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Irrelevant Apologies (Thomas Sowell)
Real Clear Politics ^ | June 3, 2008 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 06/02/2008 9:14:51 PM PDT by jazusamo

It is amazing how seriously the media are taking Senator Barack Obama's latest statement about the latest racist rant from the pulpit of the church he has attended for 20 years. But neither that statement nor the apology for his rant by Father Michael Pfleger really matters, one way or the other. Nor does Senator Obama's belated resignation from that church.

For any politician, what matters is not his election year rhetoric, or an election year resignation from a church, but the track record of that politician in the years before the election.

Yet so many people are so fascinated by Barack Obama's rhetorical skills that they don't care about his voting record in the U.S. Senate, in the Illinois state senate, the causes that he has chosen to promote over the years, or the candidate's personal character and values, as revealed by his actions and associations.

Despite clever spin from Obama's supporters about avoiding "guilt by association," much more is involved than casual association with people like Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger.

In addition to giving $20,000 of his own money to Jeremiah Wright, as a state senator Obama directed $225,000 of the Illinois taxpayers' money for programs run by Father Pfleger. In the U.S. Senate, Obama earmarked $100,000 in federal tax money for Father Pfleger's work. Giving someone more than 300 grand is not just some tenuous, coincidental association.

Are Barack Obama's views shown by what he says during an election year or by what he has been doing for decades before?

The complete contrast between Obama's election year image as a healer of divisions and his whole career of promoting far-left grievance politics, in association with America-haters like Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers, are brushed aside by his supporters who talk about getting back to...

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obama; sowell; thomassowell; tsbo
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To: jazusamo

Two things about this latest Obama blowup:
1) It reminds us once again of Obama’s poor judgment in staying with this church for 20 years and doing nothing, and
2) When the going gets a little tough, Obama’s gut reaction is first and formost to cut and run.


21 posted on 06/03/2008 4:54:58 AM PDT by libertylover
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To: Lancey Howard

The Democrat newsrooms are protecting Obama the way a mother protects a slow child

No more or less then when they protected BJ.

I just hope we do not need to wait 16 yrs for the truth to out.
Will be much too late


22 posted on 06/03/2008 4:55:28 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: IncPen; BartMan1

ping


23 posted on 06/03/2008 5:01:02 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: jazusamo
Senator Obama's foreign policy seems to be somewhere between Rodney King's "Can't we just get along?" and Alfred E. Neuman's "What, me worry?"

Obama may win the Primary but he will lose the General election. No levelheaded American is going to vote for an anti-American racist. Now remember I said "levelheaded American" which automatically eliminates Lefties & anyone who depends on government welfare.
24 posted on 06/03/2008 5:35:03 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: jazusamo

>> Yet so many people are so fascinated by Barack Obama’s rhetorical skills that they don’t care about his voting record in the U.S. Senate

It’s more than fascination, it’s cathartic. Barack Obama is the ideal candidate for the American Liberal.


25 posted on 06/03/2008 7:35:29 AM PDT by Gene Eric
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To: Nailbiter
Where is that infamous separation of state and church that the left is always harping about

An excellent point.

26 posted on 06/03/2008 7:39:43 AM PDT by T. Buzzard Trueblood ("a wee bit silly." -Lord Trimble on Hillary Clinton's claim of foreign policy "experience".)
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To: jazusamo
The record matters... if you are surveyed that is the response. DO NOT say anything about race...

Race is not an issue...

His record speaks for itself...

BHO is a liberal

His promises and policy statements, which he will now try to soften, include...

Higher Taxes

A Naive Foreign Policy concept

Naive Economic Policy including rejecting NAFTA and acceptance of Marxist “Liberation Theology” as a prescription for economic equality.

Pro Abortion Policies Including Support for Partial-Birth Abortions and “Execution by Neglect” to Abortion Survivors

Expanded Gay Rights Including Support for Same-Sex Marriages and Open Gays in the Military

Increased Gun Control Policies and Laws Including Banning Handguns and All Semi-Automatics

Reduced Support for Israel

Open Borders and Amnesty for Illegal Aliens

Socialized Health Care

More Spending on Social Programs as payoffs for Democrat Party Supporters

Conversion of Social Security to an Income Redistribution Program

Appointment of Liberal Judges Interpreting Laws IAW Their Political/Social Views

27 posted on 06/03/2008 8:04:01 AM PDT by RedEyeJack
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To: jazusamo
I'm convinced that a 3rd grader could write effective attack ads on Obama. Just play a clip or Wright, a clip of Pfleger, and then, hell, you could just read this verbatim if you were really lazy:

In addition to giving $20,000 of his own money to Jeremiah Wright, as a state senator Obama directed $225,000 of the Illinois taxpayers' money for programs run by Father Pfleger. In the U.S. Senate, Obama earmarked $100,000 in federal tax money for Father Pfleger's work. Giving someone more than 300 grand is not just some tenuous, coincidental association.

Unfortunately, I do not believe the RNC is as competent as even a below-average 3rd grader.
28 posted on 06/03/2008 8:05:57 AM PDT by According2RecentPollsAirIsGood
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To: jazusamo

Thomas Sowell is sooooo good at ‘passing the ammo’. Feed me, Thomas!


29 posted on 06/03/2008 8:09:58 AM PDT by Tallguy (Tagline is offline till something better comes along...)
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To: jazusamo

The last line in that column is classic.

Thanks again for posting Dr. Sowell’s columns.


30 posted on 06/04/2008 6:33:11 PM PDT by Rocky
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