Historic 2008 election

The presidential election race of 2008 has been the most incredible race of my lifetime. Obama, Hillary and McCain. The democrats are ripping themselves to shreds over Obama vs Hillary.

Conservative talk radio is going absolutely bonkers about Obama and Hillary. They are finding as much dirt as possible about whichever appears to be in the lead at any given moment.

Some famous problems for both Obama and Hillary

1. Hillary claimed she landed in the former Yugoslavia under sniper fire during the war at that time. In reality, she landed without any hint of gunfire at all!!!

2. Hillary claimed she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mt Everest. However, she was born several years BEFORE Hillary climbed Everest!!!


3. Obama is under fire for his association with Rev Jeremiah Wright. I, as have many Americans, have studied this issue quite thoroghly. Here's my take: Wright is very anti-American. He believes African Americans are kept in their place (poverty) by a series of government and/or Republican party conspiracies. He believes the American government OWES African Americans something - everything. He does not preach to his congregation anything about self sufficiency, self sacrifice, or hard work. Instead, he dwells on the shortcomings of America (ie, white America).

I, as well as many Americans, are not fans of such preaching. We prefer to learn lessons from our preacher about how to be better persons, how to be closer to god. We want lessons in humility, self reflection, self improvement, redemption. We don't seek lectures on the shortcomings of our government, and how our government owes something to us. In short, I heartily disagree with the preachings of Rev Wright.

OK - the next issue facing voters is to decide whether it is relevant that a candidate's preacher is unacceptable. Many would separate Obama's thoughts from Wright's thoughts.

However, I am of the opinion that Wright's ideas can be extrapolated to Obama .. simply because Obama attended that church for 20 years, Wright provided inspiration for Obama's book, Wright married Obama to his wife, Wright baptized Obama's children. There is no denying that Obama is greatly influenced by this man.

Since I do not approve of the man's preachings, and since Obama's relationship with him goes beyond a trivial pastor-lay person relationship (therefore it is valid to project Wright's thoughts to Obama) .. I have to question Obama's beliefs. I have to assume he feels the government's role is to be a Nanny State, that citizens have no need to be ambitious, because the government will always be there to fulfill their needs.

I am also bothered by Obama's wife's statement that, "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country". I have studied her comment and tried to listen to the context in which it was stated. What I hear is an underprivileged woman who, by virtue of the civil rights struggles of many previous decades, was able to work hard and earn her way into the finest institutions of higher education in the WORLD - Princeton and Harvard - and then to become a lawyer earning a lucrative (capitalistic) salary. I think - in what other country do the lower classes of society have any chance of rising to such incredible heights? And I think - my god, she takes the country for granted! Will I be proud of a first lady who is so obviously disenchanted with America - even though she has benefited so much from what this country offers that no other country comes close to offering??? She sounds to me to be elitist (Princeton, Harvard), and very snobbish (in her despise for America) It is as if she looks down on Americans with scorn. Does she? I think it is a valid question for such a privileged, highly educated person. I think such people have so little contact with normal Americans, they formulate their views from a vacuum.