The Politics of Insult

I'm getting ready to go to Pittsburgh but just had to put some things down before I go...I've read a LOT of blogs and articles slamming Barak Obama and that is their right to express themselves in such a manner. But, I see that the "criticism" is not so much about the important things such as his position on policy issues but they take the form of:

• he is only a rock star
• he is the world's biggest celebrity
• he only gives great speeches
• he is a flip-flopper
• he has no positions on anything
• and on and on and on.

With John McCain, it is along the lines of:

• he's too old
• he's too angry
• he's vengeful
• he's a loose cannon
• he's not connected
• and on and on and on.

With Barak Obama, I read where Blacks criticize other Blacks for presumably only voting for him because he's Black.

With John McCain, I read where the neocons cannot stand him but will vote for him over any Democrat and especially Barak Obama.



It is to the point where one cannot go to another's supporters and reason with them about why they feel their position is superior without demeaning, or slamming, or defining the other as the Devil incarnate.

In so many ways, it is akin to me as a Christian trying to defend my faith to a devout Muslim because both of our positions may be intractable with neither side trying to understand the history or logic of the other.

People have their own reasons for their choices I'm not sure that it would make any difference to the staunch and committed...and I can see where some would not be treated with courtesy if they tried.

I don't know if a McCain supporter or even an anti-Obama Democrat has gone to an Obama supporter's blog and tried to REASON with them about the validity of their opinion or to point out how wrong they feel they are about theirs.

When we discuss (not debate) issues, the discussion should be very black and white about what needs to be done and then the question asked who will be most effective in getting it done.

Ronald Reagan's presidency began as a cult of personality but he put together his coalition to get things accomplished. Barak Obama has to do the same thing as will John McCain in getting the neocons (who can't stand him) to work with him. Since both candidates have their deficiencies, it would seem that the only complaint people have is about style...and frankly, Obama's style is winning for him. So, rather than the right side of the aisle complaining about his "rock star status" or his "celebrity" standing...all of which is not even remotely addressing the issues because the Obama camp has said that they have made their positions known on a lot of things, the focus is on petty things like his brother in Kenya, or other inanities. EVERY politician I've ever heard of has some skeleton in their closet yet the voting public discounts those things time after time.

The politics of insult by both the Dems and Repubs obscure the underlying issues to the degree that people tune out. Those insults and slurs will not determine my vote and, if I may, pointing out why one voting bloc has disappointed another by their monolithic preference is a canard as well. Not to digress, but the politics of race is age old...and we should not expect it to stop now just because we WANT to be past it. It's a noble and wonderful ideal but whether it have been Obama today as a Black man, or Hillary as a woman, the same things would apply. Women would have overwhelmingly voted for her but would that have been any different than Blacks voting for Obama, and would they have been as excoriated as Blacks are because of their choice?

The coalitions of the willing are what determine elections today.

So, a discussion may be in order as to why one feels that John McCain (and not in opposition to what Barak Obama would or would not do...and vice-versa) would address and solve the issues that are before us.

But, I personally would like to see the entire discussion turned in that direction. Those of us here in the Great Middle would deeply appreciate it.

The entire landscape of Politics via Insult is frankly turning my stomach.

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