Who is Barack Obama? by Charles McCoy, North Carolina

Senator McCain, you asked, “Who is Barack Obama?”

I can answer that question for you.  Senator Obama is an American and a senator, just like you.  He was born to a white woman, just like you.  You and Senator Obama are just alike except for a few things:

He was not given entrance into a naval academy because his father, and father before him, attended the same naval academy.

He did not graduate at the bottom of his college class.

He wasn’t involved in the loss of five airplanes during the Vietnam War causing an additional 134 military men to lose their lives.

He wasn’t captured by the Viet Cong and forced to release critical information and then to contribute to the making of a propaganda tape.

He didn’t divorce his wife and three kids to pursue the Presidency with a trophy wife at his side.

He didn’t use “poor judgment” in the Keating Five financial disaster.

He didn’t support the worst president in the history of the United States 95% of the time.

He didn’t support a war based on lies that cost the American public 10 billion dollars a month and the loss of thousands of lives.

He didn’t champion deregulation of the financial industry for 27 years, which in turn, caused America’s most recent financial disaster.

So you see, Senator McCain, you may still say you do not know who Barack Obama is, but at least now you know who he is not.

North Carolinians Speak Up. Let’s Listen

North Carolina, for perhaps the first time in its history, has the chance to become a blue state.  An Obama canvassing training was held in Raleigh last night and there were literally hundreds of people present.  Each one of those people are expected to get 10 more people to get out the vote between now and election day.  The best news for us all, though, is that the McCain campaign never counted on an election in this state to be so close.

He’s had to allocate financial resources to battle the Obama tide in North Carolina and that means he has less resources for an already troubled financial campaign.  Obama, however, does NOT have a troubled campaign.

Could it be that the negative campaign ads, direct mail, rallies and television appearances are working against McCain and Palin?  Senator Obama’s campaign strategy was perfect:  no need to attack McCain and Palin  because they will shoot themselves in the foot.  And they continue to do so….

How Obama can’t lose

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Giving Obama only those states where he is strongly or moderate/strongly ahead, Obama wins with 277. This means that even if the polls start to move towards McCain, the states that would be hit first have been given to McCain already, such as Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, with Obama still taking the White house.

The lack of civility in McCain’s crowds promotes new feud amongst politicians

At last weeks Republican campaign rallies, the words of McCain and Palin clearly gave way for their supporters to make calls like  “Traitor!” “Bomb Obama!” “Kill him!” “Liar!” “Off with his head” and the use of the “N” word to a black cameraman while their candidates stood in silence as their fans cheered them on.

In addition to these horrific and dangerous shout-outs, which some fear could be a call-to-action, the questions coming from these town hall formats had nothing to do with the economy, nothing to do with the issues, but rather were expressions of fear of a Barack Obama president, fear that we would have an “Arab,” “a Muslim” or even worse “a domestic terrorist” in the white house.

This fear, courtesy of John McCain himself , is currently being promoted in his attack ads against Barack Obama. His attack ads were developed to introduce a connection between Barack Obama and 60’s radical Bill Ayers and the clearly untrue notion this relationship implies that Obama might be a domestic terrorist himself. Everyone, including McCain himself knows that this is patently false, and McCain has stated so.

I do not believe that McCain himself thinks for one minute that Barack Obama has a terrorist bone in his body, but McCain was clearly generating a fear of Barack Obama, even if it means misleading the American people, to help him win the white house.

Careful what you wish for, Sen. McCain, because you just got it.

John McCain has now had to awkwardly back peddle, to the boos in his crowd, and said that Barack Obama is “a Christian and a decent family man.”  This environment of anger, hate and fear from the McCain rallies had not been challenged, until the national response, through media, polls and other statements have expressed concern over the danger of allowing such rhetoric to continue, forcing McCain to ask his supporters for calm.

And just now, as I am writing this post, it was announced that Rep. John Lewis said “What I am seeing reminds me too much of another destructive period in American history in the not so distant past” when George Wallace “created the climate and conditions” which provoked hate.

Barack Obama responded that he does not believe that John McCain is promoting the policies of George Wallace and that to his credit John McCain himself has spoken out at his own rallies to calm the hateful rhetoric of his supporters.  Obama did continue to say, however, that Sarah Palin’s should revoke her remarks that Barack Obama “pals around with terrorists,” a notion that John McCain has had to revoke himself.

Several republican spokesmen were on the air just a moments ago continuing to state that Barack Obama was palling around with terrorists, even after McCain himself has stated that this is not true.

This latest, very latest back and forth between camps has, at the very least, shown an undisciplined republican party, where some spokesmen are saying the Obama did pal around with terrorists, while John McCain himself is saying that this is not so.

Sarah Palin supports Militants with ties to Iran: A verifiable true story

It is not uncommon that a right leaning blogger would leave comments on a left wing blog, but frequently, the writer would use ignorant rhetoric, sighting Obama as a Muslim, or other lies that have been clearly disproved.

Now it appears that McCain’s rallies are pulling crowds thick and rich with angry citizens, scared of Barack Obama because of either their own ignorance, or by simply believing in the slanderous ads that McCain has been putting out. The mainstream, more informed republicans seemed to have abandoned him, or at least are no longer attending his rallies.

Be careful, Senator McCain, because you might just get what you wish for.

His crowds have become so militant that people from all sides of the political spectrum are concerned that his rallies are becoming a springboard for riotous behavior.   We have heard his supporters calling out “Kill him,” “He’s a terrorist,” “Bomb Obama,” and other similar provocations of violence.

So let us talk about militants for a moment. There appear to be some at McCain’s rallies today, yesterday, and last week and there is William Ayers, who participated in riotous behavior years ago, while Barack Obama was eight years old.

But wait, there is another militant group that is still active today. It is called the Alaskan Independence Party, also know as the “AIP.”

So who is the AIP?  Is it just another independence party, like Joe Lieberman? Not by a long shot.

The founder of the AIP was a man named Joe Vogler. Like Ayers, Vogler preached armed insurrection against the United States of America. Vogler was know for saying,

“when the [federal] bureaucrats come after me, I suggest they wear red coats. They make better targets.  In the federal government are the biggest liars in the United States, and I hate them with a passion.  They think they own [Alaska]. There comes a time when people will choose to die with honor rather than live with dishonor. That time may be coming here.” Vogler continues, “I hope we dont’ have to take human life, but if they go on tramping on our property rights, look out, we’re ready to die.”

This is the same ideology that produced people like Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted and later put to death for the Bombing of Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There was Waco, Texas, where the “Branch Davidians” leader, David Koresh taught that the U.S. government was the enemy of the Davidians, and that they would have to defend themselves.

Voglar made an appearance before the United Nations to denounce United States’ “tryanny,” and in front of the entire world, demanded Alaska’s freedom. Now here is the kicker. He actually persuaded the government of Iran to sponsor his anti-American cause.

Sarah Palin was not 8 years old. She was the Governor of Alaska, addressing the Alaskan Independence Party’s convention herself  just six months ago. She told them in her speech to “Keep up the good work” asking for God to bless them.  She wished the party luck on what she called its “inspiring convention.”

This is here and now and Sarah and Todd Palin show a deep involvement with this domestic terrorist organization. And we now see the buds of this kind of ideology at McCain’s rallies just this week!

At another town hall meeting on Friday, McCain gave the lady a microphone. She said she was afraid if Barack Obama would become president, because she said he was an Arab. The embarrassed McCain had no choice but to then defend Obama and say the truth, lest he be caught in a televised lie in the making.  The crowd booed McCain, but the sad thing is that this lady should be fearing the presidency of John McCain. I fear that the climate of this country could become more like McCain’s rallies.  I would fear for this country if John McCain was elected president.

John McCain pulls out the worst in people while Barack Obama continues to talk about hope and change.

The Flowchart of Sarah Palin’s Brain at the debate

Who is really going to raise your taxes?

Barack Obama will cut taxes for families making $250,000 or less.  McCain continues to say that Barack Obama will raise taxes.  Why does the media keep saying this and why do the American people keep falling for McCain’s distorted attacks on Barack Obama?

When John McCain says “I am going to put our country first!” Great. But what does that mean?

When John McCain says “We need more reform,” Great. But for 26 years, he has been calling for deregulation “I am a deregulator!” he exclaims, proudly. Now that he sees that Wall street cannot be trusted, he now calls for more regulation, after the fact! Hindsight is 20/20 my friend. Everybody is calling for regulation now.  Why weren’t you able to make that good judgement before the crises!

In defense, the Republicans like to say “Barack Obama has done nothing.” This one is a bold faced lie, but if you keep on saying it, it will become true in the minds of the American voter. So do you want to just keep saying it and win the election on a lie. What has Barack Obama done?

Obama introduced 2006 legislation aimed at ending home loans based on fraud, abuse or excessive risk. He has long warned against financial losses because of insufficient oversight of high-risk areas, particularly those involving sub-prime mortgages and loans that exceed what borrowers are able to bear.

When John McCain says “Barack Obama is going to raise your taxes. I am not.” Nice try, but I know that Barack Obama is not going to raise my taxes, and I am a member of the middle class, or what once was the middle class. I have a mortgage to pay and I live paycheck to paycheck.  We no longer eat at restaurants and every purchase we make needs to be justified.

John McCain will raise my taxes. He will force employees to pay taxes on their health care benefits.  My taxable income will increase.  He plans to give every family something like $2,600 to purchase their own health insurance, which will become the health insurance for the healthy, while the unhealthy will pay higher taxes because they won’t be able to afford private insurance.  So John McCain is introducing a new kind of tax “cut off” that is not based on how much you make, but how healthy you are!

When you have the opportunity to make a choice

Today, I was listening to a radio talk show when a woman dialed in with a comment. She was sobbing to the point where she could hardly speak, but felt compelled to recount her plight. The show host was patient and gentle, helping the woman tell her story and I found myself listening with sadness and empathy as this terrible story unfolded.

After attending her Evangelical church, as she did regularly, she told us about one horrifying evening that changed her life forever. After church one evening, she had become a victim of rape. To make a terrorizing experience even worse, she became pregnant from this rape. This woman is a pro-life evangelical and she was faced with the most excruciating choice ever to face a woman. The pain was so great, that she had seriously considered suicide, but she had a choice, without which two lives may have been lost.

Yes, she had a choice, and Sarah Palin had a choice to keep her special needs child. Both of these woman are pro-life, and yet, they both made different choices. Our talk show caller terminated the pregnancy because, as she told us while deep in tears, it was the only choice that enabled her to go on living.

Sarah Palin believes that this woman should have been considered a criminal, and yet, she was the victim. When Gov. Palin has her chance to build a supreme court, and she will, she will pick judges that will reverse Roe V. Wade, even in cases of rape or incest.

The idea of criminalizing our talk show caller makes me feel profoundly angry and fear the future of this country. No one can claim to understand how this woman felt and no one should have the right to dictate what this woman must do.

We are all pro-life, and there is no such thing as a pro-abortion movement. All we are asking for in this great free country is the freedom to make the most difficult and personal choice a woman might ever have to make.

Sarah Palin is too extreme for this country. She might make a great leader of a secular nation, but not of this free nation.

Listen to Sarah Palin debate on the radio

First, you might want to get a little background on the dairy industry bailout that they are discussing
here .

Listen to a conversation between Sarah Palin and Rep. Andrew Halcro. Sarah Palin is discussing the reasons why the Matanuska Maid Dairy should remain open. In this conversation, Matanuska Maid Dairy is referred to as the “Mat Maid Dairy”

Letter from Anne Kilkenny about Sarah Palin: a Must read before you vote

First, let it be said that John McCain is the oldest man to ever run for President of the United States.

Do you also know that McCain has had at least 5 bouts with Cancer?  That POW’s have a very difficult time in life, and tend to have a shorter life span than others?  (So, in fact, the possibility of Sarah Palin becoming our President is not far fetched, but rather, likely.)   In fact, the pressures of serving as President are so tremendous that people age more quickly…and McCain cannot afford to age more quickly than he already has.

So you loved Sarah Palin’s speech, and now you think she would make a great President should the need arise?

Be very careful. You cannot judge Sarah Palin based on her ability to simply read a speech - especially one she didn’t write herself.  Ask yourself whether a person who presided over a tiny town in the remote state of Alaska before becoming Governor of that state really has the experience necessary to run a country as complex as the United States.  Ask yourself if someone who has approximately 20 months of experience as Governor is ready to assume such an enormous task.  She has little experience outside of Alaska and even less experience with the remaining 49 states that comprise our Union.

Examine the facts thoroughly before you make your decision.  If the ability to read a speech, assuming credit inappropriately, local popularity, serving as Mayor and becoming a hockey mom were enough to qualify someone for President (or Vice President) for the United States, then just about anyone could run for office and we would not be the superpower we are now.

Let’s strive for higher standards this time around.

Read the truth about Sarah Palin from someone who knows her well.
This letter was written by Anne Kilkenny, a resident of Wasilla, Alaska.  She has known Sarah Palin since 1992.

Here are some excerpts from Kilkenny’s letter:

She is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just "puts things out
there" and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit.
...
During her mayoral administration [of Wasilla, Alaska] most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. [There goes her executive experience.]
She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million.
...
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once. [She sold her corporate jet, but not on Ebay
(although she did list it on Ebay). She sold it at a loss, not a profit.]
...
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of "old boys". Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop [Troopergate]
...

She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.

I highly encourage you to read this letter in its entirerty now.