Is Obama Really the Best Man for the Job?

Shortly after a friend posted a Pro-Obama bulletin on her MySpace, it made me wonder a few things about Obama. Is Obama really any better than McCain? Is he really any worse? What qualifies him to be the next president?

It's no secret that Reverend Jeremiah Wright's comments and teachings severely damaged Barrack Obama when they were first publicized during his campaign. Obama's response to his pastor of 20 years stated: " The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. " Several people have come to light since then noting (and I agree) that Rev. Wright has been preaching the same beliefs for 20+ years, the time in which Obama was a member, and has never changed his views from such controversial thoughts as "Goddamned the USA" & "USA is responsible for 9/11". How can you be in church with a man for 20 years and never hear a word he says? Is he admitting he went to Trinity only for the "Godly" image it might have presented? Is he really Rip Van Obama and was just sleeping for 20 years? I believe it was George Washington who said: "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company." Why associate with a man of such controversial standing for 20 years if you do not believe and promote the same values and beliefs that he does?

It has been said that Obama chooses to "silently protest" by not saying the country's pledge of allegiance, or by choosing to not wear a flag pin to display his patriotism. It seems to me that the President of the United States should be the biggest damn patriot in the country. I am not disagreeing with anyone's right to not say the pledge because they don't believe in God, or what it stands for, I am simply stating that for the President of the United States to effectively command our military, and us ultimately, he should believe in the very foundations this country stands on and the very principles we believe in, and most of us have. Our loved ones serving in the armed forces are laying down their lives every day so that he might be afforded the right of free speech, and to just disrespect them by showing he doesn't care for the pledge, or to wear a damned flag lapel pin, is just disrespectful in my opinion, and spits in the face of everything they serve for. Incidentally, yes, I come from a long line of military personnel.

A close examination of Obama's political credentials touts a very short list of qualifications, and suggest that even his rivals' VP pick, Sarah Palin, has more experience necessary to become the President of the United States. According to Wikipedia, she was a member of the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996 and mayor from 1996 to 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. She was elected governor of Alaska in November 2006 by defeating the incumbent governor in the Republican primary and a former two-term Democratic governor in the general election. She is the youngest person to have been elected to the position, and Alaska's first female governor. Meanwhile according to the same source, Obama served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate in January 2003. After a primary victory in March 2004, Obama was elected to the Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote. So, it would seem that one has 16 years of political experience, while the other has a whopping 11. I don't think experience should be his major leg to stand on at this point.

No matter who you vote for come November, you should stop to think: Is this person representing what I want my children to see? Is he representing me accurately? Perhaps the most important question you should ask yourself is: Would I be comfortable inviting this person over to watch Monday night sports with my family? I know what my answer is. See you at the polls!