Tales & Tails of New York

During a hotly contested political campaign, the voters are often asked to suspend most discerning logic and common sense in order to "believe" the most incredible promises of pie in the sky Utopia.

 

 

OK, well maybe the promises aren't not quite that extreme -- but they're close.

 

But, of all the promises and declarations of the current campaigns from "hope" to "change" to "unity" to "ending war" and "providing free health care," the most ludicrous and incredible by far is Barack Obama's assertion that he "had no idea" of his pastor of 20 years' militant political beliefs and stands.

 

As a "fallen away Catholic" of many years, I may not agree with all of my Church's religious and political stands, but I am certainly aware of them!

 

Had, at any point, a priest or nun of my Church ever uttered any hateful vitriol against another faith, nationality or race of people, I would run -- not walk to the nearest exit and never admit following or belief in the particular religion again.

 

Supporters of Barack Obama may try to divert this subject by pointing to controversial ministers supporting John McCain for President.  While it is this writer's opinion that all political candidates would do well to distance themselves from and denounce those religious fanatics who espouse and preach ethical intolerance or condemnation of others due to religious beliefs, race, nationality, or sexual persuasion, the fact is, John McCain did not have any kind of close association with those controversial pastors supposedly supporting him.

 

Barack Obama did.

 

One does not idolize, respect, support, contribute financially to and religiously follow for 20 years, those one "has no idea" of their ethical, political and values stands.

 

Barack Obama has a problem in terms of the incinderary video clips of his former pastor railing against white people and the United States. These shocking clips have been circulating on the Internet and airing on Cable TV almost nonstop over the past few days.

 

Obama can't say Pastor Wright is "like an old Uncle" ranting in a basement.  One doesn't choose relatives.  One does choose his/her religion affiliation and the particular church and pastor s/he follows.

 

Nor can Obama claim that the Christian Trinity Church was the only game in town when he came to Chicago more than 20 years ago.  There were many other black Christian churches Obama could have chosen to follow and support. 

 

Why did he choose the most radical and militant?

 

There ARE ways Obama could have attempted to "explain" this odd choice of religious affiliation -- particularly as one supposedly running on a platform of racial unity and "transcendence"  (I was young and impressionable. I was investigating different belief systems.  I wanted to understand better the rage of my people).

 

Perhaps some might try to understand and if necessary, forgive these reasons for supporting a hate-based and mongering preacher.

 

But, instead, Obama has chosen to deny and seemingly lie about his relationship with Pastor Wright and the controversial church, with the "no idea" claim.

 

This causes the listener to such "explanation" to have to suspend all intellectual discernment, common sense and logic.

 

It is this writer's belief that most American are not going to be willing to do that.

 

Obama has had his first real "test" on how he handles adversity.

 

He has handled it by lying about it.

 

A candidate who is not credible does not deserve to win the nomination for President of the United States, much less be elected to it.  -- PCA

 

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