Chicago Sun-Times: Clinton-haters vs. Bush-bashers? No contest

[iconoclastic cat]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/roeper/cst-nws-roep16.html

After I gave thumbs-up to Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" on "Ebert & Roeper," some conservatives demanded I come clean. "Admit it, you hate Bush!" said one e-mailer after another.

After I wrote a couple of columns about Ronald Reagan in which I failed to advocate placing Reagan's visage on Mount Rushmore, the dime or the $20 dollar bill, I heard from conservatives who maintained this was just another example of my anti-Republican bias.

After I marveled at Ann Coulter's bottomless reserve of hatred for liberals, I once again heard from outraged conservatives.

"Coulter doesn't hate liberals any more than you hate President Bush!" said one caller.

Do I hate the president? Not the kind of "Hate Lite" discussed in yesterday's column about the minor everyday inconveniences -- but a pure, evil hatred, like the loathing we harbor for the likes of Hitler and serial killers.

Answer: not even close.

Heck, there have even been times when I've admired the man, e.g., when he stood amid the rubble of Ground Zero, megaphone in hand, and rallied the firefighters, police and rescue workers.

More often, I've been angry at Bush's arrogance and incompetence, and I've despised his policies -- but I don't hate the man.

I have to admit, though, that it's hilarious to see so many conservatives displaying such sensitivity over this issue. Again and again, I hear from Republicans who are shocked, saddened and sickened by the level of vitriol against their beloved President Bush. Why, they've never seen anything like it. How can people be so irrationally emotional, so personal, so vicious in their hatred of a sitting president?

Right. Because the anti-Clinton movement never turned hateful.
(more)

[Melodybe]

1. Wow, nice to see Roeper talking some sense.

Thanks for posting.

[redqueen]

2. Sweeeeeet

Thanks SO much for sharing this. I hope more people with a pulpit start making this clear to the less thoughtful among us. :)

[jobycom]

3. Okay, having missed all the Reagan stuff, who was the idiot singer

he mentions who said they wished Bush had died instead of Reagan?

[Melodybe]

4. Morrissey said it.

Surprising b/c now there is one good thing I can say about Morrissey.

[MessiahRp]

5. That's a classic article

Glad to see someone is using the Press to call the Repigs out for what they are...

I was listening to CSPAN the other morning and while the Left was not exactly cordial they at least had more intelligible responses than the right. Take this awesome one that made it on air...

"When Reagan died they flew the flags at half mast, I'm wondering if Clinton dies will all the liberals wear their zippers at half mast?"

Stupid.

Lying under oath my ass, it was sex... and only sex because they spent $80 million and had zilch on the Whitewater scandal.

Rp

[Skarbrowe]

6. Hate?

<<but a pure, evil hatred, like the loathing we harbor for the likes of Hitler and serial killers.>>

UH, yeah, that's about the kind of hate I have for Bush.


Skarbrowe

[phaedrus63]

7. Thats a classic article.

I was impressed that while both sides for the most part, held back on the rhetoric during the Reagan funeral week, I seriously doubt the same respect will be afforded President Clinton or Carter when they finally pass on. It is quite sad.

[MessiahRp]

8. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Phaedrus63!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[indepat]

9. And how many Republicans in Congress, who surely would have already

impeached and tried to convict any Democrat President on any number of a plethora of charges that could be attributed to GWB, every spewed hatred toward WJC? How many shilling media talking heads would have spewed hatred toward a Democrat President for doing any of a plethora of things GWB has done, yet they shill on and on?

[Robbien]

10. What is good news about this article

Is that the hate mail did not have the effect the rabid right intended it to have. They expect people receiving their hate mail to shut up and not critise BushCo. Thier hate mail worked for several years, but it seems not to be as effective anymore. Or at least not in this case.

[LiberalUprising]

11. Great Article!

I am sending this to my whaco fundie relatives

[jmags]

12. Hey guys, since Roeper obviously faced a litany

of obnoxious emails after his F911 review, and will no doubt see more after this article, you should all email him a bit of support.

[e-mail]