Who Is Barack Obama?

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The book entitled Obama: Why Black America Should Have Doubts examines the character and intentions of the first African-American ever nominated for presidency from a major political party. The author, William Owens, Jr., argues that voting Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president can prove disastrous, if not a curse to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to the progress of Black Americans.

In his book, Owens raises critical questions as to why Black America should have serious doubts about Senator Obama becoming president of the United States, as his religious beliefs and his stance on public policy conflict with Judeo-Christian values and go against everything that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other Civil Rights leaders ever believed.

Thus, Owens warns Black America not to vote for Senator Obama, based on his charisma, his handsome features, his eloquent speeches and his black skin, but rather, judge him by the content of his character, a sentiment spoken by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.

Owens claims, as an African-American, he has developed doubts about Senator Obama becoming president based on what he has seen, read and heard. “I have come to view him as potentially dangerous—for our country and in particular for Black Americans,” Owens said. “We are often afraid to look deeper—beyond the obvious—because then we would have to be responsible for our choices and refute the belief that a person who looks like us will automatically take care of us.”

Over time, Owens has determined that Senator Obama has not been completely truthful about his place of origin, his religious beliefs or his heritage. “Obama’s life story is vastly different from the one he portrays,” Owens argued. “Barack Obama’s birth certificate, [of] which he fails to provide the original to the public, has raised questions regarding his own American citizenship and the ability to become President under the Constitution.”

“Barack Obama does not and cannot relate to our past as Black Americans because in reality he is not a Black American,” explained Owens, as he reiterated a passage from the book titled, Obama: The Man Behind the Mask, by author Andy Martin. “Obama is a Muslim who has concealed his religion. Obama has a great opportunity to be forthright. Instead, he has treated his Muslim heritage as a dark secret.”

Further, Owens contends, “Obama Senior was part of one of the most corrupt and violent organizations in Africa: the Kenyatta regime.” “I believe Obama’s secret shame at his family history of rape, murder and arson is what actualizes him.”

In the end, Owens claimed, “it is the Black mindset that presses upon us to say, give the brother a chance.” “On one level, I confess I understand this tendency. Yet, we, as Black Americans must move beyond this.”

“The excitement of having a man on the presidential ballot whose skin is browner than any in recent American history is something to consider,” said Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Many Black Americans are convinced that justice for those of us once known as Negroes in America will be done by electing a brown-skinned, African-European as President. Obviously, America is hungry for change, but America is looking in the wrong place,” she said. “Barack cannot deliver America. The Senator’s politics are neither a blessing nor praiseworthy.”

Alveda King explained that Senator Obama’s approach to solving social ills is dead wrong and can prove counterproductive to the African-American progress. “Senator Obama’s answer to the ills of society, of higher government spending, weaker national defense, continued tax dollars to Planned Parenthood, and support of gay marriage are diametrically opposed to everything African-Americans truly believe and an anathema to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Alveda King argued, “every time Barack Obama supports abortion on demand, gay civil unions and higher government spending, he is sacrificing the lives of our children and releasing injustice into the heads and hearts of America.” In addition, she claimed, “There is no justice in the onslaught of oppressive anti-life measures, such as the racist practice of abortion on demand; anti-procreation legislation; unbalanced judicial tyranny leading to excess incarceration of our young; anti-choice in the education of our youth; and a negative graphic media leading to poverty of mind and spirit.”

Real change, Alveda argued, means ending the war on American streets, putting an end to the war that wrestles against the minds of our children, ending racism and put an end to the attack against traditional-marriage families.

Concluding, Alveda King says, “For those who suggest that Barack Obama advances the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I say look again. His politics are anathema to the dream!”

Irene Warren is an intern at the American Journalism Center, a training program run by Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia.