God, Country, and the Inauguration

Photo Courtesy Senator Barack Obama Press Kit

I do not think it will surprise many for me to say I am not a fan of President–elect Barack Hussein Obama. That being said, I love this country. I am a patriot through-and-through. I love that we are a melting pot country and I love our constitution. Did you know that our Declaration of Independence is a model for other countries that seek freedoms and democracy?

As a patriot, I can say that regardless of our initial impression of the man, I cannot think of a single president in history who has been perfect. I cannot name one who has not made a decision that turned out badly (despite his best efforts) or who has not at some point in his term of office acted on some human frailty – the way all of us do in our daily lives. By that same token, I cannot think of a single president who has not also shown, at some point, tremendous wisdom, courage, or leadership for this country. Every incoming president is bound not only to disappoint, but also to inspire.

Soon Barack Hussein Obama will be our 44th President. Those who wish ill upon him are unthinkingly wishing ill upon us all. His blunders will affect this country in ways that could do serious damage. His triumphs will change lives for the better, possibly in profound ways.

In loving this country and her people, I pray for Barack Hussein Obama. I pray he will be blessed with the wisdom to clearly see what is best for the people of this country as a whole, and with the courage and strength to act on that wisdom even when it is difficult or unpopular.

I pray for his family. I pray they will be able to endure the sacrifice and challenges that come with being the family of the President of the United States of America. We do not need family challenges or stressors to be adding more pressure and workload upon our president. We need him to be at his best and able to focus, with a clear mind and heart, upon the needs of this country. We also need him to be able to be there for his family and to have that source of comfort and peace in his life. Those moments will help him to better endure all he must as our president.

I will be watching the inauguration as he is sworn into office. I care not for the Hollywood elite and the hoopla, but I am very much interested in the swearing in ceremony of our new president. Every swearing in ceremony is an historic event, and while some cling to that label because he is black, I use it because it is the hallmark of the democracy in this country that I so treasure. Each swearing in ceremony means ‘we the people’ have a voice and a choice in our own leadership and government. I hope to never take that for granted.

As an American, you can protest and boycott the inauguration or you can attend and cheer with tear-filled eyes. You can watch in the hopes he will commit a major blunder, or you can watch for the history-making aspect. You can do something that has nothing to do with the inauguration, or you can even change the channel and watch something else. Those, too, are other great parts of this country – you have the freedom to choose how to respond to this event, and it won’t be broadcast on every channel.

God Bless America!

PS. Those who wish to watch do not need a television to do so. Hulu is one of multiple online sites that will be broadcasting the event live.

Post Election - Can We Truly Be 'United' States?

Image courtesy Senator Obama Press Kit.
The election is over and Senator Barack Hussein Obama has been declared the 44th President of the United States. His term will begin in January of 2009 and run for four years.

There are strong emotions on this day after the election on both sides of the political fence. What happens from here on out is not just up to our leaders, but to 'we, the people', as well.

One friend who was strongly pulling for Senator McCain very graciously posted a statement to the effect that as people who love this country, we should now pray for President-Elect Obama and his family, and show our support to our president. That we should not behave as some have toward President Bush, but we should honor the office of President and treat our leader with the respect he deserves as our leader, regardless of our differences in philosophy or values.

A writer for whom I have tremendous respect wrote a beautiful article calling for unity and expressing some of the same sentiments: "A Call for Unity - Bridging the Political Divide for a Stronger America".

In a day and age of disrespect and ignorance, can we live up to the call for 'Change' that was such a huge part of our new President's campaign?

Compare the Candidates

Image via Wikipedia Informed voters are smart voters. There are ways to get to the truth about the candidates, the issues, and where each stands in this election. Below are factual and non-partisan resources for discovering the truth behind the hype.

In one section, I did add links to an evaluation project a newspaper is working on of senators and their voting track record. The Washington Post is doing the evaluation as part of a “U.S. Congress Votes Database” project. All congressional votes since 1991 are listed. The site updates vote information several times daily.

The project is ongoing, and will continue to expand. The information provided in the project is all matter of public record and may be accessed free through various government websites. The Washington Post is simply compiling it in one place and in a highly user-friendly manner. Listed below are links to the sections for Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama. To look up information regarding other members of congress, please see the home page for the project.

What do the candidates claim are their stands on various issues?
Barack Obama

John McCain

What is their voting track record?

John McCain
Washington Post: “John McCain has voted with the majority of his Republican colleagues 88.3% of the time” in the 110th Congress. John McCain has missed 63.8% of the votes in the 110th session of congress.

Barack Obama
Washington Post: “Barack Obama has voted with his Democratic colleagues 96% of the time” in the 110th Congress. Barack Obama has missed 45.5% of the votes in the 110th session of congress.

NOTE: Because the claim has been made, I felt it appropriate to include a link to further info regarding the matter:
State Legislature – New York Times, Dec 20, 2007 (This is in reference to his voting ‘present’ 130 times rather than ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ on issues)

Side by Side Non-Partisan Comparisons:

ProCon.Org

Beyond the Media and Debate Accusations:
Who Tells the Truth, Who Lies, and Who Flip Flops on Issues?
Non-partisan evaluation of fact vs statements from the candidates and others

Bill and Resolution Sponsorship in 110th session of congress (Info via THOMAS – US Library of Congress)
McCain: 38

Obama: 129

Financial Disclosures – 2007

Barack Obama (PDF file)

John McCain (PDF file)

What I have learned through my own checking of the facts, is that both candidates have lied (or been given inaccurate information to relay in their speeches and interviews), both sides of the campaign have lied and been involved in ‘spinning’ the truth/facts, both candidates have strong points, and both candidates have flaws.

I don’t know how much more there really is for me to write about regarding facts about the office, the election, the parties, etc. If you want me to cover something else, please let me know – and if I think of something else I will add it.

Otherwise, this session of Dani’s Discover with Me: Government 101 session has now concluded.

Who Can Say One Positive True Thing About Senator John McCain?

Image via Wikipedia In a forum of which I am a member, a challenge was issued: Who could say one positive true thing about Senator John McCain? Though several attempts were made, the issuer of the challenge shot them all down until one forum member shared the following:

Senator John McCain Heroically Grants a Dying Mother Her Final Wish

As stated in the article, it is not about politics, but it does say something very powerful about the man behind the office and the campaign.

Want further true insight into the men behind the campaigns? Check out this interesting article by Nancy Benac, By Their Offices Ye Shall Know Them.

There are many things to consider before electing a president. Getting to see the man behind the campaign is one way to ascertain his character. There are other ways to get to the truth behind all the hype.

Truth and Pants on Fire Detector. Want to know how much truth or fallacy is behind the claims made in email, in speeches, and in ads? Check out the non-partisan truth detector at PolitiFact.com. A new feature is the "Flip O-Meter" that reveals true flip flopping by the candidates.

Want to know the actual voting record of the candidates? Such things are a matter of public record and accessible through the government's U.S. Senate website.

Finding Truth on the Campaign Trail: Which Statements are True and Which are False?

With the latest reports coming out about candidates lying about various issues, its difficult to know what is just political bashing with no basis, and what is verifiable fact.

A few examples may be found in this short video clip from FoxNews with a contributing reporter/researcher to Politifact.Com:



For more information about fact and fiction from and about the candidates, check out Politifact.Com from the St. Petersburg Times/CQ.

More Hate from the Pulpit - This Time Against Obama

In more news to disgust and outrage, yet another pastor has chosen to take his own hateful political views to his congregation in lieu of the traditional teachings of Christ.



I have to wonder if the government will step in at some point and start revoking tax-exempt status for the political usage of churches by their pastors.

What is most sickening is how these hate-mongers dare to use God as their justification for spewing venom to their congregations. I don't know what God they worship, but most of us worship the One who teaches us to love one another, that vengeance is His, and gave us a commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy. I don't think hate speech from behind the pulpit which stirs up anger and hate qualifies as obedience to that commandment.

What do YOU think about hateful political condemnations from behind the pulpit?

Outrageous Claims On Easter Sunday - Comparing Reverend Wright to Jesus

Photo by Chance Agrella

The new pastor of Barack Obama's church, Reverend Otis Moss III, made it clear he intends to follow suit of the previous pastor, Reverend Wright, in his claims that Reverend Wright has been 'lynched' by the media and has suffered similarly to what Jesus did at the hands of the Romans.

To compare the two is not only ludicrous, but blasphemous in the minds of many Christians. Jesus never spewed hate and never riled up people against the government or those of other races. The story of the Good Samaritan, and how He handled himself when in the hands of the Romans - even asking Our Father to forgive them, clearly illustrates that Jesus is a man of peace. The same cannot be said of Reverend Wright or his predecessor.

The Holy Day (Easter) set aside for the remembrance of the sacrifice the Savior of the world made for all: black, white, Christian, Jew, Muslim, believer, non-believer, and everyone else - was forgotten in a sermon designed to rile up further animosity and defend the indefensible.

How can anyone call Chicago's United Trinity Church of Christ a church or Christian, for that matter? It sounds more like a political meeting of the black version of the KKK to me. They are certainly not preaching what Jesus did in His time on Earth - which was to love others - including your enemy, and to forgive. His love and His teachings were all-inclusive. I do not see that in a church that spews racism against whites, promotes hate against the government, and makes claims such as, "you picked the wrong folk to mess with", "unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian", and making pleas for money to 'defend the church' in 'this time of battle' . . .with no further specifics regarding the allocation of funds given. Jesus never asked for money for Himself or to 'defend' Himself. He asked us to give to the poor and needy. He never proclaimed war on those who did not think as He did or did not agree with Him.

Think Reverend Wright's brand of hate is limited to his congregation? Think again. Rev. McKinney in Seattle wrote in an essay handed out today that Reverend Wright 'represents the best of us'.

If this kind of thinking and hate is representative of 'the best of us' then maybe the rest of the world is correct about us, after all.

SOURCE:
Fox News Report: In Easter Sermon, New Obama Pastor Charges Reverend Wright Victim of 'Lynching'.Judson Berger. March 23, 2008. http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/23/in-eastor-sermon-trinity-united-pastor-compares-rev-wright-to-jesus/

MORE INFORMATION:
The church's own 'Black Value System' is posted on their website, and is a clearly racist document. Don't think so? Read it with the word 'white' in place of the word 'black'. If it would be racist and wrong for a white church to print and post and preach such things with the word 'white' liberally sprinkled throughout, what makes it any less racist and wrong for a black church it print and post and preach such things with the word 'black' liberally sprinkled throughout?

Please note the final phrase in the document: 'the advancement of black people toward freedom.' Since when are blacks in America not free?

When their racist hate dictates it to be so - not in reality.

And for the record, such a statement about the advancement of black people is very similar to the teachings of the KKK in regards to whites and their 'place' in the world. See information regarding Hiram Wesley Evans and his 'The Klan's Fight for Freedom'.

Why Reverend Wright Matters in Obama's Campaign

I have been watching this story unfold with a great deal of interest, and feel it is now time to speak up about something I only saw kind of referenced yesterday - by Bill O'Reilly - coincidentally after I fired off an email to his show mentioning it.

When people seek out a church/religion, generally they are seeking God or a better way to live. They may want answers, comfort, peace, or knowledge. What gets people to stay with a particular church/pastor is that they find what is being espoused is congruent with their particular belief set. If there is a strong conflict between the two, people will leave and seek out other churches/religions/pastors. This is evidenced in many discussions about churches/religions changing their policies/stances on various issues in order to stop congregants from leaving.

The evidence is overwhelming that Reverend Wright has not only preached anti-American venom from the pulpit, but that he has done it multiple times - which illustrates that he was not speaking rashly, but from his deepest set of beliefs. Add to that the continual and repeated references from his own lips regarding how whites hold back/put down/victimize blacks.

Obama attended this church and listened to the ravings of this pastor for TWENTY YEARS. For 20 years, Barack Obama and his wife sat in the church and listened to all the venom spewed by Reverend Wright. For 20 years, they found enough congruence between their own beliefs and what he was preaching to continue to stay - and I would bet, financially support the church/pastor.

Recently, Michelle Obama was accused of making anti-American statements (essentially the same statement reworded on several occasions). Is it any wonder that she would say such things as how ashamed she is of America when shame of, hate for, and the blaming of America is routinely preached in the church she attends?

And what of Obama and his campaign? Can we really have as our leader and representative someone who has, for 20 years, found enough congruence with his own beliefs to continue to attend a church led by Reverend Wright, and whose own wife also makes anti-American statements? How can someone who believes whites are out to get blacks, and that America is an evil and shameful country possibly fairly serve the interests of its citizens?

UPDATE TO POST:

Several things have come out since I made this post, that I felt I needed to add for your information:
Video - Barack Obama Responds
Contradiction to Barack Obama's Claimed 'Stand' on 'hate speech'
Video Clip - Bill O'Reilly's Take on Barack Obama's Response
Video Clip - Newt Gingrich and Bill O'Reilly discuss Barack Obama's Response
Article: Ann Coulter Weighs In on Obama's Response
Article: Pat Bachanan Weighs in On Obama Reply - Points out Some Facts

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you go to the Barack Obama website and pass along ANYTHING from it (i.e. "email this to a friend") be warned - they will begin to spam you! Then you have to 'unsubscribe' AND give them a reason WHY you are unsubscribing. How about 'you collected my email information without my knowledge or consent and then spammed me!'