Dear Barack Obama:
Published on -4/15/2008, 8:34 AM
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Will Manly
Dear Barack Obama:
I grew to like you over the last year.
I've always thought of you as dangerously naive at best. Eloquent, gifted, genuine, yes. But dangerously naive at best.
I couldn't vote for you -- but not because of your funny name or your lunatic pastor. I couldn't vote for you because you say we should raise taxes (even on the rich, who I'm convinced already pay too much), and because you say we should abandon Iraq (which I'm convinced would be surrendering a war we must win), and because you don't respect the Second Amendment (which I'm convinced should disqualify any politician from any office).
Still, I've liked your message of unity and your ability to inspire. And, since your rise I've hunted, quite frantically, for young conservative leaders with your talent. (To my relief, I found Bobby Jindal.)
And I've long said if you beat Hillary Clinton, you will have done your country a tremendous service. But anymore I'm having a harder and harder time rooting for you.
First came your wife's comment about being proud of America for the first time -- conveniently, right after you started winning primaries. Then came your own words about your grandmother, who is just a "typical white person" -- a racist, or at least someone with racist tendencies. (I'm a "typical white person," I suppose, and I'm no racist. In fact, little makes me angrier than when it's insinuated I am.)
Sometimes people say things they don't really mean. But this is a pattern.
Last week, we heard your comments about small-town America. Someone at a San Francisco fundraiser asked you why it's so hard for Democrats to win in rural areas. You said:
"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them ... So it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them ..."
Is that a minority? HEY CLETUS, GET THE GUN! (If only we had a job to go to, some time in the last 25 years ...)
Here's a thought: Maybe gun rights voters know gun control laws kill people and steal freedom.
Here's a thought: Maybe some of us have moral objections to an immigration system that forces rule-followers to wait decades for legal status, and rewards border-violators with amnesty.
Here's a thought: Maybe some Americans cling to their church because their pastor is a nice person, because they find love there, because there they have something they can believe in.
Here's a thought: Maybe, just maybe, us simpletons in small towns find it harder to be bigoted than all o' y'all cityfolk. Maybe, in small towns, where everybody knows your name -- and how hard you work, if you pay your taxes, how well you treat your neighbors, how often you volunteer in the community, and whether or not you're a good parent -- people see the content of your character, so they don't give a hoot about the color of your skin. (But I grew up in a small town where about a third of the population is of a different race than me. What do I know?)
And here's my favorite thought of all: Maybe small-town folks are -- really -- capable of thinking. All on our own.
You're wrong about why small-town Americans don't vote for Democrats.
We don't vote for Democrats because we're self-reliant so we don't like the government trying to "solve" everything for us. And because you tell your rich friends in San Francisco that we're dumb. And because, each election, whichever one of you is running for president traipses all over the country telling us you have all the answers, that you're the one on our side, that you understand and respect our way of life.
But each time, a little bit here and there slips out -- and by the end of the campaign, we can tell what you think about us. And we manage to learn who you really are.
And we see you're just a horse's ass.
Will Manly is a reporter for The Hays Daily News and The Stir. will@thestironline.com
I am from Kansas, and I completely agree. You spoke directly from my heart, Will. God bless you.
(Posted by: Patty from KS)
Well done : 10/6/2008
Just received this article via e-mail today, and have already forwarded it to a large group of friends across the country. Thanks to Manly for crafting an assertive and pithy piece.
(Posted by: Jax)
small towns: 9/18/2008
The article is still making it's rounds. Well put and surprise forewarded to all I know, worldwide.
(Posted by: )
un-Educated: 9/18/2008
Hey "Educated.." exactly what moral authority grants you the right to decree what amount anyone ought to be paying in taxes in the first place? Especially when those policies always seem to be set by those with no appreciation for the aggregate economic impact. Oh wait, liberals always know what's best for the rest of us. My bad.
(Posted by: Cylar)
Don't Look Now!: 9/17/2008
Thank you Will. Here is the plain truth. If Obama gets the Presidency, his Democratic puppeteers will pass any law or resolution they see fit. There will be no checks and balances. Nancy Pelosi will effectively run the country. Not Obama. She and her puppets spent the last two years trying to put a young, inexperienced, naive "Newby" in that position for a reason. The Democrytes will have control of the White House as well as Congress and the Senate! Does this scare anyone? At least Hillary would not have let them pull her strings! Think that's why she lost the nomination? I do. She had a mind of her own and they didn't want that!
(Posted by: Missouri Mad)
Amen: 9/17/2008
Thanks for your letter to Obama. I read that you've now joined the navy, so I thank you for being a patriot and defending this country and the freedoms we enjoy. I'm a small town woman and I cling to my Bible (and my gun when I need it)!
(Posted by: Melody from Birmingham, AL)
Hurrah!: 9/17/2008
Thanks, Will, for your courageous and honest editorial! I believe you speak for the Heart of America. That Heart, of course, being the part of America people like Obama have lost touch with, or have never known. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to send a "Thank you" to the e-mailer that forwarded me your article! God bless america!
(Posted by: Fan in Myrtle Creek, OR)
Sigh....: 9/11/2008
It's a sorry day when someone who's never had a real job (Obama), but has always been situated with a government position where exists tremendous health insurance plans and other benefits with which our "govenment employees" are blessed - it's a sorry day when someone like that says I'm not paying enough taxes. Apparently the 30% in income tax, the property tax, local spending taxes, automobile taxes, gas taxes, etc... equalling perhaps 50% of my income isn't enough to keep him in the manner of which he has become accustomed. Go out and get a real job -where you worry about the inflation rate and whether you are meeting market needs-where hard work keeps your job, and slackers loose. Go meet America. Meet your small town folks. Meet your....
(Posted by: Gravy Train in Illinois)
Bob Browning: 9/6/2008
"Opinions certainly can be expressed, but comments that are rude, abusive, slanderous, ....will not be tolerated" WHY was the comment from the obviously small minded and jealous Browning posted?
(Posted by: DD in Ohio)
Dear Barack: 8/26/2008
Man I cant tell you how refreshing it is to read something that is worth reading. I am so bored with the same old news articles about Obama. It is nice to see that some people still can think for themselves.
(Posted by: Mary from Ok.)
Obama Editorial: 8/20/2008
Oh, how Obama scares me...you hit the nail on the head! Thanks for sharing & thanks for letting it circulate in those annoying unsolicited e-mails we all love so much!
(Posted by: Pigeon River)
Excellent Op-Ed: 8/18/2008
Thanks to hdnews.net for not getting scared and pulling this piece. My two cents on the taxes: We've passed the point where the majority in this country subjects a minority to unfair taxation. Guess what happens when members of the minority class get tired of the treatment and leave? Our economy goes with them.
(Posted by: Greg in Wichita)
Dear Barack: 8/17/2008
I'm glad you no longer work for this paper, and I sincerely hope you NEVER work for another paper, ever again. You're just a smart-mouth punk trouble making bigot. I look forward to reading your obituary.
(Posted by: Bob Browning)
Manly's column: 8/12/2008
Well stated, very well stated. I think most of America is sick of the messes our politicians continually get us into, then force us to pay in many ways to get us out of the problems THEY create. Is anyone running for office anymore that isn't looking out for themselves first and foremost? McCain is unpredictable, but Obama is predictable in so many dangerous ways; we can't afford another FDR/Clinton/Carter era, we just can't.
(Posted by: Ron from WA)
wonderful column: 8/10/2008
Just got this from an e-friend. Thank you for so elegantly expressing the truths and sentiment of middle America. Well Done!!
(Posted by: Dutch)
Thanks!!!`: 8/3/2008
I just received this article in an e-mail and found this site to confirm its Authenticity. My hats off to you Will for having the guts to use your platform to speck the truth. I pray that MOST voting Americans will see Mr. Obama for who and what he is....before election day or we'll be in another "Great Depression" as he moves us to Socialism.
(Posted by: Chris (TENNESSEE))
Well put!: 7/31/2008
Very well written. If everyone would research the facts instead of blowing wind out their a@@. Our country would be a better place. Oh ya, all the libs. believe it should be the governments country. Crazy how bumb people can be. Keep up the excellent writing!
(Posted by: small town NV.)
Educated by the facts??: 7/30/2008
I would assume this person has never been to Kansas or could even locate Kansas on a map.
(Posted by: Chris in Kansas)
I've noticed: 7/30/2008
one can ALWAYS tell a lib, the first thing they do is call names. It only took "Educated..." 7 words to throw out "wing-nut". Why can't they have a rational, intelligent discussion on the facts, oh thats right they don't acknowledge truth/fact. Too bad, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. This column was excellent, right on. And by the way "Educated..." the IRS statistics division's July report states "the richest 1% of American taxpayers (those earning above $389,000) earned 22% of the nation’s reported income. But their share of the nation’s income taxes was 40%. In other words, the wealthiest 1% of Americans’ income tax payments are almost twice as much as their “fair share.” The same is true for other income levels as well. According to the IRS data, the wealthiest 5% of Americans earned 37% of the nation’s income, but paid some 60% of the nation’s income taxes. The top 25% of Americans earned 68% of the nation’s income, but paid 86% of the nation’s taxes. And astonishingly, the top 50% of American earners brought in 88% of income dollars, but paid 97% of all income taxes in this country. Thus, half of the American population is paying almost the entirety of income taxes." So there you have it just the facts.
(Posted by: HarleyOne)
What's wrong with Kansas: 7/28/2008
This column is making the rounds in wingnut e-mail inboxes. Not a surprise, given the ignorance exposed therein. I stopped reading when the author expressed his belief that "the rich" "already pay too much" taxes. The GAO itself disagree with your "belief." Educate yourself, will you? Maybe if Kansans started basing your opinions on facts rather than astounding ignorant "beliefs", you might stop being the laughingstocks of the country.
(Posted by: Educated by facts, not "beliefs".)
Amen!!: 7/24/2008
No comment needed - your letter says it all!
(Posted by: Jennifer from GA)
Ha Ha Ha...: 7/24/2008
That was some good reading!
(Posted by: jR...Smalltown USA)
I'd vote for you: 7/22/2008
I am so tired of politicians ruining this land. Democrats and republicans are to blame. Lets just all vote for someone else and not give either party the White House. Thank you for writing this article.
(Posted by: Maureen from HI)
awesome column!: 7/20/2008
Thank you! Finally someone that tells it like it is and what a wolf in sheeps clothing Barack Obama really is!
(Posted by: MT from NV)
great column: 7/17/2008
i am from minnesota and i just read your column in an email i had to find it to see if it was real and thank you for writing it. it couldent be more true
(Posted by: don from MN)
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