GOP's disrespect of Obama goes beyond debt fight

[DearAbby]

What should be clear to the whole world watching the debt-ceiling battle is that the Republicans are far more intent on taking the president's scalp than balancing the nation's books. They had ample opportunities to do the latter during the eight years of George W. Bush.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader with the greatest cunning and sharpest knife, signaled his party's true purpose last year when he proclaimed: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." It was not to undo the health care legislation Obama signed into law, or to block another debt limit increase. Even then, two years out from the next presidential election, the Alabama-born senator said the top goal of GOP lawmakers to oust Obama.
It's personal

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has been especially relentless in the debt-ceiling fight. He attacked this first African-American president with a palpable disrespect not only for Obama personally, but also for his esteemed office.

Following what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called Cantor's "childish" display during a meeting with Obama, the House majority leader complained that the president had cut short the meeting and stormed out of the room. "He shoved back and said, 'I'll see you tomorrow' and walked out," Cantor snidely told reporters— as though the president needs his permission to end a White House gathering.

More: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-08-02-gop-disrespect-obama-debt_n.htm

[msongs]

1. obama is not willing to defend or stand up for himself. that is not our responsibility nt

[Lost-in-FL]

2. +1, nt

[daa]

6. I just look back in history and know how other presidents

reacted. chimpy? Big Dog? Even Pappy? Reagan, Carter and Nixon were also vicious, ruthless and they got mad and even. When Hillary lost and I held my nose and voted for this guy I knew he was an empty suit and the tea party has proven that.

[shanti]

15. carter?

that's a new one. sure, he may have gotten mad (who doesn't?), but i don't recall him ever being vicious or ruthless like nixon or raygun.

[daa]

17. President Carter has a very nice temper

Once he told Sam Donaldson when they were in India and just the two of them were looking at a manure hole. Mr. Carter told him Sam I could push you in right now and now one would care.

[shanti]

21. sounds like a joke

:eyes: is that all you can come up with?

[bbgrunt]

3. Mr. O's agenda, however, is exactly what they want.

So they must attack him viciously in order to disguise his real agenda and cause the rubes to vigorously defend him instead of becoming aware of his agenda.

[CarmanK]

4. Obama is President of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

He represents 300mn people and deserves respect. See these tparty fools think that they are the reps of all the people. We hear their lies daily. Contrary to all the Opinion Polls, the TPARTY position is not the position of the people. McConnell represents ONE STATE. HE SPEAKS for one state, his problem is that he doesn't do a good job representing the "best interests" of his own constituents. He has put his own biases and bigotry ahead of the interests of the country. He is pathetic. McConnell REPRESENTS what is most horrific about the SOUTH: the bigotry, racism, ignorance that drives their politics and still craves the good ole days of "the confederacy".

[spartan61]

8. Thank You.

You told it the way it is. I am so sick of the way people are dissing the President. If nothing else, have respect for the Office of the Presidency. As much as I disliked George W., I still maintained respect for the office. To see a "Leader" like McConnell speaking the way he is, I find totally out of bounds. It looks like he is getting high on his perceived power as majority leader. He is nothing more than a bigot and racist.

[Raffi Ella]

9. WHY aren't the LEADERS of OUR Party

calling out such Profound and Blatant disrespect and using it against these thugs!? THAT is Our problem!

We don't FIGHT. We don't call them out! We don't use these moments because Our Leaders think the Nation is as smart as they are and will see right through their bigotry and disrespect but the problem is A LOT of Americans DON'T!

ANd if it's not called out then people think it's not only OK to treat Him that way But that he isn't even worthy of their respect! Not if he's not gonna stand up for himself/for the Party!

[bowens43]

11. He doesn't DESERVE respect. He has to earn it and he hasn't.

[Bluerthanblue]

16. bullshit- he was disrespected before he was even elected.

I owe YOU respect, before *you* 'earn' it. You may lose some respect by the way you speak and act, but you deserve to be treated with respect none the less.

I'm so sick and tired of all the puffed up egos in this selfish, self-centered society of ours.


:thumbsdown:

[Sheepshank]

18. +100

I try to treat everyone with respect.

I don't start out treating people like shit, waiting for the good humor to kick in after some good deeds and butt kissing. Obama has been treated and continues to be treated with disrespect regardless of what he does or doesn't do, or says. Even here on DU.

[Auntie Bush]

22. B S Wish we had an icon for that.

Seems like I need it a lot lately and it normally isn't in my vocabulary. I use special vocab just for DU. :)

[Supersedeas]

12. Bush was also President of the United States...and there were occasions when

his title merited less than my respect.

The title alone may not be enough as the Bush Presidency duly demonstrates.

[DrDan]

5. wow - those comments are on the rough side

[Raffi Ella]

7. and this is why I don't publicly criticize the man.

I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. The Democratic Party/ President Obama have disappointed me over and over and OVER but! they get it SO HARD from day one from the right that I just WON'T give Them the satisfaction of seeing a democrat giving it to Him too.

But where does that leave me, US? God DAMN it's infuriating! I'm SICK of feeling sorry for Our Leaders!

FUCK THE GOP. FUCK YOU TEBAGGING MORONS! FUCK YOU! YOU ARE KILLING THIS COUNTRY. YOU STUPID FUCKING RACIST HICKS!

But fuck the Democratic Party too for being so god damn ineffective! FIGHT god damn it! Fight for SOME thing!

[bowens43]

10. so does mine...I have no respect for Obama. None. Zip. nt

[CakeGrrl]

13. Hopefully you're not wasting any time to oust him from office. Go to it!

[Sheepshank]

19. so what are you doing about it..... besides whining on DU? n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

14. sadly this goes for more than just the GOP it also applies to

people I expected to be above that kind of crap.


:shrug:

[ProfessionalLeftist]

20. TRUTH. They want the economy destroyed and unemployment high

because they KNOW that in 2012 those things will be the measures by which Obama will be judged for reelection. They vowed to make him a one-term President and that is exactly what they're doing.

Nevermind that they have to destroy the entire United States and kill people to do it. And Obama - being the rightwinger (centrist?!) he is - is helping them - perhaps intentionally.