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Monday, September 14, 2009

America's Angry and Intolerant Right

Hello Papamoka Bloggers! What did you find shocking about the right-wing demonstrations this past weekend? Was it the number of people? Was it the fact they were practically all white? Was it the crazy signage? Was it the outrageously propagandist Pravda-like media coverage by Glenn Beck on FOX?
To me it was the hatred, racism, bigotry and more. I know it's controversial, but I'm calling them out. I think it's past time to play the "hate card" people.

Playing the Hate Card

Yes, I said the "hate card." That means calling them out on a whole variety of hate-based intolerance. In my personal opinion, the protesters this weekend seemed to hate anything they cannot identify with, control or understand.

Let me be specific. They seem to hate change. They seem to hate anybody who spends money they covet, consider their own or don't control. They seem to hate people in power over them. They seem to hate anything they don't understand. I would even go so far as to say they even seem to hate people who don't look like them, based on their response to our current president.

There I said it. I think they're racists, bigots, homophobes/intolerants, and those who love the status quo so much they hate anybody who threatens it.

It's clear they try to dress it up as a 'call to arms' singing the constant Republican oppositional refrain when out-of-power: less government, less spending, less socialism, more justice, more freedom, more patriotism and more America. They spin everything using those same tired refrains and sadly a certain percentage of Americans always buy it, but this time it seems worse.

Glenn Beck and American Propaganda

They seem angrier than usual. They've found a rallying cry and a friend in Glenn Beck, one of the scariest people in media today. This is a man who has admitted to a willingness to say anything [on air] to whip his fans into a feeding frenzy. He's all about ratings, fame and power, and it's very scary. I think the man is capable of anything.

Beck is a major problem for our country. Like so many propagandists throughout history, he will destroy many lives and livelihoods before it's all over.

Did you see the visuals on FOX this Saturday? Beck was hosting all day while he narrated the protests along with a parade of propaganda featuring George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Statue of Liberty, the Declaration, the Constitution, war heroes and all the other iconic images of America.

Simply put, he was trying to say that we - Democrats - are destroying the real America. He practically accused us of pissing on the purple mountains majesty and the amber waves of grain. I was so repulsed by his abuse of our great American history and iconography that I wanted to puke.

He's the worst of the worst, using brilliant images of tolerance to sell lies, hate and deceit. It's clear that Beck must be destroyed.

Hating President Obama

Anyway, the radical throngs watching those images seem to possess a serious, unprovoked common-thread-of-craziness. In addition to hating any change (which is probably why most voted for John McCain), they also all seem to share an inexplicable, serious opposition to anything supported by or affiliated with our current president - President Barack Hussein Obama.

They seem to dislike or hate him, and certainly don't respect him. Most don't even consider him an American citizen.

Despite his likable nature, his diplomatic and statesman-like skills, they can't stand the man. What could it be? My guess is his skin color and/or his perceived ethnicity. In other words, he's not enough like them, or American enough for them. It's crazy, but it's true. I doubt anything we can say will change their warped minds.

Just ask yourself a few questions if you don't believe it.
1) What about past liberal presidents with so-called "far-reaching" agendas?

Bill Clinton was one who tried serious health care reform. Did they call him a "traitor," a "communist," or worst of all, a "terrorist?" They impeached him for fooling around with a chubby girl, but they never took to the streets and accused him of being a Hitler or a Nazi. They never accused him of being unAmerican or a threat of any kind. They still treated him as a legitimate president.

2) What about past presidents who actually passed expensive health care legislation that increased entitlement programs costing the federal government billions while adding to the deficit?

It's true, George W. Bush supported SCHIP and Medicare Part D. The two health care reforms cost the government billions, added to the deficit, did not exclude illegal aliens, and were supported by the vast majority of Republicans in both houses - including Joe - "You Lie" - Wilson from South Carolina. Where were the protests then?

There is either a serious double-standard going on, or something's not quite right in the GOP.

Republican Political Hypocrisy

The truth is most Republicans don't care about government and spending unless Democrats are in power. Remember, let's all say it together, all money is Republican. Democrats can argue for reforms until they're blue in the face, but the Republicans (in knee-jerk opposition) will still reject them unless they control the money, the process, and get all the credit.

The Republicans spend trillions of taxpayer money benefiting multi-national private corporations (military-industrial, insurance, finance, health care, pharmaceutical and more) and nobody lifts a sign. The Democrats try to reform huge problems of economic waste, to make them more efficient and helpful to the American people, and the GOP rats come out of the woodwork with their chants and slogans.

Economic efficiencies be damned, as long as the Republicans can transfer American taxpayer wealth from ordinary Americans to their corrupt constituencies.

Obvious Republican Inconsistencies

If Republicans (the protesters) are so passionate about federal spending and government waste, why didn't they speak up more during the Bush years? Most of them whole-heartedly supported the Bush agenda, despite the outrageous costs, increases in entitlement and dept-spending, war-profiteering, lack of serious accounting practices, illegalities and questionable constitutional behavior, and much more.

Who were the patriots then? They were Democrats, and the hundreds of thousands and millions over the years who protested what is proven to be true corruption and waste. Unfortunately, we didn't have a 24/7 network to tout our message all day like the GOP. Sadly, most of America ignored our message at the time. Even the LA and NY Times ignored us, despite both displaying a huge picture and headlines about Saturday's political debacle.

To most observers it's clear that today's right-wing is not motivated by any passion for an honest government, but more about what government is in power. It's clear they're all about having their own people in power. Once in power, corruption and waste be damned.

Occam's Razor Proves It

Finally, for the ones who still doubt the Republicans and their media are playing the hate card, I suggest you try to think about it scientifically. Use what most scientists use: Occam's razor. The principle states, "when you have competing theories that make similar predictions, the simplest one is usually the right one." My theory is simple: we're witnessing the forces of hatred and/or intolerance motivated by fear and ignorance against something they don't understand - embodied by President Obama.

My theory (that hate and intolerance is at work) is far more likely than a large group of Americans angry about a bunch of issues they never seemed to understand before, ignored or were indifferent about during the dark days of the Bush Administration. Occam's Razor seems to support my conclusion. The other seems too far-fetched and unlikely.

The Republicans, the New Klan?

Back to the protests. I was an eyewitness to one here in LA. I drove by our local federal building here to see what our local protesters were complaining about and was shocked to say the least. It was awful! A few wore swastika ribbons on their sleeves, and most were screaming horrible things about our president. The anger was palpable; the fear and loathing psychological.

I'm not kidding when I say that I felt like I was at a Klan rally. There were a few Obama supporters trying to protest the lies, but the "tea party" crowd was just getting more angry and screaming louder. They didn't seem to want to hear any debate. They just seemed angry and acted how I imagined Klansman would act. They seemed irrational to say the least.

I left before any fighting broke out, thanking God that I wasn't in DC witnessing the same political nightmare on a much larger scale.

I don't care what FOX "News" or any other media says, Saturday's right-wing "9/12" "tea party" protests had nothing to do with political policies, government waste or patriotism. That's pure BS! The crowd I witnessed, which I'm pretty sure was the same one marching in DC based on watching TV, were motivated by darker forces.

Even if they don't know it themselves, that crowd is angry because somebody they didn't vote for and don't identify with is sitting in their Oval Office spending what they consider to be their money, and it pisses them the hell off. That's how I see it at least.
Conclusion

We're obviously witnessing a serious case of blow-back after Obama's election victory. The protesters are making it clear they have no intention of working problems out with our team. Despite the fact that over a billion dollars of good American money was spent on a multi-year campaign and one man clearly won an overwhelming victory, the radical right is trying to annul the process. Well, that's BS!

There was an election. It's time for the radical right to stop their irrational and undemocratic interference in the legitimate political process. They are trying to 'delegitimize' our duly-elected president, and we cannot allow them to do it. The Republicans are rife with hatred, racism and intolerance these days. So much so that I question their legitimacy as a political party right now. Sadly, like so many, I see them more as a cult or a Klan these days.

Still, we cannot allow them to derail what is right and just. Their sea of bobbing placards and hand-lettered signs cannot be allowed to distract us from the truth. The truth is that most people should be angry about the legacy and incompetence of George W. Bush and the Republicans, and happy that a good and decent man like President Obama is trying to save our economy and America along with it.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor

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12 Comments:

Blogger Sue said...

Great Great post Michael! I'm so glad I didn't watch Becks hate rally show, I can't stomach the evil bastard! ALL of the above, every bit of the rally offended me. How dare they ask us to listen to them, to give them a voice when thy call our president a Nazi, a socialist, OMG I can go on and on. I'm speechless anymore Michael, these wingnuts need to be told to shut up but who's gonna do it? I'm just scared they will come back and have some power, God I pray they don't!

7:08 PM  
Blogger Sue said...

I linked this post on my blog, its really great Michael!

7:31 PM  
Blogger Michael Boh said...

I'm with you Sue. I can't imagine them regaining power, and if they do, I wonder how I'll deal with it.

I'm especially mad the way less informed Americans are already beginning to blame Democrats for problems that were so obviously created by Bush and the Republicans. It's sad, but it's true. I wish people would think before they blame, and try to figure out who's helping and who's hurting.

We Democrats do not want to spend. We want to reform bad economics, invest in ourselves and pay down the debt. It should be clear to more people. We obviously have a communication problem within the party, as well as the whole movement for change. The protesters are a bad sign.

7:37 PM  
Blogger The CDM said...

What those tea party idiots don't realize is that they were all closet self-loathers and didn't even realize it. All this talk about socialism and I'll bet vital parts of my anatomy that they don't even know the very definition.

Perhaps we should dumb the topic down for them and tell them it's not "healthcare reform" really, it's "insurance reform". Oh, and by the way, you poor ignorant creatons. The insurance companies are laughing themselves all the way to the bank knowing they got you all stirred up and distracted over absolute nonsense.

On a side note, you have great writing skills. Well done.

7:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Michael,

Thank you so much for that informative piece. It's sad but true. I am glad that you and others like Sue are able to see it! Too bad so many others are blind.

xoxoxoxo
Donna Marie

7:53 PM  
Blogger ZIRGAR said...

I would even go as far as to say they hate the USA. What they ever loved in the first place was a USA that only existed in their delusional minds. They hate the real US of A simply because the real one is more equitable and fair than the imaginary one in their minds. This is the last gasping breath of a dying illusion and the right will only get more ugly and more violent as time marches on.

8:24 PM  
Anonymous Frodo, bringin' in the clowns said...

Bingo,Bro!

FYI, Mr. Beck terminated his educational achievements before seeking higher learning. Frodo has always wondered if he painted houses, or served as a Corporal in the Army?

Note also that appearances serve the premise that most of the attendees at the "Million Moron March" were also over 55 years of age, and that Dan Marino could make a lot of money selling weight-loss products to that crowd.

8:46 AM  
Blogger Michael Boh said...

My thanks to the Sue Club - thanks for the kind words and the link too. CDM is a great moniker btw. :)

Zirgar, I doubt they understand what it means to be a true civic-minded, responsible, thinking American. They seem to be lazy-thinking, warped fools who blindly follow demagogues and charlatans.

They say they cherish freedom, but in reality they are America's sheep. It's time to thin the flock.

10:10 AM  
Blogger David Goodloe said...

I'm a centrist Democrat. Never was a supporter of Dubya. But I've had my differences with Obama as well. And, for that, I have often been labeled "racist" by fellow Democrats.

Well, they can believe that if they want. Fact is, I'm not a racist. Never have been. And anyone who calls me a racist clearly does not know anything about me.

I've also been out of work for a year. That doesn't make me any different than millions of other Americans.

For that matter, Michael, your comment about those who "are already beginning to blame Democrats for problems that were so obviously created by Bush and the Republicans" shows (1) a lack of understanding of American political history and (2) a devotion to your own world view that cannot tolerate any other opinion.

Yes, I know I lost my job when Bush was still president. But he's been gone since January. How long are Democrats going to continue to beat that dead horse before they focus on job creation?

I don't want to hear who caused the problem. Democrats were elected to do something about it. But when I ask what is being done to encourage job creation, I get this same excuse from Democrats -- "It's Bush's fault."

Before last year's election, Obama promised tax credits to businesses for hiring Americans in 2009 and 2010. But those tax credits were never heard from again, once the election was won.

Before you -- or anyone else -- label me racist for daring to ask such a question, let me direct you to a column that appeared in yesterday's New York Times. It was written by Bob Herbert, who is black. He criticized Obama for "taking a victory lap" on Wall Street on Monday. Is he also a racist? Or, even though he said the same things I've been saying, is he excused from the racist charge because he is black?

Historically, voters hold the party in charge accountable. I've been arguing all along that the only way the Democrats can maintain their majorities in Congress next year will be by making a dent in unemployment. But we continue to lose hundreds of thousands of jobs a month. Obama can claim that X number of jobs have been saved by his policies, but he can't prove that any jobs have been saved. And he damn sure can't show that any jobs have been created.

I have my own health issues, and I know health care reform is important, but with the unemployment rate likely to top 10% soon, THAT should be the priority. But it isn't. It hasn't been. And, for that, Democrats will pay a price next year.

10:33 AM  
Blogger Michael Boh said...

David - If you weren't one of the extremists out there screaming horrible things about Obmaa, then I never called you a racist. I think you're playing the victim a little too easily. I very clearly directed my comments at our angrier citizenry.

I read your criticism about my "lack of understanding" and "world view" and reject it. Anyone who "blames the party in power" (especially after only 7 months) without considering historical factors is unhelpful as a voter to say the least. If things are badly broken, it's only reasonable the party that takes over will need time to fix things - to say the least. You seem to be very undemocratic in your thinking.

Once again, I reject your claim that I called anybody who criticizes Obama a racist. That's not what I wrote. Your "world view" seems simplistic and politically unwise to me. For example, the unemployment rate is very clearly the fault of Bush and the Republicans, and if you think otherwise, I would suggest doing your homework.

You may not be a racist, or even a Republican, but in my humble opinion even centrist Democrats can be uninformed and vote foolishly. That means you if you vote for the Republicans in the next election, as you infer.

Finally, I hope there aren't too many of you "we need immediate gratification or we bolt" Democrats out there. The country needs patient, long-term thinkers right now. My advice is to chill out and let them fix what has been badly broken, unless you don't agree with our fixes, which suggests you may not truly belong on our side of the aisle.

10:22 AM  
Blogger B.J. said...

Sorry I'm just now getting to your post, Michael. An excellent expose which generated good discussion.

I don't mean to sound insensitve to the unemployed, but I believe a lot are unwilling to accept "underemployment" until something better comes along. I always wonder why, if they need a job, they are sitting around on their computers reading blogs instead of out signing up for something that will pay less, but at least pay something. Most are covered by unemployment benefits, and I suspect that allows them time to read blogs. I'm sorry if I sound heartless. David did mention health issues and that's perhaps a factor in his inability to find work. If so, I hope his health improves.

I join CDM in complimenting your writing skills. It's so nice to read a writer who has command of grammar and spelling.

Again, a good post and one related to my next post. I'm glad I read it.

BJ

1:11 PM  
Anonymous Infidel753 said...

David -- I don't want to hear who caused the problem. Democrats were elected to do something about it.

They have been doing something about it. The bailouts and the stimulus plan have stabilized the economy, however inefficiently they did so. Almost all measurable indicators and almost all experts agree that the recession is over or soon will be.

Unfortunately employment is always one of the last things to recover whenever an economy is emerging from a recession. Any economist will tell you that. Employment should be recovering in much of the country by the new year or early 2010, though.

Considering how bad the Bush recession was and how much worse it could have been, the Democrats have actually done a pretty creditable job of pulling the country out of it.

By the way, Michael was certainly not saying that anyone who criticizes Obama is a racist. If you look back through the archives of his blog, he's criticized Obama himself at various times.

3:57 PM  

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