Obama supporters seem to be advertising a product

Articles written by Obama supporters seem to be advertisements for a product. They all bring selling points and end with Web sites.

Choosing the popular side of the day shows us little about a man’s character or leadership. It does not make a uniter to simply agree with what the majority has already united behind. Iraq is an unpopular war. People are concerned about jobs, taxes, and healthcare. But haven’t we always been?

According to these snake oil salesmen, Obama has been a “voice in the wilderness” screaming to the unhearing masses. In truth, he is simply lining up behind the majority.

We are choosing a president, not an American Idol. Obama is not the voice that brought the idea of “unity in humanity;” God’s Word declared it in Acts 17 “God...hath made of one blood all nations of men.” If His Word cannot change our hearts from racism; then no president, education, or law built on our wisdom will succeed.

I agree with Malcolm Muggeridge, “The world’s way of responding to a declaration of decay is to engage equally in idiot hopes and idiot despair. On the one hand, some new policy or discovery is confidently expected to put everything right:a new fuel, a new drug, world government. On the other, some disaster is as confidently expected to prove our undoing, Capitalism will break down. Fuel will run out. Plutonium will lay us low.

In Christian terms, such hopes and fears are equally beside the point. As Christians, we know that here we have no continuing city, that crowns roll in the dust and every earthly kingdom must sometimes flounder, whereas we acknowledge a king men did not crown and cannot dethrone, as we are citizens of a city of God they did not build and cannot destroy. Thus the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, living in a society as depraved and dissolute as ours.

Their games, like our television, specialized in spectacles of violence and eroticism. Paul exhorted them to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in God’s work, to concern themselves with the things that are unseen, for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

After World War II, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adeneur, spoke with Billy Graham and said, “Outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I know of no other hope for mankind.” Amen! If you put your trust in a man, or a party of “change,” life will bring trouble, countries will stumble, death will knock, and when the door is answered; you will find no hope.

But according to Obama, this is only my way of dealing with the frustrations of life.

Jamie D. Clements
Newton

We need Clinton in White House

I would like to ask the Democrats of Catawba County to vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary on May 6. Her health care plan, endorsed by the American Nurses Association, is the only universal plan.

Under Sen. Obama’s plan, millions will be left out; yet, they will inevitably need health care, leaving them in dire circumstances. It also leaves the insured patients with higher costs, since hospitals and doctors must pass these charges on. If we are to reduce costs and begin making health care more accessible, universal coverage is where we have to start.

Sen. Clinton’s plan also insures that working families never have to pay more than a limited percentage of their income, and it will help small businesses defray costs as well.

She includes provisions that will assure families the peace of mind in knowing that if they become ill or lose their jobs, they do not lose their coverage.

Clinton’s stands on all the issues are specific. She recognizes the interrelatedness of the economy and health care, environment, foreign policy and other issues. And she has the proven experience, work ethic and insight into these issues that we need in the White House. Given the serious problems we now face, her candidacy offers a window of opportunity that we should not let pass by.

Jane Lloyd
Taylorsville

Obama not specific on how to reach goals

I was questioned after the town hall meeting which Barack Obama spoke at but I was at somewhat of a loss for words. The man asked if being present had made my decision certain. I answered honestly that I was still undecided but that his speech had “made me think.” Apart from that, I did not know what else to add.

I realize now that my hesitancy arose partially from my disappointment with the words of the great orator.

The slogan “Yes We Can” has already become cornier to me than the infamous “Keep Cool with Coolidge.” Sitting in the bleachers of the balcony with my friends, I waited with almost baited breath to take part in an event that would become part of a historic campaign. The entire speech was an anticlimax to me though. His presentation was powerful; his message, canned.

He’s a thought-provoking candidate in the issues he raises, but he isn’t too clear in how he plans to accomplish his goals. His ideas on education were frustrating: he’s going to give teachers a higher salary and get parents to make their children more involved. How? Education is right reserved to the state and it’s the teacher’s job to ask the parents to make their kids more responsible. But in the end, it’s up to the kids to be active.

Henderson Trefzger spoke against apathy in politics before Sen. Obama arrived, but wouldn’t the greater problem be apathy in the rising generation toward its own education? How on earth can the government give an education to teenagers who aren’t willing to make the effort to take advantage of the opportunity? Sure, a lot of kids graduate with future aspirations, whether they mean to get vocational or four year college degrees, but some hardly care. Senator Obama cannot solve a problem without the acquiescence of those involved.

Moreover, the senator failed to answer the debt question satisfactorily. “How do you plan to deal with the national deficit?” My seat mates and I groaned as he sauntered through his response before actually answering the question, which, by the time he did it, was not very memorable.

In short, I came away from the event not being utterly convinced. I left the familiar building feeling let down and thwarted in my desire to become more actively and energetically involved in the political system. I may be jaded or cynical in my readiness to criticize the shortcomings of a presidential candidate who I consider an amazing opportunity for America, but all the same, as Senator Obama was so quick to point out, he’s been running for president for 15 months. Maybe it’s time to get together a new slogan and think through the policies he’s running on.

Morgan JonesHickory

Obama’s poverty plan is irrational

One of the first proclamations made by Barack Obama was to use America’s resources to eliminate world poverty. He planned to use $340 billion dollars for this purpose. No one can deny that “no more poverty” would be good. But to commit this country is a most irrational plan and can lead us into poverty.

We are a leader in the world now to aiding needy countries in all areas. But his commitments to do this and offer all the other “freebies” in his speeches is a recklessness we cannot afford.

Obama has done nothing outstanding as a senator to make him worthy of the Office of President of the United States. His only accomplishment has been election as senator and a willingness to run for the office. Being able to make moving speeches is a long way from performing the duties of president, to serve all the people.

His long time association with the notorious Rev. Wright cannot be disavowed with a few statements saying he does not agree with his famed sermon. He could not sit under counsel of this man for all those years, hearing him spew out hatred for whites and this nation, without embracing the philosophy that Wright preaches. Obama’s wife let it slip when she stated that “she can finally be proud to be an American!” That’s just great!

After she has a chance to become the nation’s first lady, she can be proud! That’s about as hypocritical as Rev. Wright proclaiming he’s patriotic and loves America!

Obama has refused to voice the Pledge of Allegiance and he refuses to acknowledge the National Anthem or wear a flag lapel pin because it might offend someone! How much more disgusting can he get? How can we have a man like this in the highest office in the land?

Kenneth L. Setzer
Claremont

Candidates should stick to issues

Can we all agree that the current Democratic political arena is the most intense ever? Politicians speak, or someone speaks. about any subject and the opponent has an overwhelming need to respond and defend their position and the real issues remain uncovered.

It is a reminder of being in the 3rd grade when kids tattled on each other. My nerves are wearing thin with tiring and combative rhetoric. Sen. Obama has his agenda to leave the “old politics” for the new hope of change. Sen. Clinton is a fighter and a politician and these qualities will be difficult to subdue.

Candidates speaking every day about matters of our Nation is extraordinarily wearisome and there are going to be further slips and misspoken words.

Our hope is that the candidate that sticks to the issues, rather than tattling, will ultimately succeed.

W.G. Orlando
Hickory

McHenry fighting against drugs, gangs

I want to thank Congressman McHenry for having a meeting at the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, along with the late and Honorable Sheriff Clark, and inviting all the heads (sheriffs and chiefs of police) of the surrounding counties to join them and discuss the problems that each department was facing with the growing methamphetamine use, sales and manufacturing and with dangerous gangs that have filtered into everybody’s community (even Catawba County).

McHenry brought with him experts to help discuss the problems and to look for answers. McHenry brought informative pamphlets that described materials to look for when a meth lab was suspected and what different chemicals had been found in and around these labs.

During the event, all who attended the meeting were asked what problems their departments were having and what is being done to combat the problem and what the federal government could do to help, either with equipment or federal aid. One department head after the other, told McHenry what their departments were facing and most also told him what they thought was a major factor in the growing drug problem and the growing gangs in the communities.

Honorable people of Catawba County, put aside the fact that Patrick McHenry won the election against David Huffman — that election is over. The only thing that should matter now is that Congressman McHenry is fighting to help the citizens of this county, state and USA.

I personally know that a lot of officers will appreciate you voting for a man who fights to take dangerous drugs, dangerous gang members and illegal aliens out of the community.

Again, I just want to say thanks to Congressman McHenry for trying to help with a dangerous problem that is certainly going to be everyone’s problem if elected officials ignore these problems.

As far as I can remember Congressman McHenry is the only elected federal official that has addressed these problems on a local level.

Darrell Chapman
Retired Narcotics Police Sergeant
Hickory

Eagle Forum supports McHenry

As state president for the North Carolina chapter of Eagle Forum, I’d like to encourage 10th District Republicans to support Patrick McHenry in his re-election bid for Congress.

Honoring the sanctity of life, McHenry co-sponsored the Right to Life Act of 2005, the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

Free trade agreements have been a disaster for North Carolina but McHenry has stood up for us by voting against the Central American Free Trade Act (CAFTA) and against guest worker/amnesty bills that undermine American citizens who need entry-level jobs to support their families.

Our state will face many challenges in the years to come. All the presidential candidates support amnesty for illegal aliens and globalism. Senator McCain has indicated support for more free trade agreements and Senators Clinton and Obama blatantly support U.N. treaties that surrender American sovereignty.

We need to keep Patrick McHenry in Congress to defeat these agendas that will hurt North Carolina families.

James Andrew Dunn
Asheville