RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Reconciling Parts of Barack Obama – How?

By LisaB on May 31, 2008 at 8:48 AM in Barack Obama, Bill Ayers, Black nationalism, Chicago politics

I have often wondered how Mr. Obama integrates the different aspects of his life. For instance, how does he attend Trinity for 20 years with its Black Liberation Theology and then go out and represent all the citizens of his state in the US Senate? Having seen some “sermons” from that church, that’s gotta be a trick. I mean, if you’ve been attending that church, if your faith is very important to you and if you want to go out and change the world based on the ideals you hold (and, presumably faith is important here) then I would think some of his constituents might wonder if he represents them at all.

That aside, Illinois politics has been famous during the last few years for the low quality but quite high quantity of its corruption. The current governor (a friend of Mr. Obama’s) looks likely to be indicted at some point. The last governor went to prison for corruption. Given the high office he holds and the relative speed with which he attained it, Mr. Obama must at least understand how the political machine works, even as he disputes his role in it. But evidence suggests he may be far more involved than that.

Direct reporting from the Chicago Tribune:

But notwithstanding both his church and his “professional contacts,” this is what I’d like to know: How can Mr. Obama be part of two communities like this and be the “everyman” we Americans typically look for in a President? How does he go from church on Sunday hearing that whitey is the root of all evil and then work in a spectacularly corrupt political system during the week and STILL say you are something unique and special?

Also, and probably more important – assuming his faith is as important to him as he says it is, how does he reconcile his likely participation in political corruption? I’ve heard the phrase “by any means necessary” from TUCC and from Elijah Muhammand, Louis Farrakhan and Malcolm X. Is Mr. Obama’s quick rise attributable to application of “by any means necessary?”

If the ends justify the means, what the heck are those “ends” likely to be?

Somehow, all this must make sense to Barack Obama. And I don’t believe these two systems don’t interconnect. I believe that somehow, they do. There must be links between his political life and his church life. That does not necessarily mean the links are bad or even troublesome. But they must exist.

And, even if we knew how these two parts fit, where does Bill Ayers fit?

An interesting piece about Obama’s faith and politics:is here.

  • Pingback: OF NOTE during meeting: : NO QUARTER

  • katmandu

    The public is catching on. Per Rasmussen today:

    Obama’s numbers are 45% favorable and 53% unfavorable (see recent daily ratings). Those figures represent Obama’s lowest ratings of the year. His favorability ratings peaked at 56% in mid-February. Twenty-five percent (25%) have a Very Favorable opinion of Obama while 37% have a Very Unfavorable view.

    Voters see McCain as the candidate most likely to reach across party lines and work effectively with both Republicans and Democrats.

    On the question of voter trust, McCain retains a slight edge over Obama when it comes to the economy and the War in Iraq. The GOP candidate holds a wide edge on National Security issues.

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

    • http://deleted AnninCa

      I would agree with the majority of people. McCain isn’t my preferred candidate, but he has a proven track record of working across party lines effectively.

      Obama’s sheer pettiness and inability to extend a real sense of goodwill to Hillary is inexcusable and indicates he would be all about power and about squelching others. He seeks to destroy. He derides others. And his spiritual advisors express that attitude quite clearly.

      There have now been enough examples and situations where we have seen his behavior that there is no more reason to debate this.

      He is who he is.

      Now, voters must decide if that’s the type of president they want.

      I’m confident that they will say No.

      McCain won’t have to run as good of a campaign as Hillary would have needed to do. Obama was unknown. The story had to reveal itself in her fight.

      McCain starts from a much firmer position.

      We know.

  • workingclass artist

    In a Book titled… What’s Left ? How Liberals Lost Their Way. by Nick Cohen these dichotomies are addressed by a left-wing columnist for the Observer of London and the New Statesman. The book was reviewed by Fred Siegel or DLC Blueprint Magazine 4/23/07.
    To summarize Obama et, al…represent extremist lefties who delude themselves into the kind of rationale that the usual rules simply don’t apply.
    They should be held to a special standard….This is why Obama does not seem to care if his church is racist or anti-american as this fits into the politics of social justice….It aint’ just here this guy sees it in England too…and it is spreading….

    • workingclass artist

      His book is not specifically about Obama but describes the shift in Progressives….I see Obama as representative of the shift. I encourage anyone to read the review and when I can I’ll get the book. Siegel says it is a must read about post 9/11 politics….

  • anna shane

    when I was a little girl I was taught that you are judged, rightly or wrongly, but the company you keep. I you hang with known racists you’ll be associated with racism. Two of Barack’s long time spiritual friends are racist and angry, the woman who was his foreign policy advisor and had helped him write his auto-biography said Hillary’s a monster. He’s spent hours and years with them, it defies credulity that he shares none of their opinions. His own behavior confirms it, he thinks the worst of Hilary with no evidence and no clear logic; he thinks the worst of her seems incontrovertible.

  • workingclass artist

    It is my belief that Obama is racist and fascist and rationalizes both within his mind using socialist extremist bullshit….He is a fascist….

  • EyesOpen

    Does it exist? Something that Senator Obama has actually done for someone else. If anyone has record of it, please post.
    Lacking this evidence, many of us are left to believe that indeed the communist, marxist, hate for America’s prosperity is all that drives this man.

  • avwrobel

    He’s just a nice, likable guy who keeps on everyone’s good side, tells people what they want to hear (and has a talent for figuring that out), is pretty bright but only sometimes focused. Kind of (no, very much like) like our current President. That’s why he’s so dangerous. We don’t really know what we’re getting with him. And its just too risky to take a chance on him.

  • ClareA

    I was wondering why Obama’s association with Wright, Ayers, etc. didn’t really worry me. I realize it’s because I don’t think he really means anything by it.

    Unlike Bush, who actually pushed conservative religions agenda like “abstinence-only” sex education, I don’t think Obama would do anything to push the agenda of those associates. How are these people of any political use to him once he gets elected?

    I believe his associations are those which may be politically advantageous to him, or in this case, his “narrative.” I don’t see any compelling vision. Those inspiring words of his are the same pitch that Axelrod used for Deval in MA.

    He is interested in being President but it’s not at all clear to me that as a president, he’d be anything other than another figurehead who is run by his backers and lobbyists in Washington. The fight seems to be more about the new power structure in the Democratic party than anything else.

    I don’t believe he stands for anything – but perhaps that’s what IS alarming.

  • ritamary

    I agree with ClareA’s description of Obama. He is nothing more than an opportunist who doesn’t really believe in anything more than accumulating power.

    Obama needed the support of politically connected Rev. Wright and Father Pflakey when he ran for Illinois State Senate. He does not need them any more so under the bus they go. However, he cannot erase his past association with them. His chickens come home to roost.

  • Jean Janowski

    I just heard of this site and decided to check it out. I cannot believe the unbridled hate I am seeing here. I cannot believe that this is purported to be a site supporting Democratic values which is supposed to be different from the Republicans. I had to go back to the original site to see that I landed at the right place. Now I understand how your candidate could express her deepest darkest wish as her route to the nomination. I tell you this: I am a life long Democrat but after seeing all I have seen here, whether or not Barack Obama wins, I no longer see how I can call myself one after seeing the heart and soul of others who also identify themselves as I have. Barack Obama has consistently appealed to our better nature. This site and these comments are just sickening. I feel literally sick.

  • candy

    Jean Janowski… sounds familiar.

    Better nature. Like the better nature of the card carrying communist when he sat at his knee, the nature he learned from the most important spiritual leaders in his life for 20 years, from the Arabs and Syrians he helped push contracts for (two wanted by Interpol, yet still stroll in Chicago, one on trial, as well as the Governor soon), from his father, mother and grandmother whom he cares less about (at least read his books, guess what, he was pushing on Iraq deals with them too), from imams connected to Hamas and Hezbollah, from organizing with DSA/socialists and voter fraud to his Weatherman friends. Explain how someone you don’t know, who hasn’t worked or ran a city, out of the combine, could represent you… mush less than the rest of us with normal friends and relations.

    You complete the argument that women want to be lied to. He isn’t your savior, who we wish all black men were, Mandingo, your baby’s daddy had he stayed, the loyal grandson I wish I had, my husband had he not left, or the prize you can give for past guilt that shouldn’t be there.

    Right this minute they’re arguing using affirmative action for a candidate re: meeting on delegates, live on CNN/CSPAN/WaPo, actually stating giving write-ins that were thrown out for mistakes (mind you, they’re not opened and has been stated they don’t count), and non-committed votes (which dem elite asked them to vote), tally half to Obama… even though he voluntarily took his name off (there are no rules on name removal btw). They’re lying on Florida re: no campaigning, when he spent over a million in ads there. Is this the party of count every vote? I for one, will not allow socialists to take over this country because of the poison they’ve spread in schools in lieu of education to dumb down yourself and others. Wake up and take off the rose colored glasses. Do you want another leader you can’t question, who lies and will never accept responsibility?

    As someone who saw what he did in Chicago, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Do your research for Chicago’s 13th, see what you find. I take it you aren’t from the Gardens or one of the 11 buildings that froze from no heat and had no water while he took Rezko donations (but he was broke and couldn’t pay utilities or fix them), and your better nature politician claims he knew nothing. I know for a fact that’s a lie. Go see which committees he’s convened, go look at his Iraq funding votes, read the transcripts of his arguments on the floor.

    Use your brain, not your feelings. I remember when women could see a con man a mile away… I guess we’re really starving now.

  • BalancePleaseGod

    Don’t confuse ‘social democracy’ with Communism!

    Socialistic type policy made the greatness of the Western World, including the USA. ie public ed, public health, regulations against toxic pollutants and dangerous business practices, parks, livable regions, etc. Universality programs allow poor people who are brilliant contribute to their society whereas they would have languished to the detriment of us all. Countries whose gov’t implement policy that benefit the citizenry have a prosperous and healthy society. Unrestricted Capitalism and Communism end up with very similar societies as we see as we wait in line for everything now.

  • BalancePleaseGod

    Oh, I am a Clinton supporter. I believe she would balance the needs of people and business and help restore us to a prosperous society and promote decency for all races and genders.

  • Mandelay

    So glad to see somebody “digging.” I’ve been following this story a bit, trying to connect some dots and I keep coming back to Mayor Daley. I’ve read a posting on Lynn Sweet’s blog over at the Chicago Sun Times that Pflegler is in Mayor Daley’s inner circle, that Obama campaign honcho Axelrod is also in Daley’s inner circle, and that Axelrod is making a documentary on Pflegler. Also that Obama/Daley/Axelrod/Pflegler have been closely connected for years. Just read on the Chicago Tribune site that Sen. Dick Durbin seems to think Pflegler went “overboard” and Durbin describes himself as a “friend” of Pflegler. Is Durbin an idiot? Or just another big politico in Daley’s pocket? Like Obama. Like Pflegler. Like Axelrod. I think this has nothing to do with a “church.” The “church” aspect is a real distraction. I think it’s been Daley all along. But for those who have been questioning the propriety of the preachers, what about the TUCC congregation? Let’s face it, if a preacher has no audience, he has no church. Why are these folk jumping up and down with glee in a church when they hear such nasty stuff from Wright and Pflegler? Why has the Cardinal (first Bernadin and now George), caved in to Pflegler whenever the Archdiocese has tried to shut him down? Is it the Daley connection? And if so, how does Daley intimidate a Prince of the Catholic Church? What’s the leverage? And why doesn’t Obama leave TUCC? I keep coming back to Daley. His power in Chicago. The river of money that keeps flowing to these “leaders.” And the disgrace that is owned by the Democratic Party. I am a lifelong Democrat. But, men behaving badly should not be rewarded.

    • prostratedragon

      Daley 3.0: The new generation of Chicago’s first family, from today’s Chicago Sun-Times.

      Rev. Pfleger’s parish, St. Sabina, is one of the largest in Chicago proper. Trinity UCC is the largest UCC congregation in the country. Not all roads even in Chicago lead to Daley.

      • prostratedragon

        Just most of them;>