Why isn't character an issue?

This presidential election has been littered with, if not tainted by the issues regarding the character of the men involved. I want to start with the easy one, John McCain.

Senator McCain has been accused of taking action based on the business interests of his father-in-law. These accusations are baseless attempts to discredit his character. understanding that courting and marrying a woman has some level of involvement with her family is common sense and is a ridiculous basis for accusation of favoring them with policy.



Senator McCain has been accused of participating in corrupt practices involving the savings and loan scandal in the eighties. After extensive investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee he was found to be free of wrong doing. This is a man who has faithfully served our country in countless ways for nearly his entire life.



Sarah Palin has been the victim of many malicious attacks. She has been accused of accepting money for the "Bridge to nowhere" and using it for other purposes in her state. The truth is she did exactly this. HOWEVER, only after the budget for the bridge to nowhere was nearly doubled and she was left with the difficult task of making the correct decision that $400 million was excessive to spend to give 50 residents access to an airport, coupled with the federal governments decision at that time to reallocate those same funds as highway funding. Since when is it wrong to realize upon further investigation of a project that an amount to be spent for something is excessive and decide to nix it and use the money the way the feds tell you to? There are barely 50 people living on the island that it was to give airport access to. Even most liberals would have a hard time justifying an expenditure of that magnitude for 50 residents.

Next is my favorite. Sarah Palin is accused of "using state money to fly her family". The elite media are the kings of omission. The fact is Sarah Palin did use state money to fly her family. It is not uncommon for the first family to fly with the governer on trips. What is omitted from these reports is that she charged commercial tickets to the state for her family because she sold the private jet in the interest of saving the Alaskans' money and the result was a $400,000 savings for the state. So, her behavior was no different than any other governer except that she flew commercial rather than squandering tax money on a private jet.

I won't even dignify the wardrobe issue with a response.

Ok, now the fun part, Barack Obama... I am writing here in the interest of being thorough and factual. It is difficult, given that I am writing this in my spare time, to document everything. I will do my best to be inclusive of the relevant and necesary facts.

I believe most voters are misunderstanding the point behind the questions raised about Obama's associations. Associations with Ayers are not questioned because anyone believes Obama is a domestic terrorist. Rather this is a recognition of the kind of dangerous person he has kept company with.

Associations with Rezko have been questioned not because anyone believes Obama has shaken down or extorted businesses for political contributions, but because this is the record of Antoin Rezko. Obama's friend, neighbor and business associate.

Associations with the Trinity United Church of Christ and it's now former pastor, Jeremiah Wright have not been questioned because there is any evidence that Obama is racist or a hate monger. They are raised because that is the kind of person he has chosen as his spiritual leader and advisor in what he calls his christian faith. I have listened to sermons of the reverend and, not that I am qualified in any theological sense, but they don't sound anything like the christianity I was raised on.

All these associations do not speak necesarily to who Obama is or what he believes, although that is left for speculation. But these do raise the question as to his judgement in choosing to surround himself with racist, hateful, criminal, mafia-like, terrorist types. My momma always told me, "Lie down with dogs, rise up with fleas." Senator Obama needs to clean up, we don't need him dragging those kinds of fleas onto the Oval office rug.

One of the primary qualities necessary for a leader is good judgement. Given these associations, we have to wonder what kind of poor judgement calls Obama might make as our commander in chief. Please remember, the global community will not be as forgiving as the American media.

Now, how truthful has Obama been? In his book, he talks about how he is the son of a goat herder. Truth is his grandfather, Hussein Obama, was a wealthy farmer and his father was a child of privilidge. He has claimed that his name is of African descent, truth is his name is Arabic-Muslim. Barack, (Baracka as his grandfather intended for his father), actually means "blessed" in Arabic. It is a Koranic name.

Why is Obama lying about his heritage? Where is the rest of his family? He has misrepresented his parents and seemingly deleted his remaining family from his past. What is he trying to hide? the answer to this question may not be uncovered in time to affect the election but these are important things that the American people deserve to know.

Not to be overlooked, integrity is another important attribute required of good leaders. Senator Obama has done little to display that he has any.

I plead with all of you, vote with your head in this election. I know Barack Obama is likeable, but that will only get him elected, not make him the right man for the job. This is the election for President of the United States, not Mr. Congeniality.