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 Published Brownsville Herald June 15,2008

The Political World Series is on all the media all the time. The league pennants have been pretty much settled. The Democratic Party has advanced a candidate that looks good at first blush but Barak Obama has a more than a few questions that need to be resolved and positions that need to be considered. Mr. Obama’s star became apparent at the Democratic Convention just a few years ago. His speech and charisma propelled him to a national prominence that even the previously “omnipotent Clinton Machine” could not overcome. The mere fact of his nomination for the most important position in our country has already redefined the United States as a much less racist society than is often attributed. 

The Primary campaigns raised a number of questions that taken as profile rather than a set of separate incidents have caused many to wonder at what kind of leader the real Mr. Obama will be. His voting record speaks of what has been termed as the most liberal in the Senate. Further, in the campaign, Mr. Obama spoke of solving many of the Nations ills by increasing taxes on the “wealthy” and buying solutions with that money that comes from our paychecks every week. What concerns me are the perceptions created by the exposes that seem to place him, for nearly all of his adulthood, in a culture of supporting social change through violence. (Relationship with William Ayers, a former member of the radical group the Weather Underground who is now a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago) This picture is supported by the values and social attitudes (a “Black Value System” that  refers to “our racist competitive society” and includes the disavowal of the pursuit of “middle-classness” and a pledge of allegiance to “all black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System.” It defines “middle-classness” as a way for American society to “snare” blacks rather than “killing them off directly” or “placing them in concentration camps,” just as the country structures “an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.”)  of his church, its pastor and community that he was a part of for over 20 years. 

Lastly, a rather small incident occurred when Mrs. Obama asserted that for the first time in her adult life she is really proud of her country. Taken by itself it means no more than pride and passion bubbling up. When taken in the lifetime social context of racism and the perceptions of the current political system and the capitalist economics as being the root cause of the world’s ills, the lack of awareness that the view might precipitate some rancor, lead one to believe the concept is common in her community and by inference the Obama family.  The picture going forward to the election is ‘can Mr. Obama defeat attempts to identify him as an elite socialist bent on power rather than the problem solver and foundation of real change in the country that will meet the needs of the future. Republican John McCain has been a part of national service his entire life and his goals and positions have been a matter of public record for a lifetime. Mr. McCain spent much of his legislative career solving difficult problems working across political party lines and advancing legislation that was somewhat more liberal than many of his fellow Republicans were comfortable with. 

He is also a genuine military hero with solid hard won personal experience in defense issues and their results. In order to retain the conservatives Mr. McCain has recently advanced positions more in line with the framework of low taxes, small government and free trade. Detractors are currently focused on associating him with the very unpopular Bush policies and advanced years. At this point for Mr. McClain the issues are, striking a balance as a bi-partisan solution for the World’s problems and other traditional issues so as not to inflame the Conservative base and to not allow himself to be defined as Bush 3. 

The potential kingmaker / spoiler could very well be Libertarian Bob Barr. He has solid Republican credentials as he represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives and served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services during the four terms from 1995 to 2003. Earlier, Mr. Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in the late 1980’s and was an official with the CIA in the 1970’s. Like many Republicans and Democrats in the past several years, Mr. Barr left the Republican Party and become a life member of the Libertarian Party and as of December 15 became the representative of Region 4 of the Libertarian National Committee. His free trade and small government views will make him attractive to many Republicans. 

He will be attractive to many Democrats as well because of his position against the Patriot Bill and recent statements relating to Iraq -“ the United States should publicly declare it won’t establish permanent military bases in Iraq.” Mr. Barr also said in a written statement that Iraqis want the United States out in the near future, and remaining in Iraq indefinitely would be a waste of lives and money. Please consider that It may well be the case that no candidate will command a definitive majority of electors to become President and those of one of the other candidates could be released to vote for the eventual winner in exchange for political concessions.  Certainly a rare circumstance but possible.  Every single vote could be crucial in this historic election; become active in the party that supports your visions and ideals, and vote.  

1. Kurgan says:

   June 24, 2008 at 1:38 pm

   Mr. D.,

   I am hurt – no link

   Seriously, Barr will be taking votes from the GOP, and it remains to be seen what impact a Nader candidacy will have.

   In the last few election cycles, 3rd party candidates have played majors roles in the general election.

   Interesting note :

   This election is marked by one candidate who speaks of a tanked economy and then redistribution of wealth.

   ECON 101 says that these are diametrically opposed issues; not compatible. In times of economic turmoil, it is every person for themselves. Redistribution and “fairness” only rise up in periods of sustained economic growth.

   We shall see. I am not excited by either candidate.

   Kurgan

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