A True Patriot Criticizes His Country

Barack Obama has taken considerable heat, not for words he has spoken or ideas he has put forth, but for the words of his preacher, Pastor Jeremiah Wright, a decorated former Marine who received a special commendation for his efforts as a cardiopulmonary technician at the bedside of President Johnson during his heart surgery.

Thinking back to an April day in 1967, I remember a speech given by Rev. Martin Luther King in opposition to the Vietnam War, when he, too, spoke out against our government. Soon after this speech, he was "disinvited" to the White House and shot to death the following year.

"A true patriot is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins".
(Frederick Douglas)

To all the so called flag waving Americans who criticize Rev.Wright, he was not lying about what America has done. We can love our country but it is our DUTY to speak out when we are wrong. To remain silent is UN - American.

Excerpt from this great speech by Martin Luther King:

"Let me say finally that I oppose the war in Vietnam because I love America. I speak out against this war, not in anger, but with anxiety and sorrow in my heart, and, above all, with a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as the moral example of the world. I speak out against this war because I am disappointed with America. And there can be no great disappointment where there is not great love. I am disappointed with our failure to deal positively and forthrightly with the triple evils of racism, economic exploitation, and militarism. We are presently moving down a dead-end road that can lead to national disaster. America has strayed to the far country of racism and militarism. The home that all too many Americans left was solidly structured idealistically; its pillars were solidly grounded in the insights of our Judeo-Christian heritage. All men are made in the image of God. All men are brothers. All men are created equal. Every man is an heir to a legacy of dignity and worth. Every man has rights that are neither conferred by, nor derived from the State--they are God-given. Out of one blood, God made all men to dwell upon the face of the earth. What a marvelous foundation for any home! What a glorious and healthy place to inhabit. But America's strayed away, and this unnatural excursion has brought only confusion and bewilderment. It has left hearts aching with guilt and minds distorted with irrationality.

It is time for all people of conscience to call upon America to come back home. Come home, America..."

Obama Shows Some Quick Moves

Barack Obama has shown some nifty moves in the political arena dodging "kitchen sink" items thrown his way by a desperate and out-matched Hillary Clinton. Now, we can show you some of the deft moves Barack Obama pulled on the basketball court while playing for his high school team that won the Hawaiian State Championship.

Clinton Tactics Reach New Low

An Obama pledged delegate from Texas A&M wrote:
This a repost, I removed the number for callback.

A Hillary Clinton supporter just called me and asked me "Can we count on you to support Hillary Clinton"? I'm listed as a PLEDGED Obama delegate.

I said "no", then they proceeded to ask what my concerns were. I told them nothing can change my vote.

This is outrageous.

It turns out the # is to a call center that is always busy.

Barack Obama Addresses the Economy - 3/27/08

Barack Obama delivered a speech on the economy in the Great Hall, at Cooper Union, NYC.

Hillary Clarifies Bosnia Errors

Hillary explains her gaffe:

Guilt By Association -- Hillary's Turn

As we have reported previously, Barack Obama has been victimized by the words of his pastor -- a clear-cut case of Guilt by Association. Yesterday, stung by her Bosnia lies being blasted across the airwaves, Hillary Clinton again attacked Obama saying that "Reverend Wright would not have been my pastor". Fine, Hillary -- just who are your closeted friends? Well, we turned up two very easily. The following article is reprinted from whatreallyhappened.com.

Recently, the mainstream media has taken Barack Obama to task for comments made by his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Now, I attended church when I was very young, and one of the things I recall about that experience is that nobody ever dared challenge the authority of the guy in the funny robes. He said what he wanted to say and the rest of us sat and listened quietly, no matter how absurd it sounded. I presume that Reverend Wright's church operates with the same rules. Therefore, it is unreasonable to assume that Obama is in any way reposnible for what Reverend Wright has to say about anything. And, while I do not share Reverend Wright's beliefs, I do not disagree with much of what he says. There has been and is racism in this country in many forms, some overt, some covert. And it is hard to imagine any god blessing America after all the commandments our government shattered in the war on Iraq. But whether you agree with Reverend Wright or not, he has a First Amendment right to speak his peace, especially since he served his country as a US Marine, and received a Special Commendation for his work as a cardiopulmonary technician working on LBJ's heart surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington D.C.

In recent days, there have been attempts by the mainstream media to metaphorically tar and feather Barack Obama by his association with Reverend Wright. I was hopeful we had outgrown such things as guilt by association, but political campaigns always seem to bring out the worst in people.

But, if guilt by association is your cup of tea, then read on, because I have a couple doozies to share with you!

PHOTOGRAPH OF COCAINE SMUGGLER JORGE CABRERA WITH HILLARY CLINTON.


Jorge Cabrera is a convicted drug dealer and friend of Fidel Castro.

Some News Coverage

MIAMI  --  Jorge Cabrera, a drug smuggler who has emerged as
one of the most notorious supporters of President Clinton's
re-election campaign, was asked for a campaign contribution in
the unlikely locale of a hotel in Havana by a prominent Democratic
fund-raiser, congressional investigators have learned.

[...]

On his return to the United States several days after that
meeting, in November 1995, Cabrera wrote a check for $20,000 to
the Democratic National Committee from an account that included
the proceeds from smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the
United States, said the investigators, who spoke on condition of
anonymity.

[...]

In early January 1996, three weeks after having attended the
Christmas reception at the White House, Cabrera was arrested
and charged with importing 6,000 pounds of cocaine into the
United States on boats through the Florida Keys. Late last year, he
pleaded guilty to those charges and was sentenced to 19 years in
federal prison and fined $1.5 million.

-----
Drug Smuggler Made Clinton Donation in Cuba, Investigators Say
By DON VAN NATTA Jr.
New York Times
April 4, 1997

MIAMI  --  Jorge Cabrera, a drug smuggler who has emerged as
one of the most notorious supporters of President Clinton's
re-election campaign, was asked for a campaign contribution in
the unlikely locale of a hotel in Havana by a prominent Democratic
fund-raiser, congressional investigators have learned.

The investigators said the fund-raiser, whom they identified as
Vivian Mannerud, a Cuban-American businesswoman from Miami,
told Cabrera at a meeting at the Copacabana Hotel in Havana that
in exchange for a contribution he would be invited to a
fund-raising dinner in honor of Vice President Al Gore in an
exclusive enclave near Miami.

Ms. Mannerud owns Airline Brokers Co., an airline charter
service that operates among Havana, the Bahamas and Mexico.

On his return to the United States several days after that
meeting, in November 1995, Cabrera wrote a check for $20,000 to
the Democratic National Committee from an account that included
the proceeds from smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the
United States, said the investigators, who spoke on condition of
anonymity.

Within two weeks of the contribution, Cabrera met Gore at the
dinner in Miami. Ten days later, Cabrera attended a Christmas
reception at the White House hosted by Hillary Rodham Clinton. At
the events, Gore and Mrs. Clinton posed for photographs with
Cabrera, who has two felony convictions dating from the 1980s
and is now in a prison here on a drug-smuggling conviction.

---------------

MORE STORIES ABOUT JORGE

Photo Op With First Lady

White House Refuses To Release Photos.

White House Finally Releases Photos.

Cabrera as informant

CHAPTER 2:

PHOTOGRAPH OF CRIME LORD NG LAP SENG WITH
HILLARY CLINTON.

Here we have a photo taken at an official DNC fundraiser with Bill and Hillary posed with Ng Lap Seng, Macau Crime Lord who controls Prostitution in that region. His Fortuna Hotel is actually a high class bordello where young girls (often underage) are available for a price. Ng, through his American contact Charlie Trie, donated close to a million dollars to the Democrats.

So, here is the point. If Barack Obama shares the guilt-by-association of a Pastor who says inflammatory things, then Hillary has to share the guilt-by-association with drug smugglers, pimps, and child molesters.

You cannot have one without the other.

Please forward this article to everyone who has been pounding on Obama's pastor these last few days.

Pennsylvania Will Not Be Fooled!

Hillary Clinton has attempted to convince the American public that she has "35 years of experience" in an effort to gain an upper hand in her race against popular candidate, Barack Obama. Unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton has chosen to lie about her "so-called experiences" in the war zone of Bosnia to try to appear "ready on Day 1". After being exposed and embarrassed, she says she "misspoke". What the hell does that mean? Mis-spoke? She either told the truth or she didn't. She went into vivid detail about how she had to run with her head down ducking sniper fire and missing a planned ceremony. It was ALL A LIE that she told on several occasions. SHE LIED AGAIN AND AGAIN!



In fact the Washington Post awarded Hillary Four Pinocchios, the Academy Award of Lies:

The Pinocchio Test

Clinton's tale of landing at Tuzla airport "under sniper fire" and then running for cover is simply not credible. Photographs and video of the arrival ceremony, combined with contemporaneous news reports, tell a very different story. Four Pinocchios.

Hillary also brags about how she was instrumental in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. Hillary Clinton had no direct role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland and is a "wee bit silly" for exaggerating the part she played, according to Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former First Minister of the province.

"I don't know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill [Clinton] going around," he said. Her recent statements about being deeply involved were merely "the sort of thing people put in their canvassing leaflets" during elections. "She visited when things were happening, saw what was going on, she can certainly say it was part of her experience. I don't want to rain on the thing for her but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player."

NAFTA - Hillary's Biggest Lie

Now it is revealed that her repeated insistence that she was against NAFTA, passed during her husband's administration, WAS ALSO A LIE. Fortunately for America, and unfortunately for Mrs. Clinton, America keeps records. We know what happened during her husband's admininstration with lying. We don't need another liar in the White House.

Mrs. Clinton has REPEATEDLY LIED about her experiences abroad, and her role in NAFTA. It appears that the Obama campaign has been right from the beginning: Hillary Clinton will do or say ANYTHING to get elected. Hopefully, now that the Media is finally deciding it's OK to tell the truth about Hillary, her nasty campaign, and vicious attacks on Obama may cease and she will fall from contention. Her lies fooled the voters in Ohio who have suffered under the effects of NAFTA. Those lies, and the efforts of Rush Limbaugh to have Republicans crossover and vote for Hillary, provided her with a narrow and distorted victory in that state.

Ohio, You Have Been Conned

PENNSYLVANIA WILL NOT BE FOOLED!

First Bosnia, Now NAFTA -
(reprinted from Al Giordano's The Field)

MSNBC reporter David Shuster reports on Senator Clinton’s role, in the 1990s, lobbying to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with hard facts that reveal the former First Lady’s recent statements to the contrary as UNTRUE:

The Field adds that NAFTA can be thought of as a sniper that struck down the jobs of many Americans (and workers that were in Mexico, too), particularly in the next three states that will hold presidential primaries:

…hard-hit states include Michigan, New York, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia, each with more than 20,000 jobs lost. These states all have high concentrations of the kinds of industries (motor vehicles, textiles and apparel, computers and electrical appliances) that subsequently have expanded rapidly in the maquilidora zones in Mexico since the implementation of NAFTA.

Those workers and their families didn’t have to imagine or pretend to be under fire during the 1990s and since. They don’t have to make up phony hardships or falsely claim they were at risk. Lives were ruined and continue to be harder because of the devil’s bargain that the Clinton White House made with big business to help them at the expense of their workers while ruining the natural environment - lakes, rivers, water supplies, shores, mountains and former pristine paradises - in whole regions of an entire continent. That’s what a sniper named NAFTA did. It’s no wonder that the presidential candidate who helped pull that trigger wants to claim otherwise now, but the documents - unlike politicians - tell the inconvenient truth.

THE TRUTH ABOUT NAFTA

Here's a hint, Hillary: DROP OUT! and end the damage you are doing to the Democratic Party. You should be ashamed. If not, I urge the voters of Pennsylvania to say:

NO MORE LIES

and hammer the last nail in her campaign coffin. She does not deserve, nor has she earned the right to lead this country. We have a REAL CHOICE in this election. The distorted and divisive politics of OLD, or a new direction. The choice is simple: Barack Obama.

Hillary "Misspoke" -- We Used to Call it LYING

Responding to being "busted" in a big L-I-E, the Clinton campaign is now saying that Mrs. Clinton "misspoke" about her experience in Bosnia. She vividly described in detail how she was forced to abandon any ceremony and run with her head down to avoid sniper fire. THAT NEVER HAPPENED, but Hillary "misspoke". With as much attention to detail as Hillary provided, I would have to re-categorize that misstatement as a LIE. Now we hear that her "experiences" in Darfur and Rwanda are also lies.

Hillary Clinton -- CHANGE WE CANNOT BELIEVE IN.

4000 Dead in Iraq -- Economy Suffers

We have reached a terrible milestone in the ill-advised Iraq War, a war that has divided America and resulted in the loss of so many lives and the virtual destruction of the American economy. Of course we have George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to blame for this war. But, of course, there are others to blame. We can start with those who lacked the judgment and foresight to know the effects of their votes, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

This is the result of Hillary Clinton and John McCain lacking the judgment to be Commander-in-Chief. The vote on the Iraq War Resolution was their 3 a.m. moment, and they failed.






Barack Obama, on the other hand, had the foresight and good judgment to know that we would be bogged down in a war we can't win, and would only increase the presence of Al Qaeda and harm our reputation internationally. This man is a leader with the sound judgment and calm demeanor necessary in a Commander-in-Chief.




Clinton Copies Obama's Foreclosure Plan

Hillary Clinton's gall and bravado seem to know no bounds. Almost one year ago to the day, Barack Obama sent a letter (below) to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urging them to convene a homeownership preservation summit. Today, Clinton is proposing essentially the same thing and acting like it is her own proposal.

One key difference, however, is the diversity and representation that Obama called for – not just some of the same people who helped to create these problems or have a direct financial industry stake in the outcome: “I urge you immediately to convene a homeownership preservation summit with leading mortgage lenders, investors, loan servicing organizations, consumer advocates, federal regulators and housing-related agencies to assess options for private sector responses to the challenge.”

Click the link to see Obama's letter dated a little less than a year ago. . .

OBAMA'S FORECLOSURE PROPOSAL - 2007

Here's the letter Senator Obama wrote to Bernanke...

March 22, 2007

The Honorable Ben Bernanke
Chairman
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20551

The Honorable Henry Paulson
Secretary
U.S. Department of Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220


Dear Chairman Bernanke and Secretary Paulson,

There is grave concern in low-income communities about a potential coming wave of foreclosures. Because regulators are partly responsible for creating the environment that is leading to rising rates of home foreclosure in the subprime mortgage market, I urge you immediately to convene a homeownership preservation summit with leading mortgage lenders, investors, loan servicing organizations, consumer advocates, federal regulators and housing-related agencies to assess options for private sector responses to the challenge.

We cannot sit on the sidelines while increasing numbers of American families face the risk of losing their homes. And while neither the government nor the private sector acting alone is capable of quickly balancing the important interests in widespread access to credit and responsible lending, both must act and act quickly.

Working together, the relevant private sector entities and regulators may be best positioned for quick and targeted responses to mitigate the danger. Rampant foreclosures are in nobody's interest, and I believe this is a case where all responsible industry players can share the objective of eliminating deceptive or abusive practices, preserving homeownership, and stabilizing housing markets.

The summit should consider best practice loan marketing, underwriting, and origination practices consistent with the recent (and overdue) regulators' Proposed Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending. The summit participants should also evaluate options for independent loan counseling, voluntary loan restructuring, limited forbearance, and other possible workout strategies. I would also urge you to facilitate a serious conversation about the following:

* What standards investors should require of lenders, particularly with regard to verification of income and assets and the underwriting of borrowers based on fully indexed and fully amortized rates.

* How to facilitate and encourage appropriate intervention by loan servicing companies at the earliest signs of borrower difficulty.

* How to support independent community-based-organizations to provide counseling and work-out services to prevent foreclosure and preserve homeownership where practical.

* How to provide more effective information disclosure and financial education to ensure that borrowers are treated fairly and that deception is never a source of competitive advantage.

* How to adopt principles of fair competition that promote affordability, transparency, non-discrimination, genuine consumer value, and competitive returns.

* How to ensure adequate liquidity across all mortgage markets without exacerbating consumer and housing market vulnerability.

Of course, the adoption of voluntary industry reforms will not preempt government action to crack down on predatory lending practices, or to style new restrictions on subprime lending or short-term post-purchase interventions in certain cases. My colleagues on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs have held important hearings on mortgage market turmoil and I expect the Committee will develop legislation.

Nevertheless, a consortium of industry-related service providers and public interest advocates may be able to bring quick and efficient relief to millions of at-risk homeowners and neighborhoods, even before Congress has had an opportunity to act. There is an opportunity here to bring different interests together in the best interests of American homeowners and the American economy. Please don't let this opportunity pass us by.


Sincerely,


Barack Obama
United States Senator

Fair and Balanced -- What the Media Did Not Say

Pastor Jeremiah Wright - Hero

What people quick to judge Jeremiah Wright as an "anti-white America hating racist" might not know is that in 1966 he served as a cardio pulmonary technician at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

Of what significance is that? It was during this time that President Lyndon Baines Johnson, a white American President, went into surgery and found himself in the hands of Jeremiah Wright. What an excellent opportunity to enact his master plan! Kill the evil American and take over the US for crazy extremists!

Instead - Pastor Wright received SPECIAL COMMENDATION for his work on President Johnson. I guess he's not so evil after all, especially since he served faithfully in the United States Marines.

(LBJ can be seen on the bed and Wright behind the pole)

Desperate Media Attempt to Discredit Obama

THE MEDIA LIES ... DEMOCRACY DIES!

We were horribly lied to by the main stream media. Here is the ACTUAL SERMON that has caused such controversy. It is the speech by Rev. Wright which puts the "America's Chickens Coming Home to Roost" in complete context. THE WORDS ATTRIBUTED TO PASTOR WRIGHT WERE NOT HIS OWN!

What Fox news nor anyone else has told us is that Rev. Wright was actually quoting what an American Ambassador - Ambassador Peck had said the day before on FOX NEWS!

Put in context, there is nothing controversial here at all in fact, in my humble opinion, it is a very touching sermon given in the wake of Sept. 11. It is unconscionable that the American media is misquoting this Pastor in an attempt to short-circuit Barack Obama's inspirational movement toward change in America.

John Edwards warned America during the debates that those in power would do all they could to maintain the status quo and to discredit new ideas or those who advocate change in America. This is a perfect example of that. It is time for America to say "NO MORE".

I URGE EVERYONE TO CIRCULATE THIS POST TO THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND TO INSIST THAT THEY REPORT THE NEWS ACCURATELY. PASTOR WRIGHT WAS SIMPLY QUOTING A WHITE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR, AMBASSADOR PECK. SHAME ON FOX NEWS AND THE AMERICAN MEDIA.

Hillary's Bosnia "Experience" Debunked

Hillary Clinton told a hair-raising tale about landing in Bosnia under heavy sniper fire and having to run after disembarking from the plane and being forced to forego any welcoming ceremony.

It's an unbelievable tale of heroism, written and directed by Mark J. Penn.

The Baltimore Sun calls it a "whopper."

"Four Pinnochios!" says the Washington Post.

"Requires enormous suspension of disbelief" raves the Huffington Post.

Here is the footage:










Famed comedian, Sinbad, along with singer Sheryl Crow, was on that 1996 trip to Bosnia that Clinton has described as a harrowing international experience that makes her tested and ready to answer a 3 a.m. phone call at the White House on day one, a claim for which she's taking much grief on the campaign trail.

Harrowing? Not that Sinbad recalls. He just remembers it being a USO tour to buck up the troops amid a much worse situation than he had imagined between the Bosnians and Serbs. In an interview with the Sleuth Monday, he said the "scariest" part of the trip was wondering where he'd eat next. "I think the only 'red-phone' moment was: 'Do we eat here or at the next place.'"

Clinton, during a late December campaign appearance in Iowa, described a hair-raising corkscrew landing in war-torn Bosnia, a trip she took with her then-teenage daughter, Chelsea. "They said there might be sniper fire," Clinton said.

Threat of bullets? Sinbad doesn't remember that, either.

"I never felt that I was in a dangerous position. I never felt being in a sense of peril, or 'Oh, God, I hope I'm going to be OK when I get out of this helicopter or when I get out of his tank.'" In her Iowa stump speech, Clinton also said, "We used to say in the White House that if a place is too dangerous, too small or too poor, send the First Lady."

Say what? As Sinbad put it: "What kind of president would say, 'Hey, man, I can't go 'cause I might get shot so I'm going to send my wife...oh, and take a guitar player and a comedian with you.'"


SINBAD COMMENTS ON BOSNIA TRIP



This obvious distortion of the facts begs the question: "What other facts is she distorting to build up the illusion of "experience"?

3 A.M. Girl Speaks Out

Hillary Clinton's fear-based 3 a.m. ad was widely criticized as incorporating the same type of fear-based message as that of the Bush administration. One person decided to speak out. Casey Knowles, the young girl from Hillary Clinton's "3 a.m. Ad", rejects the politics of fear.

Richardson's Obama Endorsement Beginning of the End for Clinton

Today, Bill Richardson signalled what may well have been the beginning of the end of Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Presidency by endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for President. In my opinion, this move to Obama by one of the most influential Super Delegates may well be a signal to the other Super Delegates that Mrs. Clinton has crossed the line on party loyalty by promoting John McCain over Obama, and is doing considerable damage not only to the Democratic Party, but to its chances for victory in November. This may open the floodgates to a victory by Obama.

Dear Friend,

During the last year, I have shared with you my vision and hopes for this nation as we look to repair the damage of the last seven years. And you have shared your support, your ideas and your encouragement with my campaign. We have been through a lot together and that is why I wanted to tell you that, after careful and thoughtful deliberation, I have made the decision to endorse Barack Obama for President.

We are blessed to have two great American leaders and great Democrats running for President. My affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver. It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall. The 1990's were a decade of peace and prosperity because of the competent and enlightened leadership of the Clinton administration, but it is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward. Barack Obama will be a historic and a great President, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.

Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.

As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants -- specifically Hispanics -- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences -- and place blame on others not like them. We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration!

Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans.

His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.

To reverse the disastrous policies of the last seven years, rebuild our economy, address the housing and mortgage crisis, bring our troops home from Iraq and restore America's international standing, we need a President who can bring us together as a nation so we can confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad.

During the past year, I got to know Senator Obama as we campaigned against each other for the Presidency, and I felt a kinship with him because we both grew up between worlds, in a sense, living both abroad and here in America. In part because of these experiences, Barack and I share a deep sense of our nation's special responsibilities in the world.

So, once again, thank you for all you have done for me and my campaign. I wanted to make sure you understood my reasons for my endorsement of Senator Obama. I know that you, no matter what your choice, will do so with the best interests of this nation, in your heart.

Sincerely,

Bill Richardson

Barack Obama on Iraq and National Security

Barack Obama Speaks out on Iraq and National Security

The Cost of War: Barack Obama

Barack Obama explains how the cost of the War in Iraq has damaged our economy and caused great hardship in America. He assigns the blame directly at the feet of John McCain and Hillary Clinton, both of whom authorized the war based upon flimsy and faulty intelligence. This is a 20-minute speech.

The Two Faces of Hillary: Michigan Primary

Does this lady EVER mean what she says?

Here is a video of Hillary Clinton's personal opinion on the Michigan primary:




Seems like she has changed her mind. Desperation will do that to you.

Hillary on Iraq War Vote

Hillary Clinton explains her vote on the War in Iraq. Or does she . . . The bill was entitled, "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002".

Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union

Barack Obama speaks in Philadelphia, PA at Constitution Center, on matters not just of race and recent remarks, but of the fundamental path by which America can work together to pursue a better future. This speech on race and politics has been called the greatest speech since Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream". Brilliant!

Barack Obama: 5 Ways America Will Lead Again

Here is the best video yet of Sen. Obama's plans for the future of America. Answers many questions and is quite detailed. Very informative. A 5-part video series.

Don't pay attention to those who would try to distract you from this visionary's greatness by focusing on the words and deeds of others. Guilt by association is old-style politics. We prefer change we can believe in.


1 of 5




2 of 5




3 of 5




4 of 5




5 of 5

Hillary's Experience Doesn't Add Up

Reprinted from factcheck.org

Hillary's Adventures Abroad

March 13, 2008

We find some exaggerations in Clinton's claims of foreign policy experience.

Summary

On March 6 Hillary Clinton claimed that, unlike Barack Obama, she and likely Republican nominee John McCain have "cross[ed] the commander-in-chief threshold." In a CNN interview the day before, Clinton had listed five foreign policy accomplishments. We can't determine how much behind-the-scenes work Clinton did while first lady, and she certainly took an active interest in foreign policy when her husband was president. Moreover, her time as first lady plus her longer Senate career do give Clinton more foreign policy experience than Obama. But the public record of her actions shows that many of Clinton's foreign policy claims are exaggerated.

* Clinton claims to have "negotiated open borders" in Macedonia to fleeing Kosovar refugees. But the Macedonian border opened a full day before she arrived, and her meetings with Macedonian officials were too brief to allow for much serious negotiating.

* Clinton's activities "helped bring peace to Northern Ireland." Irish officials are divided as to how helpful Clinton's actions were, and key players agree that she was not directly involved in any actual negotiations.

* Clinton has repeatedly referenced her "dangerous" trip to Bosnia. She fails to mention, however, that the Bosnian war had officially ended three months before her visit – or that she made the trip with her 16-year-old daughter and two entertainers.

* Both Bill and Hillary Clinton claim that Hillary privately championed the use of U.S. troops to stop the genocide in Rwanda. That conversation left no public record, however, as U.S. policy was explicitly to stay out of Rwanda, and officials say that the use of U.S. troops was never considered.

* Clinton's tough speech on human rights delivered to a Beijing audience is as advertised, though Clinton herself has been dismissive of speeches that aren't backed by solutions.

Analysis

Over the past two weeks – beginning with that well-known 3 a.m. ad where she calls herself "tested" – Hillary Clinton has been arguing that she has significantly more foreign policy experience than Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic nomination. On her Web site, Clinton cites five specific examples of her foreign policy experience: her assistance in bringing peace to Northern Ireland; her work to help open Macedonia’s borders to Albanian refugees; her trip to the Bosnian war zone to promote U.S. policy; her speech on women’s rights delivered in Beijing; and her public statements on Rwanda. Obama's camp has fired right back with charges that Clinton is exaggerating her foreign policy experience. And when initially pressed to name a "moment" when Clinton was "tested in crisis" her two chief spokespeople responded with an awkward silence.

Officials from Bill Clinton’s administration are largely divided as to the extent and effectiveness of Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy role as first lady. For example, Richard Holbrooke, a former assistant secretary of state and ambassador to the U.N., claims that Clinton’s "intense efforts" in Macedonia "contributed to saving many lives." On the other hand, Susan Rice, also an assistant secretary of state during the Clinton administration, argues that Clinton was never asked to do any "heavy lifting" and says that Clinton’s role was more about "gentle prodding or constructive reinforcement." That Holbrooke and Rice would remember Clinton’s role differently is unsurprising: Holbrooke is a foreign policy adviser to the Clinton campaign, while Rice has the same role with Obama’s campaign.

Indeed, the New York Times recently reported that, as first lady, Clinton did not hold a security clearance nor did she sit in on meetings with the National Security Council. We examined some of the specific examples of Sen. Clinton’s experience and found that most of them are weaker than advertised.

Border Patrol

In a March 5 interview on CNN, Clinton said that she "negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees into safety from Kosovo." Clinton is referring to her May 14, 1999, trip to Macedonia, which shares a border with Kosovo. According to her Web site, Clinton "traveled to the international border on the edge of the war zone" before meeting with Macedonia’s president and prime minister.

We note, first, that Clinton’s claim that the refugee camp was "on the edge of a war zone" gives an exaggerated picture of the risk involved. Traveling to the Kosovo border was more dangerous than remaining in Washington, and the trip did involve some risk. But Clinton did not land in the middle of an active combat zone, and the risks that she did take were not exceptional: Prior visitors to the refugee camp included Richard Gere and Bianca Jagger. For that matter, much of the "war" in Kosovo consisted of NATO airstrikes against the Yugoslav troops who had forced thousands of ethnic Albanians to flee Kosovo, and the nearest NATO ground troops were deployed in Albania, more than 100 miles away from Clinton.

More significantly, Clinton did not in fact "negotiate on matters such as opening borders for refugees during the war in Kosovo." Macedonia had reopened its border to Kosovar refugees the day before Clinton’s arrival, as has been widely reported. Clinton now says that she pressed for opening the borders "much wider." In a written statement that the Clinton campaign has circulated widely, Holbrooke, the Clinton administration’s chief negotiator on peace in the Balkans, says that there is "no doubt" that Hillary Clinton's actions saved lives.

So how much "pressing" did Clinton actually do? According to her official travel schedule, Clinton was in Macedonia for less than nine hours, nearly half of which she spent touring refugee camps. Clinton was scheduled for photo ops with the prime minister at the residence of the U.S. ambassador at 2:20 p.m. At 2:50 p.m., she had a photo session with Macedonia’s president at his residence, followed by a 3:20 photo op with the first lady. That would leave a total of 30 minutes for negotiations, minus time for photos. Indeed, at the time, the New York Times reported that Clinton’s trip was so scripted that "Administration officials chose which refugees Mrs. Clinton would speak with." News reports on Clinton's own Web site characterize the first lady's visit as "sweeping through Macedonia" offering "publicity" and "aid."

A Proponent of Peace

Clinton has taken an interest in the Northern Ireland peace process, visiting the area seven times between 1995 and 2004 – making five of those trips as first lady. Clinton has said that she "helped bring peace to Northern Ireland." Of course, "helped" is a fairly weak claim, one that could be made by nearly anyone who contributed in a way that didn't actively hinder the process. Clinton was not directly involved in the peace negotiations that eventually led to the Good Friday Agreement. Her work focused on encouraging Irish women to take a more active role in the male-dominated peace talks. There is universal agreement that Clinton "helped." The dispute is about how much she helped.

Figures close to the negotiations are split in their assessments. Clinton's campaign has been busy sharing some responses with the press. For example, former Sen. George Mitchell – the lead U.S. negotiator – told the Chicago Tribune that Clinton’s visits were "very helpful" and that her work with women was a "significant factor" in contributing to the success of the process. And in a written statement, John Hume, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with David Trimble for their work on the Good Friday Agreement, said that Clinton provided "decisive support" for the process. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams agreed, telling the Irish Times that "Senator Clinton played an important role in the peace process" and praising her as "extremely well informed on the issues."

But not everyone agrees. Trimble, for instance, remembers things differently, saying that Clinton’s role was mainly that of "cheerleader" and not one of "principal player." One of Hume’s aides – perhaps inadvertently showing why the peace process really did need to have more women involved – opined that Clinton was active "in a classic woman politicky sort of way," although he said that Clinton was "certainly investing some time." And an Irish historian who has written extensively about the peace process told the Tribune that Clinton’s work was "nice" but also "ancillary to the main thing."

Key players agree that Clinton was an active behind-the-scenes supporter of the peace process and that she was an important player in getting women involved in the negotiations. Getting parties to the table is a crucial part of any peace process. But we note that many could claim foreign policy credentials for bringing principal figures together, including U2's Bono – who convinced Hume and Trimble to appear together for the first time during the referendum campaign and whose photo with the two Irish politicians has been called "one of the enduring images of the peace process."

Dodging Bullets with Sinbad

Clinton has also touted her March 1996 visit to war-torn Bosnia as evidence of her foreign policy experience, and her campaign has made references to a Washington Post article that described the visit as "the first time since Roosevelt that a first lady has voyaged to a potential combat zone." In a December campaign stop, Clinton recounted a harrowing trip, with her aircraft engaging in a tight corkscrew landing to avoid potential sniper fire. As Clinton explained, the unofficial White House policy was, “If it's too dangerous, too small and too poor, send the first lady.”

We can’t speak to what may or may not have happened on the military transport that delivered Clinton to Bosnia. She is right, though, that she visited a potential combat zone. But what she fails to mention is that the Dayton Peace Accords – which officially ended a year-and-a-half of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina – had been signed in December 1995. So by the time of Clinton’s March 1996 visit, the war itself had been over for three months. Indeed, the accords were so successful that by June 1996 Anthony Lake, a member of President Clinton's national security team, could say with confidence that predictions of "renewed fighting" in Bosnia had turned out to be unfounded. Clinton also correctly quotes the Post. But she leaves out the part of the article that discusses Pat Nixon's visit to a Saigon field hospital in 1969 and Barbara Bush's Thanksgiving celebration with American troops in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.

Moreover, Clinton’s visit was part of what the New York Times described as a "good-will tour." Other stops included a meeting at Baumholder Army Base in Germany with the families of military personnel who were deployed to Bosnia and meetings in Turkey and Greece to promote women’s rights. Chelsea Clinton, then 16, accompanied her mother on all the stops; on the Bosnian leg of the tour, they were joined by singer Sheryl Crow and the comedian Sinbad, who came with a host of donated items, including a big screen TV and candy bars, designed to boost the troops’ morale.

Rwandan Pillow Talk

At a campaign stop in Iowa in December 2007, Bill Clinton told a gathering of potential caucus-goers that Hillary advocated the use of U.S. troops to stop the genocide in Rwanda. When asked whether it was true, Hillary Clinton replied with an unequivocal, "It is."

We're hardly in a position to dispute a private conversation between Bill and Hillary Clinton. It is worth noting, however, that the conversation doesn't seem to have had any sort of verifiable effect. The conversation is not recorded in the memoirs of either Clinton. And there is no record of the former president raising the possibility of deploying troops with any of his advisers. Prudence Bushnell, the State Department official who held the Rwanda portfolio during the Clinton administration, told the Tribune that the U.S. did not ever consider a military intervention in Rwanda. Bushnell is not affiliated with any campaign. For that matter, the U.S. took an active role in removing the few international peacekeeping forces that had been in place. According to an article in The Atlantic by Samantha Power of Harvard (and author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning book on America's role in combating genocide), "staying out of Rwanda was an explicit U.S. policy objective." Power, of course, was an Obama adviser until her celebrated reference to Clinton as a "monster," but Power's article was written in September 2001 – well before Obama ran for the U.S. Senate.

Chinese Rights

On March 5, Clinton told CNN that "I've been standing up against ... the Chinese government over women's rights and standing up for human rights." Clinton is referring to a speech (you can watch it here) that she delivered in 1995 as part of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. Clinton was critical of China's record on human rights generally and on women's rights in particular, and her forceful remarks drew praise at home from Republicans and Democrats alike. The Chinese were less pleased; her remarks were blacked out, and only 5,000 party members were permitted to hear the speech. Moreover, Clinton's speech achieved a diplomatic end: As incentive for the first lady to come to China, the Chinese government released Harry Wu, a human rights activist whom the government had jailed following his conviction on spurious espionage charges.

Clinton is exactly right as to the details of her China speech. Does a tough speech count as foreign policy experience? Clinton frequently says that Obama "offers speeches" while she "offers solutions," so by her own standards, the China speech doesn't deserve much consideration. We'll leave it up to you to determine how much China's human rights situation improved between 1995 and 2007.

– by Joe Miller

Sources
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BBC News. "Trimble and Hume Centre Stage for Referendum," 19 May 1998.

Benac, Nancy. "Clinton's Foreign Policy Record Examined." AP, 8 March 2008.

Berke, Richard L. "Irish Feel Fierce Crosswinds as Fateful Vote Nears." 20 May 1998. The New York Times. 13 March 2008.

Clinton, Hillary. "George Stephanopoulos' Exclusive Interview with Sen. Hillary Clinton." George Stephanopoulous, 30 Dec. 2007.

Dorning, Mike and Christi Parsons. "Clinton's experience claim under scrutiny." Chicago Tribune, 7 March 2008

Hamby, Peter. "Clinton: Obama 'missing in action'." CNN. 29 Feb. 2008.

Harnden, Toby. "Nobel Winner: Hillary Clinton's 'silly' Irish Peace Claims." The Telegraph, 8 March 2008.

Healy, Patrick. "The Résumé Factor: Those 2 Terms as First Lady." The New York Times, 26 Dec. 2007.

Helman, Scott. "Bill Clinton: Hillary was right on Rwanda." Boston Globe, 10 Dec. 2007.

"Hillary Clinton to Visit Troops." Orlando Sentinel, 25 March 1996.

Lake, Anthony. "Bosnia After Dayton." U.S. Department of State Dispatch, 24 June 1996.

Murphy, Dean E. "Mrs. Clinton Suggests That U.S. Engage Aggressively in World Affairs." 18 October 2000. The New York Times. 13 March 2008.

Pomfret, John. "Everyone Say 'Hoo-ah! 'In Bosnia, Mrs. Clinton Gets a Warm Welcome." The Washington Post, 26 March 1996.

Power, Samantha. "Bystanders to Genocide." The Atlantic, Sept. 2001.

Oliver, Joe. "Hume Put Health on the Line in His Pursuit of Peace." 19 October 1998. Irish Examiner. 13 March 2008.

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Copyright © 2003 - 2008, Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
FactCheck.org's staff, not the Annenberg Center, is responsible for this material.

Obama Victory Speech Exposes Hillary's Errors in Judgment

As Barack Obama was being interviewed by Chris Matthews of MSNBC on the night of Obama's landslide victory over Hillary Clinton in Mississippi, an important fact came up during Obama's discussion of the war in Iraq and its devastating effect on our economy. They discussed a report from the 911 Commission that confirmed that "no collaborative relationship existed between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

The Sept. 11 commission reported yesterday that it has found no "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al Qaeda, challenging one of the Bush administration's main justifications for the war in Iraq.

Along with the contention that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, President Bush, Vice President Cheney and other top administration officials have often asserted that there were extensive ties between Hussein's government and Osama bin Laden's terrorist network; earlier this year, Cheney said evidence of a link was "overwhelming."

But the report of the commission's staff, based on its access to all relevant classified information, said that there had been contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda but no cooperation. In yesterday's hearing of the panel, formally known as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, a senior FBI official and a senior CIA analyst concurred with the finding.

Bush continues to defend his statements that Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein collaborated.


An important point raised by Barack Obama was that Hillary Clinton had also stated that Iraq and Al Qaeda collaborated. I hadn't seen that before so I conducted some research and determined that Obama is correct. This information was taken directly from Mrs. Clinton's website:

October 10, 2002

Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of
United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

As Delivered

"Today we are asked whether to give the President of the United States authority to use force in Iraq should diplomatic efforts fail to dismantle Saddam Hussein's chemical and biological weapons and his nuclear program...

In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001."

Hillary Clinton not only voted to authorize George Bush to go to war in Iraq, but was using the same faulty logic as he was using at the time. She later was the ONLY one of 9 Democratic candidates to vote to declare the Iranian Republican Guard a terrorist organization, once again adopting the Bush Party Line.

HILLARY CLINTON DECLARES AN IRAQ-AL QAEDA LINK

SOUND JUDGMENT is a vital component in a Commander-in-Chief and Mr. Obama has clearly demonstrated a clarity of vision in crisis situations that Ms. Clinton just does not seem to possess. She talks about results but has passed no legislation of any note since becoming a US Senator, failed in her quest to establish universal healthcare during her husband's administration by failing to gain a consensus among her peers, and even says she voted for the Bankruptcy Act, then hoped it would not pass.

Here is the Chris Matthews - Barack Obama interview:

Countdown for John McCain's 100 Years of War in Iraq