Last modified: Saturday, October 25, 2008 11:45 PM PDT John McCain for president Arizona Sen. John McCain should be rural Eastern Oregon’s choice for president.   We’ve all heard a lot about change during the presidential election campaign.   In fact, the concept of change appears to be one of the bedrock principles of Sen. Barack Obama’s political platform.   Under close scrutiny, however, it is often hard to discern exactly what kind of change Mr. Obama is talking about and exactly what it will mean to the American people.   The wide-sweeping proclamations from the Obama camp regarding change sound good but seem to be made more of smoke than substance.   There is a lot to like about both Barack Obama and John McCain. Certainly, Mr. Obama presents a fresh, relevant political outlook to voters.   Yet the presidential campaign is not, despite what many pundits believe, a popularity contest.   The nation’s highest office demands a real leader with experience and know-how, who can demonstrate a high-level of commitment not only to the values of his own party but the ideals that made this nation great.   John McCain has confirmed he is a freethinker that refuses to be painted into a political corner regarding high-profile issues.   He acts like a true steward of the people by following his heart and making decisions for the greater whole.   McCain has consistently optimized his political talents to get things done. He has completed this task not by adhering to often mindless party dogma but by prudent, enlightened actions with Republicans and Democrats.   McCain proved in such high-intensity political battles as immigration that he is willing to work across party lines to develop a clear and concise compromise to help, not hurt, the nation.   While we are impressed with Sen. Obama, in the end, we still see far too many mainline liberal ideals in his policies and programs.   John McCain has a solid conservative record and a track record of political bartering and insight key for any president.   Finally, John McCain far outdistances Sen. Obama when it comes to experience. He is an old warrior, true, but he is a fighter honed by the Cold War and his experience as a POW and years in the United States Senate.   Once one sifts through the political smoke in this election, it is clear that John McCain has the skill, the determination and the enthusiastic spirit to be our next president.   Vote John McCain for president.