The Bloggers Bail
Rob Port: CNN Questions Obama’s Patriotism - Say Anything
A poll question from CNN’s website: “Is Obama patriotic enough to be president?”
I detest Obama as a candidate, and even I think that’s a dumb question.
Even so, my father tonight (himself a Vietnam veteran decorated with a silver star - pinned on by Patton’s son - four bronze stars, four purple hearts and various other commendations) told me that Obama’s decision not to wear a flag pin really bothers him. He said that he also finds Obama’s explanation for not wearing it, that he’s doing it to show that he doesn’t support the war in Iraq, pretty lame.
Rick Moran: Right Wing Nut House » ENOUGH WITH ALL OF THIS “OBAMA IS A MOOSLIM” CRAP
That’s why it embarrasses me to no end to see fellow conservatives who actually believe that Barack Obama is some kind of “Manchurian Candidate” sent by Muslims to undermine American society. Or that Obama is a closet Muslim just waiting to take power before unmasking himself. Or perhaps most bizarrely, since Obama was born to a Muslim father, he is a Muslim whether he wants to be or not and that Muslims elsewhere will not let him forget his heritage.
There are other permutations to this theme involving Obama’s middle name of Hussein which to some of my fellow conservatives is a dead giveaway that he is Muslim. And there are no end of theories, rumors, tall tales, and outright lies about Obama’s Muslim childhood spent at this madrass or that mosque which “proves” him to be a son of Islam.
Tom Maguire: JustOneMinute: Obama Versus The Milbloggers
As a proud member of the Right Wing Noise Machine (or are we now the Freak Show?) I can only say “Ouch”. IMHO, Jake Tapper gets the goods from the Obama campaign and squelches folks like this at the Weekly Standard.
Ankle Biting Pundit declines to join the party:
Now the Clinton campaign is circulating this photo of Barack Obama [in traditional Kenyan attire].
Look, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize Barack Obama and his policies. But this sure isn’t one of them. And its shameful. And it won’t work. This kind of “wink and nod” stuff doesn’t work anymore, and if anything, it’s going to backfire.
Ironic isn’t it, that the wife of the “first black President” (or at least her campaign) would resort to such blatantly racial tactics to try and stop Obama’s momentum. Sorry, but it ain’t gonna work. And it shouldn’t. And that’s a good thing.
First, kudos to Rick Moran, Rob Port, Tom Maguire, and A.B.P. for calling out this stuff for what it is.
But secondly, the fact that heretofore “reliable conservative bloggers” like these guys refuse to climb aboard the “Anti-Obama Poo-flinging Express” suggests to me that 2008 may be a little different from 2004. Armies are often accused of fighting the last war, notably the French, with their Maginot Line in WW2. Politicians and pundits, in their campaigns, also tend to look backward and suppose that the upcoming contest will be just like the last one. So, we have heard lots of concerns from Democrats and slightly suppressed anticipation from Republicans, that come the general election, the tough right-wing noise machine will destroy that neophyte Obama, with all his vulnerabilities.
The difficulty with that view is that the world moves on, attitudes evolve, in some senses (yes!) the public catches on to that which they fell for last time. I don’t doubt for a second that the vast right wing noise machine will wind up its devices and commence slinging turds … well … immediately.
But when conservative bloggers like these four are already declining to participate in the crap-throwing, and when stuff like Lisa Schiffren’s “Commie Jew Nigger” article falls completely flat, it suggests to me that the 2008 campaign might not unfold along the familiar, and (by some) expected, “Swift Boat” lines. I should also add that the Democratic bloggers and partisans are ready and waiting for the sh*tstorm, and are eager to fling it back, so neither is anyone going to be caught unaware.
Who knows, maybe there is such a thing as progress.
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