Forwarding the Conversation

So I recently saw an interview, on MSNBC, with Orly Taitz regarding Barack Obama’s birth certificate. Apparently, Orly is one of the leading spokespeople for the “Birther” movement, which claims that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, and therefore not eligible to be President of the United States.  You can check out the video below…

After watching the video a few different emotions swelled up. I felt pity for Orly, anger towards the MSNBC “journalists” who set her up, and regret about the level of political discourse in this country. In my opinion, the two MSNBC interviewers simply had Orly on the show to give her a public flogging. I don’t know if the interviewers felt better after publicly humiliating themselves and Orly, but if they do it should be short-lived.

I believe that the only thing the interview did was further strengthen the views of those on the political, social, and cultural extremes and make moderates sick to their stomach. If you are someone who either believes the allegations that President Obama is not a US Citizen, and/or you believe the mainstream media is a liberal propaganda machine, this interview only made you more resolute in those ideas. If you are a liberal who believes everyone on the far right is a nut-case then this interview made you glad that none of your friends are Republican.

This type of “journalism” divides our country, and if we ever want to have anything more than an entertaining political discourse people must push back against this behavior from the media and elected/non-elected leaders.

We are currently in the midst of one of the most important debates of this century regarding the future of healthcare, and all I hear are Republicans jeering Democrats for wanting to take away people’s choices and for wanting to kill old people (thanks Rush Limbaugh). And Democrats respond by calling Republicans greedy insurance company salespeople who only care about money. This CANNOT be the healthcare debate that the American People deserve.

It’s time for our elected officials to step up and tell us what is really going on. It’s time for the American People to hear a debate based on substance and issues, rather than a propaganda campaign being fueled by Insurance Companies, Lobbyists, Doctors, Chambers of Commerce, etc. Universal healthcare has been undertaken by three politically skilled Presidents: FDR, LBJ, and Bill Clinton. We are not going to pass comprehensive and effective legislation if WE - the American People – continue to allow our representatives to grandstand and demagogue. It’s time for all those who say they want change to truly demand it. Instead of going to your townhall meeting with signs, ready to shout-down your representative, go with substantive questions. Go to these meetings and demand that your elected officials cut through the talking points and really level with you. It will be far more difficult and far less rewarding in the moment, than yelling “socialist” or “facist” at the top of your lungs, but maybe… just maybe… you will actually get some straight talk from your elected official. AND maybe… just maybe… your elected official will remember that conversation when they go back to Washington.

And without further adieu, this week’s episode of “The District.”

Yes, you’ve guessed it. Time for another installment of Newsweek’s online reality series ‘The District.’ Check it out!

Newsweek has created a second episode of the hit internet sensation “The District.” Feast your eyes out!

Newsweek has answered that question in its first installment of The District. This first episode is being called “The Callenges We Face.” Check it out below.

I wish I was alive for this speech. In this speech then-President Jimmy Carter shows a humanity that few leaders ever share. While he was unable to solve the crises of his time he tapped into something deeper and longer-lasting than inflation or an economy in turmoil. He tapped into the democratic ideal that government comes from the people. While watching this speech I found that I was humbled by Carter’s candor and touched by his sincerity.

Please share your thoughts – what would you think if George Bush gave a speech like this before the end of his Presidency?

Click here to view the full transcript of the speech.

Yesterday America elected it’s first African American President – Barack Obama. Both last night and today were cause for celebration, tomorrow the hard work begins. Despite the declarations of the MSNBC and CNN pundits we are not entering a post-racial era. Race, gender, and creed still matter in the United States. Last night America did what many thought it was not ready to do as Senator Obama went on to claim a sweeping victory over Senator John McCain.

Today, I imagine that many Americans woke up with an overwhelming combination of joy and hope. Throughout the campaign I heard Senator Obama echo a long-held American sentiment that “only in America is my story possible.” Last night, the phrase “only in America” became a reality, but my fear in this election is that we begin to really think that Senator Obama’s story is possible for everyone.

Throughout the campaign opponents of Obama started whisper campaigns and published books making the claim that he is a Muslim. It isn’t the fact that the claim is untrue that bothers me, what bothers me is the idea that there would be something wrong with a Muslim person running for President. Does being Muslim disqualify someone from being President?

In victory we must also recognize that Senator McCain’s Western Pennsylvania strategy worked. Western Pennsylvania came out to vote in record numbers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the turnout from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. While it’s irresponsible to generalize by calling all voters in Western Pennsylvania racist I defy even the McCain campaign to make the claim that some of those votes weren’t racially motivated. We still live in a society and a world that is plagued by prejudice whether it’s against homosexuals, Muslims, Hispanics, or African Americans.

I make this point because I think it’s irresponsible of us to forget that we, as a world, are in a constant struggle to truly see the connections that exist between all of us. The election of Barack Obama last night didn’t show the world that we live in a post-racial society. What was on display last night was the collective power of dreams and hope. What people saw was that if you love deeply enough, fight hard enough, and persevere for long enough that ANYTHING is possible. Last night the entire world got to see that we – as human beings – do nothing of ourselves. Everything that we do is enabled through the power of the millions who came before us and those who currently live with us.

For the first time in my life last night I went to bed at peace. When I woke up this morning the sun was shining and I saw – for only a moment – a vision for the way that our world should be. Today was for celebration and tomorrow we the hard work begins.

VOTE!!! It doesn’t matter who you vote for just go out to the polls and vote. Take a lawn chair, some magazines, a six pack of beer, a bottle of wine, a picnic basket, or whatever will make you happy. Get motivated by watching the video below! Also, if you don’t know where to vote go to www.maps.google.com/vote

Below is a guest post by a friend of mine named Ryan Alban. Ryan is currently a student at Webster University in St. Louis where he is the President of the College Republicans and involved with the One Campaign:

…The 2008 Presidential Election is less than 48 hours away and some of the same subjects are being discussed as have been in every previous election. One of those is “will the youth vote turn out?” Watch the video below and then read the questions posed and my response to them.

When did you first register to vote?

How old were you when you first (actually) voted?

Do you vote in every election or only during the presidential elections (every 4 years)?

What led you to vote for the first time? Why?

Is it a foregone conclusion that those youth who DO vote, will vote for Obama?

I registered to vote on the morning of my 18th birthday. My intermediate driver’s license expired, as I had received it 2 years earlier, and I had to head to the DMV to renew it and receive my full DL. When I got through the line, the clerk asked me if I would like to register to vote. With pride and without blinking, I answered yes. Of course…who wouldn’t want to register to vote? Not to mention, they already had my information and all I had to do was sign on the dotted line. The rest was taken care of for me.

Everyone says that your 16th, 18th, and 21st birthdays are the most important. When you turn 16, you can get your driver’s license. 18, buy cigarettes and pornography. 21, the last big blow out, you can head to the local bar and buy yourself a drink. These rites of passage have become ingrained in daily life. For me, 18 did not mean lung cancer or a hearty laugh with a good porno. My eighteenth birthday meant that I could proudly sign up for selective service and register to vote. I have voted in every election ever since. This year will be my FIRST presidential election, and I will head to the local precinct and wait in line all day if I have to. My voice will be heard. Who wouldn’t want theirs to be?

Year after year, the youth get riled up and active whether it is in a social movement or behind a candidate. Yet election after election, our numbers are dismal. As a young voter, I am appalled at our lack of participation. I urge you to share your story, and I urge you to vote on Tuesday.

Please share your responses.

Special Contribution:

Ryan, Age 20, St. Louis, Missouri

Watch the FULL Obama Infomercial here. Please leave a comment to answer the question:

What, if anything, about the ad connected or resonated with you?