Spurred by the unjust Wall Street Bailout, this crisis of consent is exacerbated by an Obama Administration and its Democratic Congress’ insistence on ramming through a government-run health care scheme in defiance of the sovereign American people’s emphatic opposition.

Now, having already pre-determined its outcome, the Obama Administration will hold a health care summit. The summit’s goal is to persuade the public that the Republican minority is “forcing” the Democrats’ heavy-handed tactics to foist this abominable bill upon Americans.

The truth is otherwise: it is the public and centrist Democrats who have to date stopped this radical proposal, which will raise the cost and lower the quality of Americans’ health care.

Designed to obfuscate this truth and devoid of any attempt to establish a shared, bi-partisan principle for reform, the Obama Administration’s summit constitutes a ShamWoW! infomercial for incrementally socialized medicine that threatens Americans’ health care; imposes double taxation on most Americans who are responsibly trying to save for their future during this painful recession; devolves private health insurance companies into government-dictated utilities; and further erodes the public’s waning faith that their government institutions are truly representative.

Consequently, with due respect for the President and ultimate respect for the American people, the Republican leadership has no choice. It must NOT accept the administration’s disingenuous summit invitation to “negotiate.”

To accept would abet a deceit upon the people; and violate the principle that transparency in government exists to reveal the truth and promote the public’s confidence in their representative institutions, not to foster misperceptions and subvert the public’s confidence in their representative institutions.

Fortunately, a solution exists: an election.

As in other times of great national debate, Democrats must let the competing views of health care – government-run, bureaucrat-centered medicine versus free-market, patient- centered wellness – be submitted to the American people for their sovereign consideration and determination this November.

Nothing could do more to promote Americans’ health care; and restore the public’s confidence they are being governed with their consent.

Produced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, scripted by the Obama Administration, and directed by Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), this Beltway show features all of the Left-wing’s favorite conspiracy theories to smear honest conservatives, pander to radicals, and get rave reviews from the Washington Post.

Here’s the plot synopsis:

Last month, after a Republican extra on the committee set expressed concern the Democrats Beltway show trial of then NJ GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie “might appear to have an effect on or it might be intended to influence the (GOP primary) election in New Jersey,” Steve Cohen (D-TN), who landed the a starring role as “chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law,” said he postponed the persecution premier in an “effort” to be “beyond reproach.”

Now, with the primary concluded, House Democrats will unveil their Beltway show trial to smear Christie, who is now the GOP nominee to be New Jersey’s next governor. Mr. Christie’s crime? Apparently, it is leading incumbent Democrat Governor Jon Corizine by double digits. Summoned for a miscasting call by House Judiciary Democrats, Mr. Christie has again been “asked” to testify on a matter the Justice Department testified about nearly 18 months ago.

If, perchance, TMZ inquired why Representative Cohen was solely concerned about being “beyond reproach” in relation to influencing New Jersey’s GOP gubernatorial primary election but not in relation to New Jersey’s gubernatorial general election, it will undoubtedly strain his Leftist publicists’ talents. After all, would fairness not dictate that the Democrats’ Beltway show trial should be slated to debut on or after, say, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 – or, most fairly of all, never?

Unfortunately, this cavalcade of political chicanery takes place against the backdrop of real people across the country continuing to suffer as the trillion dollar government “stimulus” package sputters across center stage, producing nothing but massive spending, deficits, debts and unemployment. So rush to reserve your seats before Code Pink nabs them all and hyper-inflation spikes ticket prices to this Leftist fiasco.

Really, how often does one get a chance to see the constitutional rights of honest, hardworking Americans trampled upon by this reckless Democrat Congress? Thus, I urge my colleagues, particularly those on the House Judiciary Committee, to speak out against this abuse of the legislative process for political purposes. The only review of this debacle must not be from The New York Times.

Evidently, the hypocritical House Democrats are shocked Americans are disgusted by a trillion dollar fiscal obscenity that does much for hiking artists who are trying to stop smoking and avoid STDs, but does nothing – or worse than nothing – to create jobs for working families and respect taxpayers.

Launching a series of attack ads that the Washington Post called “cheap shots,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) waxed polemic against fiscally responsible Republicans who opposed this pork-fest at the expense of taxpayers and the unemployed.

But here is what Speaker Pelosi’s spokesperson hypocritically said about the eleven Democrats who voted against this trillion dollar fiscal obscenity:

“The speaker has said many times that the members are representative of their district . . . Many of the districts are more conservative, and they campaigned on fiscal responsibility, and we understand that.”

The double standard doesn’t end there.

The DCCC also tried to intimidate Republicans into voting against their constituents and American taxpayers:

“We will continue to go district by district to hold Republicans who continue to vote in lockstep with party leaders and against the folks in their districts accountable.”

But, as for the eleven fiscally responsible Democrats who opposed this trillion dollar fiscal obscenity at the expense of taxpayers and the unemployed, Speaker Pelosi is singing a different tune. According to the Politico:

And a handful of Democrats who defied her on the stimulus, especially Reps. Paul E. Kanjorksi of Pennsylvania and Heath Shuler of North Carolina, may also find themselves shut out, Pelosi associates and Democratic aides tell Politico.

“I think the take-away here is ‘screw ‘em,’” half-joked a House Democratic aide.

So this is what happens to fiscally responsible Democrats and Republicans who chose taxpayers over pork.

As for the DCCC’s misleading ads, the Washington Post also whiffed the reek of House Democrat hypocrisy:

“The first reference is to last fall’s vote on the Troubled Assets Relief Program, which Mr. Obama and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), chief of the DCCC, both supported — and rightly so. The second is to a 2005 vote on emergency funds for Iraq that passed 386 to 43, again with Mr. Van Hollen in the majority — again, rightly so.”

Given the hypocritical, hyper-partisan DCCC’s opting for raw politics over working people, it is only fair for Americans to ask:

“Times are tough. Will hypocritical House Democrats air radio ads against President Obama for sending U.S. taxpayers’ money overseas to fund foreign abortions instead of keeping our money here at home to put Americans back to work?”

Well let Americans know this:

Not wanting to waste the chance to exploit people’s economic suffering, House Democrats passed a trillion dollar fiscal obscenity – the biggest spending and debt incurring piece of legislation in American history – that will harm working families and their hopes for a return to prosperity.

Fortunately, at the President’s request, House Republicans delivered a pro-growth, pro-taxpayer economic stimulus bill creating twice the jobs at half the cost of the House Democrats’ trillion dollar fiscal obscenity.

And, regardless of hypocritical House Democrats’ ham-handed partisanship, House Republicans will continue toiling to help struggling workers and suffering families again be able to pursue their American dreams.

Today this ends.

In selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate, Senator McCain has ensured America will make history this November.

And it will be by making Governor Palin the first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States.

Unlike the Democrats’ false stereotypes of our party, Governor Palin is a Republican parent of young children who daily experiences the joys and challenges American families. Governor Palin is modern American mom pursuing her family’s happiness. She lives it. She gets it. And she will be an historic and effective Vice President of the United States.
Her conservative credentials are impeccable: she is pro-life; pro-second amendment; pro-traditional marriage; pro-tax relief; pro-energy; and, yes, she has exposed and smashed government corruption, and opposes earmarks – like the “bridge to nowhere” she refused to accept.

Personally, she is continuing upon her own remarkable road in life. A championship high school basketball player, Sarah eloped with her high school sweetheart; and, today, with her husband Todd, this former PTA member is raising five beautiful children in their loving home. Of course, like other characteristically hearty Alaskans, Governor Palin loves outdoor recreation, including ice hockey, snowmobiles, and fishing and hunting – in fact, in her younger days Governor Palin hunted moose.

This experience will serve her well, as the Leftists have already launched their scurrilous attacks upon her for the sin of serving her country by trying to break the White House’s glass ceiling as a Republican. But fear not. Governor Palin will make a smooth transition from hunting Alaskan moose to hunting liberal old bulls and their misogynistic smears against her.

Thus, today is a day not for concern but celebration, congratulations and commencement: we celebrate the selection of the first GOP woman for the office of Vice President of the United States; we congratulate Senator McCain upon his sagacious decision and Governor Palin’s courageous acceptance; and we commence the battle to elect them both to lead the greatest nation on earth.

In sending this Colorado convention postcard to Americans, these vacationing, pro-lethargy Democrats once more insulted working families, many of whom cannot afford a family vacation.

Charitably, though, let us not hastily underestimate the publicly loathed House Democrat majority’s disingenuous undertaking, for it was also the height of arrogance.

Consider:

While anti-energy zealots meandered outside, the vacationing House Democrat Majority gaggled in a smoke-unfilled room at their national political soiree to “solve” the most pressing issue impacting American families.

Oh, these whining and dining Democrats did produce enough hot air to fill a convention ballroom of “(Short) Change America” balloons. But these heralds of higher gas prices produced no bill or new proposal; no public debates; no open committee hearings; no amendments; no recorded votes – and no surprises.

Stubbornly clinging to a “maybe some of the above” political scheme, the Democrat majority of the most hated Congress in history continues to:

1. Dismiss the will of the sovereign American people;
2. Perpetuate a government imposed shortage of American energy production;
3. Dictate an economically ruinous “cold turkey” from fossil fuels scam that is hurting working families; and
4. Concurs with the Sierra Club’s dogma that America is “better off without cheap gas.”

Elsewhere, however, House Republicans continue the fourth week of our historic “Speak-In” with the American people about energy. So, while the vacationing House Democrats have yet deigned to return to work, House Republicans kept fighting for an “All of the Above” energy plan that provides:

1. Maximum American energy production;
2. Common sense conservation;
3. Free market green innovations; and
4. A responsible transition to American energy security and independence.

This common sense, “All of the Above” plan for American energy security and independence is what working Americans demand and deserve; and House Republicans will deliver it!

Now, when you’re delivered a convention postcard from the “No Direction” Democrats high in Colorado, just stamp it “Return to Sender!”

Consequently, to further the cause of liberty and security, we are compelled to dispel the clichés fostering the failed policy of “peace through speech”; reassert the doctrine of “peace through strength”; and advance concrete actions to punish Russia for invading Georgia.

Regarding the clichés, first let us dispense with “Democracies don’t attack democracies.” Though belied by the War of 1812 (as but one example), this canard persisted until it came to rest in pieces beneath the boot heels of Georgia’s Russian invaders.

Next, we must refute how “This type of aggression is unacceptable in the 21st Century.” Excuse me, but welcome to the “end of the end of history”! It is insane to presume an arbitrary millennial date prevents nations from using force to attain perceived gains. For years it has been evident Comrade Putin disagrees with this false assumption; thus, who could be shocked this inanity has gained as little credence in Moscow as the Kellogg-Briand Pact once gained in Berlin?

Finally, let us end the myth aggressor nations measure their “international standing” in the same vein as do western democracies. Russia does not seek to be liked. Russia seeks to be feared. In sum, through intimidation and coercion Russia seeks what it cannot accomplish through cooperation and negotiation – the political subordination of central and eastern Europe’s sovereign, U.S. allied democracies within what Russia deems its “near abroad.” To gain this end, Russia invaded Georgia. In making this decision, Comrade Putin anticipated “The West’s” tepid words; and Comrade Putin didn’t give a damn. In fact, he was counting on them to bolster both his own domestic power within Russia and his nation’s external power over central and eastern European nations, who would be less than reassured by a weak-kneed US and EU response. (No doubt, too, Comrade Putin is laughing hysterically over some “sophisticated” foreign policy “experts” claiming the West’s harsh rhetoric will only inflame the situation. It looks like the Left hasn’t lost its “cold war” mindset, either!)

Frankly, the above clichés reveal the rot within both the administration’s and the Republican Party’s present foreign policy. Conflating the truth of Reagan’s dictum of “peace through strength” with the hope of “peace through speech”, the GOP has forgotten that words won’t stop tanks.

But “peace through strength” will. Nations must know pursing strategic aims through aggressive measures will cause them more harm than good. Then, if an aggressor nation miscalculates and strikes regardless, the harm to the aggressor nation must swiftly and surely outweigh its coveted benefits.

Therefore, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Georgia, individually and collectively the United States and our allies must:

1. Ensure the removal of all Russian troops, weapons, and intelligence officers from Georgian soil.
2. Secure Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion.
3. Invite Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to address a joint session of the United States Congress and reaffirm the bond of solidarity between the free peoples of our democracies.
4. Offer a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Georgia and the Ukraine.
5. Suspend high-level NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meetings until all Russian troops, weapons, and intelligence officers are removed from Georgian soil; and Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion are tendered.
6. Authorize Georgia, Ukraine, and all non-NATO central and eastern European allies to receive the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) the same preferential treatment as NATO+3 (Australia, Japan, and New Zeeland).
7. Authorize large-scale Foreign Military Financing (FMF) assistance to central and eastern European NATO allies.
8. Accelerate European Union accession and partnership negotiations with Ukraine and Georgia.
9. Bar Russia from the G-8 until all Russian troops, weapons, and intelligence officers are removed from Georgian soil; and Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion are tendered.
10. Refuse consideration of Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) until all Russian troops, weapons, and intelligence officers are removed from Georgian soil; and Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion are tendered.
11. End Russia’s PNTR status and further sanction Russia with Column Two Tariffs until all Russian troops, weapons, and intelligence officers are removed from Georgian soil; and Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion are tendered.
12. Provide the Economic Support Funding (ESF) to Georgia to repair their infrastructure, which will be repaid by Russian reparations for the damages incurred by Georgia due to this illegal invasion.
13. Reauthorize programs under the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act.
14. Assert that continued, large-scale, organized cyber attacks constitute an act of aggression.
15. Direct the Department of Interior’s United States Board of Geographic Names to refer to the Kuril Islands by their Japanese name.
16. Call upon the International Olympic Committee to relocate the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia, to a non-aggressor nation.

Well, there I go again, revealing my “cold war” mentality. Maybe the “peace through speech” sophisticates are right. Let’s pass some vapid resolutions accusing Russia of not being an international team player; importune Comrade Putin to return the soul behind his eyes to its rightful owner; and hope this rabid bear is coaxed back into hibernation.

Still, one must wonder if the Georgian people would appreciate the irony that our quiet diplomacy is premised upon loud publicity not their pained reality?

From disparate parts unknown, Pelosi’s extremist heralds of higher gas prices descended upon my district office where – to their immense surprise – they were met by a spontaneous counter-protest of working Americans who support reconvening Congress to vote for lower gas prices.

With flags (U.S.) flying, banners waving, and shouts of “Vote Now! Pay Less!”, this hearty band of working Americans bested the radical leftists who were emptily parroting Pelosi’s support for a continued Democrat Congress vacation, outrageous gas prices, and higher unemployment.

In defeating Pelosi’s radical surrogates, this courageous assemblage of working Americans provided a stirring example of how the overwhelming majority of Americans are rising up to tell the author (nee Speaker) and her highly-paid, under-worked, unconscionably arrogant Democrat Congress a terse message: “Stop selling your book and blocking the vote to lower our gas prices!”

As the working Americans ended their counter-protest, one of them said, “If you see her while she’s out trying to save the planet, tell that Nanny Pelosi I’ll run my own life right here in Michigan without her!”

On their part, the remnants of Pelosi’s extremist heralds of higher gas prices – who, you recall, once lied about General Petraeus and tried to slow bleed our brave troops fighting –

drifted off to await further marching orders on how to lie about House Republicans and slow bleed working people at the pump into unemployment.

In reality, these extremists’ time is better spent hiking off to Ann Arbor and tell the vacationing Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop selling her book and reconvene her Democrat Congress to lower working Americans’ gas prices.

Now, wouldn’t that be a real change?

For more on Speaker Pelosi’s extremist heralds of higher gas prices, check out the Americans for Prosperity video at our web site: Republican House Policy.com

After already barely passing a resolution to give themselves a five week paid vacation, the Democrat Congress sneakily adjourned for the day in a craven attempt to escape Washington without a real vote to address America’s high gas prices and energy security. It also, they laughed, would silence Republican members from discussing America’s energy security and independence on the record after votes.

Per usual, the arrogant Democrat Congress – the most hated Congress in American history with good reason – was utterly wrong.

Vowing the voices of the vast majority of the American people would not be silenced by the Democrat Congress’ Stalinist tactics, Republicans took to the dimly lit, microphone and C-Span silenced House Floor. There, they demanded a vote to lower gas prices by unleashing America’s oil and energy resources from the clutches of the Left-wing special interests controlling Speaker Pelosi and her Democrat Congress.

Led by Tom Price (Patriot-GA), Mike Pence (Patriot-IN), Lynn Westmoreland (Patriot-GA) and Henry Brown (Patriot-SC), what commenced as a spontaneous expression of American outrage at Speaker Pelosi and her party’s refusal to hold a vote and help working Americans, soon became a historic Republican “Speak-In” unmatched in U.S. House history.

Over its course, some 50 members, including the entire GOP Leadership and, of course, the inspirational John Shimkus (Patriot-IL), raced back to the House floor – some, like Kevin Brady (Patriot/TX), literally jumped off of their planes, and others, like Mike Rogers (Patriot-MI) and Rob Bishop (Patriot-GA), who were garbed in their less than “Sunday best” – and spoke with the real Americans who chocked the chamber’s gallery and overflowed into the Democrat members’ empty seats.

Orating “old-school” without amplification, these Republicans shouted out working people’s demands to Speaker Pelosi’s Democrat Congress: “Vote here! Vote Now! So Americans pay less!”

Overwhelmingly, the crowd agreed with the GOP demand that the Democrat Congress “vote before you vacation!”; and concurred with a balding wag (Patriot-MI) who cried out, “This is the People’s House, not Pelosi’s Politburo!”

The question remains whether Speaker Pelosi and her paid-vacationing Democrats, who are captive to radical environmentalist special interests, can honor the will of the people and hold a vote on American energy security and independence. Don’t hold your breath. You’ll need it later to walk to work.
Yet, as the Democrats’ most hated Congress in history persists in cheating Americans out of lower gas prices as part of a larger left-wing plan to keep gas prices high, they should remember the caution of Pete Hoekstra (Patriot-MI): “Revolutions aren’t planned. They happen.”

Thus, so was John Shadegg (Patriot-AZ), when he exclaimed on the floor of the People’s House –

“This is our generation of Americans’ ‘Boston Tea Party!’”

And with this declaration, America’s energy independence and security revolution started without Dems.

And so it will continue!

House Republicans will be rearranging schedules, flying thousands of miles, and refusing to take a paid vacation. Instead, the GOP will take to the House floor every day to ensure the voice of Americans’ is heard; there is a vote to make our country energy secure and independent; and keep America the greatest nation on Earth!

Note: Below is a best-guess listing of those House Republicans who, on the spur of the moment, were able to race back to the floor and spontaneously start America’s energy independence revolution – all House GOP members were there in spirit!

Hon. Brian Bilbray (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Gus Bilirakis (Patriot-FL)
Hon. Rob Bishop (Patriot-UT)
Hon. Roy Blunt (Patriot-MO)
Hon. John Boehner (Patriot-OH)
Hon. John Boozman (Patriot-AR)
Hon. Kevin Brady (Patriot-TX)
Hon. Paul Broun (Patriot-GA)
Hon. Henry Brown (Patriot-SC)
Hon. Mike Burgess (Patriot-TX)
Hon. John Campbell (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Eric Cantor (Patriot-VA)
Hon. Shelley Moore Capito (Patriot-WV)
Hon. John Carter (Patriot-TX)
Hon. Tom Cole (Patriot-OK)
Hon. Mike Conaway (Patriot-TX)
Hon. John Culberson (Patriot-TX)
Hon. Charlie Dent (Patriot-PA)
Hon. Mary Fallin (Patriot-OK)
Hon. Jeff Fortenberry (Patriot-NE)
Hon. Virginia Foxx (Patriot-NC)
Hon. Louie Gohmert (Patriot-TX)
Hon. Wally Herger (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Pete Hoekstra (Patriot-MI)
Hon. Duncan Hunter (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Steve King (Patriot-IA)
Hon. Dan Lungren (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Don Manzullo (Patriot-IL)
Hon. Kevin McCarthy (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Thaddeus McCotter (Balding Wag-MI)
Hon. Devin Nunes (Patriot-CA)
Hon. Mike Pence (Patriot-IN)
Hon. Chip Pickering (Patriot-MS)
Hon. Todd Platts (Patriot-PA)
Hon. Ted Poe (Patriot-TX)
Hon. Jon Porter (Patriot-NV)
Hon. Tom Price (Patriot-GA)
Hon. Adam Putnam (Patriot-FL)
Hon. Mike Rogers (Patriot-MI)
Hon. Adrian Smith (Patriot-NE)
Hon. Bill Sali (Patriot-ID)
Hon. John Shimkus (Patriot-IL)
Hon. Mike Turner (Patriot-OH)
Hon. John Shadegg (Patriot-AZ)
Hon. Tim Walberg (Patriot-MI)
Hon. Greg Walden (Patriot-OR)
Hon. Lynn Westmorland (Patriot-GA)
Hon. Joe Wilson (Patriot-SC)

As recently practiced by Chancellor Angela Merkel who, defying pressures from the Communist Chinese, chose to meet with the Dalai Lama in her offices, or as expressed by President Ronald Reagan in the shadows of the Brandenburg Gate, Europe and America’s unbreakable bond of belief is this: We understand “the practical importance of liberty…that freedom and security go together, [and] that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace.”

No people can understand this better than the Germans of Berlin, who saw the strength of this bond in the Berlin Airlift, as Americans stood shoulder to shoulder with their West German counterparts along that bleak scar of a Wall that divided the city and represented the enslavement of a people, and as two generations of American Presidents and German Chancellors stood together to demand freedom and unity when others in Europe and elsewhere were not so willing.

Standing near the hallowed ground where past “Free World” leaders refused on principle to sacrifice the liberty of Berliners at the popular altar of pragmatism, Senator Obama will, it is hoped, intuit our shared bond, and, consequently, further “refine” his shifting positions regarding our nations’ shared sacrifices to win the Free World’s unsought, trans-national struggle against terrorism.

Perhaps, strolling down the Unter den Linden, the erstwhile chair of the European Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee will realize how, in daunting times, human nature has a dangerous instinct to abandon immutable principle for injurious pragmatism; but that while pragmatism may temporarily mask the danger of the moment, principled acts practically advance the cause of human freedom.

Maybe, while listening to JFK’s “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” speech on his I-pod beneath his safety helmet as he pedals past the Reichstag, Senator Obama will recall how, throughout the Cold War, the leaders of the Transatlantic Alliance resisted the siren song of popular pragmatism and, through the practical effects of principled policies, emancipated tens of millions of people from the shackles of the Soviet Union.

Perhaps Senator Obama will take the time to tour a united Germany to see that what President Reagan deemed “the practical importance of liberty” is manifest upon a free European continent, whole, peaceful, and prosperous. But that is probably too much to expect from a man who is taking the, “If-it’s-Thursday-it-must-be-Berlin” approach to foreign policy.

Indeed, what can anyone expect from Senator Obama, whose pragmatic populist approach to the advancement of human liberty led him 18 months ago to oppose the surge in Iraq; to later arbitrarily declare “the surge is not working”; and – even after Osama bin-Laden declared Iraq a “central front” in his war against freedom – to continue to assert Iraq is a “distraction” that he (Obama) “would end as President.”

Yes, of late Senator Obama has been responding to realities on the ground: within the last month, he has ended his criticism of the surge and now acknowledges its success; and is further advocating a surge against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, though he never quite manages to commend the courageous sacrifices made in Afghanistan by allies such as Germany.

The frustrating crux of the Senator’s chaotic politics is this: nowhere in Mr. Obama’s pragmatic, politically expedient pronouncements is there a fundamental affirmation of the Transatlantic Alliance’s unbreakable bond of belief that expanding human liberty will defeat its enemies.

This explains how Senator Obama can one day arbitrarily oppose the surge and callously condemn Iraqis to a living death or worse beneath al-Qaeda, and the next day dismiss the surge’s success as a “distraction.” It explains why so many Americans, Europeans, other free peoples, and those yet to be free, are so dismayed at the prospect of Senator Obama’s potential elevation to the Leader of the Free World during a trans-national war against terrorism.

Thus in Berlin no one knows which Obama will show. Will it be the ideological left-wing Democratic primary candidate who vowed to “end” the war rather than win it, or the Democratic nominee who dismisses the progressing coalition victory as a “distraction”? Will it be the American populist who has told supporters in the United States that he will demand more from our allies in Europe and get it, or the liberal internationalist hell-bent on being liked in Europe’s salons?

To be sure, Berliners may expect a peppy performance Senator Obama. But what Berliners should not expect from the man reaching for the mantle of Kennedy is the courageous and defiant moral clarity he exhibited most obviously in Berlin:

“Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free,” President Kennedy said. “So let me ask you as I close, to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves to all mankind.”

Bluntly, if his past decisions are any guide, Berliners should not expect to hear Senator Obama affirm the unbreakable bond of belief cementing our eternal Transatlantic Alliance: the universality of human freedom. And no carefully choreographed picture of Obama worth a thousand words from a fawning media can compensate for the deafening absence of this one enduring truth.