Editor,
I’m writing in response to Tim Hadachek’s Wednesday opinion on Barack Obama’s half-brother, George. There are a number of logical fallacies in his article, which makes it appear that his opinion is based more on his own partisanship than a desire for truth or balance.
First of all, Hadachek paints George’s situation as far more bleak than George does himself. I offer the following excerpt from CNN.com,
“I was brought up well. I live well even now,” he said. “The magazines, they have exaggerated everything. I think I kind of like it here. There are some challenges, but maybe it is just like where you come from, there are the same challenges.”
What is Hadachek suggesting Barack Obama do? Forcibly remove this man from his home against his will? Perhaps Hadachek feels the U.S. should provide assistance to Kenya and other African nations so as to provide a more secure and stable environment to George and millions of others. If this is his stance, I agree.
However, Obama will first need to be elected – he can do far more for Kenya as president than as an Illinois senator.
Now, Hadachek almost makes a valid point comparing the media’s scrutiny of Sarah Palin’s family. The fallacy here is that Palin has made her family a huge part of her message while Obama has not. The McCain camp’s sequestering of Palin from the media – with the rare friendly sit-down exception – has created a situation in which the media has little else to talk about but her personal life.
I would love to focus on her policies and politics, but I have only the vaguest idea of what they are. To be fair, I don’t think she or McCain have a good idea either.
Daniel Ireton
Sorting Supervisor
Hale Library