As I watched McCain’s announcement for vice president, my first reaction was, “Is he serious!?” I know he is known as a political Maverick, but this move is even beyond his typical unconventional political movements.

Let me start by saying there are things that I like about Senator McCain. I feel he does tend to cross party lines in some instances. He has integrity, and his military service has been honorable. I do not think he should be the next president however because I disagree with many of his policies.

His choice for vice-president was not surprising because it was a woman, it is surprising because of the perceived motive behind it. The governor of Alaska is clearly a very intelligent woman, but I question and wonder if she is simply being used as a hand in a game of political poker.

The democrats did not purposely nominate a black man as their candidate to invoke racial sympathy, he simply won and just happened to give his speech on the anniversary of Dr. King’s memorable address. The republicans, however, perceivably chose the governor of Alaska to politically match one minority against another. It is also perceivably a pathetic attempt to woo Senator Clinton supporters with a “we have a woman too” approach.

Any moron with a sixth grade education can see through this pathetic political strategy. McCain, in my opinion, actually took the safe choice. Instead of choosing a more qualified vice-presidential candidate, he took the easy road so it would not look like the republican party is a group of old white guys. I expect more out of Senator McCain, who I like, than to not make this a closer battle. He should not have played political poker with a vice presidential choice. Choose who can help you to win, not who you feel looks like the better choice!

Even though he has played his hand, he still cannot beat the political policies, inspiration and leadership of Obama or the foreign policy experience of Biden. Senator McCain negated all of his arguments about Obama in one move and may have cost his party a true fight in this presidential race.

Pundits like Limbaugh and Hannity are only praising his choice because they want to do what they said the democrats can’t…unify the republican party. This was not a smart choice for McCain. When you take a gamble, sometimes you lose!