Saddam paid for trips…for, Three Democrats

The lawmakers are not named in the indictment but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington and Mike Thompson of California, and former Rep. David Bonior, a Democrat from Michigan.

Fox News

Quiet Observations

It seems to me that John McCain’s pastor, Dan Yeary, is a good man to be a religious adviser to a man who may very well become the next President of the United States. As this Reuters article states, Yeary seems to hold dear many of the values of the Christian faith. He believes life to be precious, which is why he opposes abortion, and he believes homosexuality to be a biblican sin. However, he also holds the belief that Christians should also love sinners.

This type of religious teaching is rather refreshing in a major news network, after the disgusting and vile beliefs perpetrated by the Westboro Baptist Church, which doesn’t actually appear to have any affiliation with Baptist beliefs at all, and people like Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the religious adviser to Democratic President hopeful Barack Obama.

Reverend Wright and Pastor Yeary seem to differ in their methods of accepting others and the idea of Christian love. Pastor Yeary believes in loving thy brother… despite his skin colour. Reverend Wright believes in loving thy brother… providing he’s your colour and neither of you are white. Considering McCain has been attending sermons at Yeary’s church for 15 years and readily admits he agrees with many of his sermons, one can assume that the message is one McCain will bring to the Presidency. Obama has been attending Wright’s sermons for 20 years, yet now that the controversial sermons have been brought to the attention of the wider black community, as well as all other voters in the United States, Obama’s actions show that he’s embarrassed that people may rightly and correctly assume that he also holds those views.

I ask, if Obama disagreed with the views presented by Reverend Wright, would he have:

• Firstly, denied being present at the sermons;
• Secondly, written an article in which “I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies.” but then state that he would continue to attend the church and that he supported Reverend Wright, his mentor for twenty years;
• Thirdly, claim that he loves white people, because half of his family is white; and lastly
• Claim that it’s okay that the Reverend preached some rather racist sermons, because Obama’s grandmother was racist once too.

I fear the biggest difference between Obama and McCain is how they deal with beliefs others hold that they don’t agree with. Obama seems to have lied and twisted to try to get out of the controversy surrounding Reverend Wright, whereas I think McCain would have the courage to go up to the Pastor after the sermon and challenge his views, if not leave the church, rather than wait for the media to get hold of damaging material.