Media again stoke fears that Obama too close to Muslim world
SUMMARY: Media figures have used President Obama's second overseas trip to Europe and the Middle East to stoke fears that he may be too close to the Muslim world or harbors a secret, anti-American agenda.
In covering President Obama's second overseas trip to Europe and the Middle East, the media have used the trip to stoke fears that he may be too close to the Muslim world or harbors a secret, anti-American agenda. For example, on the June 4 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh stated of Obama's trip: "[H]e pretty much told them today that he's one of them, he's got Muslim roots, he grew up -- three different countries with Muslim people, relatives and so forth. Then he says he's gonna close Guantánamo. 'We're gonna stop the torture. I've made it unequivocally illegal, and we're gonna close Guantánamo Bay.' Of course, that's -- we're harming ourselves. That's why they love him."
This theme follows a series of baseless smears from the presidential campaign intended to stoke fears about Obama's background and sow suspicions that, as ABC News' senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper noted, Obama was "some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate," including that he was educated in a radical madrassa and that he is a Muslim and not a Christian.
Media Matters for America has identified numerous recent examples of media figures reviving negative references to Obama and Islam, including the following:
- Several Fox News media figures have pointed to Obama's current overseas trip to Saudi Arabia and Cairo as, in the words of Fox News host Steve Doocy, Obama's "Muslim apology tour," echoing an assertion made about Obama's European and Middle Eastern trip in April. On the June 4 edition of Fox & Friends, Doocy asserted that "some have -- commentators have referred it as President Obama's Muslim apology tour." Similarly, on the June 3 edition of Fox & Friends, on-screen text asked of Obama upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia: "Will He Continue 'Apology-looza?' " Additionally, on the June 3 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, radio host and comedian Dennis Miller stated that there was "going to be a lot of butt kissing" during "Obama's mea culpa with the Arab world."
- During the June 4 edition of CNN's American Morning, guest co-host Carol Costello asserted of the "audience reaction" to Obama's speech in Cairo: "I think at least three times someone shouted 'we love you' from the audience, which is quite unusual for an American politician in that part of the world. I don't know how that will be accepted by some at home, however." CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour responded, in part: "I think it might be accepted here in the United States. One of the key things we see in polls is that the United States, the people of America, are pleased that their president is, quote, 'restoring the position of America in the world.' This was one of the key things going into the election, and it's one of the key things Americans talk about right now."
- During the June 4 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor and conservative blogger Michelle Malkin and co-host Brian Kilmeade accused Obama of inflating the number of American Muslims. Malkin said "that there was some inflation -- the same kind of population inflation that he engaged in yesterday. ... He said that there were 7 million Muslims living in the country, and I think by any accurate account that that is not true." After playing a clip of Obama stating that there are "nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today," Kilmeade said: "[T]here you go. That's an inflation of numbers."
However, at no point did Malkin or the hosts of Fox & Friends note that members of the Bush administration also said there are 7 million American Muslims. For instance, in a January 2007 speech, former Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes said: "As a government official, I represent an estimated 7 million American Muslims who live and work and worship side by side with us here in this great country." Hughes repeated the 7 million figure in numerous other speeches. Neither Malkin nor the hosts of Fox & Friends gave any indication that they had criticized the Bush administration for using the same figure.
Further, a 2001 State Department fact sheet on "Islam in the United States" said: "While there are no official population figures for religious affiliation in the United States, experts estimate that there are approximately six million American Muslims. Other estimates range from four to eight million." A footnote stated of the figure: "Estimates vary widely for all the figures quoted throughout this fact sheet. In terms of overall population, M.M. Ali reports that there are 6 to 8 million Muslims in America in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May-June 1996, p. 13."
- On the June 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report, Fox News displayed an on-screen graphic that asked about Obama: "Islam or Isn't He?"
- In his June 3 post to The Weekly Standard's blog, headlined, "Does Obama Speak Arabic?" Michael Goldfarb noted that Obama "showed off a little Arabic in his meeting with the Saudi King" when he said "Shukran," or "thank you." Goldfarb continued: "[T]here is some legitimate confusion on just what languages Obama speaks, and as far as Arabic, the only real hint has came from Nick Kristof, who heard Obama recite the Muslim call to prayer in Arabic and with a 'first-rate accent' back in 2007" and asked "if the president hasn't been concealing some greater fluency with the language of the Koran." However, as Steve Benen wrote in a June 3 post to Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog about Obama's remark, "I'd just add that none other than George W. Bush told his Iraqi hosts, 'Shukran,' late last year, shortly before having a shoe thrown at him."
- On June 2, a Fox Nation headline falsely claimed: "Obama Says U.S. Is a 'Muslim Country.' " However, the June 2 New York Times Caucus blog post to which the headline linked noted that, in fact, during an interview with French television station Canal Plus, Obama said: "[I]f you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." Despite playing that quote in full, Fox News host Sean Hannity mischaracterized Obama's statement during the June 3 edition of his show, saying after playing the quote: "So we're not a Christian nation, but we're a Muslim nation?" On-screen text aired during the following interview repeated Hannity's mischaracterization: "Obama: USA One Of Largest Muslim Countries In The World."
- After Tapper wrote a June 2 post to his Political Punch blog, headlined, "The Emergence of President Obama's Muslim Roots," the Drudge Report, The Fox Nation, and several other conservative blogs highlighted Tapper's post.
From the June 4 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: So Obama gets to go over there and say 9-11 was traumatic, but, you know, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals -- what the hell is he talking about? Well, in his mind, two things: the Iraq War and Guantánamo Bay. So he's dumping on Bush again, he's blaming his predecessor, and he's siding with the -- with Islam and with Muslims that they are justified in their attitudes of anger toward the United States.
But now, of course, he, the Messiah, has arrived, and it's all going to be different now. He had the audacity to say, "I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States." Ladies and gentleman, torture in the United States has always been illegal. There is nothing Barack Obama has done to change that. If it was legal and Obama has made it illegal, then why does the Obama Justice Department want to prosecute Bush lawyers for writing opinions suggesting that waterboarding would not be torture, because the intent was not to torture, it was to glean information?
So he is telling the Muslim world that he has ended torture. The implication is that that's all we have ever been is torturers, rapists, murders, pillagers. This is why they love him. Plus, he's -- he pretty much told them today that he's one of them, he's got Muslim roots, he grew up -- three different countries with Muslim people, relatives and so forth. Then he says he's gonna close Guantánamo. "We're gonna stop the torture. I've made it unequivocally illegal, and we're gonna close Guantánamo Bay." Of course, that's -- we're harming ourselves. That's why they love him.
From the June 4 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
MALKIN: Well, I'd like to say something positive about it, and I think that he has learned from his European and past apology tour appearances not to make the America-bashing so explicit. And so there was -- I don't know if it was grudging or if it was obligatory -- but there was at least some tip of the hat to the fact that Muslims who live in America, for example, enjoy unparalleled freedoms.
Although I will note that even there, in the sound bite that he gave about American Muslims, that there was some inflation -- the same kind of population inflation that he engaged in yesterday when he said that the U.S. would have been one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. He said that there were 7 million Muslims living in the country, and I think by any accurate account that that is not true. And so --
KILMEADE: Right, you want to hear it, Michelle?
MALKIN: Yeah -- yeah, sure.
KILMEADE: Let's hear it. In case you just woke --
MALKIN: Let's have people hear it.
KILMEADE: Right. In case you just woke up, here's how it sounded less than an hour ago.
OBAMA [video clip]: Opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores -- and that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average.
KILMEADE: So -- so, there you go. That's an inflation of numbers.
From the June 3 edition of Fox News' Hannity:
HANNITY: And tonight in "Your America," President Obama continues to turn his back on many of the Christian ideals that this country was founded on. Now we've told you extensively about the company that he likes to keep -- you know, like Reverend Jeremiah Wright. We reported on how his staffers chose to cover a cross before a speech that he delivered at Georgetown University. And remember on the first leg of his worldwide apology tour back in April when President Obama said this to an audience of captivated reporters.
OBAMA [video clip]: We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.
HANNITY: Well, just before he kicked off round two of his apology tour, he sat down with a reporter from French TV to talk about the goals that he had on this upcoming trip. Now, take a listen, and keep in mind that you're gonna hear a translator, as this aired on French television.
OBAMA [video clip]: One of the points I want to make is that if you actually took the number of Muslims Americans, you know, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.
HANNITY: All right. So we're not a Christian nation, but we're a Muslim nation?
President Obama was born in Kenya and raised as a Muslim...but that does not mean that he is getting 'too close'.
President Obama should be charged with treason for strengthening the enemies of our Nation and weakening us to the point of turning us into a third world power.
1.3. The case of United States v Haupt, D.C.III., 47 Supp. 836, 839 expanded the definition of treason to mean any act which 'strengthens or tends to strengthen the ability of the enemies of the United States or which weakens or tends to weaken the power of the United States to resist such enemies
Do you think Dumbya weakened our enemies by making criticism of his policies all but illegal?
The wingnuts are coming out of the woodwork today. Hopefully, shinging the light of reason upon them will send them all scurrying back into the shadow of Rush, from whom no light emerges.
I don't ordinarily use such inflammatory terms but I'm beginning to think that the right-wing haters are deliberately trying to set the stage for an assassination.
There, I've said it.
God I hope I'm wrong!
Miss quoting, taking ever thing that he doesn't agree on full out of context and generally whipping people into a frenzy.
You go Girl...
The 26 percenters call it apology. Go figure.
You can have the ones who were waterboarded into insanity. You'll have something in common with them, tortured logic.
get your terminology right and then we can discuss.
I also figured Barack would patronize the hell out of Islam.
...but, I didn't think he would assert so many glaring historical falsehoods and misattributions. For example:
OBAMA CLAIMED: "It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra."
---- No, it wasn't. The origins of algebra trace back to the ancient Babylonians. They were not Muslims. Algebra was temporarily developed by the ancient Greeks and later the English.
OBAMA CLAIMED: Muslims invented "Our magnetic compass, tools of navigation,"
---- No. Most likely, the compass was discovered by Central Americans, but if they didn't do it, the Chinese are then its discoverers. In either case, be it the Chinese or the Central Americans, the compass was discovered centuries before the advent of Islam.
OBAMA CLAIMED: Islam gave us "Our mastery of pens and printing."
---- No. Gutenberg did.
OBAMA CLAIMED: Muslims gave us "Our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed."?
---- Rubbish! Leeuwenhoek (a Dutchman) and Lister (an Englishman) developed the microscope, which permitted men like Cohn (a German) and Redi (an Italian) to study bacteria and other microorganisms. Needham, Spallanzani and Pasteur (English, Italian, French) discovered the "Pasteurization" process for killing bacteria and providing for sterile food products. In the 1770's, the English doctor Edward Jenner discovered the process of vaccination and his cowpox vaccine has since all but eliminated smallpox from the world (although smallpox is still encountered in some backward Muslim countries). Pasteur continued this work, developing a vaccine for anthrax which saved France's sheep industry, preventing economic ruin. Pasteur would go on to find a vaccine for rabies as well. Koch, a German, found the bacterias that cause "black death", TB and cholera.
I could go on and on. But, Islam's relative contribution to medicine is zip...zero...unless, you consider beheading live human beings while yelling "Allahu Akbar!" a medical procedure.
OBAMA CLAIMED: "Islam has given us some majestic arches and soaring spires."
---- Oh puhleeez, Barack! Arches? Spires? .....Ever heard of Rome?
Who the hell puts this crap into his teleprompter? I know he's only gonna do what Teleprompter tells him to do, but this was embarrassing for our great nation.
At least Bobo had the sense to drop the racist nickname for Obama that his uncredited source used.
The Persians were certainly responsible for developing the use of the magnetic compass as a tool of navigation. The Chinese used it for feng shui. Once again, look it up. This is simple stuff that any reasonable student of history should know.
You actually think Guttenberg created the first pen?! Or you just think he is responsible for our "mastery" of it? I am lost where to begin there. I would suggest 6th grade world history.
As for medicine: "The Canon of Medicine". Look it UP! Also look up bimaristans. They were the first "hospitals" in the Western sense. These were in contrast to the Christian hospitals which concentrated on prayer for healing. Bismaristans (not completely sure of spelling) were staffed with physicians and even pharmacists sometimes.
They also included research facilities which is where many medical advances were made including discovering the contagious nature of diseases. They were revolutionary in the medical field as any well-educated doctor or historian will tell you. They made many advances in optometry including removing cataracts hundred of years before any Western civilization would. They had competency tests for their doctors as well as nurses. I believe they were even the first to use sick wards to keep those patients with contagious disease away from the other patients. Don't quote me on that, but I believe it is correct. As for the rest, LOOK IT UP. This information is not hidden and you should not let your racism cloud your knowledge of history.
I know you are not using a Teleprompter, but you should certainly be embarassed. In fact, if you had any self-respect you would submit a retraction after an hour of research.
As for the arches, are you suggesting that Muslim civilizations never used "majestic arches" and "soaring spires"? That is just weird more than even ignorant. But, you should probably do a little reading on Muslim and Arabic architechture as well.
The Persians were certainly responsible for developing the use of the magnetic compass as a tool of navigation. False, first documentation of the use of a magnetic compass in the middle east was in a Persian talebook from 1232 many years after the Chinese. Chinese used it for feng shi, really wow you are so smart, and the continued with the ideas many years before the Persians,
Mesoamerican cultures 1200 BCE to about 400 BCE - also used a compass. Now you do understand that 400 BCE is way before 1232, I sure hope so, well that gives you credit for knowledge which you have shown none.
So there are just a few of your lies, I accept your apology. Have a nice weekend.
Let me make this easier for you. Pick out the phrase that is a lie and reprint it so we can follow your ramblings. I have proven each one wrong and when you refute my facts you fail to even refute what I said.
http://www.bsu.edu/web/cvjones/AlgBridge/father.htm
Al-Khwarizmi, also known as, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was born in Baghdad, ca 780 AD, a city now in Iraq, around 780 and died around 850. Although there is little information on the life of Al-Khwarizmi, what we do know is rather profound. He is known today as the "father of algebra". Diophantus was also given this title, but Al-Khwarizmi was more often thought of as the father of algebra because he was the first to teach algebra in such an elementary way. Diophantus, knowing many of things Al-Khwarizmi knew, but instead of focusing on the algebraic techniques, he was more interested in number theory. He died around 850 AD.
it's also clear that they preach to a hardened minority
of dupes and morons whom constitute the choir. The more
they attempt to whip up fear and division instead of
shutting up while a new president tries a new approach,
the more they keep those whom left the tent from returning.
And the further away they are from acknowledging what it is
going to take to reform the GOP platform, in the fundamental
ways necessary for it to compete in the next election.
So, watching Limbaugh, Gingrich and O'Reilly shoot the GOP
in the foot over and over, is not all bad... ;^)
-- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Those who say it can't be done are getting in the way of those who are doing it.
(Yes, I DID really like the first Bush, possibly more than Reagan, who I also like. Unfortunately the 'reagan' that the can's talk about these days does not sound much like the one I remembered. More like a cariciture of him.)
I personally do not care about speeches. I pay attention to them because it is the media's livelihood to dissect it (including The Leader Rush, as much he claims to be not media) and that is what I get to watch when I turn the TV on so I need to be aware what was actually said.
President Obama is so far, with a few exceptions (bailout), going on about his job as any one should have, logically, rationally, methodically, ideologically.
Good for him.
If the Muslim world thinks America is a Muslim country, then that would make us safer, no? So by the rights twisted logic, Obama's labeled America a Muslim nation, and we're safer for it, so it's ok.
No that's just not right. These right-wing nutjobs have no idea of what logic is, and it's just simple. Everything Obama does is wrong, everything Republicans say and/or do is correct. That's it.
Yes, America is a Christian nation, where we kill eachother in church. What would Jesus do? Just that, only he'd bring an AK-47 and hit 15 churches before leaving town!
I think he owes a few people some apologies.
From his Speech in Ciaro.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam -- at places like Al-Azhar -- that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities -- (applause) -- it was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra;( Truth; its origins can be traced to the ancient Babylonians) our magnetic compass (Truth; The first mention of the attraction of a needle by a magnet is a Chinese work composed between 70 and 80 AD)( The earliest reference to an iron fish-like compass in the Islamic world occurs in a Persian talebook from 1232) and tools of navigation; ( Truth ; Mesoamerican the first civilization in Mesoamerica, the Olmecs are credited to perhaps the compass )our mastery of pens (The original form of "lead pencil" was the lead stylus used by the ancient Romans; Reed pens with modern features such as a split nib have been found in Ancient Egyptian) and printing(It originated in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later on paper) ; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches (Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture, but their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans )and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. (Applause.)
-Islamic prophet Muhammad, a 7th century 601 to 700 Arab religious and political figure
-Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC
-Mesopotamia begins with the emergence of urban societies in northern Iraq in 5000 BCE.
-Mesoamerican cultures 1200 BCE to about 400 BCE
You are so quick to blame that you do nothing but radiate ignorance.
And, highliter? You lose. Yet again.
He lied today when he talked about hearing stories from his Uncle about WWII, when the uncle has come out and said he never told Barry(the name he used as a kid) about the war.
The man lies and makes up stories.
Someday you will wake up, but till then we are here to document the lies on MMFA. MMFA would never show the errors of Obama.
Algebra was developed by al-Khawizimi. Not sure of the spelling, but look it up for yourself - you need the education. There were certainly rudementary forms of what could be termed algebra prior to this but there is no disagreement among historians about who "developed the order of algebra". The word algebra even comes from the Arabic word al-jabr (Doesn't that make you feel just a little foolish? That you would claim that algebra - which is an Arabic word - did not come from an Arab?). I don't know what right-wing site you get this lunacy from, but it is failing you.
The Chinese compass is believed by most to have been used for feng shui and not for navigational purposes for at least the first few centuries. Without a doubt however, Persia was where the compass was developed for navigational purposes. Do you really not know this? This is pretty elementary stuff. And by elementary I mean I learned about Persians and the compass in elementary school.
I do not even follow your complaint about "our mastery of pens". It seems that even you realize that Egypt played a large role in the development and creation of our "mastery of pens". Are you just this strongly right-wing that you force yourself to believe this nonsense? Or is it your education that is lacking so tremendously? I can accept either reason, I am just curious as to which it is.
Are you also arguing that Muslim civilizations did not use arches?? I am not following your reasoning there, either. What exactly are the lies?? Please quote them for us so we can follow your line of "thinking".
The compass was invented in ancient China sometime before the 2nd century, and was used for navigation. So, no Muslims did not invent it, the Chinese used the compass as a navigational tool.
Pens - The Egyptian are the ones with the idea, but they did not create the pen.
The Architecture behind an Arch was created by the ancient Romans and the Greeks, not the Muslims as Obama said. He facts are wrong much like yours. Sure they have arches, did not say they did not, but it was not their idea.
The term Muslim is tied to Islam, and since Islam did not really get its start till the 7th Century, they could not have invented or take credit for anything prior to the 7th Century. Now if Obama has said this area of the world has been known for it great minds in the creating or the idea behind many of the following, he would have been correct.
So again, my history is just fine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebra
Pen
Compass
Navigation
Printing
Arch
Please show us ole smart one where a Muslim created those items listed above, and using Obama Speech, as a reference is not acceptable.
Remember a Muslim is considered apart of the religion of Islam, which was created by Mohammad in the 7th century. So if any of the above items were created prior to the 7th century they are not apart of the Muslim heritage, but yes they may have been invented by a individual from the area but of another religion. A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم), pronounced /ˈmʊslɪm/, is an adherent of the religion of Islam.
Muslim - also Mos·lem (mŏz'ləm, mŏs'-) A believer in or adherent of Islam.
Muslim - person belonging to Islam; also a person who believes in God and submits to his will as it is described in the Koran.
So answer this riddle, how did a Muslim invent something that was invented prior to the religion of Islam? Hhhmmmm???
Thank you and have a great weekend, school resumes on Monday.
Now you are suggesting that Obama claimed Muslims created math?!
"it was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass, and tools of navigation ". That is undeniably true. These are facts of history.
Muslims certainly DEVELOPED the order of algebra (regardles of when you are attempting to give someone else credit for inventing it before they knew they invented it). They certainly DEVELOPED the magnetic compass for tools of navigation. Historians are not arguing about any of this. There is no debate being had about whether or not Muslims contributed to the development of algebra and magnetic compasses. You look ridiculous when you make these claims.
If you can show me where Obama claimed that these things were INVENTED (or CREATED) by Muslims than maybe your sad little argument may have a shred of purpose. But, as any student of history can tell you that it is impossible to know the exact times that these things were invented or thoughts were hatched so long ago. All we can go by is when evidence of these things were used. And we certainly know when they were developed into what we use today. Which, in your quote, is clearly what Obama was crediting Muslims for. Is that your difficulty - understanding the word "developed"? Please, prove that this is not so.
Again, please show me where Obama claimed that Muslims CREATED the pen and the arch? When did he ever use the term "created"? You are a lunatic when you change his words around to argue against Muslims being responsible for any good throughout history. Your history is pathetic, but so is your mindset to even argue such a thing.
It is a concern considering Muslim fundamentalist are the ones who want to kill us. If he is not aligned with them why lie about his connection to the Muslim community?
Lie - "that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average." By the World Factbook's count, Muslims in the United States make up about .6 percent of the population. That's around 1.8 million. June 1st 2009
That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
This money is coming from where?
(And that's after you were schooled twice in World History!)
I think if anyone would bother to look it up they would see that we should give more in foreign aid to other countries than we do (especially when comparing what percentage of our budget goes to other countries as compared to other wealthy nations). Nothing did more to change the attitude of the Indonesian people (a Muslim people) than after the United States came in and helped them following the tsunami. I think everyone should do a little research and see what a difference it made in the way people there voted and how they now think of Western democracies.
We have the power to show people across the world what a good and righteous people we are by just spending a few bucks here and there rather than dropping a few bombs here and there. I am all for using our military when we have to, just not whenever we want to. There is a world of difference. Mark, I do not expect you to understand the nuance. I would expect you, however, to be looking up algebra and where it developed.
That's a lot different than saying "My father was a Muslim".
If I say "My father came from a family that includes generations of lawyers", did I just say "My father is a lawyer?"
Considering the fact that his father never really raised him, even if his father were a Muslim, it wouldn't matter at all.
That is truly precious. This mangled, unreadable paragraph is an attempt to attack the education of another. Ironically hilarious, Mark. Somewhere Monty Python is laughing hysterically.
Because they have NOTHING else to offer.
They CAN'T or REFUSE to explain how Republicans in TOTAL and COMPLETE CONTROL of the government spent money, that we didn't have, like drunk sailors on leave.
They CAN'T or REFUSE to explain why unemployment skyrocketed, home foreclosures sored, corruption was rampant under Republicans TOTAL and COMPLETE CONTROL of the government.
The list goes on and on.
Republicans have NOTHING to offer to ANY discussion, except NO. They have ZERO ideas on how to get this country out of the mess THEY got us in.
So instead of offering ideas, they offer the only thing that has worked for them before, negativity.
The problem is, they've screwed over sooo many people, things like race, gays and sex are at the bottom of most people's list of priorities.
The perfect example of their insanity is their reaction to Judge Sotomayor. The Republican cry of racist fell on death ears. The Republican cry about the Homeland Security report looks comical, in the face of another right wing extremists murdering a physician.
And the icing on the cake is their party spokesman, Limbo, is repulsive to everyone EXCEPT them.
The only thing left in their arsenal, is the country has not been attacked since Sept. 11. But they STILL cannot or will not accept that the worst attack in American history occurred under Republicans TOTAL and COMPLETE CONTROL of the government.
The Jews, Moslems and Unitatians do not believe in the Messiah.
Unitarians included George Washington's vice president and our second president, John Adams. Wasn't he also one of our founding fathers?
It also included John Quincy Adams and William Howard Taft.
Were they not great Americans?
Clifford Spencer