The anti-Obama hatred is truly weird

UNITED STATES: "Obama derangement syndrome: The president is driving some people mad. That may be to his advantage in the short term," Lexington, The Economist, 18 April 2009.

Polls say the man is deeply and widely admired at home and abroad, but there's also a small segment that simply goes nutso over Obama with the fast comparisons to Hitler, Stalin, David Koresh, the anti-Christ, Charles Manson, what have you.

The top-selling book in America is Levin's Liberty and Tyranny (guess which side he comes down on regarding Obama?) and Glenn Beck's bizarre clown act on Fox reigns supreme (claiming we're on the road to fascism).

And so the recent trend of absurd, over-the-top hatred of the president continues in America . . ..

Comments

[bryan forst]

I remember when Clinton was elected in 1992 and immediately there was a similar irrational rage against everything and anything he did. When it comes from the left its recognized as being truly loony. It seems when it comes from the right you get a radio/cable show and start printing tshirts.

[Lexington Green]

Nothing weird about it. There are always some people who think and talk like this.

The difference is that when Bush was president, the lunatics on the Left were not covered by the news media, since the news media basically agreed with them and promoted their views.

Now that there is a Democrat in the White House, the Right wing fringe will receive extensive coverage, and be treated as mainstream, as a way to defame anyone who opposes Mr. Obama.

Opposition to the president will be labeled "hatred", and that "hatred" will be called "racism". The mainstream news media has identified itself with him, and are acting as his allies and boosters. Their goal is to place Mr. Obama beyond legitimate criticism.

This is a structural advantage that Mr. Obama possesses.

Let's see how much good it does him.

[Hugh]

I think it is the start of the new culture war. Instead of religion and abortion, it is capitalism vs socialism, the tax payers vs the loafers. Thats what I saw in the tea parties.

[Rob Johnson]

I agree with Lexington Green. The objections are not hatrid based.

Cooks reduce a sause mixture down to create a much stronger flavor. The rush to change is just too fast for comfort and just about every objection is getting labled or reduced down to simplify the argument. Many people seem to need a single issue or simple indisputable fact to hang their hat on - such as "War is bad." Its tough to argue that one unless you have all day, if the listener stays around that long.

[Seth]

I think this is a matter of perspective. From this side the feelings toward Bush on the left were out of control far more than the hatred of Obama. The title of the piece even harkens to the name for this “Bush Derangement Syndrome”. I would also point out; some of these same people weren’t very trusting of Bush either.

I see two differences besides the level, one already mentioned by Lexington, the media’s view. The other is that the GOP doesn’t tolerate some of the more extremes (secret Muslim, not American) and so you hear a lot from that crowd about forming a third party and dumping the Republicans. The Democrats on the other pandered to their weirdo’s for volunteers and money won the Congress and then proceeded to ignore them.

On a similar note though some of the moves by the Obama administration seem almost designed to promote conspiracy theorist and radicals. Some examples- weapons ban talks, census move to the WH, GPS coordinates to front doors during the census, the volunteer act, DHS domestic terrorist report. Add these actions to people that are already suspicious and that spells trouble.

[David Emery]

Well, that has to be balanced against the portrayals of Republicans by the loony left... I think both wings of the bird are crazy, and actually it's often hard to tell them apart!

By the way, I'm very afraid of the perspective that, if one does not agree with the President, one is presumed to be racist.

[Tom Mull]

Loony Left & Ridiculous Right: The each get their turn with transference issues (I hate my daddy/I love my daddy) projected on the president. I wonder how they will pan out with a woman president (I hate my mommy/I love my mommy)? =)

[Elmer Humes]

During George W's 8 years MSNBC rantings increased to the point that many of us Americans stopped listening to them; however since Obama's win already it seems apparent that FOX NEWS rantings have similarlily increased to the point that many of the same Americans have stopped listening to them as well. Could it be that many rational Americans turn off emotional ranting regardless of which side it is aimed!