True leadership begins with an attitude of service Right now we are faced with a choice between two men who want to take over the office of the most powerful position in the world. But which of these men truly has served our nation and desires to serve it in the future?
A few weeks ago, ABC News ran a two-part profile on these men and their wives. I didn’t get to see the first part because I didn’t know about it, but the second part was quite revealing. It began by talking about the wives of these men. It showed how Michelle Obama was raised in a nice, stable home and how she worked hard to earn her degrees and go after her dreams. It talked about how she and her husband met and how her mother-in-law approved of her.
There was nothing wrong in any of this and her story was like that of many people out there. What I felt was missing, though, and what I still feel is missing, is a sense of true feeling for anyone other than her family and what she wants. There was no story of her sacrificing anything in the way of time or energy to help anyone but her immediate family.
As they spoke about her husband’s background, he, too, was focused on goals and his immediate family. I heard nothing of his interest to help anyone around him or any sense of feeling or compassion for others. It was all about what he wanted and desired. And, throughout his campaign, I’ve heard a lot of rhetoric about change but the only change he really speaks of specifically is moving our country more toward socialism and taking from those who work hard to give to those who haven’t been willing to do the same.
On the other hand, when they profiled Cindy McCain, they talked about how she was brought up with wealth and priviilege. But they also said that instead of using what she had to accomplish goals to benefit herself, she used it to help others less fortunate. She focused on helping children with disabilities and others who were hurting. She has spent her life serving those who couldn’t help themselves and made it personal by adopting one of the children and loving her and raising her.
We all know John McCain’s history in the military but what I’m most impressed about with him is his desire to put our country as a whole first. He sees himself not as some hot shot leader but as one who plans to serve our country as its President. He’s not promising to sign a bill to murder more children in their mother’s wombs. He’s not promising to steal the hard earned rewards of small business owners and give their money to others who aren’t willing to work as hard as they do. In fact, he’s been unwilling to make a lot of promises because he says he doesn’t want to make promises he may not be able to keep.
Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain are all good or all evil. They both have good and bad qualities and I believe I could sit down with either or both of them and have a wonderful conversation on many levels.
However, if true leadership begins with an attitude of service, which of these men is not only more qualified but whom is more willing to serve our nation’s people on all levels?
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Comments: 20
I honestly believe Obama is best suited to serve the interests of ALL the people much better than McCain.
presidents wife so far, and think because she has such a young family is reason
to see how much she cares for them, showing how much our immediate family
is very important, and needs to be first on all our lists.
I am not fooled by people who seem to do good to all, this does not make then good
people, and have seen just what, those so called 'Good People' are capable of doing.
Oh well
The McCains have definitely spent their time in service to this country. Cindy, despite her fortune, has used her time in selfless service helping others. I feel that both are truly admirable people. I do not see that form of selfless service coming from Obama, though, which is why my vote is definitely for McCain.
Sometimes the RW is really amazing. From your article a man and woman dedicated to their family is somehow a character flaw??? That is a new level of partisan creative nonsense.
What keeps people poor is a poor mentality. As long as the people in these types of neighborhoods continue to be told they have to stay poor or they are poor and given handouts periodically, they will never stand up and be what God created them to be which is independent hard working individuals. It's like the handouts people give to the homeless. They aren't helping these people. All they are encouraging to do is to remain addicted to substances that mess up their minds.
If people would stop feeling sorry for these people and tell them that they aren't getting anything to stay in their current situation, they would either starve or wake up and start trying to take care of themselves. Now, I realize that some of these people have mental illnesses or can't help themselves but as long as others keep handing them money to buy drugs instead of telling them about an organization that can help them, they have no reason to get help or get off drugs.
Andrea Obama represents the change the whole world seeks from America. McCain represents and WILL amount to a continuation of the same Republican policies that have wrecked the nation at home and abroad. Despite his rhetoric or best intentions he would be burdened with the Republican bureaucracy entrenched in Washington and throughout the Executive branch. AND McCain's Admin will face a hostile Dem dominated Congress who WILL exercise mericiless oversight on everything McCain does. He is in a no win situation.
And, what wrecked the country was the laws that Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton signed forcing financial institutions to give loans to people who couldn't afford them and looking the other way while people like Obama helped force Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on this country. You are naive. Or simply conned by the Democratic big wigs and their rhetoric.
The economic policies of Bush and the Republicans took a nation with a surplus and left it a ruin. Socialism?? What do you call the trillion dollars poured into the finance market to bail out the failures of oversight and deregulation? Since half way through the Clinton Admin Republicans have held the Congress and the duties of oversight. The Congress has the duty to check and balance. The Republican controlled Congress did NOTHING to stop or even slow the excesses of Bush OR to right any economic wrongs committed by either party. Since they lost the Congress the Dems have has a bare majority to do the people's work and they have been mostly prevented by the remaining Repub obstructionists and a veto weilding Pres. This economic disaster, our lousy international standing and quagmire of Iraq is fairly and justly the complete responsiblity of Bush and the Republican Party.
It is OK to a partisan of any type. That is what America is all about. However as ill informed and ideologically blinded as you are "naive" is word you should stay away from.
In my opinion, neither candidate has shown a true fiscal leadership. Here is a post-election prediction - the annual deficit will rise to $1 trillion, causing the national debt to rise above $11 trillion. Unfunded liability costs, which is currently at $55 trillion (about $400,000 for each taxpayer), will rise even more. Right now, neither candidate has a good tax plan because the deficit which either tax cut plan adds to the national debt simply burdens the next generations even more. It's totally ludicrous to just handover our fiscal problems to our kids and grandkids. I love my kids enough to say I don't want to sacrifice my kids' financial future.
I'll have you know that Cindy went on many trips to other countries to help children. Cindy led 55 medical missions to third world and war-torn countries during AVMT's seven years of existence. Don't let her glamorous looks fool you. Most times she dons a ball cap and wears fatigues on these missions.
What has Michelle Obama done?
On the other hand, I have not seen McCain as much as a Maverick as he is promoted, in fact Palin is more of a Maverick than McCain has ever been.
Michelle has done next to nothing besides being a lawyer, and in that she has supported a few groups as well as her husband that were less than honest in their goals and dealings.
Cindy now has done more for people around the world and US than many if not any Presidential wife we have had. She has taken it to the point of even risking her own life, and that shows a very true commitment.
I really do not see either of these two front runners as good Presidents, but if I had to pick, I would have to go with McCain.