"I am absolutely
certain that generations from now, we will be able
to look back and tell our children that this was
the moment when we began
to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the
jobless; this was the moment when the
rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet
began to heal; this was the moment when we
ended a war and secured our nation and restored
our image as the last, best
hope on Earth. This was the moment – this
was the time – when we came together to remake
this great nation."
Promises, promises..........
CHANGE: From a non-commital bystander to an outspoken opponent
of the Iraq war:
July '04,
Barack Obama in terms of how he would have voted on the war:
“I’m not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would
I have done? I don’t know.” (He wasn't in the US Senate yet,
and didn't have a vote.)
“There’s
not much of a difference between my position on Iraq and George
Bush’s position at this stage.” - Barack Obama
His excuse in 2008? "...it probably was the wrong time for
me to be making a strong case against our party’s nominees’
decisions when it came to Iraq." (John Kerry supported the
war)
July '07: We'll be out by March '08
Oct '07: 16 months after election
Jan '08: 11 months after election
Sept '08: 16 months after election
Feb '09: 19 months after election
His latest plan leaves 50,000 troops to "train"
and "advise" the Iraqis. That's more than 1/3 of
the current troops in Iraq. There still is no timeline
for withdrawal.
CHANGE: From
uncompromising liberal to somehow bringing Republicans and
Democrats together?
Obama's
Senate voting record was the 16th most-liberal in 2005, the
10th in 2006, and #1 in 2007, according to
National Journal. He was also ranked #1 by the NAACP, NARAL,
ADA, and CDF. This makes him the most-partisan Democrat in
the Senate.
This is
the man who says he will "reach across the aisle", "bring
America together", and is "past partisan politics."
CHANGE: From Mentor and Pastor to rejected outsider
Obama
called Jeremiah Wright his "mentor" and "spiritual advisor"
of 20 years. When media questions arose about this radical
preacher, Obama said he could not denounce the man.
Wright's quotes from the pulpit:
“G*d d*mn America”
"USA started AIDS virus to kill black men..."
"US KKK of A"
CHANGE: From
a secular upbringing, to joining Trinity
Barack
described his parents as "secular", though the LA Times found
that he was registered as a Muslim at his childhood schools.
His mother was an atheist, and his father was a "non-practicing"
Muslim according to Obama.
At the
age of 30, Barack joined the highly controversial Trinity
United Church of Christ in Chicago.
CHANGE: From
a self-described junkie to a "hope" and "change" candidate.
From
his own book: "I had learned not
to care," he wrote. "I blew a few smoke rings, remembering
those years. Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow
when you could afford it. Not smack, though. ..."
CHANGE: Truth
and integrity, to good old-fashioned political speak:
2004:
"I can unequivocally say I will not be running
for national office in four years, and my entire focus is
making sure that I’m the best possible senator on behalf of
the people of Illinois."
2006:
Tim Russert: "So you will not run for president or vice president
in 2008?"
Obama: "I will
not."
CHANGE:
From some "guy in my neighborhood" to a close work
associate for years, and a political contributor
Bill Ayers
is a domestic terrorist and founding member of the Weather
Underground. His group bombed the Pentagon and killed police
officers.
Obama
has denied any real connections to Ayers for a year, but it's
been recently found that the two worked together for years
on the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and Ayers
hosted a fundraiser for Obama at Ayers' own home.
CHANGE: The
reality of his upbringing changed for his speeches.
Barack's
grandfather's family was politically-connected with the ruling
British government. His father lived on the family-owned farm
as a child, before being sent abroad to attend Ivy League
schools in the U.S.
The truth
was far from the poor goat herder and domestic servant that
Obama had claimed.
CHANGE: Obama
told Americans he was against NAFTA, but told the Canadian
government he wasn't.
Obama's
campaign secretly met with a Canadian government official.
Barack's spokesperson said Obama would denounce NAFTA during
his debates, but in reality he would be supporting it if elected.
Obama
initially denied the story, but his campaign later confirmed
it had made these statements (after it was confirmed by the
Canadian government).
CHANGE: From
supportive voters to bitter religious simpletons
Obama
told a group of millionaire supporters in San Francisco that
small town voters are "bitter" about losing jobs, so they
"cling to guns or religion or antipathy to
people who aren't like them."
CHANGE: More and more
contact with convicted slum lord Tony Rezko, but only after
the press digs it up.
When Obama
launched his bid for the Illinois Senate in 1995, Rezko was
his first substantial contributor. Obama said it was his "best
guesstimate" that Rezko raised $10,000 to $15,000..." The
number turned out to be more like $250,000 total.
Rezko
also helped the Obama family buy a million dollar home.
CHANGE: Publicly
chastising Illinois executives while taking their donations
in private.
"Obama
spoke yet again of 'the Maytag worker who is now competing
with his own teenager for a $7-an-hour job at Wal-Mart because
the factory he gave his life to shut its doors.'" At the same
time, Barack was taking donations from the executive who sent
the jobs out of the U.S.
