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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Obama, Osama, O Mama!
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on March 31, 2008 For the Standard Today, April 01, 2008 If I were an American citizen, I would probably vote for Barack Obama. He is more genuinely articulate than the plastic and predictable Hillary Clinton. He has real fire in his belly; Hillary has only a bellyache caused by ambition unsatisfied by eight years in the White House as First Lady. Obama is an authentic visionary, unseen in American presidential politics since John F. Kennedy in the 1960s. Hillary is just another politician mouthing platitudinous slogans. Even her uniqueness as the first serious female contender for the American presidency is tarnished by her apparent resignation to and tolerance of her husband Bill�s open and scandalous womanizing, even within the White House itself while she was present in it. In my book, a crusading woman politician, confronted with the peccadilloes of her husband, would have castrated him then and there, politically or otherwise. But, of course, Hillary did nothing of that sort because she needed to stay in the White House and present a false business-as-usual demeanor for the sake of her future run for the presidency. At this point in the campaign, Obama has pulled comfortably ahead of Hillary and is no longer threatened by any last minute surge in the Clinton campaign. My forecast is not even fearless, that Obama will win the nomination of the Democratic Party in June. Having said that, however, I do not think Obama will be the next president of the United States of America . The British novelist Doris Lessing, winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature, predicted in an interview with a Swedish newspaper last February 9, that if Obama were to be elected president, he would be assassinated. Two months before Ms. Lessing made her prediction, I had told members of my family, as well as two American friends of mine, that Obama might be assassinated even before he wins the election on November 4. Despite the spread of social liberalism, the US retains much of its white supremacist fringe, and anti-black sentiments continue to boil beneath the surface, manifesting itself even in the course of the current presidential campaign. The ready availability of guns and a modern history of high-profile political assassination unsurpassed anywhere except in Lebanon , Iraq and Afghanistan , mean that several would-be assassins in Idaho or Alabama or wherever are even now seriously plotting their dastardly deed. Ominously, this month marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King. But even if Obama were to survive assassination, as I hope he does, events are being, or will soon be, manipulated to significantly reduce his chances of winning the elections in November. And the central point of this manipulation will be Iraq and the war against Radical Islam. Already we are seeing subtle and not-so-subtle hints of this manipulation. Anti-Obama propaganda repeatedly refers to his middle name: Barack Hussein Obama, Barack Hussein Obama. The idea is to subliminally associate Barack with the certified despot and genocidal murderer Saddam Hussein, to defeat whom thousands of Americans have died and tens of thousands of others have been wounded. This crude propaganda may not work with the liberals in the East and West Coasts , but for the unsophisticated local yokels and rednecks in Middle America , who make up the majority of the voting population, this would have resonance. Especially if it were made part of a wider campaign along the same bigoted lines, as it undoubtedly will be. Such as the repetition ad infinitum of that YouTiube clip of his minister of choice for 20 years, Jeremiah Wright, screaming out his anti-White America diatribes that would make Fidel Castro sound like a Sunday school preacher moralizing about addiction to bingo. . Wright�s �Not God bless America ! But God damn America !� screamed out loud with bristling hatred and wild-eyed conviction��and not a word of protest or reproach from Barack during those 20 years, will be capitalized on and repeated ad nauseam by Barack�s many detractors of all stripes, including white supremacists and Christian Evangelicals, not just by the Republicans, as November 4 approaches. Barack�s rationale that he could not disown Jeremiah Wright any more than he could disown his (white) maternal grandmother somehow rings hollow. Attention may be focused on his (white) mother as the central influence in his life, especially during those 20 years when Jeremiah Wright�s anti-White America diatribes may have seemed the acceptable conventional wisdom to an angry young (black) man and his angry young (white) mother. That his (white) mother, Ann Dunham, from Kansas married first a black Muslim from Kenya (Barack�s father), then another Muslim from Indonesia, seems to suggest a deep-seated anger against White America for its enduring racism, which anger may have found reinforcement, for both mother and son, in the reverse racism of Jeremiah Wright. Before he entered state, then national, politics and thus had to meld into the mainstream, Barack was not only an angry young man with an angry young mother, he also had an angry young wife in Michelle Robinson, who was a Law graduate from Princeton, as Barack was from Columbia . Curiously, Michelle�e senior thesis � �Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community� � has been �temporarily withdrawn� from the Princeton Library until November 5, the day after the elections. It must contain some sharp criticisms of White America that have been deemed, by Obama campaign managers, to be counter-productive to his presidential fortunes, for it to be embargoed until the day after. In a recent interview, Michelle Obama said that �My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my �blackness� than ever before. I have found that at Princeton , no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus, as if I really don�t belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with whites at Princeton , it often seems as if, to them, I will always be black first and a student second�..� My sense is that this resentful feeling of separateness from the white majority permeated the Obama household - (white) mother, son and daughter-in-law � from which they sought and found refuge in the reverse racism of Jeremiah Wright. In the present contest, Jeremiah Wright is an embarrassment, but he may have been an integral part of the Obama upbringing.. So the issue of race is a major component in the Obama candidacy to a far greater extent than has been admitted or is apparent. But even more potentially damaging to him would be Iraq and the war against Radical Islam. Even my favorite American commentators have not taken notice of an announcement by the Defense Department last February 11 that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and five other detainees in Guantanamo would soon be tried by a military commission. For those who do not know, or may have forgotten, who KSM is, he was the al-Qaeda top gun who was the operational brains of several al-Qaeda initiatives including the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September11, 2001, one of the most devastating terrorist attacks ever anywhere, certainly the most humiliating setback suffered by the Americans on their own soil, at so little cost to the attackers.. This means that in the weeks and months leading to the November 4 elections, 9/11 will be relived with all the pain and anguish and anger and frustration that the Americans suffered seven years ago, and the calls for revenge and justice on the perpetrators, now on trial, will reach fever pitch as US media go on a feeding frenzy that may even overshadow, or be made to overshadow, the presidential campaign.. In such a hysterical environment, Barack�s (and Hillary�s) liberal calls for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in 16 months will likely be drowned out by orchestrated and real calls for a more vigorous prosecution of the war, even if it means opening a second front in Iran . The recent resignation of Adm. William Fallon as C-in-C of Central Command, supposedly because he refused to endorse a war on Iran , means that war is in the cards as well. So is a more relentless pursuit of Osama bin Laden and company in their mountain redoubts along the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan . In the past four months, using unmanned Predator aircraft armed with Hellfire missiles, the CIA was able to kill the no. 4 man in al-Qaeda�s order of battle, plus another senior commander. If Osama or his deputy, the Egyptian Ayman al-Zwahri, are killed or captured in the weeks leading to November 4, while KSM and his five confederates are being tried for 9/11, Obama�s 16-month withdrawal plan would lose much of its liberal appeal and many independent voters would swing towards John McCain�s unabashed embrace of George W�s war on Radical Islam, as long as it shows early signs of success, especially in Pakistan, where the cost in American lives would be minimal. In the present calculus, a hard core 30-32 percent of American public opinion has solidly and consistently supported the Iraq war. These are mostly Christian Evangelicals who see war in the Middle East as fulfillment of biblical prophecies in the Book of Revelations, according to which most Jews in Israel would be killed, except for 144,000 males who will convert to Christianity, which will be the signal for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. With 30 to 32 percent of American voters already predisposed by religious beliefs to support the War on Radical Islam, the needed balance of 19 to 25 percent would not be difficult to harvest from among independent voters if my scenario outlined above were to simultaneously materialize in the weeks leading to November 4: er�black propaganda on Obama�s connection to Jeremiah Wright, the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his five 9/11 confederates, and the killing or capture of Osama and//or Ayman in Pakistan. Grating as it may be, George W may yet have the last triumphal laugh. One recalls that in the last week of the 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry and George W. Bush were tied in a dead heat in most surveys, with four percent of the voters still undecided. It was during this stalemate that Osama bin Laden chose to make a sudden appearance on US television, ominously calling for more attacks on the Americans. One week later, George W went on to win the popular vote, by 3.7 percent. (See my article Osama Spooked the US, of Nov. 03, 2004) In 2008, Osama could spook Obama just by getting killed or captured. And for those who think that he is too old at 71, McCain takes along his 95-year old mother in his campaign sorties, just to show voters that he has the longevity gene. O Mama!. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles at www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogdspot.com. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Obama, Osama, O Mama!� Michelle Obama�s Militant Racism (Forwarded to Tapatt by Domingo Tambuatco) Background check- Mrs. Michelle Obama Michelle Obama, wife of Democrat front runner Barack Obama, shocked a lot of people over the weekend when she said this: 'For the first time in my adult lifetime I am proud of my country.' Wow! That takes my breath away. Mrs. Obama is 44 years old, so for over roughly 24 years of 'adulthood,' taking her at her word, she has never been proud of our nation. Is there a theme here? You may remember that last year Senator Obama said he refused to wear a flag lapel pin because it represented a 'substitute for true patriotism.' And what precisely is true patriotism? According to Senator Barack Hussein Obama, it is opposing the war in Iraq . Apparently nothing America did from 1982 to 2008 caused her heart to swell with pride. Not our successful effort to defeat Soviet communism and liberate millions of people in Eastern Europe ? Not our relief efforts around the world, through which we spent billions to help the downtrodden? Not anything? When she learned with all the rest of us how her fellow citizens on United Flight 93 bravely fought back against jihadist hijackers and prevented another disaster on September 11th, did she not fill up with pride? As Americans of all races and classes rallied together in defense of our nation in the aftermath of September 11th, did her spirit not jump with love for her homeland? Apparently not. The Obamas are living examples of the American Dream. Both Michelle Obama and her husband have Ivy League degrees. They make a joint income of over One Million Dollars a year. They live lives that most ordinary Americans can only dream of. Yet, Mrs. Obama, who wants to be First Lady, has been unable to find the pride in America that millions of ordinary Americans feel every day. Sadly, her attitude is not rare among leftwing American elites. We are 'educating' millions of Americans to be Globalists first and foremost, and we are doing precious little about educating our children to be proud and Unashamed Americans. The Obamas are flying high politically right now, but I don't believe many Americans will want to cast their votes this November for a couple so out of touch with traditional American values. 'For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,' Michelle Obama.....'What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America ,' Barack Obama HOWEVER, nowhere in there does she leave space for, allude to, or specify a reference to American politics. She's a Princeton and Harvard educated lawyer, and she can't specify between her country and its politics??? ALSO, 'Why Is Michelle Obama's Princeton Thesis *Restricted* until November 5th'? 1985 Princeton senior Thesis entitled: 'Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community,' Princeton University Senior Theses Full Record TITLE: Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community [Restricted until November 5, 2008] (96 pages). AUTHOR: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson (1985), Sociology Department ADVISOR: Not available LOCATED AT: Mudd Library. Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama lamented that white professors and classmates always saw her as 'Black first and a student second.' She had surveyed alumni to see whether they sacrificed their commitment to other blacks on the altar of success, and foresaw for herself an uneasy future: 'further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant'... As Michelle Obama wrote in her thesis introduction, 'My experiences at Princeton has made me far more aware of my 'Blackness' than ever before. I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong'... Michelle Obama was guided in her choice of thesis topic by a consuming concern that her success might compromise her black identity. As she wrote in her conclusion: 'I wondered whether or not my education at Princeton would affect my identification with the Black community. I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with Whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that Black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility.'... Michelle Obama's fears of losing touch with her roots without ever being embraced into the mainstream led her to promise, in her thesis introduction, 'to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community.' Her thesis is the ONLY one on the 449-result long list *restricted until a specific date: November 5th*. What's the significance of November 5th? Well, it's a Wednesday. Oh, and it's the day after the General Election!!!!!! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Tony, Nice article po. I read somewhere that Al Gore is being tapped to run for US Presidency. The Democrats will sort of have a �failure of nomination� as Barrack & Hillary would each be unable to obtain the necessary majority of delegates. A super delegates� convention would then ensue and declare Al Gore official candidate in an effort to heal the rifts in the party and mainly to prevent a possible loss at the polls if either of current protagonists make it as official candidate How�s that for an Al Gore US Presidency. Best regards, Nards Sapon, (by email), April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, One by one Hillary Clinton's friends abandoned her like passengers on the Titanic and jumped into the smooth-sailing Obama flotilla � John Kerry, Christopher Dodds and Ted Kennedy. The media, too, was ready to write her obituary and bury her. Well, thanks to Ohio . Hillary is alive and well and back on the campaign trails. If Mark Twain were alive today, he would say that the news of Hillary Clinton's demise was greatly exaggerated. Hillary is another comeback kid. Barack Obama burst upon the national scene like a rock star, dazzling everyone with his brilliant oratory. He even swept Caroline Kennedy off her feet, who endorsed and compared him to her own father. But Obama is no Jack Kennedy. Kennedy was an authentic WWII hero before he ran for Congress. Kennedy's eloquence and charisma inspired young people to serve in the government and gave them hope. The nagging question about Obama is: What has he done for America to earn the right to run for the presidency? Soaring oratory can inspire and give hope like many television evangelists do. But unfortunately, we are electing a president, not a preacher. Hot air can inflate a balloon and make it soar to the stratosphere, but sooner or later it has to to come down. He promises to bring the country together. We have had a candidate like that, but the moment he was elected, George W. Bush became a most divisive president. We have been there before and we don't want to go there again. Obama has become a more polarizing figure than Hillary. The country is now divided along racial lines. Not an auspicious start for a uniter. He belittles Hillary's experience and implies that he has better judgment. What he probably possesses is the forgivable brashness of youth. Virgilio I. Gonzales, (by email), California , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Your article was as informative as it was entertaining. Yes, indeed, just when the dumb and ugly Americans finally have a Presidential candidate who is authentic and exciting, the special interests who control media and finance will do everything in their power to stop him from winning in November. Even in Barack Obama's own front yard, the Democratic Party, sinister forces are out to foil his bid for the Presidency. Hillary Clinton's obstinacy in pursuing the Democratic Presidential nomination to the bitter end reveals more than just sheer grit and determination. Hillary knows that her numbers for winning the nomination just don't add up. Yet she angrily pursues her candidacy, despite warnings that the resulting acrimony will only hurt the eventual Democratic nominee, who will mostly likely be Obama. It was Hillary's campaign that brought up Obama's middle name, Hussein. And Hillary brings up Jeremiah Wright, Obama's controversial pastor, every chance she gets to. It is no mere coincidence that Hillary Clinton is a senator from New York , the seat of power of the American Jewish lobby. While the youth and a significant portion of the minorities, with the exception of Asians and Latinos, may be enamored of Obama, American Jews are aghast. Obama has proclaimed that he will use more diplomacy, and less force, if he becomes President. Obama has renounced the arrogant unilateralism in American neo-conservative foreign policy. He has telegraphed his willingness to listen more to the third world. What Jews fear most is that Obama will not be as willing a puppet of the Jewish lobby as past American Presidents. It is also no coincidence that the most prominent U.S. Jewish politician, Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut who ran as Al Gore's V.P. in the 2000 Democratic ticket, now accompanies John McCain in his campaign sorties. The message is very clear: Jewish sentiment is against Obama. In U.S. politics, the tail wags the dog. Jewish sentiment outweighs all other considerations. Jewish money is a big factor. Most banks and financial institutions in the U.S. are controlled by Jews. Media and entertainment is also controlled by Jews. So they also have a control on public opinion. It will be extremely difficult for someone who is not trusted by the Jewish lobby to eventually become President of the U.S.A. They will do everything in their power to thwart someone like Obama. I do not know if assassination is part of the scenario. But I would not rule that out, especially if that were among the last options left. Very truly yours, Juan Deiparine, (by email), Toril, Davao City , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Good observations. However, I would not vote for Hillary or Obama because they are both of the same ilk. During this primary season, I feel the Press orchestrated the selection of candidates and left much of the country disenfranchised. I have no clear candidate to vote for if I am to vote my convictions. The idea of moderate conservatives and conservative liberals has muddied the waters. Perhaps if our traditional system of Checks and Balances is used correctly, we could survive any of the candidates. But as it stands there is no choice for me. Shelah Bellis Hockman, (by email), Owosso , Michigan , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, You have drawn the most accurate picture of the coming election that I have read to date. Obviously, you have a firm hand on what is happening here, and yes, I agree with most of what you say will happen. IF there is an election, events will be manipulated in the last weeks to put McCain in the White house. If that happens, we will continue down the road to our ruin. China and Europe will become the world leaders. With all of the problems the Philippines is having, I hope your country can stay above the fray and continue to grow and become stronger. I am moving there in two months to retire and enjoy the Filipino culture and your beautiful country. I am only concerned for the future of my family and where my country is heading. Thanks again for your opinions and your view of the Philippines . Sincerely, Bill Tritt, (by email), Philadelphia , PA , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Your analogy or perception of Obama understandably is based on the delicately prepared news releases of the Obama camp and media's favorable articles always seemingly heralding their darling candidate . These are well scripted, well designed and fully choreographed releases like a Broadway show. Why? Simply to avoid the race card. Any candidate either Democrat or Republican playing the race card would be making a fatal mistake. The Obama camp is on guard and ready to attack anytime an invasion occurs. Clearly I find this as the big deception and frankly he does not get my vote. No, he is no JFK either. He may talk of the proverbial change (and what are these changes?) but has not been forthright just what they are. He may be polished and may appear to be a new voice on the political block but JFK has served the military as a hero and this country with honor. I am a patriot at heart and MCcain who has served this country honorably without hate gets my vote. He is a real hero and all indication based on his records as a senator has a bipartisan approach and typically reaches across the aisle necessary to pass a bill. America's Whites built this country through hard work. For many of us who live and work in America we see hard working Americans every day. They are the most fair and benevolent people.on this earth. They will lay their lives on the line to defend oppressed people and economically deprived countries. Unfortunately there is anti government, anti democracy, anti religion, anti good, and anti freedom that permeate the world order at this time. Obama will not be elected president not by assassination but by association, deception and revelation of myriads of skeletons he is hiding in his closet. Jeremiah Wright is only the beginning. This week is the release of a liberal form he filled out 12 years before As electors read more of skeletons coming out of his closet of the unmasking of the real Obama will occur. For two blacks who have been privileged to graduate in prestigious universities as a result of the Affirmative Action program why are they very angry cads rather than grateful? For Michelle to spout the unforgivable phrase "for the first time I love America " should have Martin Luther King squirming in his grave. America has matured and has come a long way since I set foot in this beautiful country over half a century ago. The prospect of a black president is a testament to this country's character. As a soldier I saw those for colored and for whites only signs which put me in a dilemma not being either. If there is racism is caused by the people themselves. Speaking for our people, we Filipinos do not suffer from blatant discriminatory racism because we play our cards right. We are responsible, respect the laws, work hard, pay our taxes and are not a burden to society. Good to talk to you, Tony, even though I disagree. Thanks, buddy. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Roseville , CA , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Couldn't agree with you more. I dislike Hillary - more so when she started to hit Obama below the belt in one of her campaigns. If Obama wins - and I do hope so - he will revolutionize America inside and out. I just hope that he does not end up assassinated. That would be most terrible. Nicole Paterno, (by email), April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Back in January, I also wrote (in my BusinessWorld column) that White America will vote against Barack Obama this coming November. My reasoning is not as profound as yours. I simply contend that Obama will lose simply because he is black. Here is an excerpt of that article. Oscar Lagman, (by email), April 01, 2008 The polls will continue to show that Obama is a strong candidate, but I will not be surprised if on the day of the Democratic convention he is erased from the equation. But if the liberal and progressive Democrats do chose him as their standard bearer, I foresee White America voting against him. This belief is born not of any scientific survey but of my own exposure to White Americans. I studied and worked in San Francisco, worked in New York, and many years later studied, though briefly, in Kansas City. Those cities are representative of the West Coast, East Coast, and the Midwest. I dare say that White Americans, and they still make the overwhelming majority of the American population, are not ready to have a black man lead what McCain calls �the greatest nation in history.� The founding fathers of that nation may have declared that all men are created equal but many of them really had in mind �white men� only. There was great disagreement among them about the institution of slavery. An early draft of the declaration of independence denounced the slave trade but the line was eventually deleted. Many white Americans still could not accept black people as equals 100 years after slavery was abolished. The emerging Black Power in 1966 had to put pressure on Corporate America to hire Negroes, the term in use until the early 1970s. John F. Forbes, the big San Francisco CPA firm I was working for in 1967, hired one to be able to tell the growing number of Negro associations, �Lay off us, we got one.� When I moved to New York in the summer of 1968 to work at J. Walter Thompson, the biggest advertising agency then, there was only one Negro in the entire account group. He had to be an Ivy Leaguer, a graduate of Dartmouth College . Today, a rule had to be set to give African Americans an equal chance of becoming head coach of a professional football team. The Rooney Rule of the National Football League requires Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to also interview one African American as possible replacement for the retiring Joe Gibbs.***** wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Shame on you, this time. You'd rather punish the victim than the criminal. Hillary tried to hold on to what remains with her family, as most of our Filipina wives would-- look at the Phil. politicians. How many of their wives EVEN accepted the children of their unfaithful husbands? Is it really easier to beat a woman than to beat a man (someone your size)? It's about time for people to say-- look at how Hillary came out with better than sanity after having been abused/victimized. Many of us still think Obama would make a good VP for Hillary. There are such naivete that could result in disaster for the American people if Obama prematurely heads the country. Aurora Riel, (by email), Mufreesboro , North Carolina , April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Hilary stands a better chance of becoming a president than Obama against McCain. If only for that reason I would vote for Hilary if I were an American and a Democrat.. Love your column... George Sison, (by email), April 01, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr Abaya, I am very surprized at your very partisan political writings showing so much admiration, adulation to Barack Obama. I am a naturalized U.S. citizen of Filipino blood that I owe much of what I have become by migrating to America I learned to respect and to love so much. Like many others, I wish for the United States to continue on as a respectable World leader in areas of military power and economic influence; thus I hope for its President to be a person I can be proud of. Having stated that, I can not and will not vote for Barack Obama who (just to name some) identifies himself with extreme elements of society with the likes of Farrakhan and Rev Wright (kind of people who blame much of society's woes and world problems upon the United States), and who even feels offended when his own middle name of Hussein is spoken or written as part of his full name. I admit he is a gifted eloquent talker and speaker, but eloquence is but a speckle in the galaxy of attributes and things that make up the total person and a great leader. If indeed he and his surrogates and followers feel unfairly offended by including his middle name in political -- and all partisan and official -- discourse, why can't he go to the court system and officially change his name to delete "Hussein" as a middle name? Otherwise, if elected his name will remain in the annals of American history as Barack Hussein Obama, President of the United States -- surely, an undreamable, extremely negating revolution in American history. Pacifico Talens, (by email), Virginia Beach , Virginia , April 02, 2008 US Navy (Retired) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr Abaya, How about this scenario: Barack Obama will be president of the United States , but he will be manipulated by the usual suspects into striking a deal with the OPEC. He would be tasked with keeping the petrodollars glued to the sphere of influence of the USD, rather than the euro. In my opinion, Saddam Hussein gave the US sufficient reason to launch an invasion of Iraq when he tied Iraq 's petrodollar to the euro, and made a bundle of euros for the Iraqis, albeit causing the US dollar to fall. And that's only Iraq . There are other Muslim countries with a lot of money to spend, that are watching on the sidelines. In such a ballgame, McCain, who can't deal with OPEC in a way that Obama can, is reduced to a war-monger, and Hillary a wimp. Willy Calinawan, (by email), Pasig City , April 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir, It's been a while since my last reaction to your works which I find very enlightening and informative. I was swamped with work but I do find the time to read what you forward. You are quite right in saying that it seemed impossible predominantly white Americans would allow a non-white to be elected to the White House. But then, who can really ascertain the outcome of the elections in November? Maybe the Americans will surprise the world for a change. Grace Santos, (by email), April 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I am an avid fan of Barack Obama and I can appreciate and comprehend the trajectory of your well crafted analysis. If Obama is assassinated before the US elections on November or during the early years of Obama Presidency, then America would be thrown into a long violent fermentation for months or even years. This would be a shocking and repugnant scenario, if and when Obama is eliminated as convincingly foretold by some international writers. If Obama survives it all, it would usher the dawn of a second Camelot era in the United States . Obama's victory would be the single greatest positive event that would happen amidst the ever evolving global environment. Vic del Fierro Jr, (by email), April 02, 2008. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Americans are not ready for a black President, period. All this hoopla over a vaporous candidate who just happens to be colored will evaporate once the real campaign gets underway as November closes in. You cannot win on an empty mantra of "hope" and "change" and fool people all of the time. And you can't always exploit the white man's guilt over slavery (every time he's criticized his supporters scream racism, yeah, right!). If I were an American citizen I would vote for Hillary. I can sympathize with her seeing how similar she is to PGMA. She also just happens to be a substantive type but is wrapped in a layer of dislike by people who are superficially dismissive and contemptuous of her strong personality. An Obama presidency is too radical to contemplate. If it materializes I can only imagine what people would realize once the post-election euphoria vanishes and the hard questions and situations take center stage. What will he do? RR, [email protected], April 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww NOTE: Because of lack of space, this post may be truncated in acabaya.blogspot.com. It appears or will appear complete in www.tapatt.org. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony.. As for me, I have reservations for Obama as the US president and I dont want to explain why. As for Hilary, I think that the way she handled President Bill Clinton's sexcapade at those times was laudable. The fact that she stood by her husband is a testament and sign that their marriage may not be perfect, but theirs was strong Until now, they are still together. I think Bill right now has forgiven himself of the past sins he committed and has turned on a new leaf. Yun ang maganda...I go for Hillary. Mike Delgado, (by email), April 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Americans do not vote because a presidential candidate is articulate, academically superior, or physcially endowed in contrast to Filipino voters. Americans vote and choose thier presidents on issues. The key issues that concern American voters in the 2008 presidential election are the economy, Iraq , health care, immigration, etc. The perception that a candidate could lead trumps experience in choosing the next US president. More importantly, American voters vote either for a liberal or or for a conservative presidential candidate. Obana is perceived as a liberal because of his views on abortion, gay marriages, illegal immigrant rights, medical marijuana usage, stem cell research, etc. In the 2008 presidential election, voters are divided because this is the first time a woman is a candidate and a black candidate with a Muslim name is running for the White House. Because USA is still a country of white people, the whites will still prevail. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , April 02, 2008 (What issue were the high-minded Americans voting on in 2000 and 2004 - who�s the dumber of the two candidates? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Acabaya, Just a quick reaction. The word "authentic" visionary is too generous to Obama, and unkind to previous presidentiables since JFK, like Bobby Kennedy and others."Platitadinous" slogans are not a monopoly of Hilary and Obama. They all do it. As to visionary, Hilary should be credited with her original idea of universal health care, which she fought for and will continue to fight for, despite the lobby of unsurance companies. Hilary is ambitious. Are you saying Obama is not. Overall, your analysis about race and muslim overtones are quite right. They will surface when Obama gets the nomination. That's also my gut feel. But when you write this during these primary season, in effect, you are saying the obvious. Who is more electable. That is saying a lot to the undecideds. Jobo Elizes, (by email), April 02, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww A nice article about the present presidential campaign coming from a non-voter with good analysis of the foibles of each candidate. You however concentrated more on the two Democratic candidates and hardly defined McCain's qualifications. You detailed your aversion to Clinton and characterized Obama's demeanor and predilection and yet chose him for being an authentic visionary. Therein lies the problem, those who like Obama seem to favor him on faith and the little amount of exposure and scrutiny that he has been subjected to at this point. Nowhere in his resume do we see that he has taken a difficult public endeavor that will have a significant impact in the whole nation. Even as we hear Obama being billed as a young and upcoming senator from Illinois and the media seem to expound on his freshness and polish we seem to overlook as I had, that he is already 46 years old. Young for a president, but where has he been all these years. The faithful will of course point to his academic accomplishments and his speech during the 2004 Democratic nomination. They are admirable for sure, but hardly enough to praise him as the second coming of Kennedy. People seem to forget so easily, that the much maligned Bush came to the white house largely because of his ability to achieve a working relationship with the other party in Texas as a Governor. With much fanfare he started to do just that, inviting every Washington politicians in his breakfast meetings. We knew what happened next. Obama as a UNITER. While Obama talks like an accomplished preacher pointing out everybody's shortcomings, and rarely including any substantive weakness of his own, he has not shown, in his meager resume, any attempt to breach the gap between the two parties. Is it any wonder that he chose to endure the ranting of his own pastor for twenty years when he could have easily walked the aisle and crossed the pews to have a heart to heart talk with Rev. Wright during all these years. Does he share those sentiments eloquently expressed by his pastor? or is it a part of the change he is proposing? H. M. Cruz, MD, (by email), April 04, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Antonio Abaya, British novelist Doris Lessing and your fearless forecast of Obama's possible assassination is farfetched. All popular public figures are of course in danger of getting murdered by any psychotic fringe, bigoted messianic neo-cons, etc... Now that you and Doris Lessing mentioned it, possibly the Secret Service will fortify their protection as impregnable as Fort Knox . The chances of Obama's getting elected to the presidency is still doubtful though. As of date, Hillary is delivering a good fight which every talking heads are predicting will be determined in the convention itself. The latest ugly fissures of the Obama and Clinton camps, hence fracturing the Democratic party right in the middle, will surface the one unlikely person who could unite and heal the split. Hopefully, his sudden appearance would set the demoralised party on fire. I am referring to Al Gore who at present is above and well beyond the dirty and mudslinging primary conflicts. Having recently received the untarnished honor of Novel Prize spousing a popular global initiative of saving manking from its folly, Al Gore is the only person in the right place, right time and position of winning the final autumn leg of national presidential campaign. If Hillary and Obama's actual and super-delegates deadlocked, the Al Gore alternative is very conceivable. Delegates who would break the tie will nominate Al Gore in a heartbeat to unite the party. Both Hillary and Obama have no choice but to reluctantly "release" their commited delegates for the sake of Democratic Party victory. Strange as it may seems, this scenario is already being floated around, as long as presidential contention has no decisive frontrunner, both may be handing the nomination to Al Gore. Mark Enriquez, (by email), Pomona , CA , April 04, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww No doubt about it, the Obama/Clinton contest in the US has captured the world�s attention because of the singular novelty of there being either a black or female president heading the world�s most powerful nation. But let me discuss what seems a widespread dislike of Hillary whom you term �plastic and predictable.� Obviously, in the Pinoy context, she�s seen as just another trapo -� someone who obviously knows the ropes and claims to want to make a contribution when she�s seen as just hungry for power. She�s not admired for being a �policy wonk� who�s immersed herself in the issues --- since that�s seen as men�s domain. Obviously it�s fine for men to crave power, but ambitious intellectual women are often viewed with distaste --- not just by men who feel threatened, but by women who feel inferior. She�s relentlessly accused of being over-ambitious, cold and calculating, hence a bitch. But one hardly ever hears men called bastards because they�re ambitious and calculating. It�s apparently more natural for male politicians to be aggressive, while females are supposed to be soft, nurturing, not too intelligent and all the rest of the feminine nonsense. Folks generally feel sorry for men like New York Governor Elliot Spitzer for having sinned, and the wives are expected to stand stoically by such transgressors --- because, after all, boys will be boys. But when girls want to be boys, (i.e. tough and hard-working), people look askance at them because it ain�t natural. I think Hillary�s standing by Bill during the sex scandal can, in some ways, be compared with the Nixon pardon by Gerald Ford. If she had raised cain at the time and stormed out of the White House with Chelsea , it would have caused more than a hiccough in the US body politic. Ford�s reason for his pardon was to spare the country from the trauma of having a thoroughly disgraced leader. Certainly Barack Obama is a fresh breeze with his fine inspirational rhetoric, and perhaps his lack of experience will be mitigated by the fact that he�ll be surrounded with seasoned experts who will provide wise counsel. But, as you say (because of what you believe is continuing American racism in Middle America ), it�s more likely he�ll be assassinated. So the probability of an old white man like John McCain ending up being president is a likelier scenario. Like most male pundits, you overlook one thing which the feminists have been pointing out. There�s a strong streak of misogyny in the US � and around the world (particularly in Muslim countries, as we all know). To back up this contention, Shirley Chisholm, the black lady who ran for president back in the 1970s, attributes her defeat not to her race but her gender. When one considers the numbers of women killed and maimed daily in domestic and other types of violence worldwide, one needn�t wonder why the prospect of having women lead men doesn�t sit very well with the latter. Too many men still prefer their women in the kitchen and the bedroom and out of politics. It�s only in enlightened nations as in Scandinavia and New Zealand where one finds true equality between the sexes. Meanwhile the US , which was once viewed as the beacon of democracy, stumbles along with its religious hang-ups, racist proclivities, aggressive tendencies and misogynist leanings, squandering much of the world�s admiration. Just as you say you�d vote for Obama if you were American, I�d choose Hillary, not because she�s a woman, but because I believe she�s eminently qualigied. She has said if she�s elected, she�ll appoint Bill as roving ambassador. That would be the kind Christian thing to do. And though I admire his achievements while in office and his good works today, I think she should divorce him to show she�ll stand for no nonsense, not just at home but abroad. That�s the kind of tough upright stance needed in this troubled planet --- besides a truce in the war between the sexes. Isabel Escoda, (by email), Hong Kong , April 04, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Antonio, When I turn on the TV all I hear is negative words. The news stations keep telling you that we're down and out. But that's plainly not true. I'm on the trail every day for Hillary and the crowds are bigger than ever before, and let me tell you - they are excited! I wanted to show you a video from a recent event with Hillary in North Carolina - you can see for yourself Hillary's packed events and enthusiastic supporters. Click here to watch the video. Sincerely, Terry McAuliffe, (by email), April 06, 2008 Chairman, Hillary Clinton for President wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Yo, Tony! Thank you for your always excellent essays. Just three things. First, that the Obama family -- the white mother Ann Dunham, wife Kathleen (You mean Michelle. ACA), and Barack himself -- may be angry is understandable. They've lived through that injustice which the great majority of white America have inflicted on their people, and yes, ours, too, and other minorities. They have seen the moral corruption of many of its bigoted leaders and citizens in perpetuating racism in a country that has unilaterally appointed itself to supposedly bring liberty, equality, fair play, and democracy around the world, but who would otherwise still be revulsed if their daughter dated a black man, or a black, Muslim or Indian family moved next door, or as has been recently theorized, the despicable assassination of a president while black (a new twist on "driving while black"). All the while squandering hundreds of billions abroad and neglecting the rights, freedom and well-being of not just blacks and browns but also poor whites as well right here at home. And yet despite all this hypocrisy the Obamas most peacefully and most successfully transcended what I could only imagine to them must have been a most degrading and deep hurt as born-and-bred Americans whose roots in America go back centuries deep but are still looked down upon and hated only for the color of their skin. And, at once most laughably and sadly, by that God's gift to humanity -- some of our very own Pinoy brethren. That Kathleen (Michelle) Obama is not swelling with pride over this kind of America is not shocking in the same way that it is not alarming that we as Pinoys are not beaming with pride over a most corrupt Philippines with its most greedy and shameless bunch of leaders. Woe to them who question the Obamas' love for America, for we are all like the father of the prodical son; he might not have been proud of his son, but he still loved him, and would still do right by him and would do anything that is right for him, and he did. And that's what I expect of patriot Obama to do when he is president of my beloved United States . Second, that an oppressed people bravely, frankly, loudly and rightfully voicing out the racism and injustices of America is necessary. It is certainly not hateful nor is it at all this so-called "reverse racism" either. In fact, it is most healthy, for such rhetoric has pressured America since its birth to move forward toward the right direction, albeit ever so slowly, the way we all hope your voice, Tony, and those courageous others speaking out for a better Philippines will move our beloved Bayang Api to the same direction as well. Indeed, despite persistent white racism, in just 40 years since the Civil Rights Act blacks and other minorities have come a long way, the Obamas being a shining example, a great American story, no, a universal human story we as human beings should all be proud of. In the meantime, white racism has nothing to fear from its own creation this "reverse racism" which is nothing but a clever term these racists themselves coined to make their victims to shut up, to keep them "in their place", and to pretend that all is well in America that after all is still an experiment in progress with still plenty of work to be done. There is no moral or practical equivalence whatsoever between white racism, which has power, money and guns behind it, and, certainly over the centuries, have been used unsparingly, violently, and without compunction, and "reverse racism" which at best is nothing more but an honest accusatory finger pointing, or at worst, a mere wagging forefinger in a rightful venting out of anger by the underdog underclass at those sins of hate, racism, and injustice of the powers-that-be. Nope, it is neither the middle finger nor a clenched fist directed against the white sinners. It is raised non-violently in the same spirit as Dr. King's only to redress America 's wrongs. And now these bigoted whites with their real and potent racism backed with power cleverly want to invert everything and impute their own grievous sins of racial and religious bigotry on the powerless disadvantaged to make themselves appear to be the poor victims of this "reverse racism"? Third, I'd like to share with you and your most spirited readers the following: The full story behind Rev. Jeremiah Wright�s 9/11 sermon http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/ Louie Fernandez, (by email), New Jersey , April 06, 2008 (I agree with most of the points you raised, Louie. But I�m afraid most of White America may not. If Obama and Hillary wind up in a dead heat, the Al Gore scenario may unfold. The question will be: whom will he choose for his VP? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Joe. S , [email protected]) Michelle Obama�s Militant Racism Revealed In her senior thesis at Princeton, Michele Obama, the wife of Barack Obama stated that America was a nation founded on 'crime and hatred'. Moreover, she stated that whites in America were 'ineradicably racist'. The 1985 thesis, titled 'Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community' was written under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson. Michelle Obama stated in her thesis that to 'Whites at Princeton , it often seems as if, to them, she will always be Black first...' However, it was reported by a fellow black classmate, 'If those 'Whites at Princeton' really saw Michelle as one who always would 'be Black first,' it seems that she gave them that impression'. Most alarming is Michele Obama's use of the terms 'separationist' and 'integrationist' when describing the views of black people. Mrs. Obama clearly identifies herself with a 'separationist' view of race. 'By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desperation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight.' Obama writes that the path she chose by attending Princeton would likely lead to her 'further integration and/or assimilation into a white cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant.' Michele Obama clearly has a chip on her shoulder. Not only does she see separate black and white societies in America , but she elevates black over white in her world. Here is another passage that is uncomfortable and ominous in meaning: 'There was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the black community first and foremost. ' What is Michelle Obama planning to do with her future resources if she's first lady that will elevate black over white in America ? The following passage appears to be a call to arms for affirmative action policies that could be the hallmark of an Obama administration. 'Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments.' The conclusion of her thesis is alarming. Michelle Obama's poll of black alumni concludes that other black students at Princeton do not share her obsession with blackness. But rather than celebrate, she is horrified that black alumni identify with our common American culture more than they value the color of their skin. 'I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility.' Is it no wonder that most black alumni ignored her racist questionnaire? Only 89 students responded out of 400 who were asked for input. Michelle Obama does not look into a crowd of Obama supporters and see Americans. She sees black people and white people eternally conflicted with one another. The thesis provides a trove of Mrs. Obama's thoughts and world view seen through a race-based prism. This is a very divisive view for a potential first lady that would do untold damage to race relations in this country in a Barack Obama administration. Michelle Obama's intellectually refined racism should give all Americans pause for deep concern. Now maybe she's changed, but she sure sounds like someone with an axe to grind with America . Will the press let Michelle get a free pass over her obviously racist comment about American whites? I am sure that it will. But it shouldn't. FYI: I am not a supporter of any of the candidates for president. In fact, they all leave a bad taste in my mouth. However, I am definitely sick of the main stream media (MSM) feeding us all this crap about Obama being an agent of change. Has anyone stopped to think what kind of change; really? I suggest we all remember the message in the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. If you are not familiar with the novel, I highly recommend reading it. ***** OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |