reason why one should vote for John McCain in November: he has is ready to be Commander-in-Chief while Barack Obama is not. The Left is angry beyond belief that gay conservatives would support McCain, considering how the Republican candidate is an avowed supporter of such things as DADT, which Obama has promised to repeal. Yet while I would agree with high school student William Sleaster that McCain doesn’t appear to be a leader on this, such ignores the fact that as Commander-in-Chief the president is responsible not only for gay servicemembers but all of the military. McCain has been tested in battle and though such isn’t a requirement for high office, it does reveal character and an ability to lead others in a crisis. In these times of great adversity this is precisely what we need in the next President of the United States. For all of John McCain’s faults, and Lord knows there are enough, I have no doubts whatsoever that he is ready to take command of the military on Day One and has the experience necessary for the security of our country. I cannot say the same for Obama. To be perfectly honest, when I think of Obama as Commander-in-Chief I cringe and cannot help but be reminded of that infamous photo of Michael Dukakis riding in a tank: small, inadequate to the challenge and very out-of-place. It is simply not enough to favor repealing DADT to win my vote, the candidate who is best able to command straight and gay servicemembers deserves it. That candidate is not Obama. I have faint hope that McCain can be persuaded to repeal DADT by Congress, which perhaps he may do, and will continue to push for this to be done. Yet regardless of how much it pains me to put this aside, I cannot break faith with those in the institution I grew up admiring, I once served in and those in uniform I came to love and respect just for advancement on a gay rights issue that is near and dear to my heart.
— John (Average Gay Joe)