The Audacity of Obama

Note to Senator Barack Obama: You are not a member of the Senate Banking Committee. I know you were trying to make the Jews feel good about you and all in Israel, but, dude. Get over yourself already.

Charles Krauthammer has an interesting read in the National Review Online. From it comes this: "Obama is a three-year senator without a single important legislative achievement to his name, a former Illinois state senator who voted "present" nearly 130 times. As president of the Harvard Law Review, as law professor and legislator, has he ever produced a single notable piece of scholarship? Written a single memorable article? His most memorable work is a biography of his favorite subject: himself."

"He lectures us that instead of worrying about immigrants learning English, "you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish" - a language Obama does not speak. He further admonishes us on how "embarrassing" it is that Europeans are multilingual but "we go over to Europe, and all we can say is, 'merci beaucoup.' " Obama speaks no French."

So, is he embarrassed of himself? Which languages will he fluently speak in Europe on the grand campaign tour he is on now?

Another smart man, Michael Barone, has an interesting take on the campaign for President this year. His article, also appearing in National Review Online, compares this year's race to the one in 1976. It caught my attention as that was the first time I was old enough to vote. I remember I was completely puzzled as to how perfectly intelligent voters were jumping on the Jimmy Carter bandwagon. You see, I lived in Georgia and Carter was Governor of the state. My family lived in a suburb north of Atlanta and I went to college in Atlanta. I knew who Carter was and knew the country didn't need him. Oh well.

And, this year we face a similar political climate. Just as the Republican brand was suffering after the Nixon years, it does so now. Just as Carter was a relative unknown to the country, so is Obama now. Just as Carter claimed he'd bring the races together - hey, he put up a portrait of MLK, Jr. in the state Capitol in Atlanta - so does Obama.

Barone's point is that the race, despite all the advantages for the Democrats, was a close one. It was 50%-48%, Carter over Ford. In 1976, party identification by Democrats was larger than it is now and Ford was way behind Carter in the polls during the summer months. That is not the case this time. Even though the press has covered Obama to the tune of three times as much as McCain since February of this year, and all with their swooning, fawning, starry eyes, McCain is still within the margin of error of winning in November.

What is to explain that?

I think it is because Obama wears thin on people. The more we hear of him, the less he comes across as sincere, honest, trustworthy, and least of all, humble. Or maybe it's just me.

I'm known as a good judge of character, of people. I'm fair until the bitter end but once my opinion is formed it is rarely changed. My astrological sign is Gemini. I drive myself crazy seeing both sides of all stories. I have not trusted or believed Obama from the beginning. There was just something about him that didn't register right with me.

He's a product of political opportunism, a protege of the political machine on the south side of Chicago. As a political science student in college and the wife of a man married to a politician's daughter of that area during his first marriage, I was already familiar with that machine. I grew up in Louisiana where politics is a blood sport. It's my passion.

Growing up, I was taught to know people by the others with which they associate. Obama, who joined a church for his political career and his wife encouraged it as she was already a member, and then the tapes of the hate-filled 'sermons' of his minister surfaced. His wife has a chip on her shoulder the size of a boulder. They are the poster children of elitism yet pose as poor folks. They have been given every opportunity possible, including the best education in the country. A typical remark from the wife, showing her view of the world, was that the economic stimulus checks written by taxpayers recently wouldn't help much. Why, what could she buy with $600? She said maybe a pair of earrings. Hmmm. I don't think America shops as she does. They live in a McMansion in Hyde Park, after the publication of two books all about him, financed by a corrupt financier/mentor. He has a relationship with William Ayers, a member of the domestic terrorist group of the 60's, the Weathermen. Ayers, not just another parent at the school of his children, but a political fundraiser for Obama since the beginnings of his political career. The kick off fundraiser held in Ayers' home when Obama ran for Senate. His mother, an anthropologist known for her Marxist politics, is referred to by Obama as his 'touchstone' and his agreement with her political views.

It all forms the man.

In his article, Michael Barone suggests John McCain continue to fill in the blanks. He suggests McCain continue to hold town hall meetings, a venue in which he shines and Obama does not. Obama stammers and speaks haltingly when asked questions on the stump. And, the whistle from his teeth is annoying as he holds his nose up in the air posture.

The McCain campaign should continue to fill in the blanks on Obama. Obama's gaffes are frequent. The press will not cover them. Even the obvious gaffe of Obama flat out stating that the Senate Banking Committee - "his" committee, he told the questioner in Israel yesterday, that passed through the Senate legislation to assist Israel with support by financial divestment of enemies. It was simply a lie. Another example of his arrogance getting the better of him.

So, while the press and the Obama faithful continue on with the thread that McCain is old and 'daft', it is up to the new media to take up the slack. The audacity of Obama who now acts as though we must surrender in Iraq to win in Afghanistan is predictable. I suppose he hopes the voters forget he voted against funding the war in Afghanistan.

Maybe he should have just voted 'present'.