One male Caucasian McCain/Palin campaigner donned an Obama Halloween mask, of and by itself not a big deal, but then attached a hand-printed cardboard “Hamas for Obama” sign perpetrating a lie and creating an implication of terrorist ties to presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. On the flip side of the sign are the words “Honk for Socialism NoBama.”

Debating the issues, building an case for a candidate rooted in facts, is one thing. This kind of ill-informed misinformation and dis-information starts with the word “stupid,” meanders into “childish,” and continues with “dangerous” and “malicious.” Where it ends remains a question mark.

There are elements of racism, hatred and politics at a new low, in this display, and it is right here in Clarksville, Tennessee.  Election 2008 has seen levels of viciousness at the local, state and federal level that are appalling, prejudiced, intolerant and ugly.

The reference to “Hamas” is troubling, because Obama is as far removed from Hamas as an American can be.

Hamas, for those uncertain of just what it is, is defined as an organization created in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Mohammad Taha of the Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood at the beginning of the First Intifada. Notorious for its numerous suicide bombings and other attacks on Israeli civilians and security forces, Hamas also runs extensive social programs and has gained popularity in Palestinian society by establishing hospitals, education systems, libraries and other services throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas’ charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Hamas describes its conflict with Israel as political and not religious or antisemitic. However, its founding charter, writings, and many of its public statements reflect the influence of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

America has a lot at stake: economic and military issues compete for ranking as the crisis of the day. Instead of looking at qualifications and abilities, some are presenting incorrect information, blatant lies, as truth. And playing the race card and the terrorism card in the process. They are making judgments rooted in faith and fear, and fear of certain faiths and the color of a candidate’s skin. Never mind that Obama is a Christian  or an American.

This campaigner seemed to be having a good time with his personal little joke. Many  of us, however, are not responding with laughter. We are too disgusted. Appalled. Ashamed.

Sarah Palin has stated she believes in a literal translation of the Bible; a literal translation of the Bible dates creation of the Earth at 4000 B.C. Is the U.S. prepared to elect someone who truly believes dinosaurs became extinct only 6000 years ago? Forget the fact that science has proven the age of the Earth to be in the billions of years through countless (independent of each other) disciplines. Is the U.S. prepared to give the nuclear launch codes to someone who cannot pronounce the word ‘nuclear’ and refuses to believe in the science that created it?

Sarah Palin stated that it was God’s will to have a pipeline in Alaska; she followed this statement by asking a church full of followers to pray for its manifestation. I may be wrong because I admit I am not a Bible scholar, but it has been my understanding that God’s design for the planet was perfect to begin with and ever since sin man has only been able to ruin it with greater ease. Wouldn’t that include destroying thousands of square miles to drill for oil? Shouldn’t a Christian ask in their prayers to end man’s destruction of the Earth and not to increase it?

Sarah Palin supports making abortions of all sorts illegal under all circumstances, yet when asked up front about it in an interview with Katie Couric she was unable to defend her position other than to say she would advise the hypothetical worst case scenario woman/girl not to seek an abortion. If you stand for something, stand strong, state your case and stand by it. This sort of political meandering is surely a sign of things to come. She supported a bill while mayor that makes rape victims pay for their own rape kits while under the care of the public health system(getting raped in Sarah Palin world= $1200 and 20 to life for an abortion, electing an idiot= Priceless). Is this the sort of compassion America needs in a leader?

When Katie Couric asked Sarah Palin what periodicals she has read that have influenced her world view, first she replied that she had read them again (therefore at least twice), then afterward when asked to give an example said “uh… all of them, uh… any of them” and was unable to give a single example after an awkward moment of silence followed by a diversion about Alaska not being a foreign country…? WHAT? I have heard rhetoric like this before usually immediately followed by my saying in a loud voice “LIAR!” Really, if you cannot answer the question, ‘what magazines do you read’ honestly, what else are you going to lie about?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sarah Palin supports Hamas seriously? She would rather say Hamas needs our support before admitting she doesn’t know what it is? This makes a good leader? Since when is more obfuscation what Americans need?

Basic Geography: You can see Russia from the outermost Alaskan Islands

While commenting on what qualifies her having ‘foreign policy’ experience by way of Alaska’s proximity to Russia, Sarah Palin explained that she could actually see Russia from Alaska. What? So I have seen dozens of countries; does that mean I have dozens of times more experience than Sarah Palin? By her definition it does. If she bases her qualification to be V.P. on such nonsense can we trust her judgment about accepting the nomination for V.P.?

In a discussion about whether or not the U.S. has the right to invade Pakistan to stop Al Queda without the approval of their government, Sarah Palin said she would not even blink before she invaded. This was actually in complete contradiction to John McCain, whose platform has been not to invade without prior approval and should in no way be acceptable to the American people. Are we about to elect a V.P. who thinks we have the right to invade any sovereign nation in the world without blinking?

Sarah Palin spent 48 million dollars on a road that literally goes nowhere! Yet she gave her speech dozens of times claiming to have championed the fight against useless spending: is it ignorance or boldface lying? Which is worse?

Unfortunately, we should all know where this is headed. After eight years of leadership(or something), Bush has brought the U.S. success and pride in the Justice system, Iraq, the writ of habeas corpus, the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the hurricane Katrina disaster, preventing terrorism, the economy, torture, interpretation of the constitution, and general overall prosperity and good fortune across the globe (when was the last time Americans were so well liked?). If Sarah Palin, oops, I mean when Sarah Palin becomes President I am sure more great successes just like these are in store for Americans and the rest of the world, God bless.

70 is the new 40, vote Mccain 08!