Obama-bashing in perspective

[theredpen]

I admit I'm a little tired of two Obama-related things: people overreacting to Obama's perceived slights against their identity or beliefs and Senator Obama giving people things that can be so easily perceived as slights. I'd like to say, "Stop the Obama pile-on," but I also realize that in a very substantial way, Obama started it.

Taking a stroll on Free Republic today, I found their http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930699/posts">Obama-bashing thread of the day. Here's the money quote:

Getting right to the point, Barak Obama was raised a Muslim overseas and attended a madrassa, and he won't wear an American flag pin on his lapel or commit to putting his hand over his heart when the National Anthem is played. In short, we want to know where he stands and what his attitudes and priorities are.

Lies, distortions and trivialities. That's what they've got? As usual, the comments are jaw-droppingly ignorant and deluded:

The top two candidates on the Dem side are:

Barack Hussein Obama, a man who has a Muslim background and who was educated in Islamic schools.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, who may be having a lesbian affair with a Muslim woman who seems to be on the Al Qaeda payroll.

We're in a war against Islamo-fascism, and the top two Dems seem to be somewhat in bed with our enemies. But, hey, it's a free country, anyone can run for president, and now we'll see how dumb the voters really are ...

Well, we know how dumb the "morans" at Free Republic are.

So, to the Obama supporters, please recognize the the Obama pile-ons on DU concern issues that should be important to us all (gay rights, separation of church and state). Also, while many of the Obama-bashers seem intent of taking everything he does in the worst possible way, are they stepping over the line into self delusion?

Obama critics: ask yourself that, too. Visit the Freeper thread and compare your posts to the ones there and honestly ask yourself if you come off looking similar. I can't say I've seen any examples on DU that rival the blind hatred on Free Republic, but let's dedicate ourselves to keeping it that way.

Anyway, if you think DU has become tough to take in these days leading up the primaries, take a visit to Free Republic and you'll come back wanting to hug that DU'er you just called a jackass. :grouphug:

-trp
P.S. Hillary's lesbian Muslim affair?! http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2007/11/hillary-lesbian.html">Here's a link. Supposedly, Hillary is having an affair with the staffer pictured. And if she's not, I want to have an affair with the staffer pictured.

[Adelante]

1. It never occurred to me the lovely lesbian might be a Muslim

Oh, my :D

[depakid]

2. Oblique comparisons to Free Republic notwithstanding

It's hardly "bashing" or a "pile on" to take note when Obama makes rookie mistakes or otherwise puts his foot in his mouth. Quite frankly, some of his recent moves (and some of his actions and statements as a senator) DO make one question his judgment.

That sort of "vetting" is part of the primary process- and well it should be.

[theredpen]

4. I agree, but some of the "criticism" has come in the form of spin

Spin is part of politics, but it's painful to watch people who are ostensibly on "my side" of the issues exert such effort to construe his "rookie mistakes" as "Macaca moments."

He made a remark about women making "prayerful" decisions and I've seen all kinds of unfounded, speculative interpretations clearly made by people who never want to see the word "prayerful" appear in a sentence. Maybe the sincerely believe what they're saying, I don't know. Whatever the case, Occam's razor would lead a rational person to reject the idea that Obama, in that remark, was making some kind of sweeping statement about some kind of obligation for women in general to be specifically religious.
Nevertheless, that has been the claim underlying at least two threads I've seen.

Now there are people calling Hillary Clinton a Dominionist. For Jeebus' sake, that's over the top — and I don't particularly like Hillary Clinton.

[depakid]

8. That much is true

However, The remarks- and the context, are surely fair game, particularly since Obama is a well educated attorney who (one would hope) chooses his words wisely.

As to Hillary- I don't particularly like or dislike her- but I think I know her game. It's about raw power, and however or whatever it takes to get it. If that means hanging out with dominionists, then that what she'll do. Certainly doesn't mean she is one! Just that she's associating with some unpleasant company.

[theredpen]

17. That's why I don't support Obama, I support Edwards.

His "rookie mistakes" have been unnerving. On the other hand, I'm trying to make an effort to get the heart of these things and not get caught up in the spin from either side.

Just that she's associating with some unpleasant company.

Maybe so — but if you think about it, anyone who's in the Senate is associating with unpleasant company. There are still Republicans in it.

Seriously though, politics makes for strange bedfellows (as the cliche says) and we can't excoriate people for reaching across the aisle to get things done. I didn't find the Mother Jones thing about Hillary to be all that convincing. It seemed very rumor-y to me.

[FredScuttle]

3. So I'm a "basher" because Obama welcomed an "ex-gay" clown into his campaign?

I beg your pardon, but I have nothing to apologize for when one of our supposedly "progressive" candidates insults LGBT AND STRAIGHT Democrats by inviting an "ex-gay" clown bigot to spew homophobic filth on his campaign stage, all in the craven search for primary votes in South Carolina.

[Name removed]

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[FredScuttle]

6. Obama's the one who would find an appreciative audience in Freeperland

since they would both welcome an "ex-gay" clown who claims God delivered him from teh Gay. Appalling.

[theredpen]

7. Why are you here?

The "ex-gay" clown also performed at the Democratic National Convention.

Maybe you should sue for emotional distress before you have a coronary.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

9. The clown wasn't "ex-gay" at the time

McClurkin performed at the Dem convention in the early 90s, before he became an "ex-gay" anti-gay activist.

[theredpen]

10. Fair enough n/t

[FredScuttle]

12. I think you meant to type "I was wrong....sorry"

n/t

[theredpen]

15. You're right, I was wrong and I'm sorry I used that lame counterpoint.

As I said in the OP, I do think that Obama raised legitimate questions about his stance on gay rights by inviting that singer and then permitting him to make his statement — as "polite" as it was — on stage. It was a screwup and and insult, as you say.

On the other hand, furious rants about "unforgivable" sins against some mythically monolithic "LGBT community" are not the kind of reality-based positions that are going to effect real change. They are polarizing, divisive and ultimately self-defeating. I'm not going to say "get over it," because the "it" you are talking about should not be "gotten over." Don't forgive Obama if you don't want to, but stop acting as if your personal opinion is a moral imperative. That's what they do.

Edit: Added message text

[FredScuttle]

11. The "ex-gay" clown also (and more recently) performed for Bushit at the 2004 GOP Convention

(ahem)...He's an "ex-gay" clown. That's why I'm so agitated. Obama let this clown walk out onto his campaign stage and spread his homophobic filth to the delight of the bigot crowd that he assembled on the back of this clown's name.

I was extremely disappointed in Obama over this....but he and his supporters seem to think this has "died" down and they can go on their merry way forgetting the unforgivable insult he delivered to LGBT Democrats and, indeed, straight Democrats like me who value civil rights and RESPECT for our LGBT brothers and sisters.

I'm waiting for you to tell me to "get over it"

[theredpen]

14. Unforgiven

That was a really good movie, not such a great way to live life, but that's just me.

the unforgivable insult he delivered to LGBT Democrats

That's funny, because during the debate I distinctly recall seeing LGBT Democrats be forgiving of Obama. I guess they're LGBTINOs or something.

It's terribly Freeperesque the way that some of these campaign issues — not just this one — have devolved from being outraged at the insult to being outraged that not enough people are similarly outraged.

I'm waiting for you to tell me to "get over it"

Oh, never. You're obviously enjoying yourself, please continue.

I, however, am not as outraged. Get over that.

[FredScuttle]

20. I meant I haven't forgiven him.

I can't speak for everyone, but I certainly haven't forgiven him....mostly because he never apologized.

And you can stop calling me a Freeper anytime now...you've already had one post deleted.

[Name removed]

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[damntexdem]

13. It's easy to tell that Obama is gaining on Hillary.

The indicator is that he gets bashed more and more.

Hillary just wishes SHE could get all that bashing back. But the MSM is just so fickle.

[ilovesunshine]

16. If that's the litmus test test around here then Hillary will win in a...

landslide.

[Perry Logan]

18. I challenge the idea that Obama has been very much bashed around here.

If Obama were getting bashed, I'd know it, because I would be rushing to his defense all the time. I react against any and all Dem-bashing, from whatever source.

I'm sure to have missed a few threads. But I hang around DU enough to get a feel for the place, and I've only felt compelled to defend Obama one or two times.

People criticize Obama all the time, but of course that's just healthy political discussion. I'm talking about people threatening to quit the party if he gets nominated, people saying they'll vomit if he gets the nomination, people calling him a "sociopath"--real ad hominem bashing, as is constantly seen here against another candidate, whose name I will not mention, for fear of reprisals.

[theredpen]

19. I shouldn't have said "bashing" in the title.

For the most part, he's "criticized" here. I was thinking more of the crap I'd read on FR. I think I inadvertently created the impression that I was trying to draw an equivalence between DU and FR when, instead I was trying to draw a distinction and urge people to maintain it.

[ellacott]

21. No, you were correct in calling it bashing

It's the truth.

[theredpen]

22. Truth?

Truth matters here still? I thought it was all about the spin. :(

[ellacott]

24. The spin has taken over, truth still matters to some

:)

[FredScuttle]

25. The TRUTH is that Obama welcomed an "ex-gay" clown into his campaign

and has yet to apologize. No spin, no agenda coming from me....all I'm wondering is when is this "progressive candidate" going to realize the insult he delivered to LGBT Democrats, as well as straight Democrats who value equal rights?

[ellacott]

26. The truth is that he would probably still be bashed even if he did that

I've noticed that most of the people that were piling on him about this were never supportive of him. Many have taken advantage of this.

[Touchdown]

27. "...most of the people that were piling on him about this..."

Funny. I've noticed that the people regurgitating this line are Obama supporters who refuse to think he's anything but a perfect supreme being and savior of the human race who will also be made whole spiritual being filled with luminescent brilliance... and have firmer breasts or bigger biceps. They bristle that anyone would be offended by anything he does or says, so they dismiss real feelings as nothing more than "bashing". After all, he says nobody supports gay people as much as he, so that MUST be true. :eyes:

Your post is a PERFECT example of spin.

[ellacott]

28. Silliness

A perfect supreme being? No, not silly, childish. What I said was truth. Whether you choose to believe it has no bearing on the truth.

Now watch someone will come in hear and claim that what I said applies to EVERYBODY that was hurt by what Obama did.

That's how the spin goes.

[Name removed]

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