Senator Obama, Lies and the Constitution

The last presidential election as interesting as this one, at least in my opinion, took place in 1960 when John F. Kennedy squared off against Richard M. Nixon. The Democratic Convention that year went down to the wire. I remember watching the final vote late into the night, until my parents made me go to bed. Kennedy prevailed in a real squeaker over Lyndon Johnson who salvaged the vice-presidential nomination out of the heated, at times vitriolic contest.

The Democrats have been through a tough primary season and the nominee will be Senator Obama. The interest displayed during the primary has been astounding. The race for the White House between Senator Barack H. Obama and Senator John S. McCain will be historic and more than fun to witness. It is hard for me to imagine what it must be like running for the presidency.

Dirty tricks, incriminating innuendos, and blatant lies await both candidates without a doubt. Senator Obama recently put up a website to answer all of the false claims and accusations that already are flying.

I expect you've read some of the negative, anti-Obama material. Obama is a Muslim? False. He is a Christian.

Obama was educated in Islamic schools? False. For a time in elementary school he lived in Indonesia and attended a secular public school.

Obama has ties to radical Islamic groups that attempted to overthrow the government of Kenya. False. Will it never end? This one came from some off-the-wall Christian missionaries in Africa.

Obama refused to use a Bible when taking the oath of office when sworn in as a U.S. Senator. False. He put his hand on a copy of the Bible when taking his oath.

Obama's middle name is Hussein. Correct, it is.

Mark Elrod, a political science professor at Harding University (a very conservative, Evangelical Christian college located in Searcy, Arkansas and my undergraduate alma mater!), is featured in a New York Times article by Jodi Kantor with the headline: Obama Supporters Take His Middle Name As Their Own.

Would that be Mark Hussein Elrod?

I love this story. Hundreds -- and it will become thousands -- of people are taking Hussein as their temporary middle name in support of the Senator and in opposition to the untrue propaganda about his religion.

My youngest daughter on hearing a report that Senator Obama was Muslim responded, "So what if he is?"

Hmmm. I think she understands the U.S. Constitution. Proud she is a public school teacher!

The fact is, of course, Obama is no Muslim. But our form of government does not prohibit anyone from seeking office on the basis of some marker defined by religion.

My point here is not to be read as an Obama endorsement.

That said, if you oppose his ideas, his policy plans, his record in Washington or his choice in ties, fine. All I'm calling for is a commitment to honesty and truth telling on both sides.

Wouldn't that be refreshing? Good for community, don't you think?

Now that I've opened this can of worms, what do you think?