The reason:

Over at TPM, this report:

GOP House Candidate: Fight Against Democrats Bigger Than Fight Against Terrorism

Allen Quist, a Republican candidate seeking the nomination to go up against Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN), has made a serious pronouncement: That the political battle against the Democrats is the defining fight of this generation, even greater than the fight against terrorism. (...)

"... I, like you, have seen that our country is being destroyed. I mean, this is -- every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom. This is our fight. And this is our time. This is it. Terrorism, yes -- but that's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C., with the radicals. They aren't liberals, they're radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz -- they're not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country. And people all over are figuring that out."

What's interesting are two remarks in the comments thread:

kenga

"THE NEW SHERIFF IS A"

I would really like to believe that's not at the root of this movement, but I can't bring myself to. If anyone has evidence to the contrary ... I would really like to hear it.

Forrest

I'm sad to say I agree with you Kenga. I've tried to be open minded about Obama's opposition, and I've tried to make sense of their points of view.

I just don't see any legitimate reason for their intense hatred of him. He has barely even DONE anything, and certainly nothing worthy of hatred. On the national level, things are same to better regarding the economy, national defense, the environment, etc. I'm sure locally some people are much worse off, and some are much better off, but on average things appear to be slowly improving - despite intense opposition from the GOP.

I guess you could point to the attempted bombing on Christmas to say things are worse, but we all know that terrorists will continue to target the US regardless of policies or which party is in the White House. Besides, they were screaming about their freedoms being taken away in February for crying out loud.

So, given a lack of tangible, factual evidence upon which to base their claims of lost freedoms, what other explanation is there?

A mostly black guy with a terrorist's name who spent part of his childhood in a Muslim country and comes from Hawaii (which, frankly, is barely a state anyway) was elected President. In THEIR America. They refuse to believe it...that so many Americans can think so differently than they do. We all must be blind to the clear fact that he's a Mujahid hell-bent on destroying our democracy. Just as soon as he gets off the golf course that is.

Maybe if he was a white guy named Obama, or a black guy named Bob Smith, it wouldn't be so bad. But you have racial and xenophobic fears wrapped into one guy, and they're scared.

posted by Quiddity at 1/04/2010 10:47:00 PM