Painting Obama Black

Dividing And Conquering America With Fear

by Roland Kriewaldt

It would look hypocritical for John McCain to denounce Barack Obama as an elitist given that McCain is a wealthy Republican Senator, so he's sending folksy homesteader Sarah Palin to do it for him. Yet when I hear that caustic and divisive right wing banter of hers, it demonstrates to me where the true elitist mindset resides. Shamelessly mocking those of opposing views with words such as "Liberal" or "Democrat", Sarah Palin proves that there is little room for "change" in the kind of world that she and John McCain want to create.

The fact is that Barack Obama has a powerful intellect and charisma. One of few politicians who can sleep at night knowing that he voted his conscience, Obama is also not under investigation for abuses of power, as is the case with Sarah Palin in Alaska, and as there should be with the Bush administration. Barack Obama's magnetic appeal is so strong that John McCain can't compete against it on his own merits, especially with a 90% pro-Bush voting record. His only choice is to steal the election, as Bush did in 2000, by creating diversions, distractions and distrust in the minds of Americans. I'm writing this article to make sure voters aren't manipulated into voting for the wrong man, again.

I'm using the anecdote below in an attempt to break down barriers for those who deep down, really don't want to vote for John McCain but are afraid to vote for Barack Obama.

Doc Watkins, Elitist.

If you're living in one of the Republican strong hold "red states" like Wyoming, Nebraska, Oklahoma, then you're probably nearer to horses and farmland than most New Yorkers. Now let's say that your daughter (we'll call her "Laura") fell off her horse this morning and broke her leg. She comes hobbling into the front door, crying for help. What do you do? Yes, of course, you call up Doc Watkins, the man who helped deliver Laura 12 years ago.

You load your injured child into the car and when you get to Doc Watkins's office you feel an immediate sense of relief because here is someone who is smart and trustworthy. You've been to his office many times but always fail to notice that he has rows of big books with fancy titles like The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics. And in the waiting room there are certificates written in a foreign language with fancy scripted signatures and sentences you have no idea what they mean. You do know that Doc Watkins is "well to do" and well known in your community. But you know him most of all as an old and trusted friend.

Doc Watkins comes out wearing a white costume that lets you know right away that he is not a farmer or a mechanic. He is a medical professional. He smiles in recognition and shows immediate concern for your daughter. Within a short time, you are leaving his office with your daughter, now in a cast but smiling because Doc Watkins was able to help her. The story has a happy ending.

It never enters your mind that Doc Watkins might be considered an elitist by people who don't know him. He's got a big horse farm where he breeds pure breds and if you wanted to you might consider the people looking after those horses as paid servants. Doc Watkins is considered "rich" in your neck of the woods and has the advantage of years of University education that have made him very smart and prepared for all kinds of medical catastrophies.

Any heartland American with a little first aid know-how can put a cast on a broken leg. But what if your child comes down with Leukemia? That's when you need someone in charge who has spent a lot of time studying things that most Americans generally don't pay much attention to until their life depends upon someone who does.

Barack Obama is like the "Doc Watkins" of this story. Go to him. Don't be afraid. Allow him to heal America. Don't let your country keep hobbling around on that broken leg.

These are the times when you must put your faith in someone you don't know. Sure, it not easy to see yourself in people who don't share your skin color, your background, your taste in food, or your political views. It's probably the same way that black children feel when they're forced to play with white dolls. Yet underneath our skins, we are all one family, and we know that even within our own families there are those who we can trust, and those we can't. So summon your courage and be a true maverick by voting for Barack Obama.

The cancer of fear and distrust overtaking America is the work of corporate looters who called themselves "patriots" and "true Americans" as they set out to destroy your country and its constitution in broad daylight, right before your eyes. How much would you change if you could turn back time? Luckily, there's still a future.

I'm not making this up for the sake of drama - the damage has been done. We all know someone who is hard working and responsible but who still lost their job or home because big business is more interested in exploiting workers in poorer countries. And yet, many of these companies continue to profit from government tax incentives.

You also have verifiable proof of what George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and many career Republicans have done to your country, your county and your town - all in the name of self interest. Do you know a dead soldier? Or someone who couldn't get proper medical treatment? Or lost their house? Don't let words like "elititist" stop you from doing what is right in your heart and in your gut during this very important presidential race. Don't let John McCain and his shadowy advertisers play with your mind. Remember, vote with your eyes open. Vote with your mind free of fear. Vote with your highest ideals in mind. Vote with courage and hope.

Ironically, elitism is usually associated with "aristocrats" - people of excessive wealth, just like John McCain and his wife, Cindy, or better still, the current monarchs of America, the Bush family. Elitists may feel privileged and see others as lesser in importance. We saw such arrogance in George W. Bush when he turned his nose up at the United Nations and took it upon himself to invade and occupy Iraq. Well, he didn't do it himself. He used your kids for that.

Fast forward, United States, 2008. Those brave enough to admit it know he mistakenly created a new frontier from which terrorists can strike at Americans and other democracies around the world. John McCain voted for the Iraq war, which makes him a good follower, but not a leader, and certainly not a maverick.

If you want a true Maverick in office, vote for Barack Obama because he had the guts to vote against a majority of his peers and was proven right. He is a true leader. Now let us give him the power to lead us out of this mess.