I wonder at what point the Republican Party will begin to see themselves as part of the solution to American's problems rather than a dedicated opposition to anything associated with Barack Obama. Michael Steele's statement on the Nobel Peace Prize is an excellent example of what a right-wing talking head thinks is a good idea when pitching this week's cable or radio show. It is not reflective of the values and tone I associate with the long-time, dedicated Republican Party members I know. Those Republicans have been increasing set loose to fend for themselves in a war of words.
The bitter, angry tone of criticism against the President has me, frankly, worried. At what point do the comments of Rush Limbaugh stop being "entertainment" or even "political commentary," and venture into "fighting words" prohibited by Supreme Court challenges in the past? If something, God forbid, were to ever happen to the President, will we be able to look back at the shrill tone of the right and say it incited violence? And if it does incite violence, who is responsible? Does that tone have its roots in criticism of George W. Bush or Bill Clinton? Or is there something more irrational at work here?
As I have listened to, watched, and read coverage of the award, one point seems to be lost: the President did not nominate himself for the award, campaign for it, or encourage the Nobel committee. In other words, if the Nobel Prize committee overlooked other worthy causes or hurt the feelings of some groups, the bad guy here is not Obama. He is as surprised as anyone that he was given it. He acknowledged that he feels humbled to be in the company of great people, who have done more than he has. His good sense in recognizing the obvious shows his instincts and read of the American people is still on target.
The right-wing racist insults (his award is part of an "affirmative action" quota?!) and associations of Obama with terrorist groups (simply because he exists) is dangerously out of step with most of America. But should a violent splinter group take the call to hate Obama to an extreme, I wonder if Morris Dees can file a lawsuit on behalf of the American people to silence the poisonous cheerleaders. Better yet, I wonder if we can do something ourselves, RIGHT NOW, to take away the cheerleaders' megaphones.
Don't the haters need internet service providers? Don't they depend on advertisers? Who books them to speak at public venues, built by tax-payer dollars (in many cases)? We all know that a huge number of Americans support Obama, which is why he was able to out-fundraise all previous Republican candidates. I think the real future of mobilizing these supporters, who responded in huge numbers through sites like this one, lies in on-line action, like digital boycotts, email campaigns to advertisers, and electronic protests to local officials about the use of public space to encourage hate, etc.
Obviously, as someone posting on the Organizing for America web site, I have supported Obama in the past and do now as well. But I really object to the idea that it is not possible to dislike the President without being irrationally angry at the same time. At the risk of helping the Republican Party recover from its 2008 defeat and strengthening it for 2012, I would like to be part of a campaign to restore rationality to political debate. I want my parents, life-long Republicans, to have some viable option in voting their beliefs in the future--and not to be at the mercy of the likes of Joe Wilson. I want to be able to say that I saw where this kind of "debate" was going and tried to prevent the bitterness from spinning out of control.
Dear Barack supporters, I have been really freaked out about the hate and hate speech that has surfaced in the last two weeks. Today, things have gotten more violent. We need leadership NOW. Questions about Obama's character and race, etc. have been thrown out there by McCain/Palin. Who answers those questions? McCain and Palin. The silent response, to what many Americans may think are legitamite concerns, is quickly filled by the media.
A leader is going to have to put politics aside and treat ALL American's questions as legit, no matter how backwards, ignorant etc. the questions may be. It not only educates many people, but it also shows great respect for all American's. Not responding, like Gore and Kerry did, is because of a dated democrat party standard: we are above such pettiness. This is a patroning stance we can not afford. This is an opportunity to talk to all Americans, the so called ignorant ones and the elite ones! A more perfect chance, to reach the so-called hillbilly Americans, we may not get again. Not responding immediately and definatively, aids the speculation that is advanced through the media and undermines our unity and focus. I have never experienced this much incendiary hate speech in an election before, so I am looking to my community, which affects my response. Democrats, please find a new way to respond to smear tactics and outright lies, a way that actually works. I'm tired of republican rule and the old school, rise above tactic, has simply never worked. There are more than two ways to campaign. Where are our leaders? I also want to address the growing violence. This is a decisive moment for all humanity. Please do not resort to any unlawful acts. And please report all unlawful acts, even if you may think, oh, it's just a yard sign stolen. If you do not report unlawful acts, even if you think they are minor, you are in fact stealing evidence that could be used in a legitamite way. Yes, it's a pain in the butt, but every little things adds to our case in our fight against corruption in politics. For example, if I recieved a vague complaint from a customer about my employee, I'd take it seriously and keep my eyes open. The second and third time I recieved a complaint about the same employee, I'd have to consider termination, even if the complaints were vague. Okay, maybe not after the second complaint. My point is that it often takes multiple examples of proof, the result of multiple pieces of evidence, to make a strong case. You never know when or where that evidence may be needed. The actual reporting of crimes, both petty and grand, if God forbid we need it, may be as great a contribution to democracy as a donation. Please report all unlawful acts relating to support of Obama, and pass on the message to your friends, family and communities. If you would like to investigate further, I have added these examples of the violence I am refering to, please read, they will shock you into action.
Oh! Get out the vote!
These are in response to a report that a McCain supporter was attacked by an Obama supporter.
"I Have a house full of firearms. I have a Weatherby 270, two 22 cal rifles, three shotguns “12 and 20 gauge” and a glock model 30 45 cal I carry everywhere. I have a conceal carry permit. Trust me, these obamatons are nothing but thugs and thives and crack whores. They are also weak liberal homosexual white men and lazy entitlement minded white women. Obama will lose on 11/4. The Joe the Plumber revelation which exposed Obama for the socialist he is will be his undoing. I plan on being loaded up after 11/4 and in prtection mode. I expect the blacks to riot because of ocurse they are all animals. Let them riot. I am not afraid. Big mistake to attack me is all I can say."
"unfortunately WallMart doesn't sell guns anymore otherwise. Otherwise I would buy one."
"My advice is, go to WalMart and buy a gun. Regardless of who wins this election trouble is going to erupt,particularly in urban areas.Don’t carry it around with you like some nut but keep it in your home in a secure place and learn how to use it to protect yourself and your family. Here in Baltimore the natives are already getting restless and agitated."
"God forbid Barak Hussein Obama becomes our president. If so it will only encourage these haters into more violence!"
"In all honesty - I’m afraid to have my Obama sign in my yard."
"The Obama campaign is the dirtiest and most racist in history."
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/2/
"In an television appearance that outraged Democrats are already describing as Joseph McCarthy politics, Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann claimed on Friday that Barack Obama and his wife Michelle held anti-American views and couldn't be trusted in the White House. She even called for the major newspapers of the country to investigate other members of Congress to "find out if they are pro-America or anti-America."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
Not paranoid enough?
Is Posse Comitatus Dead? US Troops on US StreetsOctober 07, 2008 | In a barely noticed development, a US Army unit is now training for domestic operations under the control of US Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command. An initial news report in …
http://www.democracynow.org/search
Take this one with a grain of salt, democracy now is very biased to the left. But there is audio of the commander of the army training unit you can listen to yourself, and the law was furtively changed to enable a martial law situation. Fact.
I know that many of you have been feeling nervous about the elections, and about the fear and anger that we sometimes hear coming from Obama's detractors. So I wrote this protection visualization for Obama. Say it out loud or to yourself, at your desk, in your car, on your couch, at your dinner table--wherever! Even after the elections, I'm feeling that we need to send protection and energy to Obama, to assist him with the wonderful work that he is doing. So keep sending the good energy, even after November 4th!!!
--------------
Note: as you say this prayer, imagine a glowing sheild of white light around Obama and his family, growing stronger, whiter, and brighter as the prayer progresses. Feel free to change the beginning (the "I honor you" part) to suit your personal beliefs. I like to imagine my shield with golden glittering light of protection and pink love energy too....
Obama Seed-Shield Meditation
To the great spirits of the four corners, I honor you
To the great spirits of above and below, I honor you
To the angels and guardians of our higher selves, I honor you
To God, great father of Christians, Jews, and Muslims, I honor you
Make us, Obama's believers, a shield of love and protection around him. May this shield be the seed of a new light, a new dawn, a new day.
From north, south, east, west, above and below, and everyplace in between, may he be protected with this luminous seed-shield of light and love,
Strengthened by all, in spirit and in form, who ally with him.
A seed-shield which grows ever stronger and brighter and more joyful,
A seed-shield which even now grows ever outward, which contains within it the very impetus of life: love, light, and hope for the future.
A glowing many-layered seed-shield of luminous love and protection, attended and cared for by all, within which love and light passes freely.
A glowing, many-layered seed-shield of luminous love and protection, which, in it's ever expanding glorious light, dissolves fear, dissolves anger, with light and love!
A glowing, many-layered seed-shield of luminous love and protection, which, in it's ever expanding glorious light, dissolves anger, dissolves fear, with even more, and ever more, light and love!
(Meditate for a few moments, or a few minutes, on the vision you have created)
Our seed-shield grows stronger and brighter every day, as more of our people recognize it's light as a reflection of their own!
The seeds of our souls are brightened with joy!!!
Like the recognition of soulmates, we have known this light before, and we all feel safe within this knowledge.
From this safe haven, this place of true peace, may we, Obama's supporters, gently quiet the anger of his naysayers, not with anger but with patience, peacefulness, kindness, and love.
From this safe haven, this place of true peace, may we, Obama's supporters, gently allay the concerns of those who fear him, not through fear but through patience, peacefulness, kindness, and love.
From this safe haven, this place of true peace, may we, Obama's supporters, continue to bravely imagine and courageously create a just, peaceful, sustainable, and beautiful world.
Amen!! Blessed be!!
xoxo,
rachel
p.s. Whenever you need a pick-me-up during your day, you can remind yourself of your vision, especially your own glowing soul seed! Enjoy, and know you are protected in light and love!!! ---------------
I posted the following on the Charlotte Observer's political forum:
I was transferred to Germany last June and I still have 20 months left before I will be back home. In the meantime, my NC plate is proudly displayed in my rear window and my Obama sticker decorates the trunk of my car.
More below..
I sent a letter to the editor of my local paper tonight. We'll see if it makes it in. See text below:
I have always believed in the right of people to form and hold their own political opinions, even if they don’t match my personal beliefs. However, I think that we must be very careful not to build on false foundations. In politics, as in religion, it is our duty to evaluate what we receive, to verify it, and to decide whether it is indeed worthy of incorporating into our own dogma.
In the event that you’ve been taken in by rumors and false emails, please take note: Barack Obama is not a Muslim. He is a long-time member of the Church of Christ. (Even if he were a Muslim, since when has religion dictated political capability?) Yes, I am more than happy to verify that the man is black. Does that matter to you? If so, shame on you.
He is an American. He earned scholarships and took out student loans and got a top ivy-league education. He then became a college professor, teaching constitutional law, followed by his state and national Senate posts. He is also not a terrorist. Do you honestly believe that the Democratic Party of the United States would not run a pretty thorough background check? SEE NEXT PAGE...
As a working-class woman from Milwaukee, one thing that really ticks me off is seeing Palin talk like Jill 6-Pack with Katie Couric or in the debate, when she doesn't in her older videos.
I do talk that way. I AM JILL 6-PACK. It's how my parents talked, and even after traveling all over the country, I still talk that way - especially after a couple of beers. So it really chafs my fanny that she's putting on my way of speaking to try to connect with me in this completely fake way, like I'm so dumb I would vote for how a person talks and not who they are or what they've done or what direction they would take this country. It's like she's doing a caricature of me all the time in order to delude and steal from me.
And now she's using her Jill Sixer phony dialect to whip up violent hatred in the no-neck crowd who comes to her rallies, assuming that every white person with a blue collar is a racist fool, and calling McCain a quitter for not hitting lower below the belt.
She gives every Jill 6-Pack a very bad name, and as Jill 6-Pack, it pisses me off.
Our next door neighbors are very nice people. They're our landlords so I'm grateful for how nice they really are.
At the same time, they're very scared people. Scared of all the people who don't look like them moving into our neighborhood. Scared of the kids dressed like fashionable thugsters who don't have enough to do with their spare time. Scared of sending their child to public schools with the thugsters. Nice, scared, Christian folk. McCain folk.
I know they're scared, because they tell me they are. They're scared of property values dropping, and scared of taxes going up. They're scared that if Obama becomes president, their priviledged way of life will suffer (have I got news for them....)
They're voting for McCain because he looks like them and speaks a language they understand. They don't listen to what Obama has to say because he doesn't look like them, and they've been convinced that 'everyone in politics lies' except Rush and Mr. Straight-Talk.
So, that's my neighbors. Let's call them Stan and Betty (not their real names). I talked to Betty yesterday about the videos and tapes coming out documenting truly nauseating hatefulness and will-to-violence among the crowd at Palin rallies.
She (rightly) pointed out the possibility of agents provocateurs, and that there is a wide spectrum associated with both parties. But Betty said she was certain that Palin would never encourage or foment such behavior. I asked why, then, did McCain and Palin not disavow and discourage supporters making remarks like, "Kill him!" and "Traitor!" and "Terrorist!"
She said that McCain and Palin didn't have a lot of control over the sorts of people who voted for them, and said there were some radicals associated with the Democratic Party as well.
I begged to differ. I pointed out politely that the Dem party was well to the right of anything at all radical - the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, the Green Party, and the Naderites (whatever they're calling themselves) were all left of the Dems, and that Obama knew better than to count on any support from those folks.
I reminded her that I was, myself, well to the left of a candidate who wasn't mandating Single-Payer Health Care, a Living Wage, and who voted for that Bailout and money to continue the war in Iraq. I reminded her that she's not scared of me or my hubby, radical though we might look to Senator Obama.
And there we stood.
She didn't want to have anything to do with the nasty people yelling hate speech, and neither did I. The fact that these are the people McCain and Palin are playing to in their stump speeches makes both of us queasy. We may not vote the same way, but we have this in common.
Senator McCain, Governor Palin, is this really your constituency? And if not, why is your campaign defending their putrescent bile?
"Barack Obama's attacks on Americans who support John McCain reveal far more about him than they do about John McCain. It is clear that Barack Obama just doesn't understand regular people and the issues they care about. He dismisses hardworking middle class Americans as clinging to guns and religion, while at the same time attacking average Americans at McCain rallies who are angry at Washington, Wall Street and the status quo," reads a statement from spokesman Brian Rogers.
Careful you don't cultivate the constituency from hell at the expense of the real McCain Folk.
What will be the effects of Sarah Palin's racially-tinged Big Lie techniques--claiming the Democrats wave "the white flag of surrender" when the country is at war, and that Barack Obama "pals around" with terrorists?
Violence on the part of gun-toting crazies?
It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent's record -- into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. ...
In her acceptance speech, Sarah Palin approvingly quoted Westbrook Pegler, who among other things was a racist, an anti-semite and a fascist who advocated killing Robert F. Kennedy.
In Spanish, there is a phrase, "To s/he who understands, few words are needed."
Palin's literary choice speaks volumes about why her ignorance does not portend bliss for the American people and their ideals.
In this time of economic turndown, a moment when the search for scapegoats may be just around the corner, it might be wise to remember the words of author Sinclair Lewis, which hopefully will not turn out to be prophetic:
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.”
Sarah Palin missed her calling . . . she's a good actor.
By Michael Shelby
September 4, 2008
Watching Republican Veep nominee Sarah Palin's acceptance speech I was continually plagued by an unsettling feeling of where have I seen this personality before? Yes, she's a dead ringer for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler could play her in a SNL sketch but they don't capture her essence naturally. Then, about halfway thorough the well executed attack speech teeming with irony, hypocrisy, misinformation, outright lies, and devoid of substance, it came to me . . . this performance really is a movie sequel and Sarah Palin is Tracy Flick all grown up!
Tracy Flick, played by Academy Award Winner® Reese Witherspoon in the 1999 movie Election (also starring Sarah Jessica Parker's hubbie Matthew Broderick as Tracy's advisor and former lover), runs a ruthlessly ambitious, win at all costs, vote manipulating campaign for her high school class presidency. Tracy's narcissism perfectly transforms into the cult of personality that the Republican party is running it's campaign on today. John McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, confirmed that "This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." Translation: the Republican's are running on the cult of personality and away from the issues. This fits perfectly into a sequel for Tracy Flick that I am calling, for now, Election 2 – Tracy's Back and Badder Than Before!
That Tracy has private scandals that are kept relatively secret, questionable decision-making rules, and a moral code that could at best be described as being governed by situational ethics seem to embody the history of Republican Veep candidate Sarah Palin as well. Tracy loses to the popular good guy jock whose innocence, sincerity, and honesty earns him a squeaker win much to the surprise of Ms. Flick. Flick has gone through numerous underhanded manipulations of the election to win including looking into the vote counting room to get advance information that she has won (however, it is her advisor who actually steals the election away from Tracy in a futile act of redemption for his earlier indiscretions and to blunt the evil ambitions of his once promising student). After recovering from the shock of a loss she had not expected, the end of the movie leaves open what lies ahead for Tracy. Clearly she has gained no insights or epiphanies and is instead driven even more so to “succeed.” My grown up Tracy will take into her future the unbridled ambition, narcissism, authoritarian archetype, selfishness, and self-centered attributes that are quintessentially Tracy (and Republican), apply them as needed during her stages of development toward adulthood, only to emerge as Sarah Palin in the flesh.
Tracy's base pandering to Jesus, that will later be exploited by John McCain and personified in the religiosity of Governor Palin who believes the Iraq war (causing the deaths of thousands of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines and over a million innocent Iraqi children, women, and men) is ordained by God and didn't object to or leave the pew, thereby tacitly approving her pastor's spewed hate speech, that said acts of terrorism on Israel were God's punishment for not believing in Christ, who denies the science of evolution and stem cell research in favor of the fantasy of creationism and prayer, and who thinks abstinence only sex education is effective (DUOH!); is predicted by Tracy's prayer for deliverance into victory I have paraphrased from the movie: Dear Lord Jesus, I do not often speak with you and ask for things, but now, I really must insist that you help me win the election tomorrow because I deserve it and [Barack Obama] doesn't, as you well know. I realize that it was your divine hand that [rescued me from obscurity] and now I'm asking that you go that one last mile and make sure to put me in office where I belong so that I may carry out your will on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
The possible plot lines to Election 2 are thick with possibilities, twists, turns, back stabbings, dirty dealings, and plain old wicked good story telling. SPOILER ALERT! My version of the sequel ends once again in defeat for Sarah, er, Tracy in ignominious defeat as another presidential candidate from Arizona is historically defeated in disaster once again. Unlike Senator Goldwater who was true to himself and authentic to the end of his admirable life, Senator McCain has screwed the pooch vis-a‘-vis integrity and so-called “straight talk” and will, if he's lucky, just fade into obscurity. But Sarah, dammit I mean Tracy, will go on like the plucky oblivious to the real world girl she is as she quotes her mother from the original movie, “It's like my mom says, The weak are always trying to sabotage the strong.”
Sarah, oh there I go again, Tracy we couldn't have post-rationalized it better ourselves.
I have been so very angry over this , that I was waiting until I calmed down before I addressed it because I know how I get when I am angry. I can be rather blunt and sometimes , down right vicious when I confront a stupid fool or a person who acts like a stupid fool. Especially , when they are my own race representing me.
As you all know, and as I am constantly reminded, I am an African American woman who was raised Evangelical Christian and my father , who was a pastor by the way , taught us to reverence the Jewish Community and their faith because we have the same God.
The "God The Father" that we refer to in the "Holy Trinity" , is the God of the Jews and is to be reverenced ! And his people , respected. This idiot from "Tennessee" is not only being a racist Xenophobic fool , she is being very Un-Christian and borderline blasphemous !
I am ENRAGED ! And the more I am reading about this Tinky , Pinky or whatever the heck her name is , I am becoming even more angry. So, seeing that it's not going to get any better, I think it's best to address it now before I really go nuts.
You should be ASHAMED of yourself !
I can't believe it. You are a female version of Alan Keys ! You're campaign is an Asunda! .( That's Jewish for SHAME !)
You have dishonored not only the Jewish Community , The Christian Community , The Black and White Community , the Democratic Party and America as a whole, but you have dishonored the Lord. Now, I am not going to express my opinion as to whether or not I think you really are a Christian . That's not my place. I'll let Jesus (You Know. That "Jewish Rabbi" we call the Son of God ?) deal with you on that front.
But as a fellow African American woman and an Evangelical Christian (C.O.G.I.C) , American and supporter of the Democratic Party , I have a responsibility to call you out. You are running a very disgusting campaign. You have absolutely no right whatsoever , to be attacking Cohen in the manner in which you are doing so. Not as a Democrat and certainly not as a Christian.
I am so angry at you right now, I could scream. But instead of hurl insults at you and tell you that I think you are as fake as that weave you got , I will instead DEMAND that you immediately STOP this UNHOLY Campaign you are running ! IF you do NOT , I will launch a petition against you and call on the Congressional Black Caucus as well as the NAACP to openly REJECT and DENOUNCE your campaign and your tactics.
What Might THOSE Tactics Be ?
These Tactics !
And This Disgusting Tactic
Now, it may be too late because it looks like the Primary is already underway, but you better get out there an openly APOLOGIZE for this disgusting Campaign you ran regardless of whether or not you win or lose. And YES , if I have not made it clear, I am praying that you lose ! Either way , you owe, at the very least, an apology to Cohen , the Jewish Community and the Christian Community. EVERYONE !
And one last thing I want to leave you with Missy !
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACKS AND JEWS ? NOTHING !
You Should Be Ashamed !
ASUNDA !
UPDATE:
As I stated on another blog;
Hello All,As a supporter of Senator Clinton in the primary, and a new supporter of Senator Obama, I would like to congratulate his campaign for passing the first true test in my book.
Yes, he has showed his continuous appreciation for Senator Clinton on multiple occasions:
"I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans." -June 7, 2008
"She would be on anyone's shortlist." -May 9, 2008
But what his campaign did today has won my loyalty and given me utmost respect for him:
