As an American Christian who has many friends in Kenya, Uganda and many other African nations I have spent many hours researching Barack Obama. Before I became a Christian over 25 years ago I had been a communist. This background has helped with giving me some insights during my research. I have, also, noticed that those African-Americans most involved in truly helping the poor are those that are most opposed to Obama. What I have found from my research is that Obama is nothing close to what people want to believe who he is. Let me give just a few of many many examples: 1. As a State Senator in Illinois, Obama took the side of the teacher's union against the interests of black children in inner city Chicago. 2. He has taken the most pro-abortion positions of any member of the US Senate including support for live birth abortion (i.e. allowing a baby that survies abortion to be left to die.) 3. Throughout his life he has been closely associated with communists and even American terrorits (Bill Ayers among others). Despite continual denials on behalf of the Obama campaign more and more evidence cames out about his shady associations. 4. He has claimed to be a Christian but in his own words one of his books, he answers his daughter when she asked where she goes when she dies by him saying "I don't know". 5. He is a major supporter for homosexual rights.

With the current financial crisis in America, if Obama is elected President and implements just some of his economic and tax policies the American economy could well go into a depression. This would mean much less US aid for Africa.

As I have said for the last ten years when I have taught in Africa is that it is a big mistake to look to America as Africa's salvation. The nation building principles of early America can provide good insights for nation building in Africa. America today has fallen far away from these self-governing principles.

Listen up John A, It's the American people that will put Barack Obama in the White House not your sorry opinion of him. 25 years is not enough time for a commie to change, still sound like one and a true Christian don't cast that kind of judgement. It is the American Christian who believe in Obama's vision and competence as a President, that means mainstream America, big America,little America, midwest America and rural America. You should research Christianity and what it means,happy hunting!

John, let's take the emotion out of it and make it about facts. The current global financial crisis was triggered by that phony make believe "real estate boom" of 2002-2005 in the US real estate market. John McCain was behind the deregulation of the real estate market. Insanity followed and only the wise ones knew what was coming. Hey, Washington take care of their "boys" first. Deregulation made so much dough $$$$$$ for them + their "boys", what do they care? They layman don't understand, who's looking? You can't Tie Barack Obama to scandal of that magnitude, (the one with rich white boys in power looking out for #1 themselves and their extravagant life styles) end of story.

Oilbaron there are no facts in your post whatsoever. The deregulation was done by Democrats....most of this country realizes this now. Key Democrats opposed the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, which would have established a single, independent regulatory body with jurisdiction over Fannie and Freddie – a move that the Government Accountability Office had recommended in a 2004 report.

Top 3 recipients of campaign contributions from Fannie and Freddie: Christopher Dodd (D)- $133,900 John Kerry(D)- $111,000 Barak Obama(D)- $105,849 McCain had regulation bill 3 years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_FZCaKDn9k You can't question the words right from The chairman if the House Financial Services Committee Barny Frank's mouth.

The total lies like this and selective news reporting by the main stream media are the only reason for Obama's SLIGHT lead over McCain right now.

I'm a Christian and Obama's stand on Abortion anytime anywhere at any age paid by taxpayers and voting to allow children born by botched abortions being left to die is the reason NO ONE with belief in the teachings and salvation of Jesus Christ should have anything to do with Obama whatsoever. Can you tell me anything Obama has done to protect the people of Chicago where he worked? More people die there then in Iraq!

Oh yeah...he had a gazebo built.

Heavens, John, do i have to read through all that right-wing Christian rhetoric complete with all the talk-radio talking points... live-birth abortions, commies and terrorists... in this dialogue? How do these lies further the topic?

Obama is enormously popular in Kenya. Yes, he is half Kenyan (half white, too) and provides a sense of pride for many Kenyans. While in Kenya, I found myself in many political conversations with Kenyans from a variety of places and stations. I found myself apologizing for the actions of President Bush, trying to assure them that not all Americans are in support of his failed Presidency. The people I talked to are quite political savvy, more so that many citizens of my town in the U.S. The know what's happening. They are aware that Republican policies over the last twenty years have not served them well. They have much more confidence in Obama than McCain, a Republican. They see no reason to think McCain's attitude toward East Africa will be any different than that of George Bush.

Mr payn, I read your idea. I think you are in the US please don't blieve on skin color. Obama is not God. He can't be perfect like other human beings. Even you are nothing to Africa men. Don't fool your self like a human right protector. You have an agenda you are trying to make it real. Payn, please you americans let us free.The problem of Africans are going to be free by Africans like our independence. We don't need your help specially like you who has identity crises. Please focus on America only. Leave other parts of the world to solve their problems. You did not solve the problem of Afgan.. and Iraq and you will not solve the problem of other country except to add a fuel for a fire. As an individual I don't care who elected for us. It is non of my business. Americans will let me whom they want by voting and I will accept it nothing more nothing less. Becouse the President is for America not for south AfRICA. I pray for you Americans let others do what they prefer to do.

To Mr. Payne,

I read your message with understanding and I must let you know that I am strong Obama suppoter here in Abidjan and I can do anythin to my reach to contribute to his campaign. Senator Obama inspire me so much and wish and pray that American will forget about colour and strange name and vote Obama as the next American president because he knows how to resolves the America economic crisis. To me he is very specfic in all his vision for people of America.

I do not believe Obama been president of the most powerful country in the world will solve african problems, just like a brothe said that African problem problems are caused by African and can only be solve by them, if only our leaders will put aside greed and think of a common man on the street because the gap between the poor and th rich in African is increasing rapidly. I really pray that Afican shold realise the blessing God has given to them from natural resources to humand resource and African are most interligent creature on earth, but most African has limited access to education and there no room for any less prigilage whom the parents has no good jo to send them to school.

I love Africans and I want Africans to wake because the time has come, we need Afican youths to stand up for the challenge this challenge and make African a better place for all of us, all millitants should drop their weapons and remember that we are brothers and you have no reason to kill in each for any reasons whatsoever, nothing has been achieved with violenc, dialogue is the best and only solution to any problem no matter how complicating i may seems.

We cannot continue to blame people for our mistakes, all Africans need is to unite more stongly as a continents and confronts its prblem by themselves.

We can only solves this problem and eradicate poverty in Africa without the help of any foreign aid if only Afican leaders should stop laundring money overseas to fill ther foreign account, forgeting that your helping to boost his economy, our leaders need to understand that they are public servants and should help responsible of misappropriate of public fund.

ONE LOVE AFRICAN BROTHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Spoken like a true brother, you sound like Obama gentle in spirit which reminds me also of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. Their intention pure their name good these men are handpicked by GOD to carry the voice of common humanity. Afrika and it's people are not an island unto itself,it needs the of the world to grow economically, don't be foolish the west is not your enemy, in fact you should be glad our children are able to be educated and adopted by the wealthy in the west that our own brothers are guilty of making them orphans. It's not the west that needs Obama, it's the world, his presence can help calm things and may even bring some peace.

my comment to Mr. Payne is simply this...WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO ASK AFRICA TO GIVE THEIR VOTE TO AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT!?!?. Be it Black/White. It angers me for an American like you to have the gull in bringing this up. All you Americans care about is AMERICA. Why should Africans give their "silent vote" to Obama? He'd rather give a speech in Europe than one in his own Fathers Continent. It may be that he was doing it for strategical purposes and making sure that the White people don't think Obama is only gonna care for the Blacks in Africa, rather than the American people. Then again, he won't even talk about helping the Blacks in his own country when he's making his "celebrity-like" speeches, he'd rather hang around his white-boy friends who pump money into him and fooling him and the rest of America that "America" is ready for change. You all want to exploit people and ESPECIALLY AFRICA for your own personal gain and country. Even if Obama we're to win the Presidency...he won't do SH*T for Africa, and YOU KNOW IT Mr. Payne!, at least until he hears a matter of "something"(any concern or idea) from "word-of-mouth", then he'll act as if he's "In Touch" with Africa. I'll give you Americans credit for one thing...you know how to fool the rest of the world. Mr Payne, let your Democratic party win this election on your own! Even though we all know that its "outside sources" that are really helping you. Good luck to you, because you're gonna need it. Then again, you would've already won this election a LONG TIME AGO had it not been for some of the on/off (pun intended) decision making choices made by the Democratic party. Talk about HELPING AFRICA (and not for self-promotion)which you ALL love, then you can ask Africans for them to give their "silent vote".

Good and though provocative. I agree with you Mr Koroma. Go further than this in explanation to ignorant Obama campaigners on AllAfrica

It is this crab in a barrel, pull-him-down syndrome that’s been the bane of Africa. Here we are, with one of our own having a once in three-hundred-years-opportunity to be voted as the most powerful politician on earth, and another one of us is asking who gave Donald Payne the authority to tell us to vote or support this man! Of course, whether you like it or not, policies pursued by Washington affect Africa and until we begin to engage, rather than merely oppose, we will not move forward in our attempt to better our lot. Granted, no one is going to save Africa, but Africans; yet there are many dynamics that play definitive roles in that process and one is the man or woman who sits in the Oval Office. Obama has showed he understands the problem. We may not all share the same ideological sentiments with him when it comes to the solutions to the multifarious problems facing Africa, but with him we would have for the first time a true African who understands the problem of his home continent. Or, having looked at both campaigns, having listened to the tickets, are you convinced that John McCain has the better programme for Africa? Please, we are better off giving Obama our support than pulling him down, especially in the light of the alternative being evidently not better. He’s doing every African proud out there; he’s doing every African-American proud and you better believe it when I tell you now that his election will represent a seismic shift in the centuries-caked negativism against the black man! Don’t just look at the politics of it, read your history and appreciate where we stand today as black people with this possibility of Obama’s election. If you really do and understand, then do your best to make it a reality! There’s no time for regrets!

Can anybody tell me why we support Obama? Is that becouse he is black or his speaking ability? Most of us know obama not more than a year, how can we say then he is the right leader? My friends, no American will support Africa for making Africa better place, but for their business(purpose). Do Amercans influence china? no they can't. But for us they use our leaders for what all they need. There is no even a single country which is democratic in our continent. But they don't care as far as the leader of the nation obey to the rules of US. Let us see Egypt for example, it gets $2 billion per annum, do Mr. Payne ask why his government is supporting for the leader who don't know and accept the principles of the "western democracy"? No he can't. Do you know why he is nothing but unable to do that. Willingness itself can't change the situation on earth. Payne, don't try to be smart covering your self with the socalled "human right". Take a stand and fight for the stand you have took. Thank you our bother we will take care for our selves. African problems will be solved by Africans.

I have read the comments. One in particular struck me. "Let Africans take care of African problems". That sounds wonderful to me! My tax dollars are going to African Leaders who destroy their own countries for greed and worst of all the ones who suffer are the African people because they have not real voice. There was once great hope for Africa during the Pan African movement but I guess with the greed and all your leaders have fallen short of the mark and don't give a damn about the "African People". So yes save yourselves if you can because from the world view Africa is a waste of time. Most of all the innocent children are the one's who suffer and that is the real shame. In my humble opinion the solution is the investment in education of the young and hopefully they won't make the same mistakes that their forfathers have left as there legacy! Yes I will gladly keep my tax dollars right here at home where those who recieve help apperciate it.

The Gate Keeper

First of all, is there really such a thing as the "continent's supporters?" That sounds overly simplistic. Secondly, and most importantly, this looks like AllAfrica.com is supporting Obama. If so, come out and say it already, or carry a pro-McCain piece once in a while!

I admire Obama a lot for what he has achieved in american politics, whether we like it or not, he has brought a new perspectives to the terrain but one thing i personally will not like Mr Payne to try doing is creating a false impression on africans that obama regime will take away our pains,who says Bush's administration didnt assist Africans? the problems in africaa is caused by africans and can only be solved by africans, why am i saying this,look at zimbabwe,nigeria,south africa even sudan, the genocides,killings,abuse of human rights, extortions, molests and corruptions, are those americans doing?what do you think obama administration if he wins (that i would love)could do?we should stopall this smokescreen political jingos about american govt being the messiah, what we need in africa from western world is simply that they should dissociate from any govt that does not provide dividends of democrcy to her citizenry, canvassing vote for Obama isnt a crime but please stop deluding us about what can not be, africans need to wake up to their responsibilities and then we can say improvements.

This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

To Mr payne

I met last months and in January dozens of women who were raped and beaten by Ethiopian security forces now languishing in a refugee camp in Kenya.

I wish the Ethiopian government used these funds to build hospitals and schools. I said then that the U.S. Congress is not for sale. I am with U Mr Chairman

Ogadens For Obama,,,,,,,,,,Africans For Obama

To Males And His ????????????

This is the generation that will free Ogaden. This is the generation that will conclude our centuries old struggle for freedom. This is the generation that will pay back all the heroes who have given everything so that we can someday have something to be proud of.

Our time is now and our moment is here. Africa will witness the birth of a new nation borne of over 100 plus years of struggle and personal sacrifice. We will not be denied what our fathers and their fathers have bled for and died for. We will not be denied what our brethren have suffered for. Surely we will not be denied what is rightfully ours.

Freedom is not and has never been free but we are willing, ready, and able to pay the price. Ogaden belongs to us and we will take it back by any means necessary.

Let the Freedom ring in Ogadenia

Thank you so much Mr Chairman you are true leader

Its for Africans themselves to want to solve their problems. All the good will and help is not going to fix humongous problems. The problems have been distilled to poor leadership. Most government don't care for the people; they are no accountable to their countrymen and countrywomen. Most of them are outright thugs running illegimate outfits. It doesn't really who is president in America. Obama's consituency is American people not Africa. Bush has helped Africa even more then Bill Clinton did! So.

Congressman Payne:

I know that your post was not meant to be paternalistic to Africans, but that's the way it sounds. African Americans have an idealistic evn mythical idea of waht Africa is like because many of them have never sojourned to Afrcia. Africans don't like Americans-Black, white, asian etc..They just like American money and the occassional American movie.Your focus should not be on helping Africans, but helping African Americans in the country that you love and I love. As many posters have said, Africans can figure out their problems for themselves. We don't need to figure it out for them. I wish that African American leaders will stip trying to please Africans, why are they so special that they deserve handouts and freebies! We need freebies right back at home. So please Mr. Payne, stop trying to ingratiate yourself to ingrates! You and Obama need to focus on your own home and your own people.

It is true Bush loves Africans, he even had an black friend in grade school.

Obama is an untested greenhorn that is in over his head. I have been to Zimbabwe three times and I know more about that country than he knows about all of Africa. His blackness does not qualify him to be capable of an intelligent policy for Africa. I am part Cherokee so I guess I am ready to represent the cause of all American Indians. It is not the color of your skin, it's what you know. He is a black lawyer- so what does he know. I would put my Ph.D against his law degree any day. I know more about history and sociology than he will ever know. I am tired of ultra-liberal politicians that shoot their mouths off about things they know nothing about. I say "Power to the African People" and forget American politicians that have not a clue about what they are talking about. At least Bush put his money where his mouth is on Africa.

Mr payne i read your article well enough to my understanding.I am a Nigerian 19 year old student in u.k and i am going to tell you what i think about your article. With what i have read and seen on t.v obama has been able to give us his idea and strategies on how to make America a better community, thumbs up to his ideas but only God knows the true intention of a man and Obama has made us believe hes a christian. Mr payne, your article shows you need political motivation for Obama and you are being ignorant of the major problems in africa. We dont have natural disasters or anything, we simply have greedy leaders who only care about having mansions and penthouses in your country, America. Obama can not solve our problems or help with education when i am quite aware that black men in neighbourhoods like compton and other so called ghettos in America are not even getting education and even food to eat. In Africa all we need is to eradicate greed and the only way Obama can help is by stoping what the present government is doing i.e exploiting Africa because America is quite aware of our weakness. Africans its time we wake up and fight for our freedom ourselves. Those getting educated abroad, go back home and make use of the knowledge you have acquired and make your various african countries better and help to eradicate greed and corruption and those getting the education back home lets all share a common dream of making Africa a better place. We all have to learn to love one another.

‘Music is the universal language and Obama is a universal figure’ Orido, Scriptwriter and Director, Obama: The Musical

A quick glance at the reaction to the Black Messiah’s victory and inauguration displayed a worrying tendency within the African quarters, a tendency which is seen over and over in the majority of African elections. The tendency to support the candidate perceived as ‘one’s own’, in the (often realistic) expectation that their assumption to power will be of benefit to those whom the political Big Man shares affiliation is a simplistic but relatively accurate and relevant description of African neo-patronage politics. Heralding the entrance of their own ‘big man’ onto the world stage entails an implicit (and most of the time, not so implicit) assumption that because Obama is African (HALF! HALF! I am blacker than Obama after a decent dousing of African sun) he will and should help Africa. There are a few little problems here. Firstly, the appeal to inevitability and overt use of religious motifs to describe OB walks the thin line between engendering irritation and incredulity. At the less annoying level I have read on numerous African forums comments such as ‘Obama 's election will improve leadership quality in Africa’ , as if, by virtue of his presence in the White House standards of leadership amongst Africa’s political executive will transform. There are enough examples of home-grown, Africa-educated leaders in the continent who have displayed desirable leadership qualities. Here I think of Julius Nyerere, who despite being economically unsound can be labeled as a bastion of humility and justice. I also think of Botswana’s, rightly recognized by the international community last year. We should of course mention the misleadingly-titled ‘new brand of African leaders’. This term, coined by Clinton to refer to leaders such as Rwandas’s Paul Kagame and Daniel arap Moi of Kenya whom he courted during the frankly fateful US-Africa foreign policy of the 1990s. Unfortunately the mimesis of ‘good’ behavior is for some reason less compelling than the mimesis of bad as we have seen in the near-endemic bad governance in the continent. If Obama is ‘African’, how does he differ from other decent African leaders such as Nyerere of Tanzania, of Botswana (and no, I am not going to mention Mandela – just watch me). If Obama is ‘African’ why is not equated with bad governance as a quick review of African political history would indicate? Why is Obama assumed to be an inevitably positive representation of the African continent; and why is he more compelling than other ‘good’ leaders? Ah-hah. We know why he is a little more compelling. In the way that Bill Gates would be more compelling during a dinner party than the equally-intelligent, good-looking guy on your left. Here, the Obama administration must tread carefully for they run the risk of crystallizing the ‘western worship’, ie. exaltation of white people to the detriment of their nearest and dearest, which I would argue is a large part of Africa’s inability to achieve what it wants and realistically should be able to achieve. Obama is quite ceremoniously the President of the most powerful nation in the world: a nation who boasted a GDP of $13.81 trillion in 2007. I fear the expectation and pressure being placed upon a man who has been in power for less than ten days. Here we arrive at problem #3. The sense of entitlement that many (not all) Africans have shown when discussing how they hope that BO will do the ‘right’ thing. What is that right thing exactly? The one where every leader of the ‘developed’ world has placed upon them the responsibility to help Africa? And in doing so risk the wrath of both their own voting public and those who feel patronised (because, by the way, they are being patronised), belittled and disempowered? There is no ‘ought’ in this. Obama does not represent the collective omission of a number of western-world states over the past 500 years in failing to promote what is best for the African continent. He should not help Africa because he is half-African any more than he should help Africa because he is President of the United States and sits upon the largest pot of aid gold in the world. Africa will only be disappointed if those who propound this view continue in the same vein. If Obama disappoints (which he will), where does this place ‘good’ African leadership? The paradoxical African self-love and self-hate will be perpetuated; as will the very neo-patrimonial style of governance both Africans and the western world are trying so hard to reform.