Why is it that no one is up in arms over Pastor John Hagee (who is on McCain's campaign and has a much larger following and congregation than Rev. Wright) when he says that God created Hurricane Katrina to kill the gays and the sinners of Louisiana or that the Catholic faith is a sewer religion or that the End of days should come so that the Jews can be killed or converted to Christianity?

Why is it ok for the votes to be counted in Michigan/Florida when all the candidates agreed to the terms of the DNC?

Why is that only Obama's fault? Is he such a crafty liar and manipulator that he convinced these states to vote early and go against the DNC rules?

Why is ANY ONE in America surprised and outraged when someone speaks honestly about American truths even if they are ugly?

Are you really surprised that Black people are angry about years of injustice? Are you surprised and outraged when white women and men feel that same anger? Are you then surprised that we cannot move past it and that we cannot come together to fight the system and not one another?

Are you surprised when Americans don't agree with the war and the other political maneuvers that we do in other countries that are not public knowledge? Are you surprised when those people from other lands feel angry too? Are you then surprised by their acts of retribution - even when it's disturbing and incomprehensible - even when you act in anger too?

Are you surprised when you elect liars, manipulators and the silver-spoon elite to represent the common person and the elected lie, manipulate and take care of their own silver-spoon elite?

Are you surprised that you don't even recognize truth and dignity anymore, even when you continue to asked for dirty tricks and false representation?

Are you ready to disown, remove and distance yourself from those persons who have made a positive impact in your life but have also said divisive, ugly comments about ethnic groups or other people unlike themselves out of fear or anger? Are you ready to publicly disown your parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, Priest, Pastor, Father and friends sometime today? Are you willing to and look in the mirror?

Are you a believer in people, faith, or yourself? Are you a forgiver of mistakes or are you a saint?

Have you ever sat in uncomfortable silence when a friend has said something you didn't agree with? Did you publicly confront them on the issue later or just ignore it altogether?

Are you a hypocrite?

It is so scary to think that we are at the mercy of people that, really, NONE of us know personally! The next leader of the Free World should not be elected for their gender or skin color, but if push comes to shove, how can any of us really KNOW what they will do after the votes are in? Sometimes gut feeling is the best; I have never been wrong about someone's character,everyone I know tells me it is a gift.. and this Barack person just somehow, does not ring true. I cannot place my finger on what it is, just that "Gut" feeling. Did ya'll ever get that? Kinda like I am being told what I Want to hear. IF I figure it out, I will come back here and share it... just can't place what it is..
I pray that we all vote with all our faculties, and remember how blessed we are to be ABLE to vote for our leader!! Also, Barb sounds kinda scary,sure glad I didn't write anything she disagrees with,, yet.. good luck to us all on voting day!

Hi Anonymous,
Unfortunately, I don't know Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama personally, so I cannot call them up and speak with them one on one. But I can watch their interviews, debates, and the ads that they approve and take the candidates at the words that they speak. It's not several sources, when Hillary states that Obama should reject not denounce, but I have yet to hear her reject Rush or ask for McCain to reject Pastor Hagee's support. Again all of the issues I stated came from the candidates themselves, not a blog or an analyst.

I'm not Obama and would never enter politics, I'm not a very important person, and I'm not frantic or worried. I'm just someone who wants to do their best and help others when I can. Nothing special. And like you I was raised Baptist, and in my bible studies, I have learned a few things:
Don't fear any man, only God.
Why be scared and worry, when u can pray.

I pray for family, friends, as well as foes and I will continue to pray for the future of America.

I have enjoyed our Socratic debate! Take care.

Dear Anonymous,
Your comments seem to be all over the place without a clear thought but it is clear that you seem scared and frantic which makes me sad. I work with homeless and underprivileged youth and I see hardships, mental health problems and a road that is full of challenges ahead - but I also see hope and drive and a will to make a change for the better - which inspires me. I do not fear or feel scared of any man. I don't know what you see in Obama that scares you but I will continue to pray that your fears find relief.

In regard to Hillary, every time I think she shows promise she lets me down. I don't fear her or McCain or Rush Limbaugh or anyone else who I do not agree with - but I will not cast a vote for her either. I don't advocate anyone who cannot lead positively and stand committed. And I don't respect a leader who doesn't understand humility or integrity. And I don't need reporters or newspapers to tell me how to decide. I listen to and watch the individual themselves.

And this is what I see:

Hillary demands that Obama denounce and reject Rev. Louis Farrakahn for his dispicable comments about Jews but has not denounced or rejected Rush Limbaugh who also makes dispicable comments about Democrats and various minority leaders. He has even requested his listeners to vote for Hillary in order to create chaos in the democratic party and push for a weaker democratic nominee who McCain can beat (which is what most Republicans want).

McCain also has the endorsement of John Hagee who is anti-semitic, despises Catholics and claims that God destroyed New Orleans to kill gay people. Has McCain denounced or rejected this endorsement? Has Hillary or anyone else even asked him to? You don't hear much about that do you? No

Because of rules by the DNC, which were agreed upon and signed off on by ALL of the democratic nominees, the votes in Michigan and Florida do not count. NOW, Hillary wants to change the rules of the game - when it benefits her - to get the votes to count. Obama wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan although Hillary was conveniently on both ballots. And I live in one of these states, I know how it feels to have your vote ignored. Yet rules are rules and fair is fair - isn't that what we are taught? Doesn't that type of political maneuvering seem dirty and the same ole' same game? Doesn't that appear to put the politician before the people, the candidate before the party?

When Obama is wrong or is questioned on a choice made, he can concede the point or come out and clearly state he made a bad decision. Like his affiliation with Rezco - he said it was a "bone-headed move". How many years and how many times has Hillary been asked if she made the wrong choice to vote for the war? I mean she has so much more "experience" shouldn't she have known better than most? Finally in the last Dem. debate she clearly answered that she wished she could take the vote back and admitted it was a bad decision - and this was what almost 8 yrs later? That seems a bit "Bush-like" - never able to admit when you're wrong.

The "Who's going to answer the ringing phone @ 3 o'clock ad" was all about fear. Put little innocent kids in an ad about impending terrorism and you can't think it's about anything else but fear. I don't think Obama should have played her game and tried to flip her ad around. Instead, he should have played her own speech, when she voted for the war in the first place and used her experience in office to make the decision. Then Obama should have used ex-President Clinton's YouTube video about "Fear vs. Hope" to show that even Bill Clinton believes that the candidate who promotes hope should be the one voted for.

Ellen,

I thank you for showing both Democratic candidates in an equally positive light. I enjoy your show and your positive attitude.

At first I was undecided about both candidates but the negative, divisive and ego-driven comments that Hillary and the ex-President have used during this campaign turned me off and pushed me to team Obama. How you act and what you say never fails to show the way - to how you will lead.

Strength of character, faith, love and humility were instilled in me as a child. My parents (like most parents) raised me like this in hopes that what they taught me as a child would blossom and take hold when I was on my own and free to make my own decisions. And that's what I see in Obama. I see someone who had strength of character, love of country and love of his fellow man before he was even in the political spotlight and now that he has had time to blossom, his hope has become infectious throughout America. At every turning point in the history of human kind, there has been some leader who has tried a new path, inspired a new thought, fought for a new vision and on the back of his or her leadership we have all become better people. Are we so defeated and ugly that we must crucify positive hopes for our future?

It's time that Conservative Christians and Demeaning Democrats realize that his message of hope, faith and unity in America is what true spirituality is about. It's also supposed to be what makes America great. Yet our own hypocrisy and power struggle to divide the blacks from the whites, the gay from the straight, the men from the women and young from old has brought on our own destruction. Most of the blogs and a lot of people seem to thrive on hate, fear and distrust, which has gotten us nowhere but many continue to buy into it.

For me, being a Christian and an American is not about taking away the rights of others who I may or may not agree with, or spewing hate and fear, so that I may divide and conquer, it's about hope that we can do better, faith that that day will come and on that day we will stand unified instead of fall divided.

Posted by Lee | March 4, 2008 11:36 PM

TO: anonymous | March 4, 2008 7:43 PM Your Monica Lewinsky statement is so immature. Do you think Hillary sat in the white house for 8 years and darned socks? Grow Up! I certainly hope people with your intellect don't ever run for public office. Why don't you list all of Obama's political/humanity accomplishment's over the last 8 years? Are there any?

It's Amazing that Obama can't even do a television commercial without copying Hillary!
Will Obama vote for Hillary or Himself?
He will probably vote for "HILLARY" because in case you haven't noticed, he looks up to her so much that he has to walk behind her and do what ever she does!

To Shirley:
If I remember right we are in the USA and everyone has the right and freedom to choose who they want, (including Ellen). She has had Hilary on her show just as much as Obama has been on there. How dare you threaten her! You should be the one ashamed of how you are acting. As far as I knew Ellen has not said who she is backing. I am for Obama, but if Ellen is for Hilary that is fine with me. No one has the right to tell anyone else who they should support. Worry about yourself.

If you are for Barack Hussein Obama Ellen,then shame on you! You of all people whom I admire greatly (or did, if you are for Obama) should be a Hillary supporter!

To anonymous responding to Tammy:
Why don't the people who keep saying these negative things about Obama find out if they are true before they say them. We are just defending who we support, because those things are untrue. Just like you would be defending the person you support if rumors were spread about them. So let us support who we believe in and quit criticizing us.