Obama’s College Trip to Pakistan

The more a President has seen of the world, the better.
Interesting though is that of all three candidates Obama has consistently been the toughest on Pakistan and Musharraf. I assume because he knows very well what is going on there, and how dangerous various radical factions in the country are for our fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

What is interesting about the story is that he was studying international relation in college. That is a great thing. He knows how to deal with these people.

This one demands more scrutiny! People don’t just go to Pakistan for a getaway.

Yes, Heidarabad is nearly 100% Muslim!
“White Americans should be damned for their treatment of blacks; and America is responsible for the 9/11 attacks and the spread of the HIV-AIDS virus!”
Rev. Wright

In other news, according to Reuters, Sen. Clinton may be the Democrat whom Republicans love to hate, but most strategists say they have no fear of a match-up with her rival Sen. Obama in November’s presidential election. There is a strong consensus that Obama is “a glass jaw who is going to get hit hard.” This presents a challenge for the super-delegates who will have to make the tough decision between Obama and Clinton. Read the Reuters Report.
Another serious concern within the Obama campaign is the senator’s association between 1999 – 2002 with the self-proclaimed and convicted Pentagon terrorist, William C. Ayers to whom Obama has referred to as having “a friendly relationship”. This problem could be Obama’s “Willie Horton” and even more damaging to than his 20 year relationship with the racist Rev. Wright.

So vacationing somehow is foreign policy experience?
That is simply ridiculous.
I am more experienced in foreign policy that Obama in that case. I’ve visited more than 15 countries and lived in 3 different regions of the world. Maybe I can be commander-in-chief.
He is just being dumb.

There were already a million reasons to vote for Obama… I can make that a million and one now.
Vote Obama for your mama

Yeah, you’re right Bishop… Americans better wake up! Because Obama is a once in a lifetime candidate and everyone who works with him knows he can and will accomplish what he says he will. He really does bring a new kind of politics and more than that… a new kind of thinking. He’s the first true political leader of my generation and I couldn’t be prouder to be an American than I am right now.

I am from India . I know karachi & Hyderabad in India has lots of link with terrorists. I am not sure what he was doing.

Hey, You folks suspicious of OBAMA’s visit to Pakistan; did you not READ Tapper’s blurb about why OBAMA was in Pakistan? HE WENT WITH A FRIEND OF HIS FROM COLLEGE WHO WAS FROM THAT PARTICULAR REGION OF THE COUNTRY! Look, I know he has a funny name, yes he has been educated outside the U.S. ( shocker: not in western Europe!!)and yes he’s RUMORED to have NOT put his hand over his heart during the NATIONAL ANTHEM!!! WHAT A TRAVESTY!!! ARE you kidding me!! I can’t believe the level of people being gleefully ignorant, and acting as if having a funny sounding name,etc. is un-American! Man, a number of you are probably Democrats!!
Listen, you J.Edgar Hoover fans, as you bask in your fear of different types of people, I am sure you have as many personal “challenges” as Mr. Hoover who constantly wore a flag pin, waved a flag, and probably did a lot of unmentionable things with a flag too! I believe in this country within every fiber of my being, even when I feel my country as an African American hasn’t loved me back; warts and all!! The last thing we need to do is to continue these whispering and now shouting campaigns against people who may not have a name like yours, that may celebrate the greatness of our country in a different manner; and yes wants and expects our country to be BETTER! Well,they thought M.L. King was a COMMUNIST TOO!!

Obama is treating the American public like little kindergartners, all ga-ga about his world travels.
You must be joking – by that token, any of the hundreds of world-weary journalists will be imminently more qualified than Obami to be President.
The guy’s imbecility never ceases to amaze me. Or is it the old refrain “never underestimate the stupidity of the American public” who apparently is voting for the next American Idol.

We need to know what those cultures are like on the street level. If we don’t…if our leaders don’t, then we wait in our ivory tower for them to come here…or we blindly attack a country whose culture the administration did not know enough about to understand how the population would act.
It is a new world…we need friends on the other sides of the ponds. We need to understand what our friends are living in and be able to tell the general difference between our friends …our enemies and those peoples whose cultures can change in either direction by our actions.
It is a different world and we can either be the stodgy old neighbor who fears his neighbors and becomes the hated neighbor … because he is always nervous that something is going to happen and has never met the people in the other houses. That is the guy who has no one to call on when house gets broken into, when the floods start happening, when one of the neighbors starts threatening him the others ignore the screams and the threats…because he is just the stodgy old schmuck who has grown defensive and paranoid in his old age and wealth.

Hmmm My post seems to have disappeared
You all know if Clinton had made such silly remarks as I have lived in these countries as experience. Especially when he was a child of five. The media would be calling for her to drop out.

Steven
obama has made me a 30 years democrat a republican for this presidential election if he is the nominee.

Both Clinton and Obama have all of the qualifications needed to be president. Both are extremely astute, both know how Washington works, both know a hell of a lot more about foreign relations than George Bush did when he started and even more than he knows right now, after being on the job for nearly eight years. On the economy, health care,and education, both know more and have much more lower, middle, and upper-middle class-friendly views on education than McCain.
Racists want to tear down Obama, no matter what the pretense. Now we’re hearing that its a bad idea for people studying foreign policy in college to travel around the world, unless they stay in places were everyone sees things just like main-stream xenophobic Americans do. We wouldn’t want to elect a president who knows how the rest of the world lives and sees things, now would we?

Hyderabad is a muslim city? You don’t say! You mean a man with family that is muslim was willing to visit a city that is largely governed by muslims?
STOP THE PRESSES! This is big news! Obviously the man is a terrorist because he visited a muslim city! No one ever visits a muslim city unless they’re a muslim! ZOMG!
Islamophobics unite, and be secure in the fact that there will always – ALWAYS – be room for bigotry, fear, and irrational hatred in the Republican party.

I am American Citizen. I lived in India for 25 years. Jack your team in ABC should do more research about this “Trip to Pakistan”.
I know lot about link between Hyderabad & Karachi. Every time bomb explodes in India , Police arrest someone from Hyderabad who was trained in Pakistan. If this trip turned out to be just a regular trip, It is good news for Obama & America. If not this is serious mater

I am surprised at the comments about Muslims in general from people.
Its as if talking to a Muslim, going to a “Muslim” city, having Muslim friends, understanding the Muslim religion is somehow dirty.
When Bush sits down with the leaders of Muslim countries and enjoys their riches, countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, ect do these same people find this unacceptable?
So when a Presidential candidate has Muslim associations with “common people”, why does that need scrutiny.
This country has at least 1 million Muslims. This world has at least 2 billion Muslims and our troops are supposedly fighting for the freedom of the Muslim population of Iraq. Americans are dying for Muslims in this Bush war. Do you think that this war is about converting these Muslims to Christianity?
I distrust anyone that cannot hold a conversation with Muslims, that cannot acknowledge their religion, culture, history or mere aliveness.
This is absolutely a plus for Obama. This is the intelligence, knowledge, diplomacy and egalitarianism that a President should have. The ability to work with all groups of people. To assess situations out of intelligence and knowledge, not out of fear and intolerance.
Not the fear, isolation, negative connotation and intolerance towards a population of people that we as Americans have been told to hate and loath.

I’d very strongly agree with Toby who thinks “silly” the idea a childhood home in a different part of the world is significant to one’s life experience. I am a voracious reader of biographies. One’s understanding of the world, is greatly formed by that early experience. As a “current” example, look at Greg Mortenson of Three Cups of Tea. He had no idea how immensely impacted his later life would become by his childhood years living in third world countries with his American missionary parents. His incredible accomplishments of the present are based on a broader world view and understanding that is rooted in his formative years. FOr like reasons, I believe Obama’s multicultural background as a child has much more to do with understanding of the world beyond the good old USA than Clinton’s “if its Tuesday, this must be Ireland” type of first lady travels.

I am not suprised obama told you journalist something that was news to you.
You all have not bothered to investigate obama-
because you know your bread and butter is to run down sen. clinton. that is easy and it pays the bills.
but now we have obama this close to becoming the nominee-with you help because you have failed to fully vet this man-a lovefest you should have tee shirts and caps that say
The MEDIA (heart) OBAMA
there is a lot more you don’t know about him-but you maybe able to find out if you would just investigate.
You can start with the Larry Sinclair and obama affair.
and who is william ayers?
there is so much we do not know about this man. but one thing we know after listening and watching him is he is not ready to be our president.
and a further indication he is not ready is to say that
a three week vacation as a young college student is more experience that am american first lady going on official visits to countries.
I have two questions for Mr all wise well traveled obama
1. Were you using pot or cocaine while on your trips.
2. and if trips by first ladies are so inadequate-What will michelle do and where will she go?

Toby writes: “When I was visiting France there was a serial rapist on the loose in Paris, the same city I was visiting at the time! Now that is what I call keeping a cool head in a pressure situation!”
Hmmm, so you admit to having ties with a serial rapist!! I hope you have no presidential ambitions.

For the last 7 1/2 years, our country has been going down. The rich are getting very rich (oil company & Wall Street executives), and still when someone present ideas and a vision to give the government to the people, instead of the way it is you become weary. President Bush, bankrupt three companies, personally profited from forcing private homeowners out because his business arrangements with the Texas Ranger’s stadium. Now our country is in economic turmoil because of lack care of the people.
You question Sen. Obama visit to Pakistan and India, while in college. He’s the only candidate that has continued to talk about empowering the people of the US, from bottom up and not top down.
I pray that I’m wrong, but the only reason some people object to the vision of Obama becoming president is because of the color of his skin and not the content of his ability. It’s sad, but it is what it is, don’t beat around the bush. For you that feel this way, say what you mean so that a dialogue can be began to bridge America, not divide. Our history has had enough division, now it’s time to mend the fence to restore our great NATION.

I am not questioning Obama’s patriotism. But I want to be sure I am voting for someone who thinks about America first before other countris, as he will be the President of this country and not some other country.
I can understand why he went to Karachi (becoz his friend was from there), but why to Hyderabad? He could have gone to major cites like Delhi or Bombay… He could have gone to visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal but why to Hyderabad? There is nothing great in Hyderabad for a person visiting India for the first time.

So if we use Obama’s “vacation=experience” argument…..if Paris Hilton ran for President she would win because she’s vacationed everywhere and that gives her the most experience.
and all she would have to learn is…
sunnis-accept all four caliphs
and
shiites-reject the first three caliphs and only accept ali.

Obama is a tool of the extreme far left. The liberal intelligentsia (?) have a character that they can shift-shape like Gumbo.
His sponsors (mostly eastern elite) pull his strings. Clearly, he’s a puppet who says what the ventriloquist says. Something different every day.
So, vote for the puppet. The right will vote as expected. We in the middle however, will vote for sensibility not transparency. Game over!

Joe Canadian’s got it right. For a third millenium people living who have achieved so much in our brief time as a nation, we seem frightentingly parochial at times. How come the rest of world sees Obama’s multicultural background a great positive, and we are still talking about whether his middle name sounds too “unAmerican”.

wow so many negative comments for Barack Obama, that he is incompetent, that he is a creep and divider, that he is a glass jaw, that he lacks experience. all this things were all refuted by how Barack managed his campaign. He is winning in all fronts,he has a united campaign, all the kitchen sink including the kitchen were tthrown by Hillary to him, but where’s Barack standing compare to Hillary, far cry Obama has all the qualities to lead.LOL!!!!!

alee25
I can assure you that I am educated and I will not be voting for another republican as long as I live. The fact republicans allowed big business to run our country into the ground is inexcusable. The republican run congress has allowed for no over site and with no over site big business has turned our country into the laughing stock of the world. Big business would have us all working in sweat shops if they had their way. Time for us all to stand up and say no more to this and demand a change in our country before we end up like Rome.

Why is this so shocking? I was born in the U.S. and my best friend from college lives in India. I plan to visit him soon. Does this frighten you? How absurd! Take the time to really get to know other cultures, stop being “ethnocentric.” By the way, Hyderabad is in southern India, a stone’s throw away from the west coast where you’ll find Goa. Goa is a resort town full of “westerners.” Ooooohhhhh, how scary!!

Three weeks in Pakistan being a tourist? A family visit to Africa, again being a tourist? And this is foreign policy experience? Have we really been reduced down to such a low level of ignorance? I’ve lived and worked in six foreign countries (farther away then Canada and Mexico), spending three years in one of them. Does this make my foreign policy experience greater then Obama’s? Obama’s statements are just ridiculous and I wish the media would start questioning these wild assertions of his.

If I use Obama’s qualifications to vet my own while I was in the United States Navy then I am more qualified than he is. I visited many countries and spent many time with locals on my deployments.
I do not think that 3 weeks in Pakistan and 4 years in Indonesia qualifies him as an expert on foreign relations. I will say this as I have many times, knowing the people is not the same as knowing the heads of states.
I also question his experience. He once said I will even meet with the Canadian president. Well the Canadians do not have a president they have a prime minister. You have to wonder if he even knows who is the head of state in most countries. He couldn’t even remember the name of the new Russian president. Hillary did though. She had a hard time with the pronunciation of his name but that is okay because Russian in and of itself is a difficult language since they do not have vowels.

3 areas of the world compared to 80 is NOT a huge amount of more experience. Especially when you take into consideration he was a college student during the one he brags about the most. That has no merit as a political agenda. Is this why he was so concerned about his Passport breach? Who is he to downplay the trips that Presidents and First Ladies take? If he becomes President maybe he won’t go on ANY trips just to prove his “I am different than the current Washington politicians”

FSI & Likely Notabigdeal:
In 1981, Al-quiada was funded by Regan administration . Madrassas were there from time immemorial.

So, now he has been to Pakistan for three weeks. I have to assume that someone is getting ready with a story about this that Obama wanted to get ahead of. This seems to be the only reason Obama shares information. So, what will we find out? That Obama WAS a practicing Muslim before he switched to Christianity? I’d really like to know more about what he did and where he went will in Pakistan? Who did he see? Who’s his friend and where is he at now?

Chill out guys.
I am not questioning Obama’s patriotism. But I want to be sure I am voting for someone who thinks about America first before other countris, as he will be the President of this country and not some other country.
People can visit where ever they want, but there must be some reason. I can understand why he went to Karachi (becoz his friend was from there), but why to Hyderabad? He could have gone to major cites like Delhi or Bombay… He could have gone to visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal but why to Hyderabad? There is nothing great in Hyderabad for a person visiting India for the first time.

I leaved in america five years and travel many times
in your country, does that make me a klu klux klan
friend!!!!!!!!!
I was in vacation in Pakistan in mid seventies they all loved america at the time !!!!! watched James Bond movies and drinked coca-cola!!!!!
and a lot of young american too were going ….

DOUBLE STANDARD.
Hillary’s first lady trips don’t count as experience, but Obama’s SINGLE college road trip with a friend does? A road trip to Pakistan will beat McCain?
It is laughable!

The best barometer to judge who’s better to manage our country between Barack and Hillary, it is how they run and manage their own campaign. Just compare it and you’ll see who is most capable…simple…. its the campaign stupid!!!!!!LOL

It is shame, Obama is telling he knows more about shia & sunni. His biological father was a Muslim. His step father was a Muslim. He lived Indonesia for 6 years which is a muslim country. he visited Paskistan & Hyderabad. what else he needs.
Greatest Country on this planet is about to fall. Get ready by electing Obama

Trip to Pakistan in 1981 at the start of fundamentalist unrest there. Then goes to Hydrabad in India, not a tourist spot in India by any stretch of imagination. Why not Delhi to see Taj Mahal, why not Bombay to see the Ajanta and Ellora caves which is ancient goes back to several thousand years, why not Goa where most Western tourists go for its serene and beautiful beaches.
To compare my own experience of foreign travel, I have been to every country in Latin America, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Sigapore, Indonesia, China, Germany, UK, Poland, Denmark, for business and met several hundred business people and have done business. Does that qualify me knowledgeable and better prepared in foreign policy, I think not!
There is some smelly in them fish wrappers!

This is a very dangerous development and we need to know more immediately!
Since this would have been the 1980′s I have to wonder if Obama was running weapons to Pakistan, then our bestest ally, under the direct orders of Ronald Reagan? Was Obama involved in the GOP’s covert operations to arm the Mujahideen (um…I mean “Freedom Fighters”) to defeat the Godless Soviets? Was he involved in any way with Rambo III, the furiously anti-Russian/pro-Islamic fundamentalist epic set in Pakistan and Afghanistan? I worry about that only because it such a bad movie. I would hate for a U.S. President to be associated with bad movies. (Cough.)
Maybe Obama is the most dangerous element of all, a secret Republican sympathizer? Because that’s certainly one thing America cannot afford under any circumstances.

Obama’s mother was an atheist and a socialist. Looks like she wanted to do things that are not mainstream (Rebel). She married a Kenyan and then an Indonesian. Obama grew up in a confused environment and might have gone to Pakistan to see if he can relate himself to the culture there…nothing wrong in what he did.
To me it seems Obama has more diversity… no doubt about that. However, I am skeptical to have someone like that as President. He could be a great replacement for Condi Rice.

Does anyone here really think that either Clinton or Obama have traveled more widely than McCain?
McCain has done more of the the traveling diplomat thing than Clinton has. He has done more of the vacation thing than Obama has.
Oh yeah, he has also done the kill our enemies and been tortured thing. I wonder how many of you know that McCain had the opportunity to be released from that prison because his Father and Grandfather were Admirals? The Vietnamese wanted to let him go for propaganda purposes. He refused to go unless they also let out the men that had been there longer than him. He was tortured for three additional years because of this decision.
For me, I’d much rather have a leader who does what he believes is right, even if the polls disagree. That is the difference between leading and following.
Oh and yes Juan, you are absolutely right, it IS a fight between intelligence and “dumbness”.

I agree with the last comment. Let’s be real: I lot of problems and mistakes that the United States has in the world are predicated on one fact: That we have little knowledge or understanding about the world’s cultures, languages and religions though other countries tend to understand better than we do ourselves. How is it that most people in foreign countries know English as well as their own countries’ native language, but folks here (I included) only know English? Or for that matter, most of us wouldn’t know where the city of Manama is. We tend to have this “ugly” belief that the whole world wants to be like us, when the reality tends to be that they want JUST some aspects of what we have. We need to respect that, even though we often don’t agree.
I often wondered: If we didn’t station our troops in Mecca or/and Medina during the Operation Desert Shield/Storm would Osama Bin Laden took offense like he did and created Al Qaeda? Also, most of Al Qaeda’s funding came from Pakistan’s own ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).

The man is deluded. And by the way, when he’s a millionaire, why is his grandmother still living in a hut???
Why does anyone think he would do anything to improve their lives, when he doesn’t even care about his own “impoverished” family in Africa.
That’s pretty rich coming from someone who lives in a 2 million dollar house.

I can not believe you just said that as if Condi Rice has done a good job. She is a joke. Every one in the world takes what she says with a grain of salt you know why because she is just another one of Bush’s yes people that never tell that moron what he has and is doing in the world is wrong.

Anon: Is there a point to your question?
When was the last time Obama was tortured for his beliefs?

I’m an Independent in Florida, and it’s now become so obvious that the BOTH Obama and Clinton are completely incompetent! It seems like every time either candidate says anything, their words cannot be trusted.
Neither Democratic candidate has any chance in the general election against McCain. I’m voting McCain.

Political trips may be as described, but Clinton also had State Dept meetings about each of the countries she visited, hosted visitors from other countries, and has demonstrated a clear understanding of how things work in various countries and the level/type of diplomacy required to move agendas. Great that Obama knows the lay of the land and people in 3 countries – does he understand how to use the various resources of Pres staff, State dept, intelligence, etc — has he ever dealt w/any aspects of managing that or even been on the periphery? No – he was a visitor — not even enough true insight to write a travel guide, let alone leverage insight/resources to negotiate in the open and in secret, or to make trade-offs b/w conflicting claims. In contrast, HRC has 8 yrs in the WH, 8 yrs in the Senate on the Armed Svcs committee which does incl intl/national security issues, and has seen first hand how to manage conflicting pressures.

I will vote democratic only if it is Hillary/Obama or Obama/Hillary.
We cannot win with any other ticket.

In the United States of America, is there no more “religious freedom?”
I ask because I fail to understand why Senator Obama’s middle name or religion continues to come into question.
btw: Great post Zubin

Is that all it took for so many people to post negative remarks about Mr.Obama. He went to a country where ther are a lot of muslims. It appears that every McCain and Clinton backer thinks this is some how a problem. What they do not realize is that they the people who want to paint a whole religion with a tainted brush are the minority. Thank God Almighty. What they should do is look around, right here in America are people who are Muslim. People who they look up to and respect. They see them everyday on their T.V. sets, and read their stories in the newspapers and magazines. They are doctors, lawyers, congressmen, bus boys , and set on the boards of some of the richest companies,they own some of the richest companies in this country. Heck you may be working for one of them or a family member may have a six figure job working for them. And you know why, because this is America and these Muslims are good decent hard working Americans. So if the only thing bad you can say about Mr.Obama is that he visited Pakistan,your candidates must be in a whole lot of trouble. You have began to grasp at straws. I leave it to you

All you Obama-bashing democrats picked Kerry last time, didn’t you? See where it got us! Try some change this time.

Look, I am an Obama supportert. If my state’s primary were held today, I would probably still vote for him, but it is more questionable now. I am just begininng to get the feeling that I don’t really know this candidate, and that is making me uneasy.
I always knew that Clinton had more experience than him. And I still believe she does especially in foreign affairs. I find it beneath my candidate to try and pad his resume like this. I traveled throughout Europe in college, but that in NO way prepared me to handle foreign affairs for the US. You have to know and have working relationships with the heads of states and political leaders in these countries. That is were decisions are made. I love that he thinks he understands the people of Pakistan after what 3 weeks?! I think that is a little naive.
Come on Obama. I backed you for reasons beyond your experience. Don’t exaggerate or pad your resume (you’ve seen what happened to other contender when they went down that road. Even a supporter like myself (not an Obamamaniac) is not going to take this seriously.

Ok. So the boy went to Pakistan, America’s most important ally right now.
And mean while Hillary declared LTTE is not a terrorist group, a banned organization in US and FBI named as world worst terrorist group than Al Qaeda. LTTE people fundraising for Hilary in US and Europe, while bombing children marathon events in Sri Lanka.
So who is left?

I find it very interesting that the people who criticize a person for their religious beliefs are exactly the people who have none.

The bottom line is there are million advisers that can tell you about the people of a country… as president you need to make decisions in dealing with governments that are in the best interest of the USA… Obama is naive

OMG, is Obama lying AGAIN???? talk about exaggerating his experience, this is utterly ridiculous. To say that his childhood and college times in foreign countries equates to foreign policy experience is not only absurd, but also painful in that his followers will STILL believe him. Obama had ONE chance to muster some foreign policy experience when he chaired a subcommitte on NATO, and he did NOT hold one hearing over more than a year. Not only is this a lack of experience, it is downright irresponsible. Obama is a fool; sadly, his followers are even more so, for not seeing the ugly truth.

steve
Are you kidding? He spent from age 6 to 10 in Indonesia in elementary school and 3 weeks in Pakistan with a buddy from college and you think that qualifies him for foreign service? That is ridiculous!
If that is all it takes, I am far more qualified since I spent several months in Indonesia and have travelled to over 20 countries on vacations longer than 3 weeks. Steve, get a hold of yourself, trying to bulk up the guys empty resume only fools the fools! Let’s hope you wake up and vote based on FACTS not on your emotions or we will end up with McCain. I am a lifetime Democrat and I USED to support Obama, but there is NO WAY I would vote for him now that I know more about him, his racist beliefs, his horrible inaction in Chicago as a State Senator, his lack of a resume and his constant LYING. He lies when the truth would serve him better.

After reading all of these comments it sounds like most of you are voting for the party instead of the person to bad Obama isnt running on the Indpendent Ticket I never voted until Regan ran his second term I didnt like him for what he did to the american work force remember what he did to the air trafic controlers sence then big business and partys from both sides has been selling America down the river and if not why are we in the mess that we are in??Maybe just maybe Obama might be the real deal I lost my job of 22years in a factory thanks to bill clinton we dont need another clinton.Iam tired of voting for the better of two eveils So go Obama!!!!!!

His rearing in Pakistan is exactly the reason I would question his decision making as President of the US. He would be much more likely to sympathize with the muslim extremist and our enemies than with his own country… we all know what the extremist think of us… give me a break with this change mantra… change to what a Shia society?

Obama withers even under the slightest scrutiny. He has the most foreign policy experience? Yeah right. And when he gets the chance with a key chairmanship in the Foreign Relations Committee, he does nothing with it. Who is Obama? What is he for? What will he do if elected? I know he wrote that
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” I know his election will be a fulfillment for Wright and Farrakhan.

Readers:
I am from Hyderabad, India and am Hindu. Hyderabad is a fascinating place that represents the intersection of many cultures and religions-Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. 40% of Hyderabad is Muslim- that is NOT A MAJORITY.
Hyderabad is now a center of IT in India, with Microsoft, Google, etc.
Why should Senator Obama go to Delhi or Mumbai? Should everyone visiting America go to Washington D.C. and New York? India is a big and diverse country. Your ignorance is astounding and shows why America’s reputation has sunk so low in the world.
I think it is great he’s been to hyderabd- it is a gem that tourists often overlook.

Obama is the creation of an internet campaign by far left zealots like moveon.org… with any careful scrutiny he is not presidential material… If he was running against anybody but Hillary he would be dead in the water

Obama dropped the Pakistan and India visit because his campaign got wind of a stinkbomb coming their way. This is not a coincidence. It is duck and cover.
Obama would have had these trips on his resume if they were enhancers. He is trying to get ahead of the news and there is more troubled water ahead.
How do I know? I know politics. This guy is losing his armor, plate by plate. Time is his enemy. Seven and a half months is a century when you are running solely on mystique.

Let’s see, who “knows about a bunch of stuff” that Obama is not an expert on? Obama wants to be “Commander-and-Chief-like.” He says he knows a “bunch of stuff” about foreign countries. Like, oh my god. Gag me with a spoon. Totally.
Except for having lived in Indonesia as a child and having relatives in Africa, he sounds like George Bush. Are we seriously going to elect this noob?

“I ask because I fail to understand why Senator Obama’s middle name or religion continues to come into question.”—
Short attention span and memory lapses of American History students? Has anyone checked to see if Obama’s friend’s name was Beavis?

All that hatred can not hide the fact that Obama is the greatest promise to USA after Martin L King. You take this chance get him as President or lose it and stand behind a regular politician like Clinton and McCain. There are no shortage of them, they come in dozens every year.

How come Obama’s most of the so called world experience is in the ‘Islamic extremist’ safe haven countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Kenya? What was Obama doing in Pakistan for 3 weeks? Even the only part of India that he visited happens to be one of the most Muslim populated area in India. What do all these experiences tell us? Media needs to dig deep into this.

Obama supporters who say Clinton does not deserve/need to be on the ticket are mistaken.
How else will you get Hillary supporters to vote Obama instead of McCain?
If Hillary wins the nomination and she didn’t put Obama on the ticket there would be a riot!

Nobody claims that Obama is a Muslim… but according to his writings and action he clearly identifies with their culture, causes and people more than his own… so this puts him at odds with most Americans and creates a problem for him if he wants to lead us

killGS: Nobody is saying the Obama is muslim and being muslim is non patriotic. Actually Obama is the one who is ashamed of his middle name for no reason. Obama is the one who defends his non-patriotic pastor. Obama is the one who claims world experience based on his frriends and family visits to three extremist haven countries (Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya).

Hey KillGS – did you forget the Hindus that were burned alive prior to riots in Gujarat? Or that the Ayodhya mosque was built on the same spot (by Babar the barbarian) as birth place of Lord Ram and to date Hindus are denied that spot for worshipping? But then all you remember is the food you get to eat on Ramzan and ID. Sold your soul for food?

Namratha:
Why do you have your salwar in a bunch? GS is not asking about Taj Mahal. By continuing to be rude – you are doing a fine job of publicity for Hyderabad.

I stopped watching CNN as it has become ONN (Obama News Network). Never watched MSNBC as they are the MOST biased channel. Now a days, only Fox (for a surprise) and ABC are the ones who report stories and not spin it Obama’s way.

I wonder how many aspiring US college students from Hawaii went to visit Southern Pakistan on their breaks in 1981???
Doesn’t this sound just a little bit strange to anyone?

Hyderabad in the 1980′s is described as a mecca for child prostitution. It is described as tribal in that it was sanctioned by the culture.
“The only detailed information concerning it comes from a study conducted by the Joint Womens programme in Hyderabad and Secunderabad in early 1980′s.”
Here is the article and study:

Oh yeah not only is it strange to go to Southern Pakistan as a Hawaiian College student on break, but then to hide it for a year while running for President is also just a little odd.

I still think he must be intentionally misspeaking Hyderabad, Pakistan for Hyderabad India.
I’d like to see his passport stamp from India or a return flight from there to show that it wasn’t Hyderabad Pakistan he actually visited, for some mysterious reason.

Tapper heard some new from Obama and asked for more information. Sounds like a professional responsibility for a professional journalist who is covering the news. But, WOW, that very act makes him anti-Obama.
Am I right to suspect that a lot of people are on constant pins and needles that Obama is going to be exposed?
What do you fear with your labels of Xenophobia, Haters, etc? You don’t think your man has the stuff to win?

As a ultra right wing conservative, I am disappointed that Mr. McCain will be our next president. I will support Mr. Obama in an effort to reveal the true efforts of the Democratic Party, which is Socialism. Obama is a communist…enjoy!

@ AJ
I don’t think Hillary supporters care if the place he visited had a large population of Muslims or not. I know Obama’s not a Muslim, but if he was we would not care, we respect that religion just like any other religion. To be honest I would prefer him to be a practicing Muslim than having a relationship with Wright for the past 20 years.
Anyways, CLINTON SUPPORTERS WANT TO KNOW HOW MEETING WITH A FRIEND’S FAMILY GIVES YOU MORE EXPERIENCE THAN MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THOSE COUNTRIES?
DOES HIS FRIEND’S FAMILY HAVE POLITICAL INFLUENCE? DOES THE FAMILY MAKE ANY IMPORTANT DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTRY?

Black Sheep posted:
“Barack Obama is a born speech maker. This has been a real asset to his career as an lawyer”
His accomplishments as a lawyer are very scant. I doubt he ever tried a case, himself. He argued one appeal. Even as Editor in Chief of Harvard Law Review, he never had anything published. That is unprecedented.

Oh common now since obama has been in Pakistan you conservatives will say he was meeting with Osama. And that he is a manchurian candidtate

Hyderabad in the 1980′s is described as a mecca for child prostitution. It is described as tribal in that it was sanctioned by the culture.
“The only detailed information concerning it comes from a study conducted by the Joint Womens programme in Hyderabad and Secunderabad in early 1980′s.”
Here is the article and study:

I just want to know if the friend’s name was Osama.

Hillary should now admit that Obama has more experience, at least when it comes to Pakistan. Gotta luv it!

I would be interested to know WHO the college buddy is and what that buddy is doing now.

more hype. im kind of tired of all the bs. when are we going to have an election that deals with issues that pertain to the serious problems we have here at home? i wouldnt vote for obama because of the way he treated that guy that wanted to take a picture with him. never mind about that, it was more how obama looked at him. one facial expression can make a story. then we have the story of his church preaching hatred and blame? i have heard obama blame and have seen the eyes of hatred. i have heard rumors that obama is praticing islam? is he a christian muslim, and which faction of islam is he loyal to?

Obama isn’t arrogant, he’s correct.
McCain & Clinton both seem to think that the best way to fight al-quida is to attack countries that don’t harbor the organization. Obama is the only candidates saying that Pakistan (where Osama Bin Laden is) should be considered.
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been playing the game if you can’t admit reality. Obama has proven he knows more about foreign relations if only for the fact that he’s dealing in reality and not conjecture and fear to fulfill an ulterior motive.
I hope people take Rove’s cue and begin calling Obama arrogant as the new insult ‘de jour’, because it gives him the chance to point out that despite Clinton and McCain having decades of ‘experience’ all they have to show for it is a working knowledge of getting what they want, regardless of whether it best for this Nation or whether it even has grounding in the real world.
The reason the mud slinging hasn’t hurt him and it won’t hurt him, is because it’s difficult to go from someone who is speaking truth to someone who is telling you that up is down and that Iran is a bigger threat to this country than the man who already attacked us. It’s sad that such old powerful figures in the parties have to be called out on their ignorance, but it has to happen for us to get to the work of finally fighting this War on Terror based on the reality of where the threat truly is.

I really enjoyed Dan Abrams several weeks ago when he interviewed Susan Rice, one of Obama’s Foreign Policy advisors. He asked her to describe Obama’s foreign policy experience. She responded that he has been interested in foreign policy ever since he was an undergraduate. Even Abrams had to laugh at that. She seemed to think it was a good answer.

@ Jared Pitts
The mud slinging hasn’t hurt him because the MEDIA decided he will be the Democratic nominee.
Just like the MEDIA decided Kerry be the nominee in ’04 and where did that get us?
More BUSH!

Well, folks, Obama was not saying 3 weeks in Pakistan is what qualifies him to be president. Among many other things, the context was that he’s known longer than any other candidate the difference between Sunni and Shia, which among many other things is indeed a relevant factor in deciding who will make intelligent foreign policy decisions. McCain may have just learned the difference last month—not sure when HRC figured it out.
This is merely a fact used to bolster Obama’s overall argument that understanding people and cultures other than our own is an asset, and perhaps a greater one than the whirlwind 1-4 day tours surrounded by handlers, embassy staff, and political elites HRC mostly has done, in making sound judgment calls in foreign policy. Now, I think it’s fair enough to argue the other side there, but on this board I think a lot of people are mischaracterizing what Obama has said.

Drip Drip Drip Pakistan & Hyderabad
Drip Drip Drip

Iam from Hyderabad, India. Hyderabad is a high-tech city, (silicon valley of india). Lot of Americans work and live in Hyderabad. Microsoft, Intel, IBM have offices in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad is also 40% muslim.
Is it possible that all the american companies who opened branches in Hyderabad support terrorism?? Som ething to think about

Keep it Obama supporters the more you deny the facts about him the better chances he will lose.
As far as Pakistan goes, he know s the least, see Musharref is an ally, and he is in a tricky situation. And if we go in there is no guarantee we get Obama but there is a guarantee we lose an ally. because Musharref will be overthrown!
I find it fuuny that Osama will talk with our enemies but not our allies. I mean he insulted our strongest Ally Australia.
He believes we should let Al Qeada regroup instead of keeping them on the defense.
He wants to raise our taxes so he can get his wife another raise!!

No candidate should be given a cakewalk, it does not serve any of us well. Obama should be vetted the same as Clinton and Mccain, this is not a Miss Congeniality contest. This is no game it’s our future.

Despite what Limbaugh’s “Conservatives-for-Hillary” crowd says, it will be an advantage to have a president who understands several foreign (especially, non-Western) cultures well. Although having courtesy tea ceremonies with leaders or their wives shouldn’t be dismissed as meaningless, that isn’t a substitute for getting to know the people of a country. Admittedly, though, these are minor points. Clinton and Obama are close on most issues; either would be better than McCain by far.

During the campaign in New Hempspire, Obama made clear that he does not share the views of Democrats who downplay the risk of Islamist terrorism. He also talked about Muslims who seek to create a repressive caliphate. “To defeat this enemy, we must understand who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for.”
A Great speech right!
But in quelling another race-related flap involving Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan. Obama said “I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan,”
Clearly, his speeches and the friends he associates with shows a real Obama – A person whose talks and actions rarely found coherent. Labeling him a man of double-talks is not unfair.
Actually, he is very consistent in his behavior. Take Rev. Wright issues and listen to him on video. He unconsciously exposes his mind and the “truth Obama”.
You can imagine what he did in Pakistan for 3 weeks. Going to church?

I will take Obama’s “foreign experience” over that of the other two “experienced” candidates for sure now. That they have been running the very committee that allowed the $ 3 Trillion and climbing failure that they call a war tells me all I need to know about their “experience”. Taking the disneyland tour of other countries mirrors exactly what they have done here, taken the disneyland tour of America. We have problems out here, we have problems over there, they are out of touch. Replace them with the best choice, the only person that is NOT A CROOK OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

I agree with the first comment (by Greta). He was in Karachi, and I expect his friend’s family discussed the problems in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) which have NEVER been under the control of the government of Pakistan. I expect Obama DOES understand what’s going on, unlike some of the posters here who apparently think Pakistan is one homogenous group of people.

After reading through most of these INCREDIBLE comments, it’s apparent: most of the bloggers on this board wouldn’t vote for Obama even if he spent every minute of his life in the United States, wearing a flag pin on every item of clothing he owns, as a practicing Quaker!
The two things you REALLY want from him, he can’t give you. He can’t have a caucasian biological father, and he WON’T renounce the name given to him by his father.
If these bloggers did truly represent the voters of American (thank GOD they don’t), this country would really be in BIG trouble. Shameful, shameful posts!

WestCoastMessanger and HillLovers, Musharaf is a tribal leader, a dictator and we all know that official visits and meetings are a painting in rose of the reality. Obama has lived with people and know how they feel and think about life and the world, these are not security briefings or tea-parties with kings or queens or dictators around the world. That is the real difference between Obama and Hill the Bosnian General and McNasty the Governor general of Bagdad. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

The “game” is over. McCain wins!

As I recall, President Bush did not know who the President of Pakistan was when he ran for president. You haters out there praised and voted for President Bush but when a Columbia Harvard educated man who is world traveled comes to handle the same task you have issues, problems and pure hatred. How pathetic!

How can Obama count his 4 year-old young babyhood life as his experience……..
He might not even read….LOL

Are you calling McCain a liar?

Now this is the ultimate in experience….By the way who was the “friend” from Pakistan and what exactly did Obama learn that will help him with foreign policy decisions?
Naturally most of the mainstream media will stay away from this one…and when Clinton brings it up there will be lots of charges of racism….
Is there anyone out there in the media that is getting a little nervous about the “Selling of a candidate”?

“Obama has lived with people and know how they feel and think about life and the world, these are not security briefings or tea-parties with kings or queens or dictators around the world.”
That is a bold stretch to liken 3 weeks in Pakistan and a few years in Indonesia to worldly experience that eclipses anything that McCain or Clinton have done. He has given NO details about what he did in Pakistan. The MSM should ask him.

@Roja: The only thing Clinton has said is that _while in flight, she was advised that there may be a risk of sniper fire_. She never claimed, at any time (for the chronic myopic among us), that she was under fire. End of your lie.

At least Obama knows the difference between Shiites and Sunnis, and Al Qaida and extremist militia. That’s more than you can say for the media’s vaporware “foreign policy” expert, John McCain.
But hey, McCain did finish 894th out of 899 midshipmen in his Annapolis class! So somewhere out there there are at least 5 Navy veterans who know even less than he does. Maybe the media should track them down and ask them some simple questions about the middle east and see if they do any better than McCain.

Oh Come on! A college trip to Pakistan as example of foreign affairs experience?
I think Senator Obama is feeling the fatigue of the campaign to make such an outlandish statement…
it will come back to haunt him…

Let’s see, I’ve lived for two years in Europe, traveled all over the place – have many international friends, I guess that qualifies me to nominate myself to the Presidency. Give me a break!
Obama is an egomaniac.

“When Senator Clinton brags ‘I’ve met leaders from eighty countries’”
This guy is truly arrogant. Presidential election aside, it is just not cool to denigrate the work of any first lady.
Somebody get this guy a towel because he’s going to be wiping egg off of his face soon.

I know most say we have to evaluate Hillary on her own credits. Thats fien but here the bottom line about Hillary’s foreign experience. Not only does she has her own, but will have her husbands who just happened to be an ex-president and can serve her as counsil in case an international crisis…so please. Obama cannot win on this one.

Obama is correct. Hanging out with a few elites in various countries is different from living among the citizens. Yes, it is all part of a life’s experience.

Visiting foreign countries doesn’t give one foreign policy experience. However, Obama is good on listening, so that’s why it makes a difference. He is empathic, and so he has a better chance at getting at the root source of the problem.
You can’t really solve the problem if you don’t know what the problem is. Obama knows how to get to the heart of the problem, and whether we want to deal w/ it is another matter.
Obama has shown that he has a good learning curve, so there’s a great potential in him. Hillary, despite her claim of experience, has not demonstrated it thus far in this campaign.

“Obama has shown that he has a good learning curve, so there’s a great potential in him”
We don’t have time for on the job training. You wouldn’t hire a kid right out of MBA school to be CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, would you?

I used to be a buyer and traveled all over the world.
Does it make me qualified as a president?

countallthevotes
Good point. Unfortunately, with Obama, we’ll never know.

Personally, I don’t think Obama can compete with Hillary on Worldly experiences. For one, he has never come under sniper fire. Hillary however, has come under numerous(0) attacks.

@ crisis08
Maddrasa is an Arabic word that means school. He went to an English speaking secular school. Please educate yourself before you throw around fear mongereing comments such as your previous one. I may not even be an Obama supporter, but I sure don’t subscribe to the type of idiotic hype that people lick to throw around about him. If you’d like to know what a madrassa is, there’s a good wiki on it…

“Yes we can,” WHAT?
I don’t get it.

Obama is a farce.

Am I a part of the WE? Because I don’t get it.

All the comments on here can pretty much sum up why the younger generations (including myself) don’t even bother voting. It’s always the same old he-said, she-said B.S. that never seems to end. Everyone thinks if their candidate doesn’t win, the world is going to end. If one side was right all the time, the other party wouldn’t exist by now. By the way, if you want to make intelligent arguments, at least try to come off as intelligent and do a little spelling/grammar checking. These comments look like they were written by third graders.

If this were April Fool’s Day, I’d be sure this was a joke. Unfortunately, this is classic Obama; a Legend in His Own Mind. I hate to bring up the 37 bowling score but think about this: this guy who has such great judgement and very little experience thought he’d just saunter into the alley and knock those pins down like a pro. Who needs schooling; how hard can it be, right? Does anyone see a correlation here between delusions of grandeur and the hard knock of reality? Obama is weak, he has trouble making a decision, his judgement is poor, he has associations with nefarious people; in short, he is not fit to be Commander in Chief.

To wanakee….
Don’t forget during one of the 1st debates he said “I ask my staff member to hand me paper until two seconds before I need it because I will lose it”
See for yourself here – http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/15/debate-transcript/

To all Hillary-heads,
They only understand emotion, you have to go to our official website (of which you have to get the password from me, the president of the group) so that I can supply you with the Trans-babrack-olator. Then your words will be filled with tones of emotion, hope, unity, and the idea of this intangible transformation of all the worlds people. And wwhn you speak you will be able to relate to them in a way that make them believe that you are a part of this mystical WE that they speak about so often. It’s effective and it’s our last hope to save these people from a catastrophy that hints to be greater (though hopefully not in lives) as that of the guyana tragedy.

@ outsider
Obama started off saying he was confident in his FOREIGN POLICY experience (“Foreign policy is the area where I am probably most confident that I know more and understand the world better than Senator Clinton or Senator McCain”). He then proceeded to talk about his visit to Pakistan.
SO WHAT? I visited and lived in several foreign countries, too. Does that mean I understand foreign policy better than someone who may have spent less time but has had actual interaction and policy discussions with those countries’ leaders? And with the leaders of 80 countries?
If 3 weeks in Pakistan is the extent of Obama’s foreign policy credentials, then I am way more qualified on the “foreign policy” front.
My point is that Obama’s claim is ridiculous. Better that he stick to his “better judgement” mantra, since the “3 weeks abroad = foreign policy experience” is just pathetically weak.

So Obama stayed in Pakistan for three weeks…that DOES NOT qualify him in the area of foreign policy. I have been to Moscow and stayed there for three weeks before journeying on to the Urals. Does this make me an “expert” on Russia? Hardly!!!!

I have read from the Clinton supporters.Its easy to tell that they are full of lying wonders like their candiate of choice.Really who’s unelectable or electable?

did obama have visas for these countries he visited?
what nation’s passport did he travel on.
this was when obama left occidental college because he wanted to be a dentist and thought it was a dental school. occi-DENTAL!

I cannot help but wonder whether he and his wife are true patriots. I have not “ever” wondered whether any other leading contenders for our president have been patriotic. Does anyone have a picture of him saying the allegiance to the American flag–if so, can you please publish it? He has no substance and I am truly worried that he could become the president of our United States of America.

I spent a few months in Europe in my 20s – can I be the Queen of England?!

The more I find out about this guy, the more scared I get about this country’s future if he’s elected. I can’t believe the way the media is pouring the koolaid and so many are drinking it hook, line and sinker. People – think for yourselves. We know nothing about this guy. I was watching Bob the Buildier with my son last night and who knew Obama stole his slogan YES WE CAN! He’s an arrogant phony

i’m from karachi. i want names.

It all sounds very innocent, “a college trip to Pakistan”.
Pakistan was in turmoil in 1981 and ruled of martial law. Millions of Afghan refugees were living in Pakistan, while the Afghan Mujahedeen operated from bases inside Pakistan in their war with the Soviets. One of the leaders that based his operation in Quetta, Pakistan was Usama Bin Laden (The Sheik).
Pakistan was on the banned travel list for US Citizens at the time and all non-Muslim visitors were not welcome unless sponsored by their embassy for official business.
The would be only a few reasons a young Westerner of the Muslim faith would travel to Pakistan in 1981:
To Participate in Jihad, which is the duty of every “True Believer”.
For religious education in a Wahabbi sect, Saudi funded, Madrassa.
In order to purchase drugs from the drug marketplace.
Pakistan was not a tourist stop nor the place to hang out with someone’s family in 1981.

First, it is not a college trip. It is his personal visit to Pakistan.
He stayed there for 3 weeks when it was under turmoil.
Nothing less a education in one of the religious schools is a reason to stay for 3 weeks in that country.
Why saudis go there. It is for the religious education and training.
Muslims from West who had an inclination on the extreme religion visited there other than relatives.

What a shame Obama claims he wants to fix this country. Sure it needs help, but not from the likes of a guy who supports a racist church, has too many questionable ties to terrorist countries, ties to questionable people, who gives ACORN 800,000 to recruit democrats who don’t even exist. It’s just too easy to cover tracks. America needs to wake up and choose the lesser of the 2 evils. Time to vote seedy, anti-american political people out of Washington. Why isn’t this all being explored?? Good question. I suppose Obama would cry racism! Well I think we could throw it right back at him! Better do it sooner than later! In the mean time, dig deep and get yourself informed! I did and I will no longer be voting for Obama.

How did he get into Pakistan on a U.S. Passport in 1981?

Yeah…how DID he get into Pakistan on a US passport back then?
Wasn’t that a STATE DEPARTMENT NO GO at the time?
Why isn’t anyone asking these questions?
I guess the media is asleep at the switch.

Barack seems to me a very smart polititian. I wonder is it enough to became an US President? How can such a person using simple populism without any experience on a leading function reach such a position. Is US so stupid? Is it a syndrom after 9.11 that a muslim should win?

Folks, I am a Pakistani American, and in 1981, I was living in Pakistan. A lot of the comments here are questioning how did Obama get into Pakistan which was off limits.
Let me try and address this misconception. In 1981, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the USA were all very closely aligned and strong allies fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. Yes, from time to time, American citizens get recommendations from the State Department to either stay out of certain countries or to be careful visiting. BUT they are only recommendations.
On the Pakistani side, the Pakistani Government has NEVER turned back US citizens, Muslims or not. Even in this day, my wife, my 4 year old daughter and myself travel to Pakistan every Christmas so that our daughter can unite briefly with grandparents.
Now, whether Obama misled people about his trip or not, is a separate question.
Hope that clears it up.
Thanks,
Nadir

The one thing that I want to know is why he is refusing to turn over his birth certificate to the courts to prove that he was born in Hawaii? Why has he sealed all of his documents from college?

How could Obama be a “natural born” American citizen if he travelled to Pakistan under an Indonesian passport?
It doesn’t make any sense.
1. Obama claims he was born in Hawaii but which hospital, who was the doctor, what time was he born?
2. If Obama was born in Kenya, he not a natural-born citizen.
3, If Obama became an Indonesian citizen, he is either an illegal immigrant or a “naturalized” U.S. citizen, neither of which are qualified to be president, under the U.S. Constitution.

We are here in Feb 2008,Obama has taken office and he has still not answered the questions about his Birth certificate,released any info academic or medical,It is still a mystery how he traveled to Pakistan in 81 without a US passport.He has hired 3 entire law firms to keep his past a secret.and funny enough it has been heard that he has associates that are trying to remove the clause in our constitution that limits the number of political terms a president can hold. This guy is part of something very unamerican,Im saying with even more conviction than ever,”this guy is bad for america.Obama could be very dangerous to the foundation of our nation” be wary america.

What I find difficult to understand is; why is it so difficult to get State Department info as to whether there was a travel ban on Pakistan in 1981? The Obama Pakistan trip could all be cleared up if that info was made public. For that matter, the whole Obama legitimacy thing could be cleared up if all the documentation asked for could be made public so we can see it. That includes registration documents from his colleges showing his nationality and grants received and of course the birth certificate and State Department info on an alledged travel ban in 1981. The fact that this information is being witheld is suspiscious. I find the birther claims to be outlandish but; the stonewalling by the Obama administration lend them credence. Why isn’t the President showing his cards? He could put this whole thing to rest.

Americans were not allowed to travel to Pakistan in ’81 because of the military regime put in place by Zia. Did Obama enter Pakistan illegally? Did Obama enter Pakistan on a forgein passport, namely Indonesian? This should be a simple matter to track down. Unless the records of his crimes have been covered up or destroyed. We must remember, we have never seen the so called 4th Estate, so biased and invested in any American Administration in history. The press have willingly become PRESSTITUTES.

I would love to know WHO paid for Obama’s education?
I would also like to know where ALL the campaign money came from?

what is clear is that Obama is a supreme liar and cheat. He is also a racist–calling himself black when his mother is a white person.

i do not understand why are white people so racist? they just can not take any other race doing better than them. America has not changed at all.

@ TERRY | AUG 1, 2009 8:22:07 PM
How does having an open administration mean you also have full access to his personal life? Transparency in your public political/work-related dealings has nothing to do with your own private life.
When you are at your own work and say you want to have an open and transparent dialog with coworkers, does that mean I can find out your home address and school records if I’m your coworker? It makes no sense.