Democratic Senator Barack Obama, is back in Austin this Saturday at the backyard. This is pretty appropriate since Obama is treated more like a rock star then a politician here in Austin. When I ask people why they like Obama the answers I get back are usually pretty lame. I for some reason am a bit unsettled about Obama, mostly because he is so ambiguous about his faith. In my heart I have always ideally wanted the president of the United States to be a sort of philosopher king. I want our leader to be more than just an executioner of a set of well planned policies, but someone who embodies the kind of person I can respect and look up to. I want the person I call president to have a strong character and even stronger convictions. So when the question of Obamas religious background comes up his answer bothers me. It makes me doubt his character and question the kind of person he is at the fiber of his integrity. Obama’s camp plays down the fact that he was raised a Muslim and this is something Camp Clinton has picked up on. There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim or even being a Christian Convert, but the down-playing of his religious background makes him seem almost ashamed of it.
This is the rub, and the main reason I don’t really trust the Obama camp. It would be nice to live in a world where men like Obama didn’t have to walk on Political eggshells because of their religious background. The whole country made such a big deal about Kennedy being a Catholic, but Kennedy didn’t shy away from that fact. He was very proud of his religious background and it made him a more respectable person in some people’s eyes. So what if I’m a Catholic was his attitude, he didn’t make excuses for it, and he certainly didn’t convert to Protestantism.
I went on to the Chicago tribune’s website where they have a pretty lengthy article answering any questions one may have about Obama’s religious background in his early life. However its his reasons for converting to Church of Christ that I would like to read about. His spiritual awakening makes me curious about him and it also makes me wonder why he switched over. Its a huge subject but one that get little press. So when he comes to town I hope he takes questions from the audiance. The ticket prices are at least afordable $15 for students. This Austin encore is guaranteed to be a big moral boost for Obama, the last time he was here it may have been the biggest political rally since Regan ran for re-election. For a Democrat to get that much love in Texas, it must feel pretty good.
According to the Houson Cronicle, "He is third among Democratic candidates in fundraising in Texas, with more than $2.1 million collected here. Hillary Clinton has raised more than $3 million in Texas and John Edwards more than $2.4 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks filings with the Federal Election Commission." This is a pretty big chunk of change so I hope he doesn't just make a pit stop. Its always such a bummer when the man of the hour only stays for 30 minutes.
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Obama wasn't raised a Muslim. He went to public schools when he was a child in Indonesia for four years that are run by mostly Muslims only because that is the culture of the country. The School didn't teach Muslim religion or practices. The story of him being raised Muslim was a story fabricated by Fox News and radical Republicans. They also keep "accidentally" pronouncing his name "Osama." After college he took a job with a group of Christian churches in South Chicago as a community organizer for $13,000 a year. South Chicago is as much the hood as the hood can be and Barack chose to take this job while he could have taken jobs with corporate law firms for significant amounts of money. He realized if he was going to be working with Christian churches he might as well start trying church out for himself. He became close friends with many of the church leaders and they continue to be some of his most personal influences. He has spoken at many progressive Christian conventions and such and continues to talk about his faith openly and as a leading influence in his politics. After moving back to the United States he was unchurched and until his conversion following college. Mrs. Clinton is far more secretive about her faith. When she does bring it up she is obviously extremely uncomfortable. She never really gives much reason to believe that her faith is anymore than just another political manuever to help her get elected. The U.S. has never elected a anybody who wasn't "Christian." I would far rather elect someone who is genuine and has strong moral convitions about their faith and political philosophy than someone like Mrs. Clinton who never truely expresses what she stands for, but instead beats around the bush on every question asked her. Mrs. Clintons political motives bring far more to question than Obama who has continually expressed himself honestly and genuinly and has led a life that backs it up.
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