The real problem with Americans and their disrespect for Obama—according to a Canadian

[Janelle2002 3,865]

There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied ’round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the president of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country’s borders, and it was America versus the rest of the world, with the president of all the people at the helm.

Suddenly president Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president, has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule.

Four days before Obama’s inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails, the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.

Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the president of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that.

Last spring, president Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and Republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president can’t take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theater without adequate security is a tragically bad idea. (Remember: “Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?”)

At some point, the treatment of president Obama went from offensive to ugly, and then to downright dangerous.

The healthcare debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. Obama’s face appeared on protest signs, white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler, complete with mustache and swastika.

Odd that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America.

Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing; putting the president’s life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the healthcare rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past.

And still the “birthers” are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States, although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody’s sure.

Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by president Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff’s. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honor to meet the man, or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: “You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body.”

Lady, that was the president of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He’s your president, for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at “Monster Trucks On Ice.” Maybe next it’ll be, “Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day.”

In president Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he’s a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president’s predecessor, he’s a highly moral man.

In president Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package, and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader—hell, most of our leaders—for Obama in a heartbeat.

What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it: Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa, but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he’s out of office.

America, you know not what you have.

The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It’s like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better.

President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default, fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed, but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat—“if only he’d got control of that zipper.”

Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example just has to stop.

Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads, “No shirt. No shoes. No service,” they’ll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied ’round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the president of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country’s borders, and it was America versus the rest of the world, with the president of all the people at the helm.

Suddenly president Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president, has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule.

Four days before Obama’s inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails, the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.

Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the president of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that.

Last spring, president Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and Republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president can’t take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theater without adequate security is a tragically bad idea. (Remember: “Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?”)

At some point, the treatment of president Obama went from offensive to ugly, and then to downright dangerous.

The healthcare debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. Obama’s face appeared on protest signs, white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler, complete with mustache and swastika.

Odd that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America.

Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing; putting the president’s life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the healthcare rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past.

And still the “birthers” are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States, although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody’s sure.

Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by president Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff’s. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honor to meet the man, or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: “You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body.”

Lady, that was the president of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He’s your president, for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at “Monster Trucks On Ice.” Maybe next it’ll be, “Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day.”

In president Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he’s a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president’s predecessor, he’s a highly moral man.

In president Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package, and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader—hell, most of our leaders—for Obama in a heartbeat.

What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it: Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa, but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he’s out of office.

America, you know not what you have.

The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It’s like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better.

President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default, fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed, but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat—“if only he’d got control of that zipper.”

Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example just has to stop.

Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads, “No shirt. No shoes. No service,” they’ll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far.

My only issue with this article is the talking about our previous presidents. We can't ask folks to respect President Obama when we bash former Presidents.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

My only issue with this article is the talking about our previous presidents. We can't ask folks to respect President Obama when we bash former Presidents.

So you feel a Canadian as a better grasp with America's problem with Obama than other Americans do?

And was she not being truthful about the former Presidents she mentioned?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

So you feel a Canadian as a better grasp with America's problem with Obama than other Americans do?

And was she not being truthful about the former Presidents she mentioned?

It's more a matter of respect for anyone who holds that office. Bush might have come off as that way, but you have to have a decent amount of intelligence to become the president. And Clinton? No worse than JFK, who had to be the biggest pimp to ever set foot on the White House lawn.

She is saying what we(me and you) already know. But the problem is, there are quite a few people who don't see it that way.

[SMOKE 1,426]

It's more a matter of respect for anyone who holds that office. Bush might have come off as that way, but you have to have a decent amount of intelligence to become the president. And Clinton? No worse than JFK, who had to be the biggest pimp to ever set foot on the White House lawn.

She is saying what we(me and you) already know. But the problem is, there are quite a few people who don't see it that way.

what do you know?

[LibCampFireClub 635]

So, lets' see. The dork in office and some of the people who follow him want everyone to treat him nicely? Is that going to happen? Not a chance in this life or the next one if there is one. Why? Because he's so infected by rectal cranial inversion that he insults anyone and everyone who does not agree with him. For that, he's earned a spot on the just a little better than pathetic human flesh scale.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If there was any question left as to the problem at hand, count on VJs right wing nutter outrage brigade to clear it up. Only took a few posts to get there and I have a feeling there will be plenty more of the kind.

[OriZ 3,157]

That article is a joke. People disrespect Obama because he disrespects the country and does an awful job, and he is no less respected than other presidents were by their opposers, It drives my absolutely crazy when people tell my wife "well you have to respect him cause he's the president". Want to make a bet? The president is not god.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Ah, yes, but during those times the POTUS was white. It flies in the face of latent racism that our president be black, educated, articulate and successful.

On a positive note, the vast silent majority of Americans still respect the Oval Office and its occupier. The few that can't differentiate one from the other however, get their 15 seconds of fame in op-eds and anonymous internet forums. It may help prevent their heads from exploding or quench their more violent urges.

There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied ’round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a Republican or Democrat, but the president of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country’s borders, and it was America versus the rest of the world, with the president of all the people at the helm.

[Merle 458]

Ah, yes, but during those times the POTUS was white. It flies in the face of latent racism that our president be black, educated, articulate and successful.

I'm amazed it took this many posts to blame the lack of resepct of the president on him being black.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Me too. It is so blatantly obvious.

I'm amazed it took this many posts to blame the lack of resepct of the president on him being black.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Ah, yes, but during those times the POTUS was white. It flies in the face of latent racism that our president be black, educated, articulate and successful.

On a positive note, the vast silent majority of Americans still respect the Oval Office and its occupier. The few that can't differentiate one from the other however, get their 15 seconds of fame in op-eds and anonymous internet forums. It may help prevent their heads from exploding or quench their more violent urges.

I was not a Bush fan, but when the guy overseas threw the shoe at him I was p#####. I did not like the idea someone had disrespected our President. When it comes to our country people should truly ban together because in the end, we are our country's best ally.

[JohnR! 5,495]

True, and in fact, the vast majority of the American people realize that.

You will always get those who have their opinion given to them over the media, rather than making up their own... There are many who listen to the 'Oxyconted One' for their daily dose of swill...

'Four days before Obama’s inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails, the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.'

I was not a Bush fan, but when the guy overseas threw the shoe at him I was p#####. I did not like the idea someone had disrespected our President. When it comes to our country people should truly ban together because in the end, we are our country's best ally.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Me too. It is so blatantly obvious.

was it blatantly obvious when he was elected by many of the same people?

[JohnR! 5,495]

He was elected by the same people who elected the POTUS before him, and the one before that, and all those before that one too.

was it blatantly obvious when he was elected by many of the same people?