I’m More Patriotic Than You Will Ever Be – Oh, Really?
The tone of recent campaign events for John McCain and Sarah Palin has gone well beyond “politics as usual.” Rants and chants from the angry crowds willing to go to any lengths to make sure their frustrated voices are heard. A sampling of such repulsive epithets has included = “He’s a terrorist!” “Obama bin Lyin’,” “Kill Him,” and “Off With His Head.”
I certainly agree with our first amendment rights and election time brings out some of the more thoughtful, poignant political discourse. Unfortunately, its also gives rise to the fringe movements – both on the right and left – that make so many of us cringe at what becomes an ever increasing mudslinging, reputation damaging, character assassinating attempt to discount any decent, constructive dialogue.
I tend to be a little left of center, so please pardon my slight bias. But without prejudice or silly labeling, this campaign has now reached its lowest depths. The hostility seems to be in repeat cycle every four years. With the combustible combination of an angry right and McCain trailing badly in the polls three weeks before the vote, surfaces an unruly populace hell bent on saying anything to discredit the enemy. We’ve seen it before with the Swift Boaters and their blasphemous rage against John Kerry four years ago.
Now, we see this same attitude and behavior all too familiar to many of us rear its ugly head in a cauldron of dangerous words and mistruths.
The Republicans always argue that their opponent is someone to fear, who doesn’t know you as well as I do, that his failure to wear a flag pin on his lapel is somehow dangerous and risky to our well being. The Republicans offer us a world of unpatriotic, terroristic associations with a “street gang” mentality. The straight-talk express and country first motto far outweigh any meaningful discussion of economic policies, health care reforms and environmental preservations.
I didn’t buy it four years ago and I’m certainly not subscribing to the Bill Ayers guilt by association tactics, the constant smearing that we don’t know who Obama is, his lack of patriotism, his Muslim middle name, his skin color, etc. That “other one” I heard McCain retort in the second debate as if Obama is from a foreign country with outlandish ideas.
However, this time, rather than falling into that quicksand of lies and misrepresentations, more Americans are beginning to see the fallacy of the Republican arguments. These people can picture Obama, an American, a Christian, a family man, a neighbor, a friend. He’s more like us than we first believed. He waves his flag and places his right hand over his chest while singing “God Bless America” just like we do.
Finally, the smoke is beginning to clear. More citizens can see Obama as President of the United States. He’s no more or less patriotic than John McCain. He’s one of us.
