The Big Test

"Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." This quote comes from Senator Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running mate. He made this statement yesterday during a speech in Seattle, WA.

The general consensus overseas, as I understand it, is that Barack Obama is perceived as being much weaker and much less experienced than John McCain, a proven warrior who has demonstrated his strength in the face of adversity.

For those of you who are too young to remember the Bay of Pigs invasion and the subsequent Cuban Missile Crisis, allow me to present a short history lesson. In April, 1961, Cuban refugees, funded by the CIA, formed a brigade and attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba. The invasion failed, many say because President Kennedy decided to withdraw air support from the invasion. Many viewed this as a tactical error, and some believe that it made Kennedy look weak and easy to push around.

That perception led Russian Premier Nikita Khruschev to attempt to install nuclear missiles in Cuba 18 months later, in October, 1962. President Kennedy ordered a blockade of armaments being sent to Cuba and for two weeks, the world teetered on the edge of nuclear war. Fortunately, President Kennedy prevailed and the crisis was resolved with the removal of all offensive weapons from Cuba.

Now Senator Biden says that he believes another crisis will be generated to test President Barack Obama. Is he up to the test? During the primaries of last spring, even his own running mate, Senator Biden, stated unequivocally that Senator Obama lacks the experience necessary at this time and that the job of President does not lend itself to on-the-job training. Was that primary campaign rhetoric or the actual truth? I guess we each need to decide that for ourselves on election day.

But when you vote, ask this question: Do you truly believe, in your heart of hearts, that the junior Senator from Illinois, with previous experience only as a lawyer, community organizer and state legislator, truly has the knowledge and experience to lead us through a crisis of world proportions?

GIVE THAT QUESTION SOME THOUGHT WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE VOTING BOOTH!!