Obama’s division and destruction

By Kelly Kathryn Llobet

"Hope and change" for America was the catch phrase for then-candidate Barack Hussein Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.  But "division and destruction" of America shall be the catch phrase of his current presidential political agenda.  Julius Caesar coined the strategy of "divide and conquer" against his enemies, not his fellow Romans.  Mr. Obama's divisiveness is being waged against the classic American cultural institutions of the military and the family.  The president should tackle issues where consensus, not separation, exists among the American people.

On May 26, 2010 Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey concluded that "Americans generally agree about the morality of 12 out of 16 behaviors or social policies that sometimes spark public controversy, with sizable majorities saying each is either "morally acceptable" or "morally wrong." By contrast, views on doctor-assisted suicide, gay and lesbian relations, abortion and having a baby outside of marriage are closely divided-the percentage supporting and the percentage opposing are within 15 points of each other."

Opinion regarding the moral acceptability of doctor-assisted suicide split 46 percent in favor to 46 percent against.  This division was brought to light during the heated Health Reform debate of 2009. Obamacare has certainly been called into question on end-of-life issues by Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York, Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, and average citizens across America. Obamacare would authorize Medicare to pay for a consultation every five years between a patient and doctor or nurse, to discuss how much or little medical care is desired in the event of incapacitation.  Patients could be instructed on how to write an advanced healthcare directive. It defines standard categories of care that can be included in such a document as nutrition, hydration, antibiotics and resuscitation in the event of a lack of pulse.

On the issue of "having a baby outside of marriage," the split among Americans was 54 percent of americans said this morally acceptable to and 40 percent said it is wrong. President Barack Obama falls into the minority opinion, as evidenced by his statement on the campaign trail in 2008. He said, "Look, I've got two daughters. 9-years-old and 6-years-old....if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."  Mr. Obama favors late-term abortion, as evidenced by his voting record in the Illinois Senate. We know what Mr. Obama's remedy is for babies conceived out of marriage.

The Gallup Poll findings on abortion show that 38 percent believe it is morally acceptable, while 50 percent believe it is morally wrong. Our chief executive has mounted numerous policy assaults on this issue. He signed two executive orders promoting abortion within the first days of his presidency.  on Jan 23, 2009 he overturned the Mexico City policy  which required all non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding to refrain from performing or promoting abortion services, as a method of family planning, in foreign countries.  Essentially, taxpayer money now funds abortion worldwide. On March 9, 2009, he signed  Executive Order 13505 Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells.  With this act, he declared open season on the tiniest of human life.

Mr. Obama continues to disregard majority opinion on abortion by including in his administration or appointing to key positions those who favor this abomination. For example, Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Seblius and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan—these are the transmitters of his pro-abortion policy.

Finally, gay or lesbian relations are the second most politically divisive behavioral or social issue, according to the Gallup Poll.  Fifty-two percent of Americans say homosexual relations are acceptable and 43 percent called it wrong. Here again, Mr. Obama's appointees and policy pursuits seem out of step with the American people.  In his 2008 book, "Nudge," Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Cass Sunstein refers to state-recognized marriage as an "official license scheme"  and promotes civil unions. Kevin Jennings founder and one-time executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has praised the North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) founder and yet was appointed as the president's safe schools czar.  In March 2010, Mr. Obama made a recess appointment of Chai Feldblum from Georgetown Law who helped author the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The act is now before Congress and would prohibit employment discrimination based on someone's real or perceived sexual orientation.

With the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on the horizon, the U.S. military is Mr. Obama's next target. Currently, the Clinton-era act prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships.  On May 24, 2010, in response to the looming repeal, Republican Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana said, "The American people don't want the American military to be used to advance a liberal political agenda. And House Republicans will stand on that principle." Yet, Republicans have thus far been ineffective: The House has passed a bill along party lines that will repeal the policy after a military review; the legislation will now be reviewed by the Senate.

Mr. Obama has forsaken the more centrist ideas he campaigned on and is instead advancing a radical and divisive agenda. The Tea Party movement is a spontaneous response to the aggressive advances in the culture war and in government spending that has occurred over the past 17 months. Being the champion of a platform that placates a minority of the population on sensitive moral issues is not admirable governance. Perhaps the president should focus on matters upon which more agreement exists amongst the people: win our foreign wars, secure our domestic borders and fix the oil spilling in the Gulf of Mexico.  Mr. President, stop litigating and start leading.

-Kelly Kathryn Llobet is a writer living in Baltimore, a veteran Navy spouse and a proud mother of five.