Are You a Racist if You Do Not Vote for Obama?

Michael Eden brings up an issue brought forth in Newsweek: In the November 4th election, are you a racist if you do not vote for Senator Barack Obama? Just the very question threatens liberty. If we must vote for a Black because otherwise, we are racist, if we must vote for a woman because otherwise we are anti-feminist, or pro-male; if we must vote for anyone other than a white male, because otherwise we are supporting the evil white man...then let the battle begin. More thoughts on the issue of liberty and the way we vote at Gold Standard Issues - How to Vote for President.

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Newsweek Claims that Whites Who Don't Vote for Obama are Racists by Michael Eden writing for American Sentinel Newsweek isn’t a completely in-the-tank-for liberals biased bullpoop rag. They represent “legitimate journalism.” Well, that’s the claim, anyway.

Of course, what passes for “legitimate journalism” often looks like the piece that recently emerged from the tiny little ideologue brain of Jacob Weisberg.

Here’s a representative sample:

But let’s be honest: the reason Obama isn’t ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He lags with them for a simple reason: the color of his skin.

Just realize something: if you are white and you don’t vote for Barack Obama, it is for one and only one reason: you are a racist.

I would love to vote for a black President. I would be quite happy to vote for a woman. The only thing I ask is that they share my basic values, beliefs, and vision for this country.

I know, I know. How racist and sexist of me.

Here’s the Newsweek article, in its entirety, with a little more of my outrage to follow:

What Will The Neighbors Think?

Obama’s defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to. Jacob Weisberg NEWSWEEK Updated: 5:29 PM ET Aug 23, 2008

What with the Bush legacy of reckless war and economic mismanagement, 2008 is a year that favors the generic Democratic candidate over the generic Republican one. Yet Barack Obama, with every natural and structural advantage, is running only neck and neck with John McCain, a subpar nominee with a list of liabilities longer than a Joe Biden monologue. Obama has built a crack political operation, raised record sums and inspired millions with his eloquence and vision. McCain has struggled with a fractious campaign team, deficits in clarity and discipline, and remains a stranger to charisma. Yet at the moment, the two appear to be tied. What gives?

If it makes you feel better, you can rationalize Obama’s missing 10-point lead on the basis of Clintonite sulkiness, his slowness in responding to attacks or the concern that he may be too handsome, brilliant and cool to be elected. But let’s be honest: the reason Obama isn’t ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He lags with them for a simple reason: the color of his skin.

Much evidence points to racial prejudice as a factor that could be large enough to cost Obama the election. That warning is written all over last month’s CBS/New York Times poll, which is worth studying if you want to understand white America’s curious sense of racial grievance. In the poll, 26 percent of whites say they have been victims of discrimination. Twenty-seven percent say too much has been made of the problems facing black people. Twenty-four percent say that the country isn’t ready to elect a black president. Five percent acknowledge that they, personally, would not vote for a black candidate.

Five percent surely understates the extent of the problem. In the Pennsylvania primary, one in six white voters told exit pollsters that race was a factor in his or her decision. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Clinton. You can do the math: 12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn’t vote for Barack Obama in part because he is African-American. And that’s what Democrats in a Northeastern(ish) state admit openly.

Such prejudice usually comes coded in distortions about Obama and his background. To the willfully ignorant, he’s a secret Muslim married to a black-power radical. Or—thanks, Geraldine Ferraro—he got where he is only because of the special treatment accorded those lucky enough to be born with African blood. Some Jews assume Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, the way they assume other black politicians to be. To some white voters (14 percent in the CBS/New York Times poll), Obama is someone who as president would favor blacks over whites. Or he’s an “elitist,” who cannot understand ordinary (read: white) people because he isn’t one of them. We’re just not comfortable with, you know, a Hawaiian.

Then there’s the overt stuff. In May, Pat Buchanan, who frets about the European-Americans losing control of their country, ranted on MSNBC in defense of white West Virginians voting on the basis of racial solidarity. The No. 1 best seller in America, “Obama Nation,” by Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D., leeringly notes that Obama’s white mother always preferred her “mate” be “a man of color.” John McCain has yet to get around to denouncing this vile book.

Many have discoursed on what an Obama victory could mean for America. We would finally be able to see our legacy of slavery, segregation and racism in the rearview mirror. Our kids would grow up thinking of prejudice as a nonfactor in their lives. The rest of the world would embrace a less fearful and more open post-post-9/11 America. But does it not follow that an Obama defeat would signify the opposite? If Obama loses, our children will grow up thinking of equal opportunity as a myth. His defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to. In this event, the world’s judgment will be severe and inescapable: the United States had its day, but in the end couldn’t put its own self-interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race.

Choosing McCain, in particular, would herald the construction of a bridge to the 20th century—and not necessarily the last part of it, either. McCain represents a cold-war style of nationalism that doesn’t get the shift from geopolitics to geoeconomics, the centrality of soft power in a multipolar world or the transformative nature of digital technology. This is a matter of attitude as much as age. A lot of 71-year-olds are still learning and evolving. But in 2008, being flummoxed by that newfangled doodad, the personal computer, seems like a deal breaker. At this hinge moment in human history, McCain’s approach to our gravest problems is hawkish denial. I like and respect the man, but the maverick has become an ostrich: he wants to deal with the global energy crisis by drilling, our debt crisis by cutting taxes, and he responds to threats from Georgia to Iran with Bush-like belligerence and pique.

You may or may not agree with Obama’s policy prescriptions, but they are, by and large, serious attempts to deal with the biggest issues we face: a failing health-care system, oil dependency, income stagnation and climate change. To the rest of the world, a rejection of the promise he represents wouldn’t just be an odd choice by the United States. It would be taken for what it would be: sign and symptom of a nation’s historical decline.

Is there a single thing that anyone can point to that would support the position that this article contains any journalistic balance at all?

What is the state of journalism today?

This is a publication that trashed Mother Theresa after her death.

Read more at American Sentinel.

Gold Standard Issues - How to Vote for President

Newsweek Claims that Whites Who Don't Vote for Obama are Racists, by Michael Eden writing for American Sentinel I'm not a racist, and I certainly will not vote for Obama. Issues that raise my antennae: a candidate leaning toward, or tied to, communism, socialism, victimhood and Islam. These are the big issues that will affect liberty, as nothing else will. I have never been a racist. I vote based on what I believe the candidate believes. Skin color is never an issue - but it is an issue for the media. Their advocacy for any skin color other than white is astonishing, their advocacy for any population group that is "not legal" is astonishing, their advocacy for anything that is "faithless" is astonishing. Sharpton, Jackson, Obama '08, the DNC, MSNBC, et all, think this is their heaviest hammer. The media unashamedly calls us racist. If only we could be in the voting booth to see how each of them "check the box." Their rhetoric is high, but many in the media are the biggest racists of all. More on the subject of racism in the voting booth.

Fmr DNC Chair Thinks Hurricane Proves God is on the Side of the Dems

RedState.com's absentee's Diary videos former Nat. Chair of the DNC, Don Fowler, as he chuckles about a hurricane hitting New Orleans just at the time President Bush is to speak Monday at the RNC. ..."that just demonstrates God's on our side," he says. Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina allegedly was the other side of the conversation. There's more than just the video. Read it at RedState. Thanks to YouTube.com

A Chicagoan's Perspective on Obama, Rezko and Corruption

This corner lot formerly owned by Antoin "Tony" Rezko's wife, Rita, is next door to the home (right) of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood. (Tribune photo by Milbert O. Brown / March 6, 2008)

Rezko, Obama, and Chicago Corruption by Abraham H. Miller July 5, 2008

Abraham H. Miller is an emeritus professor of political science. He grew up in Chicago's notorious 24th Ward, and he is author of a recent work of Chicago-based fiction, 'Vorshavsky: A Chicago Story.'

If Tony Rezko were young, blonde and disappeared on a Caribbean Island, Greta Van Sustern would have been all over the Rezko trial. And that very particular Chicago definition of 'clout' would have been ingrained in everyone's lexicon.

But Tony (Antoin) Rezko is simply another middle-aged, bald, Chicago developer who was involved in an influence peddling and kick-back scheme that was connected to a number of politicians, a couple of pension funds, an Iraqi businessman (prepared to upfront millions for bail) and, oh yes, Senator Barack Obama. A jury hit Tony with a conviction on sixteen felony counts out of twenty four in the indictment.

Corruption, at least corruption old-fashioned Chicago style, is par for the city's political culture. Unlike corruption in other cities, Chicago corruption usually trickled down to the little guy. The myth is that everyone benefited. Of course, some people benefited a lot more than others.

And Chicago corruption was always underscored by a nice dose of reality. When one prominent politician was asked about directing the city's insurance business to his relatives, he gave a resoundingly uncomplicated answer: Why would anyone bother to go into politics, if he couldn't throw a little business to his loved ones.

We Chicagoans can resonate to the crisp truthfulness of the response.

Unlike academia where the corruption is so intense, the stakes are so small, and the justifications truly Kafkaesque, the guy on the right side of the take in Chicago could, well, like Tony Rezko, buy a great mansion in fashionable Wilmette, or like Barack Obama get a real discount on a mansion in trendy and liberal Hyde Park-Kenwood.

No further rationale would be required.

Since 1972, on average two Chicago politicians per year have been convicted of felonies. In 1991, when not one Chicago Alderman was convicted or even indicted, the Sun-Times ran that deviant event as a front-page story.

Michelle Obama spent just three years at the Chicago Law Firm of Sidley Austin, far less than a typical associate on the career path to be partner. In a move incongruous with the alleged iconic credentials that are a mainstay of the Michelle hagiography, she took a job with the Democratic machine.

Probably some people think you leave a high- powered, prestigious law firm like Sidley Austin to take a job with the Chicago machine to save the world. But no one who knows how Chicago works is going to buy that!

Michelle was subsequently hired by the University of Chicago, ultimately ending up as the University of Chicago Hospital's Vice President for External Affairs. Barack was chair of the Illinois Senate's powerful Health and Human Services Committee, the position tied by some to the Rezko scandal.

If you don't get the picture, you are definitely not from Chicago.

In 2007 the not-for-profit University of Chicago hospital turned out a profit of 143 million, and is up 118 million for 2008. The hospital is scheduled to receive a 30 million infusion from Medicaid, and will be turning some of its Medicaid patients to another hospital to free up space for its private insurance paying patients. According to the (London ) Daily Mail (online), in 2006 the hospital turned away an indigent man, who died.

When Michelle exhorts young people to turn down the profit system and do something meaningful with their lives, apparently this is not the example she means to convey.

Now you might ask what does a community relations director at a university do? That's really a naive question. The question is who does the community relation's director know?

The answer became apparent when Barack was elected to the U.S. Senate and Michelle's salary more than doubled.

Barack and Michelle were a power couple hooked into the Democratic machine. Tony Rezko cultivated them, the Chicago Way. When the Obamas bought their mansion in trendy Hyde Park-Kenwood, Mrs. Rezko bought the lot next door for asking price in a coordinated deal from the same seller. The Obamas got their house at a discount. Mrs. Rezko paid full price. Later, Mrs. Rezko sold part of the lot to the Obamas to expand their back yard.

What Rezko wanted from Obama became apparent later.

To understand the genius of Rezko, you need to understand that for generations, corruption in Chicago was partisan specific. As my mother used to say when she split her ticket, 'You need some Republicans. Then the machine can't steal as much.'

But then came the Chicago Combine: bipartisan corruption you could believe in. Rezko established a typical Chicago 'pay for play' scheme, but one that crossed party lines. You want to build a hospital, you had to pay Rezko, who paid the appropriate people who could help you play. The problem that Rezko faced was the hospital board had fifteen members and that is a lot of people to bribe and a lot of loose ends. But then Rezko had a friend who chaired the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.

Enter State Senator Barack Obama, who is credited as the moving force behind a piece of bipartisan legislation (Il. Senate Bill 1332) that reduced the hospital board to nine people, to be appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich (know as Governor 'Blago') with advice and consent of the Illinois Senate.

Blago immediately appointed three physicians, Rezko cronies with similar Middle Eastern backgrounds, all of whom were coincidentally big contributors to Barack Obama. As they say downtown, Barack knows how to walk the Chicago Way. Rezko became the guy you saw if you wanted to build a health care facility. He controlled the board's votes.

The three appointed physicians have been convicted in the Federal probe and are rumored to be about ready to sing. Rumor also has it that Patricia Blagojevich, the governor's wife, is next in line for an indictment. The Chicago press is now 24/7 on active 'Patti Watch.' For his part, Rezko just sent a 'I will not rat out my pals letter,' to United States District Judge Amy St. Eve. Veteran observers of the Chicago crime scene note that the guys who don't sing, don't write letters. They just clam up. You write a letter because you want the other guys to be reminded to take care of your wife and kids'college is expensive. So, what else does Rezko expect, a presidential pardon, ala Bill Clinton and Carlos Vignali, the dope dealer Clinton's brother-in-law, Hugh Rodham, represented? So, here's the deal. If you don't want a president making it in the alcove near the Oval Office, don't elect a guy with a history as a rake and a swordsman. If you don't want a president who can't negotiate with the majority of his own party, don't elect a backwoods, Southern governor with a Jesus complex. If you don't want a president who orders the break in of the opposition, don't elect a guy whose career was saturated by paranoia. And if you want to make sure that the White House is not going to be tainted by corruption, don't elect a president who grew up in the Chicago political system and whose wife thinks that the country owes her some palliative to eliminate her sense of personal shame. Because unlike the stock market, when it comes to human behavior, past performance really is indicative of future results. End Abraham H. Miller article ______________________________________________________________________ Chicago Suntimes, January 26, 2008

Obama has never agreed to an interview about Rezko, but after Clinton injected the name into the campaign on Monday, on Wednesday, ABC's "Good Morning America's" Diane Sawyer asked Obama about Rezko. Obama made it seem like he hardly knew Rezko -- who was a friend, a client and a fund-raiser -- and was clueless about Rezko's potential criminal legal problems that had been reported by the Chicago press.

Chicago Tribune, David Jackson, March 15, 2008

...in a 90-minute interview with Tribune reporters and editors, Obama disclosed that Rezko had raised more for Obama's earlier political campaigns than previously known, gathering as much as $250,000 for the first three offices he sought.

LA Times Top of the Ticket

A federal jury in Chicago today convicted developer Antoin "Tony" Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich, who made Rezko a central player in his kitchen cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

Read more of Mr. Miller's work: American Thinker The Feminists and the Jews The Conservative Voice John McCain and the American Electorate

Apocalypse Now: The River of Lies

Thoughts on seeing Apocalypse Now again: Cross posted from Radarsite It's 1979 and a young Martin Sheen is taking us up that fateful river again. He is our wise and somber Virgil, our guide, our narrator, the ORM (the Only Rational Man) leading us up that labyrinthine river of death and insanity which is our national crucible, our Vietnam War. That great river of no return, that winding thread of dark infuriating lies that will take us further and further into the Heart of Darkness, into the Heart of Darkness of our great national shame and guilt and self-loathing. This was the real secret mission of that clandestine journey. And they almost succeeded. It's the summer of 2008 and I'm taking that trip with him once again and I am breathless and speechless in shock and wonder at the enormity my previous innocence and gullibility. I am overcome by the tragedy of it all. Not just by the horrors of that bloody and inconclusive war, but overcome by what they, the narrators have done to us all. Our trusted and revered guides have all but ruined us with the binding threads of their dark unscrupulous lies. Up the river we follow them into that great cynical myth, slaughtering myriad innocent women and little children, laying waste to the fertile land, sacrificing a small courageous people in the fiery embrace of Napalm, swooping in on the little schoolchildren playing in their schoolyard, like great birds of prey, accompanied by those brutal and bombastic sounds of the furies of hell, those Hitlerian Wagnerian orgasms of supremacist passion, the demonic sounds of that self-righteous, contemptuous warrior's passion. We are all too young, much to young to know what the hell we're doing, we're all dopeheads and surfers, sadistic, drunken sex-starved smiling adolescent American monsters, smiling the awful smiles of insanity as we slaughter our helpless prey. Meaningless slaughter. Pointless death. Ghastly unnecessary erroneous war. Monumental moral blunder. And what finally do we find at the end of that gruesome river, at the end of our perilous journey? We find ourselves. And the discovery is alarming. Madness, arrogant, ruthless, contempt of all that is fine and good in human nature, thoughtlessly obliterating a fine nation for inscrutable and indefensible motives. A big stupid illiterate giant stumbling around the world in our drunken orgy of self-gratification. We have become the monsters we once abhorred, too young and naive to even begin to appreciate the enormity of our loss, that loss of all that which we once held dear. This is the grave and ominous lesson of that journey into the Heart of Darkness, into the Heart of our National Moral Darkness. This is the lesson of that ominous voyage, the message of our profound and wise Virgil, our trusted guide, our ORM. This, then, shall be our new national narrative: The epic downward spiral of a once great nation into that great hopeless moral miasma. This is what they have done to us, this is what they have wrought. Our honored Virgils, our trusted guides, our respected ORM. This, what we have become, is their doing, this is the product of their genuis and ideology and their talent. With the power of their heavy-handed symbols and crude metaphors they have almost succeeded in redefining our national narrative. We have almost become lost in that impenetrable jungle of lies and propaganda. We have almost lost our way and have almost lost our humanity. We have, they have convinced us, sinned greatly, monumentally, against all mankind, and all that saves us from oblivion is heeding their grave warnings, the warnings of our false Virgils, the concerned admonishments of our counterfeit ORM. Oh, and they have worked their magic well. They have taught us how to hate ourselves with great sincerity and how to love our enemies, and , finally, how to find hope and solace in our boundless self-contempt. There is, they tell us, still that one possible chance for salvation -- our willingness to face up to our past mistakes and to try to make amends. To give up all of our old selfish and contemptible imperialistic warrior dreams and join the humble brotherhood of man. It's not too late yet, they tell us. There is still time. If we just follow their lead. So I have taken that old trip up that long loathsome river once again and I am all but speechless in shock and wonder at my previous ignorance and gullibility. But no longer. Now my eyes have been opened, now I can see the corrupt degenerate treachery of our false guides, our false Virgils. Their lessons are lies and their messages are empty. They have almost ruined us with their deceptions and their purposeful distortions of the truth. They had almost succeeded, they had almost robbed us of our self-respect, our hard-won and well-earned self-respect. But ultimately they have failed to destroy us. Because we can still remember, we can still remember the truth of who we are, despite their most talented and ambitious efforts to obliterate it. We are a great fine people. We are a great fine nation. We owe no apologies to anyone -- least of all to ourselves. In the end the false storytellers with their secret agendas have failed. It is the beginning of a new season now, we are beginning to create a new narrative. A narrative founded on truth and hope and promise. We are looking for new guides now, for new Virgils. Not to lead us down into the depths of self-immolation and despair, but to lift us up to the heights of promise and fulfilment. We are looking for guides now who will teach us how to love ourselves once again and regain the strength of the righteous warriors that we are. We are free and we are kind and decent. And the old men's tales, the False Virgil's lies just won't do anymore.

Video: McCain and Palin in Iraq

Comparing our Presidential candidates. Casting an eagle-eye. Thank you Woman Honor Thyself and YouTube.com

Flight 93 Blogburst - Big DC Fundraiser Cancelled!

This should have been posted on August 20th, 2008, so it's almost two weeks late. It's an important Flight 93 post. Maybe you missed it also, so here it is. Big DC fundraiser cancelled Cancel as well the urgent action alert that was going to be the subject of today’s blogburst post. The Memorial Project has just abandoned the "gala" tribute and fundraiser they were planning for almost a year. The event was to be held in Washington DC on September 11th, and yes, they actually called it a “gala,” until Flight 93 family members said NO WAY. Last month's announcement of the event promised big:

An impressive Honorary Host Committee has been assembled consisting of over 200 members of Congress and the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Special state delegations from Pennsylvania and California are also being organized for the event.

Assembled where? In the imaginations of Memorial Project personnel? If there really were 200 Congressmen on board, including the leadership of both parties, what could possibly prompt cancellation? Has word gotten out that the memorial is actually a terrorist memorial mosque? Fuggedaboudit. We are a long ways from Congress being alert to the facts. It is possible, however, that there is a growing awareness in Congress that the Flight 93 families are divided over the crescent design (now called a broken circle). Thank Tom Burnett Sr., whose efforts to stop the desecration of his son's grave drew national television coverage in May, and extensive Pittsburgh coverage this month: Tom Sr. on Pittsburgh's KPXI channel 6, August 4th. (Click for video.) Us critics know well the difficulty of going up against Flight 93 family members. Who would have imagined that conservative stalwarts like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity would remain silent about the planting of a giant Mecca-oriented crescent on the Flight 93 crash site? But all it takes is some family members on the other side and nobody wants to get involved. Maybe Tom's pleas for help are injecting the same paralysis into would-be supporters of the crescent design. If both sides are paralyzed, that is a step in the right direction, but it is nowhere near enough. Architect Paul Murdoch is still on track to stab his terrorist memorial mosque into the heartland of America. (That is the significance of a crescent that Muslims face into to face Mecca: it is the central feature around which every mosque is built.) How big does the memorial controversy have to get before a few of these paralyzed big-wigs on either side decide to simply check the facts? All congressmen have interns they can assign to fact-check the Mecca orientation of the giant crescent (five minutes), the Islamic crescent soaring in the sky above the symbolic lives of the 40 heroes (five seconds), the 44 glass blocks on the flight path (just open up the design drawings and count). Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity all have interns too. If these folks are skeptical, they ought to at least want to expose our claims about these features as a fraud, so that the controversy can be put to rest. If they find that our claims are accurate, all we ask is that they join the call for a proper investigation. Come on movers and shakers. Paralysis is not enough. Stand paralyzed as Paul Murdoch pilots a re-hijacked Flight 93 to its mark, and the heroism of Flight 93 will be well and truly betrayed. To join our blogbursts, just send your blog's url.

Radical Liberal Bloggers - Here's a Run-down

For the latest in election dynamics, drill here drill now, wit and wisdom, and all Conservative issues, visit American Sentinel. From American Sentinel's Paul Zannucci:

Breaking news: Democratic talking points: being an involved mother and a member of PTA is an indicator of systemic stupidity and means you have a questionable background.

Perhaps the enlightened party needs to look a little more carefully at itself. Today’s news that Sarah Palin will be the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republicans has brought a barrage of sexist remarks at Democratic websites.

Here’s a quick review:

Son of Bill Brasky, who came on this site to rail about Palin being a beauty queen, has more standard drivel on his site, including an hilarious post that includes a picture of Palin and a baby polar bear. Nice work, there, SOB. Don’t bother thanking me for the link.

Ali A. Rizvi, like Brasky another small time liberal blogger, calls Palin “just a girl”. I’m sure his mother is proud.

At the Democratic Underground, posters are making fun of her, again, participating in pageants and being a part of the PTA. They compare her to a fry cook, which is demeaning only to the people who struggle through the hard and hot work of being a fry cook. For anyone from the DU who might come over here, I’d like to remind them that there is nothing wrong with having a job. Various threads exist on Palin and almost all of them are sexist. They claim she is a “token” woman, point out that she has a vagina, question whether she is suffering from postpartum depression and make copious predictions that she’ll cry throughout the campaign.

Over at Daily Kos, the official articles repeatedly belittle her knowledge on just about everything and compare her to Dharma and Punky Brewster. read more

The Spirit of a Gentleman...The Spirit of Religion

Excerpt from Global Analysis with J.R. Nyquist Published August 29, 2008

Enter Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. Enter, as well, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Fidel Castro, Ho Chi Minh, and today’s politically correct mob. What characterizes them, besides their egotism and narcissism, is their false idealism and moral posturing. According to Edmund Burke: “Nothing is more certain, than that our manners, our civilization, and all the good things which are connected with manners and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles; and were indeed the result of both combined; I mean the spirit of a gentleman, and the spirit of religion.”

Since Burke’s time, modern intellectuals have overthrown the spirit of a gentleman and the spirit of religion. Every structure, every religious precept, every honored tradition, came under intellectual attack. God and country were targeted. Religion and patriotism were targeted. The main surviving ideals of our day are those of leveling, equalizing and taxing into penury. Envy is the Holy Grail of our intelligentsia, and the annihilation of all values is their ultimate end.

Read the entire article.

McCain/Palin: The Shortest Critique on the Web

Let me see if I've got this right -- the glamorous young candidate for change has picked for his running mate an old insider politco rerun, and the old geezer has picked a fresh young vibrant newcomer. Wow. Now who's the candidate for change here?

Reminders of Senator Joe Biden

Stanford Matthews at blog@morewhat took a short time away from the blogosphere, but he's back now. Stanford is one of the finest and most objective political bloggers on the web (that does not mean sans opinion). From blog@morewhat, here a news piece about Senator Clinton's supporters and reminders of some of Senator Biden's past and present: Some of Hillary Clinton's most fervent supporters are taking their enthusiasm and their campaign contributions to John McCain. As Barack Obama prepares to accept taking his fairy tale to the public on behalf of the Democratic party his running mate Senator Joseph Biden assumes the attack dog role of VP nominee. This is the same Biden famous for a tendency toward plagiarism who hosted a luncheon to make nice with the person he plagiarized in 1990. Published on July 19, 1990, The Washington Times

Sen. Joseph Biden Jr., who became famous for purloining political rhetoric, yesterday made restitution with beef tenderloin for the author of his best material. The Delaware Democrat was host at a Senate luncheon for Neil Kinnock, leader of the British Labor Party, from whom he plagiarized a speech three years ago that caused a minor scandal and derailed his 1988 presidential campaign.

Perhaps the two Dems are running mates based on these tendencies. Hillary Clinton pointed out that Obama plagiarizes Governor Deval Patrick and Obama did not deny it but … Obama downplayed the significance of the accusation.

I’ve written two books, wrote most of my speeches. So I think putting aside the question … in terms of whether my words are my own, I think that would be carrying it too far,.... Deval and I do trade ideas all the time, and you know he’s occasionally used lines of mine,...” Obama said he also used some of Deval’s words at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Wisconsin. I would add I’ve noticed on occasion Sen. Clinton has used words of mine as well,...” CNN Politics.com

As I said before, I really don’t think this is too big of a deal. The plagiarism thing may seem trivial and perhaps it is. What is not trivial is what the practice says about the candidates. What else that is wrong do they think is no big deal? Joe Biden once took PAC money but now is PAC-pure

Barack Obama makes a point of rejecting money from political action committees, condemning them as a symbol of what’s wrong with insider politics in Washington. Los Angeles Times

Edwards’ Money Man Also Has Ties to Biden By Matthew Mosk, Washington Post read more about Edwards' money man

MSNBC: "Fatuous Suck-Up" Video

Noonan
by burghnews

DailyMotion.com and Breitbart.tv

The View From Down Under: America As Seen by the Aussies

The View From Down Under

Most Americans I think have a high regard for Aussies, based on our traditional mutual support of one another in our common wars. These positive views were I believe re-enforced recently with the rather sudden appearance of a whole bunch of first-rate Aussie movies in the 70s -- among some of my favorites would be Gallipoli and Breaker Morant. Then of course everybody loved Mel Gibson and Crocodile Dundee. Aussie culture quickly became the latest rage with the American in crowd.

But Americans really don't know what Aussies think about them. And I think they might be surprised. I for one was very much surprised by the amount of support and honest affection for America coming from down under -- especially considering that our own leftist media has us all thinking that everyone in the world hates our guts. So I approached my good friend and fellow collaborator KG at Crusader Rabbit in Australia. Now, anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting CR already knows about their loyal band of regular commenters, smart, outspoken, fearless, and surprisingly well-informed about the state of affairs in the good ole US of A. So why not ask them? Why not give them the chance to voice their unique opinions about this beleaguered country of ours? Both the pros and the cons. Without their being filtered through the notoriously biased medias of both continents. Just plain old fashioned straight talk between fellow bloggers, just regular guys and gals who just happen to know what the hell they're talking about. So our good KG bought the idea and here we go. I hope my American readers find this as enlightening as I do. Although, perhaps unfairly we too often use the all-emcompassing term Aussies, we are, as you shall see, equally blessed to have many good friends and loyal readers from New Zealand as well. And obviously we look forward to your opinions with the same interest. So, without further preamble, here are a selection of some of the comments we have thus far received, the good, the bad, and hopefully not too much of the ugly. This is a brand new venture so we haven't really developed any rules -- just the usual deleting of obscenities and overtly anti-American rants. This will be for now at least an open ended posting; if more comments come in, we will simply add them to the article. Thank you all for your kind enthsiasm and your thoughtful offerings. We begin with a nice compliment from Katie: Katie It is a great idea. I too would love to hear the opinions from you guys.

Katie Homepage Well Katie, I've made my feelings very plain for years now, but I'll kick off with this:There are millions of us worldwide who aare "American, just born in another place" as someone once said. We admire America for her liberties, her principled stand for freedom, for the decency and integrity of the overwhelming majority of her people. We see American airplanes and ships first on the scene of natural disasters, helping out with typical generosity and efficiency those who very often have had nothing good to say about her.We also see an enormous military that for all it's fearsome efficiency still manages to be extremely careful to distinguish the innocent from the enemy combatants, and takes casualties as a result.A powerhouse of innovation, inventiveness and productivity, a country where alternative viewpoints aren't subject to State terror.The list goes on and it's a damn long list at that.Do I regard America as perfect? Of course not--no country ever is nor ever can be. But I regard her as the closest thing yet to a free society and still the gold standard for liberty. It'll be a grim day indeed for the world should America ever fail to lead. kg Homepage 08.27.08 - 10:05 am # As Richard Jeni said: "America - fifty million illegal immigrants can't be wrong". And as I say: If America is really the "Great Satan", an awful lot of people seem to want to dance with the devil. Wake Up 08.27.08 - 10:48 am # I like Americans. In general they are polite, truthful and VERY patriotic. They would rather live in their own land rather than anywhere else (like us Aussies. Milk and cookies and a good knowledge of their nation's history is evident.Their election process worries me. It seems to be more about the availability of money for a campaign than actual issues. If I was an American I WOULD vote even though it is not compulsory. The Democrats will send the country to the shitter especially in these time when military might is paramount.The Brits have disowned us in defence (shafted us in the past) and we need the USA as our big brother.I worry that sometimes the Americans are too self absorbed and don't know enough of what goes on in the outside world. They have a huge country so it may be that there is no need for them to look outside their borders for the average citizen.Americans are portrayed on TV and in film as stereotypes. Stereotypes are few and far between. It is the plebeian public that chooses to accept what is portrayed through the media.It's only a small contribution KG but I hope it helps. Marc Anonymous 08.28.08 Thanks Marc--it sure does. kg 08.28.08 - Go read here Tiberius Homepage 08.28.08 And I didn't fuck up the link either! Tiberius Homepage 08.28.08 Let me get the bad out of the way first, what i don't like about America In a word, liberals. If you want me to list some of the things i don't like, bear in mind these aren't common to all Americans or confined only to America.Promiscuity.Materialism.Soft on immigration, i understand many Americans want strict controls, but there are enough who don't see the negative long-term effects of illegal immigration.The walls in apartment blocks are so thin.Have i mentioned liberals?You still pay tax.Aren't all the above the fault of lierbals, alright maybe not the walls, but you see why i don't like them don't you. What i like about America.T he right to bear arms, yeah, yeah banging that old drum again.The armed forces of the United States. America is a force for good in this world. Free speech, and i mean real free speech, not the kind the rest of us think we have. It's a beacon for liberty and safety.I t's the least socialist country i know of. America knows what to do with evil scum.The help that Americans freely give to the poor and suffering around the world.America saves us the true cost of standing on our own.Americas military hardware, wow. In America, you are free to succeed and free to fail. Everything is bigger in America. Americas' existence and success grates with Liberals the world over. America stands in the way of Communism.They killed those Nazi bastards. Didn't they save our asses in WWII. You don't pay as much tax in America. Fast food. Cheerleaders. The punisher. Cars are so much cheaper in America.What America has done in Iraq.The point of this post, Americans care what others think about them. MK Homepage 08.28.08 What a nice post!...wow at alla yaz!..I may just have to come to Australia this year!..MK's list is awesome too. Angel Homepage 08.28.08 Tiberius, I "snitched" your beautiful commentary - gonna post it on a Marine message board {WITH attribution, of course!}, 'cause a LOT of my fellow Marines will appreciate it ................... Now, for Roger's request:I'm kind of an exception as an American, in that I've had the opportunity to travel/live outside the U.S. {visited Mexico & Canada as a child, lived in Mexico recently, and was able to visit Morocco, the Czech Republic, Germany & Austria as an adult}. What I found, for the most part, was that the 'regular folk' in other countries offered the acceptance and kindness that I would like to believe most Americans would offer visitors from other countries when they visit HERE.In Morocco, I met a young Berber tribesman, who was sent to the city to sell the jewelry his tribe made while traveling the desert - he seemed to enjoy practicing his English with us, and just showed such a kindness of spirit that I wanted to hug him {of course, THAT was a no-no, since I'm an 'infidel woman' }.When we lived in Mexico, for the most part, we were treated well, with the exceptions of women working in a pharmacy, who commented that we 'should learn Spanish' before we came to their country, and the man who told me, because his wife was stupid, that I was the type of American who caused 9/11 - that didn't preclude his asking us to help him emigrate to the U.S. No gall there, nossir!! In the Czech Republic, my husband would go to work, & I'd take the car he rented for me & drive to Kaufland's, a grocery store, park & walk across the river to the city center - always, always, ALWAYS, I was treated with kindness and respect, from the various stores to the InterNet cafe I frequented.I absolutely fell in love with the Graz region of Austria - the natural beauty is breathtaking, and the people are friendly - the Piber Lipizzaner stud farm is wonderful, and very English-language friendly. In Munich, the people were pleasant & friendly, but there was a ................ 'discomfort' ............... there, that I attribute to an ongoing embarrassment regarding WWII - I may be completely off-base in that presumption, but there you are. Would I go back to visit any of those places? In a New York minute! Because, "our" MSM to the contrary, I did not find resentment, or the perception of 'the ugly American'. I happen to believe most of that comes from the "elites" of any group. Hope this helps! Semper Fi' DMDiamond Mair Homepage 08.28.08 I am American but have lived most of my life outside of my country. I can see the bad. Mainly, we are spoiled and take too much for granted. Lately, the youth seem to be willing to allow the government to provide for them in a way my generation would have been humiliated to accept. BUT, the good of our country outweighs the bad so very much. Having lived in Venezuela under the Chavez regime, I noticed the stark reality of the lack of the right to 'the pursuit of happiness'. We can achieve anything we dream of, if we pursue it, where as in many places that possibility does not exist. Jungle Mom Homepage 08.28.08 Bad- liberals and Hollywood Good West Texas Country music and the politeness of Texans in general. Let's not forget that due to the cultural war, we're virtually talking two countries these days. The horrible pseudo-liberal America epitomised by Hollywood, and the traditional America, which is the one we all revere. Redbaiter 08.28.08 Hi Roger! I'm a NZer who lived & worked in the US from 1986-90 incl. I also lived & worked in numerous other countries for another six years, so there's a lot of basis for comparison. I found that no matter where you go, MOST people are good people, and treat others accordingly. Firstly, a bone to pick with MK & Red! An old bone, but one that drives me bloody crazy ... that constant misuse of the word 'liberal' .. something I blame Americans for, by the way! Liberal is derived from 'liberty' - something the left appears to despise - and yet they hijacked the term. (Guess 'dictator' rankles, eh!) Is it because they're liberal with other people's money?! Grrrr. But I digress. Good things about the US: 1. Thomas Jefferson & the brave FF 2. Constitution & Bill of Rights 3. NE in the autumn - nature at its most glorious 4. Grand Canyon 5. SF Bay Area (loved living there) 6. Military might 7. Overseas disaster relief 8. Sweet, generous, hospitable people Things that drive me nuts: 1. Waste: food left in restaurants, taking a dozen napkins when a couple would do, etc 2. Ludicrous-sized food portions 3. Patriot Acts 1 & 2 - a disgrace 4. Judicial activism 5. Creeping socialism 6. Tolerance of badly-behaved kids & the ones who started this 'smacking is abuse' bullshit - the rest of the west has since caught up, of course. Thanks for nothing, Hollywood. 7. Vacuous celebrity worship 8. Home of political correctness that has since infected the rest of the world 9. 'African-American' .. drives me nuts, that. Nonsensical. 10. Crap fast food - trust dumbasses elsewhere to follow suit 11. Positively enormous govt .. .. which is perhaps the worst of all: The refusal by so many to realise that freedom is indivisible and that responsibility is the flip side to freedom; that you simply cannot have one without the other. And that govt is not the solution, but usually the problem. A fact not lost on Jefferson. Cheers! Sus 08.28.08 - Gravatar My two cents worth: The US is the light of the world. And I say that as a patriotic Kiwi too. The briefest of comparisons between NZ's and The USA's history shows that we have a lot more in common than just about anywhere, indeed I've talked to many who have lived, travelled and worked in the US (I myself have not.Yet!) and all who I talked to found that it took only a matter of days to acclimatise. So in short, the US is a mate. And where I come from you stick with your mates. Oh and I'm a big Rockabilly music fan too! exocet 08.28.08 Gravatar We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. - from the American Declaration of Independence. These are such powerful words, and along with the US Constitution, have defined a nation like none other. It is the 'Greatest Democracy' - and this has created a society possessing confidence, strength of character and the will to help others. And this is evident in the Americans I have met. Of course there are the caricature Americans - loud, brash and wealthy - but they are the occasional rather than the rule. mawm 08.28.08

The US is like a big brother who is a bit loud and embarrassing at times, but is the one we all holler for when there is a fight in the schoolyard.And he's our big brother and for his minor faults, we still love him!You can quote me on that!

Oswald Bastable Homepage 08.28.08 Read Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus", WHICH IS INSCRIBED AT THE BASE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. A few words from it:"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free;The wretched refuse of your teeming shore; Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door".What other nation, EVER, has had such an inscription on its front door?" NONE.

For that matter, what other nation has a Statue of Liberty beckoning the rest of the world?

If America goes, we all go.

Wake Up 08.28.08 ------------------------------------------------------------ A note from Radarsite: We'll keep this article open through tomorrow, just in case there are any more comments out there. And as I promised, we will continue to add new ones as they come in. Normally at this point Radarsite would offer a summing up of my opinions of the previous article. However, I'm not so sure about this one. Maybe it doesn't need a summing up. Or maybe someone besides myself might feel like offering their own summation. I guess we'll just play it by ear and see what happens. Right now I'm going to just enjoy reading through them all and seeing what I can learn from them about my own country. Thanks again for your encouraging responses. I'll keep you all up to date on further additions. And a special thanks to KG for offering his venue for this little experiment in communication. Till later,

Your friend, Roger G.

Obama-Ayers: Chicago Schools Failed Under Ethnic Identity Agenda

Bill Ayers Chicago Magazine Photo Angry Obama supporters were asked to contact WGN's 720 Extension radio talk show en masse to encourage the station to drop an interview with Stanley Kurtz, a National Review Online contributor with new information on Barack Obama. The show went on.

No secret now, why the Obama Campaign is desperately trying to silence National Review Online's Stanley Kurtz. Milt Rosenberg's two-hour interview on WGN Radio last night with Kurtz revealed some of the agenda behind a late 1990's Chicago public school program, of which Barack Obama was at the helm.

When news of the pending interview broke, the Obama campaign sent out emails, detailing talking points, and asking supporters to flood the radio station with calls and email messages, which they did. (The Obama Wire email appears at the end of this article.) The Obama campaign was offered to participate in the entire two hour interview. According to Rosenberg's producer, after the offer was made, a high-level Obama staffer asked for the name of the station manager and then hung up on the producer. I have listened to the entire interview. It is available for your listening pleasure here:  

Background and my synopsis of the interview: The University of Illinois released documents yesterday that propelled this conversation forward. Barack Obama and Weatherman terrorist Bill Ayers, who spent a number of years on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, were the leading powers behind a massive educational reform for the city of Chicago.

Then Secretary of Education, William Bennett stated that the Chicago educational system was the worst in the Nation. William Ayers prepared the proposal that got the seed money for the education reform program that would become the Chicago Annenberg Challenge - some $50M from the Annenberg Foundation, which was then matched by philanthropists and business interests - to total over $100M for Chicago's failing school system. With the money came the need for a organization - hence the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) was formed. The Chairman of the Board was Barack Obama. William Ayers was an ex-officio board member.

The two attended meetings together...how often is not yet known. Obama and Ayers presided over a very powerful political duo: The CAC headed by Obama and The Collaborative, co-chaired by Ayers. It allegedly worked like this: "Programs" would apply to the CAC for an educational grant. Some programs were chosen, and others were not. Before the CAC was disbanded, almost all, if not all, of the monies were spent. Kurtz, reading from yesterday's released documents, gave these examples of who or what received the grants:  

Chosen to receive a grant: The South Shore African Village Collaborative for their "Celebrate African-American Holiday of Juneteenth" (celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation). Some African-Americans celebrate Juneteenth instead of the Fourth of July (a report fromTexas). Kurtz commented that in his reporting of Obama's previous church, Trinity United Church of Christ, some members told him that Juneteenth was their Independence Day, not Fourth of July (Kurtz did not say that all members held this view).  

Turned down to receive a grant: *The Chicago Algebra Project: goal to increase student achievement *The District 5 Math Initiative: goal to aid Hispanic students in the process of learning English, to further learn math and science. Kurtz characterized the information he viewed as showing grant preferences for ethnic identity projects. The grants were evidently not given to schools, but rather to "external partners," to which schools sought to attach themselves - such as a South Shore African Village Collaborative. In the meantime, after "external partners" received millions, ethnic identity didn't help math and science scores.

It is interesting to note that this Chairman of the Board position was Obama's first "executive" experience. There's more: Obama's connections to the Gamaliel Foundation, Kurtz says has a "core point" advocating for a form of" liberation theology." He further states that his research shows that Jeremiah Wright's Black Liberation Theology preaching is not an anomaly.

Kurtz refers to a book written by Dennis A. Jacobsen, Doing Justice - Congregations and Community Organizing. This book, according to Kurtz, embodies the views of the Gamaliel Foundation. Further he asserts that Greg Galluzo, "the most important figure" in the Gamaliel Foundation, approves Jacobsen's book, and is also an Obama mentor. Kurtz believes that Obama was a teacher at the Gamaliel Foundation before Jacobsen wrote the book. Kurtz does not know whether Obama has read the book. The last portion of the interview was given to callers and emails, most of which were angry that Kurtz was allowed radio time.

One emailer confused Kurtz with Weekly Standard editor, Bill Kristol, referring to "the vile traitor Bill Kristol." Another asked about FCC oversight of the "unbalanced" station. It was striking that few callers had anything to say more than the email's talking points. Some pulled out the constant whine that Obama was only eight years old when the Weathermen were bombing our U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, the State Department building, etc. They further pointed out Obama has "denounced" William Ayers. He did not, however, denounce him until he was forced to for the sake of his political campaign, and he wasn't eight years old when he and Ayers began their educational reform. Obama Wire email as printed in The Politico.

From: Obama Action Wire Date: Wed, Aug 27, 2008 Subject: Chicago: CALL TONIGHT to fight the latest smear [Name] — In the next few hours, we have a crucial opportunity to fight one of the most cynical and offensive smears ever launched against Barack. Tonight, WGN radio is giving right-wing hatchet man Stanley Kurtz a forum to air his baseless, fear-mongering terrorist smears. He's currently scheduled to spend a solid two-hour block from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. pushing lies, distortions, and manipulations about Barack and University of Illinois professor William Ayers.

Tell WGN that by providing Kurtz with airtime, they are legitimizing baseless attacks from a smear-merchant and lowering the standards of political discourse. Call into the "Extension 720" show with Milt Rosenberg at (312) 591-7200 (Show airs from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. tonight) Then report back on your call at http://my.barackobama.com/WGNstandards Kurtz has been using his absurd TV appearances in an awkward and dishonest attempt to play the terrorism card. His current ploy is to embellish the relationship between Barack and Ayers.

Just last night on Fox News, Kurtz drastically exaggerated Barack's connection with Ayers by claiming Ayers had recruited Barack to the board of the Annenberg Challenge. That is completely false and has been disproved in numerous press accounts. It is absolutely unacceptable that WGN would give a slimy character assassin like Kurtz time for his divisive, destructive ranting on our public airwaves. At the very least, they should offer sane, honest rebuttal to every one of Kurtz's lies. Kurtz is scheduled to appear from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the Chicago market.

Calling will only take a minute, and it will make a huge difference if we nip this smear in the bud. Confront Kurtz tonight before this goes any further: http://my.barackobama.com/WGNstandards Please forward this email to everyone you know who can make a call tonight. Keep fighting the good fight, Obama Action Wire

Disclaimer: This is my view and my word-processed interpretation of portions of the interview, although I have diligently attempted to represent the conversation closely, if not exactly, as I heard it.

Related:
Chicago Annenberg Challenge Shutdown (Kurtz)

Inside Obama's Acorn (Kurtz) Obama/Ayers Funnel Funds to Jeremiah Wright and The Arab American Network?

Why the Obama-Ayers Connection Matters

Blogs for Borders - August 28, 2008

Our weekly vlog -- podcast on illegal immigration and border security issues. In this weeks edition... You Do The Math: Is the ID theft associated with illegal immigration really a 'victimless crime?' We investigate. Welcome to post America: LA slides further into the abyss. 100% Preventable! Americans continue to pay the bloody price for open borders, when will the madness end?

Download for your Ipod here.

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If you'd like to sponsor a show contact us here. This has been the Blogs For Borders Video Blogburst. The Blogs For Borders Blogroll is dedicated to American sovereignty, border security and a sane immigration policy. If you’d like to join find out how right here. Technorati Tags: illegal immigration joke, open borders, uncounted beans, rape, murder, mexico, demographics, post America, identity theft, crime, criminal aliens,

McCain Ad Producer Calls-Out Obama's Request of the DOJ

"Surely we have not come to a point where the government and its agencies are used to protect presidential candidates from citizens' speech, ...destroying the purpose meaning and historical essence of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

American Issues Project (AIP) is responding to Obama '08's request for investigation of AIP by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

AIP produced and aired a video ad to which Obama '08 is objecting. The ad may be viewed here. Obama '08 responded with an ad, the letter to the DOJ and letters to television station managers asking that the AIP video not be aired - along with this suggestion that they:

"arrange a time ....to address...accept[ing] AIP as a paying customer for your advertising time.

From Politico.com:

The Obama campaign plans to punish the stations that air the ad financially, an Obama aide said, organizing his supporters to target the stations that air it and their advertisers.

Obama's attorneys, through a letter to the DOJ, claim the following: * AIP's actions are "knowing and and willful violation. * AIP is "expressly advocating the defeat of Barack Obama for the position of President of the United States." * AIP is illegally claiming tax-exempt status under IRS Section 501(c)(4). * AIP solicits contributions as a political committee. The same letter accused AIP of using a "magic word" in an AIP video ad for McCain. The magic word was "elect." Obama attorney, Robert Bauer, reminded the DOJ's John Keeney of a previous "assurance" made to Fred Wertheimer, President of Democracy21:

"You assured Mr. Wertheimer that you "intend to vigorously pursue instances where individuals or organizations knowingly and intentionally violate the clear commands of this important statute."

AIP responded with their own letter to the DOJ. Here are snippets, presented out-of-order, but not out-of-text:

Let me be very clear: AIP is not in violation of any federal statute, regulation or other applicable law... Surely we have not come to a point where the government and its agencies are used to protect presidential candidates from citizens' speech, essentially destroying the purpose meaning and historical essence of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ...Sen. Obama's presidential campaign has now purchased paid television advertising directly related to the AIP advertising. Surely, the citizens of America are not in a situation in 2008 where a candidate for President of the United States is permitted to purchase paid advertising on a topic about which a citizens organization, following all applicable laws and regulations, is not allowed to sponsor advertising or if they do will find themselves subject to prosecution by your department. AIP is organized as a qualified nonprofit corporation as that term is defined in the regulations of the Federal Election Commission ("FEC").... As such AIP enjoys the protections of the provisions of the Supreme Court's decision more than twenty years ago... AIP complies with each and every one of the provisions outlined by the Supreme Court...,as well as the regulations of the FEC... Counsel for the Obama Campaign is undoubtedly fully knowledgeable of the reporting and compliance responsibilities of qualified nonprofit corporations, such as NARAL-Pro Choice America ("NARAL"), an organiztion that ironically, also claims protection as an entity described in Massachsetts Citizens for Life v. FEC.... The accusations in the Obama Letter against AIP are wholly inaccurate.

Background: Obama '08 Urges DOJ to Quash McCain Ads - McCain Comes Back Strong H/T to Wake up America

A Cone of Silence Surrounds Obama's Citizenship

How do we know a Presidential candidate is a natural-born citizen? What proof is required? Is the only qualifier a citizen parent? This may be the first time the U.S. has had a set of circumstances raising valid questions on a candidate's citizenship. Earlier this week, a Philadelphia attorney filed a lawsuit against Barack Obama, the DNC and the Federal Election Commission, seeking proof that Obama is a natural-born U.S. Citizen, as required by the U.S. Constitution. The issue: Among the somewhat shaded details of Senator Obama's childhood, including the possibility of his mother living in Kenya before his birth, and maybe after, and an eventual move to Indonesia to live with his step-father, does anyone affirm that a Presidential candidate is a natural-born citizen? If this is routinely done, why aren't the questions surrounding Senator Obama's citizenship addressed by someone...the Federal Election Commission, or the State of Hawaii or the MSM? It is not as simple as: his mother was a U.S. citizen, so he is also a U.S. citizen. It may be that simple...but then again, it may not be. This afternoon, I called the offices of Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Tom Coburn. First, at Senator Inhofe's office I was referred to their Legislative Correspondent, who was out of the office. I was told that Senator Inhoff's office is confident that Senator Obama is a U.S. citizen [paraphrased]. I left a phone number and believe my call will be returned. Then I called Senator Tom Coburn's office. The receptionist was in the process of referring me to one of their Legislative Correspondents, but came back online to tell me that the L.C. was in the process of drafting a letter addressing the issue of eligibility for a Presidential candidate. I was told that the L.C. said that this was a "state's issue." The meaning was not clarified. I was promised an email copy of that letter when completed. Does "state's issue" means that the State of Birth (or not), in this case Hawaii, can verify a person's natural-born status, or choose not too, and if they choose not too, especially at the request of the candidate, is it intended that the voter never know the status of citizenship? I'll await the email. This is not a trivial matter. I've read various comments online stating that no candidates have had to produce proof of natural-born citizenship. If this is true, why not? John McCain was born in the Panama Canal to two U.S. citizens. His father was deployed there at the time of his birth. When questions arose about his natural-born status, the U.S. Senate "introduced a non-binding resolution expressing that McCain qualifies as a natural-born citizen. However, is that all that is needed...a Senate NON-BINDING resolution? There's a great void of silence from the MSM...possibly a "cone of silence." The LA Times reported on the FactCheck.org assertions but little else. Online is a different story. Bloggers have screamed the questions, but the questions are never raised in the media. I'm convinced that by not reporting, they hope it will go away. In the meantime, FactCheck.org declares that the birth certificate released by Obama '08 is the real deal:

FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said.

So, should that be the end of it? What about other forensic reports that declare it a fake? Why should we believe FactCheck.org? Think about this: 1) FactCheck.org is also known as the "Annenberg Political Fact Check." This matters because Senator Obama was Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) for a number of years. In a separate matter surrounding Obama's connections to Weatherman terrorist, William Ayers, reporter Stephen Kurtz had to jump through hoops to view documents from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge pertaining to the Obama-Ayers relationship. Those documents, at least 132 boxes, were released today, according to Craig Wall reporting in Illinois for Fox News. The Annenberg Foundation is probably not an uninterested party in Obama's Presidential race. Is it reasonable to think that FactCheck.org might have a biased opinion about the validity of Obama's citizenship? In my opinion, this assumption is reasonable, even if not correct. 2) IF Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii, but instead in Kenya, and if Obama's mother did not make it back to the U.S. in time to give birth to her child, then it is possible that he is not a natural-born citizen. There is a distinct difference between "natural-born" citizen and "naturalized" citizen. The former is eligible to be a U.S. President and the latter is not, however, a "naturalized" citizen may hold the office of U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative. From the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:

The Child Citizenship Act (CCA) declares that children who are younger than 18 years of age and have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen whether by birth or naturalization will acquire automatic citizenship. Under the CCA, qualifying children who immigrate to the United States with a U.S. citizen parent automatically acquire U.S. citizenship upon entry; children who live abroad acquire citizenship on approval of an application and the taking of the oath of allegiance.

Must the child apply for their citizenship? According to the above quote from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, yes and application and an oath are necessary [what if the child is not old enough to give an oath?]. However, in the next paragraph there's this:

1. Does my child qualify for automatic citizenship under the CCA? Under the CCA, your child will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship on the date that all of the following requirements are satisfied: * At least one parent is a U.S. citizen, * The child is under 18 years of age, and * The child is admitted to the United States as an immigrant. 2. Do I have to apply to USCIS for my child’s citizenship? No. If your child satisfies the requirements listed above, he or she automatically acquires U.S. citizenship by operation of law on the day he or she is admitted to the United States as an immigrant. Your child’s citizenship status is no longer dependent on USCIS approving a naturalization application.

The above was my Civics lesson for the day. The bottom-line here is there is no need for these questions. Senator Obama should provide the proof. The State of Hawaii cannot make comments about the existence of such certificate, or at least that's what I heard a woman representing Hawaii's birth records say a few weeks ago. She stated that the online certificate, as she viewed it online, meets the general guidelines of a Hawaiian birth certificate issued in 1961, but she would not confirm or deny that Senator Obama has a birth certificate on file in Hawaii. So, Philip Berg filed his lawsuit and requested that Obama's nomination be held up until the matter was concluded. That motion was denied but the lawsuit continues and has not been dismissed at this point. Jeff Schrieber at America's Right has been on top of the lawsuit story, and filed this report about Philip Berg and 9/11. Additional questions revolve around Senator Obama's move to Indonesia as a child. Maybe Senator Obama is toying with us and will eventually release a proper document. I bow to the fact that this is a unique situation. Four years from now, eight years from now, twelve years from now...it can happen again - Democrat or Republican, but the people should know the truth.

Obama-Ayers Funnel Funds to Jeremiah Wright and The Arab American Network?

Media, including Fox News and the AP, reviewed the Annenberg Challenge files released yesterday after reporter Stanley Kurtz suggested a more-than-neighborly connection between Barack Obama and terrorist William Ayers.

An editorial piece at the National Review Online (NRO) brings us up-to-date on the early stages of digging through alleged Obama-Ayers related documents released yesterday to NRO's Stanley Kurtz. Some highlights from NRO: 1) Obama and Ayers "doled out tens of thousands of dollars to charities, among them, Jeremiah Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ - Obama's church, and the Arab American Action Network:

(co-founded by Rashid Khalidi, a Yasser Arafat apologist who has supported attacks against Israel and now directs Columbia University’s notorious Middle East Institute, founded by Edward Said).

2) Ayers secured a $49.2 million grant for the Annenberg Foundation

...matched two-to-one by public and private contributions — to promote “reform” in the Chicago school system. He quickly brought in Obama, then all of 33 and bereft of any executive experience, to chair the board. With Ayers directing the project’s operational arm and Obama overseeing its financial affairs until 1999, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge distributed more than $100 million to ideological allies with no discernible improvement in public education...

3) Michelle Obama:

...then a dean at the University of Illinois, invited Ayers to participate in a panel with her husband, then a state senator

From the Chicago Chronicle 1997:

Ayers will be joined by Sen. Barack Obama, Senior Lecturer in the Law School, who is working to combat legislation that would put more juvenile offenders into the adult system;... Michelle Obama, Associate Dean of Student Services and Director of the University Community Service Center, hopes bringing issues like this to campus...

Reporting is mixed on the contents of the documents. Background: Why the Obama-Ayers Connection Matters Obama '08 Urges DOJ to Quash McCain Ad - McCain Comes Back Strong

Pravada Op-Ed: Rice is a "man hating apology for a man" and a bullsh**t mongerer

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey, at first glance, has authored what appears to be the ugliest attack on an individual public figure ever seen in print. Writing for Russia's Pravada, Bancroft-Hinchey gets his rant off.

 At the end of this article you'll find some information about Bancroft-Hinchey.

Condoleezza Rice and the insult to international diplomacy

Pravada July August 19, 2008

In the equation which makes up the odious, criminal and murderous Bush regime and its murderous, criminal and odious foreign policy, the constant factor is constituted by a teacher, promoted to positions way above her personal and intellectual station by a gullible fool of a President. 

This teacher, whose sheer incompetence as National Security Advisor and as Secretary of State is today so blatantly apparent, goes by the name of Condoleezza Rice. The fact that Rice was National Security Advisor at the time of 9/11 speaks for itself, period. 

As Secretary of State, she is supposed to be responsible for her country’s diplomacy, she is supposed to be Washington’s leading diplomat. But can anyone think of a figure less qualified for the post? Starting with the face (set in a constant snarl, with a scar for a mouth, lips pursed back in a sneer, piggy eyes looking as though something evil is lunging behind them), continuing with the body language (aggressive stance, butch, defensive posture as though she is hiding something or afraid) and ending with the discourse (about as diplomatic as a raspberry and a fit of giggling at a funeral ceremony), she cuts a sorry figure. 

The constant arrogance and hypocrisy of this failed female makes it that much more apparent that here is a person way out of her depth. Instead of regarding sensitive issues from a balanced viewpoint as she is supposed to do, this incompetent loud-mouthed, bad-mannered, bullshit-mongering bimbo takes one side, ignores the other and then speaks down from a holier-than-thou platform as if she were on a lecture dias. 

This is not a classroom, Condoleezza Rice, and you are not a diplomat. You are a liar, a cheap, shallow, failed, wannabe actress on the diplomatic stage. This is the real world and out here, you have to be prepared to face up to your responsibilities. 

For a start, you have failed to mention one single time the Georgian war crimes against 2.000 Russian civilians on the night of 7/8 August. Why have you systematically refused to admit they happened? 

Why have you not mentioned the devastation of Tskhinvali by your allies’ forces? Why do you continue to support the Saakashvili regime? You therefore support war crimes? You therefore support the Georgian devastation of civilian structures? You side with Saakashvili against the 2.000 civilians murdered? Do you wish they had killed more Ossetians that night? Do you think it is right to target civilian structures with military hardware? 

Why have you failed to refer to a single item of these odious crimes? 

Is it because you are a balanced diplomat ready to look at both sides and find a solution? Or is it because you are an incompetent frumpish hysterical female, wholly out of her depth, who instead of acting in a civilised manner as one would expect from someone in your position, instead gives lectures which are downright rude, pig-headedly arrogant and most unladylike? 

So instead of mouthing off about NATO and Russia, how about you shut the hell up, put a sock in it and go back to inflict yourself on your students? Rumour has it you were pretty much hated in academic circles as well, perhaps not as much as in the area of diplomacy, which your very presence insults. You, personally, are the reason why Washington has been divorced from the international community; you, personally are the reason why so many millions of people hate the idea of the United States and all it stands for; you, personally, are responsible for driving a wedge of sullen hatred into the hearts and mind of the international community. 

You have done more damage to your country, to its international standing, to the history and the noble precepts of your founding fathers than any other American in history. And now you say you are not going to let Russia “win” in Georgia? Russia already has won! 

Nobody believes the lies you have spun in the western press circles. The readership of PRAVDA.Ru has never been higher, in all its language versions, since we have hundreds of thousands of readers flocking to us daily, with comments against the nonsense and lies paraded as “news” by the likes of yourself. 

In a nutshell, Georgia invaded South Ossetia and slaughtered 2.000 civilians in one night. You cannot admit that because it would be admitting that Georgia’s President Saakashvili is incompetent. So the two of you stick together, hoping it will blow over if you keep repeating the same thing. 

You have lost, Condoleezza Rice. Your ally Saakashvili is responsible for thousands of murders and war crimes, your military advisors, training and equipment have been proven to be wholly inferior to the Russian Armed Forces and this, the nearest we ever got to direct conflict, has proven that your forces were utterly thrashed. 

So if you want to bring it on, you will find Russia saddened but by no means afraid and perfectly ready. As an alternative, get back behind a desk where you belong, you rude, insolent, bad-mannered, man-hating apology for a lady before you get your allies into trouble.

End article by Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY A thank you to Michael Squires BookWormRoom, back in 2006, says this about Bancroft-Hinchey:

He’s a permanent member of Pravda’s editorial staff although, as his name demonstrates, he’s not Russian. In fact, he’s a British songwriter with a degree from Leeds (which clearly makes him qualified to write on all matters political). Although the link for his bio is dead, nothing really dies in cyberpsace, and I was able to find that “USS Clueless” provides extensive quotations from Bancroft-Hinchey’s defunct biographical site:

For current work, BookWormRoom has a new address.