..reaffirm my faith in you.
You spoke to us as adults, even us young-adults. You challenged us to think and believe and expect better and aim higher. You vowed to fight for your children and their generation, you vowed to fight for my generation and every generation in this great country of our's. You retaught me the meaning of true patriotism. You taught me to believe in the greatness and beauty of a United States of America, you reminded me of the wonders that unity can promise us. You did not mention them, but you made me think back to that faithful day on September 11th when all members of Congress stepped outside and sang "God Bless America."
Now when America thinks of you, many of them are hearing Reverend Wright screaming "God DAMN America!" It's a distraction, it's not related to policy, but it's a real concern to some Americans. They don't have much of a concept of the Trinity United Church of Christ. They don't know the South Side of Chicago. They don't know who else goes to Trinity, what they should expect of your fellow congregants. All they know of the church is the Reverend Wright's statements and yourself. It's not a good mix for yourself, sir.
People like myself began to listen to you because you were honest. I know you aren't one to lie to us about Reverend Wright, but I also know you aren't coming out and telling the full truth. You're hesitant to not because you yourself have anything worth hiding but because you want the story to go away. It won't. Fight it, confront it. Above all else, America is waiting for you to explain why you were there for as long as you were. Why it was Reverend Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ that brought you from atheism to Christianity.
You have been an extraordinary candidate thus far, but you are allowing your enemies to define you. Your campaign isn't responding to everything. The bogus "Hamas endorsement" was allowed to stand without a sharp rebuke for bringing it up and without trying to debunk it. You allowed Fox News to claim that the New Black Panthers had not only endorsed you, but their endorsement was given space on your website by the campaign. Farrakhan. Your top strategist, your top aide, your friend David Axelrod is Jewish and prominent in the Jewish community. He has major street credit when it comes to anything-Israel.
You have allowed these things to stand, and while they may be silly alone, they are being fit into the definition of "Barack Obama," the definition that your enemies want the whole country thinking of. A Muslim Manchurian Candidate? A Palestinian or Muslim-fundamentalist sympathizer? An intellectual who's ideals stretch too far past the borders of America? You need to fight back, sir. You and your supporters. Most importantly, you need to come out and be very forthright about the Reverend Wright. I believe in you, most of your supporters believe in you, but now you need to make America believe in you again.
Some will never be convinced because they refuse to be convinced. Some will push the bullshit against you until they lack the strength to push anymore. The Republicans have nothing else to offer this country besides for the same politics, the Vietnam vets that came after McCain during the 2000 Republican primary, the BS thrown at Max Cleland in 2002, and the swift boaters of 2004. The same failed policies that we have endured for the past eight years, incompetence in all branches of civilian leadership. Corruption that has run so deep that the roots will take years to unearth. The bitterness that George W. Bush has instilled in us.
Kick some ass, sir, and take some names while you do it. Don't sit back and let the clock run out. Fight for it. This country is ready to unite against another four years of failed policy, against another smear campaign, against going further down this wrong track. Clear the way, and lead us back to the American Dream.