I will be honest. I was hoping that after writing the articles regarding Barack Obama’s name and the Geraldine Ferraro comment last week, we would have moved beyond race and racism in this current political contest. However, I guess as long as Obama is in the hunt for the White House, race and racism will be issues that we will have to face from time to time. The latest issue are the comments by Rev. Wright from the Trinity United Church of Christ; the congregation that Obama and his family are members (the comments and video’s are available in the links at the end of the article).

Now, if for some reason you do not own a TV or a radio, the following is just a sample of the comments made by Rev. Wright during Sunday services over the years:

“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”

Ok, now it could be said that these comments are taken out of context, though I do find it difficult to try an place what context a minister giving a Sunday service would be using such language and/or themes in order to share the word of God. Maybe we as American’s are bad and we have done bad things in the past, but creating a virus that kills millions around the world annually, simply because we are targeting individuals of color? That’s hard for me to wrap my head around, and I’m sure such information would have been brought before the UN ages ago if the allegations were true.

So where does that place Obama? For starters, we need to understand that what is said by friends and surrogates do not necessarily represent the views of the candidate. There is always someone associated to a candidate in every election that says something controversial requiring the candidate to respond directly. John McCain has done so this election and so has Hillary Clinton. However, these comments have a greater impact on Obama since they are so passionate and counter to Obama’s message of hope and change. And with his statements that he has never heard Wright make these comments while he was in church causes people to ask many questions:

1. After 20 years of friendship with the minister and membership with the church, how were you not aware of these comments and tones during services?

2. You said you have not heard these comments while you were in service. Does that mean you were not paying attention to the sermons, or were you missing many services during your 20 years?

3. Rev. Wright was a popular figure at the time you joined the congregation and the church was one of the more prominent churches in the area. Did you join the church since the denomination matched your personal views or was it a tactical maneuver to improve your resume?

4. Rev. Wright was disinvited from your campaign kick-off announcement last year due to some concerns surrounding him, yet you didn’t stop to investigate these concerns?

5. If you did investigate those concerns, how were these comments not noticed?

These are just a sample of the questions that come up regarding the relationship between Obama and Wright which he will need to address tomorrow during his announced speech on race. Hopefully his oratory talent will help explain the relationship as well as the position of race and racism with the church.

I personally don’t believe that Obama is a practicing racist, but I do have concerns about the impact these comments Wright made might have on impressionable individuals in his congregation at the time. Stating that the white, rich-dominated government is creating viruses to kill blacks is not a way to close the racial divide that still lingers in parts of our society. In fact it does just the opposite.

We are in the 21st century, and the sins of our fathers and grandfathers should be behind us by now. We should know that skin color does not change the fact that we are all equal underneath and we all bleed red. Pitting multiple races against each other is just going to stir mistrust and hatred and undo all the hard work and sacrifices that Martin Luther King, Jr. and countless unnamed individuals of our history to bring us to where we are today. Obama leading the Democratic primary race right now is a testament to that fact. Let’s not ruin it.

For some additional reading, check out these sites:
USA Today – “Obama faces questions over ties to controversial minister”
Kansas City Star – “Is Jeremiah Wright affecting Obama’s poll numbers”
The Guardian – “Obama speech will try to defuse race issue”
NewsMax – “Rev. Wright Damages Obama’s Chances”
FOX News – “Trinity United Church of Christ Makes Changes to Web Site”

For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs:
Texan Democrat – “Oprah’s boards burning with Wright responses; Wright accuses America of creating the HIV virus”
Copious Dissent – “Jeremiah Wright: There He is. That’s Him!”
Forum Politics  – “Breaking: Obama Plans Major Speech On Race Tomorrow”
Political Lore – “Will The Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr. Impact the Election?”
The #1 Political Blog – “Obama And His Anti-American Minister”
Our World As We See It – “Obama Plans Major Race Speech Tomorrow”
The Liberal Journal – “On Vetting Obama”

This has been a very busy weekend at the home of U.S. Common Sense, so I haven’t had much time to log on, let alone pick which one of the numerous issues that have popped up in the past few days (Rev. Wright, Boeing contract, Florida and Michigan delegates, etc).  While I was sitting here trying to decide, I was listening to my Temptations CD and heard the song “Ball of Confusion,” and it really seemed to sum up a lot of the issues facing the world today.  So, instead of a creative little verse from myself, I decided to provide you the lyrics to the song.  Take a moment to read it and you will see some of the parallels between the 1970s and today.

The Temptations – Ball Of Confusion

People moving out,
People moving in,
Why, because of the color of their skin,
Run, run, run, but you just can’t hide.

An eye for an eye,
Tooth for a tooth,
Vote for me and I’ll set you free,
Rap on, brother, rap on.

Well, the only person talking about loving thy brother is the preacher,
And it seems nobody’s interested in learning, but the teacher,
Segregation, demonstration, intergration, determination, aggravation, humiliation,
Obligation to our nation.

Ball of confusion,
That’s what the world is today, hey.

The sale of pills is at an all time high,
Young folks walk with their heads in the sky,
The cities aflame in the summertime,
And oh the beat goes on.

Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul-shooting rockets to the moon,
Kids growing up too soon,
Politicians say, “More taxes will solve everything,”
The band played on.

So, round and around and around we go,
Where the world’s headed, nobody knows

Oh, Great Googamooga,
Can’t you hear me talking to you,
Just a ball of confusion,
That’s what the world is today, hey.

Fear in the air, tension everywhere,
Unemployment rising fast,
The Beatles new record’s a gas,
And the only safe place to live,
Is on an Indian reservation,
The band played on.

Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors, mod clothes in demand,
Population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills,
People all over the world are shouting, “End the war!”,
And the band played on.

Great Googamooga,
Can’t you hear me talking to you,
Just a Ball Of Confusion

One of the issues in this battle for the White House which lacks the attention needed is the benefits (and dangers) of race and gender play in our politically correct world.   Geraldine Ferraro found that out first hand this week.  While making a valid point regarding the weakness Barack Obama has regarding his experience on the major issues, Ferraro said the following:

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

Now, before we go any further, let’s establish the ground rules that this is a discussion on race and gender.  If you choose to turn this into racism or anti-feminism, then you do not understand the discussion at hand.  With that said, you need to ask yourself this question – Is Ferraro right?  Would Obama be where he is now if he were white?  Let’s start with a brief biography.

- Attended Occidental College and Columbia University, majoring in Political Science and specializing in International Relations.
- Worked as Director of Developing Communities Projects, working with low-income families.
- Earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
- Served as an Associate Attorney for a Chicago law firm dealing with voting rights and discrimination claims.
- A lecturer of Constitution Law at the University of Chicago Law School
- Served in the Illinois State Senate for eight years.
- Served in the U.S. Senate for four years.

With this background, do you believe that Obama is more qualified to be President when compared to Joe Biden with his 35 years in the U.S. Senate or Bill Richardson with his five years as Governor and his one year as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.?  Before you answer, let us take a quick look at Hillary Clinton.

- Attended Wellesley College, majoring in Political Science. 
- Attended Yale Law School, earning her J.D.
- Served the Rose Law Firm, specializing in patent infringement and intellectual property law.
- Served on the Board of Directors for the Legal Services Corporation.
- Appointed chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee while First Lady of Arkansas.
- First Lady during her husband’s two Presidential terms
- Served 7 years as a U.S. Senator

Would her history make her more qualified for the position of President over Biden and Richardson?  The obvious answer for both Obama and Clinton is no.  By credentials alone, these two candidates should have been some of the first to drop out of the race if the American voters focused solely on experience.  So why are they the two leading Democratic candidates?

For starters, Obama is a very gifted speaker.  One could say that his oratory skills eclipse those of even Ronald Reagan, the man who was able to unite a nation following a troubled decade with two landslide victories.  Obama has the ability to inspire even those who are against him with his emotional and dynamic verse, and that is something that cannot be quantified on a resume.  On the other hand, Clinton carries a name recognition which has become lore in Democratic circles.  But they also possess quantities given to them at birth.  Obama is biracial (though often referred to only as “black”) while Clinton is female.  Both characteristics have been absent in our first 43 Presidents, and in the modern Democratic Party world, it would be a historical milestone if they could claim to be the first Party to put either in the White House.

So is Ferraro wrong with saying that Obama would not be where he is right now if it weren’t for his skin color?  I would have to hazard a guess and say yes.  That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be in contention right now.  His campaign mirrors much of Reagan’s, and the last time I checked, he was white.  For Clinton, I think she would not be fairing as well as a “white” Obama.  Without her connection to her husband or her gender, her appeal would be very weak in the Democratic race, especially when Obama mirrors her main campaign platform of Health Care Reform and delivers the message so much better.

Maybe it is a good thing that Ferraro is getting so much heat from her comment, because if people stopped to look at the substance of her comment, Clinton’s campaign would possibly lose a lot of her support. 

For some additional reading, check out these sites:
Yahoo News – “Geraldine Ferraro’s Ugly Words – Accidental or Campaign Ploy?”
International Herald Tribune – “Ferraro leaves Clinton post after furor over Obama comments”
Power Line – “Sacked for stating the obvious”
Kansas City Star – “Obama says Ferraro dividing Democrats”
CNN – “Ferraro: My comment wasn’t racist, it was fact”

For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs:
Rants From The Fringe – “The Controversy Continues…”
Our World As We See It – “LOL…What A Moron…Ferraro: ‘They’re Attacking Me Because I’m White’”
Copious Dissent – “Geraldine Ferraro Is Right…”
MO’THANSKIN – “Race Card Played On Geraldine Ferraro”
Jack and Jill Politics – “Geraldine Ferraro and the Clinton Campaign’s Strategy”

I have finally “activated” the navigational functions in the upper right-hand corner of the page.  The home, about, archive, and subscribe links will take you to the desired locations, while the contact option will just dump you back to the homepage.  I will work on that one in the near future.

Was it Love Potion #9 that led to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to become Client #9? We don’t know yet, but if actions were to speak louder than words, then his press conference earlier today would lead you to believing that the rumors are true. Standing in front of the mic, Gov. Spitzer said, “I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong.” With his wife standing by his side, staring constantly at the ground, his brief announcement was given without an opportunity of questions being given by the press, leaving many to wonder if/when he would resign.

We can assume that he won’t resign because it can be used as a bargaining chip at the moment to avoid indictment. His name is tied with an on going Federal wiretap into a high-class prostitution ring where the clients can pay up to $5000 per hour for a single session. According to testimony by one of the employees, Gov. Spitzer supposively sought services both the day before and day of Valentines Day … a day where most people reserve to spend time with their special loved ones.

So what happens now? Gov. Spitzer can probably secure a deal with the authorities to avoid jail time and resign within a week. This leaves the position open for Lt. Gov. David Paterson to take over until either a special election occurs or until the end of Gov. Spitzers term comes to an end. From that point on, Gov. Spitzer’s political career will be all but over. He will be viewed as damaged goods and no longer electable, especially since he rode into the office as a no-nonsense crime fighter trying to clean up the state of corruption. For failing to meet even his own standards, there will be no way to run away from it during a future campaign.

So this leaves us with one question: Why do politicians think they can get away with such activities? They are in even more public spotlight than anyone else, especially since all of their activities and calls are monitored by numerous watch groups. Additionally, there are always opportunists who have nothing to lose that are willing to gain their 15 minutes of fame in the hopes of a big payoff in the end. So please, if you are thinking about running for office, keep your pants zipped. And if you are already in office, do us all a favor and not run for re-election. You will be doing everyone (except for the tabloids) a big favor.

For some additional reading, check out these sites:
Market Watch – “Spitzer apologizes to family, public; future uncertain”
Yahoo News – “Spitzer, Clinton and an Ouch Moment”
The Village Voice – “When Will Spitzer Finally Pull Out?”
The Wall Street Journal – “Eliot Spitzer’s Life and Career”
Washington Post – “Spitzer Apologizes, Does Not Resign”

For some additional reading across the web, check out these blogs:
The Liberal Journal – “Spitzer Scandal”
Our World As We See It – “Fox News That N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer Will Be Indicted, Resign Over Involvement In Prostitution Ring”
Polisicks – “NY. Gov. Spitzer Linked to Prostitution Ring; No Need for Witty Joke”
Copius Dissent – “Spitzer Screwed Hillary Again…”
A Nuyorican Vision – “Will Spitzer Resign?”