Over the last few days many faithful republicans have made themselves freely available to the media to explain why Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President of the United States.
Before the official announcement, many republicans (and most of the United States for that matter) had no idea who Palin was. Yet, the McCain camp is claiming that Palin is indeed the most famous governor in the United States!
There are also those who say that John McCain’s shock appeal is apart of his "maverick" style. But, with an economy in recession and troops in Iraq, do we have time for a potential president to play rebel?
No matter how you feel about McCain’s decision, one thing is for sure: bloggers and traditional media sites are having a field day. CNN’s Jack Cafferty wrote a blog about McCain’s decision and asked readers to respond. In less than two hours there were over eleven thousand posts.
Many left wing bloggers are praising McCain’s decision.
Surprised?
Well, its not because they agree with the decision but because they believe that McCain’s VP choice might have handed the presidential election over to Obama.
MyDD blogger “desmoinesdem” wrapped up the Democratic sentiment in one statement:
If today is John McCain's birthday, why did he give us a present?
It was a rare moment on the Obama campaign. Three black men and two white women began interrupted Obama’s campaign speech in St Petersburg, Florida. The group held up a sign and began to yell “What about the black community”.
In protest of the group’s heckling, the audience began to yell. “Yes we can.” (Yes, we can what?)After calming down the audience Obama asked the group to wait till the end and he will address their concerns. A campaign worker then went over and took the sign (which I believe was totally wrong) and Obama with his Mr. Grinch like grin started his speech again.
During question and answer time the men were allowed to speak about their concerns. They charged Obama with ignoring critical issues that has affected the black community like Hurricane Katrina and the killing of Sean Bell. Obama then began to defend his position by stating that he immediately sent out statements regarding these issues.
The hecklers were not pleased and said he ignored the issues. Obama responded by telling the young man that he does not like the way he handled the situations then maybe he need to run for office.
A democracy is by the people and for the people. Or so they say .... If the people feel there needs are not being met they have every right to confront the people that have been put in place to serve the people. For Obama to tell the guy “if you don’t like the way I handled it them maybe you should run” was WRONG! We live in a state where public servants are here to serve their ego and own personal gain.
So we've all seen numerous photos of the McCain women. This photo was featured in People magazine. To the left you see Cindy McCain and in the middle and to the right you see John McCain’s mother Roberta and oldest daughter Meghan.
Again here is another photo of the women together as one big happy family when featured on ABC news.
But where is Bridget? …
Bridget who? Well I’m glad you asked …
Bridget was adopted by Presidential hopeful John McCain and his wife Cindy McCain in 1993 when Bridget was 10 weeks old.
Cindy was visiting a Bangladesh orphanage with Mother Teresa and other medical personnel when Cindy met Bridget. Mother Teresa convinced Cindy to take Bridget back with her to the U.S. to receive medical care. When Cindy returned to the U.S. with Bridget in tow, she told John, “Say hello to your new little daughter.”
So why isn’t Bridget featured in any pictures or even mentioned on the campaign trail? Could they be afraid of any racial scrutiny that Bridget may be subjected to? Are they indeed proud to show young Bridget as apart of their family?
Bridget McCain did a recent interview with Scholastic News Online, a publication for kids and by kids in the article Bridget says she rather be at home enjoying high school and her friends. With all the drama that political candidates’ children endure, then McCain may have had the right idea in mind … may have ……
The New Yorker calls it satire ... Many call it plain disgusting.
This week's cover of the New Yorker shows the Obama’s in the oval office: Barack Obama in traditional Muslim attire and Michelle Obama rocking a 1960’s afro, wearing boots and carrying an assault rifle. An American flag is burning in the fire place and a picture of Osama Bin Laden hangs neatly on the wall.
Both the Obama and McCain political camps agree that the cover is tasteless.
The magazine, however, says the magazine is satire and that the cover “combines a number of fantastical images about the Obama’s and shows them for the distortions they are”. The also add that satire is apart of what they do.
Some agree with magazine.
The Huffington Post says the magazine pokes fun at ignorance and opens up a forum of discussion.
We do indeed have freedom of speech but in the spirit of fairness the New Yorker should design a cover that pokes fun of the McCain camp. If they want to poke fun at stereotypes show McCain sitting in a wheelchair being pushed by an over made-up Cindy as he breaths deeply in an oxygen tank.
There is indeed a fine line between good satire and flat out tasteless mockery.
This TV shirt sold on the streets by a TV shirt vendor is a clear example of when “joking” goes too far. Holding the shirt is an angry protester.
“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.
Last Sunday General Wesley Clark, Obama’s military advisor said that McCain’s military experience did not qualify him to be president.
"Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,"
In response Senator McCain’s campaign called Clarks remarks as sad and represents the lowest form of politics. They also called the comment an attack on McCain’s military experience and war record.
“… No one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters of both sides .We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform. Period."
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?
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.
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?
