"When Republicans hate their president more than they love their country, there's a problem."

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023339.php

STILL ROOTING FOR FAILURE.... The first few months of the Obama presidency were marked by a depressing far-right development -- in the midst of multiple crises, high-profile conservatives publicly admitted they wanted to see the president's efforts to help the country fail.

The rhetoric was fairly new for the American mainstream. While any president's detractors tend to think his policies will fail, this president's detractors went further, wishing that things go poorly for the United States. It runs against certain American norms to actively, publicly hope that the nation's fortunes take a turn for the worse. That these same folks claim to have the high ground on "patriotism" made this all the more ridiculous.

In time, these far-right voices moved on to other unhinged campaigns, but the root-for-failure tendencies have not disappeared altogether. Matt Corley flags this exchange between Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and radio host Scott Hennen, aired yesterday:

HENNEN: I'm proudly accepting that label of rooting for failure for his policies, not for any one personal individual or anything else, but, I mean, should we, is that what Republicans are doing? Are we rooting for failure? Is David Axelrod right?

BACHMANN: We're, we're, we're hoping that President Obama's policies don't succeed, exactly as you said.

Got it. President Obama has policies intended to help the economy, improve our national security, make quality health care more affordable and accessible, resolve the housing crisis, improve our existing energy policies, etc. Maybe those policies will be effective, maybe not. If they have the intended effect, we'll have a safer, more prosperous future.

It's fascinating, then, to see right-wing Republicans, including some currently in Congress, bypass the debate over the policies' efficacy and go directly to rooting against the country. I don't remember any similar dynamic existing with any other modern president.

This is such a simple concept, even Bachmann should be able to understand it: Americans should not root for America to fail. It represents literally the bare minimum of civic pride.

When Republicans hate their president more than they love their country, there's a problem.

—Steve Benen

[GentryDixon]

1. When you can't get the message past the choir,

the point is lost.

I fear our country is doomed to the hate filled, ignorant masses who claim to love "God & Country". They love Republican rule better, regardless the cost.

[political_Dem]

2. Anyone else can tell that the Republicans have crossed the line into sedition,

but they remain blind to their own actions.

I find it ironic that these idiots screamed and finger-wagged for eight years for Americans to go lock-step behind their president, but now they are failing to take their own advice on how to be patriotic.

However, I guess their patriotism only works for a certain type of POTUS. :sarcasm:

[Captain Hilts]

3. Well said, Steve! nt

[JuniperLea]

4. AND... the more successful Obama's policies prove themselves to be...

The more hateful the RW rhetoric becomes. Proving a point, me thinks.

[Cha]

5. bachmann who counts joe mccarthy among her heros..

Those types have narcissistic ideas of ruling the world and someone who is helping people like President Obama is only standing in the way.

Of course, she wants failure for our country and the corporatemediawhores want controversary so they show her ass all the too damn many times.

[craigmatic]

6. they're just fascists plain and simple

[gateley]

7. K&R nt

[maxsolomon]

8. they don't hate Obama more than i hated Bush

it's simply not possible. i rooted for his policies to fail as they were leading us down the road to Fascism.

apparently the deluded right wing feels the same way. the disingenuous right knows better - they're just obstructing & manipulating rubes to regain power.

[kimmerspixelated]

9. They continue to shoot themselves in the feet.

All we can hope is that they are not wearing shoes of the steel studded type. No, I take that back...I want to remain positive.

[patrice]

10. It is Blaspheming Idolatorous Arrogance.They are insane and addicted to their own CRAZY-ness.