[Author’s Note: I've started getting ugly responses from the GOP wingnuts already. So I decided to add a little to the end of this piece in bold.]
My computer is still warm from my last article where I pointed out that the GOP is no longer conservative and has become anti-American.
Reinforcing my position, they've struck out against America again. In last week's column, “Limbaugh-Beck and the GOP Patriots Against America,” I pointed out that you can say what you will about true conservatives, but they are fiercely patriotic, and will always support America.
This current group of renegade Republicans is clearly demonstrating not only that they're not true conservatives, they're not even loyal Americans.
Every day, it becomes increasingly clear their only concern is making money, regaining power and accommodating their own self-interests. They're willing to throw America under the bus to achieve those goals.
Evidence is they've left no stone unturned to protect the insurance industry, deny Americans affordable healthcare, and literally celebrated America's loss of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
As though to reinforce my thesis, these so-called patriots have struck again by attacking President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Regardless of your politics, ask yourself:
Look and Admire What He Has Done
Considering America's low ebb in world opinion over the past eight years, would any true conservatives, regardless of their domestic grievances, criticize the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the President of the United States? Absolutely not. To have such an honor should be a cause of celebration for every American.
Even the biggest fool in America should recognize that this honor gives our President the added international cachet to successfully pursue American foreign policy abroad. But in spite of that, upon receiving news of this honor coming to America, the Republican National Committee issued the following statement:
“The real question Americans are asking is, 'What has President Obama actually accomplished?' It is unfortunate that the President's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain — President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
The question that the world must be asking is, “What kind of idiots are we dealing with here in the United States who would be actively working against their own government?”
Secondly, the GOP seems oblivious to the fact that the Nobel Peace Prize is not limited to simply what has taken place since the inauguration, but what the rise of Barack Obama represents overall.
After all, what other world leader in history has done more to inspire the hope of people all over the world than Barack Obama?
In such a short time?
This man is perceived as the walking, breathing personification of hope for people all over the world. The Nobel committee would have been remiss if they had given the prize to anyone else.
In addition, by indicating in the formal GOP statement that “President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility or backing up rhetoric with concrete action,” they're betraying the fact that they think the American people are stupid.
One would think the GOP wouldn't want to mention these issues. It is only because of Republican malfeasance in office, their fiscal irresponsibility, and failure to adhere to their “small government” rhetoric for the past eight years that has caused Americans to be without jobs in the first place.
But the American people have come to ignore such nonsense from the Republican Party. They recognize that due to a clumsy Republican attempt to manipulate public opinion, most GOP missives of this sort come from Michael Steele, the closest thing to a love child between Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachman and Snoop Dog (Sorry about that, Snoop).
I challenge anyone to give me the name of any other person alive who could have rejuvenated America's stature in the world more effectively than Barack Obama.
I challenge anyone to give me the name of any person alive who could have brought more hope to the people of the world than Barack Obama.
This man could have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize upon inauguration, and it would have been perfectly justified.
I only wish the President hadn't chosen to apologize for receiving this award. No doubt he’s exactly the kind of man Alfred Nobel had in mind when he created the prize. It wasn’t based on statistics. It came directly from the heart of the people, as it should always be.
So President Obama had nothing to apologize about. He not only deserves this honor, he’s elevated the stature of all those who preceded him.
The Republican Party claims that he only received this honor because of his superstar status. As with most things, they have it backwards. President Obama didn’t receive the award because he’s a star. He’s a star because he has the qualities of a world leader who deserves to be honored.
Even so early in your Presidency, our forefathers are smiling down upon this man with pride and, even as I write, I can hear Thomas Jefferson saying, “Scoot over, Abe. We've got company.” Wake up, America, before it's too late. The GOP deals exclusively in hatred, fear and war.
Torture, death and dissension is their forte because there's no money to be made in peace.
Congratulations, Mr. President. Alfred Nobel has never been done so proud.
Mr. Wattree is a writer, musician and poet who may be contacted at wattree@verizon.net
You may learn more about Mr. Wattree at wattree.blogspot.com
Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everybody who doesn't look, think, and act like me. It's just that God does.
