Mr. Kerry says over and over again that his many votes against funding for America’s military and intelligence efforts were not really votes against the military but against whatever else might have been included in the particular bill at the time. 

That argument doesn’t hold up. The decisions we make say everything about who we are as people.  Decisions define what is most important to us. 

For example:  When it came time to vote for the $87 billion Pentagon budget, Senator Kerry believed that he had to decide between making a point about taxation and voting for a bill that would supply our military with lifesaving equipment.  He decided to make the point and voted against the bill.

We all make choices…sometimes hard choices.  We must assume that when we make a choice others will evaluate us based on that choice and that others will assume that the decision reflects what is truly most important to us. 

I applaud Senator Kerry for taking a stand on what is most important to him.  Based on his decision we know that increasing taxes is more important to him than supplying our troops in Iraq.  He had every right to make that choice and he had a responsibility to himself to make that decision based on his values.

At the same time, voters have a right to know what is most important to any candidate for office.  Senator Kerry would do well to own his values, run on those values, and take his chances.  We, the voters, will make our decision based on what is most important to us.