Shun Foolish Controversies
"Oh Timothy, guard that which has been entrusted to you. Shun foolish controversies and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge", for by professing it you have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you" 1 Timothy 6:21
It is time to preach to the choir, or actually preach over the choir, in the hopes that they hear my words over their own singing. The message will fall on a lot of deaf ears, but perhaps enough will hear to make a difference come 2012.
Since he emerged on the national stage, Barack Obama has been immersed in swirling controversies. These controversies surround his origins, his birthplace, his religion, his citizenship, his loyalties, his motives and his intentions. It has been speculated that he both is completely ignorant of the problems devouring the country, and at the same time he is systematically trying to destroy it. These are the foolish controversies that we need to shun.
Seriously it has to stop - all of it. It has to stop because 85% of the American people don't care. They really don't. They are too busy trying to survive the economy, keep their jobs, and hold onto their houses. They get their news as background noise as they race from calamity to calamity. A majority of people don't think that the country is on the right track at this point, but it's because people don't think Obama is doing a good job - not because he is a closet Muslim or born in Kenya or a sock puppet for George Soros.
I am among the people who disagree with the direction that President Obama is taking the country. I want him replaced in 2012. I want him replaced by a principled person with the capability to lead America and to persuade people of the soundness of his positions and proposals, not just ram them through Congress. I want him to respect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to govern by following it, not treating it as an antique inconvenience.
I am equally sure that all of the birthers, and those who hold suspicions on that laundry list of questions about Obama share my goal. That is why it has to stop. The goal of a one-term Obama Presidency does not come about with any of those arguments. It doesn't matter if you have suspicions, or if you are lucky enough to have proof. It doesn't even matter if you are right. Chasing shadows is not a productive use of time, unless your name is Andrew Breitbart, and Obama is stupid enough to post some crotch shots on Twitter. He's not.
Obama got elected largely because with the country in crisis, Obama was a less scary prospect than McCain. Come on - you remember it. Obama speaking in reasoned calm tones while McCain jerked around like a runaway train. The American people don't like erratic behavior in their leaders. They like calm, self-assured and confident - competent and in control of self and situation.
In many ways, a candidate is judged by the followers he keeps. The best recent example was Trumpmania for a few weeks in pursuit of "the birth certificate". There was not a single issue of substance discussed for 2 weeks - just a bad haircut on a treasure hunt for a piece of paper that was instantly dismissed as a forgery.
A forgery? Barack Obama is the President of the United States (whether you accept it or not). He has at his disposal the talents of the CIA, FBI and master forgers throughout the federal prison system. Do you really think that he would produce a piece of paper (or a photo of a piece of paper) of such poor quality that the first claims to forgery hit Facebook within minutes of it's release? Especially with Soros funding the job?
Trump is a sideshow, not a candidate, and he somehow made a pile of cash out of those two weeks. He has made the birthers look twice the fool, first by getting the birth certificate, and second by hinting maybe he believed it might be forged as well. Wink, wink. Nod, nod. Now, that 85% of Americans we mentioned earlier had an entertaining fight to watch play out WWF style. They have moved on, accepting the birth certificate, and thinking that the birthers still howling about it are nuts. It might not be pleasant to hear, but it's true.
It goes the same for every other controversy surrounding Obama. Going at him for any of them is a losing proposition, and hanging on like a bulldog works against the cause more than for it. If the goal is to limit Obama to one term is going to be accomplished, we have to get onto the real meat of the decision that will be made in 2012.
The real meat is the quality of life issues facing real American families every day. Unseating Obama means meeting the American family on it's terms and demonstrating how the GOP candidate will be better equipped to handle their concerns. Fixing the economy, addressing the debt, gas prices, all prices. Healthcare. Maybe scaling back the 4 wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya) we are spending all of that blood and treasure on. Getting back a better future for our kids. That is how we MUST come at this.
I guarantee you that if Obama had success at these things, he could be any of the worst things that you suspect, or all of them, and he would be re-elected with a majority that would cause Ronald Reagan envy. Obama's problem is not the foolish controversies, it is that the policies that he is pursuing do not allow him to succeed in these areas. That is where the argument to replace him can be made with conviction.
Common Sense Dictates
The Tea Party started out with people showing up in rallies in costumes and with placards to get attention. The movement has grown beyond that now. A sizable beach head has been established in the House and in the Senate, and we expect it to grow in 2012.
We make no apology for believing that conservative values appeal to hard-working American families.The decisions we all make around our kitchen tables reflect that conservatism is an American trait - live within a budget, have a plan for the future, don't do stupid things for the wrong reasons, be responsible. It is who we are as a people. We have compassion for those in dire straits, but the vast majority of us would rather be working towards a better life and contributing to American society than sitting at home on the public dole. That is the essence of conservatism.
The time has come to put away the costumes and the placards, and the foolish controversies. The time has come to meet the 85% of the people who get snippets of the news and are just trying to get by in a scary world. The time has come to offer positive ideas that the bulk of America can relate to in their own lives - to exhibit the common sense we preach. When we reach out to those Americans, I believe that the ideas that we present will me met enthusiastically as they were in 2010. It will then be a moot point if anyone thinks Obama is really a Kenyan. He who has ears, let him hear. Can I have an amen?
RLB
Categories: Presidential Campaign 2012, political leadership, Partisan Politics
Tags: 2012 Elections partisan politics political leadership Presidential Campaign 2012
Amen!
Reply to this
Preach it brother! We don't need the tin foil hats!
Reply to this
It would help you guys to leave the nutjobs in the dust.
Reply to this
I think Donald Trump did the Republicans a favor by getting the birther issue out of the way in 2011 to allow the focus to be on the key issues in 2012.
Reply to this
This is a good subject…. Reaching out to the 85 percent who are needing this country moving in a new direction, one of conservative thinking. I include the huge minority population that is ever increasing in California and throughout the country. Most of these people, if you scratch the surface, are working people and want a better life, not a welfare life. Conservatives/Republicans/Tea Party folks…. HAVE TO REACH THEM…
Reply to this
The birther thing is a legit concern. If he wasn't born he he doesn't get to be President, and every law he has signed is null and void. It looks like he's won for now, but we are going to keep looking. We demand total respect for the Constitution.
Reply to this
CONGRATS! on both defending Obama and quoting the bible in the same article!
Reply to this
Mike, I seriously love you!
Reply to this
Madhatr, I'm usually with you, but come on. That battle has been fought and lost. We need to take off the tin foil hat and start engaging all of those voters out there who are looking for a way to fix America that actually works. That's the way to go.
Reply to this
Yeah, it would be good to cut the conspiracy theory guys loose. They just make the rest of us look silly
Reply to this
We must focus on the REAL issues: ECONOMY, JOBS, AND UNLIMITED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Reply to this
AMEN!! this is one of the best pieces I have ever read calling for conservatives to focus on the real prize: A one term presidency for Obama. Whether you align youself with the GOP or the Tea Party movement, we, as conservatives MUST come ...together and rise above the static and noise, and set our sites on the clear blue horizon. One that has President Obama exiting the White House FOREVER in Jan. 2013. Conservatives MUST come together in the coming months, or we will face another 4 years of Barrak Obama. THAT is the situation as it stands. A house divided CANNOT stand
Reply to this
I'm gladto see the voices of reason starting to sprout up. I don't mean voices of compromise on conservative principles. I mean the voices trying to focus on issues. We shouldn't be running out electoral process like America's Funniest Videos or Punk'd. It's been nothing but screw ups on video or chasing conspiracy theories. Let's stick with what we have. Obama isn't evil - he's incompetent. Let's point out how, what we would do differently, and why it's a better answer. That message should sell itself.
Reply to this
Everyone sounds so sure that if you guys get rid of the looney tunes, America is just going to come running to your side. There is a big chunk of people who disagree with your whole ideology. Whether you "constitution" peole want to admit it or not, your side is owned in full by big business interests and the money guys. Some of us want to make sure that regular people are taken care of as well.
Reply to this
Carol - it's true that there is a good chunk of people who just disagree with conservatism. Mostly it is people who are ignorant (which means unaware, not stupid) of what conservatism is about - which is empowering people to take care of themselves. We care about those people who absolutely cannot help themselves. We want to help them out, we just prefer to do that without involving the federal government, or government in general. We also want to make sure that those who CAN care for themselves do. Providing what is essentially charity to someone who really doesn't need it,deprives someone who does need it. It's a long philosophical discussion that can go on for years. I believe, and as far as I can tell, the author believes that most Americans agree with these basic ideas. that is what we base our optimism on. We're not going to convert die-hard libs to conservatsm. The die-hard libs are reminding America why conservatism is a better solution. We need to be saying so as well.
Reply to this
To tell the truth, there are some of the conspiracies that I'm not sure aren't true, but like you say - with the toolshe has available, no one will ever prove anything. My big issue is no matter if he's doing it deliberately or because he's clueless, his policies are destroying the country. He needs to go. If we can make a better argument on the issues, that will help to make that happen.
Reply to this
Looks like Gingrich is toast after the walkout. At least it's the bad candidates dropping out of the race. It leaves more room for the serious ones to get the message out. And the message really needs to get out - real issues, real solutions. I'm going nuts - Hannity is lovefesting all over Palin again. It would be nice for him to latch onto an actual issue now and again.
Reply to this
I have appreciated your last few posts for being even handed. It was like a call to be better no matter what we believe. This one just looks like a strategy piece to hide all of the warts on your side. Quiet down the kooks driving the momentum behind the Tea Party, and then putting the Tea Party as the next best hope is trying to have it borh ways. Do you want the best, or do you want the GOP?
Reply to this
Show of hands please for those who think Obama can be beat ay the polls. Before you raise your hand you must realize that any GOP candidate will have to beat the power and money of: The Trilateral Commission, The Bilderburg Group, The Illuminati, The Muslim Brotherhood, George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, The Rockefellers, Islam. Many Muslim Nations The United Nations all loaded with powerful people and hundreds of billions of dollars. Oh, did I mention that Illegal aliens are pouring into America by the tens of thousands all compliments of Obama. Where do you think their voting loyalities lie? Acorn will see to it that they vote for Obama like they did in 2008. How on earth could a totally unknown like Obama get elected and then WIN in the first place? POWER and MONEY is how and these powers from around the world want Obama to win again and again. No Folks the only way to beat Obama is NOT at the polls cause that is impossible!!!! But rather by the courts and since They too are in Obama's back pocket a revolt and demand of impeachment BY THE PEOPLE not by congress because they all know he is a fraud and they are as guilty as he is.
Reply to this
Well, you can't save everyone. Billy, I'm sorry that you look at the world in such a manner, with the whole deck stacked against the individual citizen. It must be lonely in your bunker looking out for the men in black. As for the rest of the GOP, or conservatives, Billy is going to be the guy the media finds every time. Just expect it. He's a better sound bite than policies and facts.
Reply to this
Excellent piece! I'm glad to see the candidates go that way for the debate last night. Even Ron Paul sounded mostly reasonable. It's hard to win an election when you scare the voters.
Reply to this
Yeah, they all came across really well, even when king tried to trip them up. Really liked Michelle's abortion answer, and on gay marriage. She's more serious than i thought.
Reply to this
We need a candidate that is willing to be conservative 100% of the time. To say it how it is. To point out every failed policy of the current administration and the one doing the decision making. It is imperative that they take the approach...
Reply to this