How Can People Believe Republican Lies, Even When They Have No Plans to Help Most People?

When I see the blatant character attacks of the Republican machine upon Obama, and the dirty campaign tactics of Robo-calls and whisper campaigns, I cannot help bur remember that Rick Davis, manager of the McCain campaign, stated in August, "This campaign is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Davis's statement reduces the campaign to a personality contest, and then they are not dealing with truth about personality. They lie to tear down Obama. During an election season when war, the economy and health care are such pressing issues, the Republicans naturally want to shift the focus to personality–especially when they've presided over eight years of disaster and all they offer is more of the same.

Think back to the first week in September. We could see this gutter campaign coming, because the convention was prelude to the brutal rap act that has followed. Given this Davis strategy, the speeches at the Republican National Convention were short on plans for the economy, as well as on Iraq, energy and health care. Energy is more drilling for oil companies, health care is destroy the employer health insurance benefit, and education is more unfunded rhetoric.

In his acceptance speech, John McCain stated in reference to American workers, "We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities"–surely a reprise of George Bush's empty promises during his debates with John Kerry. Like Bush, McCain knows that he has no such program in mind. Let him state instead that he'll put an end to tax cuts for corporations that ship American jobs overseas. That is a strategy that will really help workers. It is one that Obama promises.

All you have to do is think back to the Republican convention to see that social justice issues were not on the Republican agenda, at least not in real policy efforts. In fact, no issues were on their agenda, except keeping the Bush tax cuts for the rich, staying in Iraq for a long time, and "drill, baby, drill!"

Following the strategy as defined by Davis, who is a highly paid corporate lobbyist when he is not controlling McCain, the convention became a nasty succession of crafted lies and character attacks, with the target being Barack Obama. During the convention, a new dirty word entered the Republican lexicon: "community organizer." As Sarah Palin stated, "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities."

The Republicans are clearly contradicting theeir won history when they disparage this valuable role. George H. W. Bush stated at his inaugural address of January 2, 1989, "I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the nation, doing good." And McCain himself, in his acceptance speech, asked listeners to "Fight for our children's future. Fight for justice and opportunity for all." Yes, Papa Bush seemed to care, but the Neo-Cons seem to have stolen his son's soul, and the soul of the Republican Party that he has led for the past eight years. This is the party of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

I have always been suspicious when Republicans extol the virtue of voluntarism. Between the lines I hear, "Don't expect us to properly fund education, health care and other social needs. How can we do that and afford tax cuts for the wealthy and a repeal of the estate tax? Let volunteers and charity handle it."

Regardless of my suspicions, the fact is that Barack Obama is entitled to high praise for his work as a community organizer. As recounted by U.S News & World Report, "After graduating from Columbia University in 1983 with a major in political science, Obama worked as a financial consultant in New York City. But he was bored—and drawn to public service."

So instead of staying on Wall Street and raking in dough, Obama took a tremendous salary cut in order to help people. His annual salary was $10,000. I realize that the work of CEOs and hedge fund managers command more respect according to the Republican value system. But how can anyone, except those operating on the most cynical of motives, deny Obama's idealism and patriotism?

So what did Obama do as a community organizer? According to U.S. News, "In 1985, he moved to Chicago to work with local churches organizing job training and other programs for poor and working-class residents of Altgeld Gardens, a public housing project where 5,300 African-Americans tried to survive amid shuttered steel mills, a nearby landfill, a putrid sewage treatment plant, and a pervasive feeling that the white establishment of Chicago would never give them a fair shake."

This is what we should hope would happen in our neighborhoods!

Note that Obama worked with "local churches"–a point conveniently forgotten by Palin, the new rock star of the religious right. And a party that preaches self-help ought to praise Obama for the values he sought to instill in others: "...whether it was getting the city to fill potholes, provide summer jobs, or remove asbestos from the apartments or persuading the apartment managers to repair toilets, pipes, and ceilings, Obama encouraged residents to come up with their own priorities with the gentle admonition: "It's your community."

The attempt to mock Obama for his praiseworthy work as a community organizer was a clear sign as one more diversion by a Republican campaign that is bankrupt of ideas and offers the nation an extension of the failed Bush presidency. And they have kept up these incessant attacks, trying to paint him as a terrorist by association with a man who has not been anything near being a terrorist for nearly 40 years.

They have misrepresented his tax cuts for 95 percent of the people, calling it socialism when they know it is not! They have purposely lied about other policy issues. And so many people believe them! Pray for America. We are being run by liars and thieves and enemies of workers an the poor, yet half the people like it and have no compassion. Even for themselves. The American Way for them is lies, fables and veiled hate and racism.