The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

Posted by: granny grits on September 8, 2009 4:33PM CST
By Tana Ganeva, AlterNet
Posted on September 8, 2009, Printed on September 8, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/142477/

Today President Obama gave a speech urging America's schoolchildren to do their homework and stay in school.

Naturally, conservatives have been extremely alarmed about the address, because obviously the president is looking to create a vast army of adorable little zombies that will help him destroy America faster.

All last week, conservative bloggers and pundits gleefully accused the centrist president of plotting to force radical politics on America's impressionable youth, after Florida's Republican chairman Jim Greer said Obama's address would "indoctrinate" children and spread "socialist ideology."

The week of right-wing echo chamber freak-outs led to protests by conservative parents, which put school districts throughout the country in the unenviable position of having to deal with the "controversy": Some decided not to air the president's address; others required parental permission.

So, thanks to the right-wing saviors of America's youth, a bunch of kids have been shielded from the president's dangerous message that learning things is good.

Could this be the stupidest, most irrational way conservatives have tried to tear down Obama? Is it even possible to answer that question?

We've assembled the most absurd, logic-defying right-wing attacks on the president. Some you've undoubtedly encountered before; all are incessantly blared by conservative pundits and shock jocks, while many are cynically embraced by GOP lawmakers.

Assembled together, they illustrate the absurd extremes to which right-wingers are trying to drive the public discourse in their efforts to thwart essential reforms in health care, energy policy and the economy.

The Advent of Socialism/Fascism

Most historians would agree that fascism and socialism represent vastly different ideologies and historical phenomena. But not the historians at Fox News! Since Obama took office, right-wing pundits have lobbed these smears interchangeably, not quite clarifying whether Obama is leading the proletariat to a glorious Utopian Future or trying to bring the master race to world dominion.

Obama's Nefarious Plan for the Nation's Genitals

When news leaked of a CDC report recommending that boys be circumcised as a preventative measure against HIV infection, right-winger conspiracy theorists decided to fret that the federal government would mandate circumcision. Since Patrick Henry isn’t around, it was up to Rush Limbaugh to sound the rallying cry against tyranny: "Leave our penises alone, too, Obama!" roared Limbaugh in a July 24 radio broadcast.

The next day, while discussing an unrelated dispute with Jay-Z, the talk show host said, "I would remind the rapper Jay Z; Mr. Z, it is President Obama who wants mandated circumcision. We had that yesterday. That means if we need to save our penises from anybody, it's Obama."

Needless to say, Obama had nothing to do with the CDC report, and doesn't appear to have ever publicly uttered the word "circumcision." Nor did he recommend the CDC promote circumcision.

None of this, of course, discouraged Limbaugh from running with the best metaphor for white male anxiety in the age of Obama, ever.

The Birthers

Remember when the president invented a time machine and traveled back in time to plant his own birth announcement in a Hawaiian newspaper and forge a certificate of birth proving he was born in the States, all to hide the fact that he's a foreigner from a country filled with scary black people?

That, of course, appears to be the only explanation for why the birther nonsense continues to gurgle up online (even though certain idiots, who for mysterious reasons still have shows on CNN, have finally stopped giving this nonsense the patina of mainstream credibility).

Recently, some birthers on Free Republic argued that the only way to determine the president's birthplace for sure was by checking if he is circumcised. (It would seem that there needs to be a subcategory on this list for these patriots' obsession with the president's penis.)

The Deathers

In America in 2009 -- a time and place where most people have access to a high school education and can read -- a rumor emerged that the overhaul of our terrible health care system would allow the government to put old people to death. This rumor was stoked by the crazy people on Fox News and talk radio, then embraced and propagated by Republican lawmakers and others who are supposed to be sane adults.

"A lot of people are going to die. This program of government option that‘s being touted as being this panacea, the savior of allowing people to have quality health care at an affordable price, is going to kill people." said Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga, said.

Then there was almost-a-heartbeat-away-from-the-presidency Sarah Palin, who contributed to the discussion by saying that under a reformed health system, the government would have killed her child Trig because he has Down syndrome. (Palin took back the comments after much outcry, but that didn't stop the vocal minority of town hall protesters from screaming about Obama killing old and disabled people all summer).

The End of the Internet?

Cass Sunstein, currently awaiting confirmation to head the Office of Information an Regulatory Affairs, is apparently doing Obama's dirty work on this one. Someone enterprising at crackpot site World Net Daily cherrypicked from a long-ago Sunstein statement, making it sound like he wants government regulation forcing blogs to link to opposing viewpoints.

In fact, as Julian Sanchez writes, in the statement in question Sunstein floated the theory as "food for thought." And then he noted the free-speech issues involved. And then he called the idea stupid and unconstitutional.

Czars

Obama has "czars" in his administration. The word "czar" is Russian, which of course is scary ("Too Russian!" said former Oklahoma Rep. Ernest Istook. "Why not call somebody the Big Boss?").

One of Glenn Beck's favorite things to do is list off and rail against the czars in Obama's administration. Neil Cavuto, Mike Huckabee and others on Fox and like-minded media are also pretty excited about it and have made lots of puns (czar wars!) and wild accusations about Obama's alleged czar shadow army.

Somehow, their balanced take on this threatening phenomena fails to mention that George W. Bush was pretty fond of czars himself, overseeing the creation of a "food-safety czar," a "cybersecurity czar," a "regulatory czar," an "AIDS czar," a "manufacturing czar," an "intelligence czar," a "bird-flu czar" and a "Katrina czar," according to Steve Benen in Washington Monthly.

Our Half-White President Has a Problem With White People?

One would think Obama is pretty OK with white people, since he is half white and was raised by a white mother and grandparents. Beck would disagree.

In July, Beck bizarrely accused the president of having a deep-seated hatred for white people and "white culture," an attention-grubbing overreach that has led to a successful boycott campaign that has cost Beck 57 advertisers.

Beck's offensive statement was only the most extreme iteration of a conservative strategy to sneakily accuse the president of undermining the interests of whites. One other example is the absurd claim that the president is trying to trick white Americans into paying reparations through health reform.

Snitch Site?

A few months ago, the White House made a valiant attempt to help steer the health care debate toward existing things like policy, rather than totally made up crap like death panels. They did so by setting up a Web site where people could submit questions about the wild conspiracy theories circulating about reform.

Naturally, the fringe decided that Obama was asking people to report on their neighbors. And, of course, Republican lawmakers irresponsibly and shamelessly joined the fray, with Texas Sen. John Cornyn, for example, accusing Obama of compiling an "enemies list" and demanding the site be shut down.

An Expansion of AmeriCorps. The Horror!

And finally, what does Obama plan to do with all those kids he brainwashes during his speech today?

Wait, with diabolical patience, until their teeny little arms grow strong enough to wield heavy weaponry so he can draft them into his massive domestic paramilitary force. At least that appears to be a fear held by Beck, who has said Obama's "civilian national security force" is like Hitler's SS, or something Saddam Hussein would do.

Michelle Bachmann warned of a massive effort to herd kids into re-education camps. What were they talking about? The expansion of AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.

And there you have it: Public discourse in 2009.

Tana Ganeva is an associate editor at AlterNet.

© 2009 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/142477/

grits is nothing but a dem party/liberal hack who has been appointed the cut and paste czar. The rare times he/she/it has posted something in his/her/its own words, it has been so disjointed and easily reputed. Basically he/she/it keeps barfing back other posters tripe.

GG - I don't know why you insist on deleting comments. It comes across as stifling debate and less than honest.

BTW - isn't GG one of the libs on these blogs who is always protesting "right wing attacks" on her beloved Pres? Is her blog not exactly a left wing vicious ATTACK on the right? Oh yes, I forgot - the lib double standard protects her from criticism.

Sorta miss her boyfriend bigfoot.

Race - is your avitar Danaka Patrick?

Yes it Danica. Told my wife she is the only woman i leave her for. Raced against her back in my karting days. kick my butt but sure was fine seeing her butt LOL

if "granny grits" had an original thought or idea....it would die of loneliness......lol....cut and paste czar...lol.

Granny does herself no favors by not having any orginal posts. I cut and paste, too, as we all do, but I usually add some commentary.

Granny has no reason to preview comments since it is quite easy to delete offensive ones.

I have had numerous comments deleted by gg - and I guarantee you they were NOT insulting to anyone.

This particular cut and paste is just more liberal hype and crap.

Most conservatives are MORE than happy to engage liberals ON THE ISSUES as any one who reads these blogs can see.

Mr. B,
I am surprised you follow along with those who are suggesting there's some sinister plot to prevent them from posting. In reviewing the posts that were rejected a pattern exists whereby some believe they are free to make inflammatory claims of a personal nature. In reviewing hundreds of posts only a handful never made it to print, but I'm sure this will be disputed as well.

Here are some examples:

BITCH

I bet you want to kill a child in the womb!

Obviously, bigfoot and granny are not library card holders. It's amazing what you learn when you READ and actually think for yourself.

GG - It seems there are constant comments about your deleting. It has happened to me on conservative blogs and it just ticks me off. I don't tend to be personal unless someone starts things out that way (tookie is the exception).

Mr B,
Did you notice they are from the same people? DDD has deleted my posts as well, but continues to complain.

OK grits, I just posted on your blog. Here it is:

The guy was right on. And he had the guts to tell it to baramas face. It's about time the anointed one in front of his ministry of propaganda media heard it. The fact is, this empty suite community activist potus IS a liar; all the way from healthcare to the economy. Has this ever happened before in the hallowed halls of Congress? The 1840's and 1850's were quite rankerous.

Let's see if you delete it.

Grits,

My post on your blog was written and posted 10 minutes before the one I wrote above, and guess what, it's still not there. The post above appeared right after a refresh. Hummmmmm.

UD,
Unlike some here this isn't the focal point of my life. If it's civil it will be posted regardless of political flavor when I have time. My grandkids come first.

GG - you lie just like your hero Obama! I have posted comments to your blogs in the past which contained nothing "personal" or "inflamatory", but you screened them out anyways . You screen those on the right you don't like and everybody knows it. You are fooling nobody but yourself. It is very convenienet for you to say you ONLY screen "personal inflamatory" type comments when nobody ever SEES just what you did screen out.

Rankerous, that's pretty close. Well said, Underdog. I've lost comments on others' blogs besides GG. I don't think it's deleting. I think it's a crappy system that sometimes loses comments. But feel free to fight amongst yourselves like 11-year-olds playing baseball without an umpire.

11 year old kids playing a pick up game without an umpire can agree on the playing rules and get on with the game faster than the current Congress could ever do.

house - you don't have a clue about GG or you are just purposely coverng for her - which is it?

Granny- don.t give me this bull about only deleating comments that are personel--Just this morning you deleted my comment in your crazed republican---blog. All I said was that I suppose that would make Jeremiah Wright the poster boy for the Dems. I do not see anything that was directed towards you. So give me a break and at least let my side of the article be read. But then you would have to defend your half baked and half truth comments.

Interesting that GG in her "Crazed" blog, had no problem with Bob Vance's inflamatory comment toward grass roots republicans. Oh that's right, Bob is a lib so what ever he has to say is just fine with her.

BTW, Joe Wilson was on Hannity tonight and said he is on a committee where the dems are deleting from the house bill any clauses that prevent illegals from receiving HC. It doesn't say illegals will get it, but they are eliminating any words preventing them from getting it. It could then be made to happen at the discression of a administering commission. That is why Joe spoke up and said "you lie".

Joe Wilson has no credibility, consequently any comments he makes in the future will be viewed through his 'you lie' prism and cheerfully ignored.

While his stature in congress has never been high he was successful in plumbing new depths. Nice work.

GG,
I once posted "Keep smoking the hopium", which you deleted. What is so "Personal or inflammatory" about that?

"Keep smoking the Hopium" that's cute Edge.
Nothing to do with you Granny or my political views,
Just a cute expression, I think.

I don't bother to post anything on GG's blogs anymore. Why cast pearls if they're going to be deleted anyway? And, yes, GG, I'm saying you are swine. So there.

BV - You really disappoint me. I thought you were a reasonable and compassionate and non-arrogant type guy. Obviously I am way wrong. You are just a run of the mill lib name caller.
(This a comment I posted on GG's "Crazed" blog)

GG - in your dreams! The right scolds Wilson for the media, but when the microphones are off they pat him on the back and say way to go Joe!

I do believe GG has eased up on her screening process. All the comments about it must have given her second thoughts. And that's a good thing.

Posted by: Mr B on September 9, 2009 7:21AM CST
BB - Seems to me this "idiot" (refering to Obama) strived to succeed. Was admitted to some of the great universities of America due to his hard work and intelligence. (No legacy admittance). Achieved and was brought into prestigous positions within those universities, Graduated with many honors. Then (although disparaged by the right) dedicated himself to his community and again achieved and led.

Was elected to serve his state in the senate, then was elected as a US senator and then was fairly elected to the presidency of the United States. Seems to me an "idiot" would have a very difficult time achieving like he did. You may completely disagree with him but to call him an "idiot" is completely off base. The previous president also made many bad decisions yet I doubt you felt he was an idiot.

Lastly delegating and getting many opinions is the sign of a very good leader.

Posted by: MC on September 9, 2009 1:48PM CST
Mr B - George W Bush did ALL the things you boasted Obama did and ALSO ran the state of Texas in addition, yet that didn't stop you libs from calling him an idiot for 8 years! The old lib double standard.

(brought up from an older blog)

Yep, definitely looks like Bob Vance has officially joined the lunatic fringe. I notice he only posts on GG blog. She is welcome to him and his crappy opinions. He's a state employee. Must be po'd about the furloughs or something.

Some people seem to think I post for their edification and that devoting one's life to these blogs is somehow preferable to actually having a real life.

My point is that some make this the focus of their lives and become too emotionally invested. We all have activities which must be prioritized and this isn't high on my list.

The object is to inform the readers of actual facts rather than a regurgitation of Fox News or Rush.

But the crowning achievement has to be the blogs focusing on me! It's like a dog whistle to the far right by providing a showcase for the anger and lack of self-control which aptly spotlights what the far right has become...it's a wonderful insight for the spectators.

Inform us of actual facts other than Fox News or Rush? Where do you get your facts? Moveon.org, Huffington Post, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, NBC or ABC?

I say thank goodness for Fox. I"m no fan of Rush however. But Fox covered the ACORN thing this week, while the others ignored it except for CNN who did broadcast it yesterday, with the faces of the workers who were fired blacked out.

And nobody has to focus on you granny. You do a pretty good job of doing that yourself.

Right on alge. That is GG's biggest failure that she doesn't recognize that Fox IS facts and that is why their ratings are going up up up and the rest are going down. The lib media can't fool the informed and thinking people, just a few of the people like GG and Huck and Blogo.

The liberal press and the those who are liberal posting on these blogs have accomplished nothing except to divide us all the more.

Fox News has made the effort to present both sides. Consider the liberals on their programs--Juan Williams, Allen Colmes, Myra Liason, and many more. (I know I haven't spelled their names correctly, but you get the idea).

The AMERICANS who are protesting higher taxes are not necessarily against health care. They are simply asking how do we pay for it? I think it behooves all of us to ask that question. After all, the average American does the work and pays the taxes.

We will never have any peace in this country until we do away with the labels of conservative and liberal. By their very definition, they are miles apart. We need to come together as Americans and throw out those labels.

We don't need to change this country for it has weathered many obstacles before now. It is the envy of the world. There are simple answers to most questions and the press has made those questions so complex that one needs a PHD to figure out the answer.

It shouldn't be so hard to answer the question "how do we pay for this health care"? Numbers don't lie. Just give us a number!

alge - Obama already told you how he is going to pay for it. With BILLIONS SAVED by stopping corruption and waste in Medicare. (excuse me a minute while I try to stop laughing) It's just that simple - there is no problem with paying for it. (excuse me again)

Nobody believes that! That is the reason for the march on Washington this weekend by people from both parties and all walks of life. They want the real answer as to how we will pay for this healthcare. And so do I.

I enjoyed your blog MC. Keep up the good work!!

Do what I do: I never read GG's blogs anymore, and I would NEVER attempt to post anything there.

She is so full of herself that she thinks we're all about HER.....like the song -you're so vain.

She's a hack.

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