Why are Obama opponents freaking out?
I’ve been wrestling with this almost since Obama was first elected. Admittedly, a lot of us really hated Bush, and I suppose there was a fair number of “Bush is Hitler” posters; but people seem really batshit crazy in their hatred of Obama.
We know, the economy, the war, people are worried about health care… but “I want my country back!”?? Come on! Your country voted for the guy. Where were you?
It upsets me to admit it, but I am almost convinced that it’s not about any of the problems we face. It’s about the fact that there’s a Negro in the White House and he isn’t busing dishes.
Yep. Good old racism. As H. Rap Brown famously said, it’s American as apple pie. The fact that — at least according to the news — most of the protesters are middle-aged or old makes me more sure of it. Young people might disagree with Obama’s policies, but they aren’t losing their sanity.
A right wing friend was really upset when Obama was elected, so much so that I thought I’d lost him as a friend (of over 50 years!). I might have added some small voice of reason by pointing out that Obama was very unlikely to be either the Dark Prince (my friend’s thought), or the Messiah (my thought).
But when people think our President (!) is going to hypnotize their children through the TV set, there is some serious nuttiness out there.