The following Diary is one that has been purged by MyDD. I imagine the reason for the purge is two-fold: First, it raises discomfiting questions about the background of Senator Obama, and second, because some of the sources come from what are generally considered conservative blogs or news sources. Apparently, such sources are generally deemed by affiliates of the progressive/liberal movement in this Country to be false, without further question or examination. When I went though the Diary, I noted that the author had included 24 sources. Of those, about 10 or 11 come from what could be considered "conservative" news sources of blogs, but interestingly, when you look at the articles themselves, they are for the most part based on main-stream news sources.
The point of this introduction is to ask the reader to evaluate everything you read with a cautious eye, and determine whether it is accurate and make sense to you, based on its content, and not based on the political bent the publication may have. Neither the Conservative nor the Liberal media are right or wrong all the time.
That is why it is best to look at everything.
by TexasDarlin, Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:55:32 PM EST
Who Is Barack Obama? I keep coming across this question in one form or another. And I don’t think it’s throwing flames to ask. It’s our duty to dig deep, right? After all, he could be our country’s next president, leader of the free world. And, it’s imperative that we Democrats nominate the most electable candidate to do battle with war hero and patriot John McCain this November.
So do we know Barack Obama? His life should be an open book, god knows Hillary’s is. Why are we afraid to do the research? Will we be called racist or un-Democratic or otherwise blasphemous if we ask provocative questions? When it comes to interviewing our presidential candidates, should any query be off limits? Is Barack Obama entitled to a private past?
Where are Barack’s friends, ex-lovers, roommates, and colleagues? Shouldn’t we be hearing from them about now? Their stories and reports and yes, even gossip, about Barack’s personal and professional life — his jobs, hobbies, habits, religious practices, romances, philosophies, medical history, and personality traits — are surely relevant. I’ve seen very few interviews with such people. There was a NY Times story not long ago in which a couple of dozen friends and peers from Barack’s youth were surveyed about whether his actual drug use matched the well-known passages from his “memoir.” They said he smoked a little pot, that’s it. Did anyone else read that and ask: How else has Barack used his creative license?
RED FLAG QUESTIONS about Barack’s past that have barely been touched by the media include: dual citizenship, drug use, ties to Kenya and family relations, socialist/Marxist mentors, liberal/left-wing philosophy, religious background, State Senate of Illinois record, friendships, etc.
You can be sure that the Republicans are already salivating over the mysterious aspects of Barack’s life. We’d be irresponsible to assume that these questions will remain unasked if he is our nominee.
Obviously each of these issues could comprise its own article, but here are just a few search results:
Dual Citizenship?
Many have speculated that Barack might have dual citizenship because his father was Kenyan and Barack lived in Indonesia:
Obama was born on August 4th, 1961 - before Kenya became an independent nation. However, when Kenya became independent two years later (its constitution) … provided: any person who, having been born outside Kenya, if his father becomes…a citizen of Kenya (the child also) becomes a citizen of Kenya.. (Thus) it’s quite possible that Obama acquired Kenyan Citizenship at birth.
A brief review suggests that it’s possible, especially given that Obama’s step-father was an Indonesian government official, that Obama might have taken Indonesian nationality. Source.
(On a related note, many bloggers have questioned whether Barack’s birth certificate is available.)
Security clearances and other applications:
It’s not clear whether dual citizenship is disqualifying for the presidency. However, the State Department considers it a factor when granting security clearances for access to classified information. A past history of drug use is also relevant:
The (security) clearance process considers such factors as…violations of the law; drug or alcohol abuse…extensive travel…residence and/or employment overseas…dual citizenship…foreign contacts…family or relatives who are not citizens of the United States… Source.
( The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar also requires disclosure of past drug use and unlawful behavior. Did Obama provide complete answers on his Bar application?)
Allegiance is also a State Department requirement:
If there is any doubt about unquestioned preference for and allegiance to the United States, unencumbered by any undue foreign influence, DS must…determine that individual ineligible for access.
Decisions regarding eligibility for access to classified information take into account factors that could cause a conflict of interest and place a person in the position of having to choose between his or her commitment to the United States, including the commitment to protect classified information, and any other compelling loyalty. Source.
Kenyan loyalties:
Raila Odinga is Barack Obama’s cousin, and the man Obama backs for president in Kenya…even as Raila Odinga attempts to overthrow the current government of Kenya, and replace it with a terror-supporting dictatorship.
In August 2006, Mr. Obama visited Kenya and spoke in support of Mr. Odinga’s candidacy at rallies in Nairobi. …Mr. Obama interrupted his (US) campaigning to have a telephone conversation with his African cousin about the constitutional crisis in Kenya.
If (Obama) has been putting tribal or family considerations above America’s national interest by supporting Mr. Odinga’s anti-Western candidacy, it raises serious questions about his judgment.
Whether Mr. Odinga has ordered his men to commit murder and arson is unclear. But his own background does not exactly suggest enthusiasm for democracy and the rule of law. Mr. Odinga’s father, Oginga Odinga, led the Communist opposition during the Cold War and Raila Odinga was educated in Communist East Germany.
Mr. Odinga (has an) electoral pact with the National Muslim Leaders’ Forum — a hardline Islamist organization that represents Kenya’s Muslim minority. According to this document, dated August 29, 2007, Mr. Odinga promised the Muslim leaders that, if elected, he would establish Sharia courts…throughout the country. Source.
Barack’s father:
Obama’s life story is vastly different from the one he portrays…Obama stated in his Convention speech: ‘My father … grew up herding goats.’ The ‘goat herder’ claim has been repeated endlessly. Fact: Obama’s grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama was a prominent and wealthy farmer. His son, Obama’s father, was a child of privilege, not privation. He was an outstanding student, not a herdsman. Source.
Socialist mentors:
Starting with his father….
If there is a mystery at the heart of Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father, one thing is not left a mystery, the fact that Barack Obama organized his life on the ideals given to him by his Kenyan father. Obama tells us, “All of my life, I carried a single image of my father, one that I .. tried to take as my own.”
So we know that his father’s ideals were a driving force in his life, but the one thing that Obama does not give us are the contents of those ideals. ..A bit of research…reveals the answers about Barack Obama’s father and his father’s convictions which Obama withholds from his readers….(he was). a Harvard trained economist (who) attacked the economic proposals of pro-Western ‘third way” leader Tom Mboya from the socialist left, siding with communist-allied leader Oginga Odinga. Source.
Another Marxist mentor:
In his biography of Barack Obama, David Mendell writes about Obama’s life as a “secret smoker” and how he “went to great lengths to conceal the habit.” But what about Obama’s secret political life? It turns out that Obama’s childhood mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, was a communist.
Through Davis, Obama had an admitted relationship with someone who was publicly identified as a member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA)…Obama was in Hawaii from 1971-1979, where…he developed a close relationship, almost like a son, with Davis, listening to his “poetry” and getting advice on his career path. But Obama, in his book, Dreams From My Father, refers to him repeatedly as just “Frank.”
The reason is apparent: Davis was a known communist who belonged to a party subservient to the Soviet Union. In fact, the 1951 report of the Commission on Subversive Activities to the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii identified him as a CPUSA member…congressional committees…accused Davis of involvement in several communist-front organizations.
… Davis “espoused freedom, radicalism, solidarity, labor unions, due process, peace, affirmative action, civil rights, Negro History week, and true Democracy to fight imperialism, colonialism, and white supremacy. He urged coalition politics.” Source.
And the radical associations continued…
It was in Chicago that Obama became a “community organizer” and came into contact with more far-left political forces, including the Democratic Socialists of America,…and two former members of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), William Ayers and Carl Davidson.
Blogger Steve Bartin, who has been following Obama’s career and involvement with the Chicago socialists, uncovered a fascinating video showing Obama campaigning for openly socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Interestingly, Sanders, who won his seat in 2006, called Obama “one of the great leaders of the United States Senate,” even though Obama had only been in the body for about two years. In 2007, the National Journal said that Obama had established himself as “the most liberal Senator.” Source.
What were Barack’s religious influences before joining Rev. Wright at Trinity?
This topic is treated as taboo; whenever the word “muslim” is used in the same sentence as “barack obama” accusations of flame-throwing are immediately made. But why are these questions off-limits, and will the GOP abide by such polite guidelines?
The important question is NOT whether Obama has any muslim history. Rather, it’s whether he’s been truthful about his past.
On the campaign trail in Kansas, Barack told 4 women in a coffee shop:
“My mother was a Christian from Kansas…I was raised by my mother. So, I’ve always been a Christian. The only connection I’ve had to Islam is that my grandfather on my father’s side came from that country. But I’ve never practiced Islam.” Source.
His website repeats it: “Obama Has Never Been A Muslim”
Is Barack telling the truth about his religious background?
By most accounts, Barack’s mother was atheist and “Obama’s father…grandfather… stepfather…Sarah, who Obama calls grandmother…stepbrothers and stepsisters were (or are) Muslims.” Source.
“She (Obama’s mother) touted herself as an atheist,”… said Maxine Box, who was Dunham’s best friend in high school. Source.
Obama’s mother Anna is often reported as being an atheist. Her parents…shed their Methodist and Baptist upbringing and began attending, along with Anna, Sunday services at the East Shore Unitarian Church in nearby Bellevue. Source.
Barack says he’s “never practiced Islam” but others report differently:
Obama’s Indonesian schooling began when he was entered into the Roman Catholic, Franciscus Assisi Primary School on January 1, 1968….registered under the name Barry Soetoro…School documents listed (him) as an Indonesian citizen and his religion was listed as Islam…
According to one of Obama’s teachers and the principal from 1971 through 1989, Barry actively took part in Islamic religious lessons…”I remembered that he had studied “mengaji” (recitation of the Quran).” Source.
Always been a Christian?
State Senate Records:
“It appears that Obama never kept records of his time in the Illinois state legislature, or he discarded them….Either way, he clearly intended to leave no paper trail.” Source:
“You know I’m not certain, Lynn,” Obama said. “I didn’t have the resources to ensure that all this sutff was archived in some way; it could have been thrown out. I haven’t been in the state senate now for some time. I’m not sure, Lynn. I don’t know.” Source.
But, as a state senator, Obama evaded leadership on a host of critical community issues…according to many South Siders. “He’s been given a pass,” says Harold Lucas, the community organizer in Chicago. “His career has been such a meteoric rise that he has not had the time to set a record.” Source.
Imagine the disappointment of having a Freedom of Information Act effort, only to find that no data exists to acquire….they no longer exist, and may never have at all. Source
Friends and Associates:
The controversial list is seemingly endless. In addition to Barack’s cousin Odinga and Marxist mentor Frank Marshall Davis, both discussed above, there are others:
Tony Rezko, the corrupt slum-lord and political fixer who helped Barack and Michelle buy their Chicago mansion;
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the long-time pastor and spiritual mentor who has hateful feelings about America and white people, praises Louis Farrakhan, and some say is a former muslim;
William Ayres and Bernardine Dohrn, Weather Underground terrorists who befriended Barack in Chicago and helped raise funds for his early political career, and associated shady characters.
Who else is friends with Barack? Shouldn’t the company one keeps be relevant when running for President?
Final Note:
The sole purpose of this diary is to highlight issues that will likely be red flags for Barack Obama in the general election, and to bring awareness to the voters about outstanding questions related to this potential United States President.
Clearly, there is much more vetting to be done.
Research for this diary was based on Google searches and other secondary resources. The author has not conducted any independent verification of the information contained herein for accuracy.
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