I never thought I'd say this but James Lipton makes a good point.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

BIG EDIT: Sorry I mixed the Kos diarist's words with Lipton's but still. Props to both of them.

In reality I have nothing against Mr. Lipton. I just think that at times he can be unintentionally hilarious. But getting back to my point. Here's what he says:

"President Obama is a respectful person. It is not the kind of respect perceived by racist people who assume African-Americans must be respectful to white people due to some perceived white supremacy; but the kind of respect that any descent, honorable human being pays to all people, regardless of their race, creed or gender. That, at his core, is who President Obama is and one of the reasons I have so much admiration and respect for him.

Look at all the times going all the way back to the 2008 campaign when people have tried to be confrontational with President Obama. If somebody shouted out something negative while President Obama was speaking at a campaign stop, and the audience started booing, what happened? President Obama asked the audience to let the naysayer speak. He doesn't run away from confrontation. Just watch this video of a man and a woman trying to argue with President Obama earlier this month, if you can hear over a band playing a John Philip Sousa march in the background. Despite being repeatedly interrupted, the President tries to answer the questions before finally giving by saying, "It doesn't sound like you're interested in listening, it sounds like your interested in ..." I couldn't catch that last word."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/31/126495/-James-Lipton-The-words-were-vulgar-and-worse-they-were-disrespectful-Eastwood-at-RNC

I think many of you remember this video:

This is a clear example of why I personally could never be in a position like the President's. I've criticized some of of his policies and thought to myself. "I think he should be doing X instead of Y."etc, etc. And I stand by those disagreements and criticisms. But the way he's constantly vilified and disrespected like no other president in the country's history (I think Clinton comes second in that category), yet he treats people with the utmost courtesy and respect. Is just something I couldn't see myself doing. I don't have the titanium skin or patience that is required even when confronted by the collection of assholes that is the right wing in this country. Then add to that the barrage of feces flung at his wife, who has done nothing out of the ordinary as far as Presidential spouses are concerned.

So kudos to Mr. Lipton for saying in a much more eloquent way what many of us have been thinking. And I'll leave you with this:

[liberalmuse]

1. Great points by Mr. Lipton.

And he is right. He is definitely a character, but I respect the man. And he guest starred a couple times on "Arrested Development". Enough said!