. — <b>Call them by their official name</b>
We will begin this discussion with the definition of fraud. Fraud is defined as intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. I ask you to keep that definition in mind as we delve into the Obama administration’s campaign promises and the actions that the administration has taken since the election.
Barack Obama mesmerized the voters in the 2008 presidential campaign. He promised us “change,” although we never asked him to explain what he meant. We listened to his promises of a better government and believed him when he made the following promises.
First, Barack Obama promised us that he would allow the American public an opportunity to read any non-emergency bill via the internet for five days before he signed the bill into law. On the surface, this seemed like a great idea. What a better way to make the government more transparent and accountable to the American people. We believed Barack Obama when he made this promise to us. Barack was quoted as saying, “When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as the president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it.” I guess that on Jan. 20, President Obama no longer felt like being so transparent.
It was on that date that Barack Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. At the time of the signing, the bill had been on the president’s desk for two days and not the five days that we were promised. Deception? You better believe it was! Again, on Feb. 17, Obama signed into law the $787 billion dollar stimulus package one day after it passed through Congress. Five days, Mr. President? I think not! Deception? Check!
Secondly, we were promised earmark reform. Mr. Obama was quoted as saying, “We need earmark reform. And when I am president, I will go line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely.” That promise was made well before the president signed into law the $410 billion omnibus bill of 2009. How many earmarks did that bill contain? Only 9,000 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion. Was Mr. Obama honest when he made his earmark reform promise on the campaign trail? The nays have it!
Thirdly, we were told that under an Obama administration, we would “remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months.” That promise was made on Barack’s campaign Web site during his presidential campaign. However, on Feb. 27, Obama changed course. His new stance was “Let me say this as plainly as I can. By Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.” To his credit, Mr. Obama only misled the American voters by nine months. Honest campaign promise? Nope!
Another broken promise was made when candidate Obama criticized President Bush for issuing signing statements, which add interpretation and instructions on how to carry out the newly signed law. Obama was quoted as saying, “That’s not part of the president’s power.” He went further on March 9 by issuing a memorandum negating Bush’s signing statements. However, two days later, President Obama attached his first signing statement to the aforementioned $410 billion omnibus bill. But Mr. Obama, I thought during the campaign you told us that signing statements were not part of the president’s power.
The point here is this. We were made a lot of promises by candidate Obama during the campaign. For the most part, the American people believed these promises that were made to them. The problem was, candidate Obama didn’t believe the promises that he was making. Nonetheless, promises kept pouring out the administration nearly every day. Were the promises made in good faith, or were they made to get candidate Obama elected? I hope, by now, you know the answer to that question.
Many people call Obama a socialist or unpatriotic or even a liar. I, however, like to refer to official definitions whenever possible. Intentional deception (campaign promises) made for personal gain (being elected president of the United States). America, we have been duped. The current administration, by definition, is a fraud.
<b>— Brandon Wright
Terre Haute
Book gives insight into nation’s course</b>
Recently I read an outstanding book written in 1993 that puts into perspective the founding principles on which this country was formed, principles that seem to have been forgotten by many of our politicians in Congress today.
I found the following chapters to provide insight into the views of our Founding Fathers and how this country became so exceptional and what made it truly great: Chapter 3, Compassion and Mercy; chapter 4, Education for everyone; chapter 5, Government for the People by the People; chapter 6, Freedom for all; chapter 8, Free Enterprise and the Work Ethic; chapter 10, Healing the Sick; chapter 16, Where do we go from here.
If you have a son, daughter, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., I would recommend that you first read this book then pass it along to them. I guarantee they will receive a history lesson as well as life lessons they will probably not receive in school.
It will also give them a historical basis upon which to evaluate today’s political winds and the social and economic outcomes of such a dangerous political course. The title of the book is: “What if Jesus has never been born,” by Dr. D. James Kennedy.
I challenge you to read this book if you are concerned for America’s future.
<b>— Plen Smith
West Terre Haute
Quilters showed great compassion</b>
Upon having a house fire in 2009 and losing everything, people were so generous. I want to especially thank the Quilters Guild of Terre Haute for making me and my son each a quilt. And a special thank you to Katherine Steppe for her part and work involved.
The quilts are beautiful and are very special to me. I’ll cherish them forever. So once again, thank you Katherine Steppe.
<b>—Sheri Plant
West Terre Haute</b>
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