Frank Schaeffer: I'm outta here!
The novelist Frank Schaeffer is a pro-military Christian conservative, and a Republican, but he was so infuriated by George Allen's attack on James Webb for the racy passage in a Webb novel that ... well, read for yourself:
I just got back from a visit to Parris Island and was struck again – as I was on the proud day of my son's boot camp graduation there as a Marine in 1999 – by the moral credibility of the drill instructors and selflessness of the recruits.
Our political leaders should learn from them. In fact, our future leaders should be them. We need to compare today's leaders to those of the past, who earned credibility beyond the reach of cynicism and irony – and cheap smear tactics.
People like Mr. McCain – who is "for" the war in Iraq – and Mr. Webb – who is "against" the war – should be respected no matter one's politics or ideas about the war. Why? Because they paid their dues.
My wife and I have reached the tipping point. We plan to go to town hall to dump our Republican voter registration and reregister as independents. I don't care anymore what party someone is in. These days, what I care about is what they're made of.
THE WHOLE COLUMN IS LINKED FROM THE POST IN THIS BLOG
http://www.beliefnet.com/blogs/crunchycon/2006/11/frank-schaeffer-im-outta-here.html