Tell Me Why Again (a song for Barack)

[1212sylvy]

Osama bin Laden is dead but the war will not end. Too many people are making money.

Saddam Hussein was hung but the killing goes on.

[bijan84]

Great revision. Like to use this in a video of my photos from todays anti war protest. (with credit and link to your video)

[jperryam]

Thank you, Bijan. Glad that you want to use the song. Send me a private message with your email address and I'll send you the mp3. Thanks again - JP

[eagler36]

if he simply pulls troops right away we dont want them axis to attck the U.S after we leave. Finally he is taking home our troops. Lets thank bush 4 getting us into such a great postition because iraq has weapons of mass destruction and was responsible for 9/11 of course!

[ValueFreedom]

On Comments" "...even the one's that don't agree. We have to hear each other out". Now that's a man that knows the value of freedom of speech.

[krisboyd999]

he promises USA peace then sends 30,000 more troops over to the war lierr !!

(im from Scotland btw)

Songs brilliant as you said we have to speak out !!

[n8glenn]

That's funny, your quote is the first time I ever heard obama promise to end the wars. It seems to me that when he was in debates he never took that position, in fact, he chuckled at gravel and kucinich right along with the other patricians when they talked about ending the wars. We had three anti war candidates this last election, three, we were incredibly lucky to have those three men running, we treated them like jokes, and rallied behind obama, why? Because the tv told us to.

[kixdirtsevin]

Obama is a pimp . and no that is not a good thing .

[ConspiraCon]

"Sacrificing brave young kids"? An appeal to emotion to win your argument? The MEN and WOMEN who are in Iraq and Afghanistan are not KIDS! In fact, many of them are moms and dads, and believe it or not, even some grandparents are US soldiers.

I'll tell you why President Obama is sending troops to Afghanistan: because he planned to do that all along. In fact, he made that part of his platform during the campaign. Maybe you were getting high in your treehouse during that year and a half.

[jperryam]

Good job mastering the obvious. Of course they're men and women. But people in their late teens or early twenties (and there are plenty of them over there) are also quite commonly referred to as "kids." It's not meant to be derogatory. And use of the line does not mean they're the only ones dying for the lies. "He was a husband and a father and a son" is another line from the song.

You can remind us all you want. The fact that Obama planned the escalation all along does not justify it.

[ConspiraCon]

@ajperryscam: "The fact that Obama planned the escalation all along does not justify it."

You ask in your song, "tell me why?" Apparently this is a rhetorical question, as you seem bent on determining the 'facts' for everyone.

You also wrongly (falsely) claimed President Obama stated he'd end the war in Afghanistan. He NEVER said that. I've corrected your account, even pointed you to source material to clear the confusion, yet you persist in delusion.

Facts win the argument; ergo, you lose!

[jperryam]

You're right. It's a rhetorical question. I'm already quite sure of the answer, as is anyone genuinely interested in the truth and willing to do the honest homework. Regarding what Obama did or didn't say about Afghanistan, I'll let the record here in the comments speak for itself.

I did go to your channel in an effort to learn where you're coming from. Nothing there. No vids, nothing about you, no channel information whatsoever. All the hallmarks of a gutless, anonymous troll. Good job.

[MysteryWorker]

Yo, jp: "I'm already quite sure of the answer, as is anyone genuinely interested in the truth and willing to do the honest homework."

If you know the answer, then why don't you just lay it all out, man? Tell us why. Don't hold out on those who aren't in the know. I mean, we don't all have the free time to do the "honest homework". Some of us have REAL jobs.

[jperryam]

LOL "real jobs." I have one, I assure you. 40 hr. week just like most others. But I make the time to do what I do because I think it's important. It's not hard. Just a matter of making the most of your time. I don't expect everyone to do it to the extent that I do. But if you really try, an hour here, half hour there is very easy. Start with the video I posted 11-14 about Afghanistan. Check all the links in the video info. Check other sources. If you're really looking for truth, you'll find it.

[whatIsrelevant]

You claim Obama was elected because he "promised he'd get us out of war." But that's not the reason WE voted for him.

We voted for him because we recognize the reality that a two-party system requires accommodations be made for the disparate views of the electorate, and that a wise leader is one who is pragmatic, who fights for the cause that can be won, and abides the deluge raging against his efforts. Oh, and because he's cool, and we think he'll be able to get health insurance reform passed.

[jperryam]

As I said earlier, he was elected because people thought he actually represented the real change this country needs, which includes the need to end the illegal, immoral wars and focus on domestic priorities. Considering the $12 billion we're wasting in the Middle East every month, it's clearly the biggest issue. But he's EXPANDING war, feeding the hate for America, causing millions to regret their vote. The people have been fooled again. Barack Obama is George W. Bush with coherent sentences.

[whatIsrelevant]

You're partly correct--some money IS wasted. But after 35 years of cycling between intervention and neglect, we believe the people of Afghanistan are OWED some CONSIDERATION for these . . . impositions.

The US Congress authorized "the use of force" in diplomatic ventures in Afghanistan AND beyond; this is the basis for MANY American military deployments--abroad OR otherwise.

The change that EVERY country needs is an end to ALL war; but our LEAVING Afghanistan won't END the war in Afghanistan.

[jperryam]

Nobody's suggesting instant utopia upon our exit. But there is certainly NO chance of stability as long as we stay. Our presence feeds the insurgency. Agree re: "CONSIDERATION." A great start would be to do what the Afghan people want us to do, which is LEAVE. And who would know better that them what they need?

Congressional "authorization" does not necessarily make something legal. Remember, they're bound by the Constitution too. The illegality is clear when one takes the time to look.

[buckfush12]

JP you the man dude.

[Steadno]

so they will be close for when israel bombs iran.

[KamikazeKoscki]

the Americans and their NATO allies will begin their final attempt to secure their TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) pipeline, which without the Western Nations, due to their grave lack of alternative energy resources, and being cut off from these vast Central Asian supplies (which both Russia and China are seeking to insure), are warned will totally collapse.

[KamikazeKoscki]

President Obama to order 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in next six months, White House officials say.

[discountBush]

You're wrong. Then-Sen. Obama REPEATEDLY, on nationally-televised debates and interviews, stated he would end the war in Iraq, but that he'd INCREASE troop levels in Afghanistan. In fact, this was the position of ALL of the top Democrat candidates for the party's nomination. At the time, this policy was referred to as a, "strategic re-deployment from Iraq, and into Afghanistan."

You can't change history by forgetting facts; but you can mislead people into believing what they WANT to believe.

[discountBush]

Nice song, though. You've got real talent. I just disagree with your understanding of the facts regarding President Obama's stated positions.

[jperryam]

I understand the facts all too well, my friend. I'm not going to argue the semantics. Regardless of Obama's stated positions, actions are the true measure. The man has now taken full ownership of the illegal invasion and occupation of two countries that posed no threat to the U.S., launched by the predecessor that he refuses to hold accountable in any way whatsoever. At the very least, he is an accessory after the fact. We will get nowhere until we start seeing things as they really are.

[oggleman]

Just because he campaigned on increasing troop levels in Afghanistan doesn't make it the right thing to do. Do you really think that EVERY position on EVERY issue his campaign took was the right one? Besides it's unambiguous in this quote. "i will bring these troops home" he didn't say "i will send those troops to afghanistan"

[discountBush]

No, in fact I would prefer no war EVER, and I truly believe the best policy as regards any adversary, foreign or domestic, is to send emmissarys instead of armies.

But the problem is there are some places that are not safe to go if you are an American, a woman, and intellectual, an atheist, or a homosexual. This would obviously put our emmissarys at grave risk, seeing as how our govt is the biggest employer of women, intellectuals, atheists, and homosexuals.

This is why we arm our emmissarys.

[oggleman]

The solution of fighting proxy wars in their home countries in order to persuade them to accept minorities is irrational and illogical. We can't bomb them into loving us and it will only make matters worse. How are we going to get them to appreciate our westen values if we don't value their rights as people? It's very sad seeing someone with the username "discountbush" defending Bush policies just because they are being overseen by Obama.

[ConspiraCon]

You rely on quote-mining to prove your point? Fine, you're right. This audio clip does not contain any information about other policies that Obama discussed during the campaign, therefore, Obama did not discuss ANY other policies during the campaign. So sure, this audio clip, taken out of context, totally disproves all evidence to the contrary. Hooray for you, Einstein!

You obviously care about truth as much as the guy claiming Obama was elected because he'd "get us out of war". Fucking jokers.

[oggleman]

Quote mining? So wait I have to include the whole speech or its quote mining? If I only include the part of the speech which is relevant to the discussion at hand, it's quote mining? If I don't include Obama's position on gay marriage and green energy in a discussion of Afghanistan it's quote mining? Or is it quote mining because I didn't include the lines "I will end this war" and " you can take that to the bank"? WTF?

[ConspiraCon]

Why don't you just admit you don't know what "quote mining" means, instead of acting incredulous that I would accuse you of such a thing. Look it up, numbnutz!

The fact is that one of Obama's very first acts as President was to order the military to plan an orderly withdrawal from Iraq. Case closed.

But apparently that isn't good enough for you. You expected him to whip out his magic wand and teleport the soldiers home?

Between Cock Cheney and guys like you, our President can't catch a break.

[ConspiraCon]

Do you have any idea of the logistics involved in planning a withdrawal from a war situation? It isn't simply an issue of transportation.

Seriously, if you think that it would be possible to mobilize all of the troops and equipment out of there in LESS than a year, then you really aren't qualified to discuss the issue.

[oggleman]

Even if that were a goal of his (bringing the troops home) he's got a funny way of doing it. He's already got more troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than Bush ever had. You would have a valid point if he had at least begun to reduce troop levels. And yes I know what quote mining is. I also know that there are people who like to go around accusing other people of logical fallacies without really knowing what they're talking about because it makes them feel smart to use such big words.

[assemblyofGalt]

@ legoman: "there are people who like to go around accusing other people of logical fallacies without really knowing what they're talking about because it makes them feel smart to use such big words"

Ok smarty-pants, here's another 'big word': IRONIC; as in, "We find it ironic that you employ a logical fallacy to counter an argument asserting your over-reliance on fallacious arguments."

Good luck with that.

[oggleman]

Ok here's another big word, it also happens to be another logical fallacy: "bare assertion fallacy" you are just making the bare assertion that I'm employing logical fallacies but without explaining how exactly my arguments are fallacious and just expect me to accept it on face value like "ooh that's a big word he must know what he's talking about". It's a common mistake of inexperienced debaters to underestimate their opponent

[assemblyofGalt]

Oh, so you're NEW to this, eh? Boy, you really had us fooled. We thought for sure you were a TRUE professional.

[jperryam]

I'm sorry. Did you have a point you were trying to make?

[jperryam]

Exactly, dB. Just like the Obama administration and the media are misleading millions into believing that the illegal occupation of Iraq is over (because yes, that's what they WANT to belive) by ignoring it completely. The reality, of course, is that roughly 130,000 troops remain in Iraq, in harm's way for no other reason than to protect the war and oil profiteer gravy train. And the war criminals whose lies launched it all remain free. How many more do you suppose will die for those lies?

[discountBush]

I listened to the President's speech tonight, and he PLAINLY and CLEARLY discussed the FACT that Iraq is still occupied, and that combat brigades will be withdrawn next summer, and all troops will be withdrawn in 2011. Whether this comes to pass exactly as is proscribed is yet to be seen, but no one can honestly claim the President is misleading ANYONE about these facts (unless they are ignorant of them.)

YOU are the media. Semantics DO matter; they give the message its meaning.

[jperryam]

He was also plain and clear on 10-27-07 when he said his FIRST ACT AS PRESIDENT would be to get our troops out of Iraq and end the war (listen to the start of the song). So much for that promise. Which destroys his credibility from square one.

I didn't say semantics don't matter. I said I wasn't going to argue them. What's far more important right now is the fact that innocent people are still dying and the US is still going broke for a pack of neocon lies being embraced by this president.

[TheTipperaryMan]

President Obama said no such thing.

During his Presidential campaign his position on Iraq was thus:

He would gradually to withdraw combat troops leaving a small force behind to continue training the Iraqi military and police. If violence flared up again he would send the troops back in. His goal was a free democratic Iraq that could govern itself and be an ally of the US in the region.

He de facto endorsed the 2003 invasion and overthrow by praising the great job done of the US military.

[jperryam]

He said no such thing? Really? So is the voice making that very promise at the beginning of the song here that of an impostor? How about the guy in the video, which anyone can easily find by entering "Obama Campaign Promise - October 27, 2007" in the YouTube search box? Is he a phony too?

[mogodbilealadamnbama]

Hey John, I'm about ready to move to a new planet. Why would we wish democracy on Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter?

Maybe we just gotta sit back and let the morons kill each other off. Then, all that will be left is us versus the banker/lawyer class. That's the battle that needs to be settled.

[TheTipperaryMan]

You obviously never looked at his website or read any of his campaign literature or watched a single one his speechs or the debates with McCain.

He made it quite clear what his policies were in regard to Afghanistan and the War on Terror.

[esgatch]

His website and campaign literature?...

His speeches?....

His debates?...

Prolific manipulation of the fact that he's broken all his campaign promises regarding the war.

Barry Soetoro from Mombasa, Kenya is another Harvard-educated obfuscant, manipulated by the world's banks and corporations. When they're done with him, they'll hang him out to dry.

Innocent souls are being parlayed as cannon-fodder for oil, and the 'tipperaryman' comes on youtube to display his ignorance.

Wake up..

[jperryam]

Got it, TipperaryMan. He was planning it all along. I've already made clear in these comments that I understand that. But what's also quite clear to anyone not wearing the partisan blinders is that this fact does not justify the action, which is what you are clearly implying.

Now - how about answering my question regarding the Obama audio here? Your claim is that he "said no such thing." Is the audio fake or isn't it? And how about the video? Is that an Obama impostor or isn't it?

[TheTipperaryMan]

My point is you are cherrypicking a piece of audio completely out of context.

There is an overabundance of speeches he made on the War on Terror and Afghanistan which were as aggressive as any made by McCain, Clinton and Bush.

But what are you complaining about?

Do you want the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to have a safe haven in Afghanistan and the tribal regions of Pakistan?

Do you want to defeat these Islamic extremists or so want more ground zeros?

[jperryam]

There is nothing cherry-picked or out of context about it, as anyone looking honestly can see. The promise is there in its entirety. There is no doubt about what he said or the meaning. He even emphasized it with "You can take that to the bank." But let's assume for the sake of argument that he said nothing. The bottom line is that Barack Obama has willfully taken control of two needless, illegal wars of aggression and expanded the conflict to a third country. He is only encouraging terrorists.

[TheTipperaryMan]

Unnecessary wars??

You call the overthrow of the dictator Saddam Hussein (which America put in power in the first place and had a moral obligation to remove) and the blossoming of Iraqi democracy which gives tens of millions of Iraqis a genuine chance UNNECESSARY?????

Do you want the Taliban to recover control of Afghanistan and for Al-Qaeda to re-establish their presence (America was responsible for funding the mujihadeen and did nothing during 1990's about Islamic extremism) there too?

[jperryam]

Yes, unnecessary. Based entirely on lies that have been extensively documented, and that Barack Obama is willfully perpetuating. He clearly has no problem with the well over one million innocent people who are now dead because of these lies. How about you? Perhaps you would be able to see the reality if you could get past all the insidious fear mongering and corporate media propaganda. Don't ask me to prove it. That's a cop-out. Turn off your TV, do the real homework and prove it to yourself.

[TheTipperaryMan]

"He clearly has no problem with the well over one million innocent people who are now dead because of these lies. How about you?"

Iraq Body Count, which is considered the most independent estimate of deaths, puts the figure at between approx 90,000 - 100,000.

The vast majority of those killed were killed by Sunni & Shia insurgents and Al-Qaeda terrorists with suicide bombings, shootings and beheadings.

Yet millions of Iraqis voted bravely voted in democratic elections.

Explain?

[TheTipperaryMan]

Do you call democracy and freedom for millions of Iraqis unnecessary?

Do you call fighting Islamic extremist terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world who have vowed to destroy the United States and impose sharia law on us infidels unnecessary????

What fear mongering?

Did you see the twin towers burn on 9/11?

Did you see the Pentagon burn?

Do you not see the beheadings and bombings and killings every day by these barbarian Islamic lunatics?

I'm with Obama.

Kick some Taliban ass

[jperryam]

Please re-read my previous comment to you and come back when you have a clue.

[TheTipperaryMan]

You are a joke.

You are complaining that Obama is sending more troops to fight against Islamic fundamentalist savages.

Do you support the Taliban or something?

Obviously you don't so what problem do you have with defeating those rat bastards and bring civilisation and democracy to that country?

You are a pussy.

You have no clue and no solution.

But you jealously criticise anyone who does anything because they are not lily white naive like you?

[jperryam]

The song in this video begins with the audio of Obama promising that the first thing he would do as president is order our troops home and end the war in Iraq. The video of him saying it is easily searchable on YouTube, as I explained earlier. But undeterred by the undeniable truth, you STILL chimed in with "President Obama said no such thing." And I'M the naive one? I'M the one without a clue? Please. If the stakes weren't so high your ignorance would be laughable. Wake up.

[wingsuitfreak]

Perhaps one day you might consider reading a little piece of paper called the constitution. Or even the declaration of independence. I know it is too much for you to actually learn our history, but you are completely uneducated and seem proud to be ignorant. Even the modern history of last century seems to escape your grasp of knowledge. Yet, despite your ignorance you remain undaunted in your claim of knowledge. Stupidity at your level is really hilarious.

[wingsuitfreak]

Are you saying we are fighting for democracy and freedom for Iraqis? That we are fighting against extremists all around the world? MUSLIM extremists who want to impose sharia law? Did you see the very small hole from a very big plane with a fire that melted the airplane from heat from a fuel based fire and left papers fluttering on a desk right beside it? Did you see your iq results? You failed them.

[ConspiraCon]

Credibility? This coming from a man claiming the reason Obama was elected was because he promised to "get us out of war." If that's the reason you voted for him, then you're ignorant. I bet you played that clip over and over until all you could hear is what YOU wanted to hear. You obviously never listened to the debates or to the interviews he gave on Face the Nation. I know that you didn't, because if you had, you would have noticed that Obama's plan was to send MORE troops into Afghanistan.

[jperryam]

I didn't vote for him. I've known all along he's just another special interest puppet. I said well before election day that if he won, millions would ultimately regret their vote. He was elected because they believed he actually represented the real change they wanted. And yes, regardless of what he said about Afghanistan, they allowed themselves to believe he would end it. About the clip, its very simple: He made a promise. He didn't keep it. Credibility gone. Sorry if you can't handle it.

[onlywhenprovoked]

You can take that to the bank. How ironic, seeing as the bankers are the only one's he's been faithful to.

I've been mulling over just how to do my "well it's been a year now, and I want my vote back, you typical lying politician" video.

He won't be getting my vote next time around.

Good work with this video.

[smttysmth02gt]

You voted for Obama?

[onlywhenprovoked]

seemed like a better idea than mccrazy and the airhead

[lescwilson]

It's satanic! Now Al Gore is being uncovered as a total evil fraud as well.  Great song!

[PleaseStayTuned]

Great rewrite of an already great song, loved the original as well. Wouldn't it be a surprise if suddenly Obama just told us why....even though we all already know the answer.

[uche007us]

Loved it.

But why is everyone complaining about Obama sending more troops to Afghanistan? didnt he pledge during the campaign to increase troop lvls there

[kswilson99]

I never watched the one you made for Bush, but I'm sure this video will get a lot of views too. Awesome song!

[codematrix]

Great vid John and thanks!!!

[2minstral]

I don't think Obama is going to listen to the people. In fact we all know it.

Tomorrow is going to be a very bad day in history. It is the moment we have all dreaded. There will be a reaction to the continued occupation and surge of military in Afghanistan and the destabilization of Pakistan. I only hope real leadership will arise in the US out of the pending chaos and usher in a long period of real truth and justice.

I see youtube is about to shut down our freedom of speech for the next 12 hr

[livingaftermidnight]

Definitely.

[compman67]

Exactly... Great vid!

[johnnydigital77]

I feel you man. It seems more and more, like the real war is the free vs the war machine.