Not Drinking the Kool-aid: On why I still don't like Obama

By Cantice

Don’t send me your hate mail. I’m just doing like I always do, speaking my mind. I’m usually a pretty good judge of character and it bothers me as much (well almost) as it bothers you that there is still something about our President-elect that does not pass my like-o-meter. The question becomes how do I overcome this.

I have read up on Mrs. Obama. I figured that finding out more would help win me over—that didn’t work. While I was impressed with the soon to be First Lady’s work ethic, she too seems to say and do just enough to make her suspicious in my eyes.

I think that’s what it is. You know how people don’t say what they’re really thinking because if they did it would blow their cover and the people who like them would turn on them on a dime? That’s what I think is going on with the Obamas. They feign just enough discontent for it to resonate with other Americans who are agitated. So most Americans think that the Obamas are agitated about the same things that make them mad, but I think they’re wrong. Why would the Obamas be agitated about things that agitate mainstream American people? Michele Obama’s salary was over $270K and Barack’s was over $150K before they became the first family (as president Barack will make $400K –and Michele can finally stay at home). They both went to Ivy League schools, so what does a couple with that bio have to be agitated about?

I guess it’s just a little strange to think that something is broken with a country that provides those types of opportunities to a little “mutt” boy from Hawaii and the daughter of a city water plant employee and secretary. And I think it’s a little arrogant for Obama to think he should be anywhere other than in a cave, a church, or his closet pleading with God for a miracle, because that is what it will take for a man with his limited experience to make enough of the right decisions to keep this country strong and committed to the philosophies of hard work, charity, reverence for God and bible, and equal opportunity that got us to this point--no we haven't always experienced equality, but as a country we have been committed to the idea.

So I’ll start overcoming my skepticism, my downright distrust for the Obamas, if you’ll overcome the idea that America is unfair, uncharitable, racist and needs to abandon its Christian roots. For my part, I’m already praying earnestly for their protection, their cohesion as a family unit and most of all I’m praying for Barack Obama to receive a visitation by the Holy Spirit so that the Obama who exits the White House will be totally unrecognizable compared to the one who went in. What will you do to meet your end of this challenge?

By Wanda

Cantice there is no remedy for your inability to “overcome this.” You and your fellow padres refuse to get pass your suspicions because you’ve drunk too much of the Republican Party’s Kool-Aid. Dear Reader, Cantice, among other delusional African American Republicans, which at this point in history sounds like an oxymoron, have been brainwashed with Republican propaganda that promotes fear and ignorance about Barack Obama. She believes in her heart that he is not “likeable” or trustworthy. Sounds like the Right leaning media has heavily infiltrated her ability to see the truth. I would think that these individuals (namely African American Republicans) would be smarter than that and could see through the racism and xenophobia of many Republican leaders. Cantice speaks against Obama as if he does not have her best interest at heart, although she looks like his daughters, his wife and all those residents on the South Side of Chicago. But Cantice really believes that he does not care about ALL Americans and especially those who have and continue to struggle to achieve the dream. I am not saying that just because you’re Black that you have Blacks’ interest at heart i.e. Supreme Justice Clarence Thomas, but I do believe that Obama does.

Many of our conservative leaning Americans purport that this country is fair to all, charitable to all, colorblind, and was founded on Christian values. Clearly white men who have benefited from this country’s history promote this propaganda. Our forefathers (drafters of the Constitution) were not Christians but Deists, as such, and the values? Clearly the values of the first few hundred years and arguably even today were greed, violence, and more greed. However, American ideals show us what we can become as a unified country. But what has “gotten us to this point” are Americans who really believed in the ideals presented in the Constitution that “all men are created equal and have certain inalienable rights” and have spoken against slavery, segregation, sexism sometimes at the expense of ridicule, excommunication or loss of political office.(McCain would not be numbered in this group considering he voted down MLK commemoration in the state of Arizona. Which he now sees as a mistake… oh really Senator?)

As far as the Obama’s success, he nor Michelle should have to apologize for picking themselves up by their own bootstraps, excelling in school, matriculating through this country’s best higher educational institutions- all on student loans…unlike the McCain’s who both come from wealth; John McCain’s dating back to his ancestors owning slaves and Cindy’s from her family's booze company. The Obama’s come from meager beginnings and worked really hard to get where they are… of course they are agitated! Many of their friends and family members are continuing down that track to reach the American dream. How many of us have done better than those in our family or community, whether it’s in education or financial success but still feel the burden for those who are still working towards the American dream?

Cantice states that Barack Obama is arrogant and needs to plead for a miracle from God because of his limited experience. Well, if her glowing President, George W. Bush wouldn’t have sat by and allowed his Congress to ignore all the signs of a failing economy, or bullied and pissed off most of our foreign allies then maybe Obama wouldn’t need so much experience. In summing up, I actually do agree with Cantice that we should pray that the Holy Spirit will descend on Obama and the White House but I am also going to pray that the Holy Spirit descend down on Republicans and give them the strength to honor our new Commander in Chief, POTUS, Barack Hussein Obama. May God Bless America!!!!

Small Town vs. Your Town

By Cantice

Like many other Independent conservative voters, I’ve been energized by John McCain’s pick for a running mate. On the day she was announced, I went home and searched the internet for every bit of information I could find on her. I wanted to discover her bad points before I had them blasted before me with added commentary by national media outlets. But, surprisingly, as I continued to read about her I was more impressed.

You can imagine my excitement when I heard that she is a pro-life activist. Many cite the governor’s willingness to give birth to a child with Down Syndrome as evidence of her pro-life stance. But even if her fifth son, Trig, had been born without the chromosome that causes Down Syndrome her pro-life position would have been apparent. Any contemporary woman that raises four or more children is likely a pro-life activist because it takes an intentional stance against an abortifacient culture just to pull it off. As a mother of five, she is subject to the ridicule of any person who is less than agreeable to the maxim that children are a blessing from the Lord; happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. But that attitude is rare today. Today the popular public health phenomenon overpopulation is producing a culture of women and men who believe it is environmentally irresponsible to procreate.

But these altruistic characteristics in Palin still do not endear her to most women. The question who is unexcited is answered as I recall my own pessimism about the possibility of Hillary Rodham Clinton becoming President. I liken the differences between Clinton and Palin to the differences between conservatism and progressivism, or altruism and opportunism. Palin’s road to public office began as a woman set out to make a life with a man as his wife. Palin’s is a story of an at-home mom who got stirred up over corruption in the community. Her remedy to the problem took the form of a run for city councilwoman, then mayor, then governor. Her gift made room for her as evidenced by John McCain’s selecting her as his running mate; she didn’t set out to buck the system or showcase the gift.

Clinton’s attempt to reach the White House is altogether different. She was groomed by her at home mom from childhood to seize the new opportunities becoming available to women who were turning 18 in 1965. Clinton decided to seize these opportunities at the delay, exception, or expense of marriage and familial development. Hillary Clinton lived with Bill and bought a home with him before they married. In fact, she repeatedly refused Bill Clinton’s marriage proposal. As the story goes, her initial decision to not to change her last name to Clinton was influenced by her wanting to keep their careers and accomplishment separate. Add to this her radical ideas suggesting that children from birth be treated as autonomous citizens, independent from parental jurisdiction, and you have the evidence of her disinterest for upholding all manner of traditional dependent family concepts.

As I watch the presidential campaign unfold, I am becoming more aware of the rift in ideals that exists in America. As one commentator put it, we have returned to the culture wars, pitting small town traditionalist against big city liberal. But in a postmodern society, things are not that simple. In this election we have a union-friendly Catholic believer and a churchgoing-Marxist-leaning-married-black-father of two against a Native Inuit (by marriage)-gun toting-God-invoking-beauty queen and an immigrant-friendly-fiscally conservative-POW-father of seven. One could speculate that any way you call this battle, culture wins. But is that also true of family? I’d say it depends on the kind. If it is relatively small and manageable, “planned,” then the answer is a resounding yes. But if it gets big, messy, evangelical and unpredictable one can’t be so sure.

Guest Response by Anonymous

In her commentary "Small Town Versus Your Town," Cantice argues that culture wins depending on where one comes from, as evidenced through the title. For instance, she opines that Gov. Palin, the Republican VP nominee, decision to have a fifth child proves her stance on prolife. While I agree that having a child with Downs is commendable, as well as difficult, I do not agree that it validates her claim and avid support of the prolife movement. Gov. Palin made a conscious decision to go through this pregnancy. This begs the question: had Sarah been prochoice, would she have decided not the have the child? Further, with the leaps and bounds made in genetic counceling and other medical advancements, it would be silly to postulate that her mere action of giving birth gives grounds to support a prolife stance. Instead, one would argue it was a political move buttressed by her extremist and orthodoxed religious views.

In addition, Cantice's claim that in today's culture child birth is seen as "environmentally wrong," is actually fallacious. In fact, the same arguement could be made if overpopulation wasn't an issue. The truth is that as people evolve and progress along with societal advancements, so do mindsets. If we rested on the ideas of "yesterday" we might quickly find ourselves behind on a myriad of issues like combating global warming and nuclear proliferation. Simply put, this claim is a misrepresentation of the grounds on which individuals decide to not procreate. Moreover, while Cantice claims Senator Clinton seized opportunities to promote her political agenda, it is more valid to point out that Senator Clinton, like any woman living during the 1960s and 70s, found optimism with change and progression rather than resting and depending on others for a hand-out. The comment that Clinton didn't initially change her name, denied Bill's marriage proposal countless times and even brought a house with him before being married, really hurt the writer's arguement. What woman would not want to take a chance at breaking the glass ceiling that has been dominated by white men for so long? Even Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain applauded the work of Senator Clinton. In her first VP speech, Gov. Palin thanked Clinton by for making "18 million cracks in the ceiling" which Palin hopes will break with her nomination.

This election's contest is not a question of traditional vs. progressive, but a question of the manifestation of years of long, hard, and dedicated work. Furthermore, Cantice's argument is riddled with relativistic rhetoric. Yes, Palin is a mother, councilwoman, mayor and Governor. However, does that negate the work of countless other women like Senator Clinton and her road to political accomplishment? I think not. In fact, Gov. Palin would not even be an issue had Sen. Clinton won the Democratic nomination or even been Barack Obama's VP pick.

Where the Heart Is

Poem by Cantice
The following is a poem written by Cantice over 10 years ago. We thought it might be a suitable entry for a day that is often symbolic of love and or passion for people around the globe. This poem was written for a woman who had not yet exercised her ability to end the series of meaningless romantic (sexual) encounters that came her way.




How Do I Tell You?

The greatest thing you did
Was hug me goodnight.
You didn’t kiss me with
Your lips or your tongue.
You didn’t rub my body
To arouse me and
You didn’t try to
Squeeze until you
Entered through my
Pants.
You didn’t try
To walk me up
The stairs to
My empty bedroom.
You didn’t
Whisper sex
Games in my
Ear. You watched
My begging
Eyes, my
Wanting lips,
You felt my
Desperate respiration and
You stepped back
From my pulsing
Heartbeat and
Toasty thighs, my
Longing neck,
And my pouting
Breasts.
I had put it on the
Table like hot Thanksgiving
Dinner
And despite your
Hunger
You didn’t eat a lick.

We welcome your reactions or responses.
Happy Valentines Day!

This poem and other monologues about relationships will be featured in a production called The Art of Losing which will be performed Friday Feb. 15 at 7pm at Spelman College by a drama team compiled by Verge, the organization Cantice directs. This set of monologues has also been presented by Verge under the title The Hymen Maneuver.

For the Love of God and Money

Commentary by Cantice

My mom called me the other day and asked me who I was voting for. I told her I had already voted for Huckabee. She said, you know who I’m voting for. I said rightly, Obama. We tried to talk about other things, my pregnancy, other family related issues, but we ended up at politics again. My mom insisted that Republicans misrepresent entitlements, claiming that Aid to Dependent Children saps the taxes, when it is actually big business subsidies that increase government spending (and subsequently increase taxes. From what I know, Aid to Dependent Children's Budget is decreasing and being replaced by increased funding for Medicaid through taxes. To her point about big business, I asked, rhetorically, What happens when businesses do well? They create more jobs. More jobs for who? For you and me. She didn't really let up, and I didn't expect her to, and we tried to move on.

I just made the following comment to a girlfriend. Democrats can not talk out of both sides of their faces. How can you end poverty without creating favorable conditions for business owners and high income individuals(who create jobs)? You can’t. What are favorable conditions? Lower taxes and/or a completely revamped tax code.

I heard Neal Boortz ask why Romney didn’t do better yesterday on Super Tuesday. A woman responded that her kids had asked their peers who they’d vote for. The peers said they didn’t know, but not Romney because he’s a Mormon. I’m afraid that his Mormon belief probably has made him a less viable candidate for some voters. I don’t know if I contributed to that with my own blog comment about Romney and the LDS (Latter Day Saints) organization. I was beginning to feel like I shouldn’t have brought it up a week ago. Then I spent last night reading about Mormonism again at lds.org. And I reaffirmed myself. There is just something arrogant about a pseudo-Christian group who believes that their denomination is the only correct one about Jesus and the Gospel. They believe that the Gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and recorded in The Book of Mormon. You mean to tell me that all of Christianity was wrong from the third century AD until then? And now the LDS church is the only one to whom priestly authority has been restored? I just can’t go for that. And anyone who does, well, I think is a little arrogant, or at least grosely misinformed. So, I, like the kids' friends, just feel a little uneasy about Romney. He is undoubtedly an economic powerhouse. He knows how to turn a failing budget, economy, and/or business into a thriving one, there is no doubt about it. But I think his appeal ends there. So, while I realize that this country is in need of an economic mind such as Romney's, I still want more out of a president than a thriving national economic portfolio.

I’m Racist and Sexist and So Are You!

Commentary by Wanda

I was always taught not to worry about the opinions of white people because at the end of the day you will always be a … well you know the pejorative term. I have also been told by many women and even some men , that women "get the job done." I am in many ways guilty of holding on to these “words of wisdom” …if I can speak honestly. Contrary to my "conventional" wisdom I began to wonder what white male democrats and even white gays were thinking about the current presidential nominees? Many political analysts, barber shop philosophers, fellow students, etc. have tried to debate the importance race or/and gender should play in the upcoming election. Yes, we want a candidate that is qualified but for us not to acknowledge that the way we understand who will do the best job is also influenced by how we see race and/or gender.(Editorial Comment: I am leaning towards Obama but if he wants my vote for certain he needs to begin to deal with more issues of racial/gender disparity and not just healthcare but also the economy, education, prison system, etc.) Now back to my initial quest, I began my research.

I called a friend who happens to be gay for a few credible white gay political sites and he replied “I don’t pay attention to what white [gay] people say” he was eventually able to provide me with one website. After a few other conversations clearly, this sentiment is pervasive among most of my black friends. FYI These were my findings: in the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) Republican community at one time they supported Kucinich but now that he has dropped out, I am assuming they might follow VP Cheney’s daughter’s endorsement of Romney and gay Democrats seem to support Obama and Clinton equally. Just recently in the South Carolina primary as many white male democrats voted for Obama also did for Clinton. I am fully aware there isn’t a unified gay voice or white male democratic voice, just like there isn’t a woman’s voice or black voice (Cantice will clearly prove this in just a few paragraphs).

In conclusion, and I am sure you are ready for this to end, I am fully aware of my race and gender biases unlike many of my fellow Americans who tote around this malarkey propaganda of color-blindness and gender equality… if you can see you aren’t color (race) or gender blind, particularly if you are an American. (I am reminded of the blind character on the Dave Chappelle show who is a leading figure in the KKK even though he is black! Hilarious!) I apologize for digressing …To continue my commentary from a few weeks ago I think that race and gender relations will worsen initially if Clinton or Obama become our next President. But this tension will prove beneficial for this country and maybe then we will stop the “we don’t see race or gender…we only see human beings" nonsense and actually deal with our issues head on!

Make sure you vote in the upcoming Presidential primaries click here for your State info.

Response by Cantice
Wanda and I agree that the racial and gender tension might as well increase in order for real progress, healing, or acknowledgement of preference (prejudice) to take place. As for the next president, my candidate, Huckabee, hasn't been doing well. He is for tax reform and pro-life issues. He is also a governor, the significance of such being that he has had the charge of running a municipality, unlike Senators Clinton, Obama, and McCain. Governor Romney, on the other hand, is Mormon. And since we're letting our prejudices fly, I automatically don't like Mormons, until they are proven normal. Believing that Jesus is the Spirit brother of Lucifer, that men will inherit godlike status in heaven and that it is ok to have dozens of wives, just doesn't sit well with me. Just to play the race card for a second, back in the day (I'm told) Mormons (probably like everyone else) made it a point to claim that black people didn't have souls. No I don't think Romney believes that now, nor do probably the vast majority of Mormons. Romney doesn't even have multiple wives, but he just isn't my idea of the best candidate.

As Wanda alluded to earlier, neither race, nor gender is pulling my vote this election. But I will have you know that my ability to resist these natural allegiances hasn't always been so pronounced. Just yesterday, I read a monologue that I had written about my college days that included the line, "I was hopelessly a black man worshipper then--forever for the progress of the black man in all his endevors." Ah, yes, but that was then. You wanna know what started me on my way to recovery? I'll tell you anyway. It was an incident on the bus before I graduated college. I was riding through southwest Atlanta on my way back to Spelman when an older man entered the bus with two bags full of wares. He settled into a seat in front of me and gave me his sales pitch. I should say that when the man boarded the bus, I thought to myself that he could be one of my uncles and a genuine smile had formed on my face. During this stage of my life I had learned to appreciate street hustling as entrepreneurial prowess that might have served our people more efficiently in a different society. After his sales pitch, I (politely I thought) shook my head no to indicate that I wouldn't like to buy anything. The man's countenance quickly changed to a scowl-like frown. Then he called me a bitch and got up to move away from me. I was so hurt and angry that I nearly cried. From that day on, I never again assumed that same skin color automatically stood for brotherhood.

As for my ability to resist the call to advance all things woman, honey, that is too long a story. I will leave it for phase two of the road to the White House. That is, if Hillary makes it that far--I hope she doesn't.

Being a Life Preserver: A Quick Address of Three Life Issues

Commentary by Cantice

I might be late, but I just heard that the FDA recently approved the “growing” and selling of cloned meat for general consumption. This cloned meat will not have to be labeled as such; it will be sold in our supermarkets next to the uncloned meat. Currently cloning meat is too expensive for ranchers to immediately begin production. So odds are that you won’t need to panic over this unknown as you do your shopping for at least the next five years. Some of you might not be panicking at all, but anticipating the benefits of meat that may be superior (double-packed with protein, super-lean, etc) to the natural kind. Others of you may be wondering what exactly is cloning. That leads me to the next life issue.

Last Thursday I attended a conference entitled Stem Cell Research: Understanding the Controversies. The conference mainly consisted of eight panelists presenting their research on aspects of stem cell experimentation. This research included (1)attitudes of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) treatment couples about donating their frozen embryos to science (the majority prefer this option), (2)current findings of ANT experiments(altered nuclear transfer-removing an embryonic cell’s nucleus, taking out other cellular info, and rendering the cell humanly unviable—they create vegetative state embryos), some consider ANT a morally acceptable means for the procurement of human embryonic stem cells, (3) a social scientists’ statistics tracking the significance of state initiatives for stem cell research (have these initiatives attracted bio-scientists from states with no stem cell funding initiatives), and (4) a theoretical overview of religious conceptions of the beginning of life (40 days vs. 17 days vs. conception) which explain religiously founded opposition to human embryonic stem cell research. Whew, that was a mouthful. Now back to my first point. The ANT researcher from the President’s Council explained that cloning is taking a body cell (say from a cow’s flesh) and blending it with an embryo which is pluripotent (able to form into any kind of cell, organ, etc), zapping/infusing it with electricity (or something) and watching it grow into whatever cell you merged it with (in this case a cow’s flesh). If you have understood my sketchy explanation (biological community, I apologize), or were already familiar with these procedures, then you know that deciding whether it is morally acceptable to use human embryos—even those formed by ANT—is just one of the moral considerations of this cloning.

Now to try and tie all of this together. This week was the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. So us prolife-types were present at the silent march lamenting (silently) the loss of life due to legalized abortion in this country and the negative impact of it on American citizens, women, men, and children alike. While you reading this may never want to identify yourself as part of this prolife movement, I think current events leave you no choice but to “understand the controversies” and decide to act in your own best interests. As human life experiments become more frequent and radical, who do you think could end up a target? The better question might be who won't become a target.

As for practical action for the moderately pro-life, or the weakly pro-choice I suggest you check yourself if you have a tendency to shake your head when you see a pregnant teenager or single woman. I've learned to feel proud of these women, realizing that it takes toughness to go the path of carrying a baby to term knowing that the road ahead will not be easy. If you want to go even further, buy that woman some maternity clothes or the best seller What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Unless your brain has been totally reprogrammed to believe that this type of help somehow hurts women and children, you too can become a life preserver. A once popular songstress made the following refrain famous: I believe the children are our future. I tend to agree.

Response
by Wanda

Whew...that was a lot. Warn me next time you plan on going "scientific" so that I can find a cute medical student on campus to interpret. In defense of all those out there (including myself) who passed science by the skin of their teeth ....huh? I think what your saying is any type of embryonic cell research is unethical...right? I am at a lost for words this week. Because I am constantly confused with the purpose and energy that Pro-lifers put into these types of discussions and the financial support poured into these pro-life organizations. I would have to agree there is something very unnerving about extracting stem cells from aborted embryos or in-vitro eggs. But a recent study just showed that birth rates were up in the US and birth statistics haven't been this high since over 20 years ago. We are even among the top countries with such high birthrates. The other day a study showed that most women getting abortions were married and their reasons being they just couldn't afford, or manage to care for another child (which says a lot about the domestic support that husbands are not providing in their own homes.)

What is even more interesting in these debates over stem cell research and abortion is that men have many times been the leading voices against these "ills." Appropriately so since they are not the ones who serve as the primary childcare provider...isn't that interesting. I am a realist and sometimes even labeled a cynic but I think that you should fight the battles that you can win. Women have aborted babies for thousands of years, overturning Roe vs. Wade is not going to stop it. It will actually drive it underground, thereby leaving many women who choose to abort vulnerable to sham doctors and even death. The biggest killer of humans is not abortions but hypertension, heart disease and car accidents. Let's pull resources together to deal with issues of poverty and healthcare or even quality education. Focusing on trying to stop scientists from creating and exploring is pointless. There is too much potential revenue that can be scored from their science. I wonder how much money the pro-life organizations are pouring into social programs or advocating in DC about equal pay for women, or better education? I believe that every decision we make we have to answer to God for but that also includes how well we use our resources. If we want to maintain the sanctity of life we should also focus on the quality of life-which is also sacred. Cantice, it's nice to see that your challenging us to reach out and help young women facing a difficult time in their lives. Who knows maybe you can lead other pro-lifers to fight for quality of life issues too.

The Obama Dilemma: Do I vote Race or Family Values?

Commentary By Wanda


With the Presidential primaries in full speed, and Barack Obama one of the leading Democratic candidates it seems timely and appropriate to consider the possibility of a black president. Just the other day I was having coffee with a friend and he asked me what I thought about Barack Obama. Although I will have to leave out the extremities of my response I basically told him I was not sure America was ready for a man with mixed racial background to be President nor do I think we're ready for a woman (Not long after our discussion, Ambassador Andrew Young confirmed my view about Obama.) Now as I am writing this commentary I think that I might have been wrong. Clearly, change is never welcomed. If MLK would have waited until the right time we might have never been able to pass legislation against racial discrimination; if Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, or Sojourner Truth would have waited, many of us who have historically been discriminated against would still live in that reality. I am in no way asserting that many are not still the victims of discrimination, but, thanks to the efforts of those named above, in less overt ways. Blacks and women have been programmed to “wait” whether to serve or to prolong action. I am not naïve enough to think that action will inevitably create an instant change. However, inaction has never accomplished much either. I don’t struggle with politics and race very often but I do feel the tension between race and gender. It’s a slippery slope and many times the greater (race) calls on me to place the lesser (gender) on the back burner. It will be curious to see how many of us who have voted conservative now negotiate the tension between race and politics.

Now this leads me to my second point. Voting Family Values. I don’t understand what that really means since values were enforced by my parents and government was to be viewed, according to my parents, as having control over broader, social issues. But nevertheless, many blacks who have voted for “family values” candidates in the past will face -The Obama Dilemma. Many of these same individuals who were shouting from the rooftops about family values have expressed their support of Obama. News alert! Obama is pro-choice, pro-civil unions, pro-stem cell research among other liberal political positions (We shouldn't forget the gospel concert controversy with Donnie McClurkin.)So Black Conservative Christian…how will you vote? Are you Christian first or Black first? (If you want to read an interesting book on this topic read Finding Soul Brothers: Dismantling Black Christian Racialism by Pamela G. Wilson.) Now, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with their decision; they have a right to vote for any candidate of their choosing. But has race trumped your convictions? Or do you see the importance of electing a man who can empathize with the plight of the “other” and wants to see change for himself and future generations.

Finally, it should be interesting to see who our beloved mega-pastors endorse if Obama makes it as the democratic candidate. (Hummm, but many of these pastors will be avoiding the IRS so we may not hear much from them this election season.) Nevertheless, I think that this miry muck will bring to light the tension between politics and race. My voting decision has yet to be finalized and I am in no way stating my full support of Obama, Clinton, or anyone else for that matter. Voting exclusively based on race, gender or family values is equally dangerous but somehow I feel that it will characterize the voting decisions of many this election.

Commentary by Cantice

Well it has been a long time. Wanda didn't let you faithful readers down in her posting of a lengthy, gutsy, rather disclosing commentary about making tough voting decisions. When Wanda mentioned that she was going to write about Obama, he was the furthest thing from my mind. My not thinking about Barack Obama in several months has a different impact today as I try to muster up an appropriate response to Wanda's critical statements. One way to begin to connect with this topic is to tell you what presidential thoughts I have had.

Most of my political thoughts have been at least in part prompted by my husband's faithful attention to media surrounding the presidential race. Most recently, he's (we've) been interested in Huckabee's rise to popularity. Internally, I've struggled with whether I prefer someone like Huckabee or Guiliani. The merits of Huckabee that attract me are his overt Christian worldview, including his position on abortion, and his more realistic ideas about immigration. Conversely, I am attracted to Guiliani's economic outlook including school choice programs. As I've said to my husband, we'll always have pastors to champion our moral beliefs and guide us in doing our part to color our communities with that theistic, Christian outlook. But when I think about our country's economic troubles, which for me do not concern an increase in minimum wage, but focus on the depreciating dollar and an expanding trade deficit and national debt, I wonder if an agenda that places moral or social change at the top of its list is the best for this country. A failed economy will produce equality; we'll all be destitute. Lack of freedom to determine a standard of living by the educational, occupational, and networking choices one makes will be widespread. I don't want that kind of equality. That kind of equality was imposed by communism and caused the despair felt by Russian citizens and many others.

But back to Obama. In short, I don't feel a tug to consider voting in his favor. At least I don't now. I do remember a faint sadness I felt when I first learned of his popularity and decision to run for president. I was saddened that we sit on opposite sides of the political table (it would take me too long to tell why the Republican platform more closely matches my idea of national government, than that of Democrats, Libertarians or The Green Party). The GOP is certainly not my picture of the perfect party, but when I boil it all down, it is the party that supports more of my ideas about what government should do. My hope is that more people from my ancestry (black Americans) would embrace those ideas. I hope that one day I will be able to vote for a black president for no other reason than that I believe that he or she will be the best candidate for the job. In that way I will simultaneously combat my own prejudices while also doing what I believe is best for my country.