Obama born in Hawaii!

Even the ultra-conservative Washington Times runs this story.

State declares Obama birth certificate genuine

Originally published 06:43 p.m., October 31, 2008, updated 06:36 p.m., October 31, 2008

HONOLULU (AP) - State officials say there's no doubt Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.

Health Department Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said Friday she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama's original birth certificate.

Fukino says that no state official, including Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, ever instructed that Obama's certificate be handled differently.

She says state law bars release of a certified birth certificate to anyone who does not have a tangible interest.

Read the rest of the story here
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/31/state-declares-obama-birth-certificate-genuine-1/

Of course the right wing people will still find some way to doubt this. After all they know all about kerning and stuff.

I chose the version of the story that ran in the Washington Times for a reason.
The Washington Times is the paper that you will hear quoted by neo-cons and conservatives. It is like Fox News for them. Of course they will say, "It's an AP story!" well of course they could have chosen to do some of their own hard hitting journalism and prove the story false if they didn't want to trust the AP, but they didn't. And it's not like they don't have resources. They have lots of money. They get it from the Rev. Moon. It is a nice money losing venture for him.

Now. If you find out that some thing that you are saying over and over again is incorrect, has been proved incorrect and this proof comes from a source that you trust, at what point are you going to stop saying the old incorrect information? And what should people think of you if, after it is clear that you know you are wrong, you keep saying the wrong thing?

Crowded Theater. Man Screaming, "Kill him!" No One Can Anticipate the Result!

"No one was deliberately evil. We all did the best we could."
- Sofia Mendes, Children of God by Mary Doria Russell



I think of the guy who screamed out "Kill him!" during a McCain rally when McCain asked, "Who is the real Barak Obama?".

What did screaming man want to happen?
Why did he want it to happen?
Did he expect someone to act on it? Will he act on it?

What about the candidates and their campaign managers who were deliberately whipping up the anger and the fear of Obama as president? Did they want this? Will they be shocked, SHOCKED that someone made this comment?

It's interesting that the guy wasn't responding to something like, "What can we do to bring this guy Barak Hussein Obama down?" It is also interesting that after the guy's comment McCain didn't respond. Is a non-response a response? What if McCain had said, "Go get 'em!" As I'm sure many would argue, that still wouldn't make McCain responsible if anything bad happened. Or would it? What would it tell you about McCain?

Is it okay to whip up fear and anger toward a man who will become the leader of the free world as long as you just don't say the actual violent action words?

How does the guy who screamed out "Kill him" at the McCain rally justify his comment? If he believes that Obama needs to die for the good of his country does that make him evil, or, because in his mind he is suggesting the right thing for the country, a patriot?

Should there be any consequences to him for suggesting this? First let's get away from what the government can and should do about this. When people talk about the First Amendment and free speech they are talking about what the government shouldn't limit. Let's look at the way the commercial world works.

• Should "Kill him" guy be hired by profit-making corporations who know of his comments?
  
  
• Should "Kill him" guy be fired by a profit-making corporation who know of his comments? What if this is a pattern and not a one-time comment?
  
  
• Should he be hired by profit-making corporations because he is now very popular among people who agree with him?
  
  
• Will organizations that want to reach his fans send him logo wear for him to wear?
  
  
• What if an organization doesn't agree with his suggestion, but really really want to get to his friends and followers?Is it okay for them to associate with him then?
  
  
• What if the marketing people told the CEO that you have to have their logo on the "Kill him" guy's shirt? " Boss, we really need to reach the demographic that wants Obama dead and this is the go to guy for that. The people love him!"

When the Secret Service identifies "Kill him!" guy as an employee for say, American Big Car Company. Will the car company say,

We are the proud employer of the guy who screamed "Kill him!" during the McCain rally, said vice president of marketing for American Big Car Company, Julius Streicher.

We have told him, "Good job! Keep it up. We here at American Big Car Company believe that McCain is good for business" In fact we are sending him to more rallies. You will notice him because he is now wearing an American Big Car Company hat and shirt and our logo/tattoo is right next to the very mouth that shouted, "Kill him!"

We have reminded "Kill him!" guy that we here at American Big Car Company support his calling for the death of a candidate for president. We hope that someone listening to him will act on his suggestion and will drive a American Big Car to their task. Our goal is to make money and we want the world to know that "Kill him!" guy works for us. He speaks for us and he represents the views of half of all our customers and half of all our employees.

"Kill him" guy's comments are now tied to our brand. We are convinced that the people who disagree with the "Kill him!" guy won't notice him or our logo on his shirt and hat. If they do, well it's not like we forced him to flap his gums! We simply know his history of saying things like this, we know what he is going to say at the next rally and we know who he is going to say it to. We believe the line, "All publicity is good publicity." Unlike those silly people at Nike who dumped Micheal Vick, we embrace "Kill him!" guy and look forward to a long and profitable associate with him."

How do we deal with people who, with their words, want to inflict harm to political candidates or their followers? Should it be a money making activity? What of the people who want to incite others to violent action with their words? Perhaps they believe that what they are saying is for the best. If you come at the world with the view of Sofia Mendes that "No one was deliberately evil." you would look for understanding.

• But what if the people DID understand what they were saying?
• What if they knew exactly what the words would lead to?
• What if they hoped that the words would lead to action?
• What if that action would harm people? Get them killed?

I think of the guy who screamed out "Kill him" regarding Obama during a McCain rally and I wonder:

Where else do we hear people like this today?

A Society Where Health Care is A Right.

I need to live in a society where my daughter's access to the insulin she needs every day to live is not subject to the whims of my employer. And I think Obama offers me that option.

I hope.
Adam Hominem

We are proud of the fact that we are a nation of small business owners and entrepreneurs. I believe that many on the right will agree with that.

Health care decoupled from employers could unleash a entrepreneur force not seen in this country since the Clinton boom days. That is what I believe.

I also think that scares the hell our of the authoritarian leaders on the right.
Can you imagine the uppity employees who can say to the boss, "I'm going out on my own and I'm taking my pre-existing condition with me. You can't take advantage of my need for health care anymore."

How come nobody talks about the boon to the economy universal health insurance would provide? Because there isn't a coalition of people in the business community pushing for it. However there IS a coalition of people in the health care industry pushing against the idea. It is their job. I understand that. That are smart people. Good people. They are doing what they think is best for their company.

But as a larger society our leaders can and should think, "What is the best for the entire country?" There are many people in the business community that really don't want to be in the business of providing health care plans and info about health care plans. (Don't believe me? Mention "Open Enrollment" to your favorite HR professional. Watch them shutter.)

The economic crisis is actually the RIGHT time to start thinking about implementing universal health insurance.

The Progressive Shock Doctrine states that when there is an economic crisis it is the best time to look at Progressive solutions.

Stop looking to the conservative mind set that got us here.