Guest Comment: Opinions versus facts

As I read the articles and letters to editors, one fact jumps out at me. They are nothing more than opinions. Few are fact based and most others are, simply, emotional.

Case in point. Most writers who originate opinions or defend positions concerning Barack Obama are driven by emotions. The reason is that almost all of us readers do not, really, know the man and what is, truly, in his heart.

That is because there isn’t much factual political history to support most positions concerning his qualifications as a leader, and certainly not to become the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. So, these writers’ positions must be based upon emotions.

We haven’t read or heard from people who have known him for years, speak of his character and his qualifications. We have only heard of people whose credentials are suspect in their own right. So what we know about the man is what he has stated in person and in books. Supporters simply take him at his word without proper vetting.

Few will admit the real reasons that they support Barack Obama. In fact, if they are honest with themselves, they may not have a factual, intellectual reason. Theirs may be guilt feelings that we should elect a black candidate, if he is a Democrat, regardless of his qualifications. Others may hate the Republican Party to such a degree that they would vote for Attila the Hun if he was a Democrat.

Others are taken by his charisma, oratory skills and find him to be attractive (maybe even cute). He does know how to work a crowd and say the right things. Snake oil salesmen in the old west had the same ability and, as such, sold a lot of instant remedies to hapless folks who wanted to believe in change and hope.

The “in crowd,” who are willing to spend $28,500 plus to be with Obama in Hollywood, find him to be the favorite based upon their “highly intellectual” ability to select the most elite person to represent them. Remember, these people have the ability to perform acts far above us mere mortals. If you don’t believe so, you need to watch more TV and movies.

Why shucks, superman could see through walls and leap tall buildings in a single bound. Some entertainers remain in character far after the lights are turned out. They believe their agent’s self-generated press clippings. And, the payoff might be a night in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House, if their favorite is elected.

Ouch! By now, some of you who fall in one of the above categories will be ready to castigate me…but I doubt that it will be based on solid facts. It will be an emotional response.

This campaign has become a real “beauty contest” and, as such, supporters are interested in the superficial aura surrounding their favorite candidate, as long as he is a Democrat. Another case in point, they will say that Barack Obama is ready to lead the free world, but Sarah Palin is not ready to be vice president because she lacks experience. Huh? She has been a leader for two terms as a mayor and a partial term as a governor. Further, she has been the commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard and has chaired the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission of Alaska.

Obama has been an absentee State Legislator as well as short-term U.S. Senator. He is not a major committee chairman and has not sponsored any meaningful legislation. In fact, when he has voted, it is a mixed bag with very little clarity as to positions.

His claim to fame is being one of the most liberal U.S. senators. In the Illinois Senate, he had become adept at voting “present” rather than taking a position he could defend. Now really, be honest with yourselves, do you believe that being a college lecturer and community organizer are the qualifications that we seek in the president of the United States? Come on, I asked you to be honest!

Never mind how much you hate President Bush and do not want to lose because of the candidate that you chose to support. In competition, no one wants to lose. But this is not a sporting event; this may define the future of America for generations to come.

I believe in giving credit where due. And, I continue to look for solid facts that support the Democratic candidate. But, the articles and opinions that I read about Obama’s qualifications leave me with a very empty feeling. There is an old saying that if it is too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. Obama has a tiger by the tail. If he lets go, he may be finished, politically, but if he holds on we may all be finished.

The stakes are high and the beneficiaries are your grandchildren and mine. They will pay long after you and I are gone!

Obama is constantly talking about going after the special interest groups in Washington. So what does he do, he selects a career politician as his running mate, who has a son involved in special interests as a paid Washington lobbyist. I know, Senator Biden has asked his son to suspend his lobbying until after Election Day. How insincere is that? And, Obama has accepted campaign contributions from more special interest groups than McCain. One major contributor is ACORN who is under investigation for voter fraud in several states.

If Obama is qualified to become the commander in chief of the most powerful military organization in the world, why do the active duty soldiers, overwhelmingly, prefer McCain? The only soldiers who would prefer Obama are black, which leads me to believe this to be an emotional decision and predictable. I believe that military people are more qualified to determine their preferred leader than you and I. They will follow McCain who understands the military and has the proven qualifications to be their leader.

I, truly wish that I felt differently about Obama. After all, he may be our next president and I would like to be comfortable with that possibility. But, I make most important decisions based upon cogent factual information and not rely on tarot cards or a Ouija Board.

Don Severe is a resident of Green Valley. He is the retired CEO of a medium-sized insurance marketing company and a veteran USAF pilot. His career included lobbying in Washington, D.C. where he was successful in assisting in the passage of legislation during the Carter administration. His counsel included a past chairman of the DNC, past U.S. Senator and past national trade secretary. The views expressed are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.