Look beyond Obama's smooth talk

Hey guys. It's Jared, the less active blogger of the "Turner 2," making a rare but hopefully meaningful post. I felt compelled to write tonight after watching Barack Obama clinch the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.

Engaging and eloquent as the Illinois senator always manages to be, it's baffling to me that so many Americans can be so swayed by such empty rhetoric. I challenge anyone reading this post to pay extra attention the next time Obama appears behind a podium to give a campaign speech.

His words, electrifying as they can be, are so empty at the core. He says he wants to provide healthcare to more Americans but offers no specific way to go about it. He says he wants to unite people, yet his voting record in the U.S. Senate reflects little, if any, evidence of ever reaching across party lines. He bristles at the notion that he is unpatriotic yet sat in the pews of a church for 20 years and listened to a demagogue call America everything but a land of liberty and spew hatred toward those who believe differently. He claims to be tired of the "same old Washington politics" yet refused to denounce his divisive minister until it became politically expedient.

And for what it's worth, Obama's wife has said America is a mean country - the same country in which she has made millions of dollars, mothered two beautiful children and graduated from two of the most elite universities in the entire world!

Do you see the blatant hypocrisy here? Masked behind the smooth talk and the wide smile is a man who openly associates with unrepentant terrorists and has no regard for the protection of the unborn. He also has expressed a desire to meet with leaders of nations that harbor terrorists and want to wipe Israel off the map. It's time for the American people to see beyond the silly "change" buzzword and see the reality of a man who is unqualified and unprepared to inherit the oval office.

Before we go in that voting booth in November may we all remember that one tug of a lever or push of a button could impact the lives of future generations.

I'll be the first to acknowledge that no candidate is perfect. Even Mike Huckabee, the one candidate in this election whose positions come close to aligning with my own, has made gaffes along the way that make me scratch my head and question his preparedness to lead this nation.

But before jumping on the Obama bandwagon, I urge everyone to examine his shocking associations and leftist positions. You'll be surprised, and hopefully disturbed, by what you find.

.... On a lighter note, life is still great for Jennifer and I here in Charlotte. I'm so proud of how quickly Jennifer has adjusted to a new place and new job. In fact, she hasn't just adjusted - she's thrived. I realize a little more everyday how blessed I am to call her my wife. She's witty, hard-working and downright lovable. Oh, to be me :)