Obama-Mania and yes, there is an alternative to vote someone else
City of Brass has posted Obama’s 3 million $ add campaign. If that is not buying the election, I don’t know what else you’d call it. How would the Obama-Mania bloggers react if John McCain was buying the presidency? And they complain about Sarah Palin’s 150K $ wardrobe? That does not make sense folks.
Watching the US election coverage in mainstream media, you might have thought that there are only two candidates. That is not true. You do have other candidates to choose. And you are actually promoting the ‘greater evil’ if you think you are just supporting the ‘lesser evil’.
Two excellent videos by ‘Professor’ Griff supporting Cynthia Mckinney/Rosa Clemente:
Professor Griff of the legendary rap group Public Enemy tells the world why he supports Green Party presidential ticket of Cynthia Mckinney/Rosa Clemente instead of Barack Obama. This interview touch on other topics such as FISA, NAFTA, Skull-N-Bones, Sean Bell, Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan, AIPAC, Israel and Obama avoiding Memphis on the 40th anniversary of the MLK assassination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnCOdbVxVKk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFobU__tGuw
I am far from an “Obama-maniac”. I do support his candidacy, but I know that he is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination any more than a McCain supporter is a “McCainiac”. I feel that this is an important and historic election that could change the direction of our country. I feel it is important and I am doing my part.
On the question of money, I think I can honestly say that I don’t have a problem with a person having grassroots support and giving money regardless of party. If it was McCain with the money, it would not be an issue for me. It is not like some rich person is just bankrolling the campaign. The average donation is like $25.
I think “buying the election” is a bit much. Barack gained momentum when he spoke to the people, period. He was not automatically accepted.
To say that there is someone else we could vote for assumes that those who support Obama are not aware of this. Not so. I’m from Atlanta and am perfectly aware of Cynthia McKinney’s run for president as well as Ralph Nader’s. It is my choice to not vote for them, and it is not out of ignorance.
Campaign funds are for a campaign, it isn’t Barack’s personal money. The only reason why McCain didn’t raise money the way Obama has is because of less citizen support and a different fund-raising method. I happen to believe that he wanted to distance himself from his wife’s wealth which would have made him look like a gold-digger as well as shone more light on his first wife whom he left for Cindy.
As’salamu Aleikum Tariq, and Jazak Allah Khair for your two comments.
I used ‘Obama-Mania’ to tag your blog because, to be honest with you, I can’t find any reason why you are endorsing Obama. Even your two comments today. And let us be honest, even the infamous speech in Father’s day where Obama bashed Black fathers in a way White supremacists use their language [and could not ask any better candidate to make acceptable and to confirm and spread stereotype] , so that he can boost the other White voters, you have not been critical, and consider after Obama gave that speech, he lost quite many Black intellectuals like Ishmael Reed who he supported at the beginning his campaign [wrote brilliant essays on Hilliary Clinton's racist tactics]. An I also wonder if it was, say, John MacCain or another Arab American/ or from immigrant community that gave same speech, would you also be less critical?
You are after all an American citizen, and you have any rights to vote who you want, but it would be nice to know why Obama, and why he is not perfect and still voting for him.
I have lost counts how many ‘important and historic election’ we had . And Tariq, I can say this with certainty; there will be many Obamas to come, like the US had their first Black major or first Muslim congress member.
On the issues Obama wants to be elected, please compare with their candidates I have listed in the last link.
I can’t see why Obama is the ‘lesser evil’.
On the donation, you have to remember during the primary elections, 80% of Black voters were for Clinton, and nobody knew who Barack Obama was in 2 years ago when he began campaigning, and if you think a $25 donation is the magic formula, why are there only 2 parties to choose in the US?
Salaam Dynamite Soul, and thank you for your comment.
I was talking about MSM, and I have never seen a coverage from Cynthia McKinney’s acceptance speech like Obama did in Denver, and I have never seen her or Ralph Nader in CNN or BBC. You can’t deny that there are no equal rights between these candidates.
Salaam.
This is what Barack Obama stands for me–me being a non-American and fear of that once he becomes President, he will wage wars in my native country and other African countries:
–Cedric J. Robinson
You need a native base, and Barak Obama is the native base.
Sorry, but I think some of your comments are just uninformed. Obama is not ‘buying’ the election, and to answer your question, I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable if it was McCain all over the TV last night instead of ‘that one’. The Obama campaign used legally obtained money to legally purchase advertising space on several major network TV channels. It was a ‘transaction,’ meaning two willing parties executed the deal. Keep in mind that some channels, like CNN, refused the overture. Your assertion, frankly, smacks of the same, tired caviling we’ve seen from the Republicans. One day it’s Ayers and the next day it’s Acorn. Then it’s some random Arab professor and now it’s his money.
And yes, Americans only have two viable options for the Presidency: McCain or Obama. Third party candidates have not been a major factor since Ross Perot, and that was in 1992. The 2008 alternative parties have no shot at winning, and if you were a citizen and retained your concern for your native land, you would quickly jettison the idea of voting for a third party candidate and really focus your energies on choosing the right candidate for office, and unfortunately, those candidates are either Obama or McCain.
Other than his compelling story and racial background, there is nothing extraordinarily unique about Obama. I don’t believe in all the banal hyperbole that inevitably follows every new contender to the Presidency. I prefer an Obama presidency because I believe the democrats have a better vision of the world than the republicans, and they are also less belligerent, which is probably a good thing for whatever part of the world you come from.
Ralph Nader and other third party candidates may be better for America and the world but fate has unfortunately banished to the fringes of the political scene. Some day, maybe, they will be more relevant and have a chance at winning an election, but that day hasn’t come yet.
banished them*
I voted (I did so early) for Obama/Biden for the following reasons (in no particular order):
1) I want the US to move toward energy independence
2) While we have the best health care in the world, our health COVERAGE system is broken and needs to be repaired. I feel that health care is a right as much as police or fire protection is. That is already the case as it is ILLEGAL for a hospital to refuse to take care of a person
3) We need to move to repair our relations with the rest of the world instead of continuing with “roll with us or get rolled over” style diplomacy that has gotten us nowhere
4) We need to repair the economy
5) We need to get out of Iraq
I have very specific reasons to support him and I also believe that McCain would be a serious step back. It will not be a back breaker, but a serious step back.
The third party candidates do not stand a chance to win.
As’salamu Aleikum Tariq Nelson,
Thank you once again for the comment and clarification. Although I must say I was disappointed. Basically, the way I understood your endorsement is; so what! Yes, Obama is my man and I voted for Obama because I wanted that way. Not to sound rude and be disrespectful toward you, but that was how I understood your five points, and consider the twelve points I linked which every your five points contradict and reject with clear evidence.
Still, it is your right, and I can’t guess what other “specific reasons” you have on your mind, but be it patriotism or even race, only Allah Knows Best.
And regarding the third party, you claim they don’t have any chance to win, but at the same time in numerous times on your blog, you have been advocating for more grassroots participation and helping homeless people and poor people, but at the same time you are violating your own belief; by voting a cooperative party system.
I think, the third party really gives an opportunity for all Muslim Americans and from all kinds of background to be integrated into American society, because no one can accuse them for being unpatriotic, and be bankrolled by Middle East or Saudi Princes, and that is what it means to participate grassroots organizations, and yes the results might not be seen in short-term or be glamourös, but they don’t have other option than to vote third party, and they would get in return more; a change that really means something. And consider the history of Black Americans, the Muslim community has a long way to go, and I don’t think neither the two parties are the best interest for Black people or 95 % of the population in the country.
The person Obama will give another angle when it comes to race study, and even the Black American Muslim community has to re-think their perspective on what it means to be Muslim-Black-American. If a son of Kenyan father and White American Mother in one generation without any link to Black civil right movement and Black struggle and even his campaign base is not linked to Black leaders/community but still manage to become president, so could Immigrant Muslims–maybe not a president, but certainly a leader in Muslim community. Obama person will erase many favorable actions, and we have seen one of them already in his Father Day’s speech and fulfilling his native base role (justifying all the stereotypes of Black fathers), and let us not forget the socalled “Black leaders” who benefited by so far the ‘race card’, they have to find another means to survive. Indeed, interesting times ahead to come, and May Allah protect us, ameen.
Salaam Moeed, and thank you for your comments.
The person MacCain is meaningless to bring here. Nobody here sofar wants him to win. My point is, if you think 25 $ donation brought Obama to nationwide, then you are showing your gullibility. This is a man who beat a Clinton– a political dynasty. Do you really think it was that easy? From a man nobody knew in 2 years ago?
Salaam Moeed again, I have read again your comment carefully this time. About choosing the two parties. Believe or not, I don’t see any waste of time to choose the third party, because we have seen what the Dems and Rep. are capable of to commit genocides on other countries. One of them flaunt about his action, and the other party does it in the name of humanity relief. So if you are an African/ or someone who survived American aggression, you don’t want either of them to win, and believe me, there is no lesser evil, and certainly not for Obama who holds the Native Base genes. Already, he gave no words about bombing Somalia and AFRICOM.