Why Barack Obama Will Not Be the Next President of the United States

Okay people, with just over two weeks remaining until the Nov. 4, 2008 Presidential election, one of the most important in the history of this country, this political column will focus on five specific reasons that Barack Obama will not be elected as the next President of the United States.

Keep in mind readers, that none of the following statements reflect on how I will personally vote on election day, (my vote was determined a long time ago), as they are just my personal feelings on the possible reasons Obama will not win the upcoming election - and the multitude of mind-boggling events that have led up to this point in one of the most contentious Presidential campaigns of all-time.

Here then, is a look at five specific reasons why Barack Obama will not be the next President of the United States.

Name

It's a damn shame that some folks equate Obama's Middle Eastern-originated name with terrorism, but that's the world we are living in. Were Obama's name something 'American-originated' like George Williams or something, republicans everywhere that have tried to 'scare' Americans into thinking Barack is some sort of terrorist, would have one less grenade to lob at his campaign.

I know it's pretty flimsy, but the fact is, his name's origin, (which doesn't bother me one iota, mind you), will scare plenty of voters into voting for John McCain, particularly those that have no knowledge of how he got his name in the first place.

By the way, the fact that the head terrorist responsible for the dreadful 9/11 attacks that rocked the nation, the Afghanistan-born, Osama Bin Laden, name sounds similar, certainly doesn't help. Just think, how many times have you seen non-Barack supporters refer to him as 'Barack Osama' or some other Bin Laden-related moniker?

As silly as it sounds, the fact is some people equate his name with terrorism.

Racism

Let me be brutally honest here by saying that racism is as alive and well in the United States today as it ever was and the fact that Obama is of mixed color, has brought that fact to the forefront on several occasions during the campaign election period.

Earlier this year, CBSNews.com was forced to inform its staff via email that they should no longer enable comments on their respective stories about Obama. The reason for the new policy, according to the email, is that stories about Obama have been attracting far too many racist comments.

Mike Sims, director of News and Operations for CBSNews.com explained the decision "It's very simple," Sims said at the time. "We have our rules of engagement. They prohibit personal attacks, especially racist attacks. Stories about Obama have been problematic, and we won't tolerate it."

Here are some racist comments directed toward Obama that were excerpted from the 'comments' section at AOL earlier this year.

"Shame on you people for ditching a white, most qualified woman over a unqualified black man."

"Whatever happened to White power?"

"White is right ... in the south anyway."

Even WWE Smackdown writer Michael Hayes joined the racial barrage against Obama, openly making comments towards the Presidential candidate, saying, "How can we have a President that can't read the constitution?" and "If that boy gets elected, I'm moving to Canada."

Again, as sad as this fact is, racism is clearly alive and well in the U.S. and some people wouldn't vote for Obama if he could walk on water simply because of the color of his skin.

Lack of Experience/Age

Obama's detractors cite his relative youth, (he's 47-years-old) and lack of political experience as a major knock against the former community organizer and civil rights attorney who served three terms in the Illinois state senate from 1997 to 2004.

Despite the fact that Obama has also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004 and became just the fifth African-American Senator in U.S. history and just the third to be popularly elected, in Jan. of 2005, his critics will point to a lack of experience, particularly in international matters, nevertheless.

Associates

Obama's attackers and McCain's campaign recently initiated a smear campaign against Obama, trying to paint him as an 'un-American terrorist', who, republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said, "doesn't see America the way you and I see it."

His cynics often like to mention his name in connection with his inflammatory former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, equally inflammatory Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, and alleged Chicago mobster Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

Most recently, Obama's relationship with so-called domestic terrorist Bill Ayers has been openly questioned by McCain and his supporters. Ayers is currently a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois and member of the now-disbanded 1960s anti-government, anti-war organization, Weather Underground, which claimed responsibility for bombing U.S. government buildings in the late 60s and early 70s, even though Obama was then a child.

As unfounded as the charges may be, many non-Democrats will not vote for Obama because of his associations with these people, be they real or perceived.

Policies

Let's 'keep it real' for a moment by saying that, for the past eight years under current President George Bush, the rich have been getting richer while the poor and now, non-existent middle-class, have struggled immensely to meet mortgage payments, pay medical bills, keep their jobs, fill their gas tanks and feed their families.

Under Obama's planned changes are, an improved health care system, helping high school graduates afford going to college and current home owners find reasonable housing costs - and the kicker - higher taxes for the wealthy.

You better believe that some of those wealthy Americans will vote against Obama as they try mightily to hold on to ever single dollar they can!

Love him or loathe him, these five aforementioned reasons could keep Obama from becoming the 44th President of the United States.