Jesse Jackson's " Nutty" Comment

“I can just rip his _____ off". I know you've heard about the comments by now so you can fill in the blank. In fact on Anderson Cooper 360, the clip was played 4 times in one hour. Yes, everyone one agrees that his words chosen showed lack of taste.




However I feel that it is important to look past word usage, vulgar or not, and look at what Jesse Jackson was saying. Does Barack Obama indeed speak down to black people?

The issue stemmed from Barack Obama comments on Father's Day in African American church where he addressed the ever increasing problem of father abandonment within the African American community. Jesse Jackson believes that if Barack Obama addresses issues in the black community, then issues in the white community need to also be addressed, Latino community and so forth when he speaks to those groups. When addresses others why are African Americans given messages of condemnation when others are given a message of hope and change. Is this an unfair analysis of Obama?

Opponents of this view of Obama say that Jackson’s comments were made from pure jealousy. Though I do not know the motivation of Obama’s words it hard to deduce that from a two sentences made about Obama. However, these opponents do make a valid point regarding the speech made by Barack on father’s day. They ask: If Obama is not the right person to address the issue of single mothers due to father abandonment within the black community than who is? Why ignore an oozing sore? Everyone sees it and ignoring the problem will not make it go away.

Will the real “Christian” presidential nominee please stand up!

It does not matter who you talk or what region of the United States you go, everyone agrees that Bush won the 2004 election because of evangelical Christians. Issues like abortion and gay marriage took precedence over the war in Iraq and our failing economy. Though Bush promised a conservative approach to these issues,little has been done in his two terms to promote or propel the Christian cause.

Entering a new season with the 2008 election quickly approaching the Christian agenda does not seem to be on the forefront. Why is that? Could it be that Christians feel disappointed with what has occurred in America and are clinging on to the “change for America” message that all the candidates seem to promise? Or could it be that there is a new generation of Christians who don’t see the issues of old (gay marriage, abortion, prayer in schools) as important. Before getting to deep into this.. Let’s first define what a Christian is. With the abundance of denominations and belief systems within Christiandome, who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong. How can “Christians” stand for anything if they are divided?

Obama has made headlines recently for making references to the bible in a 2006 speech. Many Christian leaders found the comments offensive.
Obama: "Which passages of scripture should guide our public policy?" Obama asked in the speech. "Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is OK and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount?

He also called Jesus' Sermon on the Mount "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application."

In response James Dobson, Focus on the Family founder, and evangelical leader said this:

"He oughta read the Bible. He is deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview."

Some Christians, in response to Dobson’s’ comments created this website;

http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
asking Christians everywhere that agree with Obama to sign the petition stating that James Dobson does not represent their view.

Obama also had this to say in response to Dobson’s comments:

"Any notion that I was distorting the Bible in that speech, I think anyone would be hard pressed to make that argument"

No matter what denomination you are the basis of Christian theology is the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

“ I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me” John 14:6
Obama told the Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani, that he believes there are many ways to God. Is it fair for him to call himself a Christian with this belief? Why does he not call himself a Universalist?

Many African Americans have supported Obama making generous contributions to his campaign. This includes religious leaders within the black community. Bishop T.D Jakes, for example, recently endorsed Obama.

Is it hypocritical to endorse Obama and his liberal stance when in 2004 evangelicals voted for Bush to stand up against the same issues that Obama supports? Will black church leaders change their views or will Obama’s blackness cover the “sin”?

What it means to be a Christian in America has become very vague in today’s society. But then again has it ever been clear?

Are the Candidates bringing SEXY back?

While some presidential candidate supports argue over which candidate has the right plan to change the country; others are arguing over who the “sexiest” candidate or ex-candidate is. In fact all out war has broken out in the blogosphere over the issue.
Barack Obama has gained rock star status in some places, women screaming and oohing and aaahing every time he takes his jacket off. John McCain has women dedicated to showing that he’s a hottie. Hillary Clinton was in the limelight for some time after she showed a little bit of cleavage.
The question remains: Is the deep infatuation among their admirers genuine? Or are these bloggers and you-tubers just wanting attention? The official/ unofficial Obama girl got tons of media attention over the "I got a crush on Obama Video.” I wouldn’t doubt that from the gig, the inspiring actress had job offers thrown her way. Would these hopeless “romantics” have endless for these individuals if they were their local mail man or dump truck driver? Of course, infatuation with presidents is nothing. Ronald Reagan and JFK was the apple of many American’s eye. Even Alexander Hamilton has a group on facebook dedicated to college girls who absolutely adore the $10 bill model.
If the presidency was based on looks only forget Obama and McCain … Mario Lopez has my vote!