Can Americans really trust Barack Obama?

Original Link: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinions/x2102941045/Can-Americans-really-trust-Barack-Obama

By Ashley C. Stinnett

In this day and age of exit polls and data analysis, it seems only fair to point out an ongoing struggle the Barack Obama campaign has yet to overcome: So many Americans are leery of his inexperience as a United States senator.

Many will recall not too long ago, Obama was merely a state representative in Illinois. He was propelled to his current office after serving many years in his home state. Like most freshman senators, Obama quickly began learning the ups and downs of national politics. He began shaking hands with prominent political leaders while memorizing the names of top lobbyists.

Of course, anyone who keeps up with national level politics realizes if an individual serves in Washington for more than a week, he or she will be introduced to lobbyist sharks really soon. It's all part of the game.

Now begins the troubling part. Within a year of entering office, Obama made the conscious decision to run for president. He began collecting names of influential people, all the while making phone calls to big-money donors. This is typical behavior of anyone who seeks a major office.

Obama spent the majority of 2007 launching his bid to become president. The young statesman began traveling and reaching out to millions. His campaign became more of a rock concert aimed at energizing minorities, youth voters and blue-collar workers. Although everything seems to be going well, his many faults, not to mention the bizarre company he keeps, begin to surface.

When looking at the national media's love of Obama, Ronald Reagan comes to mind. He was labeled the "Teflon president." Some in the national media have given this title to Obama because they feel he gets a free pass regardless of the circumstance. Unfortunately, the public can only be "duped" for so long.

The fact is that Obama has around a 40 percent voting record in the United States Senate. This is atrocious even in comparison to Senate figures such as our very own Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller.

Obama's ideas are shallow to say the least, thus making him a great orator without any credibility to stand on. This has become troublesome for the "average" American voter.

The few votes that he has cast in Washington represent a sharp reflection into his ultra-liberal views. His stirring speeches of "change" and "hope" echo through the ears of blinded voters looking for anything to grab a hold of. However, like every great rock concert, the public will soon forget the "coolness" factor and eventually shake off the next-day hangover.

I believe Obama's campaign is one without much substance. His frequent blunders regarding the war, his own family, his church and his bizarre associations with less-than-honorable individuals all show a sense of who he really is. Every national poll reflects what honest, hard-working Americans are asking.

Who is this guy really? Why does his name bring to mind a foreign national? What are his core beliefs? Why did he spend 20 years listening to a hate-filled racist? Why are his ignorant gaffes overlooked by the media? Why are the media obsessed with this guy?

Why do I not feel comfortable with this guy in charge of national security? Why do people believe he knows everything when he hasn't held office any great length of time?

Obama's inexperience is, unfortunately, going to come back to haunt him. Americans are hungry for the truth, not media spin.