Palin Writes Op-Ed in Support of McCain

I'm sure some on the Right are going to hate this. I'm not a big fan of it myself. I don't have much time for McCain. But if anybody, like Rush Limbaugh, honestly think that Sarah Palin is only supporting McCain because she has to, they're wrong.

She has consistently voiced her love and loyalty to him, even in the midst of the ridiculousness of the campaign leaks from staffers. I think it boils down to what she said in this interview with John Ziegler at about 5:30. He's a war hero. That's what she sees. You'll never catch her saying anything bad about him:

Palin is much more gracious and big-hearted than I.

In the Arizona Republic:

It was one of my life's greatest privileges to serve as Sen. John McCain's running mate on the 2008 Republican ticket as he sought to lead us as president of the United States. And it's an honor to stand beside him now as he runs for re-election to the United States Senate.

Long before the summer of 2008, I respected the man known as the "maverick of the Senate." From up in the Last Frontier state, I'd watched with deep admiration as he fought tirelessly against wasteful spending and corruption. I was inspired by his willingness to buck his political party - and even his president - to do what he believed was right for this country. And as the mother of a son who would soon deploy to Iraq, I took comfort in the knowledge that Sen. McCain was there to ensure our men and women in uniform had the strategy, resources and unwavering support they needed to complete their mission.

In the campaign, I got a chance to see up close the qualities I'd long admired from afar. As we traveled across the country, I got to know John McCain personally. He's a man of faith, a man of honor and - most of all - a man of the people. He's deeply devoted to his state; the patriotic, hard-working Arizonans who call it home; and the founding principles they hold dear.

The desire to serve his fellow citizens has defined Sen. McCain's entire career - and it's been tested in ways that few can imagine. As a young man, he went to war to fight for our freedom. He was captured, tortured and held in a lonely cell far from home as an American prisoner of war. When his captors offered early release, he refused, insisting instead that his fellow POWs be released in the order they were captured. It was the honorable, brave and heroic thing to do. It was a sacrifice that cost him nearly six years of his life.

As a young congressman, John was a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution. He knew even then that Washington was broken, and he set out to fix it. Since those early days in Congress, he's led the charge against earmarks and pork-barrel spending. He's been a strong advocate for the Second Amendment and has pursued an "all-of-the-above approach" for meeting our energy needs. And he's worked to create a culture that values innocent human life in every way, at every stage.

When it comes to issues of war and peace, Sen. McCain has been a leading voice in the most important national-security debates of our time. When many in Washington wanted to cut and run in Iraq, Sen. McCain championed the surge. When people pointed out that this position might cost him the presidency, he told them that was fine; he'd rather lose an election than lose a war.

It's that kind of courage that makes John one of the finest public servants this country has ever known. A man of principle, he's not afraid to take tough positions, and he doesn't shy away from a fight. He's not worried about what's popular or partisan or personally advantageous. He's guided only by a desire to do what's right for the people he serves and the country he loves.

After the 2008 campaign, Sen. McCain didn't miss a beat. Since November 2008, he's introduced 15 bills and hundreds of amendments. He's leading the loyal opposition in Congress against a misguided agenda that is making us less secure, putting us further into debt, and making us more beholden to foreign regimes.

When the Obama administration proposed a nearly trillion-dollar stimulus bill, Sen. McCain gave them a little straight talk. He told them that bill was generational theft and voted "no."

When the president began to waver on Afghanistan, John knew our men and women in uniform deserved better. He asked the president to listen to the advice of his commanders on the ground.

When it came to "Obamacare," Sen. McCain stood up and spoke out against this government takeover of one-sixth of our economy. And he told the president that transparency in the legislative process must be more than just a campaign promise.

That's the kind of leadership we need if we're going to turn today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities. In 2008, I firmly believed that John McCain was the right man for America. Today, I know he's the right man for Arizona. Your state deserves more than rhetoric; you deserve a leader with a real record of accomplishment. That's why, on behalf of Sen. McCain, I'm asking for your vote. For the good of our entire country and the future of your state, please send John McCain back to the United States Senate.

- Sarah Palin