General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If it's not racism, then what is it? [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)racism, bigotry, hate, agendas, envy and jealousy, but a lot of it is based on race, even the envy.
Imagine if any of the other Democratic candidates had succeeded Bush, and did half what Obama has done, including passing health care reform. He/she would have been hailed as one of the greatest Presidents ever.
Look at the reaction to Bill Clinton's DNC speech, erupting in claims of "that's how it's done." It was as if none of the President's or his teams great work mattered (like that kick-ass digital whiteboard by Stephanie Cutter). There is a constant drumbeat by some to portray President Obama as the lesser. There are some people constantly trying to match wits with the him. They know they're better at PR, at winning, at everything. There is always a certain condescension in the advice and criticism is taken to literal extremes, scrutiny of everything is against the ideal (I call it hyperbolic prose), declaring he falls short in areas where no other President has even ventured. How many times have people launched into such attacks, declaring that the President "stands for nothing"? He have been portrayed as heartless, soulless and in some instances evil. Tell me where that fits into constructive criticism?
Forget Bush. I remember the Clinton Presidency with Gore as VP. Heartless? Soulless? Evil?
Yeah, what is that?
Some of criticism comes with the territory, and some of it is made easy because on certain policies (post 9/11 national security), Bush is the only contrast.
Yeah, it's a lot of things, but no one can exclude race/hate because it's driving a lot of it.