Taking issue with the Founding Fathers. “Just Words” Obama says about the Constitution.

“You know if you look at the victories and the failures of the Civil Rights movement and its litigation strategy in the Court, I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed peoples so that I would now have the right to vote, I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order as long as I could pay for it I would be okay. But the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society. And to that extent as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical, it didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as its been interpreted and the Warren Court interpreted it in the same way that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf and that hasn’t shifted. And one of the I think the tragedies of the Civil Rights movement was because the Civil Rights movement became so court focused I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change and in some ways we still suffer from that.” – Barack Obama, 2001 radio interview with Chicago Public Radio 

Why does this quote made in 2001 from Obama have the campaign worried?  How is this redistribution of wealth phrase different than Joe the Plumber’s answer?  There are a few reasons. 

1)  Barack Obama says in the opening sentence that the civil rights movement did not go far enough to correct past injustices.  In Obama’s view the Civil Rights movement allowed him to eat at his local Denny’s without being kicked out or forced to eat in another section.  It also utilized the courts more than it should have to affect change. 

2) Obama told Joe the Plumber he wanted to redistribute the wealth and in this quote we see that his agenda for change has always included that idea.  However, he again criticizes the Supreme Court for not venturing into economic inequalities that existed, and as he sees it still exist, in the 1960’s.  With two openings on the Supreme Court coming, this statement clearly shows what kind of Justices he would seek to place in the highest court. 

3) Most disturbing is Obama’s idea of “the Constitution as a charter of negative liberties”.  Thanks to a quick review of Wikipedia, a negative liberty is essentially a personal liberty that people have to pursue their interests whether they be economic or otherwise.  A positive liberty is a liberty that is collective or communal in nature and is used by leaders to promote programs for the good of the citizenry.  In other words,  if you make too much money those under you suffer so for the good of the people a leader will “tax” your money to give it to someone else.  Or anither way would be to say that guns kill people so for the good of the people their ownership should be curtailed.  Essentially Obama is laying out his plan to rewrite the fundamentals of the Constitution either through legislative or judicial means. 

4) Finally, Obama admits in 2001 that ACORN and other community groups would be used to advance his agendas when he states that community organizations were left behind by the civil rights movement and their influence should have been utilized more. 

Presumably Obama was not running for the Presidency in 2001 and thus these comments are his true feelings.  While some may find the redistribution theory alarming in Obama’s answer, what should be more disturbing is Obama’s willingness to call the Constitution flawed becasue it does not say what the government MUST do for the citizens.  This statement from 2001 is the clearest example yet of Obama’s theory on government and what he means by CHANGE. 

It’s like getting on a Merry-Go-Round and asking Obama to Push

In two weeks America will have a new President elect.   On November 5th, either Barack Obama or John McCain will be waiting in the on deck circle, preparing to step up to the plate on January 21 ( let’s face it the 20th is ceremonial).  But how will they get from here to there?  If you are Barack Obama and the media, it will be because they confused voters enough to make them dizzy through their endless spin cycle. 

It started two weeks ago with “joe the Plumber”.  Joe was a normalguy asking a question of a Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama.  To his credit, Obama gave the only answer to the only tough question he has ever been asked and stated that Joe would have to “spread the wealth” if he bought a business that makes $250,000 or more a year.  Since then “Joe” has become a villain to the media.  ABC,CBS,CNN, etc have cast doubt on this plumber from Ohio by questioning his income tax returns, his divorce, his job, and even his legitimate right to vote in Ohio.  ALL BECAUSE HE ASKED A QUESTION!!!!!!

What did Senators Obama and Biden do in the wake of “Joe” asking a question and then being attacked by the media?  The Senators continued, and still continue, the attack on this plumber.  In stump speeches across America, Obama and Biden have attacked Joe saying that they don;t know of any “plumber” making $250,000 a year.  They have attcked his work ethic saying that the real “Joe the Plumber” would actually be helped under an Obama plan because he would not be a plumber who makes that much.  In other words the real “Joes” of America would never aspire to owning more than their fair share of the market.  Senator Biden might even call the plumber from Ohio “unpatriotic” because he would refuse to pay higher taxes as a small business owner. 

AHHHH the spin!!

Then Colin Powell comes out and says that he is endorsing Obama.  Immediately the surrogates and pundits rush the airwaves and say that Colin Powell is a man whose judgement is sought and respected by all leaders.  Yes, Powell is a well respected member of the Armed Forces as well as several Presidential Administrations.  But only 4 years ago Powell was the demon child who forced America into a war in Iraq, a war Obama “voted” against in the Illinois Senate(?). 

With Powell’s endorsement the surrogates and Democratic pundits had to come up with a back story that supported Powell and Obama that did not factor in race.  Ah ha! Now we have Colin Powell, the well respected, smart, and totally unbiased General was duped by the Bush administration and sold totally false information that he was forced to pass on to the U.N.  I still respect Colin Powell and do not believe that race was the deciding factor in his endorsement but I can not believe that this man who was smart enough to rise to prominance in the military and politics was “duped” by the same President liberals criticize as uneducated or stupid. 

AHHHHH the spin!!!!!!

John Murtha.  Beloved Congressman from PA.  Democrat.  Supporter of Barack Obama.  The same Obama who said us hicks in PA cling to our guns and religion and hated immigrants.  It was John  Murtha, in defense of this Barack Obama and the latest poll,  stated that PA, at least the western half, may not go to Obama because PA is full of racist people who vote on color alone.  Wait!! This week he apologized and said that PA was not racist it was just a redneck state.  How do you spin that?

If you are a Democratic pundit you simply say that what he said was “years ago” or “what he meant was simply” and all is forgiven.  What about this comment and Obama’s “clinging” comment being taken together to set a pattern?  Irrelevant! Let’s move on!

AHHHH the spin!!!!!!

But move on we shall, to Joe Biden.  Good old Scranton Joe! (It’s Thursday, his day to be from Scranton.)  Just when he though the recording devices were off and no one was listening he says “mark my words”, “if you don’t remember anything else I say in this whole campaign”,  if Senator Obama is elected he WILL be tested by the world in a “GENERATED” crisis created by other countries around the world.  Then he even says that he doesn’t know if  Obama will make the right decision initially but asked his supporters to stand with him anyway until he figured it out.  Don’t worry Joe, we won’t forget this one just like we haven’t forgotten what you said in the primary. 

The pundits and surrogates are on the move again!  See what he meant was every President is tested and Obama will be no exception, they say.  “Look at Reagan or Kennedy” they squawk!  And as they don’t mention that Obamahas a wait and see foreign policy coupled witha new age “let’s talk about it” negotiating style,  they leave out the fact that Reagan and Kennedy responded to their respective crisis with overwhelming force.  Furthermore, the pundits yell,  Obamaknows how to surround himself with people who know stuff, like Joe Biden and Colin Powell while John McCain has only lived through or legislated past crisis. 

AHHHH the spin!!!!!!!

Finally, if the clothes make the man what is wrong with the woman getting some nice clothes too.  While Barack Obama spends hundreds of dollars on each suit from Burberry or whoever the latest designer is, the RNC shelled out $150,000 for new clothes for the seven, that is 7, members of the Palin family. Roughly $21,000 per person.   The RNC, a private organization that receives donations from people like me, bought clothes out of contributions, not tax money,  for the VP candidate.   And the clothes are going to be given to charity after the election.  What is wrong with that? 

According to the pundits and commentators,  it just shows Sarah Palin’s inexperience.(?)  Joy Blowhard from the view apparently has a real issue with this saying that Palin usually shoots her clothes but that style would not work on the campaign trail.  ABC, et al,  raises the question to voters that if Sarah Palin can afford a new wardrobe costing $150,000 from Neiman Marcus ” does she really share the same values as”, yep you guessed it, “Joe the Plumber”?  I assume Brian Ross and Wolf Blitzerwill do in depth stories about boxers or briefs next. 

AHHH the spin!!!!!!!

Be careful waht you listen to or see on the news.  Even Fox News.  Today the new AP poll came out and showed a dead heat in the race for President.  A trend that has been seen in other long time polls.  Yet today on ABC’s Good Morning America, George Stephanoplois did not even mention the AP poll numbers, something he regularly does.  Instead he quoted the Quinipiac Poll numbers and showed state by state polls done by other polling organizations.  Why?  bias.  And as if they are finally seeing the light,  this week a CNN reporter even admitted to their bias in reporting! 

The spin won’t slow down in the next two weeks.  In fact it will only get faster.  Look for the top news story being about Barack Obama’s compassionas he deals withhis “Grandmother who raised him”  and her broken hip.  I’m sure this story will become one about health care and the state of the economy in Hawaii.  But voters beware! It’s all spin.  In the last two weeks look beyond the spin and read the issues and listen to words and form your own opinion.  Otherwise it’s like getting on a merry-go-round and asking Obama to push.  Faster! and Faster! you cry until you don’t know up from down, right from left.   

AHHHH the spin!!!!!!!!!!

“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help!”

As Obama and Biden and their Democratic minions continue to demonize and destroy “Joe the Plumber” people need to understand what Senator Obama and Joe Biden mean by saying that they want to “share the wealth” and its inevitable consequences. 

By standing up for the mythological “middle class”, Senator Obama has been able to elevate his rhetoric to appeal to anyone feeling disenfranchised in the current economic situation.  Obama has been able to tell these people that it was not their fault for taking on risky, high priced mortgages that they could not afford and has told disenfranchised voters the mixed message of “it’s the governments fault for lending you money and only the government can help you now”.   And despite the idiocy of that reasoning, his promise of lower taxes for them while he taxes the greedy quarter millionaires has propelled him to a lead in the current polls. 

But what happens when “Joe the Plumber” stops showing up for work?  Let’s face it, we have all known someone who has declined overtime because the amount they would make would put them into a higher tax bracket and as a result the extra hours would be paid at a rate less than their hourly wage.  Under Obama the company “Joe the Plumber” owns will face the same decision-make over $250,000 and be taxed at a higher rate thus lowering earnings.  When “Joe” decides to stop working at $249,000, the income he makes can no longer be “shared” or “redistributed” as Senators Obama and Biden see fit and “Joe” stays a member of the mythological “middle class” making him eligible for an Obama/Biden handout.  If this pattern is repeated by “Jane the Florist”, “Bob the Painter” and “Barb the Contractor”, the Obama/Biden tax base dries up and wealth stops flowing back to the “middle class”.  What will Obama/Biden do now? 

Two options exist for Obama/Biden at this point.  The first is to lower the top rate to $150,000, then to $100,000 and so on.  This means taxes start going up for higher and higher percentages of Americans and the lower wage earners continue to shrink.  Inevitably everyone is equal. 

The other option is for Obama/Biden to force people to work.  This can happen in many ways but the easiest term to call this is a draft.  Obama could institute a draft for military service, civil service or any other area he believes is necessary to bolster the economy.  Everyone starts to pay taxes while working for the government thus creating the pool Obama/Biden need to “redistribute” or “share” the wealth as they see fit. 

So what is the inevitable consequence of an Obama/Biden administration?  More government and less personal responsibility.  Call it socialism if you want but I see it as the destruction of the American work ethic once and for all.  Where is my incentive to work if I have a cap on my earnings?  Why even try to find a job if a steady flow of income is coming to me from the top?  Why make more than minimum wage when my lethargy is being rewarded by people who want to work hard and get ahead?  And why better myself when the government is telling me I’m the victim? 

This election and the current economic situation is a wake up call to all Americans.  Unfortunately too many are hitting the snooze button and HOPING someone else will CHANGE their lot in life.

Don’t let Obama be the banker in a game of Monopoly!

The Obama/Biden ticket exposed it’s true self today in media interviews and campaign stops across the country today. 

From the first time Biden hit the airwaves today, the star of last night’s debate-Joe the Plumber- was villified.  On Good Morning America, Biden said that he and Obama were not worried about Joe the Plumber but rather the “Joes” that make less than $250,000 a year.  He continued on the Today show by sating that he did not have “any Joe the Plumbers in my neighborhood that make $250,000 a year.”  and also sated that he wasn’t worried about anyone who would not get a tax cut under Obama’s plan. 

Obama continued his running mate’s undermining of the American work ethic (you know the one about working hard to succeed) on the stump today when he called Joe the Plumber out.  While campaigning today in NH, Obama asked the audience how many of them had ever heard of a plumber making $250,000 a year and repeated his often used phrase ” a tax cut for 95% of all workers”.  This was after he blasted McCain for wanting to stand up for a plumber was told by Obama that his success would have to shared with everyone not making as much money as he would if he was a small business owner. 

Of course under the leadership of Obama/Biden, the media and other Democrats across the country took to vilifying Joe the Plumber as well.  Stories about his lack of plumbing skills hit the Internet, the newspapers and the airwaves as fast as they could be reported. (Note: I did not say confirmed.)  He was called out for his inability to pay back taxes (Wait, didn’t Obama/Biden pledge to raise his taxes thus increasing his already sizable burden?) by the media as well.  Bloggers have accused him of being racist, a plant by McCain,  and called into question his ability to even cast a ballot (Diane Sawyer even did that) as well as attacking the use of the “Joe the Plumber” moniker because his real name is Samuel(according to records unearthed by bloggers with no lives), and have even called him a REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!

What did Joe do to deserve this kind of attention?  He asked Obama a straight and hard question!  The true colors of the Obama/Biden campiagn were unfurled today as they continued to attack a man whose only crime was trying to better himself and his station in life.  That is the true platform of the Obama/Biden campaign-success will cost you.  Hopefully every “Joe the Plumber” will use this as their wake up call and realize that redistribution of wealth of a decidedly un-American thing to do.