About Politics

James Smith asked:


When it comes to reaching out to the public Obama can achieve the unity he wants, as a candidate Obama was not even known less than a year ago. However, he was able to use the Internet to connect with millions of young people who are also voters who do not have a TV set or who do not watch the candidates in their debates. Obama has been known as saying we have not even scratched the surface of with this new political landscape, meaning the Internet and the computer users who might not hear from the candidates directly. Obama has not only stayed on track with what he said here over a year ago, but has also gone on to develop plans of how he can enact many of his ideas to make changes if he is elected.

Obama has also maintained a strong stance in all areas of his campaign while focusing on the problems of the country and what changes need to be made. Along with bringing these ideas of change to the Internet user so that they hear it in his words and not in the medias method of telling only parts of what a candidate has to say.

There are many voters that have learned what Barack Obama stands for, what his policy changes would mean to the country and what they can expect if he is elected as the next President of the United States. They have learned all this with their Internet connection on the web without all of the added extras or opinions of the media.

While some people are content watching the televised debates and the local news to form their opinion of who they want to run the country as the Commander and Chief for the next four years. There are many people who know with the Internet this is no longer the best way to make the decision of who they should vote for and to many people information is power. The power to be informed, the power understand just what a candidate plans to change, add and omit during their presidency.

It is only by a voter thoroughly educating themselves about the candidates that they will make the correct decision for which candidate they feel can do the best job of running the country.

The Barack Obama campaign has made this much easier by bringing Obama’s stand on what needs to change in the country to the internet and with this many more young voters know what he stands for. Many voters in general for the first time in many years are getting the unbiased information they need minus the media. Who in many cases decides who they feel should be the proper candidate to win the election and push that agenda and the voters either begin to believe it or they feel they must make a choice with out all the information they need if they are going to be a part of the voting process.

To assist in this campaign the supporters who have heard Obama’s message loud and clear are now wearing t-shirts to help support his continued campaign efforts.

Buy yourself a Barack Obama shirts and help support him in every way possible that will help him get elected as president. You can help support Barack Obama by wearing trendy Barack Obama t-shirts or by making a donation to the campaign. All the Barack Obama designs mentioned here are not official but rather are inspired by who might possibly be one of the most influencial politicians in a long time.



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Angie Ryan asked:


The 2008 US presidential race has been a wild one. The anti-opposing candidate ads and campaigns have been getting more and more elaborate and as history shows, it’s not a rare occurrence. Presidents and presidential candidates have been called antichrists for as long as my memory goes so it doesn’t surprise me that this label is not attributed to Senator Barack Obama. There are countless websites dedicated to the Barack Obama the Antichrist phenomenon, many of them quoting verses from bibles that often times perfectly fit the profile Mr. Obama. But how far will this go?

I need to make one thing clear before I continue on – I am not an Obama voter. Democrats are not getting my vote. But guess what – neither are Republicans. This is not because I decided not to exercise my civic right to vote, it is because I’m not a US citizen. I do not live in the US either, but as a citizen of Canada, a country that has so many ties with the US, what goes on south of the border is of an interest to me. Just don’t call me biased. I’m not an Obama blind sheep, nor am I a McCain string puppet. I do not like either of them and don’t envy my American friends one bit for having to choose between those two.

But let’s not dwindle away from Barack Obama and websites that claim he’s an antichrist. Because of massive following of what appears to be blind-folded worshippers, for each Obama Antichrist website there is a website debunking the antichrist claims. Both of them are rather ridiculous, both lacking solid arguments, both can be ultimately debunked.

By taking a closer look at what those who believe that Barack Obama is an antichrist base their assertions upon it is easy to see where they’re coming from. Characteristics of Barack Obama simply fit the profile of an antichrist more than characteristics of any other man alive:

Charismatic – Check

Popular throughout many nations - Check

Leader of people - Check

Muslim descent - Check

Capable of making people follow him blindly – Check

And that’s not the end of the list. If you also consider his real motives for becoming the president and an undying desire to be “the first” you’ll get at best a questionable politician, and at the most extreme an antichrist.

Barack Obama is an opportunist who’s favored by Lady Luck. He’s well aware of it and when the opportunity struck, he grabbed at it firmly and didn’t let go. The picture of him in front of a board with buttons that he controls as well as the picture of his bank account growing by millions every month recalled the desires he was not willing to let go off. He’s ready and willing to say and do anything it takes to get that office. Because with that office he’s gonna get the control and the money he desires. What will happen then matters not. All that matters to him is to satisfy his desire of power and money.

As a Canadian who is active in public life style I have met with many fellow Canucks who share the same belief as our American friends – Barack Obama is an antichrist. When I asked around what made them think so, the most common answer was that Mr. Obama was largely funded and supported by the same bankers and shady organizations that control America and are believed to be behind the New World Order. Considering how much money and public brainwash by the media support he received from these cartels, it is to be expected that they will expect something in return. It is also possible that Barack Obama is their extended hand set to high place in order to execute their orders.

If that happens to be the case, if Barack Obama is hand in hand with the New World Order and if he is in fact an antichrist, then it’ll be his task to finalize The North American Union and introduction of Amero as the official currency of Canada, the United States and Mexico. When all this falls in place, this person, this possible antichrist, this Barack Obama will be ruling my home country of Canada too. And that’s what Canadians I have spoken with are afraid of the most.

Antichrist could be real, antichrist could be just across the border and if the antichrist becomes the president and unites our country with his, that antichrist will rule Canada and our own lives as well. And that’s a scary thought. I do not know whether Barack Obama is the antichrist or not, but even a slight chance of having an antichrist as my ruler makes me feel uneasy. I can only hope that good will eventually prevail, cause I’m not willing to join the army of antichrist’s minions.



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Jorma NO HighDef Cams in inzone? asked:


I have two sons. One in Kindergarten, the youngest in Pre-K. I just heard, the school district is planning on closing one of the elementary schools. My question: i
Is this situation happening because of the new elected pres. Obama’s(Education spending cuts). Or is this simply a ripple affect from the “Absentee Father ” era of the Bushes.

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Anthony F asked:


Now that Obama has been elected, and he said he’d like to grant equal rights to same-sex couples that mimic heterosexual couples’ “marriage,” on a federal level, what is the step-by-step procedure he’ll have to take? How long would such a thing take, if at all predictable?

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Marcia Wood asked:


Whoa Senator Obama – You’re Starting to Push America’s Buttons

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that Senator Obama’s leadership ability is minus 10.  He can’t even take time out to help his Democratic Party or fellow Americans during this economic slump.  His buddies are praising him for his support and gibberish about bipartisanship, but 93 fellow Democrats stood up today and said, “No” to Pelosi and Obama.  Way to go Democrats! 

 

What’s Senator Obama doing as we speak, he’s twisting and turning the economic crisis into another political farce – Americans will soon come to their senses when they see how many Democrats aren’t playing Obama games anymore. 

His plan is to make the “Bad Guys” pay up and to knock our investors to their knees by raising their taxes and than have the terrorists sit down at his table for a little ”din din” and a couple of sodas.  Do we really want our President playing house with the terrorists or abusing our investors at this time?

Besides,  Mr. Obama most of the “Bad Guys” are going to go down in the next few months and won’t have the dinero to line the deep government pockets.  Our investors don’t have to lay around and let you beat on them – there’s other countries that would love their money.  The terrorists know which side of the bread their butter is on and they never turn down a free dinner. 

Where does America think Senator Obama is going to get the money to finance all his dreams and whims?  Lets get real here – there’s only one place to go for the kind of money!  He had his chance in the Senate to make a real difference, but he was too busy dreaming of playing house in the “White House.” 

Mr. Obama voted against strengthening the earmark reform 1/11/07.  Voted “Nay” on improving access to affordable healthcare.   “No” on making permanent certain education-related tax incentives.  Senator Obama didn’t want to increase the minimum for States under the State Homeland Security Grant Program.  Didn’t think Congress should be allowed to take a peek at “wasteful spending.  His voting record, you’ll discover is somewhat like Enron’s accounting!

One more bill that speaks a thousand word is this one.  He voted “Nay” To extend the 35, 33, 28,and 25 percent income tax rate structure and protect nearly 28,000,000 and individuals, including small business owners, from having their taxes increase to 39.6, 36, 31 or 28 percent. 

By checking the senator’s voting record, you will discover that education, the middle class, our security, our troops and keeping the government honest didn’t seem to be any of Mr. Obama’s concerns.  While you’re doing your homework, check on the Democratic Senate’s voting record the past several years.

Listen to him now as he prances around talking to Americans about his heart felt concern for little ole us!  If he couldn’t assume his responsibilities as a Senator, why would we give him a second chance at leading our country?

A world class education for our children sounds awesome, but Mr. Obama doesn’t have a clue how to implement this program, nor does he have any inkling where the money will come from for our children’s world class education.

Health insurance for all is a hazy subject with Senator Obama and he’s having as much problem addressing this problem as Hillary Clinton did when she assured Americans that she had the perfect health plan in the works. 

When Senator Obama was faced with the real issues during his short stay in the Senate, he was repeatedly a no-show when it was time to vote. One must wonder where this boy wonder came from for his ability to lead the Democratic Party is looking pretty bleak. 

The big three, Pelosi, Obama and Dean have totally confused their own party in their “Bail Out” blunders.  Seems to me around 93 Democrats voted no on this bill as they tried a slam dunk again - Democrats against Americans!”  

“Indecision” seems to be a “kissin cousin” with Senator Obama and team; it appears to be raising its ugly head once again - how many more changes will the Democrats try to sweep under the rug for their Presidential Candidate?  “Indecision” seems to be running rampant in the Democratic Camp – could it be the result of weak leadership or no legitimate platform?

 Don’t drill – drill      tax – don’t tax      wire taping no – well maybe yes

  immediate withdrawal from Iraq – well uuh, uhh  maybe, maybe not

 Invite the “bad boys” to his house for chocolate milk without any pre conditions – Henry Kissinger changed his mind on that “Blooper.”

 

Trouble with the trade issue – plenty of time to figure that out later

 

Fund Religious Organization – maybe or maybe not (not sure about this one)

 

Vote in the Senate  – no vote, safer to be a “no show” (Keep Americans in limbo)

 

Proud of his preacher friend  like family, mentor, close friend   – changed his mind decided to ditch preach because the kitchen was getting too hot

 

Don’t use Hillary or Bill – well maybe use Hillary & Bill

 

Use Michelle – better not use Michelle (just keep her busy shopping)

Help with the bail out – maybe campaigning is more important (just stay in touch by phone). 

 

Tread lightly with America on the “bail out” – straddling the fence is the safest

 

Blame John McCain for the Democrats blunders and greediness while “Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac” executives  laughed all the way to the bank and the story goes that they lined Senator Obama’s  pockets with gold – wrong again Senator.

 

Blame the Republicans  for the “recession” – Mr. Obama what if the News Media put the Senates voting record on National TV for the past few years?  There’s no doubt the Republicans helped, but the Democrats massacred us!

 

Why did your dear friend “Bill Clinton” refer to Senator McCain as “great” and he couldn’t spit out the word “great” when talking about you… 

 

Seems that Bill described you as one who “saw and imagined,” don’t think seeing or imagining qualifies you for leading.  I have a little 3 year old grandson, who spends his waking hours seeing and imagining. 

 

Even Bill Clinton isn’t ready to jump on your band wagon with open arms.  He will do whatever is necessary to keep his Senator Clinton in good standing with the Democratic Party, but the “buck stops there!”

America – it’s time to check out voting records, check out background of both President Elects, verify who has been leading and who has been following.  If you’re strictly depending on CNN for the real story, it’s not going to happen! 

 They admit that their polls were biased and they gush with prejudice, bias and re edited news – none of our news media should be our voice or decide who our next President will be in 2008.  CNN isn’t the only media with major problems – we have us an epidemic!  America has the ability to think for themselves and hopefully make a wise choice when it comes to our next President

To all those journalists, columnists and editors that want to campaign for their party – take a leave of absence or do it after hours, but not on America’s time.  We deserve the whole story from start to finish and we deserve the “truth.”

 

As Always, Annie



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Josh Greenberger asked:


by Josh Greenberger

(October 10, 2008) Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt issued the following statement on news reports of Barack Obama’s use of Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics:

“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police-state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign. What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment. This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson.” (See full article:pumasunleashed.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/doj-may-open-investigation-into-obamas-use-of-law-enforcement-to-quell-critics/)

In addition to the above, there are mounting negative reports on Barack Obama. They include:

* Obama’s Illegal Donations - nypost.com/seven/10062008/news/politics/barack_took_illegal_donations__gop_132272.htm

* ACORN, an Organization With Ties to Obama, Steals Votes - marketwatch.com/news/story/rnc-cnn-exposes-how-acorn/story.aspx?guid={E0F68C91-381A-43E8-9857-D990EFC33B34}&dist=hppr

* Obama’s Ignorant and Delusional Statements, like, he’s campaigned in 57 states - jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/36534/In_The_Tank_For_Obama_Editorial_Board.html

* Obama’s Association With Terrorist Ayers - elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/09/weather-underground-victim-says-obama-known-ayers-past/

* Obama Tried to Stall Gis’ Iraq Withdrawal - nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm

It’s mind-boggling enough to think there is anyone in this country who is willing to vote for Obama, it’s even harder to understand how Obama ever reached the 50% mark in polls.

Apparently, Americans are susceptible to celebrity-type images to the point where logic and reason go out the window. If you’re planning to vote for Obama, here’s a quick one-question test to help you sort out whether you’re choice is a logical one.

If you were looking to hire a new employee, would you hire someone with the above list of problems in his background? Even if you questioned one or two items, would you feel comfortable with that person? If your answer is yes, you’re fooling yourself, you’re not a businessman, or your business is going south. No one in his right mind would want to hire someone with the above background.

Yet, for some strange reason, there are people who are willing to vote such an utterly incompetent human being into the highest office of our land.

What people don’t seem to realize is this election is unlike any in our history. This election really isn’t about a liberal Democrat. It’s about an individual who will, in all likelihood, bring this country completely down on its knees.

There is absolutely no indication that Obama is capable of carrying out any of his promises. There is nothing in Obama’s background that gives us any assurance that his word even means anything, even if he were capable of bringing his promises to fruition. Yet some people are willing to stake the future of their country on someone who’s substanceless speeches — speeches that obviously do not come from experience, but from rehearsals — “sound good?”

You know what makes a good con artist? When you can’t tell the person’s conning you! If he wasn’t good at it, he’d never reach the level of “artist” — he’d remain just another hapless flunky.

What’s particularly astonishing is how the worse our economy gets, the higher Obama’s ratings go. Why? Does anyone honestly believe someone with Obama’s background is capable of doing anything to help our economy? Absolutely ridiculous!

If you think things are bad now, one year with a President Obama, I’m convinced, will totally ruin whatever is left of our great country.

John McCain may not be the Messiah we need. But what he says is honest, it comes from the heart, and it comes from experience. He has a record as a decent human being — an extremely important component in any endeavor — which at least allows you to have reasonable confidence that he will make every effort to help this country. You absolutely cannot say this about Obama — you have no idea what Obama will do, you have no idea what Obama’s capable of doing, you’re not even sure he will not simply cater to a small portion of Americans and to hell with the rest. Are you willing to take that risk?

In a different election, McCain might not have been the perfect candidate. But in the current one McCain looks pretty damn good, and every vote for Obama is, in my opinion, another nail in the coffin of America. Don’t take that chance. The country you save may be your own.

by Josh Greenberger



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METme? asked:


What if next week, Obama institutes (this is just hypothetical) that the US align with EU or something of that nature and more or less abandon everything America stands for….Would you fight or accept?

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Jeremy James asked:


Many thought the day would never come. A day that all Americans could prove to their children that they could become whatever they want in life no matter what their background is. A day that Americans could put aside their differences and see their neighbors for the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

Barack Obama’s stunning victory at the Iowa Caucus ignited a spark among Democratic voters, reminiscent of the days of Camelot and John F. Kennedy. Many believed that a state like Iowa, with a miniscule Black population, would never elect an African American to such a high position, but Obama’s message of change resonated in the Hawkeye State, as 37.6 percent of Iowa voters selected him to represent the Democratic party in November.

More shocking was Hillary Rodham Clinton’s third place finish with 29.5 percent of Iowa Democrats supporting the New York Senator.

According to the Associated Press, Obama’s victory marked the first time an African American candidate has won such a vital caucus or primary.

“Years from now you’ll be able to say, ‘This was the moment when it all began.’ This is the moment when we finally beat back the politics of fear and doubt and cynicism,” a victorious Obama told a crowd of supporters at a Des Moines, Iowa sports arena.

Obama dominated the college-age vote and enjoyed enormous success among Blacks in Waterloo, Iowa.

His success among African Americans should assist in his chances in November because many Black voters still believe he is not electable.

Obama’s wife Michelle believes America is ready for a Black president despite the skepticism.

“Ain’t no Black people in Iowa. Something big, something new is happening. Let’s build the future we all know is possible. Let’s show our kids that America is ready for Barack Obama right now,” said Michelle Obama at the Trumpet Awards, a gala celebrating achievement in Black America.

Despite his resounding win in Iowa, and pollsters predicting a double-digit win in the first primary of 2008, Obama finished a close second to Clinton in New Hampshire days later. Surprisingly, Clinton defeated Obama 39 percent to 37 percent in the Granite State. However, the Illinois senator was still upbeat and optimistic in defeat.

“We always knew our climb would be steep. You made it clear that at this moment in this election, there is something happening in America … You can be a new majority,” Obama told his supporters in New Hampshire. Clinton recently won the primary in Michigan and the Nevada caucus also.

According to Allen G. Breed of the A.P., “Obama’s stunning victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Iowa caucuses and strong second in New Hampshire’s primary showed he could win White votes. But some say the South Carolina contest offers a new test of his viability. Can he energize Black voters in places where their numbers could help him win in November?”

On January 26, Obama won the South Carolina primary in a landslide, winning 55 percent of the Democratic vote.

At least half of South Carolina Democrats are Black and they could have been persuaded to distance themselves from Clinton because comments she and her husband Bill Clinton made, which some people view as racially insensitive.

Clinton recently stated that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The former president later said that Obama was telling a “fairy tale” about his opposition to the war in Iraq, and that he has received a free pass in this election.

Clinton later went on “Meet the Press” to explain her comments and implied that Obama was injecting race into the election.

“I think it offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King’s role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous,” Obama replied.

According to the A.P., Clinton’s advisors claim that an Obama staffer has compiled examples of comments by Clinton and her surrogates that could be construed as racially insensitive. The memo later surfaced on some political Web sites.

“To me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think that Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in Black issues-when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in his book-when they have been involved,” argued BET founder Bob Johnson in a reference to Obama’s past drug use.

Johnson later said he was talking about Obama’s community activism and not his past drug use.

Former North Carolina senator John Edwards replied, “I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change came not through Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that.”

Ironically, the change that Dr. King gave his life for could be the same change that gives America its first Black president. As Obama’s campaign slogan says, it is a “change we can all believe in.”



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Peter Menkin asked:


Normal 0

Obama leaves his Church

By Peter Menkin

06/18/08

Considered a man of faith, Barack Obama, the American running for nomination for President of the United States, has left his Church. For reasons of political controversy due to its pastor, The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Senator Obama left membership in Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), Chicago, Illinois after 20 years. (The church website proclaims: “We are a congregation which is unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian…”)

Trinity United Church of Christ occupies a tan brick building on West 95th Street across railroad tracks from a public housing project, reports The Christian Science Monitor.

The Senator said about leaving, “Too much press harassment, people couldn’t’ worship in peace.” That wasn’t his reason for leaving, but a complaint on the news media attention. The reason were politically controversial remarks by Trinity’s pastor, Reverend Wright.

Wright’s comments contradicted one of Obama’s campaign’s central messages — that the candidate can transcend past divisions such as those involving race.

The impediment to the African-American’s campaign is highlighted by Wright’s widely reported sermon remark: “God Damn America” (for its racism}, and blaming the September 11 terrorist attacks on US foreign policy. He has also blamed the U.S. government for the spread of the AIDS virus. Mostly, Wright is seen as anti-white and a racist.

On Bill Moyers Journal, Wright says we are unashamedly Black. His philosophy embodies, “Use the culture of which we are a part.” He preaches there is hope, that life has meaning, and that God is still in control. “We can change. We can do better.” Black Liberation theology is Wright’s UCC message. It is a UCC message he offers, since he is a UCC minister who studied under Martin Marty. Martin E. Marty, distinguished Lutheran Pastor, teacher, and writer who has been on the University of Chicago faculty since 1963.

Grounded in the history of the African-American, Black theology is powerful stuff. He is little sorry about his comments, but in Bill Moyer’s interview, Reverend Wright does appear sorry he made the comment “God damn America” in the Pulpit—if only for a few moments. But it wasn’t one remark, but a string of them that caused the significant distancing between the candidate’s spiritual advisor and candidate.

The press in the United States spends a lot of time and space talking about Senator Obama’s faith, his church, and how he is a Christian—the Senator says he is Christian himself, and that is also news. Religion in the campaign makes news, despite separation of Church and State. Time magazine says more voters see Senator Obama as a strongly religious person than they do every major presidential hopeful but Mitt Romney, the Republican former governor of Massachusetts. Romney’s Mormonism drew extensive news coverage.

U.S. Senator Obama was married in Trinity church. His children were baptized in the church, and also like the wedding, Reverend Wright performed the solemnizations. The Senator said on leaving the church, “Trinity was where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized. We have many friends among the 8,000 members…” It is a church where he was moved many times. When Wright preached one Sunday about the sustaining power of hope in the face of poverty and despair, Obama says he found himself in tears.

He says in one speech:



“For one thing, I believed and still believe in the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change… Because of its past, the black church understands in an intimate way the Biblical call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and challenge powers and principalities. And in its historical struggles for freedom and the rights of man, I was able to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world. As a source of hope.”



It is the claim of Reverend Jeremiah Wright that Trinity is a church of Black theology. The Reverend Doctor John Cone, the Harvard Professor and African-American theologian interviewed on American Public Broadcasting System (PBS) by commentator Bill Moyers says on the PBS website:



“As we examine what contemporary theologians are saying, we find that they are silent about the enslaved condition of black people. Evidently they see no relationship between black slavery and the Christian gospel. Consequently there has been no sharp confrontation of the gospel with white racism. There is, then, a desperate need for a black theology, a



theology whose sole purpose is to apply the freeing power of the gospel to black people under white oppression.”

Cone says:



The Cross is the same as the lynching tree for the Black American in a Harvard Speech. The Christian Reverend Cone wants to start a conversation on this subject. He offers that lynching was terrorism that “worked to a certain degree.” This includes spectacle lynchings where 5,000 would gather to watch.

Religion is one place where you have an imagination that no one can control.” Black Churches are a place of the spirit… (even though you are living under the shadow of the lynching tree).” … There were 246 years of slavery, and 100 years of segregation and lynching.

America does not see itself as “not innocent,” according to Cone. “No human being is innocent.”



Reverend Cone is ordained in the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago. which is one of the city’s largest black churches and not far from Obama’s home in the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park.

Apparently the Democratic candidate for his party’s nomination is not turning his back on Black theology, per se, since Sunday, June 15, 2008 he spoke from the pulpit at that same mega-church in Chicago, which has 20,000 members and is also considered a Black American church.

It is the history of the African American church in the United States that it is a center of Black community life speaking to the needs of the church and larger community in social and political ways. But not in so partisan a manner as was recently ascribed to the theology and preaching of the Reverend Wright. So the perception became. But he still associates himself with the African American church in general.

Senator Obama spoke of the role of Black fathers and their responsibilities, perhaps more a campaign speech than sermon from a “religious” man whose campaign motto is “Change That Works for You.” After all, he is running for President of the United States—or its Democratic Party nomination more accurately. He gave his talk from the pulpit of the “20,000-member Apostolic Church of God…a short walk from the Obamas’ home. The church’s pastor, Byron Brazier, is an Obama supporter,” reports The New York Times.

It is from the Black Church that Senator Obama learned many things about hope. Can he really take himself out of the African-American church ethos, as he has known it? Perhaps the Reverend Wright thinks not, though he is not saying. His official press release remark on Senator Obama and his family’s leaving was, “…We are saddened by the news …”

END IT

(Appx. 1100 words)



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K.R.SURENDRAN asked:


Barack Obama completes 100 days in office on 30 April 2009. It is a good precedent adopted by many to look back and take stock of the positive as well as the negative aspects and if in need of formulating better policy initiatives, both internal and external in the days to come. The youthful President took charge of affairs at a time when US was (and is) facing uphill tasks on the economic front which is still in doldrums or in a shambles. The financial melt-down is still a looming threat to all nations across the world which had its genesis in US, thanks to the unregulated free market economy adopted by the Republican Party (GoP) and its leaders.

Mr.George W Bush, the former President, a Republican who “carved a niche for himself” in formulating a policy affecting both internal and external affairs (thus he became the beloved of all) handed over power on a platter to Obama. Obama was by then kept abreast of all the developments which were not to his liking and hence was not alarmed or embarrassed.

 

While on his whirlwind tour of US to campaign for his Presidential candidature, he reminded the electorate of gigantic tasks ahead and appealed for their co-operation to surmount the obstacles one by one.

 

“We must throw ourselves up from the deep pit we have fallen in” – was his message to his supporters.

 

“While the Wall Street thrives, we should not allow the main street to suffer”- were also his famous words to the American citizen. Those words indicated his determination to rescue the economy from the deep ditch which found itself in as a result of eight years of misrule by the GoP.

 

With good intentions he proceeded to build up the economy, pumped $787 billion and later pumped more into the economy to bail-out banks, other institutions and for health-care across America. Obama is an advocate of Keynesian theory of economics is not on good terms with free-market economy which is unregulated and it always argues “markets always correct themselves” and there is no need of interference by the government. But that was not to be. The experience proved it with the crumbling down of the economic policies adopted by the former government and its economists like Alan Greenspan.  

 

A man reputed for his coolness, diplomacy and cordiality- Obama is known for these qualities- lost his cool after assuming power, when he came to learn about the huge sums of bonuses sanctioned by the executives of AIG (American International Group)-the World’s largest insurance company which was bailed out with pumping in of tax payers’ money-to themselves. The bureaucrats had no regard for the failing economy and its after-effects like recession and retrenchment were notorious for their selfishness and greed which are characteristics of a capitalist economy. After his scathing attack and with the Government’s decision to impose 90 percent tax on the bonuses they had sanctioned to themselves-some of them returned the amounts in full-not all of them. The bureaucrats of the Citi group also followed suit and they were also forced to remit the bonus back.

Still the damage control exercise is going on but the formidable tasks are still staring in the face of President Obama. Not cowed down by the threats ahead, Obama moves with brimming confidence is a good sign. After the first round of G20 Summit hosted by George Bush to bail-out the global economy in Washington, the then President on 15 November, the second round of the Summit was in London, hosted by Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of Britain on April 2-3. Indian Prime Minister ManMohanSingh was also a participant in the Summit. The deliberations adopted there, if implemented in letter and spirit could be of helpful to a certain extent to the nations across the World - all are tasting the bitter fruits of economic down-turn - such as increasing the fund of IMF from $250 billion to $750 billion with the intention of extending help to needy nations to bail-out their economies and to help the member countries to get back huge amounts of unaccounted money stashed in safe havens like Liechenstein Bank in Germany and UBS in Switzerland by the political leaders and industrial tycoons.

 

Something is better than nothing- it is said. Differences there were, like France and Germany joining hands against encouraging bail-outs, instead they advocated for strict regulations and Britain and US on the other side giving more importance to bail-outs.

 

With more and more countries turning to the Left- last week Iceland, which was one of the safe havens for black money also turned to the left- after a colossal financial turmoil, still the apostles of Capitalism are busy deliberating on their next steps to bring back the free-market economy through the backdoor.

 

Obama, after the Summit flew into Germany first, then to France, Czech Republic and his last stop was Turkey. It was a historic tour, he got a chance to display his diplomatic potentials at everywhere he went befriending all without sowing the seeds of animosity, hatred and one-upmanship. The election of Anders Fogh Rasmussen , the former Prime Minister of Denmark as the new Chairman of NATO was a fine example of winning the hearts of everybody in the selection of Rasmussen . As far as Turkey is concerned Rasmussen was a hated figure from the very day a derogatory cartoon of Allah was published in a Danish Newspaper by its cartoonist. But Obama could prevail upon Turkish leaders cajoling them into agreeing for the appointment of Mr. Rasmussen as the NATO Chairman. A defining example of Obama’s statesmanship.

 

Similarly holding out an olive branch to Iran, which was on collision terms with US during the Bush era and the simultaneous reciprocating gesture by the Iranian authorities is also a step forward, though it is not a great leap, in establishing peace after a long gap. Both countries have a lot of ground to cover to establish durable peace in the trouble prone-area.

 

One remarkable step forward anyhow is the fifth historic meeting of the Organisation of American States held at Trinidad-Tobago last week. It was an ideal occasion for Obama and the Latin American countries to forget the past and pave the way for camaraderie. Obama’s moment with Hugo Chavez, the Venezeulan Head must have been an unforgettable experience. Chavez’s presentation of the renowned book by Edwardo Galeano titled- “Open Veins of Latin America”- to Obama was  reported with much prominence by the International media. But Cuba is still elusive and it is for Obama to take initiative to bridge gaps with the Latin American Communist nation, which is still undergoing sanctions slapped by US in 1948. Sixty years of mutual rivalry has to be put an end to, a new era of friendship and co-operation established. Cuba had to endure many a hardship on account of the frequent and indirect efforts by US to undermine the leadership, especially of the greatest revolutionary of our times Comrade Fidel Castro. CIA, US Intelligence agency in the past vainfully tried several times to physically eliminate him from the whole scene.

 

Anyhow past is past, now it is an opportune moment to lift the embargo and pave the way for lasting friendship

 

Keeping in mind all these positive aspects in mind propensity or could we say aspiration for remaining always at the top of the ladder is somewhat puzzling. The dream of a Uni-polar World still remains at the top of any US head’s agenda. A multi-polar World- that is not to any President’s liking. A mystery.

 

The ongoing crisis in Iraq, an exploding situation confronting Afghanistan and Pakistan and Obama’s undesirable interest and pumping of huge sums to Pakistan to tackle terrorism actually belie our expectations of this young leader.

 

He has ample time to learn. It is pertinent here to note, he has taken only a few steps ahead. Let us wish him all success in his endeavour to bring peace and prosperity on the occasion of his completion of hundred days in office.

 

 

 

  

 



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