Leila Green wrote in her Oct. 30 article, "The Morality of Mitt," that "Obama is by no means perfect." This concluded her criticism of the president's morality, as she took the president at his word regarding his support for freedom, equal rights and dedication to alleviating poverty.
However, a thorough analysis requires less attention to rhetoric and more attention to reality.
President Obama promised in 2008 that within the first 100 days of his presidency he would close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, notorious for torture of alleged terrorists. As of Sept. 2012, 167 detainees remain there.
President Obama pledged to close the wage gap between men and women by signing the Lily Ledbetter Act. Yet President Obama pays his own female staff 17 percent less than he pays his male staff.
President Obama pledged his support for equal rights for women. Yet President Obama opposed the Pre-Natal Nondiscrimination Act, which would have protected thousands of girls from being killed in utero because of their sex.
President Obama declared this May that he supports gay rights. Yet last Friday, he said in an MTV interview that "it would be up to future generations of Americans to implement meaningful reform," rather than his administration.
President Obama declares that he tolerates the beliefs of all people. Yet President Obama is forcing religious institutions to violate their consciences by paying for contraceptives and abortifacient drugs.
President Obama says as Commander in Chief he supports the troops. Yet President Obama denied security to the US consulate in Benghazi and furthermore denied support when it was attacked, resulting in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
President Obama says he cares for the plight of the poor and unemployed. Yet under President Obama, the poverty rate has risen by 1.8 percentage points.
Ms. Green's article displayed a shallow, fallacious and naïve understanding of both morality and the candidates' policies. Yes, Governor Romney tempers his morality to appeal to a broader base of people, but President Obama has no morality - only plenty of hypocrisy.
Caroline Jansen
sophomore
Cavanaugh Hall
Oct. 30
