Who's Afraid of the Big Bad...Barack Obama?

To steal a line from Frank Rich...

In a recent conversation with a fellow blogger and dear friend, we talked about the candidates that be. Both of us expressed disappointment over the primary loss of Hillary but this is where our commonality ends. You see, my friend cannot vote for Barack Obama because she finds him "morally abhorrent". I was intrigued and asked for clarification and elaboration. She and one of her friends pointed me to a comment made by Senator Obama that equates punishment with children in the context of birth control and teenage pregnancy. Yes, I think Obama misspoke. I think he could have used better rhetoric...but is that a reason to characterize the man as "morally abhorrent" or value-defunct? Sadly, I'm not convinced.

Another argument that she and her friend came up with was one involving the deification of Obama by his supporters. Many seem to feel that Obama is being glorified by his constituents and newfound fans. For some reason, this is different from the popularity our current president enjoyed shortly after that terrible terrible day in 2001. Now, to be fair, my friends did mention that Bush and his supporters never saw Bush as a god, himself, whereas Obama's supporters do. But, I still have to ask the question: what does this have to do with Obama himself and his ability to lead? As long as he, himself, is not declaring himself God-incarnate, I don't see a problem. Every leader has its nutty groupies. Now Obama is being blamed for the beliefs of his followers? There is no evidence that he has encouraged or instigated this as far as I know...just like there is no evidence that he is a Muslim (not that would necessarily be a bad thing if he was). So, again, for me the argument fails. I'm still researching Obama though.

You see, my husband is an Obama supporter. I was a Clinton supporter. I haven't made up my mind about what to do in November. I did hear Senator Barbara Boxer reporting on Senator McCain's voting record in regards to women and it was perplexing. I don't see myself voting for a man who neither voted for equal wages for equal work nor for child care subsidies for single working mothers. That would go against my nearest and dearest principles.

I have to say, I never found myself in a position to be defending Senator Obama but here I am...telling my friends that their arguments just aren't flying. And they all seem to stem from fear. Fear of the big black president? I can't help but wonder if there is a little race relation in that fear. I don't hear too many people expressing irrational fears around McCain. Those fears seem to be rooted in some form of logic. For example, I have heard a few people express fear of a McCain victory because of a possible war extension in Iraq. For me, that fear is reasonable and grounded in statements that McCain, himself have made. But the sentiments of fear surrounding Obama just don't seem to have any grounding in reason.

For example, there's the fear that he's a Muslim because his father was one. Why this is terribly scary, I don't know but I'll play. Let's say it is scary and let's say we don't want a Muslim for president. Why is Obama automatically a Muslim because his father was (and a loose one at that)? My research tells me he has pledged himself to Christianity, as has his wife and daughters, shouldn't we just leave it at that? I don't remember anyone accusing any other political candidate of being anything other than Christian. But I guess there was no reason to.

There's another fear involving Obama. His patriotism. Again, this seems to me something that cannot really be argued without hard evidence. Has the man ever been found guilty of treason? Has he ever outwardly expressed the overthrowing of the government through force or violence? Has he ever spit on or burned an American flag? I know, I know. He didn't put his hand over his heart while a patriotic song was being sung. I can hardly get my students to recite the pledge of allegiance in the morning. Does this make them unpatriotic? Patriotism, much like Christianity, is expressed through actions - not through ceremonial gestures and not through the wearing of certain pieces of memorabilia (though those gestures and objects are great). I think if this man has invested all of his money, all his energy, all of his time, into the running of a campaign for senate and then for president, then must he have some marginal form of interest in this country? And who would want to lead for the purpose of destruction? Even rogue leaders thought they had the best interests in the country at heart, so this argument just doesn't fly with me either. Disagree with his principles; disagree with his strategies; but patriotism is just so nebulous. I can't agree with this man being unpatriotic. Even if does seek to change this country at its core, that doesn't make him unpatriotic. I think this argument has to do with a definition of patriotism which is probably flawed in that it must deal with conservation of status quo, but I digress. Let's move on....

Fear of Michelle. Well, I'm just not going to go there because that is ridiculous on so many levels. Are we still at the stage where we should be afraid of an assertive woman who supports her husband? If you ask me, I'd like to know more about Cindy McCain. Why is she so quiet? Doesn't she have anything to say? How old is she anyway? However old she is, she looks great!

So, you see. All of this poor rhetoric against Senator Obama, for me, says more about the people spreading it than it does about the candidate himself. It also says a great deal about this country and the work it still needs to do in regards to sound logic and unfounded prejudice.

The argument that does bear some thought? His experience. That is probably the most viable argument out there. But, I haven't heard too much on it. Off to research I go.