Jewish World Review Feb. 29, 2008 / 23 Adar I 5768

Obama Nation

By Greg Crosby

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Now that Hillary Rodham Clinton has all but gone down in flames, it appears that Barak Hussein Obama is a sure bet to get the Democratic presidential nomination. Widely popular with Democrats in just about every demographic, I wonder how much they really know about the guy? I mean besides the fact that he has great presence at the podium and is an accomplished orator. The fact is, he talks in sweeping generalities and platitudes. "Change" is his big word, but it doesn't tell you anything. Change can be either good or bad. It's like saying "fire." Fire can be good if used correctly or it can be devastatingly bad. Hitler brought change to Germany, right? So if you're saying change, well, what kind of change? Be specific.

But therein lies a problem for the Obama campaign. When he gets specific, people will start to understand just what kind of a guy Obama is - which is fine, if you happen to like far-left liberals. As a matter of fact, Obama has the most liberal voting record in the Senate - that is when he actually voted at all. During his Senate career, he avoided 17 percent of the votes and sponsored only one bill that became law. That bill was to promote "relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo."

He has said that he wants to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens, and he is against making English the official language of America. He favors open boarders. He wants to initiate cradle to grave entitlements such as a national health care program, which is another name for socialized medicine, all of which would cost taxpayers billions. I could go on, but basically every one of his domestic policies is geared toward increasing federal government programs, raising taxes, and building up the welfare state. It's tax and spend in the grand old style of Eugene McCarthy liberalism.

What troubles me most about Obama, however, concerns one particular area of foreign policy, and it is something that, interestingly, the mainstream media has not brought to light. It is his pattern of behavior toward America's one and only true ally in the Middle East, Israel. Throughout his political career Obama has aligned himself with staunch anti-Israel advocates.

For more than two decades, Obama's personal minister, friend, and confidant has been the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a former Black Muslim who has been a severe anti-Israel advocate. Wright's church is a member of a denomination whose governing body has taken a series of anti-Israel actions. Among the many anti-Semitic rants that Wright has engaged in, he has said that the Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for almost 40 years now.

A radical America hater, on the first Sunday following 9/11, Wright characterized the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington as a consequence of violent American policies. Four years after that, Wright said that the attacks were retribution for America's racism.

Rev. Wright has been a key supporter of Louis Farrakhan, and just last December he honored the Nation of Islam leader for lifetime achievement, saying he "truly epitomize[s] greatness." Farrakhan has repeatedly made hate-filled statements targeting Jews, whites, America, and homosexuals.

Obama's foreign policy advisers have suggested that a President Obama would likely have an approach towards Israel radically at odds with those of previous Presidents (both Republican and Democrat). A group of experts collected by the Israeli liberal newspaper Haaretz deemed him to be the candidate likely to be least supportive of Israel. He is the candidate most favored by the Arab-American community.

We've been told by Obama that if president, he would visit with the leaders of Syria and Iran - two countries that sponsor terrorism, have called for the destruction of Israel, and have engaged in the killing of our soldiers in Iraq. Obama would welcome open talks with these enemies of America and Israel. Obama has called for withdraw from Iraq, which would destabilize the region and lead to a further expansion of Iranian power.

So when a candidate for president starts using terms like "change," it's a really good idea to ask, "What kind of change? Senator, please define the change you have in mind." Or if that candidate says he is for "hope," well, who isn't? But, again, hope for what? Hope for whom? Let's get specific.

Senator Barak Hussein Obama will change things, all right. Of that, I have no doubt. If he becomes president, America will definitely become an Obama nation.