Columns Unsolicited Advice Mr. Obama Talks of “Loose Change,” Ergo, Endorsing Mr. McCain Is Right Thing to Do
| Mr. Obama Talks of “Loose Change,” Ergo, Endorsing Mr. McCain Is Right Thing to Do |
When Harry Truman was President, he said that “the buck stops at his table” in the Oval Office. In a metaphorical sense, the change that presidential aspirant Sen. Barack Obama talks about may not be worth a buck. Perhaps the “change” that Mr. Obama talks about is loose change (sic) amounting to less-than a dollar bill. Here is why . . .
Any presidential contender, especially a young newcomer to the corridors of power in Washington, DC, can talk of making a change, if not changes, in the way policies and decisions are made. But change is good only when it can be had.
Even in matters of foreign relations and policy, it seems that Senator Obama is exhibiting his inexperience and naiveté. If we recall one of his statements during one of the presidential debates, Mr. Obama said that he, as a newly-elected President of the United States, would go – even if uninvited – to visit enemies of the United States like Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and the ayatollahs of Iran, so that he could change (sic) their hostility into cooperation. That statement could only be uttered by a man who really lacks the experience to handle foreign affairs. Even then President Richard Nixon started a new era of cooperation with the Bamboo Curtain by taking advantage of the visiting Chinese ping-pong players and sending his foreign-relations experts at the State Department to conduct secret talks and negotiations with the People’s Republic of China for a considerable length of time. Only after a workable agenda for a State Visit to Beijing were worked out behind the scene did President Nixon announce his historic trip to China and perhaps drink tea with its leaders. By contrast, Senator Obama behaves as if he was just born yesterday. Obviously, the field of foreign relations is not Mr. Obama’s cup of tea (pun intended).
Change is good only when it can be had.
Senator Obama talks of pulling out immediately the American soldiers in Iraq when and if he becomes the President. Any young student of geopolitics knows that ending the American presence in Iraq or anywhere else in the Middle East is easier said than done. The truth is that the United States is committed to a long-term presence in the Middle East, be it from the military, diplomatic or economic sense and/or a combination of all of them. Why? The Middle East is still the biggest supplier of crude oil to the United States and the Free World. And secondly, only the support of the United States and its allies in Europe assures the continued existence of Israel. And until American politicians are able to cut off their umbilical cords to the Jewish-American lobby, the United States will have to continue to guarantee the survival of the Jewish homeland, which may be the right thing to do in the first place.
Perhaps Senator Obama does not realize that the occupant of the Oval Office is not only Earth’s most-powerful leader but also the American President happens to be the world’s Chief of Police.
The world remains a very dangerous place. Electing a rookie as President may not be the most-intelligent choice that American voters may do this year or in any election year for that matter. While rookies excel even in the World Series or other sports, the presidency requires experienced hands. With barely three years of experience in the United States Senate, Mr. Obama certainly needs like nine more years in Capitol Hill, just to match the combined House-and-Senate experience of then Sen. John F. Kennedy – before he became the President.
Our fellow columnist, Jesse Jose, has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as the nominee of the Democrats and Sen. John McCain as the Republican standard bearer. The United States needs not only an experienced leader to become President but also a person who has a track record of forging coalitions or strategic alliances. It would help also if the new President has undergone a personal test of courage and overcome it.
Editor Notes: To read Mr. Jose’s views on the current presidential campaign,
please click this link A Cup O' Kapeng Barako.
Mr. McCain had his courage tested in the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. Sen. Hillary Clinton managed to keep her wits and her family intact and indirectly helped save the presidency of her husband, during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
This column believes that if Mrs. Clinton is elected President, the First Gentleman would serve as her most-experienced adviser like no other in the history of the United States. A “second” Clinton presidency, or for that matter, a McCain presidency, would do extremely well in promoting the interests of the United States abroad and in protecting the American homeland from external threats.
This column approves, therefore, the choices of our columnist Jesse Jose, which are shared by many members of the Media Breakfast Club of Los Angeles and the founders of the budding “Filipino-American Reagan-Democrats’ Club.” # # #
To read Jesse Jose's follow-up article on the "change" agenda of Senator Obama, please click on this link,
Hello Bobby,
Once again, thanks for the plug. I agree with you: Mr. Obama is a bullshitter! His CHANGE is just loose change. I've incorporated into my column this week the rest of my comments....
Jesse
It is exciting that our State of Texas could be the State that will determine the next President of our country. Whoever wins, we all win.
Those who know me well know that I am not one to force my political beliefs on others. But I do share my personal feelings and thoughts, as I would like my friends to share theirs with mine. Since Dallas and Houston are unquestionably going to be the battlegrounds in this election, please allow me to share my thoughts. If you don't like them or disagree with them, that is of course perfectly okay. I will continue to respect and honor you.
My wife is a die-hard Democrat. I am a registered Republican but I vote independently for candidates, not parties. After a lot of my own research and soul-searching, we decided to support Hillary Clinton in this election for various important reasons. Perhaps the most important reason for me as a Fil-Am community leader is we are convinced beyond the shadow of doubt, that Hillary Clinton is the one that has always cared deeply about us, Filipinos. From her early years in Arkansas, all the way to Washington and New York, she has always valued her friendships with Filipinos. Her husband Bill, on her suggestion, appointed the largest number of Filipinos in high positions in their administration. We met three of them in Houston last night -- Irene Natividad, Irene Bueno and our gracious hostess Loida Nicolas-Lewis. There are many other very solid Filipino links to Hillary Clinton that the Fil-Am community can be proud of and lean on when we need them, such as Marylou Mabilangan-Haley , General Taguba and many others. We know of no such Filipino links to Barack Obama and John McCain. If Obama or McCain wins the presidency, the Fil-Am community may well become invisible and powerless once again.
On immigration and our WWII Veterans issues, there is reason to believe that any of the three remaining viable candidates will serve our interests well. There is no reason to doubt that any of them will deliver. But as to who will be closest to the hearts and minds of Filipinos on a personal level, there is no question that Hillary is the one. Nobody comes close.
So when we were invited to a private $1000 a plate fund-raiser in Dallas the other night, we did not hesitate to come and show our support.
We hope you will also have the chance to see this lady's brilliance, knowledge of issues, grace and compassion towards minorities that we have seen many times up close and personal. So, we urge you to vote your conscience and elect the candidate who deeply cares about Filipinos. Paraphrasing a popular saying in West Texas, " Dance with the one who loves yah!"
WHY HILLARY AND NOT OBAMA?
Out of curiosity, Ethel and I attended Obama's rally at Fort Worth Convention Center three nights ago. It was a wild love-fest for Obama that resembled a fanatic religious revival. The loud and adoring audience was mostly African-Americans with sprinklings of Anglos and Hispanics. We did not see many Asians. Every sentence that came out of Barack's mouth was answered with a one-line "Yes, brother" or "Amen" response, ala-southern church evangelist prayer meetings. It was eerie and downright scary. When interviewed by the media after the rally and asked to name a single legislative accomplishment of Obama, the befuddled supporters could only say: "Can't you see how charismatic he is?" Fortunately, the Filipino voters are more intelligent than that.
Towards the end, there were repeated screams of "Yes, we can!" But I thought, maybe we shouldn't. For sure, I can't be the only one discomfited by the histeria and hype associated with the charismatic Barack Obama's tidal wave of momentum that seems to be cresting toward the Democratic nomination. While I appreciate the energy and enthusiasm he has brought to the campaign especially among young people which includes my youngest son (whose feelings I also respect), my concern is that Sen. Obama's "rock star" or "prophet evangelist" status has reduced the primaries to a popularity contest, where style trumps substance and excitement overwhelms experience.
It is incumbent on thinking voters to look beyond the Obama craze and choose a candidate who can stand strong when the wave has passed and the frenzy has fizzled. It is my humble but informed opinion that Hillary Clinton is that candidate. I did not come to this conviction easily or comfortably. I have my own misgivings about the way her (and Obama's) campaigns have been waged and their positions on some issues. But I can't help but admire her and what she will bring to the Oval Office.
She has spent most of her life as an advocate for the poor, for women and for children, even before it was politically expedient to do so. She has the best chance of any of the candidates to propose and push through legislation that will make tangible changes in the lives of millions who struggle to survive. Many Americans have a short memory. They have forgotten the eight years of prosperity and surpluses during her husband's administration that is unparalleled in modern history. One fact that the Clinton campaign does not use but is nonetheless an important fact -- Hillary was an essential partner ("number one adviser" according to Bill Clinton) during those 8 glorious years on practically all major policies that brought about the economic boom that we no longer have . She deserves credit for her role in creating those economic successes that we all enjoyed.
She has a head for politics. Mrs. Clinton is the only candidate who intimately understands the nature of the governor's job, the senate floor and the Oval Office. The minute her inauguration speech ends, she is prepared for all the facets of the presidency.
She has a history of strength. When faced with the most public and humiliating experience in presidential history, she held her family together, a quality that women and most men admire.
In the end, we know what Mrs. Clinton can do. We also know what John McCain, a genuine war hero and patron of immigrants, can do. But it would be foolhardy and downright scary to roll the dice on an unknown quantity with a lot of questions hanging over his head. Obama outspends Hillary, John McCain and Mike Huckaby combined. Where are the all these millions upon millions of campaign funds coming from? Has he ever told the people who is/are funding his campaign? One wonders...
Hillary's actions speak loudly, and though she has flaws, they will not diminish her efficacy as president. Mr. Obama may be the future of the Democratic Party (maybe), but Mrs. Clinton should be the present.
Yours sincerely,
Gus Mercado
Dallas, Texas
You want a Socialist society? No problem, elect Obama. Once he is the President, then all the 3 branches of the government would be now in the hands of the Democrats. Majority of the Supreme Court is composed of liberal justices. Both houses of Congress are both in control of the Democrats (Reid/Pelosi). There is no stopping the socialist agenda of the Democrats.
You still want a balance of power of check and balance? Then elect McCain, who has proven his love, valor and dedication to this country and he is a seasoned senator for all these years vs. a senator who has not even logged in more than 200 days in Congress.
What I say: PRAY for it is only God who can change the tide and direction where this nation is heading for.
Pass this around.
Vote!
Felizardo Belga, MD
Is this the kind of change we can believe in?
Somewhere in the desert Osama must be smiling.
Rudy Asercion
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