[bpmartyr]

A President for America, Not for Hollywood
Mike Gallagher
Thursday, July 17, 2008

It was fun interviewing Sen. John McCain this week on my radio show.

Sen. McCain isn't someone who strikes you as a particularly dynamic speaker. He doesn't seem to like the formality of giving speeches. He clearly isn't too comfortable reading off a TelePrompter. In other words, this isn't a guy who would be cast as a U.S. President on a TV show.

Barack Obama would fit that description.

Come to think of it, the actor who played a president on the hit TV show "24" resembles Sen. Obama a bit. No, not because they're both black (I can almost hear Al Sharpton's howls of protestation...please leave my private parts alone, Jesse Jackson). But the fictional president possessed some of the same characteristics as Obama: tall, lanky, self-assured, photogenic; a smooth delivery and a warm demeanor.

Yes, Barack Obama could easily be cast as an American president in a movie or TV show.

But this ain't Hollywood. And we're far from the world of pretend and make-believe.

When you get John McCain going about the war against terror, he comes alive. That's when it gets fun. He rattles off the statistics, he showcases his wealth of military experience, and he doesn't recognize the concepts of defeat or surrender.

And when you ask him about the military and foreign policy experience of his opponent, he bristles.

This week, Sen. Obama delivered a foreign policy address that struck Sen. McCain as more than a little odd. "How can Sen. Obama continue to declare that Afghanistan needs to be more of a focal point than Iraq on fighting terrorists when he has never even been there?", McCain asked me.

That strikes me as odd, too.

After all, it doesn't take much for a sitting U.S. Senator to hop on a plane and visit a war zone. Sen. McCain has done it over and over again.

I did some checking, and it turns out McCain was absolutely correct. Sen. Obama has never once traveled to Afghanistan. He has been to Iraq -- once -- about two years ago. Now that he has finally decided to return, get ready for a news media that will act as if Jesus Christ has returned and will be raising people from the dead or multiplying the loaves and fishes.

Wouldn't one think that getting a military tour of the battleground with one-on-one briefings from the commanders whose troops have their boots on the ground in either Afghanistan OR Iraq would be beneficial?

No, not if your entire presidential campaign is already grounded in the belief that we need to tuck tail and retreat from Iraq like a bunch of whipped puppies. Sen. Obama doesn't want a few little pesky facts, like the ongoing success of the Iraq surge, to get in the way of a good old fashioned act of waving a white flag of surrender.

During his foreign policy address this week, he managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory over the surge issue, too. While everyone of all political stripes are admitting that the surge is working and dramatically reducing the level of bloodshed in Iraq, Obama managed to complain that the Iraqis aren't spending as much in rebuilding their own country as a result of the surge.

It's a funny thing, the old school media's infatuation with Obama. Sometimes it's obvious, like Chris Matthews admitting to the thrill up his leg when the anointed one speaks; other times, it's fairly subtle.

This week, the New York Times breathlessly revealed the results of a survey that suggested that 80% of black Americans have a favorable impression of Obama compared with 30% of whites.

The clear insinuation in the article is that white America is so bigoted that it couldn't possibly vote for a black man. Remember how West Virginia was pummeled in the press during the primary election there?

And yet, there is certainly another racial reality at play here. Isn't it possible -- even likely -- that many black Americans are supporting Sen. Obama simply because he is black?

If a white voter (re: West Virginia) admitted to voting for a candidate simply because of the color of his skin, we routinely label that person as a racist.

So why does the black voter who is doing the exact same thing get a pass?

I often ask black callers to my show questions about Sen. Obama's policy positions, especially those who describe themselves as Republicans or conservatives. Their lack of knowledge is astounding. Abortion, taxes, health care, it doesn't matter, they don't really know much about him at all.

But they sure do like him.

They say he makes them "feel good." He's a "change." He's going to "end war." He's a "new kind of politician."

Ask them what that means, and sadly, they don't really know. There's nothing new about the failed, radical, liberal beliefs of the former community activist from Chicago. But try telling that to a black man or woman hellbent on voting for him.

The New York Times is right, there is still a political racial divide in this country. But as usual, the Times doesn't know who to blame.

If there are whites who won't vote for a black man simply because he's a black man, shame on them.

But if there are blacks who won't vote for a white man because he's not a black man, that's equally shameful. And every bit as bigoted as bigoted can be.

At the end of my interview with Sen. McCain, I told him how feisty he sounded, how fired up he seemed to be. He laughed.

That's what he's going to have to do in order to win the White House in November. The stakes are high and the deck is stacked against him.

But if he continues to remind the American people about the radical differences between a man who has fought in a war and another who simply reminds us of an actor who plays a president on television, John McCain will win.

And win big.

[Vermonta]

Getting old hearing people criticize Obama for being able to speak well.

[EasyEJL]

Originally Posted by Vermonta

Getting old hearing people criticize Obama for being able to speak well.

Its not a criticism of him speaking "well", its a criticism of him speaking like a lawyer, basically saying nothing, spending as much time leaving himself holes to back out of it in the future

[Fastone]

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

Its not a criticism of him speaking "well", its a criticism of him speaking like a lawyer, basically saying nothing, spending as much time leaving himself holes to back out of it in the future

Seemed to work for Bush in 2000. wait I take that back, he still doesn't speak well, nevermind

[QUICKRYDE]

Bush will be remembered in history as a failure and if I kept count of every time he "F-up" his speeches...I wouldn't have any time on my hands. {Just read the cards Mr. Bush...this is what you pay your speech writers for.}

[EasyEJL]

Hmm and the democrat controlled congress's approval rating is 10% lower than his.

[Urban Monk]

This article is great. (/sarcasm)

Basically, we should elect John Mccain, because he was in the army. I forgot, the president's one and only job is the military commander of our armed forces (ok, fine...more sarcasm).

I mean really, who cares about issues at home, domestic travails, etc? All that matters is the talk of war and what goes on OUTSIDE our borders.

Yup, great article (/sarcasm...for real).

[QUICKRYDE]

We can talk about this election all day long but the truth of the matter...we need a change because "BUSH" screwed up big time. I work and travel from Chicago/Tampa and I see the damage that people are losing their homes...not just the poor but the middle class are losing their homes. How "BUSH", made it a 2nd term...is still is the greatest trick the world ever seen.

McCain is just another “BUSH”. It’s time for a change or we all will be losing our homes, jobs, paying $20 per gallon for gas, in a soup line, and if that’s not enough…how about global warming? We need someone to TRY to repair our economy and our planet. I don’t think a $300 Stimulus Check going to fix our economy…this is a joke to me. Now, the BUSH Camp wants to send another Stimulus check out. The checks does not solve the root of the economy issues but paint a false picture that everything will be O.K., once you spend this $300 check. Don’t get me wrong…I’ll take the money because I’m no fool…hey, make it $1,000 per a person but this will not fix our economy but only help me purchase more SUPPLEMENTS.

SO, WE ALL HAVE TO AGREE...A CHANGE NEED TO COME QUICKLY.

[EasyEJL]

Yes obama will bring change - thats all that will be left in your pocket when his is done. change. no actual money he'll have taxed it all away

[Fastone]

You may be one of the few who is better off than 8 years ago but you are way in the minority if you are.

[EasyEJL]

democrats have controlled congress for how much of the time? People talk about how great the clinton years were, but forget it was a republican congress somehow. Like the president writes or starts a single piece of legislation?

[atjnutrition2]

It's funny to me how everyone blames all their problems on Bush. Forget the fact that people bought more expensive homes than they could afford and they knew it when they bought them. Somehow it's the President's fault that they overspent. Average household credit card debt has been on the rise for years. Now that the bill is coming due, it's the President's fault that he won't bail them out. Whatever happened to living within your means? When are people going to stand up and take responsibility for their lives instead of blaming others? If you want to change your life, go and change it. Don't sit around the house complaining about how bad things are and blaming it on someone else. Make the necessary sacrifices and do something about it in order to better your situation.

[QUICKRYDE]

Well, let's be honest...do you think "McCain", will be better for the job and if so, why??? The guy look like he is sick and he have no energy. "McCain" will only continue where "BUSH" left off. You made a joke about "OBAMA will only leave change in your pocket...If "McCain" become president, you don't have to worry about change in your pockets because you will not have a job. You will have your hands out on the corner, asking for change.

Yes, taxes will go up...do you know why? Because it will take the American tax dollars to fix the damage to our economy. How much are we spending on the war again? How many jobs have we lost? I can go on and on regarding what's wrong in America right now but you read the newspaper or watch the News. So, why must I make a list of all the damage under "BUSH" 8 year umbrella, it will be a book. Remember, "McCain" is part of the "BUSH" Camp...so, it's only wise to think, the downhill issues will only continue.

Oh yea, Starbucks is closing over 600 stores....more jobs are lost and more people drawing unemployment. Every month, there is a corporation cutting jobs or they sending the jobs overseas. Wow, you really want this to continue? There is only two men running for the office and to be truthful…I rather have “OBAMA” take the job. He will make mistakes, like ALL the presidents have in the past. So, don’t think he going to change this mess overnight because that’s not possible. Also, I was watching the News, and they said this year will be the lowest freshman registration in decades. Why is that, because of the economy. {BUSH CAMP} The American people don’t have the funds to send their kids to college.

There will be nothing positive written in the history books about "BUSH" and his crew.

I'm finish with this thread.



P.S...the home issues is NOT the president fault. It's the American people fault, with the help of greedy bankers. If anyone sign-up for an ARM...your crazy. Do the research about buying a home and the different interest rates available. There is nothing free in this world but you can reach your goals with hard work and prayer.

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

Yes obama will bring change - thats all that will be left in your pocket when his is done. change. no actual money he'll have taxed it all away