Login HereWhile Obama was giving a pretty good speech in Berlin, conservative bloggers felt a cold breeze blowing across American history, reminding them of History Channel documentaries with names like Hitler: The Rise of Evil. While others were merely riled-up-as-usual by any country that doesn't speak English—like NextRight's Patrick Ruffini, who's aggrieved that an event in Germany was publicized using handbills printed in German—some plunged further into dread.
The leader of the huge blog Red State, writer Erick Erickson, can't believe Obama didn't pick up on the horrifying "military history" associated with the Victory Column, which the senator stood in front of, and which plenty of anti-Nazi Germans have spoken in front of, and which was built after the Prussians beat Denmark in an 1864 territorial war neither of us had heard of. Ejaculates Erickson: "He'll say anything and do anything to get himself elected." Will the MSM force Obama to admit that, as president, he will do nothing to stop Duke Frederick III from annexing duchies?
(Meanwhile, the Washington Post's Chris Cilizza, with a low estimate of the intelligence of the American public, wonders aloud if it will be somehow awful for Americans to see Obama cheered by our allies, the Germans.)
The Barack-as-a-Nazi idea has been big in the conservative world lately. At Free Republic and quite a few other sites, people who weren't bothered by the creation of the Starship Troopers-esque Department of Homeland Security are sweating over rumors that Obama wants to start a sinister secret police force.
It all started with a piece at WorldNetDaily, quoting an Obama speech in which the senator called for "a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." Though Obama went on to talk about public service instead of martial law, and the Silo is pretty sure he was just improvising a bad metaphor, this has kicked off a variety of nightmare scenarios in the Right world.
"So if I enlist, will I be grandfathered into the Black Muslim - Nation of Islam , even though I'm white?" asks one poster. Another, "seanrobins," suspects it will "resemble the Mugabe militia in design and practice," just like the goons who work for Zimbabwe's dictator, with the Obama Corps coming to your house, taking your white person's property and laughing.
The Obama campaign did not reply to an inquiry by the Silo about the issue.
[Second War of Schleswig (Wikipedia)]
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It does frighten kewl kids when the new guy turns out to be more popular than they thought they were…
I’ll take your word for the reports of the looney tunes narratives at Red State and related sites.
Here’s what I know for fact: some of my childhood was spent in the ruins of Europe, including Germany. (I was born a US citizen; my parents worked overseas for a period of time and I got hauled along.)
I don’t take the word “Nazi” lightly.
The Red State bloggers would have more credibility (and different political views) if they showed a better grasp of the parallels between the way that Hitler rose to power (supported quietly by the Junker industrial class of Germany) and the Cheney-neocon subversion of US government (underwritten and supported corporate interests and international financiers.)
By failing to see the parallels, the Red Staters lose all credibility with me. Their ignorance is tiresome, and it’s a weight that keeps us anchored in outdated beliefs and institutions.
The Red Staters, bless their dear, well-meaning souls, need to stop being deaf to the sound of a human voice calling the future into shape. I realize that there’s a certain appeal to wanting the world to go back to 45 records, Gidget, and coney dogs, but that’s suicidal in the face of today’s realities.
Those of us moving to the future are listening to Obama with hope and gratitude.
It’s been interesting to watch right-wingers try to force narrative on Obama and fail (outside their own circles, anyway).
Ok. So than any republican that gave a speach in front of a war memorial that honored a confederate battle victory is a traitor who want to destroy America.
cool