Is This Really Change?

Do you recognize the picture above?

Be honest. Do you?

Don't be surprised if you don't. Most people won't. Only those who really follow politics will.

The man pictured above is the likely candidate to become the new director of the CIA--the Central Intelligence Agency. You know the group, the spies amongst us.

The man pictured above has no experience in the intelligence field. None. He's never been a spy. He's never worked for the CIA or even the FBI. Yet, he's bringing needed change to the agency.

He does have Washington, DC experience. He was the Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton. Yes, you read that correctly. The Chief of Staff for the former president.

He was also a congressman from California for many years.

Now, he will become the director of the CIA. The chief spy himself.

Do you know him now?

He's none other than Mr. Leon Panetta.

Now, politics aside. Seriously. Didn't Mr. Obama run under the theme of "Change"? Didn't he promise change in America and the American government?

I'm confused. Especially since so many in his cabinet and other governmental appointees have ties to the Clinton administration.

I guess change simply meant away from Republican leadership to Democrat leadership.

To me, that's not much change, just more of the same old same old.

Same song. Different verse.

Was Obama Flip in His Answer?

I want to ask a question, not really trying to stir the pot in any way, and not trying to make this blog political; however, in this election year in particular, I think we will continue to see situations like this, and I’d really like to know how you handle it.

Here’s the situation. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama acknowledged this past Sunday that he was probably too flip when he said it was “above my pay grade” to answer a question about when is a baby entitled to human rights.

You remember the setting. Senator Obama gave his answer last month at a nationally televised religious forum sponsored by Rick Warren at his church in Orange County, California.

Asked on ABC’s “This Week,” whether the “above my pay grade” answer was too flip, Obama said: “Probably....What I intended to say is that, as a Christian, I have a lot of humility about understanding when does the soul enter into ... It’s a pretty tough question. And so, all I meant to communicate was that I don’t presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological questions.”

So, here’s my dilemma. Which answer should I believe? Was his answer to Rick Warren his real answer? Or, was his answer on “This Week” more genuine? Or, was his answer this week simply the one framed by his handlers and advisors?

I’m seriously struggling to understand this. I’m not interested in bashing Senator Obama or his campaign. But, as a Christian, how do I make heads or tails of his initial response vs. this response?

Or, even if I remove being a Christian from the equation, how do I understand this as a voting citizen?