Questions for Obama the press never asks

Earlier in the presidential campaign, there was concern about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama’s “spiritual adviser” and a close associate and admirer of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Since Mr. Obama is an otherwise impressive figure with a thin resume, one would think the press would delve deeper into his support for Rev. Wright, Farrakhan and the black liberation theology that served as the cornerstone of Obama’s church.

Obama is a talented and eloquent speaker, but it is more important to understand his judgment and character. Thus, if I were a journalist, I would ask him these questions:

 1. Why did you attend the Million Man March sponsored by Farrakhan?

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 2. Why didn’t you leave the Trinity Church immediately after it awarded Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award?

 3. Why did you dedicate your book to the black father who deserted you, and not to the white grandparents who made major sacrifices on your behalf?

Mark Jaworowski

Arlington

Obama should just ignore the bigot vote

Let’s face it. Unrelated to policy differences, there are many votes Sen. Barack Obama will never get. The first truly viable African-American presidential candidate may have to perform political triage regarding the bigot vote.

The mainstream news media needs to move on from this false issue. The ongoing punditry about whether voters predisposed to judging people by their color, rather than the content of their character, will vote for the Illinois senator has become a wasted discussion in circular logic that serves no purpose other than distraction. Most of this wedge group wouldn’t vote for Obama if he walked over water to heal lepers, so why should he focus on getting their support?

Mr. Obama should spend the next 90 days solidifying his core message of bringing socio-economic and political healing to America, closing the deal for all the voters who believe he’s the best qualified and ready, but who are leery of change even after enduring nearly a decade of lowered expectations compounded by the politics of fear and lies. Most Americans want real change that is substantively hopeful and as close to our social and political comfort zones as possible.

In the end, as always, Americans will vote based on what’s in their wallets and in their hearts.

Dennis Moore

Chairperson,

D.C. Independents for

Citizen Control Party

Teen pregnancy is a serious matter

Bloggers are still burning up the Web talking about the 18 Gloucester, Mass., girls who reportedly made a pact to get pregnant so they could raise their babies together.

According to the D.C. Department of Health, 995 babies were born to girls ages 15 to 19 in 2006. But teen pregnancy lies at the root of many problems we face as a community, including poverty, school failure, violence and substance abuse.

For teen mothers, the economic and social consequences are dramatic: They are less likely to complete high school, their children suffer higher rates of abuse and neglect, their daughters are more likely to become teen parents themselves, and their sons are three times more likely to be incarcerated.

Research shows that teen pregnancy is less likely when teenage boys and girls, regardless of race and income, connect to their families, schools and neighborhoods in positive ways that give them a sense of belonging, receive comprehensive, teen-friendly health care, make clear plans that do not include pregnancy, and experience success in school from an early age.

Trustworthy adults and caregivers should use the Gloucester story as a teachable moment to talk about love, sex and relationships. Believe it or not, young people want to hear what they have to say. 

Brenda Rhodes Miller

Executive director,

D.C. Campaign to

Prevent Teen Pregnancy

No citizen can be loyal to two countries

There are millions of people living in the United States who possess dual citizenship. The U.S. government should adopt a policy of zero tolerance of this situation and compel all dual-citizenship nationals to choose either America or their nation of origin.

Granted, some legitimately fear for their lives if they were to return to their country of origin as a result of becoming American citizens, due to hostile relations. In such cases, the U.S. government should negotiate the recission of previous citizenship with the other country on their behalf.

But for all other dual-citizenship nationals who prefer to give their loyalty to their original country rather than America, our government should tell them to pack up and leave.

Lawrence K. Marsh

Gaithersburg