The president that we are going to choose has to be a person of good judgment. We must pick the person who will protect our country and who will make the right decisions at the right time. All of the candidates have their good qualities, and also their bad ones. It's up to us to decide who is the right person for the job.
During the past couple of weeks, there has been one name that has monopolized air time on all of the major and minor news stations. That name? Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the former pastor and long time friend and mentor of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Reverend Wright is the man who Obama said changed his life and introduced him to Christ. He has been his spiritual adviser, and until recently held a position in Obama's presidential campaign. Reverend Wright has been at the center of much controversy. In the past week videos of some of Reverend Wright's vitriolic sermons have been circulated and shown time after time on YouTube and other news stations. In many of these sermons, Wright made outrageous comments about America. He called the USA the US of KKK ... A . He also put a new twist on the common patriotic phrase of "God Bless America" when he said "... God bless America? no ... G** D*** America". He then went on in other sermons to blame the United States for the terrorist attacks of 911 saying that "the chickens have come home to roost" These comments are highly offensive and completely anti-American.
I understand completely that he is protected by the 1st amendment's freedom of speech, and he can say what he likes. He has a strong following in the black community and many people admire him. The person in question, though, is Senator Barack Obama. Obama has attended Wright's church for the past 20 years. He had his children baptized by him, and he was even married to his wife, Michelle, by Reverend Wright. Barack credits Wright as being the man who introduced him to Christ.
When Obama was questioned whether or not he had heard these comments in church, he responded that he had not. In a speech Obama gave last week he did admit that he had been in attendance when some comments that could have been considered controversial were said. Before that, he was asked if he would have stayed in the church if he had heard those comments, and he said that if he heard them repeated he would have left.
I want to continue by saying that I do not think that Senator Obama is un-American; nor will I say that I think that he is a dis-honest person. However, this story has caused me to doubt whether or not he has the correct judgment to be President of the United States. Many people ask what he can do in order to make up for this issue. Many people say that he just has to repudiate the comments that were made, and everything will be fine. In my opinion it will take more than that. He can not make up for 20 years of attending and receiving advice from someone like Reverend Wright, with a 30 minute speech. Whether or not Obama was in attendance when the worst of those comments were spoken is irrelevant. If he really is as close to the Reverend as he says he is, then he would be perfectly aware of the feelings that he held towards Americans, and in particular, white-Americans. It is understandable that Obama does not want to disassociate himself with Wright, because he truly has been an important figure in his life. However, a man running for president on the platform of Unity and Hope for a brighter future, should not have a man who pushes divisive policies and centuries old rhetoric as his spiritual adviser, nor should he play a part in his political campaigning.
I do not agree with Obama on many issues including Abortion, Health Care, Taxes, The War in Iraq, Immigration reform, and many others. Those are the main reasons why I can not vote for him. However, his apparent lack of judgment in this recent controversy has caused me to question even more his ability to lead and unite the country. Being President of the United States requires a keen sense of judgment and the ability to make correct decisions for the good of America. In my opinion, Obama's lack of good judgment should raise many red flags for anyone considering voting for him this election year.
3 comments:
It has certainly been disturbing to listen to all this ranting and raving from someone who is supposedly a spiritual leader and adviser. I'd say Barack Obama is tumbling down.
This election is scaring me. There are so many things that could damage our nation. Thanks for putting up all of this information...it makes it a lot easier for me to follow. I guess we know that it has to get worse before it gets better, though.
Some good insights as to the implications of Rev. Wright's statements on the election. Also, great blog! I like the desing a lot. By the way I'm a communications major as well.
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