It's hate. Period. [View all]

[ProSense]

I posted this comment in response to a recent OP:

It's 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.

- end -

That was a general observation not directed at anyone specific, but there is validity to that assessment.

Consider this bizarre diary at Daily Kos: Obama did not save the economy. Social Security did.

Some Kossacks are getting pretty upset that more and more of us are coming to the realization that President Obama is a corporatist shill who has done very little to help improve the economic situation for working Americans. There is a recommended diary as I write that asserts "Obama SAVED the US Economy" and argues that it was Obama's "massive stimulus and jobs package that rescued this country from Soviet-style collapse."

In a word: bullshit.

<...>

People who defend Obama at this point, I dismiss as people who are comfortably ensconced in nice, middle class professional jobs. The professional class. They are complete and I am coming to believe, nearly irredeemable idiots on questions of economics.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/20/1217440/-Obama-did-not-save-the-economy-Social-Security-did

I guess the next question is: So how did Obama get elected? One could assume that people aren't interested in voting against their interests, but have no desire to see the President credited for any of his achievements. Another assumption is that some of these people are not Democrats and do not vote for Democrats.

Giving the President credit seems very hard for some, and they spend all their time trying to prove not only that he hasn't accomplished a single thing, but also that he is likely working against the average American and doing all sort of nefarious things.

One is not an "idiot" for supporting the President. One isn't a "shill" for defending him. There are enough people trying to tear him down, at least allow others to offer a counterpoint without attacking them.

Closing out President Obama's first term - we've come a long way
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022223211