Caution, Obamaniacs are on the loose.

What are Obamaniacs, you ask?

Well, for starters, the first commandment of their Decalogue is: Thou salt not criticize or even question in any way his holiness Barack Obama and/or his campaign.

If you should dare to voice your opinion or speak up in opposition to their latter day messiah, according to Obamaniacs you are guilty of heresy. By definition you are gravely in error anda fortioria racist.

A second identifying characteristic of Obamaniacs: They label as smear merchants those who confront the Obama campaign and attempt to have a real debate on the issues.

Very significantly, when you inquire about the credentials and experience of his holiness and ask for his qualifications to hold the highest office in the land, Obamaniacs are somehow struck mute. They just cannot seem to articulate why they support the candidacy of this mystery man, except of course to tell you how much they hate and despise our current president who, the last time I looked, will not even be on the ballot this November.

With a little digging, you can discover for yourself some of the positions of his holiness.

Given soaring gas and fuel oil prices, why does Obama oppose our use of America's own vast resources of oil, coal and natural gas to reduce our energy costs and promote energy independence?

Why does he oppose Sen. John McCain's plan to construct 45 new and environmentally sound nuclear facilities to provide us with a source of safe and renewable energy?

Why does he support full constitutional rights for terrorists, even Osama bin Laden, but not for babies in the womb or even babies born alive in failed abortion procedures?

Why does he support higher taxes in trying economic times? Oh, yes, he says he will only be taxing the rich. We've heard that one before.

Why does he claim from one side of his mouth to support traditional marriage between a man and a woman and yet from the other side of his mouth oppose the amendment on the California ballot this November to preserve traditional marriage?

Why does he before one group decry a flag pin in your lapel as false patriotism and a short time later before a patriotic group don one himself?

These positions are portents of an Obama presidency. In these difficult times when we as a people are frustrated and most vulnerable, they threaten to engulf us and surreptitiously put our health, security and freedom as a nation at risk.

Mark Flack Wells

Fort Covington