This is becoming troubling
 

The red-faced, over the top hatred for Obama is worrisome, and flat out disgusting in my opinion. In my lifetime there have been people who disliked Presidents; Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and W. Bush, all had their share of strong detractors, but the level of stridency and vitriol was nothing like it is in some quarters for Obama. I have a facebook friend who has posted some scary things, and who may just be unbalanced enough to actually do something stupid if given the opportunity. I have a cousin, who is otherwise a pretty sane guy, who called Obama a fxxxing nxxxxxr. I read posts on this forum that are somewhat more controlled, but indicate a deep level of hatred that seems to go waaaaaay beyond political or philosophical differences. This morning I stopped for breakfast and picked up a copy of the morning paper. On page two was a picture of Obama which had been scribbled out with a pen and the person had written "Got to get rid of him!" On the opinion page a cartoon of Obama appeared and apparently the same person had written under it "He needs to go to hell to save his soul". I mean seriously people, what ever happened to respect and dignity? I know George W. took a lot of ridicule, but it didn't ever rise to the level of pure hatred that this stuff gets to. I think there are numerous reasons for this, many of which have been used by the right wing media to play to peoples fears and emotions, but I think it is close to getting out of hand. I don't love Obama as a president, and in fact will probably vote for Romney, but not because I think he is evil or unqualified. I just hope he makes it through his presidency without some impressionable kook making an attempt on his life. The rhetoric on both sides needs to become less hostile.

Hate to add to your woes here, but the presidents you mention in your post did not want to intentionally take down the United States as this president does. He has an agenda, make no mistake about it.
As for being "evil and unqualified" as you state---------he is both.

You are not adding to my woes, but sadly to your own and the country's. Unfortunately too many people beleive as you do, that this president wants to "intentionally take down the country" and is "evil and unqualified" - all of which is dellusional.

This country's woes will only have just begun if this guy is re-elected. Think things are bad now?? You ain't seen nothing yet (in my best english!!!) if he he does.

I have to agree with Kathy and Al. Do I want any harm to come to him. Absolutely NOT!! Don't forget a book was written on how to kill George W. That seems pretty radical to me.

Eweissenbach -

Unfortunately, too many Americans are still racists. They do not think a black man should be President of the USA. It is not about his politics but about his skin color.

They will deny that, of course, and say Pres. Obama is unqualified since he was only a Senator for a short time and was an activist community organizer helping poor people before that. They will rant about Pres. Obama's citizenship not being valid, not being Christian, having close friends who are socialists or communists and a former minister who said unpatriotic things.

No, it is plain racism. Even in a place as wonderful as The Villages, there is rampant racism. Just look at some of the posts on this forum and you can see the racism.

Fortunately, most Americans have evolved from the days of Jim Crow and now see that skin color does not make the person who he is.

Agree that the haters need to not be so hateful in their rhetoric. If you want to go back to some very ugly speech against a President, look at the stuff aimed at Abraham Lincoln. Of course, this was during a Civil War.

Some of the speech I have seen thrown at Obama does border the hatred thrown at Lincoln. And according to this link some of the bile aimed at other political leaders before they were assassinated-- http://realdealtalk.com/2011/01/10/h...assassination/

I am still not sure whom I will vote for either just yet. I did vote for Bush in 2000 and 2004. Voted Obama in 2008 but that was primarily because of the fear of Sarah Palin becoming President if John McCain's health faltered.

RealClearPolitics - 2012 Election Maps - Battle for White House



http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Care to back up the "evil" claim? I'm honestly curious as to what your definition of "evil" is.

For the record, I defended Bush against similar accusations when the lefties were going full bore against him in public forums. But I could find far more things to back up an 'evil' claim for Bush than I could for Obama.

I think this points out the problem. You don't see what was said about him, Pres. Bush, as bad but it was. You see your guy taking it and all of a sudden it is the worst it has ever been.
There are plenty of "nuts" to go around and I think you are just a bit blinded by you political beliefs.

There were plenty of people who called Pres. Bush and his whole family names and still do, but then they think he deserves it and Obama doesn't.

It is all bad no matter who is being targeted like those who called for Dick Chaney to die or be killed. I would think that is worse than being called a name, don't you?

There is hardly a politician I would invite to my house, even the one I vote for.

for some of us it is simply a matter of having the wrong person in the job.
The job requires more leadership than Obama has capability.
Without leadership things do not happen. There are too many very high priority issues that have not even been close to being addressed after going on 4 years.

He is not measuring up to what he promised to bring to the table if elected.
As I have said many times before if he were in corporate America he would have not made it past year one.

Lack of performance is a malady that has nothing to do with race, religion or R or D.

He needs to be replaced if there is to be any meaningful progress. If he did not deliver on his promises when he needed the votes....just like he is promising once again.....just think what he won't get done when the electorate would not matter during a second term. Then there is the entire agenda he has....with no electorate to concern him he will become nothing more than an elected loose cannon of more significance than he is now.

He needs to be replaced.

btk

My post was in favor of respect and decorum, and an end to the kind of rhetoric that could cause an unstable person to feel justified in taking action. - didn't realize that was a partisan approach - my bad.

All of that is rational and thoughtful, even to people who disagree. My problem is not with this kind of sentiment, but the incendiary and ugly rhetoric and feelings.

President Obama assumed quite a challenge when he assumed office. We were engaged in Two Wars, the expenses of both continue and will continue to add signifigantly to our current deficit.

Citizens of the United states had been losing 700,000 jobs per month long before before he took the oath of office.
Fortunately this adverse trend has turned around and we are now seeing 123,000 Jobs per month created during the last 23 months.

The Auto industry was on the verge of collapse. If this happened, as some suggested it should, more than I million jobs were at risk, plus the pensions and retirement income of millions of Americans who had worked in this industry.

President Obama’s’ support for American workers is paying off for all Americans. In exchange for Taxpayer help, the President and his team demanded responsibility. Workers and automakers settled their differences by retooling and restructuring. Today General Motors is on top as the world’s number one automaker, Chrysler has grown faster in The US than any major car maker. Ford is investing billions in US plants and factories.

Our Financial system was on the verge of collapse, the DOW jones Stocks fell below 7,000, requiring shoring up and support by the Governemnt to prevent total collapse.
The majority of the money reffered to as TARP funds, money loaned to the banks has been paid back with interest. American Financial stability is being restored by not allowing Wall Street players and financial Institutions to play by their own rules. He and we cannot continue to support trillions in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, or gutting things like education or clean energy.

President Obama supports Social Security and Medicare the financial backbone for many Americans.

Health Insurance companies should not be allowed to deny insurance or increase premiums without reason. The Afordable Care Aact supported by the American Medical Association and President Obama supports a mechanism for all responsible American Citizens to have quality affordable health Insurance.

The Conservative supreme court decided that Corporations are people. I will believe that when Texas executes one.

To some people , if this President had found a cure for Cancer he still would not be given the credit he deserves.

Hopefully President Obama will be Re Elected so we can continue to move forward

It is not a partisan approach and I did here that tone of being in favor of.....

What I was drawn to is that somehow the hatred toward Bush was not at a dangerous level. That is what stood out as partisan to me.

That is all.

Nice spin! My hope is the opposite.

Very well stated .............

Took a bit longer during the 2008 campaign to bring out the RACIAL crap and that is what it is. I am tired of being labeled a racist because I happen to think this man is TOTALLY wrong for our country and will be worse unfettered by having to face an election.

He, himself brings all of this on because he either plays RACE or CLASS at each an every opportunity.

In one day he mentioned his opponent because he favored the Arizona immigration law was in favor of profiling. How stupid and inflamatory can you get.

Then, he went on to mention that a loss by his team in the election would set back the middle CLASS.

In my opiinion first of all the nasty talk about our previous president FAR AND AWAY was worse than this.

This President brings it up constantly..no matter the subject, he will get in either race or class. And yet you all defend him and proclaim him almost saintly.

I, for one, am flat out sick and tired of being called a racist. First it is not true, and when the label and accusations come from people who REFUSE.....SIMPLY REFUSE to discuss actual issues that face the country and tell everyone why this man can lead us...THEY WILL NOT DO IT. They will call anybody who disagrees with this President a name....THEN HAVE THE GALL TO COME ON HERE AND CALL RACIST and to announce that everyone is picking on this man.

I have had with the race baiting and name calling...it is sickening and those who WILL NEVER TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES are the ones calling me a racist.....cannot accept that. And while you dont mention my name it is certainly implied very strongly because you can surely count me in as someone who thinks this man HAS BEEN and WILL be dangerous for this country. This is not personal so do not come on and say I am calling names.....he has an agenda.....if you cant see it...good luck.

BUT DO NOT EVER AGAIN CALL ME OR ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH THIS PRESIDENT A RACIST. It is a lot of things, and I am so angry reading the crap I dont even know what to say...the race thing comes out so easily it is scary.

NOTE...people who disagree strongly with this President are NOT RACIST because they do. While there is a race divide...REMEMBER HOW OBAMA SAID HE WOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE...and it gets worse but pulling that out is just flat our racist in itself. HE, the President, brings up race and class more than any opponent he has ever had.

This is a man who WASTED AN ENTIRE YEAR on Healthcare reform that was not even done the way he said he would do it, and what we got did not even address what he was to address...costs, tort reform, etc.

This is a man who IGNORED a blue ribbon panel and allowed it to disintegrate due to NO leadership and instead of trying for tax reform, he gives us this Buffet bill, which is laughable and 100% political and will do NOTHING for the country whatsoever.

This is a man who DEMEANED...ridiculed and made fun of.....the past President and his steps on anti terrorism, THEN changed NOTHING...in fact made the killing of american citizens abroad ok based on opinion.

This is a man who has lied to this country, not only in the situations above, but over and over again. That will tend to anger people, but IT DOES NOT MAKE THEM RACIST.

THIS is a man who actually appointed known radicals to his cabinet...

Ok...done although there is so much more...BUT YOU CANT FIND ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS THE MAN TO DISCUSS ISSUES...only call names and them come on here and have the guts to call racist of those who do give reasons for not supporting the man, NONE BEING RACIAL OR PERSONAL.

I will probably delete this once I calm down, but for now, it and so much more applies in my book.

PS: Please see the thread "Penguins are Democrats" for the type of political discussion about our country that is enjoyed 99% of the time by those on here who support the President.

My original post was not pro-Obama, in fact I stated that I would likely be voting for his opponent. I am unconcerned whether any of you are Obama backers, or opponents. What concerns me is the level of hateful rhetoric and expression that seems to be attached to people's feelings about Obama. I was in hopes that most, if not all, the intelligent and insightful posters on this forum would agree that it was uncalled for. I was probably wrong.

I'm not sure this could be said any better than you have stated. You mention a few of the debacles of this man and I dare say that it would take volumes to address the very many that are not mentioned. Not sure there is enough paper to print all the negatives. Thanks for your post.

Just for the record-I posted a reply to your OP and although I have a difference of opinion I believe that is what this forum is all about. The very next poster then procedes to bring "race" into the discussion out of the clear blue. He sort of personifies what you had just said in your OP. I don't believe I even closely intimated anything about race in my post. A real shame!!

Although I read your posts with great pleasure and might add that you are extremely knowledgeable and well written, I believe only time will demonstrate how "evil" this individual really is. God forbid he gets reelected, I will want you to respond to my "evil" contention when this country disintegrates into minus territory.

I will agree with you publicly that there is reason to be concerned.

I, will however, state unequivocally that your aim was way off. You aimed at ONLY one group of people and, at least intimated, that those of us who oppose his policies are the only problem, and I suggest to you that you are terribly incorrect.

It WAS political for that reason ! And very one sided, thus while I understand your sentiment, I totally and completely dismiss your very very bias presentation which just opens the doors for more of the same silly names, the same calling of racists.

I posted a while back that racism was alive and well on TOTV. I can now safely add stupidity. :(

Your reply contained the kind of rhetoric that I was referring to in my original post "evil and unqualified". Being politically incompatible with Obama is fine and appropriate, but calling him evil is inflammatory. Some people would feel justified in doing bodily harm to someone who is "evil". Unqualified? By what measure? Surely not by the "birther" nonsense - inexperienced? -- there is a case to be made there, but not unqualified. Many people who hate Obama are inclined to do so in part because of his race - perhaps not you, but many I have met would fit that description. Again, my contention is that inflammatory and ugly discourse is unhealthy, and it has nothing to do with the politics or the rightness or wrongness of the individual in question. Obama may be a bad president, and he may pursue bad policy, but to contend he is evil or has evil intent, or wants to destroy his/our country is simply ridiculous, and irrational.

IMHO, I think
 

the rhetoric and hate directed at ANY President should be equivalent to
the number of votes that person is allowed election day.....Come on Villagers, we are living in paradise, be HAPPY!

Bucco, where have I inimated that those who oppose his policies are the only problem? I even said I would likely not vote for him, so I guess I would be included among those who oppose his policies. I was not aiming at ONLY one group of people, unless you are identifying the group that is dangerously inflammatory. There are plenty of republicans and right wing spokespeople who oppose this president but are able to deal with the issues and argue respectively. I remember when I was very young, President Eisenhower was giving a speech on TV, and I said something that could have been construed as derogatory, but was not addressing it at the President. My mother overheard me and admonished me for not showing the proper respect for the President. That left a deep impression on me as I knew she was a Roosevelt democrat and had not voted for the man, but she still insisted that I show the proper respect. That was a lessen learned more than 50 years ago that has stayed with me. I can tolerate Bush being called shrub and other such silliness, though I personally would not do that, what I am concerned with is the volatile level of hatred directed at this president that is not healthy for the country, and makes me fear for his safety.

eweissenbach: I understood the message you were sending in your first post and of course you are spot on. However politcians must accept responsibility here because they are the people who invented negative campaigns. Just recall the vile attacks against Bush, Palin and bear in mind the haters in these two cases attacked their families as well.

Thomas Sowell, Economist, Author, Professor repeatedly warned people during the 2008 campaign to yes elect a black president but not Obama. Sowell is black and he knew the radical idealog that Obama is and the affect his candidacy and eventually his presidency would have on this country. They don't hate him because he is black they hate what he stands for because it is damaging this country both domestic and foreign.

Obama has played that race card from day one. to wit Professor Gates, Trayvon Martin, waiver of Black panther charges. Presently he has Holder utilizing disparate impact to continue to muscle businesses in every category to refrain from utilizing credit checks claiming it is a discrimnatory practice.
The end result if it continues is that the problems associated with subprime loans will carry over to other industries.

ObamaCare, wealth redistribution, taxing the rich quanatative easing, stimulus ,etc are losing strategies. We are going to pay dearly and it has many many people hopping mad.

Again I agree cooler heads prevail and so people ought to be focused on his misinformation and also his lack of transparcency.

I think I have calmed down sufficiently to give you a response.

First of all, your OP only spoke of remarks aimed at Obama. NO mention of the comments from his campaign or his party at all.

Second, I presume since you posted on this forum, that your remarks would apply here also. If so, I have NEVER, NOT ONCE, heard anything as deragatory as you used as examples on here. I HAVE HEARD from those who support Obama, MOSTLY that kind of remark and never intelligent comments or an attempt to debate whatever the issue may be, and that coupled with the racist call just set me off.

I can only speak for myself...I am opposed to this man on almost every front. I say almost, because even I have found common ground and publicly said so. I have NEVER EVER called him a name...I have never ever even mentioned his family. HOWEVER on the other side it is a completely different view is all I offer.

I can discuss, debate any issue, but those who can ONLY and for some reason are restricted to name calling try my patience. You mentioned giving respect to the President...that is fine, but do you not think that all those who labor in the world of politics, whether you agree with them or not, deserve the SAME respect and civility ? If you do, then where have you been as people, their families and friends are chastized and called names on here with not one condemning word from anyone. I know I over talk about it, but nobody ever condemns it and the first call for respect and civility is from you on Obama and I just lost it. For that I apologize.

I try very hard to make my points on issues and not the person, would never think of applying the cute nicknames and slanderous names that are the crux of many folks TOTAL posts on here. Yet, never saw a call from anyone like you on being civil in those cases.

I am sorry for not being so agreeable, but the names called on here will continue....and nobody will call for civility!

I welcome anyone who wants to debate a point I make about the President to come on here and present their views.....not the one line zingers. I have changed my mind on this very forum as a result of someone giving me info to read that was not from one of the radical groups or making a point that sent me off investigating.

Example.....in 2008 when Obama first brought up and he and Secy Clinton were debating health care, I was opposed to it ALL, in its entirety. I listened to a few posters, read some links, listened to Obama and frankly had my hopes up that perhaps this was the way to go. I wont go into the details of how the man lied to us all, but that very bill cost us A YEAR of working on the economy (since even bolstered by Barney Frank) and what was promised was IGNORED AND NOT EVEN STRIVEN FOR.

That little adventure has taught me not to believe what he says, but it has also hardened me to folks on here who support him because they obviously support him in TOTAL COMPLETE BLINDNESS because they cannot even put a sentence together to support him. Only make fun of anyone who does not.

To me, that COMPLETE BLINDNESS is more scary than what you fear in the rhetoric because I believe the rhetoric is a result of the total and complete blind loyalty

buggyone, I'm so sick of anyone who doesn't agree with President Obama being called a racist. He has set race relations back 50 years. Yes, he was just a community orgaizer. Friends and family are/were socialists and communists. Rev. Wright did say unpatriotic things. Just stating the obvious.

What is wrong with being a community organizer? It helps people! Friends were socialists and communists? I doubt it if there were any communists. Minister said unpatriotic things? Wright does not fit my bill as a minister. I do not think that the unpatriotic things Wright said reflect on Obama at all.

No, Sally Jo, everyone who disagrees with Pres. Obama is a racist at all. However, there are plenty who hate him only for that reason and cannot qualify it beyond statements like " I believe only time will demonstrate how "evil" this individual really is. God forbid he gets reelected".

Disagree with Pres. Obama on domestic issues, foreign policy, economic issues, or social issues and that is fine. Leave hate out of the equation. Leave race out of the equation.

while there is so much criticism of some of what is said about Obama and the disrespect, et al.

Help me understand what rationale some of the very same folks who plead for some respect of the man who happens to be POTUS.......just what would you categorize all the Bush bashing and retrospective negative commentary about Bush. I thought he was POTUS as well! Entitled to the same respect.
Please enlighten me what the difference could possibly be.

I usually never get an equitable answer to simple questions like this.

btk

I'm not going to address the point of this thread because I think it's slightly bogus and self serving.

No President in my lifetime was the recipient of more unadulterated hate than former President George W. Bush.

So, I refuse to address the despair of the left over criticism of "The One".

It's only being ginned up is some deluded view that it might help his re-election.

Good luck with that.

RACISM:cus: ?

Stick a sock in it. Do you see anything that this man is other than black?

I see that "this man" is YOUR PRESIDENT and was elected by a majority of American voters.

You may not like his policies but do not attack the person for the color of his skin.

The only one commenting on his skin color is YOU.

Like the man said. "Stick a sock in it".

I keep searching but cant find other than folks responding to YOU any reference to race. You seem to be the birth of that discussion and the only one keeping it alive.

Usually never is a bit confusing, but I will try to give you an answer and you can decide if it's equitable. I heard the Bush bashing and I disagreed with the tone and the substance. I was not on this forum at that time so had no response that you would have seen. The bush bashing was mean spirited and disrespectful. However, I would argue, the Obama bashing is several steps further up the ladder to vicious and inciteful. Bush was characterized as unintelligent and inarticulate and taking us to war without due cause. Obama has been vilified as being evil, UnAmerican, a communist, and, as I said in the OP, a fxxxxxg nxxxxr. Can you not see a different level of vilification here? As I said, I find it scary that some unstable person, will try to do what in his/her mind is a favor to the world by destroying this anti-Christ. I never had that feeling about Ws safety because the rhetoric, in my eyes, was not inciting violence, but rather more on the lines of ridicule. Ridicule is not an appropriate way to express ones disagreement but it does not rise to the level of hateful and vengeful.

Another self righteous non-response. It's what I have come to expect.

Ed, In your original post you said that your cousin called Obama a fxxxxxg nxxxxr. I would agree that your cousin is a racist judging from that statement. How does that lead you to conclude that racism is a major part of the reason for opposition to Obama's policies? I know it is not in my case and I do not believe that I have met a person in The Villages that opposes him because of his race. I oppose him and will do everything I can do to help elect Mitt Romney, not because of race but because I believe that given another term, Obama's policies will destroy this country.

In any case, Obama has been treated with kid gloves compared with the treatment given to George Bush and more recently Sarah Palin by the liberals in this country and on this board. The latest example is a cheap shot by Buggyone referring to Sarah Palin's parenting skills and her daughter Bristol.