Your Black World: In Response To Bro. Wattree's Response

“First, Bro. Olorunda, I'd like to point out that I have a serious problem with the title of your piece. As I'm sure you're aware, Dick Cheney is often referred to as Bush's brain. So… unless you have some evidence to substantiate that assumed fact…”

Sen. Joe Biden is a 6-term Senator, who served on the Judiciary Committee from 1981 to 1995. He is also the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Barack Obama is a one-term Senator, who has barely made any landmark difference in the Senate during his short-tenure. Unless one believes in the tooth-fairy, the reason behind the selection of Biden is unmistakable.

“You then go on to say, "Many have queried Obama's obsession with the presidency of JFk , and its unmistakable impact upon the Obama campaign and it's decision-making." What evidence do you have that Obama is "Obsessed" with JFK, and what evidence do you have that this "obsession" is having an "unmistakable impact upon the Obama campaign and its decision making"?

Ted Sorensen, JFK’s chief speechwriter, was quick to point out the glaring similarities in personality, style, poise and position between JFK and BO. He wrote, “Both Kennedy and Obama have fantastically winning smiles and I might say both are very relaxed in front of an audience and on television." Senator Obama received this as a compliment. In January this year, Caroline Kennedy, JFK’s daughter, penned a piece in the New York Times op-ed page, entitled “A President like My Father.” In it, she spoke of the magnificent promises Obama hopes to fulfill, if given a chance at the White House. She concluded her misguiding piece, saying, “I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them.” Obama returned this favor by bestowing upon her, the distinguished opportunity of selecting his V.P.

“You link to an article by Paul Street. Who is he, and what credentials does he have that allows you to be so reliant on his opinion? In other words, what makes Paul Street an authority on either JFK or Obama, and how does he constitute “many”?

Paul Street is a veteran journalist who has been unmasking the imperial face of Barack Obama since 2004. You might want to pick up his newest book, “Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics.” Perhaps you might learn something different about your candidate, Barack Obama, if you entertained a different perspective. The thousands, and possibly millions of those who refuse to inhale the “Hope Bong” is what constitutes as many.

You then continue to say, "It does appear rather ironic that Sen. Obama would, just as JFK did in 1960 with Lyndon Baines Johnson, choose a running mate whose rhetoric and record is diametrically misaligned to that of the presidential candidate." What's so "ironic" about Obama's choice of Biden”?

Thanks for granting me the opportunity to expose Sen. Biden and his subordinate (Sen. Obama) for what they truly represent. If Barack Obama is truly honest in his decision to pull-out troops from Iraq, he wouldn’t pick a running mate who formerly stated, “I would support continuing what Democrats are trying to do now: transition our troops out of the civil war and into a limited mission of targeted counter-terrorism operations against Al Qaeda and like-minded groups, training Iraqis and force protection.” A truly progressive candidate wouldn’t select as a V.P, the author of the infamous, “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994” aka the “1994 Crime Bill” I’m referring to a bill which deposited 100,000 more cops on the street and escalated the incarceration rate of Black and Brown youth. If Barack Obama is the democrat he claims to be, the stark contradictions between his track-record and that of Biden should be self-revealing – unless Obama is in full support of a Police State (which would explain his FISA vote).

“Your reference to "Washington-insiders" is grossly misleading. You were obviously trying to imply that since Biden has been in the senate so long, that constitutes what Obama criticizes as Washington insiders. But your own link clearly demonstrates that Obama is referring to those in Washington who have close ties with Washington lobbyists. Did you fail to understand that, or were you purposely trying to mislead the reader, assuming that they wouldn't bother to check the link?”

To keep it plain and simple, I turn to an ABC News article published yesterday: “The industry that has given Biden the most cash has been lawyers/law firms ($6,567,404) followed by real estate ($1,297,690). Pro-Israel groups are the 8th biggest contributing industry. Obama may decry lobbyist cash (or at least federal lobbyist cash), but Biden has taken $344,400 from lobbyists since 1997 -- making lobbyists the 10th biggest contributing industry. That seems a direct contradiction of the Obama message.”

“All of these flaws were drawn from just your first paragraph. I would go on, but I think I've made my point.”

With all due respect, I believe the article is irrefutable, and I welcome any further attempts at invalidation.

“After reading your piece I'd like to ask you a question in response: What does it profit a man to forfeit his soul and gain nothing? That seems to be what you're asking Black people to do.”

I would like to pose your question back to you. “What does it profit a man to forfeit his soul and gain nothing”? If we cannot lend credence to our conscience, and all we pursue is the felicity of an historical moment, we would have to explain to the next generation - and the one coming after them - why their livelihood was traded for the comfort of the historicalness of Obama’s presidency. As far as I can tell, it’s not just Black folks engaging in quid pro quo.