Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Barack Obama's Brilliant and Brave Faith Based Initiative

While General Wesley Clark continued his ego driven effort to suck all the air out of the media these last two days, Barack Obama tired in vein to stay on message. Obama's effort to introduce himself to the American public was generally snuffed out by Clark's endless parade from CNN to MSNBC to FOX attempting to explain or tone down or justify his Sunday remarks on Face the Nation. If you simply can't get enough of this controversy, here is a really great analysis from The New York Observer.

It's really a shame that Clark dominated the news cycle because Barack Obama made one of the best and most brilliant initiatives of his young campaign and it received almost no press coverage.

In what I think is a stunningly brilliant move, Obama announced that he intends to continue and to expand
President Bush's Faith Based Initiative. Obama wants to enlarge the controversial program that steers government money to religious groups to aid in providing social services, especially to lower income groups.

Working with a former Bush administration director of Faith Based Programs, David Kuo, Obama has designed a program that enhances the original program and should delight Evangelicals. Kuo has been critical of President Bush for failing to expand and more fully fund the program.

Evangelical Christians have been slow to warm to Republican John McCain. This initiative should peel off McCain supporters and bring them to Obama.

This program also has had the very strong support of the black community, rare for a Republican initiative. Obama said he has long be a supporter of such programs.

In addition, by embracing the Faith Based Initiative, Obama proves his campaign pledge to work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner.

In summary, this is a triple win for Obama, gaining support from Christian conservatives, further cementing his support in the black community and winning the respect of independents who are looking for an end to Washington gridlock.

Bravo, Senator Obama!

2 comments:

Vigilante said...

Wiz, here's an article which may be of interest to your ironic tastes:

from the WSJ: American Politics Aren't 'Post-Racial'

Bob Keller said...

vigilante, Thanks for the link. The events at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) were simply stunnng.

With idiots like these administrators in charge our freedoms are very much at risk.

Now you certainly know why I'm a proud member of the ACLU.