Words

As I spend my second night awake after stopping the Neurontin (could I be going through withdrawals?) my thoughts continue to circle around the upcoming election. As I've shared previously, I'm amazed at how people are willing to vote for a man who wants to fundamentally change this country. I've heard people speak of Obama's ability to inspire through his words. I have to admit, he does know how to give a speech. He has been given the special talent of weaving an intoxicating, inspiring, and awe-inducing message. I remember after he gave his speech on race and his acceptance speech at the DNC how many voiced their adoration of him and their hopeful anticipation that this country was on the brink of a new age.

With only 7 more days until the election I would like to share some more of Obama's words with you. What do these words inspire? These words were spoken by Obama during a 2001 radio interview. You might say this is ancient history, much like his associations with Ayers and Reverand Wright. But I would like to remind you that we heard very similar words come from Obama's mouth just a little over a week ago, so I have no reason to believe that his views have changed.

Quotes from the transcript of his 2001 radio interview:

OBAMA: But the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society. It [the Warren Supreme Court]wasn't that radical. It didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution, at least as it's been interpreted and Warren interpreted it in the same way that generally is a charter of negative liberties. The Consititution says what the federal government can't do to you but it doesn't say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf. And that hasn't shifted and one of the, I think the tragedies of the civil rights movement was because the civil rights movement became so court-focused, I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change. And in some ways we still suffer from that.

(Italics added to show my emphasis)

The essential constraints and negative liberties that Obama is referring to are the principles that guarantees the federal government will not take away your free speech, will not take away your right to bear arms and he has a problem with this. He criticizes the Constitution for not saying what the government will do for you. He wants to usher in a government that does for you and me and as you know government always does a better job than the private sector. He believes, in fact, that the government will do a better job deciding how the money you and I earn should be spent. That's what wealth redistribution is all about. Taking my money and your money, by way of taxes, and giving it to those who are "behind us" to use his words spoken to "Joe the Plumber."

I don't want to over focus on this whole wealth distribution issue, even though it is incredibly important; what I find particularly chilling about Obama's statements is he takes issue with the founding document of this country, the Constitution. He believes it is fundamentally flawed. I think the more relevant question is what does this belief mean for an Obama presidency? He wants to flip the Constitution on its head. The Constitution guarantees power to the people. The government is meant to answer to us, the people. Obama wants to guarantee power to the government which means that the people answer to the government. This should frighten us all and I am not fear mongering. Sometimes fear is legitimate and when a presidential candidate suggests fundamental change of this nature, I think it is appropriate to be fearful.

In his speeches Obama says how he wants to heal this country; who could possibly be against healing? Healing is a good thing, right? In fact I feel better just saying the word "healing." But again, I have to ask what does that mean? What I might think will heal this country may be different from what Obama has in mind. Oh heck, why get bogged down in details? It will all work out in the end, right?

Words are powerful things, particularly when you stop and look at what those words, when strung together, mean. It appears that a few people in the press are beginning to look at the meaning behind Obama's words, much to the Obama campaign's chagrine. What I think is most telling is the way that the Obama campaign is responding. The TV station in Florida that interviewed Biden regarding Obama's spread the wealth comments has been informed that they no longer have access the the campaign. This is not the first time that they have done this. Could they be telegraphing to us what they will do in the future regarding anyone who speaks out against them? Remember those niggling constraints that the Constitution imposes...like free speech. Social pressure to alter speech to conform to a particular view is called political correctness. What do you call government pressure to alter speech to conform to a particular view????