Saturday, February 23, 2008

What is Barrack Obama Saying?


As the primary elections continue, the momentum is clearing with Obama. Many are mesmerized by Obama’s charisma and ability to “unite” people with his words. Obama is an incredible speaker and knows how to work his audience. But so does a carnival barker, and like a carnival barker, it is a mystery what is behind the curtain. The thing to remember is that Obama already owns that audience. An overwhelming majority in attendance are already excited about the Obama candidacy. But that is true about any political rally, Republican, Democratic, or Fringe. So it is important to look beyond the delivery of the words and look instead to the candidates “To Do List”to back those words up.

Each of us progress through our workday with the assistance of a “To Do List.” This list prioritizes the task we need to complete in order to be successful. I happen to be one of those people that post his “To Do List” for everyone to see. Why? To declare my accountability. My “To Do List” is not a list of just words, but a detailed record of my progress to the commitments I have pledge to complete. Simply put, I am telling you what is important, why it is important, how I will successfully complete each task, and more importantly, when you can expect results. Should we expect any less from our next President or for that matter anyone who represents our interest?


Obama recently recycled a speech originally given by the embattled Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, in which the tag line was “Just Words.” Obama and Patrick borrowed famous lines from past speeches, such as “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what YOU can do for your country,” and followed the line with “Just Words.” It was an attempt on both their parts to try and convey the message that words have strength, and they do. Where they failed was not understanding that the strength of “just words” comes from the conviction of the context they were originally presented in. Rehashed the way Patrick and Obama are using them, they are "just words."


Obama message and “To Do List” lack's substance. Ask any Obama supporter to provide three major Obama accomplishments, and no I don't mean he was elected Senator, or wrote a book, I mean three accomplishments of leading. Next, ask that Obama supporter to articulate five policy plans Obama has formulated and shared. Obama is being vague on everything so he won't be held accountable when it “fails (the failure most likely the result of the vast right-wing conspiracy).


I sense that Obama believes in what he is saying, the problem is he not saying anything. His speeches are just rhetoric, empty commitments based on recycled tag lines from famous speeches of the past. America needs more than “just words.” Obama's deficiency in substance revels him to be a candidate that lacks the experience needed to move the words into actions.


I am afraid that American cannot survive another Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter set liberalism back 20 years (unfortunately not long enough) with his disastrous policies. I am concerned that America will not be able to recover from Obama's brand of Liberalism. Our economy is too fragile and our security as a nation is too much in jeopardy to allow an inexperienced, non-committal person (who happens to give a great speech), to serve as the next leader of the free world. The Presidency is bigger than any one person, and we have recovered in the past from our terrible choices of leaders. However, this is not the time or place to put our trust in a person promising us “change” and “hope.” These are just words used to placate the disgruntled electorate, formerly known as the Democratic Party.


We need more than “just words” from our next President, we need someone committed to the knowledge that America IS a great county. Not “was” a great country, notcould” be a great country again. If you enter the office of the President not believing that America is still that “shiny city upon a hill” then it is only a matter of time before the beacon that is America is extinguished forever.

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