Comments on: Obama’s Dark Side

By: mbs

mbs — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:59:14 +0000

The description of the white girl Obama supposedly loved, including her family background and the house built by her father's grandfather, sounds a lot like Diana Oughton, Bill Ayers' former girlfriend who was killed in a bomb blast. Makes you wonder.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

It could be the "character of a great leader." It can also be the character of a monster. It indicates a sort of amorality (not something I necessarily disapprove of) that allows him to do whatever it takes to get accomplish whatever he intends. If it's like JFK, it's also like Nixon; and both of those men were more complex, and their Presidencies less one-sided, than popular culture often acknowledges.

What bugs me about Obama is his apparent willingness to say anything to get elected -- or is it just that some wishful thinking has been run over by the reality truck? If his recent remarks about our special relationship with Israel aren't totally disingenuous pandering that he has no intention of living up to in office, then the idea that he'll be sympathetic to the Palestinians has been shot down pretty thoroughly. Either way, I'm not too pleased.

I get the impression that you support Obama because of the good things you hope he'll do. What bugs me is that I don't know what bad things he might do. While I don't much care for Hillary, I think she's a better-understood option than Obama is.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

While I'm an Obama supporter, your description of him doesn't sound too appealing to me.

Since both Obama and Hillary have become the yardsticks of comparison between each other, I can only say that a belief that friends are expendable sounds familiar to any who have followed the Clintons.

Not that such traits are particularly important--I'm more interested in policy and the ability to effect policy than whether or not I would want a candidate as a buddy.

Face it, too--anyone who would put themselves through the meatgrinder of a presidential election by definition imho must be somewhat of an oddball.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

I recently listened, as best I could while working on some other project, to a guest on NPR posit that the 2 most essential traits of a great leader were first, character, and second, judgement. The essentials of character in this regard are setting a great example or otherwise, 'walking the walk'.

Obama may have some claim to the later; his career climbing judgements look spectacular. But as to his character, I don't see it. He is a spinoff from the Chicago Machine and greasy from Tony Rezko's palms.

There is no hope for America unless we start seeing a degree of honesty in the executive branch and there's not much evidence that any of the 3 bring it.

By: americangoy

americangoy — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

"I think Barack Obama is our Jesus, he's going to save America."

Perhaps this is going a wee bit too far there :-)

Myself, being a cynical bastard, will see that even if a miracle happens and a black man is elected a president of America, the same policies will continue, re: support of Israel, predatory IMF and World Bank policies, etc.

The social programs in America might get a boost, so yeah... Jesus...

By: bar_kochba132

bar_kochba132 — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Phil, I have to give you credit for being honest about Obama, knowing how much you love him and attribute to him messianic qualities (why, I don't know...Hitler was a great speaker also).

Regarding the comment about "character" that was made above, I can only point out that today, it seems people don't want a politician with that quality, they prefer "sure, he is a liar and a cheat, but he gets things done!". That is why all the liberal feminists stuck with Slick Willy Clinton, even when they found out how he treated women like garbage.
It is important to remember something....people said "Sure, Kennedy is a maniacal womanizer, but that is nobody else's business". I would like to ask those who agree with this the following question: How can you put YOUR trust in someone who is willing to deceive and betray those people closest to him? If he is willing to betray his wife and children, why do you think he wouldn't do the same to the "anonymous masses"?

By: bar_kochba132

bar_kochba132 — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Phil, I have to give you credit for being honest about Obama, knowing how much you love him and attribute to him messianic qualities (why, I don't know...Hitler was a great speaker also).

By: bar_kochba132

bar_kochba132 — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Apologies on the multiple posting, something went haywire with the connection.

By: Richard Witty

Richard Witty — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

A human being, with light and shadow.

Lets help him stay on the positive, on the productive, the important.

By: Vera Beaudin

Vera Beaudin — Mon, 29 Nov 1999 23:00:00 +0000

Obama is your Jesus? I'm not surprised given another recent symptom of this proclivity. Michael Freund, is also an American Jew. Educated at Columbia and Princeton universities, he moved to Israel where he served as a deputy director in the ministry of communications and policy planning under Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. Currently a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, Freund penned this plea to President Bush to attack Iran. Here’s the gist of it:
“Mr. President, I am gripped by a sense of fear. I fear for the future of Israel and the entire Jewish people, as the would-be Hitler of Persia readies to do battle against us with the most horrific of weapons. I fear for the future of the West, because few seem to appreciate the enormity of the danger that is looming just over the Horizon. And I fear for the future of the world…
“Hence, Mr. President, I am writing to you because I am convinced that you do understand the gravity of the situation, and I pray in my heart that you will not let it stand. I appeal to you now, not as a newspaper columnist nor as a political analyst, but as one man of faith to another. Please bomb Iran and dismantle its nuclear weapons program, before it is too late.
“I know you believe, as I do, that it is the Lord God of Hosts Who guides the destiny of men and of nations. And I know you believe, just as I do, that He has raised you up and placed you in a position of power precisely at this decisive moment, in order to serve as His faithful instrument in this world. The God of history has chosen you, Mr. President, just as He did Winston Churchill, and He has entrusted you with a sacred mandate: to save the world from the designs of a madman…
“Mr. Bush, I think of you often, and when I do, I am guided in faith to the sixth chapter of the Book of Judges in the Bible. When Israel’s existence was threatened by the Midianites, God called upon Gideon, son of Joash, to step forward and take command, and to wage war against the aggressors. But Gideon remained uncertain of what to do, wondering whether God had forsaken His people and if war was truly the right course. To this the Lord responded clearly and univocally: “Go with this, your strength, and you will save Israel…for have I not sent thee?”
“Mr. President, that message is as compelling today as it was then, and I believe it is clearly directed to you too…You have been entrusted from Above with a special opportunity, with a distinctive role to play. It is a tremendous responsibility that the Creator has placed upon your shoulders, but it is also a sacred mandate. I do not envy the dilemma that you face. But you have been put in a unique position to bless Israel, and through it, all of humanity, by removing the nuclear sword from the hand of the Persian executioner… Be strong and of good courage. And may the spirit of the Lord be upon you. God bless.” (Jerusalem Post 1.9.08) It takes no divine revelation to see that we have met a madman, and he doesn’t live in Tehran or in Texas.
(Kurdish Life No. 64, Fall 2007)