When (Presumed) Republicans Argue...

NONE OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS BLOG IS AN ENDORSEMENT FOR ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE. My apologies to former Kerry supporters who were able to engage in civil debate in the previous presidential election. I wish I had met you.

I am posting a copy of an email chain letter that made its way to me, my response to it, the response that I received from the person (name removed) who started it around my section of the clique though not directly to me, then my response to that person's response. I figured that someone might appreciate some level of irony in this matter because I don't believe that any of the persons involved in the discussion are registered democrats meaning that the candidate discussed would not appear on our ballots in May.

Subject: Who is Barack Obama
Who is Barack Obama?
Probable U.S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu , Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita , Kansas .
Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii . When Obama was 2 years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia . When Obama was 6 years old the family relocated to Indonesia . Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta . He also spent 2 years in a Catholic school.
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic School ' Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.
Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta .
Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world.
Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking Major public office in the United States , Barack Hussein has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background.
Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy.
The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States , one of their own!!!
Also, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office - he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Kuran (their equavilancy to our Bible, but very different beliefs)
HE WILL NOT EVEN S AY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE!!!!!!!!
Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country? .........NOT ME!!!!

My response:

I am extremely saddened by the [referenced]email.I am providing the recepients with a link to a video on Senator Obama's website concerning "Faith & Politics". http://www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/I provide this link so that you can listen to one instance in which Senator Obama describes his faith conversion. I remain undecided in my presidential choice. I agree with some of the points that Obama makes in the speech (which is over 30 minutes long) and I disagree with some of the points that he makes. What I find disheartening in the [referenced] email is the accusation that Senator Obama's faith commitment was not only insincere but a boldfaced lie. The bible that I read teaches that only the Lord knows the hearts of man one such reference being the words of Solomon in I Kings 8:39 KJV Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) My pastor is the son of Atheists. If I applied the logic used in the email below to my pastor, my pastor became a Christian as part of a powerplay, & was seeking to downplay his atheist background, not because he responded to the call of the Spirit of the Lord. If I apply the logic in that email to my friend Rob, whose entire family is Muslim and he was at one time too but he converted to Christianity in order to endure the rejection of his family and "downplay his involvement with Islam" so that he could become more active in the communities in which he serves???So far, I see absolutely no sense in this logic. As for the statement about swearing on the Kuran -- did that occur before or after Senator Obama's conversion? Some authentic Christians refuse to swear on bibles when giving court testimony because their interpretation of Matthew 5:36-37 (yes be yes). Would the same person dare to question and individual's faith in that case? I encourage everyone who received the email to prayerfully consider who he or she plans to vote for in the the upcoming election. I pray that each person will review the statements made by the candidates and the candidates' records rather than reading chain emails. May the Lord bless you in your decisions and may He continue to heal our land. The burden to seek change falls on us...2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Originator's response:

How dare you take the names of my friends and co-workers & send e-mails to them. If you had an opinion about an e-mail that I sent then you should reply to me & me only. In fact, I did not even send you this e-mail. Humble yourself before the Lord.

My response:

I am pleased to meet you though I am saddened that you misinterpreted my intentions. I accept the consequences of what I stated which is why I included my last name in the response. I did not realize that your email was not intended to promote open discussion of its subject. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience or offense that I caused to your friends, co-workers and loved ones. Please feel free to forward this response to them if you believe it necessary. Since you do not know me, I am providing you with an outline of my thought process & reasons leading to my response. Anytime that I receive chain emails, I check the information that is contained in them. I use snopes.com and other such sources to help prevent the spread of rumors. Since the email that I received was about Senator Obama, I went to his site (i.e. his words). I was not seeking to persuade any person's vote. I simply believe in providing complete pictures.I am a political conservative and registered Republican. I lived in Los Angeles during the penultimate presidential election and had to endure the snobbery of Kerry supporters who looked at me as if I had three heads none of which was capable of an intelligent thought when I informed said Kerry supporters of my support of President Bush. When I received the Obama email that took much the same tone of the Kerry supporters who I encountered in Hollywood, I sensed the urgency to encourage investigation of the statements made in the email. I am humbled before the Lord. So much so that I don't attempt to do His job of passing judgement upon mankind. Questioning a person's faith commitment based upon the actions of his or her parents and a person's past actions frightens me to the "n"th degree because it borders on passing judgement (Matthew 7:2). King David committed adultery and murder, but he was called a man after God's own heart.(Psalm 51). Rahab, a prostitute who hid Joshua's spies in her brothel, became part of the lineage of Jesus. (Joshua 2, Joshua 6; Matthew 15; Hebrews 11:31). The Apostle Paul killed Christ followers in the name of God before coming to the Lord and then proceeding to open all of Asia to the Gospel and writing letters that impacted the world forever (Pauline epistles). These are just three examples of extremely imperfect people who God used as part of his perfect plan. I made mistakes in my life that led me to the Lord. My family has tons of problems in in its background. My parents were far from perfect people. Should my faith be questioned because of those actions? These are some of the reason why I needed a Savior. Similar to reasons why every single human on the face of this earth is in need of the Savior. Are we saying that Senator Obama's previous actions are too heinous for even the Lord to forgive? If so, then woe to us because we are approaching the attitude of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:27). I am one of the people who is called by his name to humble myself and open this land to God's healing. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV). I am praying my way through this life holding God's right hand (Isaiah 41:10&13) and no one, no thing can ever separate me from Him (Romans 8:29-39). Such are the promises that he extends to all people who believe. May you and your house be blessed in the new year.Sincerely and humbly in HIM,Amy T [full name withheld due to blog] "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." Eph 3:20 NIV

I'm left with a question now ...

What happens if the race comes down to Senator Obama and Governor Romney?

Imagine the chain emails then.

"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night" Bette Davis as Margo Channing in ALL ABOUT EVE

12/30/07 Update
The (Presumed) Republicans made up.
Apology accepted and I see that you only mean well. I received this email & thought that it would be a good thing for people to read - not that all is probably true. My only fear is the statement that "they" will attack from within next time. Otherwise, I'm not really political & think everything is in a terrible mess right now. It doesn't matter who gets into office, they have a lot of work ahead of them. Hopefully, a person that believes in God will get into office and turn things around. God speed!

"You'll excuse me, gentlemen. Your business is politics, mine is running a saloon." Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in CASABLANCA