Republicans always claim that leaders in the Democratic Party are socialists and communists.
This same argument was used against President Wilson when he tried to create a League of Nations to pull the world together after World War I. The same rhetoric was used against Roosevelt during the Great Depression when his Democratic principles led to the creation of radical groups, such as the WPA, FDIC, SEC and Social Security Administration.
Kennedy and Johnson were demonized and accused of socialism in the same way when they advocated universal health care and passed Medicare. Similarly, Newt Gingrich accused President Clinton of being a communist when he raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent of Americans to balance the budget.
With such a long and proud history of using the same argument, one would expect conservatives could appropriately articulate their propaganda.
But today’s Republican leaders lack credibility.
With absolutely no power in D.C. and only 20 percent of the American people willing to admit their membership in the Republican Party, it is no surprise the only idea anyone at Fox News can think of to combat Obama’s tangible solutions for our country’s problems is to label Democrats as socialists.
We might have expected the Republicans would try to frame Obama’s policies as extreme communist manifestos, but their criticism lately has crossed over into a realm of wacky.
Last month, Obama gave a live address to all students in the United States to begin the school year. In his speech, he talked about how much hard work it takes to become successful and the importance of responsibility and integrity. He urged students to listen to their parents and teachers and challenged them to solve the problems of tomorrow.
This simple speech fueled conservative backlash across the country.
Parents kept their children out of school for the day after Rush Limbaugh told them the speech was “right out of the pages of the potbellied dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-il.”
I’m sure it increased his ratings, but there is no logical correlation between the President of the United States encouraging American students to work hard and military dictator Kim Jong-il’s regime. Moreover, it probably isn’t the best idea to use “potbellied” to describe other people when you look like Rush Limbaugh.
I thought nothing could surprise me after conservatives characterized the president’s speech to schoolchildren as a communist attempt to overthrow the American government but then came the 2016 Olympics.
I realize the United States hosting the Olympics is the first step toward Obama’s New World Order, but the conservative response to Chicago’s 2016 bid was a bizarre political move. Not only did conservatives throw a fit about Obama traveling to Europe to personally pitch Chicago’s bid, but they also openly rejoiced when America wasn’t chosen to host the international competition.
Unfortunately, the modern day conservative movement can’t put its hatred of Obama aside to root for America.
Now we find Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. I assumed the Republican response to the news would be similar to mine, surprised and skeptical of whether Obama deserves such an award so early in his first term. The conservative mouthpieces, however, had their predictable response ready and used the honor as an excuse to attack Obama and once again try to connect the dots between communists and Democrats.
Next time you argue with a Republican, simply remind them President Obama spoke to schoolchildren because he is an example of the possibilities available when you work hard academically. He tried to get the Olympics because a vast majority of Chicago and American citizens wanted it, and he won the Nobel Peace prize because his name isn’t George W. Bush and, for Norwegians, that alone is enough to be considered the most important promoter of peace in the world.
Lucas is an MBA student.
And Mary had a little lamb, Amen.
As a Republican, I read your articles objectively and find a keen interest in your liberal perspective on my party affiliation. However, keep in mind that if you want to continue to be a writer that gains the respect of your peers for your political views from both sides of the aisle, leave your personal attacks and vendettas out of your arguments. Even though I agree that Limbaugh can be too extreme in his expressions, your “potbelly” remark attributes nothing to the argument that you’re trying to make, and subconsciously causes a question of credibility on your part. Rush’s weight has no reference here. Let’s keep things in perspective. I’m a Republican and I root for America. I believe in free speech as well. If you prefer to write this way, there is nothing stopping you, it just makes it tougher on the reader to take you as serious as they potentially could.Ben
The League of Nations failed miserably. Have you ever heard of World War II? Its’ failure was due to its’ inability in taking the German people into consideration. Thus the League with all its’ free-thinking, bleeding heart, Humanist- leadership under Wilson, could not get the American people aligned under the new banner of a post-War World. Likewise, the League could not stand up to Allies taking Reparations, with each Country harboring its own resentment against the former Central Powers. The shame and poverty that followed for Germany drove the Country to an even more radical regime. Any revolutionary idea built upon a false premise and larcenous funding is doomed. It’s just a matter of time.
The "Great Society" of Lyndon Johnson based on the ideologies of Roosevelt is now broke. The programs that were supposed to get people on their feet perpetuated the poverty of said individuals. Taxpayers are punished for being honest and reporting all income-- with higher taxes. Government tax receipts were highest under Reagan when people were confident in their Government. They honestly reported income because they weren't being slapped in the face by a naive Administration, high-ranking members of which are exemplary tax evaders.
It is obvious to this author that Republicans are not a majority among voters in the populace and the only opposition to the Administration being offered in the media is Fox News and a few Talk- Show hosts. Therefore, the true opposition is the American people themselves. Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative, Americans are seemingly having second thoughts about a President and Majority who cannot make good on any promise; who cannot agree upon a solution to health care, the war, or even follow through with promised tax cuts to the less fortunate and the elderly.
The outcome will be similar as when Americans failed to be galvanized by Wilson into believing that a partnership between Countries still at odds with one another was the best solution. In an effort to secure the best solutions to their problems, Americans are opposing the threat of eliminating that which is good and that which works in their lives.