Pressure is On...

Hillary vs. Obama
The primary presidential election heats up; democratic candidate Hillary and Obama are too close to end for the democratic presidential nomination. So far, Obama got more super delegates on his side but he couldn’t close the deal in Philadelphia after appearing of Rev. Wright’s YouTube video. Since then, Hillary gained a couple of more super delegates and got popular votes in Philadelphia. Even though, super delegate votes determine the nomination; Hilary and her supporters might drag the primary election into mud until the end for claiming the popular votes as a reason to be the democratic nominee. Hillary might think she deserves the nomination and so it seems after Rev. Wright's controversial comments.

Questions about Hillary's likeability and trust worthy pushed away many democratic super delegates. Particularly her recent comment about Bosnia sniper incident to boast her foreign experience made even worse. However, recent incidents have emerged surrounding Obama became a bigger problem than lie about Bosnia trip and gave Hillary run for the money in Philadelphia Primary. Even though, it wasn't a record breaking winning, it was enough to give her come back victory for hope to be the democratic nominee.

Who is Barack Obama? Do we really know about him?
Voters are always interested in finding out about their candidates and rightly so. Particularly he's running with very little or non-executive decision making experience. Voters need to know about the candidate as much as his or her policies. This is not a senate race. After all, this is a presidential race for a leader who will lead one of the powerful nations in the world. His character and belief will effect the policies on social issues and integrity of the highest office.

Sen. Barack Obama (D. -Illinois) portrays himself as a thoughtful democratic candidate who carefully considers both sides of issues and runs as he can bring a new hope and the country together. His popularity has grown high for a while. However, questions have been raised about him since his personal baggage came out of his closet and revealed true Barack Obama.

Obama's Integrity and Character?
New revelations about a corruption scandal involving Obama suggest he may have more in common with Hillary on an integrity and character issue than he would like to admit. In November, a press reported regarding a questionable land deal between Obama and Antoin “Tony” Rezko, an indicted political fundraiser. Obama approached Rezko with the idea to purchase adjoining lots in South Side Chicago. Rezko helped Obama obtained his lot for a reduced price while Rezko’s wife paid a full price on next lot. Rezko later sold a portion of his property to Obama. All of this took place while Rezko was the subject of a federal corruption investigation. Obama and Rezko have been “friends” since the dubious land deal knowing about Rezko's shady reputation. It shows that Obama might be the kind of politician willing to peddle his influence and to compromise his ethics for his financial gain.

Obama's Judgment?
Many people raise a question about Obama’s judgment since his relationship with Rev. Wright and Ayers as well as his million men march participation. In a sense, he is guilty by association.

Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.'s inflammatory remarks that surfaced on YouTube last month. Obama's association with Wright has been his handicap to his campaign. Jeremiah Wright has been Obama's pastor for 20 years and he officiated at Obama's marriage and became Obama's spiritual mentor.

According to the Washington Post, Rev. Wright has been a pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago and he occasionally delivered sermons that Obama now calls “divisive.” One of the most controversial was delivered after September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which Wright suggested were a sort of comeuppance for the United States because of its violent foreign policies. “America's chickens are coming home to roost,” he said at the time. “The stuff we have done overseas is brought right back into our homes.” Basically, he believes that United States is evil government.

In addition, the Washington Post reports that Wright also charged in a sermon that the U.S. Government “lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color.” And he railed against a government that he said discriminates against blacks.” and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America,' adding, “No, no, no God damn America... God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human.”

Wright suggested on an interview with Bill Moyer on PBS that Obama's repudiation of his controversial remarks was to be expected from someone running for political office. “Whether he gets elected or not, I'm still going to have to be answerable to God,” Wright said. “I do what pastors do. He does what politicians do. I am not running for office.”

There is no question that his unapologetic about his sermon and his controversial comments damage Obama's campaign.

His lack of judgment also raised surrounding his relationship with William Ayers whom is known as underground terrorist. Ayers along with his wife, Bernadine Dohrn involved in bombing of Pentagon, NY Police Station, and other government buildings. Obama and Ayers served on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, a non-profit group from 1999 to 2002 and maintained friendly relationship. Ayers still is unrepentant and told recently that he has not done enough.

Some people argue that Obama is not responsible for Rev. Wright and Ayers behavior and his associations with them is not as important as his policy on issues. I believe it’s non-sense and they are as important to know whom he is associated with. There is a saying ‘if you want to find out about someone you should look at his/her friends. Their behaviors and character will reveal about the person.’

What is Obama’s Policy on Abortion?
Obama portraits himself to be a moderate but his voting record shows otherwise. His radical stance on abortion puts him further left ever than NARAL Pro-Choice America. In 2002, as an Illinois legislator, Obama voted against the Induced Infant Liability Act, which would have protected babies that survived late-term abortions. Both the Illinois and the federal bill sought equal treatment for babies who survived premature inducement for the purpose of abortion and wanted babies who were born prematurely and given life-saving medical attention.

When the federal bill was being debated, NARAL Pro-Choice America released a statement that said, “Consistent with our position last year, NARAL does not opposed passage of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act...floor debate served to clarify the bill’s intent and assure us that it is not targeted at Roe v. Wade or a woman’s right to choose.”

But Obama voted against this bill in the Illinois senate and killed it in committee. Twice, the Induced Infant Liability Act came up in the Judiciary Committee on which he served.

What is Obama’s Accomplishment?
No one really can name his greatest accomplishment other than being elected to the Senate just two and a half years ago, and being black and likeable. Obama can not run with his resume and record but no one is dare to challenge it because of possibly being accused of racist.

We start to hear Obama’s campaign using a racism as a campaign after losing in Philadelphia and it won’t be the last. How he spins the problem, this won’t go away soon.

Either Color of skin or gender shouldn’t be an issue but one’s character, integrity, judgment, and policy are the issues that we must carefully examine for the presidency. The bottom line is your decision to make however, the future of the country is relied upon a new president.
Is Obama or Hillary the right person to be the President of the United States?