Passionate, Unreasonable Hatred for Obama

[Davidlpf]

I think the bolded phrase explains a lot about hatred for presidents on the the "other" side (whatever side that might be) . People can easily see why the one they don't like is deserving of derision.

I am not going after his mispronounciation of words or bad spelling because that happens to me all the time. (maybe a couple of examples above)
But he constantly alienated his countries biggest trading partner and that is Canada. The first time was jsut after 9/11 where he forgot to thank Canada for the aid to the passengers that were stranded here because all flights were cancelled. The guy did not know what he was doing but he was good at playing to the base of his support.

 

[Ladewig]

I always felt that the right virulently disliked Hillary because she stepped out of the traditional role of a First Lady and tried to shape national policy with her health care program. I mean, she's a woman should stand in the back and look good, amiright? Who elected a woman to to tell me what to do?

That would go a long way in explaing why so many people called her a closet lesbian.

And a lot of that type of thinking also applies to Obama. Many people can say what they want about Obama policies, views, experiences, etc. But the bottom line for many, many people is his color. You can splooge them with evidence but in the long run, who elected a black man to tell me what to do, amiright?

Michael

Perhaps, but I think some people overestimate the racial bigotry Obama faces. Some of the bigotry is religious bigotry (they think he is Muslim).

Also, some people hate President Obama not for his color, but rather because they doubt that President Obama truly believes that Americans are fundamentally and inherently better than other people and that America is the greatest country in the history of the planet.

 

[Travis]

If he truly believed we were fundamentally and inherently better than other people then Obama would be delusional.

 

[dc1971]

HOnestly I don't get why there is so much hatred towards the President. I understood why Bush was so disliked, he isn't the sharpest tool in the family toolshed. I do think there is some racism against him. One thing that hurts him is that there is one news channel that seems to be dedicated to twisting things against him.(Three guesses on which news channel that is.)

Uhhhh... Telemundo?

 

[coalesce]

Perhaps, but I think some people overestimate the racial bigotry Obama faces. Some of the bigotry is religious bigotry (they think he is Muslim).

Also, some people hate President Obama not for his color, but rather because they doubt that President Obama truly believes that Americans are fundamentally and inherently better than other people and that America is the greatest country in the history of the planet.

Disliking Muslims provides convenient cover for some who just don't like people darker than themselves. Ever wonder why there are so many pejoratives and distrust towards darker Muslims by some Americans as opposed to lighter Muslims, like the Bosnians? For them, it's not just about religion. Then again, stupidity doesn't need an explanation.

Michael

 

[Ladewig]

If he truly believed we were fundamentally and inherently better than other people then Obama would be delusional.

Well, yeah. The thread's topic is how do unreasonable people develop their unreasonable beliefs. Believing Americans are inherently better is delusional; but it is a delusion shared by enough Obama-haters that it could be a source of some of the hatred.

 

[Ladewig]

Disliking Muslims provides convenient cover for some who just don't like people darker than themselves. Ever wonder why there are so many pejoratives and distrust towards darker Muslims by some Americans as opposed to lighter Muslims, like the Bosnians? For them, it's not just about religion. Then again, stupidity doesn't need an explanation.

Michael

Yes. It is hard to draw a line and say this percent of hatred of Obama comes from how bigots perceive this characteristic and that percent of hatered of Obama comes from how bigots perceive this other characteristic. Furthermore, the frightening absurdity of it all grows exponentially when people start claiming that they hate him for being things that any rational person can see he is not (Kenyan, undercover radical Muslim, Manchurian candidate, etc.). And to top it all off, there are folks claiming that they hate President Obama because he is a racial bigot..

 

[Beerina]

And the liberals took the impeachment of Bill Clinton personally, and vowed to make life miserable for whomever the Republicans put up in 2000....

Note that I am not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that it's a vicious cycle.

And that wasn't the start of it. Conservatives, and many middle-of-the-roaders, were not happy with Clinton & co. trashing Reagan. That seems to have been when people decided to take the gloves off.


I'd hate to see what would have happened to Carter in the modern environment.

 

[coalesce]

I'd hate to see what would have happened to Carter in the modern environment.

Same goes for Richard Nixon. I don't think there's anyway he could pass a conservative litmus test today, what with him starting the EPA (more gubmint interference with business) and opening the door to those red devil Chinese communists. Not to mention that he came close to working with Ted Kennedy with setting up a national health care system.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/stories/2009/september/03/nixon-proposal.aspx

Michael