It's gotta be racism

[LuckyTheDog]

Think about it...

So, in 2001, the idea was to lower taxes on rich people without reducing spending and that would help balance the budget. Later, the notion was added that we could launch two unnecessary wars without repealing those tax cuts. All that, plus the deregulation of the banks in a way that allowed them to "socialize" all their risks, led to a calamity of epic proportions.

And now, about half the country wants to vote for a guy who would lower taxes on rich people without reducing spending, start an unnecessary war in Iran and deregulate the banks yet again.

That's lunacy, but it'd sure 'nuff put that uppity Kenyan in his place, eh?

[RZM]

1. This post makes no sense

All you're really saying is that the right will vote for the same stuff now that they did 12 years ago. What's new about that?

And remember that Bush didn't campaign on war in 2000. He actually campaigned on a rather isolationist FP, specifically arguing that he was against 'nation building.' After 9/11 it was a different story, but his 2000 campaign wasn't about a muscular FP at all.

And I've seen no evidence that Romney's Iran policy would be much different that the president's. The only Republican candidates who seemed to offer anything substantially different than Obama on that issue were Santorum (bomb them) and Paul (you know the deal there).

Here's Mitt's Washington Post column about Iran from this past March:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mitt-romney-how-i-would-check-irans-nuclear-ambition/2012/03/05/gIQAneYItR_story.html

While it's couched in faux aggressive language and has an anti-Obama tone, it really isn't all that different from the president's policy.

[HooptieWagon]

2. To be sure theres a large element of racism...

but the attacks would be just as vicious if there were a white dem in the white house.

[RZM]

4. Back before the Obama express got rolling and it looked like Hillary was going to be the nominee

You might remember the Republican candidates were falling all over themselves to paint her as the antichrist.

I specifically remember Huckabee going on a rant at a rally, where he essentially argued that you had to support him because he was the only one would could stop Hillary from destroying the universe.

Same thing on the other side. 15 years ago McCain was an 'honest man' and 'a Republican you could respect.' By 2008 he was the devil incarnate.

It's not about the person, it's about the pedestal. Put anyone front and center and they become a lightning rod. That's why I've always argued that the whole 'they hate him because he's black' thing is overdone. They hate them because he's the Democratic President.

When Obama's gone from the scene, the next Democratic superstar will have just as tough a time.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

5. Not only that.....

.....but people are generally sheep. When they are told "things are bad", they generally blame the President. Regardless of the fact that while things are bad, they are better than they were before Obama was elected when a snowball was running down a hill and about to envelop the town.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

3. Can I ask you this?

Why did less than 50% of voters cast their ballot for Bill Clinton in 1996?

[LuckyTheDog]

7. This isn't 1996

This is 2012 when the Republican candidate is openly and gleefully proposing policies what we now know failed miserably. We have the experience of 2008 to show us that. And yet... a lot of people still want to vote for the clown -- can't wait to do so. The fact that Mittens is polling above 20% or 25% (the traditional base of the GOP) means that an unusual number of people are willing to ignore history they lived through just a few years ago. Racism has to be a BIG part of that. People just want a "normal" president again.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. You're right.....it's not 1996

The country is even more divided than it was then.

There is absolutely an element of racism in the hate for Obama, but I believe it emanates from those in the 30% of the traditional GOP.......if you can't see that the GOP has successfully brainwashed a lot of people into believing that ALL Democrats are somehow socialist, commies, out to destroy traditional American "business values", then you will see a lot of good people of all races lose not just the presidential race, but rep, senate and guv seats all over the country because we refuse to fight back and try to take "the high road". And that fucking does not work anymore.

[Nye Bevan]

8. Bill Clinton was actually the first black President, remember. (nt)

[DCKit]

6. No. nt