Cults, Redux
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on December 4, 2008 at 12:45 PM in Bamboozling, Barack Obama, Cult-Aide, Cultist Thugs, Cults, David Axelrod, George Bush, Nancy Pelosi, Sexism
Sometime ago, I wrote a post on how the followers of Obama and cults. I thought I had seen it all then regarding the adulation of this man, but oh, was I wrong!! Now, we have the new coins being created in his image, the push for a national holiday, schools changing their name because of Obama’s “achievement” of being half-African, and even more. Add that to the previous statement in which Nancy Pelosi claimed that:
“(T)his is the moment that the world is waiting for.”
“I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.”
Wowie zowie. So, since it is pertinent, and I am sick as a dog, as we say down here in the South, I am reprinting the majority of that piece from back in July with a few slight changes. It is below.
So, YEAH, Obama is “what the world has been waiting for,” and what represents America returning to its “best Traditions” if that means an arrogant, narcissistic, sexist, thuggish, unethical, pandering, coercing, power-hungry Messiah-wannabe, then, yes - Obama is our guy!!! I must be some kind of heathen, though, because I just don’t buy it. Obama has made the classic mistake - he now believes his own Axelrovian hype. He really DOES think he is The One For Whom We Have Been Waiting!
Not long ago, I was reading a book by Kathy Reichs, a professor at UNC-Charlotte. Her books are the basis for the show, “Bones.” In this particular book, Death Du Jour, the question of cults comes up. Now her main character, Tempe Brennan, is also a professor art UNCC, a forensic anthropologist. Because of a case on which she is working, she goes to a sociology professor at UNCC (and the information in this books on cults is legitimate - it comes from another UNCC professor of Religious Studies, James Tabor). Once you read it, you will see why. Dr. Brennan’s comments will be in italics. Red, the Sociology professor’s, will be in regular typeface. Okey dokey - ready? Here we go:
“All right. What’s a cult?”
“Cults are not just groups of crazies who follow weird leaders. At least the way I use the term, they are organizations with a set of common features.” (On age 295, Red makes the point that cults can also be political parties.)
“Yes.” I leaned back in my chair.
“A cult forms around a charismatic individual who promises something. This individual professes some special knowledge. Sometimes the claim is access to ancient secrets, sometimes it’s an entirely new discovery to which he or she alone is privy. Sometimes it’s a combination of both. The leader offers to share the information with those who follow. Some leaders offer utopia. Or a way out. Just come along, follow me. I’ll make the decisions. All will be fine.”
“How does that differ from a priest or rabbi?”
“In a cult it’s this charismatic leader who eventually becomes the object of devotion; in some cases he’s actually deified. And as that happens, the leader comes to hold extraordinary control over the lives of his followers.
“Cults are totalistic, authoritarian. The leader is supreme and delegates power to very few. The leader’s morality becomes the only acceptable theology. The only acceptable behavior. And, as I said, veneration is eventually centered on him, not on supreme beings or abstract principles.
“And often there is a double set of ethics. Members are urged to be honest and loving to each other but to deceive and shun outsiders. (Emphasis mine.) Established religions tend to follow one set of rules for everybody.”
“How does a leader gain such control?”
“That’s another important element. Thought reform. Cult leaders use a variety of psychological processes to manipulate their members. Some leaders are fairly benign, but others are not and really exploit the idealism of their followers.
“The way I see it, there are two broad types of cults, both of which use thought reform. The commercially packaged ‘awareness programs’” - he gestured quotation marks - “use very intense persuasion techniques. These groups keep members by getting them to buy more and more courses.
“Then there are the cults that recruit followers for life. These groups use organized psychological and social persuasion to produce extreme attitudinal changes. As a result they come to exert enormous control over the lives of their members. They are manipulative, deceptive, and highly exploitative.”
Amy here - hmmm, let’s just guess which one I think Obama is?!?! Ahem. The discussion continues, but I thought this was significant:
“I still don’t see why anyone but a nutcase would fall for such crap.”
“Not at all.” He shook his head. “It’s not just marginal people who get sucked in. In some studies approximately two thirds of the respondents come from normal families and were demonstrating age-appropriate behavior when they entered a cult.”
“Has your research shed light on why people seek out these movements?”
“Often they don’t. These groups seek you. And as I’ve said, these leaders can be incredibly charming and persuasive.”
AMY here - the discussion continues, and then this question: “I just don’t get it, Red. How can people be so gullible?”
“It’s seductive to think that you’re elite. Chosen. Most cults teach their members that only they are enlightened and everyone else in the world is left out. Lesser in some way. It’s powerful stuff.” (Kathy Reichs, Death Du Jour, 1999, pp 295 - 300)
See what I mean?? Do you see it?!? To me it has been crystal clear. Obama has been engaging in “thought reform,” as discussed in this book, and has taken it to a massive level. For him to go to the House of Representatives as The Anointed One, elevating himself to a height neither deserved or REAL, says a lot. And it says just as much about all of the House members who clapped themselves silly. They wanted to bask in the glow of The One, they wanted to show they, too, are in his employ.
This is frightening stuff. I thought Bush was bad, but I fear Obama more. He has demonstrated time and time again that he is beholden to no person, and no position. He can dismiss even relatives with seeming ease, and change positions as quickly as the wind blows. He is a dangerous man, and his followers likewise. Not all of them, mind you, but enough of them seem to have this mentality, which is mighty scary, indeed.
What next? The Empire State Building renamed, “The Barack Obama Building?” The Rocky Mountains renamed, like they want to do in Antigua (see article about schools changing their names)? All because this man is half-African? When this becomes the standard by which we elevate people, we are starting a dangerous, dangerous precedent indeed. After the election, I wrote a piece entitled, “Judging A Man” on this very issue (I was not alone - many better writers had pieces on this topic, too). But when you have mayors claiming that Obama’s singular achievement is being bi-racial, you know we are losing the edge as a nation. Add that to the rampant level of cheating and general dishonesty by our young people, sanctioned by their parents and, too often, their teachers (the latter often take a great deal of abuse if they try to maintain standards of decency), and I despair for this country and what we are becoming.
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
Why do some us see this cult like behavior and avoid it while others follow blindly? Don’t we drink the same water, breath the same air, etc.? For the life of me, I do not understand why anyone would think highly of Obama outside of his family (heck, even MicHELLe puts him down). People are so lazy and easily fooled that they want quick fixes in nice shiny (in this case, half black) packages.
Biden said Obama is clean. Pelosi designated him to have special power. Kerry said that Obama has “achieved” much in life by working harder than anyone else alive. These statements alone are racist, aren’t they? However, when they suit Obama’s ego, then they are OK. The man has no integrity nor dignity!
I thought about this frequently during the campaign. I personally think it has alot to do with personality type. Have you ever taken a Myers- Briggs personality test? http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/index.asp
I have a hunch that Obots are “feelers” who “perceive” a situation, while the rest of us non-koolaid drinkers are “thinkers” who “judge” the situation.
I’m an INTP - thinking/perceiving. Very small percentage of the population, but generally smart.
It’s the SJs (sensing/judging) who tend to be rigid in their thinking and not open to other points of view, so I’d suggest that a lot of Obama supporters are actually SJs.
I have to agree with you Tupp because that is the only explanation….because other than that, it just does not make sense….
The other alternative is that God has opened our eyes and closed theirs.
I’m an ENFJ - classic for ministers (no kidding - it is), though very close to the T(hinkers) part, by one point, if I recall correctly.
Interesting analogy - I can see that…
Back in February, I was trying to figure out why so many people were mesmerized by Obama, and behaving in this cult like behavior, and then there were those like me, who couldn’t believe people were falling for his hopey changey rhetoric.
I was wondering if it had something to do with Jung’s theory of Critical vs. Creative thinkers… It quite possibly could be completely NOT related, but I wondered if it is possible…
Obama and his flowery bull just passed right by me, while I much prefer Hillary’s way of thinking and communicating.
http://americaninitaly.blogspot.com/2008/02/more-reasons-i-am-not-supporting-obama.html
I wonder if this could have anything to do with those who fall for cults, too.
Like, I look/listen to Obama and see right past all the bullarky, while Halle Barry wants to pick up garbage in his path…? I don’t get it.
Jung is closer to the mark in helping us understand complex personalities.
Humans are born with primitive personality traits — and these individual traits change as a person matures. Obama probably still clings on to some of his primitive personality traits — and he puts on a mask for the public Obama.
Jung came up with the “Shadow” to explain part of the human personality.
The Shadow
The Shadow, is a psychological term introduced by the late Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. Carl G. Jung. It is everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied. These are dark rejected aspects of our being as well as light, so there is positive undeveloped potential in the Shadow that we don’t know about because anything that is unconscious, we don’t know about.
The Shadow is an archetype. And what an archetype simply means is that it is typical in consciousness for everyone. Everyone has a Shadow. This is not something that one or two people have. We all have a Shadow and a confrontation with the Shadow is essential for self awareness. We cannot learn about ourselves if we do not learn about our Shadow so therefore we are going to attract it through the mirrors of other people.
from: shadowdance(dot)com/
“The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves.”
— DR. CARL GUSTAV JUNG
Great point, Sara! I understand COMPLETELY what you are saying abt the difference between seeing the flowery BS for what it was, and appreciating the massive intellect Clinton demonstrated with her ability to hold complex thoughts in tension. Amazing…And yeah - I’d rather have a prez that smart any freakin’ day of the week…
Barack, The Amazing Mr. Obama (from Pravda)
“Articulate speaking is no way to judge or rate the integrity of a person.”
“Barry Sotero, AKA Barack Obama, along with the Democratic National Committee and the Federal Election Commission have successfully ignored a Federal Lawsuit asking him to produce a valid Birth Certificate. When the time to respond to that lawsuit expired, under Federal Court Rules, they all admitted that he was not a citizen of The United States of America and deemed to have committed fraud. A normal man would have been found to have admitted he was not a US citizen”
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/106778-0/
Give it a rest, will ya!
Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961. Sorry, he just was.
This is according to the State of Hawaii Dept of Health and by Lara Lingle (Republican governor and good friend of Sarah Palin). The reason Obama doesn’t “release” his birth certificate is for privacy and security reasons.
This is why these documents are NOT public information in the first place…because they are used to verify ID. It’s called ID theft! Don’t believe me? Go post your birth certificate at your local mall and see how long it takes for someone to ruin your credit.
Don’t be a sore loser!
This troll comment by “Concerned Citizen” just won the award for the stupidest comment on any blog, anywhere, ever. OH - MY - GOD….”Privacy and security?” ROFLMFAO…..so, “going to the mall” is the SAME as going to the WHITE HOUSE? Man, you just showed what we already all knew. The average IQ of an Obot troll is 32. YOU give it a rest. And, for the 100th time, your boss either shows his documentation or he goes back to Kenya.
For the 101st time, HE HAS SHOWN A COPY OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!! Check it out. It’s on his website and all over the internet.
With the exception of Techdude and Texas Darlin and despite the fact this document has been out there for six months o be examined by every e-forgery expert in the world, no one, I mean NO ONE has found anything wrong with this document. Can you cite one document forgery expert (someone willing to attach their real name to their position) who has questioned the veracity of this document? If you have one shred of verifiable proof that this document is a forgery, let’s see it. Didn’t think so.
Why would Gov Lingle (R-HI) cover up for Obama? Her Dept of Health has access to this document. How about Bush and Condi Rice? Obama has an American passport. The State Dept could easily refute this document. They could have destroyed Obama’s candidacy with this information, yet chose to stay silent?
Or the hundreds of bureaucrats who would have access to his BC. Are they in on the conspiracy too?
But you’re right, I’m the one with the low IQ. LMAO!!!
Great article, Amy. I’ve said it time and time again about Obama’s followers. They are cult-like and there’s no getting around that one. They keep saying he’s the greatest thing on the planet, but they can’t tell you why, what he stands for, what he has accomplished. Nothing. Even when he flip-flops they are totally blind to it. They’ll attack you verbally - get extremely nasty - if you try to talk with them sensibly, they don’t want to hear it. That’s why so many of us have lost friends this election season. I’ve never seen it this bad as it’s been this election.
Yes, thanks very much for this article, Amy.
The loss of some friends has truly been the most painful part of this election season — aside from him getting eleted, of course. I, too, am at a loss to understand how they can so praise someone who has never really done anything it terms of community or legislative or governing achievements. It’s all talk with no walk.
Well, now we’ll see.
You know what — this cultish thing is not built on anything real and a house with no foundation cannot stand for long. While I truly do not wish for his failure — because I love our country too much and we need to succeed and prevail regardless of what we think of his tactics — I think eventually the koolaid will wear off. It will take a long time, however, and the press has already anointed him super double triple coated teflon man.
If you thought Bush was made of Teflon, just wait.
Ani, in any reasonable universe, this would be quite true. Unfortunately, we do not see the “foundation” upon which the O phenomenon is standing. It is built on a deep human longing for a savior who will make things right. When some manipulative figure successfully steps into this role, this archetype, his faithful will distrust their own lying eyes and believe whatever they want to believe. As I see it, the “foundation” is as real as the savior archetype, and may prove to be very strong and durable indeed. You are in fact recognizing this durability when you speak of “super double triple coated teflon man . . . If you thought Bush was made of teflon, just wait.”
I’ve been trying to comment on this remark, but the spam filter keeps zapping me, so I’ll try and put it in a nutshell.
Unfortunately, the “foundation” of the O phenomenon is the longing in the human psyche for a savior who will fix everything. This runs very deep, and could prove to be virtually unshakable. People will believe what they want to believe, despite their lying eyes.
people get sucked in because they have low self esteem, they need someone to look up to, they want attention,they’re just plain stupid, they want to feel like they “belong”…a cult means you’re in a “special club”. Bascially, they are lacking guidance and a purpose. Personally I think if people lead a faith based life, have a spiritual/christian view and are taught right from wrong by parents and other leaders, they would be fine.
wodiej,
What in the world does having a “spiritual/christian view” have to do with it? Atheists, agnostics, jews, hindus etc. are more predisposed to cult-like behavior?
-MS
I hope you see the lunacy of your comment in including atheists. If ever a group did not follow cult-like or make-believe behavior, it is atheists.
Rah,
I hope you see that your response is NOT an answer to my question. But, IMHO, atheists would be the LEAST cult-like of the bunch.
-MS
WRONG - on the atheist. My sister and her husband, both agnostic but heavily leaning to atheism and my other brother-in-law also more of an atheist, my nieces and nephews, all atheists drank the koolaid. While, I, am leaning towards being an agnostic but still have many of my Christian principles and beliefs from my childhood, saw through the bull___t right away. I think whoever said it was NLP techniques probably pegged it. Some of us can be hypnotized, others can’t. By the way all these people have master’s degrees or higher (some are getting their undergraduate degrees), and still they drank happily of the koolaid. Me, my education is the school of life and some college, and I saw the Fraud for who he was.
Now I understand your reference (to the earlier post). Many apologies.
OK, cool…
-MS
uh, Jewish and Hindu people have a faith/belief in a higher power also. I didn’t specify one religion.
I personally believe a spiritual/christian based life/belief system is at the core of our purpose, what is right and wrong. I’m not saying atheists are bad people. But I do believe without a belief in a higher power people are opening themselves up to more negativity and evil. That’s just my belief.
And, you’re certainly entitled to your belief. But it’s my belief that atheists are just as likely to make it as “good people” as, say, Methodists.
And, not to generalize about people (believers) but I also believe that organized religion is responsible for more evil in the history of this world than any other institution.
-MS
I agree, ParkSlope. Atheism IS a belief system, after all, and whether one believes in a higher power or not does not impact one’s ethical/moral being, IMHO.
And Ani - thanks for the great comment. You are right - we haven’t seen anything yet with the whole teflon thing. It is ASTONISHING how much this relative unknown has been allowed to get away with by the MSM and the DNC. If this had been the Republicans, we would have been screaming bloody murder. Talk abt your situational ethics - it’s okay as long as it is the DEMS doing it. Uh, yeah, no…
Thanks for your support, RRRA (Are you really a reverend; I ask because I wouldn’t want to offend you with the second paragraph of my last comment (14:23:58.)) I certainly don’t have negative feelings about religious people, per se. I was raised as a Lutheran, went to church every Sunday (and Sunday School) sang in the children’s choir and was FORCED (at age 11) to take dance lessons with the pastor’s daughter. Ugh…
What we are seeing with the Obamabots is nothing less than truly scary. Talk about your false idols: maybe he should be known as Baal Hussein Obama…
-MS
Hey, Park -
Yes, indeed, I am an honest-to-goodness reverend, but you will get no argument from me. I agree that much evil has been done in the name of Religion - whether it be Christianity, Islam, etc. The Crusades, Witch Trials, extremists of any faith, have all done some serious harm. So, no worries, Park Slope - if anything, my theological education was most comprehensive and did not gloss over the bad parts…
Well, that certainly makes you “my kind of reverend.” Cheers!
-MS
LOL - excellent!!
ParkSlope Voter…. religion is not responsible for what humans are doing…
People are using religion for their own self, ;for power,money,control over others, for any cost!!!
Religion is beying blame for all most everything, just as guns beying blame for killing others. No!. People must be blame not any Faith. Simple as is…
Parkslope, I agree about the religion causing more evil in the world than any other institution. And it is still happening.
I agree wodiej. Low self-esteem and no spiritual or religious anchor is at least part of the problem. Many children who are products of the self-esteem philosophy prevalent in so many of our homes and schools today know they got inflated grades. They secretly fear someone will find them out and so actually have low self-esteem.
Add to that many parents do not have any religious belief they ascribe to or bring their children up with.
In my 20’s I was angry with my parents that they baptized me and brought me up Catholic. By the time I finished college I knew that was not the religion for me.
However, by the time I was in my late 30’s when I saw how many of many friend’s children were looking for guidance and lacked something higher than themselves to believe in, I realized my parents were correct in instilling some religious beliefs or tenets. Because when I did get out into that big world I was not by myself. I had a belief system by which I could evaluate all the various ‘cults’ or belief systems that came my way. I could look at them critically and say, yes, that one is OK; or no, that one is not. My previous belief system was a life preserver that I could hang onto till I sorted everything out with my new education and expereinces to see if it was worth while or just another flash in the pan.
Kids today do not have that in many cases, and so a narcissist like Obama comes along and young kids believe him and follow him uncritically because they have nothing to compare it to.
IMO, by appointing Hillary, he has shown that he doesn’t buy the hype one bit. Either he needs her help (even clearing away advisors she doesn’t like?)or he wants to set her up just to take her down (a move that would make his choice of her look bad). His minions can run around all they want, dedicating schools and minting coins, but his nuts-and-bolts nominations look to me like he’s just another pol.
Oh, there is no doubt whatsoever that he’s another pol, and a Chicago one at that. The issue is that he ran his campaign based on NOT being another pol. Now, many of us didn’t buy that hooey, but plenty enough sure did. And we know the media hyped him up as the “New Kid on the block” who was going to “change” Washington. Uh, yeah, not so much.
As for the Clinton appointment, it would NEVER reflect badly on HIM if he fired her. I think we have seen enough of his teflon-coating throughout the entire primary/election season. Everyone would blame HER.
And as Astra pointed out, and as the troll below demonstrates, nothing he does will EVER be held against him. He can (and has) renege on any of his campaign promises or stands, including appointing Clinton in the very position - foreign policy - for which he trashed her up one side and down the other - and they BOUGHT IT - but now, well, he must know best!! They will not hold him accountable for ANYTHING. Analytical skills do not seem to be their strong suit.
“As for the Clinton appointment, it would NEVER reflect badly on HIM if he fired her. I think we have seen enough of his teflon-coating throughout the entire primary/election season. Everyone would blame HER.”
Have paranoid delusions much?
“And as Astra pointed out, and as the troll below demonstrates, nothing he does will EVER be held against him.”
Yeah, you’re right. That explains why he has been heavily criticized by the left for his FISA stance and his forgiveness of Lieberman - among other things. But no, never happens. lol.
Just because we don’t act like were going to self-immolate ourselves like you nutjobbers do doesn’t mean we don’t plan to hold Obama accountable. We’re just not as insane about it as you are (as evidenced by you writing a book-long screed about how Obama’s being well-liked makes him dangerous)….
You guys have gone so far off the deep end here that even when Obama offers to tap into his vast grassroots volunteer network for disaster relief it’s seen as him being egotistical and condescending.
Y’all need some serious psychological help.
Nothing like a Cult of Crybabies complaining about an imaginary cult!
“Wah, why do people like him! Don’t they know hes a secret Islamo-Marxist-Fascist-Black Panther ?!?!”
“Wah Wah, why do they print coins for him when they’ve done that for like, every single president-elect in the history of cheap coin-minting operations?!?”
“Wah Wah Wah, How can they say the world was waiting for this change when only 75% or so of the world polled said they hoped Obama would win the Presidency?!?!”
“Wah Wah Wah Wah, Why does reality have such a liberal bias?!?!?”
Great post, as usual RRRAmy. I am in shock every day of my life over this complete NONSENSE about Fraudbama. The guy is a NOTHING. He wrote two books and spent 143 days loafing and screwing off on our dime in the Senate. He’s never accomplished anything, and he has the personality of an old sick cat. Nothing is more repugnant that how stupid, desperate and unpatriotic Americans have become. I maintain that anyone who voted for this FRAUD hates our country. Despite the people here who are now going cult on us and getting all gushy over the Fraud because he threw HRC a dog bone, he will always make me vomit. Literally. I still think the best thing is for the people with businesses, money, children, families, etc. they care about to move until Fraudbama is booted out. It’s calm now, but after January 20th I don’t see things being pretty. I think it’s time to become expats…all of us. This isn’t America and it never will be again. Never. Watching the idiots who voted for the Fraud, glassy-eyed and ignorant, really isn’t fun.
Here is something interesting and related.
http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/73_folder/73_articles/73_stalin.html
When he rather flippantly said he could call up millions of volunteers for any diaster relief effort.
There was so much wrong with that statement. The tone. The lack of the respect for both those in need and the people he would call to help. And much more.
Anyway, it is one of many examples Obama provided us, which demonstrate the issues you discuss in this article.
On a related side note…..and no disrespect to the General.
But….Jim Jones….damn. That was a little creepy.
Especially to those of us who lived in the bay area and watched the media and politicians falling all over Rev Jim Jones. There are similiarities.
“When he rather flippantly said he could call up millions of volunteers for any diaster relief effort.
There was so much wrong with that statement……”
You folks are so deluded and overwrought with bitterness and jealousy that even an offer by Obama to use his vast grassroots email/volunteer list as a way to recruit help for a disaster is somehow seen as a bad thing.
How. Fucking. Sad. Are. You. People? Get help, please.
He said he could get the help. But he failed to do so. Obama and his drones did nothing for the hurricane relief.
I am disguted by the delusions that the bots have. THe man has done nothing of significance in his life but get elected by whining, white guilt-ridden morons.
I know y’all are fact-averse and all, but really. Can you try to do a teensy bit of fact checking before spouting off bullshit?
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/this-is-it-this-is-why-im-prou.php
Wow…talk about fact averse.
Obama rolled up his sleeves in HIS state for a flood and a photo op. That is the least he should do for his own state while running.
We are discussing his LACK of doing the same for the citizens of Texas during a WORSE storm.
He called up the list for Illinois. He just TALKED about it for Texas. He didn’t activate the list.
If anything your link proves how sleazy is was to just talk about helping when he activated his list previously.
That’s funny. I like to proof that he activated his list for disaster relief and you move the goalposts to talk about a TX storm that never turned out to be as much of a disaster as we originally feared it might be.
Keep on moving those goalposts. You must have been one of those deadenders that insisted Clinton had more votes ni the Primary — as long as you DON’T count Caucus votes, and as longs as you DO count votes in states that had unsanctioned contests!!!
Too fucking funny….
oops meant to say “link to proof”, not “like”…
There you go again talking to yourself. You might want to have that looked at by a professional.
Stop the hate!
I didn’t move the goalposts….you did…the discussion was always about Texas!
You act like no one saw him in his button down shirt shoveling months before. Everyone did.
Like I said, it is worse to talk about activating and not do it! You simply provided more proof of how sleazy it was to just talk about it.
You’ve made my point by moving the goalposts….thanks!
And the thought that missing people and homes being swept out into the water isn’t that bad….Wow!
The twists that Obots have to do to justify his actions rather than say something ill about him is astonishing.
Well, don’t forget. He did cancel his appearance on Saturday Night Live. I am not sure why because he didn’t do anything, but sit on his ass. When McCain cancelled Letterman, the bots had a field day. They screamed Mccain lied about coming back for the bailout. He did an interview with Couric instead. They saw no similarities with the cancellations and at least McCain did return to Washington. Obama cancelled due to hurricane Ike and then did nothing. Weird these Obama lovers. They are just weird. I think we should divide the country into realists and fairyland. I’m on the realist side. Then we can elect our own real president who may have a few flaws, but loves the country and tries to get something done. The hopey changeys can just se how their part runs after a few months, but regardless, just stay the hell away from us sane folks, ok?
“….but get elected by whining, white guilt-ridden morons.”
White people only voted for Obama because of “white guilt”?
And you wonder why people call you and your ilk racist bigots.
I bet you got a giant poster of David Duke in your bedroom that you rub one off to every night….
Hey Demon, do you always talk to yourself?
Stop the hate!
How is posting a reply to “jackie” talking to myself? Oh wait, I forgot I’m in the intertube equivalent of Bizarro World….
You got it. That Captain Kumbaya sat for 20 YEARS in a hate whitey/hate America church, fawning over the great Reverend “I never met a whitey I liked” Wright, only to disavow him 6 months before an election shows the disrespect and hatred Baracka and Michelle Obama to white people.
No white person concerned about racism should have voted for Captain Kumbaya.
Really?
Because if Obama’s email list was activated for the storm wouldn’t the press trumpet it?
They certainly let us know when Obama fired up the list for more donations after the storm hit.
So why no news on all those email Obots helping in Texas?
It would be great if Obama actually sent them….but giving him credit for talking about it is what is really f***ing sad.
Lying to diaster victims that you’ll fire up the email list and you never do….that is what is really bleeping sad.
Google news Galveston, TX and Obama volunteers…nothing!
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&um=1&tab=wn&nolr=1&hl=en&q=galveston%2C+tx+%2B+obama+volunteers
Do you mean “Demosthenes”?
The very fact that you think for a moment *jealousy* is at play shows your unbelievable immaturity.
Was your comment supposed to provide some kind of illuminating insight or something? If so, I missed it.
Maybe you can take a moment to explain how whining and moaning about someone being well-liked doesn’t amount to jealousy….
Hey Demon, stop the hate and donate!
Would you send Obama $15 for me brother?
So bitter. So jealous. So pathetic.
Maybe if your lucky Simple Sarah will give it another go in 2012.
If we’re ALL lucky, that is
Lookie here Demon, you need to quit saying, “you people.” I know you’re an Obot lover but they painted the Clinton’s as racist, it could happen to you if you keep making those kinds of statements.
Stop the hate, brother!
Hahahahaohohhahaaroflmfaohaha[hack]haha[cough]hohoho!!!
Wow, ya trying out for a job writing the Daily Show? Your razor sharp wit is threatening to put me to sleep.
Keep your day job….
Um pardon me but, your mental illness is showing. Take your meds and Basket Weaving Class is a 5:00. Don’t forget or go hallucinating on us, Demonsethes.
Jealousy is something immature people claim against another - when they have no legitimate argument. I made my point perfectly. And you only reinforced it. Thanks.
Being able to call upon a multitude of “grassroots” to aid in an emergency and that multitude being able to accomplish much are two different things. The question I would ask would be: Is that grassroots multitude organized in such a manner as to be useful and efficient in getting things accomplished or would it be a matter the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing and just adding to the confusion? Would an additional ten thousand grassroots people been of much help in New Orleans?
If he had even offered to use the money he had left over from his campaign, to fund food banks this winter, I could perhaps buy into this crap. But he is just a fairy tale,”full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
What is SAD is how Obama, while campaigning, acts like he actually gives a rats ass, but while a senator in IL, his constituents died by the hundreds, whether it be in the winter of ‘97 when people froze to death in Rezko slums, or in ‘95 when ~800 hundreds died in the summer heatwave, alone and abandoned, or the hundreds from violence. Chicago districts are the worst in the country.
So, Obama can brag about all the *help* he can provide, but the proof is in the pudding. Actions speak louder than words.
Forgot to add….anyone seen any Obots helping in Texas?
I guess Obama didn’t activate his email list for that storm. He just liked talking about the power to do it while insulting McCain for trying to do something during his convention.
I don’t usually comment, but I wanted to thank you, Karma, for pointing out Texas. I live here in Houston and I have not seen any Obots helping in Galveston. My husband and I own a condo in Galveston and we went there 2 weeks after the storm to asses the damage. It was horrible. Yes, most structures were still standing, but they had to be totally gutted. There was garbage everywhere as people set their garbage out on the street. By garbage, I mean appliances, carpet, clothing, wallboard, furniture, ect. There are buisnesses that will never reopen. Boats are on the side of the roads. I can’t descibe the destruction, it has to be seen to be believed. It was not a “little storm”. It knocked the 4th largest city out of power for 2 weeks. That’s 5.8 million people. Galveston was longer. For the stupid Obot to imply that it was nothing is horrible. The reason no one knows is because the media ignored us. Obama could have brought attention to Galveston and the devestation but he chose not to. Again, Karma, I thank you for defending us. ( I would reply directly to the Obot, but I would like to remain civil).
Hell, the guy couldn’t even call out enough votes in Geotgia to beat Saxby Chambliss. Give me a break!
But Sarah Palin carried some weight with voters. Snicker!
Any bets on how pissed off America is going to be when Obama falls flat? The cracks are already showing.
And he’s STILL RAISING MONEY!
I got an email today, supposedly from the Democratic Party, offering me an Obama holiday mug for “only” a $15 donation, but donations go through donate.barackobama.com/mug.
They claim the donation goes toward supporting the DNC, but we all know Obama assimilated it, Borg-style, months ago.
What a brilliant idea! I’ll bet that Obama’s face is baked into the drinking side of the mug, so that the faithful can give it a little kiss before they sip their cocoa.
How many schools are named after Warren G. Harding, another individual elected for mostly frivolous reasons?
More than a few here in Ohio where Harding was born, believe it or not.
Then guess there should a lot named after Obama in Kenya?
LOL!! But probably the real truth, not the one about to be manufactured by the SCOTUS in order to save the “precious” his presidency.
Rev. Amy, your article encapsulates the primary reason that I find the idolization of Obama into a cult figure very troubling.
I have always had an acid test for defining a “cult” as it pertains to religious organizations. A legitimate religion affirms and strengthens the family and traditional values; a cult seeks to replace the family and strives to CHANGE traditional social values in significant ways, all in the HOPE, the promise, of a brighter tomorrow, a New World. Yes–you could say CHANGE and HOPE are the twin god-concepts enticing the needy into any cult, and a New World is the promised land.
By this definition, a cult may or may not have a charismatic leader. For example, I consider the Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult, since they do in effect replace the family and strive to eliminate traditional holidays when families normally get together and bond. They do not, however, have a single omniscient Leader. When a cult also has a charismatic leader, they become even more dangerous.
A cult is very insular: if you’re not IN, you’re OUT. And if you’re OUT, you’re NOWHERE. Excommunicated and unworthy. A cult with political and military power–now there’s a scary thought. We’ve seen it before. Are we about to see it again?
Sounds like the mormons.
Obama himself, “I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.” Sigh. This sentence makes no sense: subject, predicate - imagine diagramming it. Sound language, prose, sentences can be diagrammed. He’s not bright. Apparently not well-educated either. I
We’ll never know. The one doesn’t have to released his college transcripts? Did he go to college really?
But it has become the crusade for some to find out every stinking tidbit about Obama. Send money to those guys instead of 15.00 to the DNC for the Obama commemorative mug.
What is Barkles Oblahblah hiding?
Hey, you know what Obama supporters really like? They like seeing people work themselves into hysterical panics about cults, or socialism, or the vast conspiracy in the Democratic party that got Barack elected, or whatever feverish thoughts that crazy people come up with comparing Obama to Jim Jones.
I hope you understand that when you make statements like this, you’ll only get support from those who share your paranoia. Everyone else will roll their eyes and say, “Oh, come on.” Because it’s just not that realistic to say that tens of millions of people who voted for Obama are part of some weird mass cult. Are there a few people who are a little too passionate about Obama? Of course. And a lot more people are excited because we see a chance, just a chance, at real, substantive change. But the vast majority of Obama supporters, even the passionate ones, don’t think he’s a messiah because to think that, you’d have to be a little crazy.
So please, keep it up. And keep using novels as reference sources. It’s very amusing and only makes you look bad. Good times!
PS: I won’t turn your words around and talk about the cult of Larry Johnson. Tempting, but I won’t.
Dingdingding, TROLL ALERT! We must be doing something right! Go, NQ!
I’ll second that
Ahh, the old “if someone calls me out for my batshit insanity, it must mean I’m doing something right” card!!
Well played, indeed…. LMFAO
I find this topic legitimately interesting…which is why I’m participating here. You, on the other hand, are some pathetic loser with nothing better to do with yourself than taunt people you disagree with.
Do you not have a life? Don’t you have World of Warcraft to go play (no offense to WOW people or video gamers)? Don’t you have a big poster of Obama you need to prostrate yourself in front of for your daily self-flagellations?
Wow, you are a living, breathing example of irony.
On the one hand, you deride people who insult others that they don’t agree with.
Then, you proceed to insult someone who disagrees with you.
Go take a bath!!
This, coming from the “person” who couldn’t even spell their screen name. LOL!!!
Apparently Demonsethes doesn’t know an insult from an azzhole since he’s/she’s hurling them and doesn’t even get it. Oh, the irony!
Yeah, real funny. Except for the fact that I’m not the one who’s wetting my pants over some insults, so what’s your point?
To me, the people who piss and moan about language and insults only do so because they are completely unable to offer any kind of substantive response. Hey! I think I just accurately described 90% of the posters here!!
[ADMINISTRATOR: Johnny aka Demon, we're so not gonna miss you. Adios, you dumb bum -- to call you a dumb bunny would be an insult to rabbits everywhere, not to mention John Updike.]
Thank you administrator- that creep was getting on my nerves!
You get back here what you put out. If you want people to respond to you nicely, then put forth an interesting argument. All you’ve done here is insult people with silly, juvenile snide comments that do nothing to further discussion or enlighten us as to your “superior” way of thinking.
“Because it’s just not that realistic to say that tens of millions of people who voted for Obama are part of some weird mass cult.”
You obviously aren’t a student of history. There is plenty of historical precedent for a charismatic leader to create a “weird mass cult” on a national scale. Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, hell, even Hugo Chavez (and I have friends from Venezuela, and trust me, that man has quickly turned that country into a very scary place).
Charismatic leaders in government, who are worshiped and not questioned, are the most dangerous people on the planet, PERIOD.
It was probably people like you in Germany who allowed Hitler to rise in the first place. They too, were probably skeptical that Hitler was anything to be worried about.
Ahh, the Hitler card!!! Check, please!
It’s on us with the caveat that you don’t return, Demonsethes.
But Obama isn’t fomenting an us-against-them movement; if anything, he’s doing the opposite. I don’t think the comparison holds.
Are you kidding? His entire movement was us vs. them - built upon the anger of MoveOn people towards Republicans. Republicans are the enemy, and the Obama Cult Members believe they are destroying the conservative movement in the United States.
Agreed, Hillary or Bust. Since the cult Obots see themselves as part of the only solution, they are the malignant factor that will keep the nation divided.
Where is the evidence that Obama is trying at all to heal anything? The cabinet posts are not an example. He’s doing that because he doesn’t have a flying effing clue as to what he should be doing. He’s like Jr who inherits the company but has never set foot in the factory. He has no loyal company insiders and so he has to rely on Daddy’s friends (Clinton?) to do the work for him.
Obama can only be divisive. One false move and it’s political suicide for him. Half the nation is waiting for that moment. Don’t kid yourself.
“And a lot more people are excited because we see a chance, just a chance, at real, substantive change.”
And this isn’t one of the Kool-aid drinkers of America?^^^
But, sweetie. Please give us your unabashed and factual knowledge that Obama IS that agent of change.
Otherwise, you little obots are no better than us big ol’ complainers. You’re just pretending to be psychic and hoping you’re right.
“And a lot more people are excited because we see a chance, just a chance, at real, substantive change.”
And this isn’t one of the Kool-aid drinkers of America?^^^
But, sweetie. Please give us your unabashed and factual knowledge that Obama IS that agent of change.
Otherwise, you little obots are no better than us big ol’ complainers. You’re just pretending to be psychic and hoping you’re right.
This goes to Skinny Malinsky. Don’t know how it ended up here.
I didn’t say that Obama would bring change. I said Obama brings at least the possibility of change. I didn’t see that in any of the other candidates, including Clinton. I feel that if Hillary had won the primary, all the old Clinton BS would have been rehashed, and she would have contributed to the partisan bickering. She was geared up for a fight against the Republicans and didn’t take the primaries seriously until she was already in trouble. But I digress.
There’s no quantifiable way to prove Obama will change things. But I felt, and continue to feel, that he was the best chance for improving the political culture of America.
Your entitled to your opinion, but that’s all it is. Your opinion.
No, you can’t bring any real quantified and agreed upon information about Obama. You don’t have any.
As for the old Clinton BS being rehashed, it’s already happening with the cabinet picks. Comrade Obama has no friends of his own outside Rezko, Auchi, Wright, Ayers, Farrakhan, and other sordid characters that are most definitely NOT friends of America. So where is the change there? There is none. Other than one could say that Obama has opened America up to internal terrorism by his choice of long term associates.
Oh no, this goes much, much deeper than partisan bickering. This goes to striking a blow to the very core of the country. Obama has yet to prove he’s good at anything besides “winning” elections. Even that is up for debate via Acorn.
Are you, Skinny Malinky, willing to take responsibility for the possible collapse of the country through your hopey dopey visions?
Own Obama and you own all the good and the bad of Obama. Rezko, Auchi, Al Mansour, Farrakhan, Ayers, and all the rest of the players. If Obama was white, he wouldn’t have been even considered with friends like that.
What’s the good about Obama? Is anyone able to answer that? Certainly, let’s not start in Chicago. You would run into people who lived in apartments with no heat under Obama’s watch. Where does the search for good start? Clinton for SoS? Oh damn, there’s the Clintons again.
You are only showing your ignorance of history. Certainly, if you lived in another part of the country, you didn’t see the almost daily news broadcasts about Jim Jones in the bay area.
Nevermind the fact that Rev Jim Jones was a politicians fav because he could call up hundreds of volunteers at a moments notice to protest whatever. Sound familiar?
Jim Jones fund raised for his programs from poor and disaffected citizens. Sound familiar?
The press fawned all over him without actually listening to his rhetoric or really digging into all these people complaining about Jim Jones. The media ridiculed anyone who spoke out against him, especially when he was in Africa. Sound familiar?
And of course the charges of racism were there from the beginning. From Rev Jones himself and used as a tool to divide. Sound familiar?
Rick Ross, a leading cult expert, denies that Obama is a cult leader according to the following criteria (but he apparently doesn’t realize the coercion used by Obama supporters, which I think *does* put Obama into cult leader status:
1. a charismatic leader who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose their power;
2. a process I call coercive persuasion or thought reform;
3. economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.”
He also claims that Obama can’t exploit Americans through unfettered power, though the system of checks and balances, but I think that’s also a poor argument considered no religious cult leader has “unfettered power” in the real world either.
Here’s the full article:
http://www.cultnews.com/?p=2264
We’re in the early pre-power stages of the O phenomenon. Some of Rick Ross’s rather narrow criteria that do not fully apply yet may or may not apply later. We must be vigilant.
Anyone who could use a smile today should listen to this. It doesn’t have anything to do with what’s being talked about now, but it will definitely make you smile and ,anymore, we can all use a good laugh when we can get it. Turn the volume up on your computer and click on this link. It doesn’t take long to listen to.
http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf
OMG! Thanks. That is hysterical. I’m sending it to my list to give them a belly laugh too.
we must have hit a nerve with Obama Trollies on the cult business, they are double teaming on this post…LOL
It hits a nerve because they are exactly what we are talking about here - brainwashed cult members!
All the Obot blather just points to denial on their part that they fell for the kool-aid dispensing Obutthead - who will only surely disappoint.
Anyone get a check yet from Obama for the gas, mortgage, and food?
Even my brother, a very intelligent labor lawyer (staunch democrat) said Obama is definitely the one he has been waiting for. I almost threw up! I think everyone’s perception of reality is very different, and those of us who were “behind the scenes” so to speak, volunteering for Hillary’s campaign, certainly saw things from a different angle than those who just watched CNN and MSNBC. I have been verbally abused by close friends and relatives this year like never before, all because I dared to disagree about Obama’s qualifications and even worse, I defended Sarah Palin and said she was mroe qualified to be president than Obama! It really isn’t easy to go against the mob-mentality.
If it help, let me say, I was a union activist before college, Labor Studies major in college,and practiced Labor Law right out of law school. I never bought BO, not for a second. In fact, when I saw his speech at the 2004 DNC Convention, I thought, he was being groomed for something…
To Alex, I can see one reason why I was turned off when others might not have been. My BA is in Soviet/Russian Studies, plus my religious training always emphasized suspicion of people who sound like this. As an adult, I’ve studied other totalitarian countries and different war crimes tribunals, so I get it really fast. People who aren’t the suspicious types, who have no background or don’t care about these phenomenon, won’t get it.
The way I figure my skepticism of the new leader, whether he’s really just some nice guy caught up in this because of his followers and a victim or circumstance, or whether he’s really so messed up to think he is the new savior of the world, I’m doing him a service by keeping him grounded by verbally sticking out my tongue behind his back.
To Park Slope, let me give you one possible answer. Many Christian sects I know teach that the savior only came once 2,000 years ago, so anyone else aspiring to be one is an imposter. Not all religions teach that. Look at NOI and the declaration from Louis F., for example. As for atheism, I suggest you check out the official positions in the former Soviet Union and even Nazi Germany. The leader-cult replaced traditional religious expression.
Indeed RRR Amy, indeed….
Do you read spanish? There is a brilliant spanish journalist (from Barcelona). She is a true progressive that’s very crtical about what she calls
the “lunatic left”. Very very smart. She was a supporter of Hillary Clinton and wrote critically about BO’s campaign and candidate as being smoke and mirrors.
Anyway; she wrote recently (after the election) a GREAT article about this “cult” and how sickening it is (its opening paragraph appeared recently in a Newsweek article about european reactions to BO).
This is Pilar Rahola’s opening paragrapgh (in english; rest in spanish)
http://www.pilarrahola.com/3_0/ARTICULOS/default.cfm?SUBFAM=37&ID=1599
Rev Amy - You know I love you. I was so thankful that you were here for me the night I saw my first commerical for the Obama memorial plate and display stand. “Hell has truly come to earth,” I said to myself, as I watched my TV that night.
I think Obama is the unltimate “feel good” for a lot of people, epspecially for folks who didn’t work particularly hard for him. You can vote for Obama and it won’t cost you. But it feels so good!
What kind of hot mess is this country in when a bunch of folks can think that Obama-as-president is an shared achievement?
I hope that Obama pushes through legislation making sure that all Obama plates, coins, paintings, and fridge mirrors are manufactured in the United States.
That’s the least he can do to help the economy. May it’s the most he can do too, who knows?
This is indeed a noble and reasonable request, Arabella. However, I think we have to make an exception for the Holy Obama paintings on black velvet, as Tijuana has pretty much cornered the world supply of this commodity.
I thank you, Arabella - that means a lot to me!
And YEAH - if Obama is The One, the least he can do is make sure all of his merchandise is manufactured in the Good Ol’ US of A. Oh, sorry - I mean the GD US of KKK A. Ahem.
Someone up post mentioned that Gen. Jones being named Jim was a bit creepy. Holy cow, I’ll say!
I share in the love for this post. So many people have gone off the deep end. A couple of days ago Oprah was quoted in the MSM as saying that the inauguration of 0 will be the greatest thing that has happened in the history of the world. Deeply religious people of several stripes might beg to differ; the (near) eradication of smallpox is just one of many developments that might give strict rationalists pause. But no. I used to lament the divisiveness that so far is 0’s only contribution to American society. Now I’m feeling that I don’t want to be an “us” with “them.” I’ll never drink the kool-aid.
Here’s another thought for you: Obama is just like Evita Peron.
Madonno can’t wait to play him in the musical, whenever somebody gets around to writing it.
You hit it on the head. Obots think selecting Obama is a “shared achievement”.
It sheds some light into Obot mentality. Ooohh, goody, everybody gets a gold star on their charts today! Let’s clap for each other! It goes no deeper.
I’m sure Madonna will have to arm wrestle Oprah for the lead in the musical.
Maybe MicHELLe can make herself useful and sell tickets.
She can always shake her booty in the chorus—though the theatre would need to install a seismograph per OSHA regulations.
Wordpress does not like my posts —
This is one of my favorite Rev. Amy’s articles — on the Cult — plus the plug for one of my favorite authors!!
Thank you trolls for showing us EXACTLY how cult members will do anything and say anything to protect their cult leader.
Please do not let reality invade the troll bubbles you have erected around yourselves.
Cult is an understatement.
My mother acts like something is wrong with me because I won’t go with her and “all the other Black moms and their daughters” to D.C to watch Obama get sworn in. (I still don’t think it’s going to happen.)
I mean, she is going all out. She is making sure she has certain days off in January, she put down a deposit for one of those “Obama Presidential packages” that are popular now. The bus will pick people up to drive them to Washington, they get a hotel stay, etc.
It’s as if this is some sort of rite of passage, and I’m that weird daughter that just has to be the different one.
I said to her, jokingly, “So you are going to let Obama come between us?” and thinking to myself: Fuck this dude. I don’t care if he’s Black. Not every Black person is my friend.
He’s a joke. He doesn’t deserve a holiday, he doesn’t deserve to have coins in his image, he doesn’t deserve to have schools named after him.
They should name those housing projects in Chicago after Obama. Thhose projects that his buddy ran into the ground and screwed over poor Blacks while Obama looked the other way and didn’t say sh!t.
(my mom still loves me though. I just “borrowed” a couple hundred bucks from her, lol)
The marketing and selling of BO was very strategic and calculated. The grass roots effort to go after certain demographics cost alot of money for the troops; purchasing the silence of the MSM was another expense but there always has to be a perceived threat and some real thug tactics to go along with the everyday political maneuvering. This use of the race card, threatening riots, calling other candidates racist,etc has the psychological effect of turning average adults into frightened children. Once you can achieve a transformation like that then you can start the rhetoric like ‘I’m going to create a new world order, hope and change, I’m the one you’ve been waiting for, etc. People believe this crap because they perceive a threat, if we don’t believe then we are racist too. Jung himself talks about this when he says that the people that become enthralled with the totalitarian personality must first become like infants, easily led. They have regressed to a pre-verbal infantile state where they believe their survival depends on this new ‘caretaker’ who will give them happiness. There will always be a group that will not buy into this but one can never tell who will and who won’t.
frank Herbert got it right when he said..
“I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.”
Oh yes I remember that passage — he was one of the most brilliant writers!
DUNE
I read this site frequently because it fascinates me….but get real.
While there are certainly people who have a “cultish” fascination with the President elect, I’d wager the majority of those people are simply relieved to find an inspirational voice in the din. You shouldn’t denigrate them for that.
I voted for Sen. Obama in both the primary and the election.
I have a Master’s degree and I own a reasonably successful business. I’m not one to “worship” anything or anybody.
I like Hillary Clinton, but that flag-burning amendment really put me off….it felt like a major pander to the right. And i didn’t feel the times called for yet another Clinton. Indeed, ‘change’ seemed necessary and Sen. Obama has what appears to be a measured and consistent political style. I felt he seemed like an adult….something the current President certainly does not.
I like John McCain, but his campaign was one of the worst train wrecks I’ve ever witnessed. It was embarrassing to watch and reflected poorly on his judgment (on many, many occasions).
So don’t call me an “Obot” because I made a reasonable decision that you disagree with… This hate filled rant is also attracting racists, so don’t act like it isn’t. I’m not saying you are all racists, but don’t act like you aren’t feeding them red meat.
It’s insulting to think you call yourself patriots and engage in banter like the above.
Leave those of us alone who only hope for a better country. We’re trying to leave this kind of hatred in the dustbin of history. This post only shows how much work is left to do.
Yep, 0 is all about leaving hatred in the dustbin of history—after it has served his own purposes. Witness Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers…
Where are on earth are the “racists” in this thread? I sure haven’t seen them. As for “leaving you alone” because you “hope” for a better country - no-one forced you to come here and read this. That was YOUR choice and decision.
If you can’t honestly admit that some of your Obama voting colleagues have gone off your rocker, then you too are in denial and defensive because you have fallen for the very hopium we are decrying. Otherwise, you would have no need to defend yourself here.
It’s a very sincere post, but what on earth do you do about all Obama’s negatives (which I won’t list)?
I believe we should hold the new President’s feet to the fire (just as we should them all). It takes a certain arrogance to run for that office, so I’m imagining there will always be “skeletons” of some sort “in the closet”. FDR, Churchill, JFK, …even Ghandi…these people all had episodes in their life that don’t stand up well to their public image. But that’s not how men and women in positions of power are judged. They are judged by their actions when action was required.
Now, true, one could also say George W. Bush had negatives, and he’s no great leader. Perhaps Sen. Obama will fail us, but let’s criticize his actions today and going forward. Past associations are hardly worth our conversation if they don’t bear directly on the issues at hand.
I don’t think the William Ayers connection is so damning…and Rev. Wright? He’s an angry man, yes, but not such a big reflection on the President-elect. I’m sure there have been many others a young Obama might’ve seen/heard in his life that were far worse. Remember it was only 1965 when the Civil Rights Act was passed. Before that we had segregated schools….separate facilities…”no coloreds” signs. Not long before that (1920), the citizens of Duluth lynched three innocent black men (on the false testimony of one white man) and hung them from the lamp posts…posing proudly in front of the photos. In the space of history, 88 years is not so long. These feelings have festered in black America for a long time. So angry men are going to still walk our streets, and Barack Obama has probably glazed over a bit when he hears that talk. In his current position he won’t have the luxury to ignore it….but I can’t find reason to damn him for ignoring it then (if he even heard those comments in person at the time..which I now doubt).
As for the “Obama glorification”: I agree. There will always be those that make the jump from “I like this person” to “I will do whatever this person says”….It’s human nature and it’s a bit embarrassing to watch. But my original post was to say this: Those people, in my opinion, are not the majority of Obama supporters. Most of the “love and hope” crowd have simply been beaten and tattered by the current administration…and they want/need someone to help them wash away the feeling of grime left by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Delay, Gingrich, et.al. What’s the line? “They don’t drink the sand because they’re thirsty; they drink the sand because they don’t know the difference.” Why don’t we simply let those people off the hook?…for now. Yes, they are feeling a bit awestruck by a young Senator from Illinois. But it’s likely most of these good people are simply reacting to a long national nightmare….and here is a man who is “offering them water”.
Now, many at this site say Obama is only offering more sand. Let’s see. But don’t begrudge them their belief (or mine). To many, many people, Ayers, Wright, etc are not enough poison to warrant disbelief in the strength of Obama’s character. I believe the Obama campaign success was our first national response to 9-11. This country is in need of a national “cleansing”. Some of it is not going to be pretty.
It’s not simply “hero worship”….it’s a desperate and hopeful search for some light at the end of the tunnel. They don’t deserve the kind of drubbing I read here.
Lastly, to ‘Hillary or Bust’: I come to this site to engage in conversation with people who disagree with me. I felt dissent was healthy, and I thought my post was relevant. I didn’t come here to threaten you. Tell me, why do YOU come to this site? It would seem to me you feel “safe” in your opinions here. And I don’t. So we’re different people. Is that so hard to understand?