Tit for Tat

Well, another lie has been exposed. Is anyone really shocked? While some bloggers have been quick to take issue with John McCain’s alleged lies concerning Obama’s tax increase record, we’re not hearing much about Obama’s most recent lapse in truth.

According to the Evening Standard, Barack Obama made a specific promise that he has yet to fulfill. During Obama’s 2006 visit to a small village in Kenya he stopped at the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School. Named for Obama in 2005, this school was built on land Obama’s paternal grandfather had donated. Very generous of grandfather Obama indeed, but dilapidated village school has not seen an Obama donation since. This would be fine if Senator Barak Obama had not committed to do otherwise.

Grandstanding before Kenyan students, teachers, and a select group of dignified guests, including the Kenyan Prime Minister, Obama promised to do his part to help the school. “I know you are working very hard and struggling to bring up this school, but I have said I will assist the school, and I will do so” said Obama. This was two years ago!

According to Yuanita Obiero the school principal, the US Senator has yet to make good on his commitment. Obiero claims that in 2006 school officials sent a nine page proposal requesting funds to make improvements to the school. One of the many improvements needed is running water.

As of this writing, there has been no evidence found that indicates Barak Obama still plans on keeping his word to the school.

Some will say Barak Obama lied.  Others will find excuses for his lapsed commitment to the school named for him. What do you think?

Does it matter to you that all indications are that Obama was caught in another lie? Is this untruth any worse than McCain’s recently reported untruth? A lie by any other name would still smell as foul.

I submit to you that it matters very much to my life and yours that the candidates are lying, regardless of what they lied about. Employers can terminate employees if they are caught lying on their resume’. Employers doing reference checks are not generally going to hire an employee if they find that the prospective applicant had a tendency not to follow-through on his previous job. Wouldn’t we hold the Presidency of the United States of America to a much higher standard?

Lies are told so often. There are no big or small lies, just blemishes on our character. Our Presidential candidates should be held accountable. That means when your favorite candidate is caught in a lie, you need to acknowledge it-not make excuses for it. Call your candidate out. If he responds with an appeal for forgiveness, let’s forgive. If a pattern develops then we need to rethink our support. I am afraid that as a society we expect to hear lies, therefore we tolerate them. What does this say about us?

Let’s shine light on the truth and the candidate can decide whether or not he’ll man up. Besides, if we hold them accountable for untruths, won’t they get the message and eventually stop?  If your candidate will lie about the “small” things, what makes you think he can carry through on the “big” things that matter to you?

It seems to me that Democrats and Republicans need to cease in these tit for tat accusations and clean their own house. Hold your man accountable.