Senate hopeful finds common ground with South Asians

Barack Obama, the Senate hopeful who has become a political star after his speech at the Democratic convention, says South Asian Americans and "we share the same values".

"We are in a good position, thanks to the support from the South Asian community," he said adding, "We share the same set of values."

"We have made tremendous strides politically in the last 18 months," he said. "There was a time when many people said, 'He (Obama) has no organisation, no money and we cannot even pronounce his name'."

Obama was addressing a select group of South Asian American community and business leaders at a fundraising dinner held at the home of physician Vipul Aurora.

"There is a common set of values all of us share, which includes the desire that our children should get high quality education," said Obama, who is from Illinois.

Many of the physicians present at the event asked Obama to focus on the problems plaguing the medical community, which included high insurance premiums caused by a rash of malpractice suits.

One physician noted that many doctors were either giving up their practice or moving out of Illinois. Two specialties were the most affected - gynecology and neurosurgery, he said.

"We will have a serious conversation about the problems of medical providers," Obama assured him. "The primary villains of the medical community are the trial lawyers. The crisis is real - we cannot afford to have doctors moving out of Illinois."

"Given their utility to society, I would choose doctors over lawyers every time," Obama said. "I say this as an attorney. The economics of medicine has got much worse over the past two decades."

Obama said he would meet with representatives of physicians, insurance companies and drug companies, after his election to try to resolve the issues.

"We must also look at a strategy to reduce medical errors and a different way of structuring medical insurance."

Aurora urged Obama to take a sympathetic view of physicians' problems. "My malpractice premium is likely to hit $150,000 a year. I cannot afford to pay it," he said. "The physician's primary concern is to serve the patient. He does not go to work saying 'I am going to harm my patient.' It is always an honest error," he said.

Naveed Musharraf, a Pakistani American physician who is the brother of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, told Obama: "I am going to vote for you. You remind of Martin Luther King's dream and his advice, 'You don't judge a man by his colour, but by the strength of his character'. You have the same idealism of President John F. Kennedy."

Obama arrived late at the event, because of a preceding engagement, which provoked Aurora to quip, "You have adhered to Indian Standard Time," to which Obama responded, "We call it coloured people's time!"

That is awesome!

Have you seen this?
Alan is emailing in dire straits, everyone p[lease hit your ping lists because this is about all of you and concerns all of you!

Dear Friend,

Can I count on you to stand with me in defense of traditional marriage?

I am under fierce attack from the homosexual lobby and their "same-sex marriage" allies in the press, and I need your prayers – and your help:

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/keyes/donation.php?afid=wnd

Let me explain what is happening.

If you have been following the news lately, you may have seen that militant homosexuals, certain pro-homosexual media outlets and commentators, and even a few weak-kneed Republicans (who should know better) have been attacking me relentlessly because of some remarks I made – and some I "reportedly" made – during a radio interview about homosexual marriage.

Before I go any further, let me show you the quote that has them so enraged:

"The essence of ... family life remains procreation. If we embrace homosexuality as a proper basis for marriage, we are saying that it's possible to have a marriage state that in principle excludes procreation and is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism."

This is what I believe. This is what you believe. And this is what I have said for years. Our Creator designed the Institution of Marriage to be between a man and a woman. Nothing any human court, or any legislature can say or do will ever change that natural reality.

I make no apologies for my position – which, not coincidentally, is the position of the Republican Party Platform drafted by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and approved by President Bush – and I will not surrender one inch of ground to those who are attacking this sacred institution. You would expect nothing less of me.

Now, here is where the recent trouble begins.

The "gay activist" interviewer followed up my answer with a question as to whether my understanding of homosexuality would apply to Vice President Cheney's daughter. I said, mindful of her advocacy of homosexual marriage, that of course, by definition, it would apply.

So I did not evade the question. I answered yes, as you would expect me to.

Well, the pro-homosexual press – and some in the political establishment – went apoplectic. And then they went on a vindictive, deceitful attack. Let me show you some examples.

* Los Angeles Times: "On Tuesday, Alan Keyes, the Republican Senate candidate in Illinois, denounced gays as 'selfish hedonists.' Asked whether that applied to Mary Cheney, Keyes replied, 'That goes by definition. Of course she is.'"

* Associated Press: "Illinois Republican Senate candidate Alan Keyes labeled homosexuality 'selfish hedonism' and said Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter is a sinner."

* Washington Post: "Further tension erupted yesterday when Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes called Mary Cheney a 'selfish hedonist.'"

Look at what I said, and then look at what they say I said. They are lying!

The essence of each of these "news reports" is false. They have twisted my words ... or even made them up ... in order to inflame those who are our political and policy enemies, and to intimidate those who should be our allies.

This is not objective reporting. This is shameless, deceitful propaganda, with a clear political objective.

I must confess, after having been in public life for over two decades, none of this surprises me. But it does still amaze me when dishonest members of the press corps deliberately misquote me; it still grieves me that men and women who should be our allies run for cover at the first sound of hostile fire; and it distresses me that a radical minority like the militant homosexual movement can hold such political power over how the news is reported, and how crucial public policy in America is discussed.

Friend, I will not surrender to this assault. I will not be cowed, and evade direct questions that require answers of logic and conviction. And neither should you.

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/keyes/donation.php?afid=wnd

And please make no mistake... this is an assault on all of us who hold to deep beliefs, moral absolutes, tenets of faith, and the rigors of logic.

Let me tell you plainly what the goal is of the homosexuals and their advocates in the press while they attack me ... and what is at stake in the bigger picture.

First, the left-wingers are hoping to isolate me; they have been acting for years to make homosexual behavior "mainstream" and to viciously denounce and falsely caricature all who stand in their way. They are now trying to get rank-and-file Republicans and members of the GOP establishment to walk away from my candidacy and abandon me, because I am a man of conviction, and because I have the courage to say what I believe.

They do not want me in the Senate! The very thought of me debating and working on the Senate floor for the issues you and I hold dear, horrifies them!

They know I can't be bullied or bought, so they are trying to destroy me with distortions and deceit before I reach the Senate. (And rest assured, with your help, I can win this race!)

Second, the pro-homosexual Democrats in the media are doing everything in their power to elect my opponent, Barack Obama. As you probably know, this man is to the left of Bill Clinton and John Kerry! He represents the epitome of what is wrong with the direction of our nation politically.

But finally, what is perhaps the most troubling aspect of this attack on me is how it could affect the whole debate about homosexual marriage.

This media-generated artificial firestorm is a part of the homosexual movement's desire to silence ALL dissent against them, their behavior, and their political objectives.

If the press is successful in smearing me with lies, fabrications and misquotes, how many other politicians do you think will dare to speak out against the radical homosexual agenda – and in defense of traditional marriage?

If a candidate or a member of Congress says these simple words, "If we embrace homosexuality as a proper basis for marriage, we are saying that it's possible to have a marriage state that in principle excludes procreation and is based simply on the premise of selfish hedonism ..." and those words cause him to come under relentless attack, how many men and women in Congress do you think have the courage to risk such abuse? We cannot let this happen!

We already know that many politicians are running scared from this issue, even though they know in their heart that the "homosexual revolution" is rushing forward in America, and is destructive to the fiber and health of our families and our nation.

The pro-homosexual movement wants to make an example of me, so that political resistance to their agenda of "homosexual marriage" collapses, and the complete "normalization" of homosexuality triumphs! We must stand tall against these attacks!

They want a country where anyone who is seeking office is afraid to say the TRUTH about the homosexual lifestyle and agenda.

At that point, the militant homosexuals will be able to achieve their goals, because of the fear that grips the hearts of those who should oppose them. Friend, we MUST NOT let this happen.

Can I count on you to help withstand this assault?

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/keyes/donation.php?afid=wnd

I promise you that I will not back down from this fight, nor will I give one inch of ground on this sacred battlefield of covenant marriage. I will not be badgered or "punished" into silence or compromise on the sacredness of Marriage as God created it.

I refuse to let America end up like Canada, where it is a crime to speak publicly – even from the pulpit – against homosexual behavior without being held criminally liable for "hate speech." I refuse to let America become like ancient Greece or ancient Rome, which rotted from within while sexual confusion and debauchery ate away at their national life.

I must make one other point: we should all "love our neighbor," and that obviously includes men and women who are struggling with homosexuality. All of us are made in the image of God, and in fact we are *commanded* to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Each of us is entitled to respect and dignity while we are on our life's journey.

We can and should love those who are in the homosexual lifestyle. But that does NOT mean that we must elevate that self-destructive lifestyle to the level of marriage. Such an argument is absurd.

Showing love and respect and unashamed witness to individual homosexuals does not mean we have to embrace or passively countenance the political agenda of the homosexual movement, including their strong push now for same-sex "marriage." I showed utmost respect for the "gay" interviewer and the seriousness of his questions, even though he clearly believed he was "trapping" me with his "gotcha" journalism – and I believe that my unflinching response provided an essential witness for truth, and for public integrity.

In reality, the "homosexual marriage" movement is all about distorting and evading the truth. It does not show love for the homosexual, for it is based on a betrayal of how God made humanity and the world. Nor would it be loving to our children and our grandchildren to let this movement put our entire nation in moral and ethical chaos.

Friend, here is the bottom line: I am in a position where I could be the next senator from the land of Abraham Lincoln.

This time next year, you could see me on C-Span, debating for a constitutional amendment that reaffirms marriage is between a man and a woman!

This is the worst nightmare of the liberal ideologues who are trying to defeat me; the worst nightmare of those who are trying to create "homosexual marriage."

That is why I am under attack.

And now I am asking you to do what everyone who supports true marriage, everyone who professes religious conviction, should be doing: stand with me.

Our campaign's fundraising, which was just kicking into high gear, has suffered a blow, because some establishment Republican figures have become fearful of the liberal media's attacks on me. Some of our GOP leaders are now distancing themselves from my candidacy.

Don't back down. Don't waver in your stand for the truth. Don't be silenced by the badgering of a few left wing media outlets. Above all: be not afraid! We will prevail in our struggle – but only if good, God-fearing people like you continue to support our campaign with your prayers and, yes, your dollars.

I need you to stand with me in my Senate race. My campaign needs every penny it can raise, so that I can continue to reach the voters in Illinois with the TRUTH about what I stand for, and also so that I can show the voters what my radical, pro-infanticide, pro-homosexual rights opponent really stands for.

I have just less than two months left in this race. It is a race I can win ... with the necessary resources from supporters like you.

Can I count on you to help my campaign with as generous a gift as you can?

https://secure.cartlight.com/merchant/keyes/donation.php?afid=wnd

And, can you please forward this e-mail to every friend you have?

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