posted March 27, 2008
At this point in campaign '08, it should be apparent that of the three major candidates, Barack Obama is the one you can safely trust. If you have been watching the news of late, you would realize that Hillary Clinton either has a terrible problem with memory, or is at odds with the truth. It seems to me that to trust Clinton with greater responsibility of the public welfare than she currently has, is nothing short of a departure from sanity. She is in this race for Hillary Clinton, not for you and me.
Barack Obama is the candidate who, after college, went to Chicago's southside to help Chicago's urban poor, while Hillary took a high salaried position with a law firm. People make choices, and it has been Obama's choices that clearly set him apart from Ms. Clinton. He chose and still chooses to remain a congregant of Trinity United Church of Christ. The former pastor, Rev. Wright, made comments, which, when viewed out of context, could seem unsettling. There has been much learned discussion from blacks and whites concerning his remarks. These discussions have shed a greater light of understanding on them. Bottom line, Barack Obama is not the summation of his church, nor the church the summation of Barack Obama.
As for Sen. McCain, I have always had a bit of respect for the guy, but the recent reports concerning cozy relationships with a wide range of lobbyists have left a dark cloud over his candidacy. I just wish the media would pay a bit more attention to these relationships, because as I often suspect, "where there's smoke, there's fire." If the majority of voters desire a government less influenced by lobbyists and special interests, and more influenced by the wishes of the majority, then a vote for McCain is a vote to be mired in the past. This "more of the same" includes the standard fear mongering that was seen as successful in 2004. Both McCain and Clinton have played and will continue to play this card in an appeal to this most basic of instincts. If we continue policies based on fear, either real or perceived, I think we will lose opportunities to truly change the direction of this country and change lives for the better.
Barack Obama is setting the bar much higher than we have seen in a long time. He combines a lofty, yet attainable, vision with concrete plans and goals to reach that vision. Clinton and McCain offer no vision, and plans that are more of the same. I don't know about you, but the last seven-year nightmare tells me that a new vision for this country is long overdue.
Jeff Campbell
Lookout Mountain
* * *
1. He voted against banning partial birth abortion.
2. He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
3. Supports affirmative action in colleges and government.
4. In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing.
5. Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as minimum wage affair.
6. Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college.
7. His religious convictions are very murky.
8. He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
9. Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations.
10. Opposed the Patriot Act.
11. First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.
12. Voted no on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
13. Supports universal health-care.
14. Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
15. Supports granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
16. Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
17. Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
18. Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
19. Wants to make the minimum wage a "living wage."
20. Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes.
21. Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
22. Opposed to any efforts to privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid.
23. He voted no on repealing the alternative minimum tax
24. He voted no on repealing the death tax
25. He wants to raise the capital gains tax.
26. Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded.
27. He is ranked as the most liberal senator in the Senate today, and that takes some doing.
Mike Dobbs
* * *
Mr. Dobbs - thank you for bringing up a lot of information on Obama that I'm sure many people - myself included - were not aware of.
The main reason I think he is by far the worst of the three front-runners is that I just can't get past his using the Koran for his swearing in ceremony. That's all the information I needed to know that he's not the candidate for me, nor for this country.
T. Cantrell
ms_sandypaws@yahoo.com
* * *
I sincerely hope Chattanoogan.com will rush to correct the disinformation from Ms. Cantrell that Obama took his oath of office on the Koran. That's untrue. I'm not saying this as an Obama supporter. I'm saying this because the gentleman has been deceived and is spreading disinformation.
As for what book officials swear on it may as well be Sports Illustrated. Every corrupt official we've ever had swore on the Holy Bible to uphold his office. So, I think we can all see that swearing on the Bible has no real meaning whatsoever. Proof is in the pudding there.
David Saluk
* * *
Ms. Cantrell – Sen. Obama was sworn in using a Bible, not the Koran. You may have lots of reasons to vote against him, but this should not be one of them. It’s a lie that was created on right wing talk radio.
If you look this up on Google you will find numerous references proving this statement is untrue.
Also, in case you were wondering, he is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian, and he was not educated in a madrassa.
Robert Pregulman
Seattle, Wash.
* * *
Some time ago I griped about my missing "Obama" yard signs. I stated the larcenous acts simply illustrated the race facet of the current political climate.
The blathering about Obama and his use of the Koran bears witness to my claim.
Robin R. Flores
* * *
I thought I heard that Snopes.com had shown the Koran information to be false. But even with that said, very little has been talked about concerning his past influences besides his pastor; we all know how that one went. I understand his mother was an avowed communist, and was a member of the Communist USA party. Also, the man he gives credit for being one of his earliest influences was his mothers friend who was the head of the Communist USA party. It has also been said that he always gravitated to his socialist/communist professors in college, as did Hilary Clinton as well.
Everything he says about uniting seems to me to mean more "big government" programs, higher taxes, and more intrusion into our lives by "big brother." How can he unite the country given the above list that shows he is the most liberal in the Senate and didn't one time step across the isle to compromise on ANY legislation?
Also, given the church that he chose to support and attend for 20 years, how can he be a legitimate candidate to heal the racial divide? It wasn't an "old pastor" that is just showing his anger from the things he has experienced in the past. Jeremiah Wright grew up in a very affluent neighborhood, and attended the best schools. It was a church full of younger members that were on their feet with their hands raised in the air, affirming everything he was saying. Next time you see he video tape on the news, watch everyone in the background and you will see nothing but support and praise for all the hideous lies he told.
Funny thing is, we heard so much about Oprah's support for Obama until this problem surfaced about his pastor. I guess the fact that Oprah resigned when she heard what was being spewed by this reverend, caused her to keep a lower profile. I also understand she was publicly castigated by the reverend once she left. And if any Republican had ever been seated next to David Duke he would never be able to hold public office; yet every black preacher or Democratic spokesman is all over the news telling us, including Obama, that this was a 30 second clip and is not representative of 30 years of preaching... yeah and I have some land to sell you too. This is the church that just gave a lifetime award to Louis Farrakan. Now here is someone we need having a friend in the White House.
Keith Roberts
* * *
With respect to Ms. Cantrell's message, I'd politely suggest she reevaluate all the information she needed to know about Barack Obama - that he used the Koran for his swearing in ceremony - because that did not happen. Obama, being a Christian, took the oath of office using his own Bible. Although the first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, was elected a few years ago and he did place his hand on a copy of the Koran for the ceremony. They're actually sworn in all together, then there's a little individual ceremony for photo taking and such. Anyway, that stuff about Obama and the Koran isn't true.
And about Mr. Dobbs' list, most of it appears to be header items from a website called on the issues, a website with information, quotes and fact checking of the various candidates including Senators McCain and Clinton.
However, I'd suggest anyone go there directly as some of these might be a little misleading by themselves - intended or not. For instance, Mr. Dobbs writes "4. In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing." On the website itself, it's followed by: "In 2001, Obama questioned the harsh penalties for drug dealing, noting that selling 15 tablets of ecstasy was the same class of felony as raping a woman at knifepoint." And although I found no mention on the site that Sen. Obama's religious beliefs were murky, I'm confident in saying that they are in fact not murky.
John Jones
Chattanooga
* * *
In response to Mr. Dobbs' and Mr. Cantrell's letters:
1. He voted against banning partial birth abortion.
2. He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
Abortion; the single-issue voter's issue number one. If anyone feels banning all abortion is the only federal government priority, then, by all means, oppose Mr. Obama's candidacy because he does not share your view or myopia on this issue. Abortion is a question where generalist legislative dictates simply cannot foresee, weigh, and account for all potential circumstances. In addition, the criminalization of abortion will not cease its practice. To think so is delusional. Legal, safe, and rare abortion is easily the best and most attainable goal in this issue.
3. Supports affirmative action in colleges and government.
As a majority citizen, I have concerns about non-merit based quotas. But, I also recognize this country's historic and pervasive affliction with racism. The ideal is equality. But we all know we have not achieved that ideal. I consider the strength of Mr. Obama's candidacy to be evidence that these stains are fading and I hope the concept of affirmative action will become truly unsupportable.
4. In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing.
And our courts decided the formerly disparate criminal penalties applied to crack verses powder cocaine were unfair and changed them. So, from my read, Mr. Obama was correct in this politically risky stance. I want political leadership, not poll-driven animals of popularity.
5. Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as minimum wage affair.
I do not understand this assertion. Drug dealing and income level, Mr. Dobbs lost me on this one.
6. Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college.
And? What is the point? If someone's vision of lifetime moral perfection is required for political office then very few, if any of us, meet this ideal. I, for one, appreciate truthful admissions of human frailty in their life story. I value the fresh air of personal integrity instead of lingering, unresolved, and unaddressed rumors of past problems and preferential treatment.
7. His religious convictions are very murky.
Murky? Has Mr. Dobbs been listening to what Mr. Obama says? Mr. Obama has made his religious convictions quite clear unless you think he is a liar. Anyway, the Constitution dictates no religious test for the office Mr. Obama seeks. If Mr. Dobbs wants to personally apply one, that is his right, but his bigotry means nothing to most other voters so he should keep it to himself.
8. He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
9. Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations.
And the American policy stance of isolation, ignorance, and aggression has produced what? Fear, resentment, and violence. If anyone considers that good enough, fine. It is not good enough for me or my children.
10. Opposed the Patriot Act.
And in his opposition is directly in line with the tenets of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments to the Constitution. The point?
11. First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.
Senators do not sign bills. On the issue, if anyone contends that the co-option of our political system by corporate and special interest groups is acceptable and meets the smell test of a representative form of government, I respectfully disagree. I do not equate political money with speech because money introduces inequality, a fundamental contravention to democracy.
12. Voted no on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
American jurisprudence is based upon that idea that each case is judged on its specific merits. Blanket grants of immunity for anyone or any enterprise is extremely dangerous and often abused.
13. Supports universal health-care.
The American healthcare finance system is in shambles and spends far more money for less effective care than most countries that have some form of government-managed healthcare. Healthcare's double digit inflation is as unsustainable as the double digit appreciation of real estate values was. It has become obvious that healthcare finance needs fundamental change and I, for one, welcome a discussion of the options. Sticking our heads in the sand is not a viable option to this impending crisis.
14. Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
Thus supporting an almost universal ideal that civilized governments do not deny the basic human right of having fair and open legal proceedings. This ideal predates the formation of the United States by over 500 years.
15. Supports granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
16. Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
17. Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
18. Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
Immigration reform has been addressed with numerous proposals. These four sound bites could probably be applied to the vast majority of Congress and therefore, mean nothing. There are real policy differences on this issue, but each candidate's immigration policy needs to be discussed in detail, not distilled into some politically volatile charges based upon selected portions of the Congressional record.
19. Wants to make the minimum wage a "living wage."
And? Please tell me why anyone rejects this idea. I am betting the logic is straight from the scripts of the Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity show. Can we not all agree that anyone who works a full-time job should receive wages that allow them to provide for themselves?
20. Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes.
And? He is a Democrat. But, according to these numbers, he disagreed with his party's position on about 10 votes. What were those votes?
21. Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
As were the founding fathers. That's why they wrote it into the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.
22. Opposed to any efforts to privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid.
President Bush's Social Security privatization program signified the end of the program if it were adopted. Period. Anyone with a lick of sense knows something needs to be done about Social Security finances. But, do we really want to end this program and neglect the societal promise we made to ourselves so many years ago that no citizen of this country should either freeze or starve to death. From a politically opposite perspective, do we really want the largest holder of private assets to be a U.S. government administered and mandated retirement program? From either perspective, privatization is a bad idea and that is why it never gained any political traction.
23. He voted no on repealing the alternative minimum tax.
The AMT must be dealt with, everyone knows that. But what particular proposal is the Mr. Dobbs referring to? I am sure every Congressman is on record as having voted against one of the many AMT repeal/reduction/reformation proposals that were floated over the past couple of years.
24. He voted no on repealing the death tax.
What a great name - "The Death Tax." So many have swallowed the Kool-aid on this one. Dead people do not pay taxes. Why would they care anyway? The heirs pay this tax, which is a graduated capital gains tax on the deceased's assets' accumulated passive earnings. And, there is a multi-million dollar exclusion. When Warren Buffet and many other super-rich support the Estate Tax, it makes one wonder why Joe Six-Pack (who the tax will never apply to) gets up in arms over it. Good political marketing makes an issue that, in reality is not important, an issue that sways votes. So many have been duped.
25. He wants to raise the capital gains tax.
Is it wrong to tax passive income at or above the level we tax earned, or actually worked for, income? Should a person that works for $10 pay more in income tax than the person who makes $10 by selling a share of stock?
26. Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded.
The advertised reason for the surge was to allow the Iraqi government some breathing room to make the political progress necessary to make the state viable. The Iraqi government has made nowhere near the progress needed. Therefore, for all practical purposes, the surge has failed and it joins the huge heap of mistakes and failures the current administration has had in this seemingly never-ending debacle. And, before anyone gets on their patriotic high horse, I served for 20 years as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
27. He is ranked as the most liberal senator in the Senate today, and that takes some doing.
Using perceptively derogatory names adds nothing to political debate and is akin to saying "Liar! Liar! Pants on fire." The terms "liberal" and "conservative" mean nothing now because they have become undefined. Most thoughtful people stopped using these terms in political discourse years ago.
From Mr. Cantrell:
The main reason I think he is by far the worst of the three front-runners is that I just can't get past his using the Koran for his swearing in ceremony.
Factually and indisputably false. Is Mr. Cantrell purposefully spreading lies?
Patrick McFadden
mcfaddenpj@comcast.net
Signal Mountain
* * *
I understand that Obama claims he is a Christian, however, his "fruit" is missing. The Bible states in Matthew 7:16 that you shall know them by their fruit. What kind of Christian supports abortion, stem cell research, and homosexuality to the extent he does?
Check out his voting record on these issues. Just because one says that they are a Christian is nothing if their actions prove otherwise.
Seriously people, are you that easily deceived? Wake up.
Alecia Ott
Signal Mountain
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