Here's one way Free Republic is spinning the Romney bullying incident

[Shampoobra]

"President Obama was a bully, too!"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2882611/posts

They're comparing the Romney bullying incident to a passage from Obama's first book:



Compare:

"I ran up to Coretta and gave her a slight shove; she staggered back and looked up at me, but still said nothing. 'Leave me alone!' I shouted again."

to:

"The fellow students told The Post that Romney led his friends in tackling the teenager, pinning him down and snipping his hair with a pair of scissors. The teen cried and screamed for help, according to the classmates, and was out of school for a time, later returning with his shorter hair back to its natural brown color."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/romney-hair-cutting-prank-school-leaders-say-similar-incidents-today-would-lead-to-punishment/2012/05/11/gIQAmvuJIU_story.html

A shove versus an assault. A silent stare versus screams for help. Regret over the offense versus nervous giggling and a fuzzy memory.

"President Obama was a bully, too!"

[emulatorloo]

1. Apparently this spin came from Hannity

or more accurately whoever faxes Hannity the dumb-ass shit he says:

Conservatives counter claims that Mitt Romney was a bully: Obama was even worse!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014118977

[Waiting For Everyman]

2. And Pres. Obama remembers it...

He not only remembered it, he wrote about it, which shows he also thought about it since then. And that's without anyone forcing it to his attention, he did it on his own, voluntarily.

[Bluerthanblue]

4. so true. He clearly was changed by the incident

and felt it was important to remember and share with others. Not deny and ignore.

That makes the situation starkly different. Romney learned nothing from what he did and feels as if he is answerable to no one.

[cali]

3. lol. that story reminds me of when my brother was in 4th grade

a girl was chasing him trying to kiss him and a dove, hit the asphalt and knocked out his two front teeth.

[GoCubsGo]

6. It sounds like the President was also in the 4th grade when this occurred.

It also sounds like he regrets that behavior now. Can't say that about the Mittster. It's pretty fucking pathetic that they're trying to equivocate this grade school playground shove with an outright assault.

[millijac]

5. I thought they hated Romney

Guess they don't practice what they preach. What a surprise.

[siligut]

7. They just hate Obama more. nt

[ieoeja]

8. Does anyone know if Obama wrote more about the incident?

Not sure if he is talking about the "pain" he received (of being different) or the pain he inflicted.


The start of it reminded me of when I would see a former high school classmate in college. Didn't matter how bright we were, how well we spoke the language, we were still "stupid hillbillies" because of our accent. So we generally tried to avoid each other not wanting to accentuate our differentness.

It is easy to empathize with the pain Obama and Coretta shared. But "suddenly Correta was running faster, faster and faster, until she disappeared from sight. Appreciative laughs rose around me," sounds like it is leading up to guilt over the pain he inflicted. Particularly with the teachers showing up right then so he couldn't do anything about it right that moment.