The Two Faces of Obama

I was listening To President Obama’s speech from Ghana last week (07/10/09), and was troubled with some of the ironic statements leaving his mouth. Since he was nominated, we have heard of his oral prowess, but his Ghana speech left me wondering; does he really read his speeches ahead of time? Could he possibly comprehend his spoken words or is he just another talking head? His speech left me with even more doubt about his intentions for America. If President Obama truly believed what he was selling in Ghana, why are we headed in the opposite direction? I have heard several pundits touting the brilliance and importance of the speech; but it struck me as nothing more than a series of lies, delivered by a man with no sense of integrity at all.

I would like to take a few passages from Barack Obama’s speech and contrast them to what he has championed here in the United States. The whole speech can be found on the website www.america.gov and that is the source of the following quotes. 

This first quote was describing the situations surrounding his father’s experience in Kenya. This was the statement that grabbed my attention.

“… It was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism …and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.”

Tribalism is defined as having a strong loyalty to one's own tribe, party, or group. Patronage is the control of, or power to make, appointments to government jobs or to grant other political favors. And Nepotism is described as the favoritism granted to relatives or close friends, without regard to their merit.

President Obama has shown nothing but disdain for the Bush administration, and has done everything to further his party’s lines. His appointments have been completely out of control and have shifted power away from elected officials to so-called Czars. Most aspects of government oversight will filter through one or more of these Czars, further isolating our voices from the decision making process. AS for merit, we have seen the headlines regarding the questionable behavior of many of the appointees, not that this is unique to this administration by any stretch. But what has happened to the departure from government as usual.

So, if I understand this passage, everything that has happened under this administration is a form of corruption. Why would Barack Obama be so quick to denounce this type of governance in Ghana when it is being practiced right here? 

“As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend …But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of perpetual aid that helps people scrape by -- it's whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.”

So where is the logic behind the massive spending our government has embarked on? If creating government projects laced with unsustainable jobs is counter-intuitive to “building the capacity for transformational change,” why follow this nonsensical path? Our president, if he is truthful, cannot possibly believe this statement. He has to be lying to the people of America or the people of Ghana. President Obama goes on to say the following, later in the speech.

“But what America will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and responsible institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance …which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard.”

I have always been a fan of the saying “Leadership by example,” and I can find no leadership by the examples given in this speech. I am, by no means, a political guru. But if I can find these discrepancies, how can the rest of the world’s leaders do anything other than question President Obama’s integrity? The only saying that fits this situation is “Do as I say, not as I do.”

This next quote caused me to laugh, and then to marvel at the divine hypocrisy so prevalent in our own corrupt government. Apparently there is a significant difference between extortion and forced taxation. Yet, to have it described in this way, I can’t see the difference at all. In fact, for a liberal, Barack Obama makes a pretty good case for lowering taxes.

“No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves.” He continues “No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top …That is not democracy; that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end.”

To add to this astonishing statement of conservatism, he later adds this little tidbit of enlightenment.

“In the 21st century, capable, reliable, and transparent institutions are the key to success …an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people's everyday lives.”

Hard to believe these words were actually spoken by a man who has condemned the press for opposing his views. Even more amazing is his support of the bailout of failing companies, and less-than-transparent companies. The only transparency I see is in his sincerity, or lack thereof. If these two passages from President Obama’s speech don’t send chills down your spine, when you compare them to what is happening here, then you are blinded by complacency.

If the preceding quotes have not convinced you of the hypocrisy of our current leadership, then try swallowing these pearls of wisdom, scattered throughout the oration. The first one references lessons from history; President Obama admits it aloud. He just doesn’t heed it.

“But history offers a clear verdict:  Governments that respect the will of their own people, which govern by consent and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.”

He adds another parable that should be held sacred, as long as it isn’t applied to the current, and future, administration.

“And here is what you must know:  The world will be what you make of it.  You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people.”

And the last message of great hope for the future draws upon the country’s past.

“…freedom is your inheritance.  Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation.”

Those are inspirational words to live by, somewhere. Don’t you think so, President Obama?