This message below was written by an Obama Campaign worker and was originally posted at http://www.lynettelong.com/ It is interesting to me that despite hundereds of people viewing this post in the last two days, there has been no comment from Obama workers on the content of her message.
"After a long and careful consideration of all the implications and possible consequences of my actions today, I have decided to go through with this in the hope that our country can indeed be guided into the right direction.
"First, a little personal background… I am a female grad student in my 20’s, and a registered Democrat. During the primaries, I was a campaign worker for the Clinton candidacy. I believed in her and still do, staying all the way to the bitter end. And believe me, it was bitter. The snippets you’ve heard from various media outlets only grazed the surface. There was no love between the Clinton and Obama campaigns, and these feelings extended all the way to the top. Hillary was no dope though, and knew that any endorsement of Obama must appear to be a full-fledged one. She did this out of political survival. As a part of his overall effort to extend an olive branch to the Clinton camp and her supporters, Obama took on a few Hillary staff members into his campaign. I was one such worker. Though I was still bitterly loyal to Hillary, I still held out hope that he would choose her as VP. In fact, there was a consensus among us transplants that in the end, he HAD to choose her. It was the only logical choice. I also was committed to the Democratic cause and without much of a second thought, transferred my allegiance to Senator Obama.
"I’m going to let you in on a few secrets here, and this is not because I enjoy the gossip or the attention directed my way. I’m doing this because I doubt much of you know the true weaknesses of Obama. Another reason for my doing this is that I am lost faith in this campaign, and feel that this choice has been forced on many people in this country. Put simply, you are being manipulated. That was and is our job – to manipulate you (the electorate) and the media (we already had them months ago). Our goal is to create chaos with the other side, not hope. I’ve come to the realization (as the campaign already has) that if this comes to the issues, Barack Obama doesn’t have a chance. His only chance is to foster disorganization, chaos, despair, and a sense of inevitability among the Republicans. It has worked up until now. Joe the Plumber has put the focus on the issues again, and this scares us more than anything. Being in a position to know these things, I will rate what the Obama campaign already knows are their weak links from the most important on down.
"1 – Hillary voters. Internal polling suggests that at best, we are taking 70-75% of these voters. Other estimates are as low as 60% in some areas – particularly Ohio and western PA. My biggest problem with this campaign’s strategy was the decision NOT to offer Hillary the VP slot. She was ready and able to take this on, and would have campaigned enthusiastically for it. This selection would have also brought virtually all of her supporters into the fold, and the Obama campaign knew it. Though I have no way of knowing this for certain, and I do admit that I am relying on internal gossip, Senator Obama actually went against the advice of his top advisors. They wanted him to choose her, but the only significant opposition to this within the campaign came from Barack and Michelle Obama. In short, he let personal feelings take precedence over what was the most logical thing to do. Biden, by the way, has been a disaster inside the campaign. Everyone cringes whenever he gives an interview, and he creates so many headaches as the campaign has to stay on their toes in order to disseminate information and spin whatever it was he was trying to say.
"2 – Sarah Palin. Don’t believe what the media is telling you about how horrible a choice she was. Again, our internal polling suggest that though she has had a minimal impact on pulling disaffected Hillary Democrats to McCain, she has done wonders in mobilizing the base for McCain. Another thing – we were completely taken by surprise with her pick. In my capacity in the research department, I looked into the backgrounds of Leiberman, Romney, Pawlenty and Ridge, and prepared briefs. I don’t mind bragging that we had pretty good stuff on all of them. With Leiberman, the plan was to paint him as an erratic old-timer who didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing (pretty much a clone of McCain). In Romney, we had him pegged as an evil capitalist who cut jobs. Pawlenty was going to get the “Quayle treatment”, or more precisely: a pretty face, with no valid experience. Tom Ridge was going to be used to provide a direct link from McCain to Bush. As you can see, we were quite enamored of all of them. Then the unexpected happened – Sarah Palin. We had no clue as to how to handle her, and bungled it from the start. Though through our misinformation networks, we have successfully taken some of the shine off. But let there be no doubt. She remains a major obstacle. She has singlehanded solidified “soft” Republican support, mobilized the McCain ground game, and has even had some appeal to independents and Hillary voters. This is what our internal polling confirms.
"3 – Obama’s radical connections. Standards operating procedure has been to cry “racism” whenever one of these has been brought up. We even have a detailed strategy ready to go should McCain ever bring Rev. Wright up. Though by themselves they are of minimal worth, taken together, Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Father Pfelger, and now, Rashid Khalili, are exactly what the campaign does not need. The more focus on them, the more this election becomes a referendum on Obama. The campaign strategy from the very beginning was to make this election a referendum on Bush. Strategists have been banging their head on how successfully McCain has distanced himself from Bush. This has worked, and right now the tide is in his favor. People are taking a new look at Barack Obama, and our experience when this happens tells us this is not good news at all. When they take a look at him, one or more of these names are bound to be brought up. McCain has wisely not harped on this in recent weeks and let voters decide for themselves. This was a trap we set for him, and he never fully took the bait. Senator Obama openly dared him to bring up Ayers. This was not due to machismo on the part of Obama, but actually due to campaign strategy. Though McCain’s reference to Ayers fell flat in the last debate, people in the Obama campaign were actually disappointed that he didn’t follow through on it more and getting into it. Our focus groups found this out: When McCain brings these connections up, voters are turned off to him. They’d rather take this into consideration themselves, and when this happens, our numbers begin to tank.
"4 – The Bradley Effect. Don’t believe these polls for a second. I just went over our numbers and found that we have next to no chance in the following states: Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Nevada. Ohio leans heavily to McCain, but is too close to call it for him. Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Mexico and Iowa are the true “toss up states”. The only two of these the campaign feels “confident” in are Iowa and New Mexico. The reason for such polling discrepancy is the Bradley Effect, and this is a subject of much discussion in the campaign. In general, we tend to take a -10 point percentage in allowing for this, and are not comfortable until the polls give us a spread well over this mark. This is why we are still campaigning in Virginia and Pennsylvania! This is why Ohio is such a desperate hope for us! What truly bothers this campaign is the fact that some pollsters get up to an 80% “refuse to respond” result. You can’t possibly include these into the polls. The truth is, people are afraid to let people know who they are voting for. The vast majority of these respondents are McCain supporters. Obama is the “hip” choice, and we all know it.
"As part of my research duties, I scour right wing blogs and websites to get somewhat of a “feel” as to what is being talked about on the other side. Much of it is nonsense, but there are some exceptions which give the campaign jitters. A spirited campaign has been made to infiltrate many pro-Hillary sites and discredit them. A more disorganized, but genuine effort has also been made to sow doubts among the unapologetically right wing sites such as redstate.com. Don’t you guys get it? This has been the Obama campaign’s sole strategy from the very beginning! The only way he wins is over a dispirited, disorganized, and demobilized opposition. This is how it has been for all of his campaigns. What surprises me is that everyone has fallen for it. You may point to the polls as proof of the inevitability of all of this. If so, you have fallen for the oldest trick in the book. How did we skew these polls, you might ask? It all starts with the media “buzz” which has been generated over the campaign. Many stories are generated on the powerful Obama ground game, and how many new voters were registered. None of this happens by coincidence. It is all part of the poll-skewing process. This makes pollsters change their mixes to reflect these new voters and tilt the mix more towards Democratic voters. What is not mentioned or reported on is not the “under-reported cell phone users or young voters” we hear so much about. What is underreported is you.
"changed my somewhat positive opinion of this campaign during the unfair and sexist campaign against Sarah Palin. I will never agree with her on the issues and will probably never vote for her, but I am embarrassed of what has happened. I can’t ignore our own hand in all of this. What I do know is that I will not be voting for Obama this time around. Treat that as you will. "
http://www.lynettelong.com/
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/anon...-know-in-this/
Showing posts with label Senator Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Barack Obama. Show all posts
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Obama is Truly Scary
This is all getting so insane. It's terrifying. What is the Obama campaign doing?
Is the country supposed to shut down because Obama is calling a work strike for his supporters - for the sake of winning? What's going on here? This man is really scaring me more and more every day. If this is the control he is having right now - I'm really scared about what types of things he will push as president. He does appear to think he's above it all.
At the very least, he's a salesman making empty campaign promises for things he can't fulfill because there is no money to do it with. I don't like that, but I could endure it if that were the only thing to be concerned about.
But I am concerned about more. He says he's going to "change" not only America, but the entire world. That makes him pretty scary. I kind of doubt that every country wants him to be their president; to take a leadership roll in the direction their country goes or laws their country passes. (although it seems several would love to see him as a world leader.)
But what makes it particularly scary is that it appears he really does think he has the power to change the world. The power to change people. Yet half of us, and many in the world, don't want him to change us. So...there would be only one way to make his opponents submit to his vision. Many dictators, intent on making changes their opponents don't like, have used scary methods to make those changes.
I do fear a man that is comfortable around people that are comfortable with murder. I do fear a man that talks about changing America and changing the world, although half of Americans don't believe the way he does on the issues. How will he change the Americans that oppose him? How will he change the minds and behavior of me, my family and our friends?
Either "change" in America is an empty campaign promise, or he intends to hurt me. Not sure what form that hurt will take or if it will take more than one form. But that's the way I perceive it.
He's a really scary person.
Is the country supposed to shut down because Obama is calling a work strike for his supporters - for the sake of winning? What's going on here? This man is really scaring me more and more every day. If this is the control he is having right now - I'm really scared about what types of things he will push as president. He does appear to think he's above it all.
At the very least, he's a salesman making empty campaign promises for things he can't fulfill because there is no money to do it with. I don't like that, but I could endure it if that were the only thing to be concerned about.
But I am concerned about more. He says he's going to "change" not only America, but the entire world. That makes him pretty scary. I kind of doubt that every country wants him to be their president; to take a leadership roll in the direction their country goes or laws their country passes. (although it seems several would love to see him as a world leader.)
But what makes it particularly scary is that it appears he really does think he has the power to change the world. The power to change people. Yet half of us, and many in the world, don't want him to change us. So...there would be only one way to make his opponents submit to his vision. Many dictators, intent on making changes their opponents don't like, have used scary methods to make those changes.
I do fear a man that is comfortable around people that are comfortable with murder. I do fear a man that talks about changing America and changing the world, although half of Americans don't believe the way he does on the issues. How will he change the Americans that oppose him? How will he change the minds and behavior of me, my family and our friends?
Either "change" in America is an empty campaign promise, or he intends to hurt me. Not sure what form that hurt will take or if it will take more than one form. But that's the way I perceive it.
He's a really scary person.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Joe the Plummer is a Regular Guy -
Sad that the media went digging for dirt on this poor guy. Sadder still that some self-righteous bloggers are pretending that they've never had dreams or gotten behind on their bills.
I, just like Joe, am dreaming about buying a business, so I was interested in Joe's question and Obama's answer. I, just like Joe, have also gotten behind on my taxes in past years. In my case it was property taxes. All this proves is that taxes are too high for struggling families. Did I expect my neighbor to jump in and pay it for me? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We found ways to pay our own bills.
Contrary to what Obama states in his "spread the wealth" plan, taxes need to be lowered for EVERYONE and government reduced. I don't want other people's wealth. I want the room to grow myself. Businesses need a chance to thrive in order for everyone to benefit.
Leave poor Joe alone. He's just an average guy who I'd like to thank for having the guts to ask Obama the question he'd asked. It helped us all a lot to hear Obama's plan for "spreading the wealth."
I, just like Joe, am dreaming about buying a business, so I was interested in Joe's question and Obama's answer. I, just like Joe, have also gotten behind on my taxes in past years. In my case it was property taxes. All this proves is that taxes are too high for struggling families. Did I expect my neighbor to jump in and pay it for me? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We found ways to pay our own bills.
Contrary to what Obama states in his "spread the wealth" plan, taxes need to be lowered for EVERYONE and government reduced. I don't want other people's wealth. I want the room to grow myself. Businesses need a chance to thrive in order for everyone to benefit.
Leave poor Joe alone. He's just an average guy who I'd like to thank for having the guts to ask Obama the question he'd asked. It helped us all a lot to hear Obama's plan for "spreading the wealth."
Cuss Whites & Palin; but Don't You Dare Say Anything About Obama
It's okay to call Governor Palin anything you want. Swear at her, mock her voice, her hair, her ideas, husband and her children. Slander her church, ridicule Alaska, call her supporters white trash. Accuse her husband of incest, tell everyone she is an unfit mother, make sexual innuendos about her and her family, paste photo-shopped porn images all over the internet.
The left has called her every name in the book, made every derogatory gesture possible, and even worn T-shirts calling her the "C" word. But don't you dare say anything in support of her or you'll get the same. And don't you ever, ever dare say anything negative about Senator Obama.
Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have all given warning that Senator Obama might not view non-blacks in an equal and just manner. Relationships with Bill Ayers, Acorn and Tony Rezco have also warned us that Senator Obama might use corrupt methods to obtain his objectives. But don't you dare think any of it might be true, and heaven help you if you talk to anyone about it.
No one has published photos of Michelle Obama in lewd poses. No one has been reported to have worn a T-shirt calling Senator Obama the "N" word, but that hasn't stopped the left from insinuating its opposition are all nothing but "R" words. Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have each insinuated that all white people are inherently racists and most especially those that disagree with the left. Even Democratic Rep. John Murtha said the other day; "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." Michelle Obama is reported to have said last week, “African Press International is supposed to support Africans and African-American view. It is strange that API has chosen to support the racists against my husband."
When I first became a member of an inter-racial family almost 30 years ago, I was initially surprised by the amount of racism coming from extended family members across the kitchen table. Because whites that are the ones primarily accused of racism, I had assumed that minorities must be relatively free of bigotry and very attuned to equality and justice. I was wrong. In all my years, other than one neighbor two doors down, I had never heard bigotry from the mouths of my white family and friends. The biggest surprise for me with my new in-laws was the hate generated toward other minorities - more so than toward whites. But in either case, it was very disturbing. Not everyone at the kitchen table was filled with that hate and rage, but I am no longer naive. It's a real issue.
However, racism from the Obama camp isn't the only disturbing issue. The way the left treats Governor Palin is mind-boggling. Few on the left have stood up in her defense. The main stream media says nothing about the terrible way she is being treated. Why are these people acting so horribly? Her politics, spirituality and way of life are nothing new under the sun. A large percentage of our nation agree with her and live their life very similar to hers. So what is all of this hatred really about? Why are these people so afraid of Governor Palin?
And why are so many NOT afraid of Senator Obama? Acorn and Ayers are not non-issues. They are warnings. When Obama talks about change, he really means it. Only most of his supporters haven't clued in to what that change might actually be. Dr. Corsi, author of the "Obama Nation," was recently arrested in Kenya where he was scheduled to hold a press conference by invitation of missionaries in the area. No documented word yet on why he was arrested. (He has since been released.) We know it was said that he didn't have a work permit, but many have gone to Kenya to minister at evangelical churches and camps for short periods of time - two weeks to a month - without a work permit, including our own pastor several times.
For those who wish to pull out worn arguments that Troopergate and the Keating Affair are worse than any of Senator Obama's associations, please don't bother.
I agree with Tucker Bounds, spokesman for Senator McCain, who said, “Americans need to ask themselves if they’ve ever befriended an unrepentant terrorist, or had a convicted felon help them buy their house — because those aren’t smears, those are true facts about Barack Obama.”
The left has called her every name in the book, made every derogatory gesture possible, and even worn T-shirts calling her the "C" word. But don't you dare say anything in support of her or you'll get the same. And don't you ever, ever dare say anything negative about Senator Obama.
Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have all given warning that Senator Obama might not view non-blacks in an equal and just manner. Relationships with Bill Ayers, Acorn and Tony Rezco have also warned us that Senator Obama might use corrupt methods to obtain his objectives. But don't you dare think any of it might be true, and heaven help you if you talk to anyone about it.
No one has published photos of Michelle Obama in lewd poses. No one has been reported to have worn a T-shirt calling Senator Obama the "N" word, but that hasn't stopped the left from insinuating its opposition are all nothing but "R" words. Jesse Jackson, Pastor Wright, Michelle Obama, and Louis Farrakhan have each insinuated that all white people are inherently racists and most especially those that disagree with the left. Even Democratic Rep. John Murtha said the other day; "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." Michelle Obama is reported to have said last week, “African Press International is supposed to support Africans and African-American view. It is strange that API has chosen to support the racists against my husband."
When I first became a member of an inter-racial family almost 30 years ago, I was initially surprised by the amount of racism coming from extended family members across the kitchen table. Because whites that are the ones primarily accused of racism, I had assumed that minorities must be relatively free of bigotry and very attuned to equality and justice. I was wrong. In all my years, other than one neighbor two doors down, I had never heard bigotry from the mouths of my white family and friends. The biggest surprise for me with my new in-laws was the hate generated toward other minorities - more so than toward whites. But in either case, it was very disturbing. Not everyone at the kitchen table was filled with that hate and rage, but I am no longer naive. It's a real issue.
However, racism from the Obama camp isn't the only disturbing issue. The way the left treats Governor Palin is mind-boggling. Few on the left have stood up in her defense. The main stream media says nothing about the terrible way she is being treated. Why are these people acting so horribly? Her politics, spirituality and way of life are nothing new under the sun. A large percentage of our nation agree with her and live their life very similar to hers. So what is all of this hatred really about? Why are these people so afraid of Governor Palin?
And why are so many NOT afraid of Senator Obama? Acorn and Ayers are not non-issues. They are warnings. When Obama talks about change, he really means it. Only most of his supporters haven't clued in to what that change might actually be. Dr. Corsi, author of the "Obama Nation," was recently arrested in Kenya where he was scheduled to hold a press conference by invitation of missionaries in the area. No documented word yet on why he was arrested. (He has since been released.) We know it was said that he didn't have a work permit, but many have gone to Kenya to minister at evangelical churches and camps for short periods of time - two weeks to a month - without a work permit, including our own pastor several times.
For those who wish to pull out worn arguments that Troopergate and the Keating Affair are worse than any of Senator Obama's associations, please don't bother.
1. The Troopergate ethics inquiry concluded that Palin was 'proper and lawful' in firing a state commissioner - but failed to keep her husband from meddling in the trooper's discipline. There is nothing wrong with an administrator releasing those that don't work well with the administration, or worse still, those who might be a danger to the public.
2. McCain was also cleared of impropriety for the Keating Affair.
3. Four of the Keating five were Democrats. But in fact, there was really only a "Keating Three," because both McCain and John Glenn were actually held blameless. Later, Robert Bennett, Chief Counsel to the Democrats during the investigation, repeatedly said that McCain should not have been included in the investigation. He said that here was no evidence of any wrongdoing, and the Democratic controlled Senate simply kept McCain involved so it would be “bipartisan” scandal.4. McCain's involvement with Keating has been public knowledge for years. No one is allowed to question or examine Senator Obama's history. This is the difference.
I agree with Tucker Bounds, spokesman for Senator McCain, who said, “Americans need to ask themselves if they’ve ever befriended an unrepentant terrorist, or had a convicted felon help them buy their house — because those aren’t smears, those are true facts about Barack Obama.”
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Will Obama Keep His Promises?
I've been around too many salesmen. I don't trust Senator Obama's "coolness." Senator Obama's "explanations" aren't convincing me - just as they aren't convincing half the nation. Many of us like real people. Senator McCain, although I don't always agree with him, is real. Governor Palin is real. I and my house agree with Palin on the issues.
Joe the Plumber represents many of us small business owners - many of whom don’t like Obama's Robbing Hood economic plan. He can't cut taxes to 95% of the population and yet still fund all the different programs he claims he'll fund. He's making empty campaign promises. I am afraid of what he might really do once he was in power, especially with the government now so involved with the banking industry. We need to know more about him before we put him in such an important seat.
Joe the Plumber represents many of us small business owners - many of whom don’t like Obama's Robbing Hood economic plan. He can't cut taxes to 95% of the population and yet still fund all the different programs he claims he'll fund. He's making empty campaign promises. I am afraid of what he might really do once he was in power, especially with the government now so involved with the banking industry. We need to know more about him before we put him in such an important seat.
Jesse Jackson Stirs Racism
Much of what Jesse Jackson said to New York Post columnist Amir Taheri at the First World Policy Forum in Evian, France, last week has been reported – but there was more to the interview than has been talked about.
Jackson said, "Obama is about change, and the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it." Jackson makes Obama sound like a messiah that assumes he truly can change the way half of America feels on the issues.
Taheri then asked Jackson if Obama's election will close the chapter of black grievances linked to slavery. Jackson appeared to take a deep breath and think, then responded, "No, that chapter won't be closed. However, Obama's victory will be a huge step in the direction we have wanted America to take for decades."
Of course he wouldn’t respond that it would be closed. The milking of white guilt has got to be maintained as long as possible. This is why he needed to stop and think before he responded to this unexpected question. Of course, white people can never, ever be absolved of the guilt they're all supposed to feel.
Jackson then rejected the suggestion that Obama was influenced by Marxist ideas in his youth. He said, "I see no evidence of that. Obama's thirst for justice and equality is rooted in his black culture." Again, Jachson shows his prejudice by insinuating that justice and equality are things foreign to non-black cultures. And yet, Obama sees no injustice in taking hard earned money from laborers and giving it to those that haven’t earned it. He sees no injustice in destroying the lives of unborn babies. He see no injustice in the agreements Palestinians have made with Israel, only to back track when the agreements weren't convenient anymore.
But, Taheri asks Jackson, is Obama - who's not a descendant of slaves - a typical American black? Jackson emphatically answered: "You don't need to be a descendant of slaves to experience the oppression, the suffocating injustice and the ugly racism that exists in our society," he says. "Obama experienced the same environment as all American blacks did." (while growing up in Indonesia and Hawaii as well as attending Columbia University and Harvard Law School.)
Jackson also strongly supports Obama's idea of opening up direct dialogue with the Iranian leadership. "We've got to talk to tell them what we want and hear what they want," Jackson says. "Nothing is gained by not talking to others."
This ignores the fact that many non-western countries have a foundational worldview different from Americans. One can not simply assume that by sitting down at the table one can talk things out if there is no foundational agreement in goals and objectives. Mid-eastern countries are notorious for saying what’s necessary at the table and then doing their own thing, because their goals and values are different than ours. We have a foundational history in America of attempting to compromise so that everyone benefits as a nation. They have a foundational history of doing what is necessary to benefit their individual tribes and clans, and that doesn't always mean their nations. Remember, as an example, that most of Saddam Hussein's administration came from his home town of Tikrit. They were members of his clan. This is common in the Middle-east. Clans come first – even before their nation. (See “From Beirut to Jerusalem” by Tom Friedman.) Compromise isn't a foundational value. Survival of and benefit for the clan is.
Jackson says that as long as the Palestinians haven't seen justice, the Middle East will "remain a source of danger to us all." He doesn’t understand that Justice isn’t what many of our Mid-east opponents are really looking for. They are looking to win, irrespective of justice.
Jackson goes on, "Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims. Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."
I don’t doubt that Barack, having attended a Muslim school in Indonesia as a child, understands how Muslims feel. My greater concern is that neither Obama or Jackson, despite calling themselves Christians, understand the way Christians feel or have any real understanding of Christianity at all. Jesus Christ had special warnings for those that would harm children, as abortion does. Christians also understand the special purpose God has for the Jewish people in the Middle East. And Christians understand that God made us all in his image. Race is unimportant in the eyes of God. My husband used to say he was a Christian first and a Native American second because when he accepted Jesus Christ, he accepted his part in the family of God – first and foremost. This is the way we’ve raised our kids. We don’t identify ourselves as Indian, White, Jewish, German, or Irish. My children are all of those things, but first and foremost, they are Christian. All the rest is secondary. It would be great if our society as a whole, including Obama and Jackson, would consider race a non-issue.
Jackson said, "Obama is about change, and the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it." Jackson makes Obama sound like a messiah that assumes he truly can change the way half of America feels on the issues.
Taheri then asked Jackson if Obama's election will close the chapter of black grievances linked to slavery. Jackson appeared to take a deep breath and think, then responded, "No, that chapter won't be closed. However, Obama's victory will be a huge step in the direction we have wanted America to take for decades."
Of course he wouldn’t respond that it would be closed. The milking of white guilt has got to be maintained as long as possible. This is why he needed to stop and think before he responded to this unexpected question. Of course, white people can never, ever be absolved of the guilt they're all supposed to feel.
Jackson then rejected the suggestion that Obama was influenced by Marxist ideas in his youth. He said, "I see no evidence of that. Obama's thirst for justice and equality is rooted in his black culture." Again, Jachson shows his prejudice by insinuating that justice and equality are things foreign to non-black cultures. And yet, Obama sees no injustice in taking hard earned money from laborers and giving it to those that haven’t earned it. He sees no injustice in destroying the lives of unborn babies. He see no injustice in the agreements Palestinians have made with Israel, only to back track when the agreements weren't convenient anymore.
But, Taheri asks Jackson, is Obama - who's not a descendant of slaves - a typical American black? Jackson emphatically answered: "You don't need to be a descendant of slaves to experience the oppression, the suffocating injustice and the ugly racism that exists in our society," he says. "Obama experienced the same environment as all American blacks did." (while growing up in Indonesia and Hawaii as well as attending Columbia University and Harvard Law School.)
Jackson also strongly supports Obama's idea of opening up direct dialogue with the Iranian leadership. "We've got to talk to tell them what we want and hear what they want," Jackson says. "Nothing is gained by not talking to others."
This ignores the fact that many non-western countries have a foundational worldview different from Americans. One can not simply assume that by sitting down at the table one can talk things out if there is no foundational agreement in goals and objectives. Mid-eastern countries are notorious for saying what’s necessary at the table and then doing their own thing, because their goals and values are different than ours. We have a foundational history in America of attempting to compromise so that everyone benefits as a nation. They have a foundational history of doing what is necessary to benefit their individual tribes and clans, and that doesn't always mean their nations. Remember, as an example, that most of Saddam Hussein's administration came from his home town of Tikrit. They were members of his clan. This is common in the Middle-east. Clans come first – even before their nation. (See “From Beirut to Jerusalem” by Tom Friedman.) Compromise isn't a foundational value. Survival of and benefit for the clan is.
Jackson says that as long as the Palestinians haven't seen justice, the Middle East will "remain a source of danger to us all." He doesn’t understand that Justice isn’t what many of our Mid-east opponents are really looking for. They are looking to win, irrespective of justice.
Jackson goes on, "Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims. Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."
I don’t doubt that Barack, having attended a Muslim school in Indonesia as a child, understands how Muslims feel. My greater concern is that neither Obama or Jackson, despite calling themselves Christians, understand the way Christians feel or have any real understanding of Christianity at all. Jesus Christ had special warnings for those that would harm children, as abortion does. Christians also understand the special purpose God has for the Jewish people in the Middle East. And Christians understand that God made us all in his image. Race is unimportant in the eyes of God. My husband used to say he was a Christian first and a Native American second because when he accepted Jesus Christ, he accepted his part in the family of God – first and foremost. This is the way we’ve raised our kids. We don’t identify ourselves as Indian, White, Jewish, German, or Irish. My children are all of those things, but first and foremost, they are Christian. All the rest is secondary. It would be great if our society as a whole, including Obama and Jackson, would consider race a non-issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)