Please go NOW and register so you can be ready for tonight's event. It's quick, easy, and painless. The address is http://votebitter.com/debate/final

Hopefully tonight's debate will bring up important issues like ACORN, William Ayers and Obama's other radical ties, as well as spotlight John McCain's true stance on the issues and not the spin the Obama camp and the mainstream media has pushed.

After the debate, listen in at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/righttalk/2008/10/16/Post-Debate-Analysis]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:39:52 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/875178 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/860376 The first Vice Presidential debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden has everyone's expectations raised. How will Gov. Palin do? Will Biden be gaffe-free?

The debate is scheduled for Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. at Washington University, and will be moderated by Gwen Ifill. The choice of Ifill as moderator has raised some brows as her bias toward the Obama-Biden ticket is, one might say, clear. She has a book scheduled for release on Inauguration Day titled Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama. Writing a book about one of the candidates scheduled for release on THAT day is perhaps not exactly unbiased, but Americans can be the judge of that.

In any case, TalkStraight will be blogging live about the debate, but in a different format from the first Presidential debate. This time we are opening up a chat room where you can enter the conversation and talk about the debate as it happens. We will post any updates here and comment there as well. Please register at the chat room site so you will be able to access it quickly when the debate starts. It's quick, easy and painless.

Here's the address: http://votebitter.com/debate/vp

Look forward to seeing you there.

One thing is clear: John McCain did not go return to his job as a United States Senator as a political "stunt," but as a true effort to get this masssive economic bailout bill passed. McCain, who has a true record of bipartisanship (Barack Obama has voted with his party 97 percent of the time) is possibly the only person who could actually get this thing done.

John McCain is in a no-win situation here. He's had little time to prepare for the debate. He is showing true leadership by going to DC and trying to help and offering to put off the debate -- though Obama has backed out of the initial town halls he agreed to months ago. Obama said no. If McCain did not agree to debate tonight, he would look like he was unprepared. If he didn't address the economic crisis, he would be failing his own principles. Most Americans are unhappy with the bailout bill as proposed, and as it was leaked it shows they are right to be so: it was loaded, apparently, with pork (even to Joe Biden's district).

So how will John McCain do?

We know Barack Obama has spent days, hours, pouring over tapes of McCain's debate style. Maybe he's improved his own.

TalkStraight will be watching closely and blogging live if any glaring falsities are told by either side. If not, a full report will be forthcoming.

Check back throughout the evening for our live blogging report.

"There is no doubt that because we put American troops in Iraq, more American troops in Iraq, that they are doing a magnificent job. They are making a difference in certain neighborhoods. But the overall strategy is failed because we have not seen any change in behavior among Iraq's political leaders. That is the essence of what we should be trying to do in Iraq. That's why I'm going to bring this war to a close. That's why we can get our combat troops out within 16 months and have to initiate the kind of regional diplomacy, not just talking to our friends, but talking to our enemies, like Iran and Syria, to try to stabilize the situation there. This year, we saw the highest casualty rates for American troops in Iraq since this war started. The same is true in Afghanistan. If we have seen a lowering violence rate, that's only compared to earlier this year. We're back to where we started back in 2006."

QUESTION: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?"... OBAMA: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous."

Over the course of seven years, Ayers found his way into nearly every facet of Obama's political and personal career. Yet, today, Obama doesn't talk about it, the media doesn't care about it, and most Americans don't know about it.

Unfortunately for The Celebrity, the facts still remain.

To understand Bill Ayers is to understand the influences that shaped Obama's early political career. The radicals and demagogues representing the Chicago establishment would make most Americans cringe. Yet, those very people constituted the voices and ideals that formed Obama's own political education. The politics of the Chicago political establishment are a far cry from the politics of hope and change. Yet, as his associations with Ayers and other Chicago radicals show, Obama was a quick study in the ways of machine politics.

There is no better example of Obama's political influences than Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. Therefore, a brief review of the facts concerning the Obama-Ayers relationship is in order.

The Life of William Ayers

William Ayers is currently a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. [1] However, Ayers earned his place in history many years before he began his current job. During the Vietnam War, Ayers first became involved with a radical anti-war group known as the Students for a Democratic Society. During his involvement with this extremist faction, Ayers quickly became a leader among its ranks. Using his newfound power, he began to mobilize the SDS into a force for violent protest. [2]

In 1969, Ayers left the mostly-pacifist SDS to join the newly founded Weather Underground Organization. During the SDS convention of that year, Ayers was one of 11 SDS members to sign on to the foundation of the Weather Underground. This group was founded on the principle of immediate and total revolution against the government of the United States. [3] The Weather Underground, of which Ayers was a vital member, launched their first assault on October 8, 1969, in Ayers' hometown. This event, entitled 'Days of Rage,' was a staged riot organized by Ayers and other Weathermen.

To begin their demonstration, the Weathermen detonated a bomb that destroyed a statue dedicated to fallen police officers. By placing the bomb between the statue's legs, they ensured its destruction and caused pieces of the statue to be hurled in all directions. The blast blew out 100 windows and sent pieces of metal onto a nearby freeway. Not content to rest on their laurels, the Weathermen would again destory the rebuilt statue less then one year later. [3]

The 'Days of Rage' riot continued into that evening, with Weathermen ransacking countless buildings and assaulting dozens of police. Authorities were forced to eventually use tear gas and other weaponry to break up the demonstration. Following this event, the Weather Underground decided to ratchet up their radical attacks. They declared a 'state of war' on the United States government, and planned another bombing on an Army officer's club in New Jersey. Although the plot was foiled, the Weathermen made their intentions very clear. According to Brian Flanagan (one of Ayers' close personal friends and fellow Weatherman leader), the plot was intended to be "the most horrific hit the United States government had ever suffered on its territory." [4]

On February 16, 1970, Bill Ayers was directly involved in the detonation of a bomb that killed one San Francisco police officer and critically wounded another. According to an FBI informant within the Weather Underground organization, Ayers knew the precise location and contents of the fatal bomb, which was constructed of staples and lead bullets as shrapnel. According to the secret agent, Ayers' wife, Bernardine Dohrn, actually constructed and detonated the bomb. The agent testified that Ayers' was either present at the bombing or had at least helped in the planning of the attack, due to his extensive knowledge and familiarity with the specifics of the plot. [5] In fact, David Freddoso argued this year that Ayers only escaped prosecution as a result of FBI management of the case. [6]

Ayers did not end his Weather Underground career with his involvement in this horrific murder. As a member of the organization's Central Committee, Ayers helped oversee a bombing in New York City at the home of a state Supreme Court Justice. This bombing was launched in response to the judge's presiding over the trial of several Black Panther members accused of planning multiple bombings of New York City public landmarks. At the site of the bomb, Weathermen painted an ominous phrase on the judge's home: "FREE THE PANTHER 21; THE VIET CONG HAVE WON; KILL THE PIGS." Ayers also helped in planning several other bombings in New York, including an attack on a military recruiting facility and two police cars. [7]

A few months later, Ayers' current girlfriend, along with two other Weather Underground members, were killed while constructing a massive bomb in New York. [8] This rose the Weathermen's body count to four dead and one seriously wounded. However, the Weathermen did not stop after the death of their comrades.

They destroyed another police station in June 1970. [2] This attack served as a warm-up act for their greatest catastrophe. After two years of planning, the Weathermen (with Ayers heavily involved in the planning details) celebrated Communist leader Ho Chi Minh's birthday by detonating a huge bomb in the ladies' bathroom on the first floor of the Pentagon. This attack caused burn damage and flooding, and resulted in the destruction of sensitive equipment and a multitude of classified files. Following this direct assault on their command center, the United States government placed the Weather Underground Organization on their Top Ten Terrorist Organizations list. [9]

Following this brutal attack, the organization began to lose the last of its remaining members, and Ayers and Dorhn went into hiding. They would turn themselves in in 1980, but were never convicted of any crimes, despite the fact that their joint involvement resulted in the death of a police officer. [10]

Ayers: 30 Years Later

After several books, documentaries and commentaries on the Weather Underground, some might think that Ayers would have time to reconsider his actions during these turbulent times. While many former Weathermen have issued public apologies and expressed regret for their actions, Ayers remains defiant to this day. In his famed September 11, 2001 New York Times article, Ayers told his interviewer the following:

I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough...I don't want to discount the possibility [of doing it again]." [11]

Ayers further explained his lack of regret on his own personal blog in 2006:

"I can't think of a single action I took against the government and its murderous assault in Southeast Asia that I regret. Perhaps you can point to something in particular that you think I should regret, and then apologize for." [12]

Ayers' extremism is not confined to his days as a Weatherman. In 2006, he attended an education forum in Venezuela, in the presence of Hugo Chavez. He seemed to think rather highly of Mr. Chavez's administration, and praised him directly during his speech:

"This is my fourth visit to Venezuela, each time at the invitation of my comrade and friend Luis Bonilla, a brilliant educator and inspiring fighter for justice. Luis has taught me a great deal about the Bolivarian Revolution and about the profound educational reforms underway here in Venezuela under the leadership of President Chavez."

He concluded his oration by lavishing praise on the "beacon of the world" in a forceful manner:
"Viva Mission Sucre!
Viva Presidente Chavez!
Viva la Revolucion Bolivariana!
Hasta la Victoria Siempre!" [13]

In contrast, he has accused President Bush and John McCain of committing war crimes. He again shares his views concerning McCain on his own personal website: "the President and his Cabinet...and the reactionary front runner for the Republican presidential nomination...committed war crimes that they've refused to account for." [13]

It appears that Ayers' belief in President Chavez is much stronger than that of John McCain.

Of course, everyone knows what Ayers was doing while McCain sat in a prison cell in Hanoi. It is safe to say that the two shared radically different views of patriotism in America.
In summary, Bill Ayers' life has been a narrative of violent, radical, extremist, socialist activism.

Ayers and Obama
After learning of Bill Ayers' radical history, one might question Ayers' relevance to the 2008 presidential campaign.

The answer is frightening.

Ayers has deep-seated and longstanding ties to the political and career aspirations of Barack Obama. While the mainstream media have refused to cover this major influence upon Obama's politics, the facts are undeniable. Hugh Hewitt, a long time journalist and blogger, summed up this unsettling connection of Obama's quite succintly:

]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:56:37 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/842996 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/832928 Obama talks a lot about equal pay for women, but does he deliver? The rhetoric and the reality collide in ways that anyone who cares to do the research can discover:

April 23rd, 2008, New Albany, Indiana:

"...I want you to take a look at the issue of equal pay. Now tonight...right now...too many women are still earning less than men for the same work." [1]

June 23rd, 2008:

"John McCain just has it wrong. He said the Fair Pay Restoration Act 'opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems.' But I can't think of any problem more important than making sure that women get equal pay for equal work. It's a matter of equality." [2]

August 18th, 2008, Albuquerque, New Mexico:

"...when I hear, that women are being treated unfairly in the workplace, where there's injustice and we are not seeing the basic principle of equal pay for equal work being observed...I get mad." [3]

August 28th, 2008, DNC Nomination Speech:

"And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons." [4]

In a campaign commercial, Senator Obama takes a stab at Senator McCain saying he doesn't understand the economy because "he opposed a law to guarantee women equal pay for equal work." [5]

The facts: Barack Obama has 28 paid male staffers who earn an average of $54,397. His 30 paid female staffers earn an average of $45,152. That's an average of 83 cents on the dollar. In contrast, a woman working for John McCain earns an average of $1.04 for every dollar a man earns. On average, a woman working for John McCain earns $55,878. Among his 20 highest paid staffers, 13 of them are women. [6]

In Obama's senate office, women earned at least $6,000 less than the average man. Of the five people who earned $100,000 or more, only one]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:14:41 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/832928 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/825686 When Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, he talked a big game about education reform, even going so far as to say that he and his wife would never be where they are today if they "weren't given a chance at education."
While he made sweeping promises in that speech, his past, as usual, doesn't hold up under scrutiny, and in this instance it's a story most Americans don't know and all should.
What did Obama say in his speech that is so at odds with his true background regarding education?

"America, now is not the time for small plans. Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:29:48 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/825686 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/813225 Last Thursday, Barack Obama used his acceptance speech to launch a deeply personal and deceptive assault on John McCain's character and record. On Thursday night, McCain got his turn to make his case before the American public.

In typical fashion, McCain gave a rousing speech. He demonstrated his commitment to conservative principles, yet freely criticized his own party for losing its way. He found the perfect mix of straight talk and conservative commitment. In the end, McCain's speech could not have been more different from Obama's. Where Obama used personal references, McCain used praise for his opponent. Where Obama used intentional deceit, McCain spoke the truth. In some ways, comparing the McCain and Obama acceptance speeches is an effective way of comparing the entire 2008 campaign.

While Obama uses lofty rhetoric and huge crowds to dazzle his supporters, the Real Obama shines through in his razor-thin record. And John McCain, as he has always done, tells the American people what they need to hear. Win or lose, McCain speaks the truth. And that is exactly what he did in his convention acceptance speech. A review of ten key excerpts from his speech draws a striking contrast with his opponent.

Truth #1
"In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn't any different."
Few men in history have faced more challenges and triumphed over more obstacles than John McCain has during his decades of service to America. During 5-1/2 years in Vietnamese prison camps, he refused early release on multiple occasions, even in the face of crippling injuries. Following his storied wartime experience, McCain faced yet another monumental challenge. Unintentionally caught up in the maelstrom of the infamous Keating Five scandal, he fought for nearly two years to clear his name and vindicate his honor. Not content to nurse his own political wounds, McCain found a new purpose from his searing experience during the Keating Five investigations. He resolved to do something about big business' influence in government. After a decade-long struggle against these entrenched interests, McCain bucked his own party to create and pass the landmark McCain-Feingold bill. This consequential legislation changed the foundation of campaign financing and reduced the influence of special interests in government. [1]

The challenges did not stop there for McCain. After his history-making presidential campaign in 2000, he was widely considered to be the front runner for the Republican nomination in 2008. However, his principled stands on the Iraq surge and immigration reform left his campaign with flagging momentum and no money. When all of the pundits and pollsters counted him out, McCain hoisted the campaign on his own shoulders. He simply outworked his opponents, rebuilt his campaign operation, and led his supporters on a historic comeback that no one thought possible. When it comes to adversity, John McCain is no stranger. As his personal history attests, however, when it comes to making his country a better place, no challenge is too great for this American hero.

Truth #2
"All you ever asked of government is to stand on your side, not in your way. And that's just what I intend to do: stand on your side and fight for your future."
John McCain is a man of the people. He understands that the basic foundation of good government is a system that serves the American people above all other concerns. While Obama supported the Bush-Cheney energy bill, embraced wasteful pork-barrel spending, and placed politics over principle in Iraq, McCain has a proven record of getting the job done for America. Whether it was the Gang of 14, immigration reform, campaign finance reform, ethics reform, or other important issues, McCain has walked the walk when Obama simply talked the talk.

Truth #3
"And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming."
John McCain has never won the Miss Congeniality Award in Congress. This is because the good 'ole boy Washington insiders know what they will face an unpleasant future in a McCain Administration. McCain will smoke out the special interests and put an end to Congress' addiction to pork spending. He has made a promise to the American people:
"Give me the pen, and I'll veto every single pork barrel bill Congress sends me, and if they keep sending them to me, I'll use the bully pulpit to make the people who are wasting your money famous." [2]
Congress members knows that John McCain will be their worst enemy. They know their detestable practices will no longer take place under a cloak of secrecy. They will be outed, and they are afraid. Unlike Obama, whose promises seem to last only as long as the opinion polls hold up, the old forces of mediocrity know that McCain sees his promises as a reflection on his personal honor code. And honor is something that John McCain takes very seriously.]]> Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:14:39 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/813225 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/809745 The McCain Campaign theme throughought this election has been "Country First" -- something Barack Obama tried to mock at the Democratic National Convention, probably to usurp his rival's obvious use of the phrase.

What Obama didn't count on, though, was that John McCain doesn't just run on words - as Rudy Giuliani said, "change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy." John McCain MEANT what he said when he said "Country First"- not]]> Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:25:58 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/809745 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805156 Americans For Tax Reform's lifetime ratings for Obama is 7.5%. [1]

The National Taxpayers Union rates him at 16%. [2]

Both grades are F's. And if we can remember how report card's are graded, F's are worth zero points, which gives Barack Obama a 0.0 grade point average.

Michael Boskin, professor of economics at Stanford University, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and who was the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors under President George H.W. Bush, wrote an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal.

Without a doubt, Professor Boskin is smart, if not a genius, and of course, due to his credentials, a creditable source. With all of the sources coming from Obama, his campaign, his speeches, and his website, Professor Boskin was able to create a chart comparing how much we spend on taxes now, and what we will spend on taxes under an Obama Presidency.

Ready to compare?

Currently, the top 35% of earners (60% of population earns anywhere from $0-66,354, so the top 35%]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:37 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805156 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805155 It's not yet in the cell phones of all those who signed up to "be the first to know," but CNN's John King broke the supposed best kept secret in politics.[1][2] Traditional media one, Obama zero.[3]

Ali A. Akbar, Publisher for TalkStraight.org and Republican New Media activist was a lone voice calling for people not to sign up for Obama's latest grab at information:

"It is almost idiotic to sign up for the SMS alert - don't give Obama your information. It's not like your email. This is your cell phone - the marketing companies don't have a comprehensive list like this. Watch, this story will break."

There's one phrase the American people can now get used to:

"I deeply regret any offense my remark in the New York Observer might have caused anyone. That was not my intent and I expressed that to Sen. Obama."[4]

That's the statement Joe Biden had to release after he said, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," and went further to say, "I mean, that's a storybook, man." [audio]

After Obama intially brushed off the statement, he released a written statement:

"I didn't take Sen. Biden's comments personally, but obviously they were historically inaccurate. African-American presidential candidates like Jesse Jackson, Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton gave a voice to many important issues through their campaigns, and no one would call them inarticulate."

Former President Bill Clinton wasn't afforded the same forgiveness when he made the "fairy tale" comment no matter how many times he clarified. Obama and the mainstream media used this to exploit Democratic African American voters who were largely uncertain about Obama.[5]

Biden on Barack

Biden's political analysis of Obama originally was, "a one-term, a guy who has served for four years in the Senate," and added, "I don't recall hearing a word from Barack about a plan or a tactic."[6]

Tense moments also came when Biden wouldn't back down. He has enjoyed a decent favorably rating by moderates and even Republicans, because of his ability to put the country first, however this decision is all politics.

He slammed Obama for not holding hearings as the Chairman of a Sub Committee with oversight authority relating to Afghanistan calling Obama, "Johnny come lately," in just recently calling for an aggressive policy.[12] One quote that will haunt Democrat's bid for the White House is Biden's in an August 2007 debate:

"I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."[13]

This pick isn't entirely unexpected from the man who has run and failed to obtained the Democratic nomination twice.[7]

After more than 35 years in the Senate and an entirely opposite approach, stance, and level of experience on foreign policy - it would seem Washington has this election in hand.

The Race Card

Biden is usually all to comfortable in his own skin. Not only does he have the longest track record of putting his foot in his mouth, even longer than that of Senator John Kerry, but he's been known to make other racially motivated comments.

More dangerous than a George Allen slip or a Robert Byrd Ku Klux Klan membership card - Biden has crude racial humor. In June of 2006, Biden sighted an overly-excited young Indian American political activist. On shaking his hand he said:

"In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian-Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking."[8]

Michael Turk picks up the double standard between Democrats and Republicans on his blog.[9]

Biden's made his thoughts known on African Americans and the public school system. In Iowa, Biden spoke to the Washington Post Editiorial Board:

"There's less than 1 percent of the population of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than 4 or 5 percent that are minorities. What is in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with..."[10]

Biden thought his chances at winning southern states, which lead Clinton to break Republican power, fared more than well, telling Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday:

"You don't know my state. My state was a slave state. My state is a border state. My state has the eighth-largest black population in the country. My state is anything from a Northeast liberal state."[11]

Clintonistas

After confirming that Senator Hillary Clinton, who received the popular vote during the primaries, was never vetted - Clintonistas might force the Democrats to defeat themselves.

Sources TalkStraight.org has talked to from PUMA, JustSayNoDeal, and Clintons4McCain groups are all in consensus that scheduled Democratic National Convention protests will go on. The general sentiment ranges from general dissatisfaction to rage of Biden being picked while Clinton was not honored by being vetted by the Obama campaign.

TalkStraight.org reached out to Christi Adkins of Clintons4McCain for a statement:

Furthermore, this will not only infuriate the Clinton supporters more, but most assuredly when this announcement is made at the convention will be a simultaneous victory speech for Senator McCain.

Senator Clinton was probably not vetted for the Vice Presidential nod simply due to the fact that her experience would far exceed Senator Obama's and having President Clinton in the White House at the same time would overshadow Senator Obama's reign.

No doubt, in the coming days, if the Clinonistas can keep the spotlight on the fact that Clinton was not respected by being vetted, expect Obama to play it off. He may go as far to say, she didn't need to be vetted.

This will be a lie. All candidates must be vetted, not only to uncover anything on the opposition's radar, but to see how the candidate will be handled by the communications teams.

It would seem "anyone's short list," didn't make Obama's own.

Sources:

[1] http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/23/biden.democrat.vp.candidate/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[2] http://twitter.com/cnnbrk/statuses/896246859

[3] http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/veepstakes

[4] http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/31/biden.obama/

[5] http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1131516320080111

[6] http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1254171.php/Senator_Joseph_Biden_Obama_clean_and_articulate

[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden#1988

[8] http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/7/7/115513.shtml?s=ic

[9] http://www.kungfuquip.com/joe-bidens-racism/

[10] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402716.html

[11] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14554439/

[12] http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/07/joe_biden_barack_obama_afghani.html

[13] http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/22/flashback-biden-on-obama-pakistan.aspx

]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:37 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805155 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805154 "For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback," [1] Michelle Obama said so famously in mid-February 2008.

Immediately, the mainstream media and the internet were buzzing with the news that presidential hopeful Barack Obama's wife, who by anyone's standards has not exactly led a difficult life, was a bitter woman. She wasn't proud of the fact that she went to Princeton, a school out of reach for most Americans? Or when she later went to Harvard Law School, where she met her husband? She wasn't proud of the dream house her family owned? (Possibly not, since it's been a source of embarrassment to the campaign as it was purchased in a "boneheaded" deal with convicted felon and slumlord Tony Rezko). [2]

Michelle Obama: The Image

Michelle Obama can come across as an angry African-American woman, bitter even. Her senior thesis at Princeton, which reporters had a difficult time gaining access to, was rather difficult to follow, but the central theme was race:

"My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'Blackness' than ever before," she wrote in her introduction. "I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong." [3]

Her statements and history might not be so problematic if Barack Obama were not attempting to present himself as a unifier, someone who was above race. Instead, people in his campaign, including his wife and even himself have consistently "played the race card." Remember: Michelle Obama sat in the same pew that Barack Obama did for 20 years, listening to the hate-filled sermons of Jeremiah Wright, the rants against whites, the consistent radical Black Liberation Theology.

One writer put it like this:

There is a disconnect there. The allusions of racial transcendence fall on deaf ears when Michelle Obama insists that soon "black America will wake up and get it," help elect her husband, so she can feel proud of her country "for the first time in her adult life." Somewhere along the way, for these two Ivy Leaguers, to be American meant to "feel justified in your own ignorance... that's America." Somewhere between growing up middle class, going to Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton, being the benefactors of sweetheart housing deals, grants, and loans, and filing over $1 million in tax returns, the United States became "downright mean." [4]

The Obama campaign, however, was not quick to put a lid on Michelle; rather, it hired a public relations firm to shore up her image and sent her out on interviews. She did The Colbert Report, where she dressed like Jackie Kennedy and said she would like to emulate her. She appeared on The View, where she was treated like an old friend by the hosts. (Sadly, Barbara Walters would later say in an interview with Jon Stewart that she asked Barack Obama to come on her show, and he responded that he had; she said she was sorry she wasn't there that day; he said she was - she said she was certain she would never be invited to the White House if he was ever elected and they joked that his famous charisma was maybe not present so much in person).

The Early Days

Early on, Michelle Obama showed herself to be a strong woman who will not fade into the background, much like Hillary Clinton herself. So one would think Michelle would befriend Hillary Clinton, but that hasn't seemed to be the case. Antipathy between the two campaigns remains, especially with the selection of Joseph Biden as Barack Obama's running mate.

But what about the early days, before Michelle put her foot in her mouth and got a makeover? What does the American public know about this woman, who has been such a strong influence on Barack Obama that he said he would turn to her first for advice in a crisis if he were president?

We know that she was deeply involved in the sweetheart, "boneheaded" deal with Tony Rezko that enabled the Obamas to buy their mansion. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

We know that when Barack Obama was a state senator, working with his mentor Emil Jones, he steered a $4.5 million earmark for the Muntu Dance Theater so it could build a cultural center. At the time, Michelle sat on the group's board. [5]

We know that in 2007, serving in the US Senate, Obama earmarked $1 million for the University of Chicago Medical Center, where Michelle Obama worked and had received a pay raise of nearly $200,000 soon after Obama was elected to the Senate. She had no trouble accepting the money. [6] She later, along with David Axelrod's company and others, formed the Urban Health Initiative, which has been widely accused of dumping poor, mostly black patients from Chicago's South Side on other health-care institutions. [7]

We know that on February 17, 2004, she e-mailed supporters asking for donations on her husband's behalf, using the "pro-choice" catch, even though it was largely fictional in this case. Why? She was "fear-mongering" women that Roe v Wade would be overturned because of the ban Congress passed on partial-birth abortions in 2003 - the same procedure pro-choice Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once called "as close to infanticide as anything I have come upon..." Fear-mongering is a tactic the Obama campaign has constantly accused the McCain camp of doing. [8]

Who is the Real Michelle Obama?

What do these things tell Americans about Michelle Obama? Is she the strong, working mother who stands beside her man, hip, fist-bumping him when he wins elections, a new kind of first lady? She was certainly quick to criticize Hillary Clinton, saying that, "If you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House. You can't do it." [9]

That statement probably hasn't gone over too well with Elizabeth Edwards, whose husband so enthusiastically endorsed hers before his affair became public knowledge. She also doesn't portray the type of classiness she seems to crave, ala Jackie Kennedy. But then, her husband is no JFK, RFK, or MLK, either. He's more of a Malcolm X follower, so her rage is understandable, as it fits well with Black Liberation Theology, with the teachings of her church, with the hatred spewed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

No wonder she has never been proud of her country. Most Americans, if they knew the REAL Michelle Obama - the privileged Michelle Obama who may have grown up on the South Side of Chicago but certainly got away from it in a hurry with opportunities few regular Americans ever get - would not be proud of her words or her actions.

And no wonder Michelle and Barack Obama make such a good team: neither she nor her husband has ever met an earmark they don't love or could work to their advantage.

So the "introduction" Michelle Obama gives at the DNC convention and the story of their marriage is just that - a story, carefully fabricated by David Axelrod, who himself has played an intricate part in much of their lives.

In attempt to reconcile the Democratic Party, Michelle dared to invoke the success of Hillary Clinton, only months after she was the Obama camp's attack dog.

Michelle talked up the word "community" and "volunteering" but said nothing of the boards she sits on or benefits she's received from being the wife of a Senator.

Sources:

[1] http://www.newsweek.com/id/123024

[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600729.html

[3] http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/26/politics/uwire/main3881166.shtml

[4] http://www.globalpolitician.com/25010-obama-elections-black-nationalism

[5] "State pork to Obama's district included allies, donors," Chicago Tribune, May 3, 2007

[6] Mike Dorning, "Employer: Michelle Obama's raise well-earned," Chicago Tribune, September 27, 2006

[7] http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1122691,CST-NWS-hosp23.article

[8] E-mail from Obama for Illinois, "A Message from Michelle Obama," February 17, 2004

[9] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN1qZMBE9Gc

]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:36 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805154 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805153 Barack Obama has become an international celebrity by promising grand compromises and post-political unity. He says he wants to change politics forever. His followers see him as the next great uniter. But the real Obama couldn't be more different. Even a casual review of Obama's record shows that he is not just the Dr. No of energy policy, but also the Dr. No of congressional compromise.

During the Saddleback Civil Forum, Obama was asked to name an instance where he went against his own party and reached across the aisle to work with Republicans in passing important legislation. After several seconds of befuddlement, Obama decided to bring up his work with John McCain on an ethics bill:

"Well, you know, I'll give you an example that, in fact, I worked with John McCain on, and that was the issue of campaign ethics reform and finance reform. That wasn't probably in my interest or his, for that matter, because the truth was that both Democrats and Republicans sort of like the status quo." [1]
The only problem with using this example was the fact that Obama actually bailed out on McCain and backed the hyper-partisan, Democratic version of the bill. In light of Obama's nonexistent record, however, one might understand why he chose this example. He simply had nothing else to talk about.

A review of the events surrounding the Obama-McCain fallout sheds some light on Obama's apostasy. In early 2006, in the midst of the Jack Abramoff scandal (which John McCain exposed), Obama approached McCain with the idea of a bipartisan ethics bill. Even while being heavily criticized by members of his own party, John McCain agreed to work with Obama on this important legislation.

Initially, the two agreed on the importance of addressing the ethics issue in an independent, non-partisan fashion. The most important aspect of their plan would have created an independent task force to investigate unethical conduct. The task forces would be comprised of an equal complement of Republicans and Democrats. This would have taken responsibility away from the existing Senate committees, which are led by the majority party. It seemed for a time that this plan would actually gain momentum.

However, this cooperation would not last long. On February 2, Obama suddenly and inexplicably jumped ship on the bill. He wrote a short letter to McCain, telling him that he now opposed the ethics task force, and would be backing the Democratic version of the bill, which would leave investigation responsibility to the existing Senate committees. [2] This meant that the matter of ethics investigation would remain under partisan control, rather than being an independent authority.

A shocked McCain responded by replying to Obama's sudden flip flop. He told Obama:

"I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. ... I'm embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won't make the same mistake again." [3]

It is apparent from this statement that John McCain learned once and for all the method behind Obama's madness. His formula is simple: compromise and bipartisanship, unless it's not politically expedient. This pattern doesn't end with ethics reform. Obama has a history of taking the political low road on compromise issues. He is the first to take sides with the liberal caucus, and he never met an earmark he didn't like. Interestingly, Obama voted with the Democratic Party 97% of the time during the 2007 Senate term. [4] This number is incongruous with the central narrative of his campaign theme.

A quick look at some key compromise votes shows the stark differences between Obama and McCain when it comes to reaching across the aisle:

Gang of 14

In 2005, President Bush's Supreme Court Nominees were being blocked by the Democratic minority's use of the filibuster. While the President had enough votes to confirm Justices Roberts and Alito, Harry Reid and his partisan strike force used a procedural rule in the Senate to keep the vote from the floor. In order to break the deadlock without destroying the Senate rules, seven Republican and seven Democrat Senators came together to forge a compromise. Where was Barack Obama during this time? You guessed it-in lock-step with his pal Harry Reid. Obama described his opposition earlier this year: "The Republicans like to emphasize the Gang of 14 because frankly the Republicans got everything they wanted out of that. I don't think it was a particularly good compromise." [5] Perhaps he didn't, but the 14 senators who risked their own political future by reaching a deal would disagree.

Where was John McCain during this crucial series of events? As usual, he was at the center of the compromise. While he was again criticized by his own party, he pressed ahead with his reform-minded colleagues and found a way to avert disaster.

Immigration

The 2007 Bipartisan Immigration and Control Act was a perfect example of Obama's political dishonesty. In 2005, he was part of a group of Senators meeting to draw up a bipartisan bill to address immigration reform. However, he stopped showing up to the meetings shortly after they began, and for another]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:36 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805153 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805152 As John McCain is set to announce his choice for running mate, TalkStraight.org correspondent and administrator Ali Akbar is live sitting directly behind McCain in Ohio ready to report the news.

It appears that John McCain might choose Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. Other candidates have been allegedly ruled out, including Mitt Romney, Joe Lieberman,]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:36 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805152 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805151 John McCain has chosen Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) as his running mate. Ali Akbar, TalkStraight.org's correspondent who is live at the rally, has a VIP pass and was among the first to know.

More information to come on how Palin, known as a reformer,]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:35 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805151 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805150 By: Stephen Maloney

In noted windbag Joe Biden's speech at the Democratic National Convention, the only crystal-clear truth he uttered came in the first sentence:]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:10:35 -0700 http://virb.com/talkstraightorg/posts/text/805150