Voters Must Connect the Dots...

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 16:11:57 -0400

Barack Hussein Obama

44th President

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

It’s no wonder many of us like Barack Obama. After 8 years of a President that can hardly deliver a speech without a hesitation, gaffe or mispronunciation, Mr. Obama would seem to be an orator from heaven. He is smooth, articulate and confident. Oh, and we’ve already seen the charismatic Mr. Obama on the world stage, speaking to the throngs in France and Germany. Though premature, many of us said to ourselves, “Wow, he might be a president we can be proud of. “

And that is exactly the picture he was trying to create. This junior senator from Illinois, who has scant experience at anything at all except for running his own campaign and community organizing, was painting a picture for us, and the subject was of himself as President. That part of the picture was for public consumption and was well planned. Unfortunately, to get the entire image of Barack Obama we must connect the dots...and then it’s not a flattering picture at all.

If Barack admits to his “lost years” and the fact that he did “a little blow” in college, it is what he doesn’t admit to, or seeks to obfuscate, that most of us should find troubling. Such as his relationship with Tony Rezko and the influence they both had upon one another in business dealings, political contributions, and the split purchase, with Rezko’s wife, of a plot of land in Chicago, which Obama calls home. Obama says that buying the property with the help of Tony Rezko’s wife was a “boneheaded” thing to do. Tony Rezko is now in prison for corruption and kickbacks while a slum lord and tenant housing developer in Chicago. Oops, that’s just an unfortunate, coincidental, relationship.

Then there is Barack Obama’s relationship with William Ayers, a known domestic terrorist and a co- founder of the Weather Underground, who unrepentantly admits responsibility for 25 bombings, including the bombing of the Capitol and the Pentagon. Apparently that relationship is also being downplayed, even though Barack Obama’s political career was launched in the living room of Ayers’ home, and they have worked together on numerous projects and boards over the years.

The only defense Obama can come up with regarding the Ayers relationship is that the bombings happened 38 years ago, when Barack was just 8 years old. Apparently it doesn’t matter that Ayers was a founder of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), and Ayers subsequently helped pick Obama as its first chairman. Apparently it doesn’t matter that while still serving on the Woods Fund board together, following 9/11, Ayers said he was sorry the Weathermen terrorist organization didn’t perform more terrorist activities. Apparently it doesn’t matter that there is a photo of William Ayers standing on top of a crumpled American flag which lay on the ground. Obama even wrote a review for one of Ayers’ books. All this association, but Obama says Ayers is “just a guy who lives in my neighborhood.” How many of you have unrepentant terrorist friends who know you well enough to help launch your careers? Oh, and you willingly accept their help. Oops, just another unfortunate, coincidental, relationship.

Also, while religion is often off limits when discussing politics, and indeed, in this contest it garners retorts of racism and freedom of religion, what cannot be ignored is how it shapes one’s philosophy, character, and morals. Barack Obama’s religious background should bring pause to those of us who would elect him President. It’s well publicized Barack Obama had been attending the Trinity United Church of Christ for roughly the past 16 years, citing the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whom he has known for 20 years, as his spiritual advisor and mentor. Reverend Wright has a series of sermons that can best be described as hate speeches against America.

While the “God damn America” sermon and the post 9/11 “America’s chickens are coming home to roost” sermon are obviously divisive and hateful against America, Reverend Wright has repeatedly condemned America for years. Among other things, he claims HIV was invented by the American government to commit genocide against people of color. He says the American government lied about Pearl Harbor. He claims the American government is working against people of color. Once again, these statements come from Obama’s mentor and spiritual advisor.

In reference to public support for Barack Obama’s Presidential bid, Michelle Obama just months ago said, “For the first time in my adult life, I’m proud of my country.” Reverend Wright married the Obamas sixteen years ago, and they’ve been attending the church ever since. After years of hearing Reverend Wright’s hate speeches against America, it’s no wonder she feels that way. Is this the President and First Lady we want in the White House?

Reverend Wright’s affiliated magazine, Trumpet, honored Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader and known anti-Semite, with the “Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer” award. In fact Barack Obama appears on a cover with Farrakhan and other black leaders. Even Barack Obama understands the ill perception his mentor creates, yet it wasn’t until just recently Barack decided to leave the church because of the Reverend’s beliefs and, presumably, the affect they might have on his Presidential bid. Don’t we all have America hating radicals as our pastors, mentors and spiritual advisors?

This too, I presume, is just another unfortunate, coincidental, relationship.

And there are more relationships, and related uncertainties. Such as that with Rashid Khalidi, the outspoken, anti-Israel, Columbia University professor who was ousted from the New York City Schools after having been hired to teach Middle East studies to teachers. Obama, while a Woods Fund director provided grant money to the Arab American Action Network, an advocate for Palestinian issues, which was founded by Khalidi. Likewise, Khalidi contributed generously to Obama’s failed run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Other problematic relationships, such as that with Saudi connected money man and self described anti-Semite, Dr. Khalid al Mansour, are more difficult to ascertain, and no one is forthcoming regarding them. Likewise Obama’s relationship with Acorn, which is under investigation in at least seven states for it’s alleged fraudulent voter registration practices.

Barack Hussein Obama is a different man than he purports to be, and he is much more tolerant of leftist radical behavior than he would like his would-be supporters to believe. He downplays as coincidental and insignificant his relationships with individuals and organizations most of us would prefer not have sway over our President. He downplays as coincidental and insignificant relationships with individuals most of us would choose NOT to associate with. One only has to look at his friendships, business relationships and his religious/spiritual mentors.

Any one of these relationships by themselves can arguably be dismissed as a mere coincidence or a passing acquaintance. However, when one connects the dots, we can see that they are much more than that. When one connects the dots we can see the real Barack Hussein Obama, the man and his philosophy. Whether we lean Republican or Democratic, we can see that it’s not a very Presidential picture.

Max Quillen's Open Salon Blog

Voters Must Connect the Dots...