I was watching election coverage on Super Tuesday and realized that this country is in trouble. Admittedly, there are a lot of politicians that I don’t agree with, and there are definitely some that I think are bad for America, but nothing has perplexed and scared me more than what I have seen with “Change We Can Believe In”.

Well, obviously, the fact that Senator Obama’s campaign slogan ends in a preposition is a bit disturbing, but I am only bothered by that because the beating the English Department gave me for four years at school and the mocking that my roommate gave me my junior year. As Senator Obama was giving a speech after one of his victories was announced, I saw something that turned my stomach. As the senator was speaking, a young coed enthusiastically chanted and cheered much like some Giants fan in the last two minutes of the Super Bowl. This young lady was so moved that by the end of Senator Obama’s speech, she was weeping. Now, I didn’t listen to his whole speech, but had I heard the 26 minute speech, I probably would have been in tears for a different reason. Listening to 26 minutes of platitudes and generalities would drive me to tears because we are living in such a critical time where IDEAS and SOLUTIONS trump such flowering speech and image. The enthusiasm that surrounds the emptiness and ignorance of the Obama campaign is beyond frightening.

I’ve been watching Senator Obama closely over the past few months. Why? Because I loose sleep over my passion for preserving this countries heritage, and I truly believe that our downfall will be the enemies from within not some exterior force. (No, Senator Obama is not an enemy of America, but certainly, some of his supporters and ideals are enemies of the values of this country.) I’ve heard all the pundits rant about Barack Hussein Obama’s Muslim background, his refusal to place his hand on his heart during the National Anthem, and his radical church in Illinois, but much like Obama’s campaign; all that stuff is smoke and mirrors. One would really need to read between the lines to know what the junior senator from Illinois truly “believes in”.

First, let’s address the Muslim background thing. Maybe he went to a madrassa. Maybe he was trained in the Koran. Maybe he is secretly funneling money to Muslim extremists. But I seriously doubt it, and it doesn’t really matter. What really matters is what he has said. Why speculate when you can take the words right from his mouth? Of the hours of speeches and sound bites I have heard over the last year, there is only one thing that he has clearly communicated as policy, and that policy is to pull out of Iraq. Now, his belief is that if we set a timeline, the Iraqi government will realize that they need to shape up and lead their country. That belief alone leads me to think that he is very ignorant of the Muslim and Middle-Eastern cultures. That part of the world understands force, power, strength and resolve. Diplomacy comes from deception, manipulation and positioning. I used to work very closely with two of the top Generals who are in Iraq now. I was on General David Petraeus’s planning staff prior to the invasion of Iraq, and I used to brief Brigadier General Joe Anderson at least once a day (and he would “poke me in the eye” at least once a week) when he was my brigade commander in Mosul. So, if the American people are looking for someone to “believe in” when it comes to Iraq, I recommend Generals Petraeus and Anderson. Those are two men who actually get Iraq.

Now, the National Anthem, hand over the heart, not wearing the American flag lapel pin nonsense. That is just an indication of the lack of respect that comes with being in a younger generation. Yes, believe it or not, Senator Obama is in a younger generation compared to the other candidates. He is of a generation where the flag doesn’t mean much. I doubt Senator Obama meant to defile the flag or spit in the face of those of us who have paid so dearly to protect her, but his actions have blatantly displayed his view of “self” over nation.

You may ask: What? Are you insane? How can a little thing display such selfishness? Though Senator Obama probably didn’t lie in bed one night and say “I am more important and better than the ideas this nation was founded on”. (note that he probably would have ended his thought with a preposition.) He didn’t have to say those things to himself because he is a member of a generation and a product of a society that is self-absorbed and self-gratifying. Additionally, downplaying the importance and significance of the flag appeals to the far-left. On the surface, his political leanings may appear generous because of the “rob for the rich and give to the poor” mentality, but it is really about making yourself look good and feel good.

With the respect to the “radical” church he is affiliated with in Chicago, I am very concerned. I used to attend a church where my wife and I were the only white people, and I got to know the pastor and congregation pretty well. The church that Senator Obama attends does appear to have a pretty evangelical doctrine that focuses on the African heritage of its black members. On the surface, I have no problem with it. It’s important for people to know their heritage and present the gospel to Africa. If the African heritage and embracing “blackness” was the only issue with that church, I would fully dismiss Senator Obama’s affiliation with the church. However, the pastor of this church with the support of the congregation gave an award to honor Louis Farrakhan. I originally thought this was media spin, but I did some research, and it’s true. When I think of anti-Semitic racists, Louis Farrakhan is one of the first people who comes to mind. The man is the leader of the Nation of ISLAM and blames the Jews for everything. An example of his insanity is a statement he made on Arabic televisions, “The real anti-Semites are those who came out of Europe and settled in Palestine, and now they call themselves the true Jews, when in fact, they converted to Judaism.” Hello?! A so-called evangelical, gospel church honors a racist Muslim. Now, if that isn’t a telling sign, what is? So, even if Obama distances himself from Trinity United Church of Christ, he can’t shake the fact that he has been influenced by such an inconsistent Christian doctrine.

It’s really hard to say what Senator Obama’s policies will be because he won’t say. That’s not a bad campaign tactic considering most American voters are looking for an image, and don’t consider substance. What we do know is that Barack Obama was the most liberal member of congress in 2007. What that means in layman’s terms is that Senator Obama opposes capitalism, wants to impose government control over individual choice, believes that your money is better spent by the government than you, opposes your right to own any kind of firearm, and is not just “pro-choice” but “pro-abortion.”
Another thing that the senator has alluded to is the idea of “universal health care.” I’ve been in the military, and experienced government administered health care. The best way I can describe what government controlled health care would look like is the DMV with scalpels. By some estimates, private medical care makes up about 15% of the United States economy. If Senator Obama (or Senator Clinton for that matter) gets his way, 15% of private jobs, businesses and services will be under control of the government. And just another fact, 57% of the money that goes toward current government health care is used for administrative costs. Could you imagine if 57% of any business costs went toward answering the phones and pushing paper? That business would fail within months.

Senator Obama is also a huge fan of taxing everyone except the poor who for some reason deserve to get money from everyone who makes more than them. Yeah, I think that is called socialism, and it reeks havoc on an economy. I didn’t grow up with money, and I’m not wealthy, but what I have always seen from my family and experienced myself is that you WORK to get ahead. If you can’t get a good job, you LEARN something that will make you more money. If you need to get back on your feet, you only get help until you can take care of yourself. You are RESPONSIBLE for your success or failure.

Additionally, Obama is against securing our borders, for reducing restrictions on narcotics, for allowing the United Nations to have a greater say in how our country is run, and for paying penalties for “global warming”.

If you scroll through the “Issues” section of his campaign webpage, you don’t get much information. He doesn’t really offer concrete solutions, but his issues all point toward more government, more taxes and less individual rights. Why is that so bad? Look at Europe. Most European countries have embraced the ideas that Obama appears to be pushing. Government control has gotten so intense in Europe that people have lost control over how long they can work, what they can eat, where they can live, how they can worship, and what they can say… Hold on. Isn’t that what we are seeing in the United States? So, the “change” Obama is looking for is already here. Shouldn’t the “change” that we are looking for be less government control, less taxation, and a stronger and more aggressive foreign policy?

The other day, I was driving into Lawton, Oklahoma, and saw a sign that read “Home of Miss American 2007 Lauren Nelson”. Now, Miss America is the ultimate in image selection, and seeing that sign reminded me of what I have been seeing in American politics. Voting for the leaders of our country is not about finding the prettiest or most presentable candidate. It’s about substance. I can look at Miss Nelson and say, “she’s just a beauty queen”, but at least she had a platform as Miss America. She wanted to protect children against internet predators, and from what I hear, she did a pretty good job of pushing her issue. But at the end of the year as Miss America, she didn’t take any money out of my pocket, and she didn’t put my life or the life of my family in danger. Barack Obama is not a beauty queen. He is a man that is running for the most powerful office in the world, and even if his platform is hard to determine through his platitudes, it is a destructive one.

The media adores him. Young people aspire to be like him. Minorities are enthralled by him. Lots of people are going to be caught up in his appeal, and the “idea” that he represents, but please don’t let people be fooled. He will change this nation, but not for the good. As president, he will appoint at least two Supreme Court Judges from 2009-2013. These judges will be the most radical and idealistic this country has ever seen. So, even if congress can stop legislation to socialize America, they probably won’t be able to stop his judicial nominations that will ultimately “rewrite” the Constitution, and alter America beyond recognition. This nation as a free prosperous country will not survive an Obama presidency.

Please vote for the values that has made this country so great not for the values that are destroying the rest of the world.