Obama Presidency Would Be A Step Backward

National Review Online: Candidate's Dangerous Policies Are Straight Out Of 1930s And 1960s

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Thomas Sowell.

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Many years ago, a great hitter named Paul Waner was nearing the end of his long career. He entered a ballgame with 2,999 hits - one hit away from the 3,000-hit landmark - which so many hitters want to reach, but which relatively few actually do reach.

Waner hit a ball that the fielder did not handle cleanly but the official scorer called it a hit, making it Waner’s 3,000th. Paul Waner then sent word to the official scorer that he did not want that questionable hit to be the one that put him over the top.

The official scorer reversed himself and called it an error. Later Paul Waner got a clean hit for number 3,000.

What reminded me of this is the great fervor that many seem to feel over the prospect of the first black president of the United States.

No doubt it is only a matter of time before there is a black president, just as it was only a matter of time before Paul Waner got his 3,000th hit. The issue is whether we want to reach that landmark so badly that we are willing to overlook how questionably that landmark is reached.

Paul Waner had too much pride to accept a scratch hit. Choosing a president of the United States is a lot more momentous than a baseball record. We the voters need to have far more concern about who we put in that office that holds the destiny of a nation and of generations yet unborn.

There is no reason why someone as arrogant, foolishly clever, and ultimately dangerous as Barack Obama should become president - especially not at a time when the threat of international terrorists with nuclear weapons looms over 300 million Americans.

Many people seem to regard elections as occasions for venting emotions, like cheering for your favorite team or choosing a homecoming queen.

The three leading candidates for their party’s nomination are being discussed in terms of their demographics - race, sex, and age - as if that is what the job is about.

One of the painful aspects of studying great catastrophes of the past is discovering how many times people were preoccupied with trivialities when they were teetering on the edge of doom. The demographics of the presidency are far less important than the momentous weight of responsibility that office carries.

Just the power to nominate federal judges to trial courts and appellate courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, can have an enormous impact for decades to come. There is no point feeling outraged by things done by federal judges, if you vote on the basis of emotion for those who appoint them.

Barack Obama has already indicated that he wants judges who make social policy instead of just applying the law. He has already tried to stop young violent criminals from being tried as adults.

Although Senator Obama has presented himself as the candidate of new things - using the mantra of “change” endlessly - the cold fact is that virtually everything has says about domestic policy is straight out of the 1960s and virtually everything he says about foreign policy is straight out of the 1930s.

Protecting criminals, attacking business, increasing government spending, promoting a sense of envy and grievance, raising taxes on people who are productive, and subsidizing those who are not - all this is a re-run of the 1960s.

We paid a terrible price for such 1960s notions in the years that followed, in the form of soaring crime rates, double-digit inflation, and double-digit unemployment. During the 1960s, ghettoes across the countries were ravaged by riots from which many have not fully recovered to this day.

The violence and destruction were concentrated not where there was the greatest poverty or injustice but where there were the most liberal politicians, promoting grievances, and hamstringing the police.

Internationally, the approach that Senator Obama proposes - including the media magic of meetings between heads of state - was tried during the 1930s. That approach, in the name of peace, is what led to the most catastrophic war in human history.

Everything seems new to those too young to remember the old and too ignorant of history to have heard about it.

[ghostdog8]

IF Obama wins the nomination, you can count on a 60% to 40% victory for John McCain in November.

[doctor2012]

Research is the key. If you go to each candidates web site or listen to a lto of their speeches in their entirety, and look at their voting records in the Senate, you can find a lot of information on their policies. Clinton''s and Obama''s proposals or plans are pretty much the same with some slight difference over implementing health care and meeting with foreign leaders. This is expected as usually people of the same party don''t differ all that much.

WHAT policies??? All I hear Obama say is a bunch of double-speak. CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE!!! Change to what??? He has not stated any policies beyond some parroting of ClintonII;The Sequel. He is too inexperienced to lead anyone. He''s a pascifist and a Marxist.

[doctor2012]

Though greatly exaggerated "teetering on the edge of doom" , and so on, and comparing Obama''s suggestions to policies of the 1930''s and 1960''s while ignoring how useful many of those policies were, and the great differences in his policies from those, at the very least the author is actually challenging Obama on his policies and not suggesting what someone else said or him not wearing a lapel pin is the reason we shouldn''t vote for him. More of this type of debate on the actual issues facing America is what we need.

[ladyesq1]

If he becomes the first black President, he will give the black community a bad name by his failing, weak policies and what he''ll turn this country into.

Truth is, I can think of many other African Americans who are better suited to be President. Obama is naive, passive, wimpy, and inexperienced. These are the LAST qualities that we need in a President after 8 yrs of Bush!

Right now, Hillary is our only chance at beating McCain AND our only chance at turning this country around!

[onceagirl]

My fellow Americans, it really doesn''t matter who we elect to be our President. We have evolved into a country where you don''t have to win to be rewarded beyond your wildest expectations. Take a look at sports and politics...aren''t I right? These people on the whole, lose lose lose but are they punished? Lol...Pretty funny huh? It''s globalization that is quickly destroying our way of life and unfortunately there is absolutely nothing we can do about it..period. We, the people of the world are slaves to the world systems that use us as if fodder...what I find amusing is that although our debt is enormous, it is still the best amongst our peers re GDP. So what if Countrywide lost countless of millions of the little people''s money, the CEO was rewarded with a 121 million dollar bonus! Wake up and smell the roses and accept our fate..nothing short of a revolution could change this...and you and I know that this will never happen.

People should be scared. McCain is no conservative as evidenced by his taxation plans and the fact that he''s fallen for the global warming farce. Hillary is just another lib who wants to steal from the corporations until they can''t afford to employ anyone,and Obama is simply a Marxist with ties to terrorists (endorsed by Hamas and buddies with Bill Ayers[a proud American terrorist]). Oh let''s not forget his racist, hatemongering spiritual advisor and a wife that has never been proud of America (even though she was able to attend and graduate from Ivy League colleges). America is doomed if we can''t find some better clowns to run the circus that is our government!

[rodgert-2009]

Is michelle Obama Racist? She acts like it

[pam1sadge]

I read the Truth About Obama article and find it very interesting. Obama has been less than truthful with the American people. Frankly, I don''t trust the guy. Based on his many inconsistencies, his bad judgment, and obvious lack of experience, he is not a good candidate for the most important job in this country. I think it is imperative that at some point in time we have a black president, but I agree, he is not the person to take on that role. I am convinced that if he runs against McCain that the republicans will be in the White House another four years. This is where we are headed folks so just get used to it. That is unfortunate.

[elsylee28]

Please check out "The Truth vs Barack Obama"

http://savagepolitics.com/?p=317

I saw this today, and HAD to share it with everyone. It is just a brilliantly researched and written list of inconsistencies with several of Obama''s stories. I think it should be done for ALL three candidates, but I guess this is a good way to start at finally looking at the candidates with some honesty.

http://savagepolitics.com/?p=317

[arstuart]

Obama supporters for the most part (at least the ones writing comments to this article) are, as has been demonstrated during his candidacy, brainwashed and refuse to see the cold hard truth about Obama. This was a perfect example of the types of trouble his nomination would most certainly cause for the country.

Why can''t the democrats ever nominate a decent candidate? First it was Kerry and now Obama. I thought it was impossible to pick a worse candidate than John Kerry and now they come up with Obama. Give me a break! I''m really considering swithing over and becoming a republican because the democrats are so blind anymore.

A black candidate would be wonderful if he/she was the right black candidate but color has absolutely no reflection of a person''s character or their agenda.

All I can say is HILLARY IS THE BEST CANDIDATE!

[markangeloo]

How racist & troubling is this.

The milk toast, lily livered rights can dish it out

but cant take it back.

?? A little teasing from the Reverend Wright

& they run to the corner ??

This man is supposed to be scary ?

How white do U want Obama to be ?

[truthyness]

Obama doesn''t deserve to be the first Black

President..never did.

[kansas1946]

One of the painful aspects of studying great catastrophes of the past is discovering how many times people were preoccupied with trivialities when they were teetering on the edge of doom. The demographics of the presidency are far less important than the momentous weight of responsibility that office carries.
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Teetering on the edge of Doom??????? Could you try a beat the drums of scare-tactics any louder. So Mr. Sowell thinks that health care, jobs, the economy, our reputation in the world, how we treat our allies, are "trivialities???" Is this the most blantant right-wing goofiness that you have ever heard.

Do you need some more, myshiba??

[kansas1946]

Many years ago, a great hitter named Paul Waner was nearing the end of his long career. He entered a ballgame with 2,999 hits - one hit away from the 3,000-hit landmark -
Waner hit a ball that the fielder did not handle cleanly but the official scorer called it a hit, making it Waner%u2019s 3,000th. Paul Waner then sent word to the official scorer that he did not want that questionable hit to be the one that put him over the top.
What reminded me of this is the great fervor that many seem to feel over the prospect of the first black president of the United States.
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Please be specific regarding your criticisms. Thank you.
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Posted by myshiba at 06:30 PM : Apr 30, 2008
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The above example of a rhetorical simile is the most ridiculous, far-fetched, nonsenical, fantasy, that I have ever seen. It is so sweetly American, you know baseball and apple pie, and the honest fellow that gave up a hit, that it almost makes you want to throw up. Huge numbers of Obama supporters are white, could care less if he is the first black president, but support him for just the reasons this knuckle-head is knocking him. We think he is the one to make America safer, unlike Bush who has put us at more risk. The stretch between baseball and Obama would probably be laughed out of a fresman English class, let alone from a supposed seasoned journalist. Pitiful

[kansas1946]

Posted by kansas1946

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Please be specific regarding your criticisms. Thank you.


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Posted by myshiba at 06:30 PM : Apr 30, 2008
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There is no reason why someone as arrogant, foolishly clever, and ultimately dangerous as Barack Obama should become president - especially not at a time when the threat of international terrorists with nuclear weapons looms over 300 million Americans.

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The above paragraph is nothing by lies, exaggerations, and innuendos. Not one word of truth in it. It is posed as a thoughtful comment from a concerned American, when in reality is it nothing but a partisan twisting of seemingly innocent words into the worst form of scare-mongering and right-wing propaganda.

[hotbrainbox]

why are we not taking about bill''s lies and sexual acts in the past? why are we holding a man responsible for anothers crime? even a child would have left the church if he knows its bringing all his efforts down the way rev wright is doing. so do you in your right sense think obama would want such a liability?? where is fairness??where is your sense of judgment or do you just follow the media spin like a sheep??? how can you call him a racist when he is HALF WHITE/BLACK!

[hotbrainbox]

why are we not taking about bill''s lies and sexual acts in the past? why are we holding a man responsible for anothers crime? even a child would have left the church if he knows its bringing all his efforts down the way rev wright is doing. so do you in your right sense think obama would want such a liability?? where is fairness??where is your sense of judgment or do you just follow the media spin like a sheep??? how can you call him a racist when he is HALF WHITE/BLACK!

[blackbird659]

Obama has taken this country twelve steps backward! He is no good, he is anti-american and a proven racist. Go Hillary

[berthaw51]

Barack has inspired the most exciting political race in the history of America. He has inspired young people to take notice in the political process and some old people that never cared how the delegates were allocated. Most of us until this campaign did not know what a super delegate was. He has inspired us to take a close look at a country that claims to be a leader in everything but still practices racism.
He has inspired all races, backgrounds and religions of people to unite for the good of this country. His campaign is offering a fellowship to students and graduates this summer to learn how to be community organizers. He has impacted this country locally and at the community level in ways that the other clowns could and will not and he has not been elected yet.