Heretics!

Obama's father's beliefs and associations are irrelevant.

However...

The beliefs and associations (and observed judgment) of Obama himself are most certainly not irrelevant and seem to be forming a picture of the man who's running for president on character alone or the content thereof. The senator and his supporters were okay with this until the first unsavory association popped up. After that came the next one and the next one--along with the specter of a radical belief system or two--magically transforming the examination of the candidate's beliefs and association--the examination of the only elements available by which his character can be judged--into "distractions." (Then there are the vacillations, or, more descriptively, the "flip-flops"--a manifestation of the candidate's quality of judgment.)

At that, do we the People wonder aloud and in print how else the public is supposed to get a snapshot of the candidate's character unless his beliefs and associations are subject to public scrutiny? Yes.

Answer: Shame on you for not Believing! And Damn those False Prophets to Right Wing Hell!

Not even an association with a proto-jihadi like the unrepentant terrorist William Ayers--whose Weather Underground girlfriend Diana Oughton died in a "work accident" while plotting to blow up a bunch of Army sergeants at Fort Dix--can penetrate such a level of Faith.

Which is why the prospect of an Obama presidency is "more than a notion."

Comments

[doubleplusundead]

Nice post, I have to say, I found it odd that Allah was so skeptical about Ayer's negative impact on Obama's campaign.

As for Obama, I'm not worried about him. Yeah, most of his acolytes aren't gonna be swayed by anything short of him punting a baby or something equally horrifying, but enough will be shaken that it'll help.

Beyond that, pro-2nd, social con Democrats here in PA are never gonna get behind him, and Philly can't dig up that many votes from beyond the grave to make up for it...and Democrats don't usually win without PA.

[baldilocks]

Thanks. Though I might have done a better job of editing it.

[brotherbrown]

...and Democrats don't usually win without PA.

The country is different this time around, so I don't think conventional wisdom will hold this year. There are a great many new voters and all the excitement has been on the democrat side of the primary season.

Without any stats to back this, I bet there are more voters who are neither democrat nor republican than registered voters in the parties. If that is true, there really will be more voters up for grabs than usual. I like Obama's chances in that world.

[doubleplusundead]

The country is different this time around, so I don't think conventional wisdom will hold this year.

Is it different? Or are you just trying to hope it into being different?

[brotherbrown]

The usual suspects (politicians, political operatives and the press) are the same, doing the same stuff, but the voters are different.

It says something that a noted maverick, John McCain, is the republican nominee and another "outsider," Obama, is headed toward the democratic nomination. And just look at how Obama has raised his money; definitely a change from typical campaign finance.

Might not seem different to you, but it is different to me.

[doubleplusundead]

Obama is a slight change in that he has a unique charisma, which has allowed him to avoid playing by the traditional rules of politics, to a point. Sounds a bit like Clinton.

The GOP is floating with no sense of direction, so it did what it always do when that happens, it picked the guy who is next in line, it's McCain's turn.

So no, I don't think there has been much change in the voters. We'll see though, I could be wrong, but I doubt it. I think if Obama gets the nomination and McCain doesn't screw up, McCain will win, and PA will be what sinks the Messiah.

It doesn't pay to burn bridges, and Obama seems to like to burning them. He blew his opportunity to get Silky Pony's endorsement, and he blew his opportunity to make some inroads with PA voters. He's not a capable politician.

[Donna B.]

He may not be a capable politician, he certainly does not appeal to me.

In fact, he scares the crap out of me. If it comes down to it, I would vote for Hillary to keep him out of the White House. I think he's dangerous.

I am upset that I can't quite put my finger on why I think that. Unlike Kerry, who I thought was unintelligent and silly and gave plenty of evidence of both... Obama is different.

That's probably why so many are attracted to him. Me, I'm repelled.

[M. Simon]

The Vast Right Wing Freak Show appears to be freaking Obama out.

[brotherbrown]

Donna, they call what you are having "an emotional response." To me, it's a legitimate response and a fair way to choose a candidate. (I just don't like him.) Being scared of him is precisely the response certain operatives want you to have.

Obama supporters have been slammed for having an emotional response, however, hence terms like Messiah, which is used in a disparaging manner.

Bush has been bad for the country, yet you buy into the propaganda that Obama would be worse. Fortunately, there are logic tests for voters.

[brotherbrown]

That is, there are NO logic tests for voters.

[David M]

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 04/22/2008 - A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/04/web-reconnaissance-for-04222008.html