For many American voters, the idea of a Barack Obama presidency sends chills up their spines. And I don’t mean the warm, fuzzy kind running up and down Chris Matthews’ leg.
 
What has he accomplished? What does he stand for? People are quick to point out the fact that he was a community organizer in Chicago when he could have been a high-paid lawyer for any Chicago law firm of his choice. But what did he organize?
 
Obama claims he will reach across party lines to break free of politics as usual. But, when has he ever done so?
 
He claims he is proud of his multicultural past, even chanting the Islamic call to prayer for the New York Times last year, but today he boldly denies that he ever had anything to do with Islam. Why is he so fearful of being associated with Islam if he has never been Muslim? Why would he humiliate Muslim women by asking them to step out of camera range at one of his rallies? Will they vote for him now? I seriously doubt it.
 
No deal.
 
As a Democrat, I try to rally behind Barack Obama’s candidacy, but I can’t think of one single reason why I should.
 
Obama’s foreign policy team is one of the most rabidly anti-Israel groups I have ever seen. Israel is so terrified of his presidency, they are planning to strike Iran if he is elected because they know he will never stick up for them. Yet Obama, who made one speech at an AIPAC policy conference, thinks Jews should fall all over themselves to support him?
 
No deal.
 
Obama sends his thugs out to trash McCain’s war hero status. But what has Obama ever fought for? What has he sacrificed? What misery has he endured?
 
Obama claimed that wearing a flag lapel pin is not a true sign of patriotism. He was above it all. But now, he doesn’t go anywhere without one on. When will he stand by his convictions?
 
Obama claims that after spending 20 years at Trinity, he never knew of any hateful speeches. Apparently, he never attended, or was asleep in the pews, because 20 years is a long time to have your head in the sand. Then again, are we really expected to believe him? If Barack never knew, what about Michelle? Or Oprah? Word never got around to him?
 
No deal.
 
In a recent announcement, Obama says he will back a controversial bill to grant more spying powers and immunize telephone companies accused of illegal surveillance. Isn’t that four more years of George W. Bush? What’s the matter with this guy?
 
As a candidate for the Illinois Legislature, Obama supported legislation to "ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of handguns". He endorsed the gun ban while campaigning for president. Now he is in favor of gun rights. Which stance am I supposed to believe?
 
No deal.
 
Obama’s stance on welfare reform is muddled as well. He was against welfare reform in 1996, calling it "disturbing." Today, he gives the impression that he was for it all along. Again, which one is it?         
 
On energy, Obama constantly reminds us of rising gas prices. But he wants no off shore drilling. No drilling in ANWR. No refining shale deposits in Colorado. No nuclear energy. No coal. No tax reductions. He clings to his magic bullet theory, the so-called "Enron loophole", as a cure-all. Really? The problem all along has been just one loophole? Then shouldn’t we have closed that thing up by now? Where has Obama been on this for the last 3 years? Is he a U.S. Senator or what?                                     
 
Over the past few weeks, Obama has shifted abruptly to the center to appease the independents, and then backtracked when hardcore Socialists like Arianna Huffington became incensed. He’s for public campaign financing, then against it. He’s against welfare reform, then he’s for it. He’s for a handgun ban, then against it. Anything for a vote.                                                                           
 
Obama has been running his general election campaign like a dog with one of your best shoes in his mouth. If you want the shoe back, just pick up a bone. Right on cue, he’ll drop the shoe and run for the bone. However, once you grab your shoe, he’ll drop the bone and want the shoe again. So predictable.
 
Barack Obama doesn’t target anything specifically — just what he thinks you want. He’s turning into the one thing he promised us months ago he would never become: Just another politician.                          
 
No deal. No way.