[img]583|left|Eric L. Wattree||no_popup[/img] It is indeed interesting to see how all of a sudden the corporate media and the GOP have come together to praise the President's Arizona speech, even Fox News. After two years of calling him a communist, a friend to terrorists, a fraud and a liar, the GOP has finally found a reason to praise him. They are praising him because, yet again, he has allowed GOP criminals off the hook.
Now the GOP says this is no time for partisan politics. But when have we ever known any situation, regardless of gravity, that the GOP considered beyond partisan politics? They didn’t consider the threatened collapse of the world’s financial system above partisan politics. Nor is the loss of homes and the unemployment of millions of American citizens above partisan politics. And we still have Republicans riding 9/11 for political gain nine years after the fact.
So the true reason Republicans want to hold the Arizona shooting up as being above partisan politics is because they know full well they are guilty of creating the inflamed political environment that led directly to the tragedy taking place. What there actually is no time for is flowery, sentimental speeches in lieu of decisive action.
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This tragedy should be used to weed out a national cancer. That would be the greatest tribute that we could pay to its victims. But President Obama’s speech, touching as it was, was an attempt to treat that cancer with an over-the-counter antiseptic when we need radical surgery.
The President needs to recognize the GOP is run by corporatists. These same people are responsible for killing over a million Iraqi citizens. They could care less about flowery speeches, or the life of one 9-year-old little girl. They have a corporate and political agenda to promote. The life of one little girl is meaningless to them. They look upon her death as merely collateral damage. The minute this uproar subsides it will be business as usual.
President Is Much Too Soft
President Obama doesn’t seem to recognize that. He insists on adding sugar to strychnine. That way it won’t taste so bad going down. Then he will bring us together in a rousing chorus of Kumbaya to ensure that it is administered in a civil manner. He seems oblivious to the fact the poison is going to kill us in the end.
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It is beginning to look as if President Obama is not going to see the light until these people are goosestepping through Times Square. I am saying that as a moderate progressive. On the other hand, Anthony Miller, recently re-elected to a second term as GOP district chairman in Phoenix, could see the writing on the wall. So clearly that he resigned his inner circle position. Why can’t the President see the light?
According to the Arizona Republic, Miller said on Saturday that “constant verbal attacks after the election and internet blogs posts by some local members with Tea Party ties made him worry about his family’s safety.” The article goes on to say, “Miller told state Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen he was quitting: ‘Today my wife of 20 years asked me, Do I think that my PCs (Precinct Committee members) will shoot at our home? With this being said, I am stepping down as Chairman…I will make a full statement on Monday.’” Three other party officials also resigned.
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In addition, it was reported as far back as November 2008 that “The Secret Service warned the Obama family in mid-October that they had seen a dramatic increase in the number of threats against the Democratic candidate, coinciding with Mrs. Palin’s attacks. Michelle Obama, the future First Lady, was so upset that she turned to her friend and campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett and said: ‘Why would they try to make people hate us?’” The article indicated that “[Palin’s] attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling “terrorist” and “kill him” until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric.”
Alertness Is Your Duty
Wake up, Mr. President. Part of being an effective leader is knowing when the time for talking is over, when it is time to take decisive action. Being an apologist for domestic enemies of the state doesn't meet that test. This nation needs to confront the issue of inflammatory and insurrectionist rhetoric head-on.
This kind of behavior simply cannot be tolerated in a free society. While the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, along with freedom comes responsibility. For that reason, nowhere in the Constitution does it guarantee the right to be criminally negligent.
At times like this I wish you had spent more time in the ‘hood. Then you would have immediately recognized these people as classic bullies. You would understand that appeasement is not going to work. The more you give a bully, the more emboldened he becomes. Ask Neville Chamberlain. Stop making excuses for these people. Step up to the plate. The last thing we need in this recklessly hostile environment is a President trying to be a nice guy. Ask Jimmy Carter about that one.
Eric L. Wattree is a writer, poet and musician, born in Los Angeles. A columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel, the Black Star News, a staff writer for Veterans Today, he is a contributing writer to Your Black World, the Huffington Post, ePluribus Media and other online sites and publications. He also is the author of “A Message From the Hood.”
Mr. Wattree may be contacted at wattree.blogspot.com or Ewattree@Gmail.com
Religious bigotry: It’s not that I hate everyone who doesn’t look, think, and act like me – it’s just that God does.
