Barack Obama - Where Did He Come From? What Does He Believe?

Any discussion of the character and views of a political figure has to start with his or her critics. Barack Obama has a multitude of these and the comments are illuminating.

For example, in an article reprinted in Human Events, a far-right publication, Ann Coulter writes that Obama's speeches are empty platitudes. She doesn't think much of him, but the real clue is her referring to him as "B. Hussain Obama" making a not very subtle reference to Saddam Hussain. (Actually, Hussein is Obama's middle name, and means, in Arabic, "Little Beauty. The stuff one picks up in doing research!) Tom Fitton, head of Judicial Watch, Inc. suggests that Senator Obama has a history of "shady land development deals" and compares the facts to Clinton's Whitewater. (Note that no improper activities on the Clintons' part were ever discovered as a result the multi-million dollar probes and constant investigations.) Ben Shapiro, in an article in Human Events states that Iran is watching our election process carefully and hopes, above all, that Senator Obama gets to be president. Finally, in an anonymous e-mail circulated since 2006, Senator Obama has been described as a radical Muslim, and, if not an Islamic fanatic then certainly a terrorist sympathizer. The latter charges, published by Fox News and Insight Magazine have been thoroughly debunked. The sources for this statement are set forth below.

So who is this guy who presumes to run for president?

As far as education is concerned, Senator Obama has excellent credentials. In 1983, he graduated Columbia University in New York City. Following graduation, he was editor in the international financing division of Business International Corporation, a company publishing newsletters and conducting seminars for business leaders throughout the world. He then spent a period working on job training programs organized through local churches in Chicago. He entered Harvard Law School in 1988. and, twp years later, was elected the Harvard Law Review's first African-American president in its 104-year history. He completed his J.D. degree magnacum laude in 1991. After graduation, he entered private practice and, later became a lecturer in Constitutional law at the university of Chicago. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2004.So his credentials seem impressive, but what does believe in?

Domestic policies.

Education. During an October 2004 debate, Obama stated that he opposed education vouchers for use at private schools because they would undermine public schools. At that same debate, as reported in the Chicago Tribune, Obama acknowledged that his children attended a private school affiliated with the University of Chicago; the reason, he explained, was that his wife and he were both employed by the University and he received a break on tuition. That may or may not satisfy his critics but it is a fact of life that, with few exceptions, more affluent peoplechoose private or parochial schools. His first Bill as a Senator was a proposal to increasde the amount of Pell grants to ease tuition pressures on college students. The Bill never got out of the GOP controlled committee and it died.

Energy.Senator Obama's energy policy, as stated on his website, is vague and not very illuminating: Senator Obama believes that America must commit to a new national energy policy focused on improvements in technology, investments in alternative fuels, and greater efforts in conservation, efficiency, and waste reduction. Shifting from our current investment and consumption practices to this new direction will be one of the great leadership challenges in the coming decade. In 2007, he, and other Senators, introduced a bio-fuel Bill which has never been acted upon by the Congress. It would set requirements for vehicles to be able to run on both petroleum products and ethanol. Being from the mid-west, he has been a strong proponent of fuel from grain. He has also stated his willingness to consider nuclear energy as a potential source for domestic energy.

Health Care. Obama has been a strong and very vocal supportet of a universal health care system for the United States. He has stated that that he believed that it was wrong that forty-six million Americans are uninsured, noting that taxpayers already pay over $15 billion dollars annually to care for the uninsured. It is not always clear about the meaning of "universal health care" but it does not mean, exclusively, a governmentally run single payor system.

General Economic Policy. Senator Obama has indicated support for the New Deal policies of FDR, a reluctance to eliminate the Estate Tax, and a willingness to have the government assist where necessary. The keynote address at the Democratic Convention in 2004 is stiring and well worth reading and study by any serious student of American politics.

Abortion and women's rights. Obama has stated his support of Roe v Wade, and, as a state senator in Illinois, received the highest rating from the Planned Parenthood Council and other pro woman and pro family organizations.

Foreign policies

Iraq and the military. Obama has taken the position that he was and is opposed to the war in Iraq , while certainly supporting the actual troops in the battles. In his 2004 address, Obama said:When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world. As to Iraq, in particular, Obama states that we should announce a planned withdrawal to signal the Iraqi government that it must get serious about getting control in its own country.

As one essayist wrote, "If the present Iraqi government cannot prevent civil war and create a peaceful society, that has to be its problem. The only unity in Iraq now is the near-universal hatred of America!. . . We should leave Iraq to the Iraqi people, civil unrest notwithstanding. We should devote our military and diplomatic power to address and eliminate real terrorists throughout the world. We would find cooperative allies and not be the focus of hatred, everywhere." This is, essentially, Senator Obama's position.

Generally, as an Illinois state senator, representing a predominately liberal constituancy, Obama hewed pretty steadily to traditional liberal views: in support of Roe v Wade and of a woman's right to choose, in support of gun control legislation, in support of rights of gays and lesbians, in favor of expanded stem cell research. In short, all of the positions that make the Rush Limbaugh and Fox news cringe.The major criticism of Senator Obama is that he has insufficient experience to handle domestic and foreign issues. On the other hand, recent presidents, such as Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, as well as those in the past, such as Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhauer were lacking experience in one or both of those areas.One thing Obama offers is a "new face" and a chance for all disillusioned voters who wish to throw "all the bums out" an opportunity to choose a new face.Barack Obama is an interesting man and it will be interesting to see how the campaign develops.

And how he handles the stress of what will likely be a dirty and messy campaign.