The Attempt to Destroy Barack Obama on the Internet

I've seen quite a bit of dirty politics in my time. Being from Chicago gives me somewhat of a head start in sorting out the misfits, power brokers and hardball tacticians from the earnest individuals who want real change.

In my time, I've not witnessed an attempt to defame a politician as vicious as the documentary that seeped onto the internet this election year. It was called 'Dreams from My Real Father'. 

It was yet another despicable attempt to attach ugliness, fear and hatred to the character of the president. It first came to my attention while viewing the Drudge Report website. Drudge is basically a news aggregate, mixed with what appeared to be an effort to show the president as inept. 

Almost every news story seemed to be a headline written with the intent to place the Obama administration in a negative light. An example of this was found on the day when the largest paper in Utah endorsed the president, Drudge never mentioned it. Nor did he mention Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama. The documentary however, was being advertised on the header of the website.

This documentary implied and in many instances came out and stated that the president was raised by relatives who were CIA spies, and leaders of an underworld organization out to overthrow America. Why was this done? Because the tactic of convincing the world Barack Obama was not born in America failed. 

So this time, they took the approach that he was born into communism. Three days ago, we received the verdict on what America thinks about this documentary. Barack Obama was reelected.

And while I might be inclined to call for action against those that perpetrated this despicable smear campaign, I'll settle for something much more satisfying. Watching them squirm as the president successfully leads America the next four years.

Thoughts for an upcoming holiday...

Troll the waters of any cable TV, filler content, the uglier the better, sledgehammer of the month 'television news journalist', and you'll find President Barack Obama's head firmly situated on the chopping block. Never mind that he has done little more than save the economy, stock market, auto industry, soon to be health care industry and beyond that, with some leftover mojo, maybe, just maybe - Afghanistan.

November is coming and one of our oldest and most sacred holidays requires millions of farmers to sharpen the axes. The gobblers haven't done anything wrong and neither has Obama, but the fact remains that millions need to be fed, and as much as we love Grandma's gravy, political blood is much tastier when football alone will not take the edge off of the realities of national recovery.

We are an impatient society. We have been given much. It came from back breaking labor of our grandparents, and theirs as well. Their patience and sacrifice have allowed millions to taste the fruits of education and the promise that comes with it. The results have enabled us to move further ahead, and faster than any other time in our brief history.

Now that we are on the brink of unbelievable breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and global partnership, are we willing to trample the gains and spirits of our ancestors in a rush to misjudgement? Consider the story of the Fox and the grapes. Factor this in, Americans are being intimidated, and frightened by the same big, bad, bully who picked on you at school, he was and still is seeking attention.

It's funny, but as Americans accept the holiday time off from work, prepare their feasts and fill their plates high, increasing numbers will dig in before giving thanks for the blessings that have filled their tables. And this year, will we forget the dire predicament this nation was in one year ago, with many whispering 'end of America', and those same television news journalist's shouting 'utter collapse'. Will the man who held the nation together be remembered on the this sacred day? Our day of Thanksgiving?

Barack Obama: Where Did Everyone Go?!

During the Presidential campaign, Barack Obama's words created an inspiring vision of wonderful possibilities. He spoke of what could be, what needed to be, and how it would become reality. We heard the specifics, we felt the sincerity. The response was overwhelmingly affirmative at the voting booths. The anticipation brought about a massive gathering in a Chicago park.

Some forty years earlier, in the same park, the city and it's Mayor put on a display of brutality for the emerging network television media. The images rivaled the nightly horrors being broadcast from Vietnam. But as the old spiritual goes, " the times they are a changin' ". This time, the Mayor, son of the former, presided over a peaceful celebration of the man who embodies much of the ideals beaten down in that park. And the whole world was watching.

Here we are, fifty days into President Obama's term and evidence of his vision for America is everywhere. His promises are being fulfilled at a rapid pace. He began reforms at home by beefing up ethics rules at the White House. His stem cell policy (now law), a major campaign commitment allows science to advance and provide the best possible environment for medical breakthroughs.

Guantanamo Bay prison on the island of Cuba is phasing out, with definite dates in place. As outlined in the campaign, almost twenty billion dollars will be included in the stimulus plan to convert medical records to electronic formats. Similar stimulus funds are in place for the nation's infrastructural repairs, as promised. Envoys are busy around the globe, working on issues such as Israel and Palestine.

That is why it truly pains me to express that which I feel must be said. I am referring to public service and the people who have actually decided to defy the call to arms. With the country in the midst of what I described in an earlier column as World War III, and with the President walking point, I find desertion to be inexcusable.

But that's exactly what is happening with some of the people who have been called to serve along side of the President. Annette Nazareth, the potential chief deputy to Tim Geithner and a former senior staffer and commissioner with the Securities and Exchange Commission, has decided she has better things to do.

Caroline Atkinson, also withdrew from consideration, leaving Mr. Geithner with the task of spending his time looking for people willing to serve in this battle, as opposed to leading it. U.S. cyber security chief Rod Beckstrom has fled as well. This in a time of unparrelled danger in cyber warfare directed at his country.

Dr Sanjay Gupta, who agreed in principle to become Surgeon General, took himself out of the running, saying: "It really came down to a sense of timing more than anything else. You know, I have two daughters. Our third daughter is now imminent." Now that's an interesting statement. The President said he sought office because of his daughter's.

There are 1,200 government jobs that require Senate confirmation. 360 are policy jobs. Less than 100 of those jobs have been filled so far.* Is money and comfort a reason to turn the other way when your country needs you? Were the words of John Kennedy merely poetry to be enjoyed from the safety of your home? It is time to stand up and be counted. Do what you can. Volunteer, write it down in a blog. Make some noise. Whatever you do, don't quit.

"Success is not final...failure is not fatal...it is the courage to continue that counts".
- Winston Churchill






* White House Transition Project

Barack Obama: A Little Help Over There...

John Podesta (Center for American Progress), Barack Obama's advisor has been showing up on various television shows recently. He was on Larry King Live the other night with T. Boone Pickens (80's corporate takeover baron).

Picken's gave a spiel worthy of his old stockholder speech days. He spoke on the utter necessity of kicking our national addiction to oil (which he pumped into our veins for decades) and switch to natural gas (an energy source he WANTS to pump into our veins). Pickens was also one of Bush's (43) most ardent supporters.

Podesta, the former pit bull-in-chief for Bill Clinton, agreed with everything Pickens pitched. The whole thing smacks of another odd couple bi-partisan effort to bamboozle the American public in some undetermined manner (so far). Why so cynical you ask? OK, when a left-leaning Washington power monger and a staunch Republican oil monger start dating on national television, somebody should be concerned. The only exception I'm prepared to make are the cute seniors James Carvel and Mary Matalin.

I am surprised that then President-elect Obama signed off on Podesta coordinating the transition. I applaud his cherry picking of Clinton's old team. They accomplished much given the circumstances. But in this case, it was a mistake. When several of his cabinet picks were tanked for various reasons (mainly tax evasion), I wonder if Podesta's vetting team were introduced to his well documented alter ego - Skippy.

While appearing on Charlie Rose yesterday, Skippy seemed to trivialize the tax evasion debacle, bemoaning the loss of Tom Daschle and all he would have meant to health care reform. Rose, as usual, backed away from a valid point and capitulated to his guest. It was one of those exchanges that appeared to lobby on behalf of elected officials receiving immunity for the sake of the nation. It was also a great way to limbo under the fact that Podesta was not functioning at the high level he demands of others *.

Whatever happened to BioWillie? Now that's one act I'd like to see on the road (again).

* Washington Post - Tuesday, November 25, 2008; Page C01