I am what [I say] I am!

There is a difference between knowing what's right and doing what's right, the premise of which is the basis for this blog. Something has been bothering me about Senator Obama's sudden appearance on the national stage about 18 months ago, his seemingly unlimited financial resources, the tough teflon skin to which nothing -- and I do mean nothing -- appears to stick. Unlike other candidates, both Democrat and Republican, during the time prior to actual nominations for presidential offices, Senator Obama has seldom, if ever, been forced into actually admitting the truth, clearly stating what he stands for, defining what he believes, and detailing what he will do once he's elected. His speeches are designed to appeal to the poorly educated masses of younger voters who prefer catchy sound bites, music videos and computer-generated animation to real life.

While other candidates have been grilled on the most intimate details of both their public and their private lives, Sen Obama has skimmed along the surface of the media coverage, immune to anything more than the most superficial grilling, often couched in fawning terms by women who first admire his physical appearance. He responds with non-answers to probing questions, such as those brought up involving Rev Wright, William Ayers, Mr. Reskoe, and the Acorn Foundation. If Sen Obama does not think an issue is relevant, somehow he makes it go away, whatever the issue may be, often by convincing the public that what they thought they heard or saw isn't what they really heard or saw.

Sen Obama's perception becomes the collective public reality, and woe unto anyone who challenges the new public perception.

His stock response, "I'm not going to talk about that," as hard to believe as that is, means that he doesn't talk about it. When he says, "I've said all I'm going to say about that," it goes away. Sen Obama refuses to allow difficult topics to be part of his campaign. This past week, a female news anchor made the mistake of "inappropriately" grilling VP candidate Sen Biden -- and the TV station received a scathing letter of not just condemnation, but accusation and threat: the station has become persona non grata for the Obama campaign and, presumable, upcoming presidency.

Sen Obama does not acknowledge the truth, he simply removes it from his present so, in his mind, it no longer exists.

Yes, he sat in Rev Wright's church for 20 years and listened to racism spew from the pulpit, but since Rev White came under public scrutiny he no longer attends that church, so that problem is solved.

Yes, his wife said that she is, for the first time, proud to be an American, but the public mistook her meaning beyond what she expressed: she's proud of her husband, who is running for President, and of the American people for nominating him. End of discussion.

Yes, he called his grandmother a racist, but he didn't mean that she is a racist, just that she acted and spoke like all the other white racists, which is why he distanced himself from her during his formative years. However, she's old and dying now, so it's not relevant.

Yes, he was superficially acquainted with William Ayers, but he doesn't acknowledge him now, so there is no problem.

Yes, he worked with Acorn in the past, including donating $800k from his campaign warchest to support that organization in getting out the [black] vote for this presidential election, but he no longer is associated with that organization and has not donated funds since he got the party nomination ... so let's move on.

No, there cannot be voter fraud associated with Acorn's campaign to register dead and/or non-existent voters for the presidential election -- because there has been no election. It's only fraud if illegally registered voters actually vote, which would require an investigation after the Nov 4 election!

Yes, he took money from Mr. Reskoe, but that's ancient work history, not current political practice.

Yes, he said "redistribute the wealth," but he misspoke. What he meant to say is that he wants to take wealth from the rich and give it to the middle class and the poor, which may sound like "redistribution of wealth," but it's not. It's simply tax relief for all but the wealthiest individuals.

There is something within me that does not believe either Sen Obama's image or his rhetoric, something that does not ring true, and I don't know what it is. George Orwell once wrote, "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" (English essayist, novelist, & satirist 1903 - 1950). Sen Obama doesn't have to tell the truth because he makes his own truth the public reality and preaches that truth to people all too eager to applaud his well-orchestrated public appearances.

George Orwell said that the United States will not fall to an enemy from without, but within: we will bring about our own downfall because we are too easily led by those who lead. We already know that our citizens will not take up arms and defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Paraphrasing the cry during the Communist scare: it's better to be led than dead. Better to give in to what's coming than it is to stand against it.

Popeye the Sailor Man proudly told the audiences that "I yam what I yam." Sen Obama seems to tell his audiences, "I yam who I tell ya I yam," and they are responding with loud cheers and, presumably, solid votes on Nov 4. We'll have to wait and see how that works for us come January 2009.