Why Does The GOP Think President Obama Is More "Radical" Than Other Democrats?

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

I would like to get some input from my DU friends on this one because it is something that I have wondered for a while. I find it funny that a VAST MAJORITY of Republicans hate everything about President Obama and think he is most liberal man ever to walk the face of the earth when there are quite a few liberals on this site that criticize him for not being liberal enough (i.e. the stimulus, health care, Bush tax cuts, etc). There is also a huge amount of downright fear when it comes to this president. Never have I seen so many people in America be afraid of the current President.

I often have to remind people who think President Obama is some bleeding heart liberal, wild-eyed socialist that everything he has done is probably LESS radical than what any other Democrat would have done if elected.

MEMO TO THE GOP: President Obama is not a "Socialist", he is a "Democrat". The political positions of the modern Democratic Party have been the same for about 100 years, so why do they think everything he is doing is new and "radical"?

[MrDiaz]

1. if you remember back in the clinton days

they were pretty much the same.

[arcane1]

2. Because he won the presidency and isn't a republican

Even the bluest of blue dogs would be called a radical marxist by those fools.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. He is the President right now.

If there were another Democrat in the White House, that would be the most radical.

It is a convenient lie used to justify other lies, like the Democratic Party being Socialist.

[unblock]

4. partly is just increasing hysteria, a 30+ year trend among republicans. oh, and he's black.

in all seriousness, there are quite a few republicans who believe that "liberal" and "socialist" and "black" and "democrat" all mean pretty much the same thing -- the only difference being that "blacks" are actually blacks, whereas the rest are merely black sympathizers.

in this light, "more radical" means "actually has dark skin and everything!"

[Scootaloo]

5. I'll show you why

On the left is a sample from Barack Obama's right cheek. On hte right is a sample from Bill Clinton's left cheek.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

7. That made me think of this

[johnsolaris]

6. republicans are (fill in the Blank)

Hi,

Republicans believe that anyone that does not wrap themselves in the flag is Socialist, communist, Traitor to their version of Democracy.
We all know that their version of Democracy is not Democracy but Dictatorship & you better do what & when they say or you are a Traitor.

I will say it again, The Republicans hate Obama because he is not White & bow down to them. During the Clinton years, they were reprehensible in their attacks against the Clinton family. I remember the attacks on Chelsea Clinton. What did a teenager ever do to them. Oh Yeah, her parents were Democrats & were teaching her to be an independent person & not subservient to Men.

The Republicans smile when you shake their hand, but we all know it is a Devil's handshake.

[TheKentuckian]

8. Three legged stool

He is a Democrat presently in the position, I don't know who the last Democratic nominee that was painted as the most liberal whatever EVAH!

He is a black man. Don't even pretend that is a part of the puzzle.

They are dedicated to pushing the frame. If they can have any success with their bullshit, positions like Obama's can be safely made the absolute extreme left of the accepted political spectrum, which places Reagan around center (maybe even center-left) and gives them more room to run right.

[dembotoz]

9. yes racist for sure but i think there is more

we have allowed the republicans and tea party folks to demonize the lanquage.

being called a liberal or a socialist is like calling someone a commie during the cold war.

it is like throwing a rock and then see if somone got hurt.

with conversations that obama is a socialist i generally say--

OBAMA AIN'T A SOCIALIST---I AM A SOCIALIST---OBAMA IS BARLEY A DEMOCRAT.

usually shuts them up for a moment.

[0rganism]

10. it's a default label applied to any Democratic president by the right-wing media

regardless of actual political beliefs, any Democrat who holds the office is unquestionably the most radical Democrat, probably a Marxist, and definitely the most Un-American bastard to ever land the job.

That President Obama is black and has a funny name definitely doesn't help sooth the irrational fears promulgated by the right-wing lunatic media.

[Demoiselle]

11. Do you really think the GOP actually believes anything it says?

The Grand Old Party will try to push anything it thinks will sell to the mouth-breathers.
And, of course, the mouth-breathers will believe any kind of crap they hear about persons of color.
And ...well...I've spewed enough...

[Vincardog]

12. The GOP does not "think" anything. They call PBO a liberal socialist so he can give them everything

they want and hope we don't notice.
Have you seen any Banksters prosecuted under his watch?

[gollygee]

14. This comes from an economic theory that calls anything other than

the most radical version of free market capitalism "socialism" and "marxism."

It is propaganda from fans of that economic school of thought.

Google "Chicago School of Economics", "Milton Friedman", and "Shock Doctrine" for more information.