Joe Klein: Know-Nothing Watch

[babylonsister]

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/04/22/know-nothing-watch/?xid=rss-topstories


Know-Nothing Watch
Posted by Joe Klein Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 1:25 pm


The anti-Obama forces, it seems clear, are rooted in classic American know-nothing populism--nativist, isolationist, paranoid. Today's Exhibit A is from the Drudge Report, in which the newly designed $100 bill is slagged for, as the headline has it, "looking European." Drudge links to this report from Bloomberg, which describes the reasons for the new look:

The new look, aimed at thwarting counterfeiters, has several new security features, including a “3-D Security Ribbon” and an image of a bell on the front of the note that, when tilted, changes in color from copper to green. The reverse side of the bill includes a new vignette of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

But...reasons? Rationality? Greater security against counterfeiters? Feh! It looks like a freakin' Euro, which means it must be a precursor of socialism. That Obama is one sneaky crypto-muslim.

But then, the same sort of cosmopolitanism was suspected of Ben Franklin--one of our most secular humanist playboy founders--after he sampled the bright lights, and women, of London and Paris. I mean, isn't it, like, suspicious that Obama would want this Christian Nation to continue to feature someone as insidious as Franklin on its $100 bill? Why not Billy Graham or Ronald Reagan? Or Tom Tancredo? Can't we get some real reform around here?

And, when you think about it, Independence Hall is pretty suspicious, too: it is a classical colonial building, clearly inspired by European building styles of the 18th century (one of the more suspicious and licentious periods in European intellectual history and arts).

What is this country coming to?

[Puzzler]

1. The reason it looks more "European" is that...

... European (and Canadian) bills have always used more colors and fancy security features than US bills. Come on Mr. Drudge, move with the times.

[Jennicut]

2. Because those darn Europeans are so smart!

It really is laughable that these idiots concentrate on crap like this and the logo for the nuclear summit.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yes. I'm not aware of any significant Northern European migration to the US. They're not stupid.nt

[Jennicut]

4. They are not coming here anymore.

My ancestors did come over in the early 1900's, mostly from Italy. But not anymore. Half the population is stupid.

[Captain Hilts]

6. You got that right. nt

[Enrique]

5. I can't wait to hear what Glenn Beck has to say about this money

this is right up his alley.

[BlueIdaho]

7. Don't they want to put their hero Guy Fawkes on the $100 bill?

I hear the guy that almost blew up Parliament is their new hero.

[troubledamerican]

8. Give it time. After the Poland Air Massacre-style terror attack,

when no Democrats are left in D.C. and Sarah Palin is sworn-in by John Roberts, after the new hand-picked Congress is installed, Senator Tom DeLay will introduce an overhaul of everything.

[BlueIdaho]

9. Then I'll be the one with the dynamite. nt.