I received the following article via email from a former boss, mentor, good friend and most importantly Sister in Christ, Marcy Adams.

Read below. Thanks Marcy!

THE LAST WORD
George F. Will
Questions for Obama

May 5, 2008 Issue

• Senator, concerning the criteria by which you will nominate judges, you said: “We need somebody who’s got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it’s like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it’s like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old.” Such sensitivities might serve an admirable legislator, but what have they to do with judging? Should a judge side with whichever party in a controversy stirs his or her empathy? Is such personalization of the judicial function inimical to the rule of law?

• Voting against the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts, you said: Deciding “truly difficult cases” should involve “one’s deepest values, one’s core concerns, one’s broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one’s empathy.” Is that not essentially how Chief Justice Roger Taney decided the Dred Scott case? Should other factors—say, the language of the constitutional or statutory provision at issue—matter?

• You say, “The insurance companies, the drug companies, they’re not going to give up their profits easily when it comes to health care.” Why should they? Who will profit from making those industries unprofitable? When pharmaceutical companies have given up their profits, who will fund pharmaceutical innovations, without which there will be much preventable suffering and death? What other industries should “give up their profits”?

• Exxon Mobil’s 2007 profit of $40.6 billion annoys you. Do you know that its profit, relative to its revenue, was smaller than Microsoft’s and many other corporations’? And that reducing ExxonMobil’s profits will injure people who participate in mutual funds, index funds and pension funds that own 52 percent of the company?

• You say John McCain is content to “watch [Americans’] home prices decline.” So, government should prop up housing prices generally? How? Why? Were prices ideal before the bubble popped? How does a senator know ideal prices? Have you explained to young couples straining to buy their first house that declining prices are a misfortune?

• Telling young people “don’t go into corporate America,” your wife, Michelle, urged them to become social workers or others in “the helping industry,” not “the moneymaking industry.” Given that the moneymakers pay for 100 percent of American jobs, in both public and private sectors, is it not helpful?

• Michelle, who was born in 1964, says that most Americans’ lives have “gotten progressively worse since I was a little girl.” Since 1960, real per capita income has increased 143 percent, life expectancy has increased by seven years, infant mortality has declined 74 percent, deaths from heart disease have been halved, childhood leukemia has stopped being a death sentence, depression has become a treatable disease, air and water pollution have been drastically reduced, the number of women earning a bachelor’s degree has more than doubled, the rate of homeownership has increased 10.2 percent, the size of the average American home has doubled, the percentage of homes with air conditioning has risen from 12 to 77, the portion of Americans who own shares of stock has quintupled … Has your wife perhaps missed some pertinent developments in this country that she calls “just downright mean”?

• You favor raising the capital gains tax rate to “20 percent or 25 percent.” You say this will not “distort” economic decision making. Your tax returns on your 2007 income of $4.2 million show that you and Michelle own few stocks. Are you sure you understand how investors make decisions?

• During the ABC debate, you acknowledged that when the capital gains rate was dropped first to 20 percent, then to 15 percent, government revenues from the tax increased and they declined in the 1980s when it was increased to 28 percent. Nevertheless, you said you would consider raising the rate “for purposes of fairness.” How does decreasing the government’s financial resources and punishing investors promote fairness? Are you aware that 20 percent of taxpayers reporting capital gains in 2006 had incomes of less than $50,000?

• You favor eliminating the cap on earnings subject to the 12.4 percent Social Security tax, which now covers only the first $102,000. A Chicago police officer married to a Chicago public-school teacher, each with 20 years on the job, have a household income of $147,501, so you would take another $5,642 from them. Are they undertaxed? Are they rich?

• This November, electorates in four states will vote on essentially this language: “The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting.” Three states—California, Washington and Michigan—have enacted such language. You made a radio ad opposing the Michigan initiative. Why? Are those states’ voters racists?

• You denounce President Bush for arrogance toward other nations. Yet you vow to use a metaphorical “hammer” to force revisions of trade agreements unless certain weaker nations adjust their labor, environmental and other domestic policies to suit you. Can you define cognitive dissonance?

• You want “to reduce money in politics.” In February and March you raised $95 million. See prior question.

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In fact, the argument is already being made that he will need her base to win the finish line. Read Jim McGovern’s comments in above article.

Hillary will make a good showing of things for now by pretending to stay in the race until she can make a graceful exit. Then she will have an important decision to make: join with Obama and be linked to his good or bad presidency for the next 8 years or take her own path, pray for a McCain victory in November and then run again as a stronger candidate in 2012.

Her options are somewhat limited because in 10 years the age factor will begin to play against her as well.

It’s a tough call to make but if I had to choose I think she’ll turn the VP job down. She doesn’t play second fiddle very well…and she knows it.

Keep watching!

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This one was pretty good…

Come with me to a third grade classroom….. There is a nine-year-old
kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between
his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is
going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has
happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys
find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out,
they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down
and prays this prayer, ‘Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help
now! Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.’

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in
her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is
carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in
front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the
boy’s lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself,
‘Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!’

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy
is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives
him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other
children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The
sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that
should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You’ve done enough,
you klutz!’

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the
boy walks over to Susie and whispers, ‘You did that on purpose, didn’t
you?’ Susie whispers back, ‘I wet my pants once too.’

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do
good..

Remember…..Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any
more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and everyone one of us is going through tough times right now,
but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep
the faith.

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Why is it that the rules are different for Barack Obama, the African-American candidate, than the rules for Hillary Clinton and John McCain, the white candidates?? Does it come from an inherent unfairness due to generations of stereotyping, or does it possibly result from an xenophobic fear of those who are different from us?? Is it simply media in a feeding frenzy or is it scorched earth politics from blind ambition that destroys innocent people’s reputations just to gain advantage?

What am I talking about?? I’m talking about the elephant in the room that everyone ignores.? The elephant is the different standards we have for a black candidate than we have for a white one.? Is it true?? Absolutely.? Here are a few examples:? Neither Hillary or McCain wear flag pins on their lapels.? Obama gets blasted by the media and right wing hate sites for not wearing one.? Why is that?? Why is it that he gets the question about it in every debate, but it’s never been asked of the other candidates?? Why do Hillary and McCain get a free pass?? Obama is clearly a patriotic American who says the pledge of allegiance and l oves his country, but is continually questioned in the media about that.?

Hillary has been knowingly married to a lying, philandering skirt chaser for 33 years. ? She never gets her judgment or character questioned about that .? McCain is on his second marriage to a woman he dated while still married to his first wife.? He never gets questions about that.? So, then, why is it that Obama, married for 16 years to Michelle, and father to 2 beautiful daughters, has his character, family values, and judgment continually called into question while the media COMPLETELY IGNORES Hillary’s and McCain’s dysfunctional family l ife and judgment??

John McCain actively sought the endorsement of John Hagee, a war mongering, rac ist, radical right wing preacher who’s known for his fiery rhetoric and has publicly called the Catholic church “the great whore”.? The media gives him a pass, yet Obama is continually raked over the coals for his relationship with his pastor who has also made inflammatory statements.? What is the difference?? Where is the media outrage over John Hagee?? Non-existent.

Hillary and Bill have earned over $100 million in the last 10 years, not counting 2007.? McCain is married to a woman estim ated to be worth over $100 million.? Obama, who started with nothing, earned $4 million from book sales last year.? Who’s the elitist in the media’s eyes?? Obama.? CNN even gave McCain a complete pass on Cindy not releasing her tax returns and actually listed him below Obama in family net worth.? They’ve also compl etely ignored him using her private jet in apparent violation of his own campaign finance law.

McCain also admits he understands little about the economy, continually gaffs on fo reign policy, yet the media paints Obama as the lightweight.? Hillary has little more experience than Obama in government service or management, grossly inflates her participation in her husband’s administration, yet she gets a pass on her lie that she has 35 years experience, and aga in, Obama gets painted as inexperienced.

Hillary and McCain are both well known for not being able to hold their tempers.? In fact she’s famous for her lamp incident with Bill, so what happens?? Obama gets painted as “too nice”.? Come again??

What’s going on here?? After watching this for over a year, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is just what I feared:? Incipient racism, xenophobia; organic in form, subtle, yet plain as the nose on your face if you just look for it.? To me, there is no other logical reason for the two sets of rules, the unfairness of coverage, the application of standards.

Food for thought.———— ——— ——— ——

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From now on, if I tell you a puppy can pull a plow…get a leash!

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They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the

> already crowded auditorium.
> With their rich maroon gowns flowing .. and the traditional caps,
they
> looked almost …. as grown up as they felt.
>
> Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away

> tears.
>
> This class would NOT pray during the commencements—-not by choice,

> but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
>
> The principal and several students were careful to stay within the
> guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and
> challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one

> asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
>
> The speeches were nice, but they were routine….until the final
> speech received a standing ovation.
>
> A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still
> and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.
>
>
>
> All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!
>
> The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said, “GOD
> BLESS YOU ,
>
>
> each and every one of you!” And he walked off stage…
>
> The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found
a
> unique way to invoke God’s blessing on their future with or without
> the court’s approval.
>
> Isn’t this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your
> friends………and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
> This is a true story; it happened at the University of Maryland.
>

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Quite possible I believe and here’s why: Obama clearly will win big in the popular vote, delegate count and total states won. Hillary has clearly demonstrated the ability to win the big states and the working class white vote, both key demographics and areas that must be won in order to secure the presidency.

Together they represent the best of both worlds for the election. Exit polling indicates that Clinton supporters will not support Obama over McCain and that a slimmer margin of Obama supporters will not support Clinton over McCain. It appears Clinton’s supporters are more loyal to her than Obama’s supporters are to Barack.

The Republicans and McCain have not articulated a compelling or energizing rationale for the White House. I yawn every time I think about McCain. Who can get excited about a guy who was recently contemplating switching to the democrats? He still denies it but I would too if I were him.

Obama and Clinton both inspire passions in their supporters. I think both camps will eventually put aside their differences and come together to push for the Dream Ticket.

The scary part: The Dream Ticket can win.

The Republicans had better get it together. Fast.

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Who knew Lisa Bonet’s (Cosby fame) daughter was all grown up?

Watch here…

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Their obsession began as a plan to get Obama off track and to highlight some off his associations, which should be examined to be sure, but is Jeremiah Wright all they can talk about?

Yes, they throw in William Ayers of the Weather Underground but it’s almost an afterthought or a speedbump on the way back to beating the dead horse named Wright.

Come on guys…show some originality and creativity and talk about something, anything other than the “Boogeyman” in the pulpit. We get it already!

Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh and the rest are so caught up with Wright that they have actually propped up Hillary. Almost to the point where some polls show her now winning against McCain! And this is a good thing?!

The obsession with Wright/Obama is only going to hurt conservatives. If Hannity wanted to launch the Wright spectacle he should have waited until the last nail was in Hillary’s coffin. Then, he could have done the Wright thing. Pun slightly intended.

Now we have a rejuvenated Hillary who might just pull this thing off and make it back to the White House. They launched this thing on Obama believing that Hillary was already toast. Sorry, Hannity, you’re timing was a bit off. I hope we don’t have to say President Clinton in 2009 because of Jeremiah Wright.

The obsession with Wright is indirectly hurting McCain because the good Rev. has so dominated the media for the last 45 days that we barely hear anything about McCain, let alone his message, vision, direction for the country or the conservative agenda. It’s all about Wright! Everytime I turn on Hannity he is on yet another endless rant about Wright and Obama when he should be helping to get some more general support for McCain.

We just may see Hillary in the White House again because we are chasing Boogeymen instead of getting our conservative message back in the forefront of America’s agenda. Republicans and conservatives need real leadership, not a search for something creepy in the shadows. It shows fear. And fear is NOT what America is about!

Leave Wright alone. He’s tired. You’ve milked him for all the revenues you’re going to get.

Get back to the conservative message.

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