This is just crazy:
I’d ask if these people were real, but I’m surrounded by them, and I know too well that they do, indeed, exist.
Why do these people hate Obama so much? Why do they swallow lies and reproduce them on command? How can they be so irrational? What is the matter with these people?
The other day a friend told me she couldn’t stand to listen to Obama because “all he says is lies.” Another told me “every time his lips move, he lies.” But when pressed, they can’t come up with any. I guess that’s what they hear through email forwards or something.
Now I’m sure that Obama has lied before, as has McCain. But why all the hatred and venom? Why can’t they even stand Obama, when he’s such an intelligent, respected, well-spoken man? You don’t have to agree with someone on everything to respect them.
It’s scary how irrational and hateful people can be.
(via)
Update: And here’s more stupid from people going to a McCain convention.
Choice quotes:
“I think you’re stupid. If that guy gets elected… he hangs around terrorists.”
“Obama is a terrorist, didn’t you know that?”
“Obama is a Muslim, he’s a terrorist himself.”
“I believe Obama supports terrorism.”
[Makes death signs at Obama supporters and says:] “European socialists!”
“Let’s register more dead people for Obama! Acorn is most sleaziest, most despicable, corrupt, immoral — good friend of our friend Barak — sleazy, scum of the earth. How shall I put this… Them, and their buddy Barama — er, Obama — have single handily brought this financial catastrophe on our country through their dealing with Frannie and Freddie Mac.”
These people are nuts. It’s almost enough to make me question whether democracy is such a great idea…
“He’s got the bloodlines …”
Is that the sound of the Repugnican dog whistle I hear?
Is that what Palin means when she talks about
negro radicalsdomestic terrorists?I still can’t understand why the McAincient/Caribou Barbie ticket is even getting as much support as Bush II. Are there that many
inbred racistsfear-crazed Repubs in the US?Because what else is there? The Islam thing, the “palling around with terrorists” thing, all bullshit. The “his wife is a
negro radicalPanther”–also bullshit. Yet these people proudly parade their bare-faced ignorance and bigotry before the cameras.I didn’t see a a lot of non-white faces there either.
He’s got a better energy plan than McCain, a better environmental plan, a better grasp of foreign affairs, and he’s sure as hell got a better veep.
So why is McCain getting any support at all?
I don’t get it either. I’ve got a local ex-pat American, a conservative Christian, at whom I occasionally take pot-shots who’s become progressively more hysterical as the campaign has progressed. She hasn’t quite descended to the Obama-is-a-stealth-Muslim level, but she’s now quoting Rush Limbaugh as a source. There appears to be no right-wing talking point she won’t just pick up and run with.
To add an additional level of odd: she’s married to a black guy from Africa, so I know she’s not racist in any overall sense.
Metro:
Same reason people keep believing in religion: They desperately WANT it to be true.
There’s a book out by Rick Shenkman, “Just How Stupid Are We: Facing the Truth About the American Voter” that talks about why people support candidates who are clearly bad (astonishingly there are still Bush supporters). There’s a link on my blog, or you can pull it up on any book site.
It allows them to tell themselves that they know what’s going on in America when they actually haven’t done their homework. “I’ll just spout off some of my gut reactions and stuff that I think is probably true.”
My favourite is he’s a terrorist because of his name – well then the security services have got it all wrong and you need to do is look at people’s names. How difficult can that be?
It’s people like this that make me wonder whether democracy is all it’s cracked up to be made – maybe you should have to properly explain why you’re going to vote for someone with real answers before you get to do it!
These irrational lemmings are the real terrorists.
@ #2 : Racism is almost never rational. An individual may accept particular groups while fearing and loathing others. Most of the individuals in the youtube clips would probably claim to be free of racist leanings (‘I’m friends with a *insert group*’), yet they believe that Obama is a terrorist. I somehow doubt they think Obama is a terrorist because of his policies.
Obviously republicans learned a different lesson from the McCarthy era. Terrorist is the new communist. They have turned “terrorist” into a word they can use to label anyone who doesn’t share their world view. We seem to be losing the war on ignorance.
Oof. Sometimes it’s really hard to actually believe that I am, genetically, 99.999% the same as people like this. I feel like my brain functions in a completely different manner, and I don’t understand why.
I was just arguing with someone yesterday because they weren’t sure if they were going to vote.
It SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME that people like the ones on these videos might decide who becomes the next leader of the free world.
Regardless of which candidate they prefer, if the reasons for their preference is based on completely false facts, and racism, I don’t want these people to choose who will be in the White House.
The best way to counter-act their stupidity, is to be informed, and to get out there and vote!
Wait, I think I figured it out!
You know that guy on the TV show Heroes that can control minds and make people do what he wants? I think these people all have that superpower, and they’re trying to make me stab myself in the head.
I’m with you, John. Sometimes I think the mothership dropped me off at the wrong planet.
I am growing increasingly convinced that we need a meritocratic representative system, rather than populist.
Of course, that will have its own problems… but it’ll keep the idiots out of power.
I’m with #8