Posts with the tag 'honesty'
Senator Obama’s opt-out of public financing came as no surprise. It was a politically expediant move. However, the switch is disconcerting, not just because he broke his word or changed his mind; it’s troubling because he signed a pledge. When most Americans sign a ‘pledge’ it’s considered a legally binding contract. Yet this was a ‘pledge’ and not a contract? So it should be noted that a pledge from Senator Obama is a non-binding agreement. Signature, no signature, this is different than changing on a position, he promised to do ‘x’ signed off on it then did ‘y’. Politically it was most likely the right thing to do, he will have much more money this way. However, he revealed to the American people in the process that a promise, a pledge, and his word are negotiable.
Tags: broken word, campaign finance, contract, dishonest, honesty, oath, public funding, signed
June 22nd, 2008
With more over-the-top preaching coming out of Trinity Church this weekend, some question the relevance of these different preachers’ comments to Senator Obama’s campaign. Understandably, many become frustrated that important issues receive less attention than the politics. However, as someone who would love to see more issues debated and less political pontification, I see Senator Obama’s connection to Trinity Church as both relevant and important. His twenty year connection to Trinity Church and Reverend Wright speaks directly to who Senator Obama is as a person. Senator Obama’s explanation that he just didn’t realize the controversial nature of some of Reverend Wright’s sermons is absurd. Whether it is the church newsletter ‘The Trumpet’ featuring Senator Obama on the same cover with Louis Farrakan, whether it is Reverend Wright stating that he doesn’t appologize for his ‘GD America’ speech, or whether it is Pastor Pfleger mocking Senator Clinton and basically calling her a white supremist (a criticism that I have not heard out of even the most ardent Clinton-haters); there is no way Senator Obama could not have known that the church, at which he is still a member, is radical and at best, dabbles in hate. His membership in this church is a direct contradiction to his campaign message of hope and unity. The two possibilties voters are left with is that he believes the teachings of his church, as church goers often do, or he joined for political reason. He has said nothing to that explains how a man that talks unity can attend a church that regularly preaches division. This matter speaks to Senator Obama’s beliefs and honesty, and if he wants this issue to go away than he needs to answer for these glaring contradictions.
Tags: chicago politics, contradictions, division, fleger, honesty, Obama, pfleger, political contradictions, questions, reverend wright, trinity chuch, unity, wright
May 30th, 2008
David Brooks of the
New York Times wrote an article questioning the ‘New Politics’ of Senator Obama.
…the aura around Obama has changed. Furiously courting Democratic primary voters and apparently exhausted, Obama has emerged as a more conventional politician and a more orthodox liberal.
He sprinkled his debate performance Wednesday night with the sorts of fibs, evasions and hypocrisies that are the stuff of conventional politics. He claimed falsely that his handwriting wasn’t on a questionnaire about gun control. He claimed that he had never attacked Clinton for her exaggerations about the Tuzla airport, though his campaign was all over it. Obama piously condemned the practice of lifting other candidates’ words out of context, but he has been doing exactly the same thing to John McCain, especially over his 100 years in Iraq comment.
This draws into question not only the question of whether Senator Obama is walking the walk of a new more civil and honest campaign style, but it begs the question what candidate is most capable of bringing change. Senator McCain has walked the walk. He has worked with Democrats to achieve legislative goals, he has run an honest and decent campaign. He has a record saying what he means and meaning what he says. Consider the difficulty of a Senator with 20 plus years experience earning the reputation as a strait shooter. One reason it has been so difficult for Senators to run for president is because their job requires compromise, and taking stands on a wide range of issues that Governors can often bypass. The Democrat candidates have the luxury of having a very short record with little to examine. Senator McCain has shown that political stress won’t make him compromise his principals. It is a person of that character and experience that has the best chance of bringing change to Washington style politics.
Tags: campaign style, Clinton, David Brooks, exageration, experience, gun control, honesty, hope change, integrity, maverick, mccain, New York Times, nyt, Obama, political change, tuzla, washington politics
April 18th, 2008
