The Obama Phenomenon
This is adapted from an email I received today:
The Obama Tidal Wave
We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama of rare magnitude. His speeches have inspired millions and yet most of his followers have no idea of what he stands for except platitudes of ‘Change’ or that he says he will be a ‘Uniter’. The power of speech from a charismatic person truly can be a powerful thing. Certainly Billy Graham has charisma and both his manner of speech and particularly the content changed millions. On the extreme other hand, the charisma of Adolph Hitler inspired millions and the results were catastrophic. Barack Obama certainly is no Hitler or a Billy Graham, but for many Americans out there feeling just like a surfer who might be ecstatic and euphoric while riding a tidal wave, the real story is what happens when it hits shore. Just Some of What Defines Barack Obama:
- He voted against banning partial birth abortion.
- He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
- Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government.
- In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing. Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as a minimum wage affair.
- Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college.
- His religious convictions are very murky.
- He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Has said that one of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations.
- Opposed the Patriot Act. (The writer of this blog also opposes many aspects of the Patriot Act.)
- First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.
- Voted No on prohibiting law suits against gun manufacturers.
- Supports universal health-care.
- Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
- Supports granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
- Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
- Voted NO to making English the official language of the USA.
- Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
- Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
- Wants to make the minimum wage a ‘living wage’.
- Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes.
- Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
- Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid.
- He voted No on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
- He voted No on repealing the ‘Death’ Tax.
- He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax.
- Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded.
- He is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the Senate today and that takes some doing.
I personally feel that if he is elected it will be an Obamanation.
I was intrigued by his stand on drugs, when he “Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as a minimum wage affair”. Could it be that he would abolish the minimum wage, thereby opening up real entry level jobs that would give young people options other than drug dealing? But my faint hope was dashed a few lines down, when I read that he “Wants to make the minimum wage a ‘living wage’.” So I can only conclude that by “deal with street level drug dealing” he means “create a lot more drug dealers,” by outlawing even more of the only jobs that could offer the poor a legitimate path out of poverty.
givemeliberty — March 21, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Simply put, Obama is a statist - even more of a statist than Hillary. Government provision & control is the answer, making as many as possible dependent on the government for the necessities of life.
Obama’s had a bad couple of weeks. The Wright conflagration & his eloquent but impotent response has not helped him at all. He has gone from “transcending” race to blaming us today for “original sin” of slavery & oppression. I know that he leads in delegate count & many pundits are screaming as loudly as possible that he cannot be stopped; however, I do not think he will win the nomination. The Richardson endorsement was a play for more super-delegates, but Clinton has supers on her side as or more powerful than Richardson. By the time the primaries are done, Clinton may be ahead in popular vote (remember that?) & not far behind in pledged delegates. The convention in Denver is looming as a debacle for the democrats that no one seems able to stop.
Whitehorse’s last blog post..Donner Party Democrats
Whitehorse — March 22, 2008 @ 10:58 pm