The Politics of Fear and Hatred

Longtime friend and regular contributor Spartacus tore off his own gloves this weekend, copying me on a very powerful email he was firing back to a low-brow, knee-jerk, possibly-bigoted conservative associate who'd forwarded him yet another tiring screed against Barack Obama. I get them too, usually delete (but sometimes make like Sparks did here… though not in the keen, incisive manner he's used)

Sparks has given me permission to publish his email verbatim here, and I do so. Let me tell you, folks, it had me almost literally jumping up and down in adrenalin-driven agreement.

First, the original email that stuck in his craw; I retain the lousy spelling, boldface, and flaming all-caps:

 

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

It doesn't matter to me if you are democrat or republican. As Americans this should scare the hell out of you. It sure does me.

[sender's name]

Obama quotes on Sunday 8/7/08 From Sunday's televised Meet the Press:

"I WILL HAVE TO PUT ASIDE MY HATRED"

What??? - OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

From Sunday's televised "Meet the Press" Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag... Obama Explains National Anthem Stance

"It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren...."

"We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice."

"My wife disrespects the flag for many personal reasons. Together, she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago."

"Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS WILL BE SO DECEIVED AND DUPED BY THIS TREACHEROUS OBAMA WHO SEEKS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES - THAT THEY WILL ELECT HIM!

GOD HELP US ALL IF HE SHOULD GAIN THE PRESIDENCY OF OUR COUNTRY!

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also this one… I've cleaned up the autoformatting, but none of the idiocy:

 

----- Original Message -----

From: [name withheld]

To: [twenty-two unfortunate recipients]

Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:46 PM

Subject: WHAAAAAAAT the Hell !!!

 

Here you have it folks. Now you know where we are headed. Even the Washington Post has seen the light.

"I WILL HAVE TO PUT ASIDE MY HATRED"

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

From Sunday's televised "Meet the Press" Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag... Obama Explains National Anthem Stance

Sun, 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST

General Bill Ginn USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.

The General also stated to the Senator that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. At the very least, "Stand and Face It."

Senator Obama, live on Sunday, states, "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said. "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.

"We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice. My wife disrespects the flag for many personal reasons. Together, she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine".

"Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America."

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard it right. This could possibly be our next President.

I, for one, am speechless.

Dale Lindsborg

Washington Post

And our man Spartacus charges right out of the gate:

 

-----Original Message-----
From: "Spark" le Klaus [mailto:SpartaCuss@Yabbadoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 1:10 AM
To: Aging Child
Subject: Response to a forwarded e-mail

 

This is in response to the e-mail I received which is repeated below under the "forwarded message" heading. It's FALSE, folks. Here's the true story on Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp

We are nearing the end of 8 years of misrule by likely the worst presidential administration the USA has ever had. The latest polls show only about 10% of the public are satisfied with the job Bush/Cheney have been doing for the past 8 years. The president is such an embarrassment he wasn't even present or even MENTIONED at the Republican National Convention, so anxious are the Republicans to publicly distance themselves from the utter disaster of the past 8 years. But if you look at the Republican campaign platform, it is unchanged from that of the Bush years.

The US Constitution has been trampled, our freedoms have been stripped from us, our regulatory agencies have been gutted, we are bogged down in 2 wars, one of which we were lied to about the reasons for getting into, the economy is in the worst shape since the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands out of work, hundreds of thousands of jobs shipped overseas, etc, etc, etc. In other words--we are facing HUGE, REAL problems, yet still the politics of fear and hatred continue to exert their poisonous influence, diverting us from the REAL issues and problems we are faced with, both as a nation and as individuals.

Of course, Bush didn't do it all on his own. Spineless and corrupt Democratic and Republican congressmen and senators, lobbyists, ideologues, corporate fatcats and financiers aided and abetted the criminal Bush regime, allowing him to amass almost dictatorial powers. There is plenty of blame to go around.

Is Obama the ideal candidate for POTUS? No. Is McCain a better candidate? No. His record and policies are almost exactly the same as Bush's. His mindset is the same as Bush's. Voting for McCain is like voting for 4 more years of Bush--does anyone in their right mind really want that?

The lies, hysteria and HATRED being whipped up against Obama are really quite amazing--even McCain at his recent campaign rallies has asked his supporters to tone it down--the rhetoric is getting that scary and out of control. I suspect McCain cautioned his followers because he doesn't want to be perceived as being responsible for Obama's possible assassination--yeah, it's that bad!

What could possibly cause such a crazed reaction to Obama? If you look at his record with an objective eye, he is pretty much in line with many of his colleagues in Congress, contrary to the wild "commie-leftist terrorist" accusations being flung at him. So what could it be, what could possibly be the strong objection to Obama, an objection so strong many people seem willing to have a repeat of the last 8 years in the form of McCain replacing Bush? When I ask my friends who are against Obama what their objections are, I often hear vague responses like, "There's something about him", "I don't know, I just don't trust the guy.", "He seems sneaky.". Very often it seems like there is something else they want to say, but either don't know how to say it, or don't want to say it.

I think I have an idea about what they are not saying. Sometimes, depending on the individual, I know damn well what they are aren't saying. We're all adults here, so I'm going to say it--a lot of Americans will not vote for Obama because he is black. Period. End of discussion. They would rather see 4 more years of the disastrous Bush regime than vote for a black man.

"Oh no!", you say, "I'm not prejudiced, I have plenty of African-American friends!"

Good for you! I admire your enlightened attitude. But while we're speaking bluntly here, let me ask you, my white brothers and sisters, how many of you have friends, co-workers, even family members who ARE prejudiced? I'd be willing to bet any amount of $$ you know bigots, people who would never vote for Obama even if he were running against the Devil himself.

No? Really? You say all your white friends, co-workers and family members love their black brothers and sisters even as they love themselves. Wow, that's wonderful. You must be living in that promised land Martin Luther King was talking about. I wish you would tell me where it is, because in my half century on this vale of tears I haven't seen it.

Oh, and if you think I'm some Democrat shill for Obama, guess again. I'm actually disappointed with him and pessimistic that he can really make much effective change in this disaster of a nation if he did become POTUS. The shit is now so deep, no one man, no matter what his qualifications, will be able to make much headway in a system which is rotten to its very core. If we ever needed a revolution, the time is now. Playing the same ol', same ol' Dimmocrap vs Rethugnican game just ain't gonna cut it. It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting different results. We've pretty much been doing that same thing for at least the last 30 some years, if not longer, and look where it has gotten us--we are well and truly screwed. My most fervent and best wish is that Americans will wake up, and rise up to take back our country "of the people, by the people, and for the people".

Having said all that, I still think Obama is a better choice than McCain. Why? The biggest thing Obama has going for him is intelligence. There's no denying his intelligence--look at his record at Harvard for one example. Where there is intelligence, there is hope. With the complicated issues facing us at home and abroad today, we need someone capable of understanding what is going on and the intelligence to search for the right answers.

Contrast that with McCain, a man who, if not for his "good fortune" at being shot down and made POW-hero, had what must objectively be seen as a dismal Navy career--graduated near the very bottom of his class at the Navy Academy, crashed several airplanes, acted in a questionable manner during the infamous "Zuni rocket" incident. He has a reputation for being a "maverick", an aviator who once said checklists are a waste of time, a guy who "shoots from the hip". Those qualities may be great for a Hollywood action hero, but they aren't so good for the POTUS. Those impulsive, reckless acts are indicative of someone who doesn't have much intelligence, someone who doesn't value intelligence. Those are the kinds of actions which are going to get us even further into trouble if he gets into the White House.

To summarize: With Obama in the White House, we have at least some hope of starting to get on the right track. With McCain, we get a repeat of the past 8 years--8 years which put us in the worst situation we have been in since the Great Depression.

One last thing. Before you pass on crap like that reprinted below, do yourself and everyone else a favor and run it by Snopes before hitting the "forward" button. Snopes is totally non-partisan and is committed to the truth, no matter what side of the party line it falls on.

Thank you!

Followup: Two comments came in; first:

RB in KC Oct 15, 2008

This smear about the flag pin has been going around the internet for months, and every word of it is dishonest and manipulative; part of a broad, shadowy strategy to scare people by spreading anonymous, false information. In fact, it was taken word-for-word from an expressly satirical article published in October, 2007. The author didn't claim it was true, and it is indeed absolutely false.

But even though it's fiction, this satire still misses the mark by a wide margin. The truth is, Barack Obama loves America and he knows that this is the only country in the world where he could have worked his way up from such humble roots to become the nominee for President. There's even video of Barack leading the Pledge of Allegiance on the floor of the United States Senate that you can see here http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/patriot

Snopes.com has thoroughly debunked this entire smear and even provides a link to the satirical article from which it was drawn, word-for-word: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp

Urban Legends has also debunked the smear here: http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama_anthem.htm

I responded:

AgingChild Oct 15, 2008

Thanks, RB — appreciate your stopping by and weighing in!

Please feel free to pass along a link to this posting if you'd like; I'm sending your comment back over to Spartacus. I can't take credit for his mad-as-hell response, but was quite pleased — thrilled — to put it out there for more eyes to see. Also forwarded it to some conservative friends… none of whom responded. Hmm…

I keep falling back on that classic bumper-sticker I first saw in 1996: "Vote Republican — It's Easier Than Thinking!"

Take care, RB!

And here's the second comment.

Janet Oct 28, 2008

I frequently get annoying e-mails along these lines, as my family is uber conservative. (I've jokingly suggested they change their Republican symbol from an elephant to an ostrich… they didn't find it as funny as I did.) I'm amazed that they continue to forward this shit without a) verifying it's authenticity via snopes or any other reliable publication b) considering whether or not this is hateful, prejudice, or divisive and c) fixing the grammatical errors. Because seriously, the people formulating this spam probably dropped out of high school to work in pa's garage.

Intelligence. Please. Obama 08.