91. "Botts: now that's a weak response! Your attempt to put me on the defensive falls flat on its face."

If I wanted to put you on the defensive David, I would have. Would you like me to?

"I was flabbergasted by your reply to my point regarding Barack Obama's total disregard for corrupt Chicago and Illinois politics."

Show me where he's corrupt David? Show me where he is involved in Corrupt Chicago Politics? I'm flabbergasted that you would insinuate such a thing with zero evidence David.

"Sarah Palin challenged the corrupt nature of Alaska's "ol' boy" network, so why didn't Barack try to challenge the politics here in Illinois, where I live?"

Alaska and Chicago cannot compare to one another. Who's sucking on the kool aid David? Geez man.

"There's plenty of opportunities. He could have made a real name for himself, as a reformer, but instead, he surrounded himself with Chicago insiders, like Allison Davis, and other Daley machine cronies."

Check the records for yourself David. He was quite a reformer. And he was known for it. This is how he made a name for himself. What's your problem? Do you refuse to check things out because they refute your assertions or is it something else?

"Poor Botts.....why can't you identify any of Obama's examples of change?"

Why can't you look for them David? Do your homework.

"Does "change" mean picking Joe Biden, a 36-year veteran of the Senate, as his VP? Yeah, sure. Mr. "foreign policy" expert, who strongly suggested partitioning Iraq two years ago. Nothing like a 36-year veteran to effect change."

No David. No matter who he picked you'd have something to say about it, so let's not play stupid.

What I like, is that he picked a VP that he thought could help him during his term, and not pick someone because of popularity or pandering purposes. What's McCain's excuse?

Botts at 9:51PM on Sep 9th 2008

92. "He didn’t' say perceived Muslim faith. Just “Muslim faith” then in the same breath just says Christian faith as if he just slipped up."

George said "Christian Faith" to correct him before Obama could get his point out. Did you listen to it?

"And really i was just adding fuel to RO's fire."

Like he needs any. If I farted in front of him, I'd blow up.

"But of course you have to jump right in, use some profanity and then basically accuse me of hating Muslims!?"

It was a question, not an accusation.

"And I don't have a problem with anybody but the youngturks and their slanted slanderous views"

Do you hold the same standards to all media ie: Fox, Hannity, Gibson, and Rush?

Botts at 9:51PM on Sep 9th 2008

93. Hey OKane,

Who's "Obuma"?

Shannon at 11:18PM on Sep 9th 2008

94. Do you hold the same standards to all media ie: Fox, Hannity, Gibson, and Rush?

Botts at 9:51PM on Sep 9th 2008
---------------------------------------------
Botts: Speaking for myself, yes, I do hold every news outlet and every commentator on politics responsible for whaty they say. You may not like Rush, but he puts up the links to back what he says. In addition, he welcomes callers from the left to come and make their point...they go to the hesad of the queue. I don't take Hannity as seriously, especially after Terry Schiavo, but I give him credit for sticking to his beliefs. Michael Savage is a pig, need I say more?
Matthews and Foaming Mouth Olbermann were relieved of their duties and ABC, CBS, NBC and most of the MSM are biased towards the left as are most of the major newspapers. You can tell me it's not so, but then I'll have to tell you that you're full of crap.

I posted a bunch of links on Obama on the previous blog, go back and check them and see if Obama is as pure as anthacite. I think not! I also heard the Obama "my muslim religion" quote and until Stephanopolis corrected him, he would have gone on blabbing about the McCain campaign and all the nasty things they are saying about him. If this chump is as polished a speaker and as intelligent as you keep telling us he is, then why can't he complete a sentence without uh and oh in it?

I keep trying to remember that you claim to be a christian, but if you haven't noticed it, it ain't showing in your posts, be it to Okane, Bobby or others. Most of us know where you stand Botts, you favor Obama and that's ok. This is America where we get those choices and we are blessed. Palin is getting exactly what you denounce Okane for from the left blogosphere, but I don't see the outrage from you over unfairness to her like I see you do about Obama. As far as I'm concerned, they are both equal. Obama may have some mundane knowledge from the Senate, but he never chaired his committe nor did anything come out of his committe, just like he as no trail as a "community oerganizer", nothing spectacular in law, and yes, Rezko did help Obama with his house. Michelle Obama had her ssalary go up from the mid 200k rage to over 350K after Obama was elected to the state senate for the same job. If you look, his wife has a better paper trail than he does and she was the one who introduced him to Rev. Wright.

I guess you can associate with unrepentant terrorists like Bill Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Jackson ACORN and who knows who else and claim to be untouched by their beliefs, but I call BullS***! If you associate with them, then that's bad judgement because you know what they stand for.How can Obama wonder why people question his choices when he apparently din't care or chose not to see who he was with, but other people don't see it that way. There are a lot of Dems suffering buyer's remorse right now, Obama won't debate in a townhall setting, he needs that teleprompter and that is not a lie, so we get three Presidential debates and one VP debate? Pretty sorry if you ask me since this is for all the marbles, make it four, two townhall and two whatever Obama wants. VP can decide on what they want to have. BTW, Obama is having cash flow problems now while McCain is gaining big time and Obama cannot touch matching funds while McCain can and that may make all the difference in October.

So support Obama Botts, but try and be a little more civil to the ones who don't rag on you. I see enough idiot posts that I don't need to see you wanting in that club. As always, Ded.

Dedmanrisn at 11:26PM on Sep 9th 2008

95. Reverend Botts says

However, what Robert fails to mention, is that Mrs. Palin's husband HAS been part of the AIP which is Anti-American.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What left wingnuts have said is that Sarh was part of the AIP. Then when the AIP came out and said Sarah was never a part of the AIP and the LIE was now out in the public eye, the left wingnuts pointed out that her husband was a member of the AIP. But, Reverend Botts, you add hate on to what the other left wingnuts have said by saying the AIP is Anti-American. That then creates an inference that Todd Palin is anti-american because of his membership in AIP. Shades of the hate days of Sen. McCarthy. You were born a little late. You would have fit in with the hate and fear campaign of attacking innocent people by calling them Communists and ruining their lives. Reverend Botts, not very nice.

If you want to connect AIP with being anti-american and with Todd Palin, fine, you just jumped into the trash with the other name calling left wingnuts. Spell out why AIP is anti-american and how Todd Palin fits that picture you present.

Left Wignuts first comments on the Alaska Independence Party smear:

"A front-page article in The New York Times on Tuesday and articles in other news outlets reported that Ms. Palin was a member of the party, the Alaskan Independence Party, for two years in the 1990’s." Now exposed as a lie, not true.
But, no doubt your anti-american smear of the AIP is their position on Alaska secession from the Union.

Reverend Botts, then Obama, Biden and Todd Palin are anti-american.
Senator Akaka, Hawaii,in 2006, had a bill in the US Senate, Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, that could eventually lead to the secession of Hawaii from the Union. The anti-american's, Obama and Biden, both voted for Akaka's bill that opened the way for Hawaii to leave the union!

Reverend Botts, for a religious man and man of the cloth, you are a very hateful man and a mirror image of the hate spread by Joe McCarthy.

Robert OKane at 12:59AM on Sep 10th 2008

96. Reverend Botts said in his god loving way in post 90

He didn’t' say perceived Muslim faith. Just “Muslim faith” then in the same breath just says Christian faith as if he just slipped up."

George said "Christian Faith" to correct him before Obama could get his point out. Did you listen to it?

"And really i was just adding fuel to RO's fire."

Like he needs any. If I farted in front of him, I'd blow up.

"But of course you have to jump right in, use some profanity and then basically accuse me of hating Muslims!?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reverend Bott

This world is just full of name callers such as you. It seems an article was then written over that comment by Aaron Klein 9/7/08. This one's for YoungTurksSuck
Article

Slip of the tongue or momentary confusion? In a television interview today discussing his religion, Sen. Barack Obama stated, "My Muslim faith."

Obama, speaking to ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "This Week," was talking about what he described as "smears" that were claiming he was a Muslim when he maintains he is a practicing Christian.

"Let's not play games," Obama stated. "What I was suggesting – you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith. And you're absolutely right that that has not come."

Stephanopoulos immediately interrupted Obama, stating, "Christian faith."

"My Christian faith," Obama quickly said. "Well, what I'm saying is that he (McCain) hasn't suggested that I'm a Muslim. And I think that his campaign's upper echelons have not, either. What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I'm not who I say I am when it comes to my faith – something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time."

The statements came amid an exchange in which Obama accused Republicans of spreading "lies" that he is a Muslim. McCain, though, has strongly condemned such accusations.

"These guys love to throw a rock and hide their hand," Obama said.

But Stephanopoulos corrected the Illinois senator, stating, "The McCain campaign has never suggested you have Muslim connections."

Obama replied: "I don't think that when you look at what is being promulgated on Fox News, let's say, and Republican commentators who are closely allied to these folks."

"But John McCain said that's wrong," Stephanopoulos shot back.

Obama's momentary slip was immediately picked up by scores of Internet blogs.

Obama 'quite religious in Islam'

Obama has long denied he was ever a Muslim. His campaign site states: "Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian."

But as WND reported, public records in Indonesia listed Obama as a Muslim during his early years, and a number of childhood friends claimed to the media Obama was once a mosque-attending Muslim.

Obama's campaign several times has wavered in response to reporters queries regarding the senator's childhood faith.

Commenting on a recent Los Angeles Times report quoting a childhood friend stating Obama prayed in a mosque – something the presidential candidate said he never did – Obama's campaign released a statement explaining the senator "has never been a practicing Muslim."

Widely distributed reports have noted that in January 1968, Obama was registered as a Muslim at Jakarta's Roman Catholic Franciscus Assisi Primary School under the name Barry Soetoro. He was listed as an Indonesian citizen whose stepfather, listed on school documents as "L Soetoro Ma," worked for the topography department of the Indonesian Army.

Catholic schools in Indonesia routinely accept non-Catholic students but exempt them from studying religion. Obama's school documents, though, wrongly list him as being Indonesian.

After attending the Assisi Primary School, Obama was enrolled – also as a Muslim, according to documents – in the Besuki Primary School, a public school in Jakarta.

The Loatze blog, run by an American expatriate in Southeast Asia who visited the Besuki school, noted: "All Indonesian students are required to study religion at school, and a young 'Barry Soetoro,' being a Muslim, would have been required to study Islam daily in school. He would have been taught to read and write Arabic, to recite his prayers properly, to read and recite from the Quran and to study the laws of Islam."

Indeed, in Obama's autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," he acknowledged studying the Quran and describes the public school as "a Muslim school."

"In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to tell mother I made faces during Quranic studies," wrote Obama.

The Indonesian media have been flooded with accounts of Obama's childhood Islamic studies, some describing him as a religious Muslim.

Speaking to the country's Kaltim Post, Tine Hahiyary, who was principal of Obama's school while he was enrolled there, said she recalls he studied the Quran in Arabic.

"At that time, I was not Barry's teacher, but he is still in my memory" claimed Tine, who is 80 years old.

The Kaltim Post said Obama's teacher, named Hendri, died.

"I remember that he studied 'mengaji (recitation of the Quran)," Tine said, according to an English translation by Loatze.

Mengaji, or the act of reading the Quran with its correct Arabic punctuation, is usually taught to more religious pupils and is not known as a secular study.

Also, Loatze documented the Indonesian daily Banjarmasin Post interviewed Rony Amir, an Obama classmate and Muslim, who described Obama as "previously quite religious in Islam."

"We previously often asked him to the prayer room close to the house. If he was wearing a sarong (waist fabric worn for religious or casual occasions) he looked funny," Amir said.

The Los Angeles Times, which sent a reporter to Jakarta, quoted Zulfin Adi, who identified himself as among Obama's closest childhood friends, stating the presidential candidate prayed in a mosque, something Obama's campaign claimed he never did.

"We prayed, but not really seriously, just following actions done by older people in the mosque. But as kids, we loved to meet our friends and went to the mosque together and played," said Adi.

Aside from a new website to fight purported smears, Obama's official campaign site has a page titled "Obama has never been a Muslim, and is a committed Christian." The page states, "Obama never prayed in a mosque. He has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ."

But the campaign changed its tune when it issued a "practicing Muslim" clarification to the Los Angeles Times.

An article in March by the Chicago Tribune apparently disputes Adi's statements to the L.A. paper. The Tribune caught up with Obama's declared childhood friend, who now describes himself as only knowing Obama for a few months in 1970 when his family moved to the neighborhood. Adi said he was unsure about his recollections of Obama.

But the Tribune found Obama did attend mosque.

"Interviews with dozens of former classmates, teachers, neighbors and friends show that Obama was not a regular practicing Muslim when he was in Indonesia," states the Tribune article.

It quotes the presidential candidate's former neighbors and third-grade teacher recalling Obama "occasionally followed his stepfather to the mosque for Friday prayers."

Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, notes the Tribune article – cited by liberal blogs as refuting claims Obama is Muslim – actually implies Obama was an irregularly practicing Muslim and twice confirms Obama attended mosque services.

In a free-ranging interview with the New York Times, Obama described the Muslim call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."

The Times' Nicholos Kristof wrote Obama recited, "with a first-class [Arabic] accent," the opening lines of the Muslim call to prayer.

The first few lines of the call to prayer state:

Allah is Supreme!
Allah is Supreme!
Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme!
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that there is no god but Allah
I witness that Muhammad is his prophet ...

Some attention also has been paid to Obama's paternal side of the family, including his father and his brother, Roy.

Writing in a chapter of his book describing his 1992 wedding, the presidential candidate stated: "The person who made me proudest of all was Roy. Actually, now we call him Abongo, his Luo name, for two years ago he decided to reassert his African heritage. He converted to Islam and has sworn off pork and tobacco and alcohol."

Still, Obama says he was raised by his Christian mother and repeatedly has labeled as "smears" several reports attempting to paint him as a Muslim.

End of story

I thought his mother was an atheist

Robert OKane at 1:25AM on Sep 10th 2008

97. Sodomy? Finally Cenk found a story he can discuss first hand...

OpenYourBlindEye08 at 2:26AM on Sep 10th 2008

98. This is a very confused man. He sounds like he has been at training sessions with Christian mind benders and unfortunately believed them. I find it funny he is obsesses about his anus and those of others. As the first viewer said this man is a bottom.

Kieran at 6:37AM on Sep 10th 2008

99. I was flabbergasted by your reply to my point regarding Barack Obama's total disregard for corrupt Chicago and Illinois politics. Sarah Palin challenged the corrupt nature of Alaska's "ol' boy" network, so why didn't Barack try to challenge the politics here in Illinois, where I live?
____________

Maybe you don't understand government. A member of the United States Senate is a federal representative. Can't do anything about Chicago. That's a municipality. Can't do anything about Illinois. That's a state.

If you have a problem with Chicago corruption, vote for a Chicago mayoral candidate who wants to clean up Chicago corruption. If you have a problem with Illinois corruption, vote for a Governor, and state representatives who want to clean up Illinois corruption.

Please try to learn the difference between local, state, and federal governments.

ex-christian at 7:46AM on Sep 10th 2008

100. There are many more straight people who indulge insodomy..... many more. Men and women alike.

Steven at 7:51AM on Sep 10th 2008

101. Note to ex-christian: Barack Obama was a "community organizer" in the early 1990's and a Illinois state senator from 1996 through 2004. He had plenty of opportunities to make a name for himself as a reformer during that extended period of time, to challenge and confront the cesspool that is Chicago and Illinois politics. Why didn't he?

David Pitlock at 9:33AM on Sep 10th 2008

102. Dedmanrisn,

Thanks for your post and all points were valid and well thought out in my opinion.

I don't want to respond point by point because this message would be entirely way too long and it's going to be long as it is.

I think that what makes America so darn special, is that we can have different view points on how our Government should be run and argue that fact but in the end still be Americans. I feel that the majority of us, if we are put in a position where someone needs help in a moments notice, we do not care about color, religion or political affiliation and we will extend our hand and service for the other.

In my opinion, all media is biased to one side or the other. All media outlets are owned by only a handful of companies which is not a good thing. I feel that the people do not get the whole stories and as far as stories regarding other countries, the majority of Americans that do not travel are ignorant to the facts. It is what it is.

I'll get into my faith in a minute. I have felt that my discussions especially with you and Bobby have been respectful so I find it weird that you would bring that name into it. Bobby and I differ on many things, but we agree on a lot too.

I have a serious problem with bigotry. My tolerance level is horrible, but as sad as that is, it's actually better than what it used to be which is even sadder. As a Christian, this is my hardest obstacle to overcome. I have a Black wife and mixed children and I am seriously protective of them. My children are innocent and it's not their fault that my wife and I fell in love with each other. Bigotry and racism is in all Countries. It's everywhere. Go to a soccer match in Italy or Spain, and see how a black player is treated. They chant monkey sounds and throw bananas on the field.

I'll never understand it. I'm not a stupid person, and I take pride in trying to figure things out especially though my faith. I just can't figure this one out and I suspect that I may never figure it out. Why are we prejudiced and bigoted towards others that either look different from us, act different from us or have different faiths from us?

In regards to my faith. I am a Christian and proud of it. I'm a non denominational Christian in these parts. I consider myself a member of the Christian Church, the only Church that was intended. Institutionalized Religion (Denominations) are a cancer to our faith. It has ruined the message. And this process started soon after the apostles passed away and regular men started to use the message to divide and conquer instead of what it was intended for.

Jesus Christ speaks of the open gate versus the narrow gate. Many people will believe in him their whole lives, and think what they are doing is correct, but when judgment comes, the door will smack them in the face. Why? Because in Matthew, Jesus tells us exactly what the motivation of the Law that is written is about. How to understand the Law. How to meet the Holy Spirit that's in each of us, and most importantly how to live this life that will dictate how we live in the afterlife.

He preached it hard and constant with words that should resonate, not be ignored. He explained what the two most important commandments were and how those commandments were the key and guidance to what was written. If one does not practice those commandments with complete commitment and genuineness, then that person cannot understand what is written, cannot follow correctly, and ultimately cannot get to where he wants to go.

If you are a person that thinks that Conservatism and Christianity go hand in hand, you have been taught wrong and are following false teaching.

If you are a person that is worried about outside agenda's ie: Science, Liberals, Gays, Muslims and so forth, you have been taught wrong and are following false teaching.

Christ' message wasn't intended for us to divide ourselves. If that is the message preached through denominations and Sunday churches, then you can bet that the message is sadly wrong and has an agenda behind it.

I belong to a Church. I speak at this Church when I'm home, mainly on Wednesday nights. Business, Marriage, Our Faith, Other Faiths, and my Travels are usually the topics at hand. I'm not a preacher. That so far isn't my calling. But I do take pride in discussing certain areas in life and encourage the debate that comes along with it.

A member of Institutionalized Religion will not like a lot of things I say. But that is expected. They have been brainwashed, and when you are an adult, it is harder to re-program. Children and young adults are a lot easier to show them how Christianity was taught in the beginning.

My goal is simple in regards to my faith. Get as many people as possible through the narrow gate.

I'll work on my attitude on here in regards to bigoted jerks.

As far as regular political debates, I'll continue to do what I'm doing.

Thanks again for the message.

Botts at 11:16AM on Sep 10th 2008

103. Did he say his name was Ryan Sorebutt?

Eddie Pants at 12:51PM on Sep 10th 2008

104. Did he say his name was Ryan Sorebutt?

Eddie Pants at 12:50PM on Sep 10th 2008

105.
Hundreds of nut jobs milling around outside the Rep convention.....why not showcase one of them? I'm sure you'd have found plenty of things you had in common.

L.K. Clark at 1:49PM on Sep 10th 2008