This will be an historic election. Either a black man will be president of the United States, or a woman will be vice president. And I may have voted for Barack Obama.

Yes, me, a registered Republican and supporter of McCain since before I was old enough to vote. Once a card carrying Republican who knew every local politician personally and the policies of every lawmaker that might impact my life, my views have changed.

Or not.

I have never been a one issue voter. In college while my girlfriends were rallying around pro-choice Clinton, I was "wasting" my support on Perot, because I like the idea of running your country like a business. And I wasn't as impressed with George H. W. as I would have liked.

Circa 1999, at a GOP function we (the attendees) took a quiz for fun. My quiz result read: You are fiscally conservative and socially liberal. You are a libertarian.

I was stunned.

My fellow Republicans, though slightly horrified, suggested that though I am completely immoral on issues of abortion and gay marriage, I made good points and conversation and of course voted for the GOP candidate most of the time, so they'd continue to invite me.

I supported Libby Dole in the primaries.

I like the underdog. Though it has made me no less a conservative voter. But something else was happening: the Republicans and the Democrats began to sound alike. And here we are in 2008 with both candidates accepting lobbyist money (in different forms at different levels), claiming to support the death penalty and trade with Cuba.

Calvin Woodward, of AP, sums up the candidates positions well. And for me, the place where the candidates are different is health care.

The Associated Press: Where McCain, Obama stand on the issues

HEALTH CARE

McCain: $2,500 refundable tax credit for individuals, $5,000 for families, to make health insurance more affordable. No mandate for universal coverage. Would no longer shield from income taxes those payments that businesses and their workers make toward employer-sponsored health insurance. Tax Policy Center estimates overall plan's cost at $1.3 trillion over 10 years.

Obama: Mandatory coverage for children, no mandate for adults. Aim for universal coverage by requiring employers to share costs of insuring workers and by offering coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost. Tax Policy Center estimates overall plan's cost at $1.6 trillion over 10 years.

No matter who wins, I expect Uncle Sam to stick it to me with taxes. I'm ok with taxes, if I'm getting something for my money. I am not ok with taxing employer sponsored health benefits.

And I'm not ok with Sarah Palin as Vice President. McCain is old. If he drops dead I don't want the person who becomes president to be a person who can't even manage her teenage daughter.

Yes, yes, I know that statement is going to piss people off. But that is how I feel. I know a very nice family who raised two children. One is an outstanding business woman. The other child is a criminal. It isn't their fault. I still don't want them running the country. Call me crazy. But when nuclear weapons are involved, I don't think we should take any chances.

Christine Decourlande

Cross-posted at Frog In North Georgia