This whole Birther issue is a BIG distraction while the elephant in the room is being ignored. Has President Obama been the best president ever? Certainly not. Has he made concessions and compromises? Yes. Many of us wish he would have stuck to his guns on many an issue. The issue here is that the wise leader is consultative, deliberative and even-handed. Obama has been all of these things. And with Republicans saying "no" at every turn, its hard to get things done as fast as folks would like. Like him or don't like him, we all have to admit that he is President during a very difficult time and no decision he has made or will make will please everybody. That's what living in a democracy is all about: people expressing their differing views with the majority winning out. But that only works when we stay on target and focus on the issues at hand. But when leaders in Congress cloud budget debates with anti-abortion rhetoric and official statements that weren't meant to be 'factual', how can the work of the people be done? Let's not let facts get in the way of the truth.
Now, even though many liberals and conservatives don't like the the recent budget deal (I know I don't), I think it is the best deal for the country at this time. The reason I say that is the same reason people don't like the deal: that is, compromises were made. In a democracy (especially one this size), compromises must be made. That's how things get done; we all give a little so that business can move forward. Ask yourself: how much time was wasted with birth certificate and abortion issues that could have ben spent dealing with the budget and the nation's debt ceiling? Why didn't those so-called leaders calling for government shut-down also vote in favor of stopping their own checks if the government shut down?
When Bush was in charge it was almost treasonous to question him. Only a brave few questioned him when he told us going into Iraq was the right thing to do. And they were quickly silenced and branded as unpatriotic. I actually had a college classmate say that to me. Me?!! I gave this country 9 years of my life in the Army (all without being a Citizen) and some clown questions my patriotism? I, along with many others, served unquestionably and my honor is doubted? Patriotism is not about blind compliance, it's about reasoned thought. Now it has become common place to say the most insulting things about our leader. Never mind that the "real" reasons for the invasion of Iraq are still unclear. Never mind that a significant reason for the large deficit is the fact that the true cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were kept off the budget, hidden under Bush-Cheney. Never mind that a federal government shut-down was instigated by people who say they love America, but who clearly can't stand Americans.
That brings to mind a quote from one of my favorite movies, The American President with Michael Douglas. I have included it here and replaced some of the movie-specific references and inserted references to the current debates:
"...America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free". [...The] problem isn't that [Obama's opponents don't] get it. [Their] problem is that [they] can't sell it! We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, [certain people are] not the least bit interested in solving it. [They are] interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character. And wave an old photo of the President [...] and you scream about patriotism and you tell them, [he's] to blame for their lot in life [...]"
------transcribed from The American President 1995
President Obama didn't cause the problems we are facing...he is trying to fix them. Why don't we help him?
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