OT - WSJ - "The Obama We Don't Know"

[MJM1959]

Fear, healthy or not has no place in determining foreign policy. It is an emotion. Perhaps one of the more dangerous ones as it can lead to irrational behavior unless kept in check. I believe that there are certain people in the goverment and the media that continue to stoke the flames of fear, using it as a means to try and control people. As for myself, I believe that it is time for a little less fear and a little more common sense in dealing with the many problems that face this country.

Good, healthy fear leads to common sense.

That's your opinion and not a statement of fact. Again, I believe that people are used to being told that they should be afraid. They accept it without question. No one stops to take the time to examine what they are afraid of and why they are afraid or even if they should be afraid. A good many people in this country have crossed to line from a good healthy fear to just being scared shitless 100% of the time.

Getting back to the SCOTUS decision to provide Habeus Corpus rights to these detainees. Why should we be afraid of allowing these people to have access to what is considered my many to be a basic human right? Or are these rights something that we can turn off whenever we please? The Constituition was written as a means of governing the U.S. But the rights that are represented by that document should be applicable to everyone. Otherwise they are not worth the paper they were written on. Or are they good enough for the United States but too good for the rest of the world? That is my opinion and not a statement of fact. But... I'm sticking to it.

In the meanwhile, I will continue to be afraid of heights, maybe a hurricane blowing the shit out of my home or a multi-tasking SUV driver plowing over me becaue they were texting their BFF. But, I am not going to lose my mind over a couple hundred detainees having access to a lawyer. That is an irrational fear.

[conversationpc]

That's your opinion and not a statement of fact. Again, I believe that people are used to being told that they should be afraid. They accept it without question. No one stops to take the time to examine what they are afraid of and why they are afraid or even if they should be afraid. A good many people in this country have crossed to line from a good healthy fear to just being scared shitless 100% of the time.

That sounds like a good description of all the BDS syndrome sufferers running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Getting back to the SCOTUS decision to provide Habeus Corpus rights to these detainees. Why should we be afraid of allowing these people to have access to what is considered my many to be a basic human right? Or are these rights something that we can turn off whenever we please? The Constituition was written as a means of governing the U.S. But the rights that are represented by that document should be applicable to everyone. Otherwise they are not worth the paper they were written on. Or are they good enough for the United States but too good for the rest of the world? That is my opinion and not a statement of fact. But... I'm sticking to it.

In the meanwhile, I will continue to be afraid of heights, maybe a hurricane blowing the shit out of my home or a multi-tasking SUV driver plowing over me becaue they were texting their BFF. But, I am not going to lose my mind over a couple hundred detainees having access to a lawyer. That is an irrational fear.

The point isn't that anyone's afraid of this decision. That's completely blowing it out of proportion. The point IS that they should not be given the same rights that a U.S. citizen is entitled to and that's what this decision opens up the possibility of. If a foreigner is given the same rights here that a citizen has, that could also further open the door for foreign law to trump U.S. law, in my opinion, and that's something that's already under way here.

I don't think the detainees should be held indefinitely but I also do not believe that their cases should in any way enter into the U.S. court system. Of course, we will end up paying for these court cases through our tax dollars. Well, isn't that special?

[sandiglam]

I'm stunned at the views of most of you posters. I won't get into an argument or anything. All I will say is this: I will be casting a proud vote for Obama in November. I am so proud that my party nominated him, and I cannot wait until he is sworn in as President. It will no doubt be a great, great day for this country.

A friend of mine called me last night to tell me that his father, a man nearing 70 who has never voted for a democrat in his life, will be voting for Obama this year. This is a story spreading around the country like wildfire. You all may not be moved by the promise of Obama. Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister. I don't buy it, and neither does the bulk of the country. He's not perfect, but he's the best option we've had in this country for a long, long time. The tide is turning. Every polls says that people like him, even those who disagree with his politics...

Obama in '08,
Sandiglam

[StoneCold]

Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister.

Can you summarize what new something he is offering?

If not, here's a few specific questions I'd like to know:

1. How will he keep terrorists from attacking our country again?
2. If they do, what will he do about it?

Rhetoric is wonderful and lofty until someone punches you in the face.

[conversationpc]

I'm stunned at the views of most of you posters. I won't get into an argument or anything. All I will say is this: I will be casting a proud vote for Obama in November. I am so proud that my party nominated him, and I cannot wait until he is sworn in as President. It will no doubt be a great, great day for this country.

A friend of mine called me last night to tell me that his father, a man nearing 70 who has never voted for a democrat in his life, will be voting for Obama this year. This is a story spreading around the country like wildfire. You all may not be moved by the promise of Obama. Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister. I don't buy it, and neither does the bulk of the country. He's not perfect, but he's the best option we've had in this country for a long, long time. The tide is turning. Every polls says that people like him, even those who disagree with his politics...

Obama in '08,
Sandiglam

What views of Obama's do you agree with and what of his accomplishments leads you to believe he will be a good President?

[RossValoryRocks]

I'm stunned at the views of most of you posters. I won't get into an argument or anything. All I will say is this: I will be casting a proud vote for Obama in November. I am so proud that my party nominated him, and I cannot wait until he is sworn in as President. It will no doubt be a great, great day for this country.

A friend of mine called me last night to tell me that his father, a man nearing 70 who has never voted for a democrat in his life, will be voting for Obama this year. This is a story spreading around the country like wildfire. You all may not be moved by the promise of Obama. Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister. I don't buy it, and neither does the bulk of the country. He's not perfect, but he's the best option we've had in this country for a long, long time. The tide is turning. Every polls says that people like him, even those who disagree with his politics...

Obama in '08,
Sandiglam

Obama will NEVER...EVER...EVER...be elected President, unless he choses Hillary Clinton as his VP, then he will be elected...and suffer some kind of "accident" leaving him dead...ala Vince Foster, Ron Brown...etc etc.

I think Obama is as full of shit as any other politician...just like McCain is...however...Obamas's bullshit will hit my wallet harder than McCain's will...so I will hold my nose and vote for McCain thank you!

Oh and what flavor of Kool-Aid is that you are drinking?

[classicstyxfan]

Dave, good questions........If the election were about personality and rhetoric alone, McCain would be in Big trouble as Obama ooozes charisma. I would hope those who are prepared to vote for him are at leat partially doing so because of his positions on the issues ( I hope that is also true for McCain voters )

sadly, and I believe this is true in every presidential election, the issues are well down the list of decision making criteria for a large potion of voters.

I prefer Obama based on his positions on the war, healthcare ( 50 million people without is unacceptable ) and the idea that he can repair our relations around the world. He could solidify
my vote if he can explain how he will pay for his initiatives without adding to the deficit/debt.

[conversationpc]

Dave, good questions........If the election were about personality and rhetoric alone, McCain would be in Big trouble as Obama ooozes charisma. I would hope those who are prepared to vote for him are at leat partially doing so because of his positions on the issues ( I hope that is also true for McCain voters )

sadly, and I believe this is true in every presidential election, the issues are well down the list of decision making criteria for a large potion of voters.

I agree...Many people are simply going to vote for him out of what boils down to stupid reasons. Some will vote for him simply because he's black and some won't vote for him simply because of that. Both are stupid.

[classicstyxfan]

Obama will NEVER...EVER...EVER...be elected President, unless he choses Hillary Clinton as his VP, then he will be elected...and suffer some kind of "accident" leaving him dead...ala Vince Foster, Ron Brown...etc etc.

I think Obama is as full of shit as any other politician...just like McCain is...however...Obamas's bullshit will hit my wallet harder than McCain's will...so I will hold my nose and vote for McCain thank you!

Oh and what flavor of Kool-Aid is that you are drinking?[/quote]


Im not sure how you can be so sure about that in June.....especially with GWB's approval rating near 30 percent.

[sandiglam]

Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister.

Can you summarize what new something he is offering?

If not, here's a few specific questions I'd like to know:

1. How will he keep terrorists from attacking our country again?
2. If they do, what will he do about it?

Rhetoric is wonderful and lofty until someone punches you in the face. Then you have to do something about it.

What Obama offers that is new is that he has the potential to be a unifying force. That is SO HUGE. After eight years of Clinton being under attack and eight more years of Bush being under attack, we need someone who can unify the country. Obama has a history of being wildly popular, even with those on the right. He's been straightforward (unlike Clinton and Bush) and honest about everything. His whole life is there for people to see, the good and the bad. He also offers the chance to have a new approach to the war on terror. We have a chance, finally, to not be viewed by the rest of the world as some big, arrogant, egotistical military machine, but rather a nation that communicates with our enemies, and respectfully pursues non-military agreements. When a husband and wife fight, what do they do so it doesn't end in divorce? They sit down, they talk about it, and they work it out, even if that means agreeing to disagree. Why don't we do the same thing as a nation? We should.

There is obviously no guarantee that terrorist will not attack us again, regardless of who is in the White House. This being said, I give Bush credit for keeping that from happening for the last nearly seven years. Whoever is in the White House will continue to do all he can to keep us safe. That much I know. Any suggestion otherwise is just dumb. IF we get attacked again, Obama will handle it with strength, and the military if necessary. What he won't do is go attack another country that had nothing to do with the terrorist attack, spread our military thin, and lie about why we are going to war. Unlike Bush, he's a man of character.

Sandiglam

[sandiglam]

Dave, good questions........If the election were about personality and rhetoric alone, McCain would be in Big trouble as Obama ooozes charisma. I would hope those who are prepared to vote for him are at leat partially doing so because of his positions on the issues ( I hope that is also true for McCain voters )

sadly, and I believe this is true in every presidential election, the issues are well down the list of decision making criteria for a large potion of voters.

I prefer Obama based on his positions on the war, healthcare ( 50 million people without is unacceptable ) and the idea that he can repair our relations around the world. He could solidify
my vote if he can explain how he will pay for his initiatives without adding to the deficit/debt.

Obama just released his budget plans, that fund his programs, keep taxes on the middle class where they are (including some tax breaks), and balance the budget in four years. McCain couldn't do that if he had to.

[sadie65]

I don't think any candidate has the potential to unify our country. Elections these days have far less to do with issues and actual plans as they do with catchy sound bytes and who people believe is the least offensive to their own ideas. Regardless of political affiliations, whomever takes the election faces an extreme uphill battle both nationally and internationally. And I just don't see either candidate as making major headway in swaying perceptions.

[classicstyxfan]

I'd like to see this, especially if he did it while balancing the budget, with a national debt at 9 trillion and counting, we need to show some fiscal responsibility to the rest of the world.

[sadie65]

I'd like to see this, especially if he did it while balancing the budget, with a national debt at 9 trillion and counting, we need to show some fiscal responsibility to the rest of the world.

Do you see that as an actual possibility? A sincere question. While I am by no means thrilled with the state of our nation, I doubt anyone coming in would be able to do it...certainly not easily.

[sandiglam]

I'd like to see this, especially if he did it while balancing the budget, with a national debt at 9 trillion and counting, we need to show some fiscal responsibility to the rest of the world.

Amen - we sure as hell do...

Sandiglam

Remember this, WE, the taxpayers, are paying $12 million per hour in Iraq... How many people could we give health care to? How many hungry children could have food? I can't imagine...

[conversationpc]

He's been straightforward (unlike Clinton and Bush) and honest about everything.

Um, no he hasn't been honest about everything. He was good friends with his racist minister for 20+ years and had the gall to claim that he never heard him say anything like what was reported in the press. If you believe that, then I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

[RedWingFan]

but rather a nation that communicates with our enemies, and respectfully pursues non-military agreements. When a husband and wife fight, what do they do so it doesn't end in divorce? They sit down, they talk about it, and they work it out, even if that means agreeing to disagree. Why don't we do the same thing as a nation? We should.

Spouses don't usually hate each other and want the other dead because the way they live their life now do they? One's not usually called by their religion to kill or enslave the other if they refuse to convert to their religion are they? Hopefully Barack's a good enough negotiator that maybe he'll get them to agree to take a couple of limbs from each of us?
You can't be serious!

[sandiglam]

but rather a nation that communicates with our enemies, and respectfully pursues non-military agreements. When a husband and wife fight, what do they do so it doesn't end in divorce? They sit down, they talk about it, and they work it out, even if that means agreeing to disagree. Why don't we do the same thing as a nation? We should.

Spouses don't usually hate each other and want the other dead because the way they live their life now do they? One's not usually called by their religion to kill or enslave the other if they refuse to convert to their religion are they? Hopefully Barack's a good enough negotiator that maybe he'll get them to agree to take a couple of limbs from each of us?
You can't be serious!

Your comment is full of complete misunderstandings about the history of the middle east, the reasons they dislike us, and Islam as a religion. Regardless, the point is simple - you solve problems by coming to an agreement, not by killing each other, and you can't come an agreement without sitting down and giving yourself an opportunity to fully understand the other side of the argument. Under Barack Obama, the days of shoot people now, ask questions later will be over. I am deadly serious about what I said, and thankfully, a majority of the country agrees with me.

Sandiglam

[sandiglam]

He's been straightforward (unlike Clinton and Bush) and honest about everything.

Um, no he hasn't been honest about everything. He was good friends with his racist minister for 20+ years and had the gall to claim that he never heard him say anything like what was reported in the press. If you believe that, then I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

Can you provide one piece of evidence what you are saying is right? So far, no one has managed to do so. You can say whatever you want about a bridge you'd like to sell, but until you, or any other member of the far right can provide one iota of evidence that he's not telling the truth, it's time wasted making the argument. Back it up, or don't bother saying it...

Obama in '08,
Sandiglam

[classicstyxfan]

I'd like to see this, especially if he did it while balancing the budget, with a national debt at 9 trillion and counting, we need to show some fiscal responsibility to the rest of the world.

Do you see that as an actual possibility? A sincere question. While I am by no means thrilled with the state of our nation, I doubt anyone coming in would be able to do it...certainly not easily.

Sadie, I dont know if its realistic or not, but I'm evaluating the candidates heavily on how they address fiscal responsibility....I am all for the Democratic Party Platform, but not on the shoulders of future generations ( that, and Id like to see some of the social security money I have paid in down the road )

In my opinion America needs to get off our collective high horse and realize we are not entitled to an inflated standard of living, the generations that built this country made sacrifices and lived good lives....our government has the unenviable responsibility to be fiscally prudent and sell that to the populous, if not, our dollar will continue to diminish in value and our standard of living will go downhill anyways.

[The_Noble_Cause]

If we would have had a little more of that healthy fear there wouldn't have been a 9/11...given all the small attacks that had happened in the previous 8 years we should have.

And maybe if the country hadn't elected a fake cowboy who prioritizes clearing brush over reading intelligence memos the towers would still stand tall.
Save your breath itemizing the fatal flaws of Bill Clinton. He was one of your own.

[sadie65]

I'd like to see this, especially if he did it while balancing the budget, with a national debt at 9 trillion and counting, we need to show some fiscal responsibility to the rest of the world.

Do you see that as an actual possibility? A sincere question. While I am by no means thrilled with the state of our nation, I doubt anyone coming in would be able to do it...certainly not easily.

Sadie, I dont know if its realistic or not, but I'm evaluating the candidates heavily on how they address fiscal responsibility....I am all for the Democratic Party Platform, but not on the shoulders of future generations ( that, and Id like to see some of the social security money I have paid in down the road )

In my opinion America needs to get off our collective high horse and realize we are not entitled to an inflated standard of living, the generations that built this country made sacrifices and lived good lives....our government has the unenviable responsibility to be fiscally prudent and sell that to the populous, if not, our dollar will continue to diminish in value and our standard of living will go downhill anyways.

I cannot help but think that perhaps we are witnessing perhaps something akin to ancient Rome. We took the ideals of our forefathers that we were somehow entitled...but we forgot that that entitlement comes at a cost. One need only look at what we value as 'news" and our immediate desire as a society to assert our individual rights over those of everyone else. I need not expound on this (we've been down this road before). I would like to believe what you speak of is possible...but boy...I have very serious doubts that it can or will.

[StoneCold]

Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister.

Can you summarize what new something he is offering?

If not, here's a few specific questions I'd like to know:

1. How will he keep terrorists from attacking our country again?
2. If they do, what will he do about it?

Rhetoric is wonderful and lofty until someone punches you in the face. Then you have to do something about it.

What Obama offers that is new is that he has the potential to be a unifying force. That is SO HUGE. After eight years of Clinton being under attack and eight more years of Bush being under attack, we need someone who can unify the country.

Sandiglam

This is new age speak. Obama being elected won't affect everyday interaction for the better one bit. He's not Jesus back in the flesh.

Sorry, I'm not buying it.

[classicstyxfan]

charisma and being a "unifying force" gets us nowhere by itself reminds me of a Billy Joel song with the Lyric "and then we all go down together............"

policies are what will really change America, or as Clara Peller once said in her Wendy's commercials "WHERE'S THE BEEF !!!!!!!!!"

[Escape Artist]

Below are a few lines from Obama's books - his own words: check out the last one...

From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'

From Dreams of My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mothers race.'

From Dreams of My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'

From Dreams of My Father: ; 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'

From Dreams of My Father: 'I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

WTF?

[The_Noble_Cause]

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

WTF?

We should stand with the Muslims right this very second.
I doubt Obama was talking about Islamic extremists - wanna show the rest of the passage?

[RedWingFan]

Your comment is full of complete misunderstandings about the history of the middle east, the reasons they dislike us, and Islam as a religion.

It's you who needs to take a look at history. You mean there aren't Islamic extremists who enslave or kill people who reject the Koran? It's been going on before this country was even born!
You and Obama are passifist and naive!

In the book ''Victory in Tripoli,'' Joshua London writes about the Muslim Barbary pirates. They attacked American shipping vessels in the 18th century, often boarding ships and enslaving crewmembers. Thomas Jefferson, then U.S. ambassador to France, and John Adams, then ambassador to Britain, visited the resident ambassador from Tripoli (modern-day Libya) in London to negotiate a treaty to protect American ships from Barbary pirates. Why, asked Adams and Jefferson, is your government so hostile to the fledgling United States of America? After all, we have no quarrel with you, nor you with us.

The Tripolitan ambassador told them – as reported to the Continental Congress – ''that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman [Muslim] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise."

Yes, they are that ''sadistic.'' And yes, we are ''really in for a long and awful war.''

[rubyglare]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,41576,00.html Wednesday, December 26, 2001

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Usama bin Laden has died a peaceful death due to an untreated lung complication, the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended the funeral of the Al Qaeda leader.

"The Coalition troops are engaged in a mad search operation but they would never be able to fulfill their cherished goal of getting Usama alive or dead," the source said.

Bin Laden, according to the source, was suffering from a serious lung complication and succumbed to the disease in mid-December, in the vicinity of the Tora Bora mountains. The source claimed that bin Laden was laid to rest honorably in his last abode and his grave was made as per his Wahabi belief.

About 30 close associates of bin Laden in Al Qaeda, including his most trusted and personal bodyguards, his family members and some "Taliban friends," attended the funeral rites. A volley of bullets was also fired to pay final tribute to the "great leader."

The Taliban source who claims to have seen bin Laden's face before burial said "he looked pale ... but calm, relaxed and confident."

Asked whether bin Laden had any feelings of remorse before death, the source vehemently said "no." Instead, he said, bin Laden was proud that he succeeded in his mission of igniting awareness amongst Muslims about hegemonistic designs and conspiracies of "pagans" against Islam. Bin Laden, he said, held the view that the sacrifice of a few hundred people in Afghanistan was nothing, as those who laid their lives in creating an atmosphere of resistance will be adequately rewarded by Almighty Allah.

When asked where bin Laden was buried, the source said, "I am sure that like other places in Tora Bora, that particular place too must have vanished."

Uh, what does Osama have to do with Obama? (Outside of an introduction from Ted Kennedy )

I thought he was a terrorist.....& I thought it mattered a little, him being declared dead & all.......I guess not

[Ehwmatt]

Your pessimism has jaded you into believing that somehow this amazing man who offers something new must be dark and sinister.

Can you summarize what new something he is offering?

If not, here's a few specific questions I'd like to know:

1. How will he keep terrorists from attacking our country again?
2. If they do, what will he do about it?

Rhetoric is wonderful and lofty until someone punches you in the face. Then you have to do something about it.

What Obama offers that is new is that he has the potential to be a unifying force. That is SO HUGE. After eight years of Clinton being under attack and eight more years of Bush being under attack, we need someone who can unify the country. Obama has a history of being wildly popular, even with those on the right. He's been straightforward (unlike Clinton and Bush) and honest about everything. His whole life is there for people to see, the good and the bad. He also offers the chance to have a new approach to the war on terror. We have a chance, finally, to not be viewed by the rest of the world as some big, arrogant, egotistical military machine, but rather a nation that communicates with our enemies, and respectfully pursues non-military agreements. When a husband and wife fight, what do they do so it doesn't end in divorce? They sit down, they talk about it, and they work it out, even if that means agreeing to disagree. Why don't we do the same thing as a nation? We should.

There is obviously no guarantee that terrorist will not attack us again, regardless of who is in the White House. This being said, I give Bush credit for keeping that from happening for the last nearly seven years. Whoever is in the White House will continue to do all he can to keep us safe. That much I know. Any suggestion otherwise is just dumb. IF we get attacked again, Obama will handle it with strength, and the military if necessary. What he won't do is go attack another country that had nothing to do with the terrorist attack, spread our military thin, and lie about why we are going to war. Unlike Bush, he's a man of character.

Sandiglam

LOL to your entire post. How can you unify when you have the most partisan voting record. "Wildly popular on the right" is a HUGE stretch. I'm a conservative and no huge fan of McCain, but Obama really concerns me on a number of levels, the least of which being his fiscal policies (which are very important to me but I was resigned to more liberal economic policies after Bush's terms since it once looked like the Democrats couldn't possibly lose this election). Most people anywhere truly right of center will not vote for Obama and even some centrist Democrats are a bit concerned, as evidenced by the various high profiler Congresspeople to not endorse him. Yea, I know, some Repubs aren't endorsing McCain either, but Obama's the one with the unifying and change rhetoric so I'm thinkin about him more...

[sandiglam]

Below are a few lines from Obama's books - his own words: check out the last one...

From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'

From Dreams of My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mothers race.'

From Dreams of My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'

From Dreams of My Father: ; 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'

From Dreams of My Father: 'I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

WTF?

Most of what people have posted on here shows such an extraordinary lack of understanding that it's clear debating with you is pointless. After all, if you don't understand what you are talking about, how can someone help you see another viewpoint.

But these quotes from Obama's book are worth mentioning, because these are the EXACT kinds of stupidity that has infected USA politics for far too long. It's a soundbyte, it's Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh spouting one-liners, usually taken out of context, and trying to convince people that democrats are evil based on them. It's not just dumb, it's sad.

Obama has been very open, in his books and in his speaking engagements, about the difficulty of growing up a bi-racial child. I don't know if you've ever spent time with many bi-racial kids, but I'm guessing no. I'm guessing no because if you had, you would realize that these things Obama says in his book are very normal feelings for bi-racial children. It takes many of them years and years of struggle to find out who they are, where they fit in, and how to be comfortable with a racial identification that doesn't really fit into white or black culture. Obama went through this, most of it in his teens and early 20's, and became the man he is today at 46. The suggestion that the challenges he faced as a teenager, and the misguided viewpoints those challenges caused, somehow are relevant in a presidential election when the man is nearing 50 years old is shameful, and you should be embarassed for bringing it up. Grow up, get a brain, and be smart enough to not be passing on the mindless propoganda of the far right.

If you don't like Obama, don't like him for his politics, his views on issues, etc. But don't run around ripping on the guy for stuff that is not only irrelevant, but just plain small minded.

Sandiglam