Barack Obama has always had an especially close relationship with his grandmother and grandfather. When Obama was ten years old, he moved in with Madelyn and Stanley Dunham, his maternal grandparents. They helped in raising him to be what he is today. His grandmother, who he frequently quotes and remains very close to, is seriously ill. Naturally, he took some time off from campaigning to go and visit her.
In response to the question about the $150,000 spent on clothing by the RNC, an idiotic comment was made stating that the real issue was that Obama should have flown on a commercial flight to visit his grandma (a bit unsafe for a presidential candidate). An Obama supporter put together this great idea in response to this comment:
"I created a special Obama-Biden donation page in response to (Brad) Blakeman crossing the line, mocking Obama for "taking a 767 campaign plane to go visit Grandma." It's a way for people to send Blakeman a little message, and far more importantly, make a donation specifically in honor of Sen. Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham."
The news came out today that Sarah Palin has spent over $150,000 of the Repubican National Committee's money on clothing. While it is understandable that she is in the public eye and has to spice up her image, isn't this a bit extreme?
First of all, Ms. Palin makes very good money. She is not an "average folk" as she likes to say. According to a quote from the Washington Post, Governor Palin and her husband make a pretty healthy salary:
"According to the Washington Post and a March 2008 financial disclosure form reported elsewhere she makes, as governor, $125,000 a year in salary, plus about $60,000 in reimbursable expenses. Her husband Todd Palin earns $93,000 a year. Neither have any credit card debt."
Seriously, who needs to spend this kind of money for clothing? And to spend money donated to the Republican National Committee when you have a salary at this level?
I certainly have nothing against any of these department stores - they are good stores with classy clothes. But, I could never in a million years spend $150,000 on myself, friends, and family altogether. And she is criticizing the Obama family? At least Michelle Obama is more sensible in her clothing purchases - and at least she uses her own money to purchase things of this nature. And I'm sure Hillary Clinton purchased her own attire as well.
Second of all, this once again shows the hypocrisy this woman seems to stand for. The dishonesty and finger pointing at others when she continues to take advantage of every opportunity she can is a list that seems to go on and on.
With the struggles most people are facing in the current economy alone, even the most dedicated Republican might have a bit of a problem with this one.
One of the cool things about America is that it is a country made up of people from all over the world. Unless you are Native American, we are all from someplace else at some point or the other in our backgrounds. The diversity in this country is what makes it interesting and I, for one, really enjoy that we have many different cultures and backgrounds. We should celebrate this - not label, not generalize, not point fingers. For one race, class or sex to think they are better than the other is beyond understanding to me.
For the first time in our history, we have an African American running for president. And he is doing extremely well - much to John McCain's chagrin. Barack Obama is well educated, has a calm demeanor (fitting a leader), has promising ideas, and is so much more intelligent than our current president there is simply no comparison. For people to look down on him because of his race is ludicrous - especially since he could run circles around most of them.
The lashing out toward Obama from the Republican side continues to get more and more appalling. People yelling out violent suggestions, along with the lies being spewed, never seems to stop.
At the latest stop in Minnesota, Norm Coleman and Todd Palin stand idly by while a sign saying something as sickening as this is displayed: "Charles Manson was a Community Organizer?" At what point will this stop? It not only shows no class, it is absolutely repulsive. To ignore this when you are on the stage and say nothing to denounce it is as disgusting as the person in the crowd holding the sign up.
In the last debate between McCain and Obama, the senators once again seemed to show their true colors: Obama, cool and blue, McCain, not only red, but red-faced.
McCain's anger was apparent throughout the debate, many times looking like he was ready to blow. His aggressive attacks toward Obama did not provoke him enough for the reaction that McCain wanted, but he never stopped trying. He was accusatory, biting, and yes, seemingly desperate. When Obama calmly explained the very logical connection of his associations - and who he really goes to for advice - McCain seemed to be seething.
Obama showed a calm, cool tone that screamed leadership. McCain just looked like he wanted to scream. His eyes were darting and angry, and his smiles were sarcastic. With all this rage, is this really what people want in the oval office at a time when our country is crying out for change and strong leadership?
The dishonesty in this election has gone beyond ridiculous. Sarah Palin seems to take it to an art form - both in just downright lying and in denial. Does she really not realize that she is on tape for the opposite of what she says?
McCain seems to be doing the same thing. From his hypocritical statements about Obama regarding his associations (when he has the same ones, or worse) to the whole Letterman fiasco - all the contradictions are played out on various news channels. They really seem to have no idea that they can be disputed by simply running a tape.
As for Palin, she seems to only answer in rehearsed speeches that don't really make any sense. A favorite funny man - in Monty Python, various movies, and hilarious writings - John Cleese states it quite well:
I've lived everywhere from the midwest to the south to the east coast, and places in between. I've traveled extensively - both overseas and throughout the United States. I was raised to be very open-minded and have always seen people as individuals. Generalizing is dangerous - and ignorance, racism, and sexism is just downright stupid.
The current race to the White House just seems to get dirtier and dirtier. When Hillary Clinton was running, we saw some sexism. Unfortunately, sexism continues to be so rampant in this society, it is almost acceptable (except for women, that is). When Sarah Palin entered the picture, she accused people of sexism as an excuse to not answer legitimate questions. This is not acceptable.
She also has been the dirtiest player to date - slinging mud at Obama, digging up old accusations that are greatly exaggerated, and just inciting scary and dangerous behavior at her rallies. She seems to be the mouthpiece for McCain. Of course, McCain has done his own damage as well. The worst was McCain referring to Obama as "that one" during the last debate. Was it racist, disrespectful or both? He didn't look at him and has shown zero respect throughout.
Perhaps if the Republican side of this election was not so desperately playing these games - and actually talked about the real issues - intelligent, educated people would actually take them seriously. Maybe the Republicans should realize that the American people are not interested in games and mud slinging. We are interested in cleaning up the massive mess that the last eight years of Republican control has created in the first place.
Obama has shown class and the true traits of a leader throughout, and his theme has remained constant. Change indeed - and classy, intelligent change at that.
I watched the vice presidential debate last week with a sense of confusion. I knew it would be a strange debate: an experienced senator of many years, an expert on foreign policy, debating someone who can't answer simple questions - like what magazines and books she reads.
What it turned out to be was a candidate who answered the questions with knowledge and experience, against another candidate who answered the questions in a rehearsed tone, often answering a completely different question altogether.
As it dragged on, I knew Sarah Palin was so practiced she would only answer questions that she felt like answering and would instead flow into a prepared speech that had nothing to do with the subject matter. It was comical at best. The same words used over and over again: maverick....reform...often completely out of context. Her folksy answers and down home cuteness, right down to winking at people, was ridiculous for a vice presidential debate and I can't believe people fell for it.
Yes, comical it was...until she really showed her cold side. This self-professed Christian and mother showed zero compassion when Joe Biden showed a vulnerable side with his heartfelt story that brought a tear to my eye. When he told of the loss he had experienced years ago of losing his first wife and daughter, and not knowing if his sons were going to make it, he choked up and had to catch himself. When done, there was no body language showing any sympathy from GovernorPalin, no kinds words as simple as an "I'm sorry," or "That had to have been tough." Instead she showed how rehearsed she truly was and went right back into a prepared speech and ignored his heartfelt revelation altogether.
Her lack of intelligence, lack of qualifications, and total arrogance to all of it have been shown repeatedly over the last few weeks. But now she has shown a coldness that moved beyond all of it. How does a supposed Christian woman, mother of five, show so little feeling to a father who has lost a child and fears losing his other children after a horrific accident? Or was she just working so much on memorization that if she got off of it she would lose what little train of thought she had?
Once again, she was embarrassing to women when she could be making history in a great way.The cute act was actually very cold and unfeeling - and the experience act was just a memorized mess that refused to answer the questions, was unresponsive to anything around her, and mocked the whole process and the people who are truly qualified.
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