It is the first day of that days-long infomercial (but with less real content) that is the Republican National Convention. I have acquainted myself with enough of their platform to shake in my boots for my country -- especially its young women and its elderly -- and really am not interested in much more. I was not in the least sad they had to adjourn early because of Isaac; I just hope the Gulf Coast weathers the storm okay.
My favorite political essay today comes from the blog of Tim Wise:
If It Walks Like a Duck and Talks Like a Duck: Racism, Bigotry and the Death of Respectable Conservatism. My favorite quote from said essay came in its only footnote:"According to spring, 2012 survey, roughly two-thirds of Republicans say they believe Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., and with many others saying they aren’t sure either way, only about 1 in 5 accept the truth of Obama’s citizenship. Which is to say that only about 1 in 5 Republicans can claim the mantle of being even remotely rational and informed human beings."
I am not republican but I get tired of this kind of crap. I anything Romney's platform is more benign that that of Reagan, Bush, Dole, Bush, or McCain. Did the world come to an end when Reagan, Bush or Bush were elected ? Of the Plank's in Obama's 2008 platform - how many has he implemented ? How many has he even tried to implement ? What President has actually done much of what they said they would ?
ReplyDeleteReason converted the campaign rhetoric of the 1800 election into a video on youtube. If anything we are more polite today. What is it that you think is the respectable conservatism that has died ? Pat Robertson ? Jerry Falwell ?
And ah yes the racism and bigotry meme. Are the people who voted for Obama in 2008 who will not in November Racist ? Do you doubt that if we had half the economic recovery in 2012 that Reagan managed by 1984 that Obama would win every state ? Is it racist not to reward failure ?
In the survey you cited, Republicans were almost twice as informed - data from your survey. On the vast majority of issues there were only small differences between democrats and republicans, 20% of all democrats either beleive Obama was born in a foreign country or don't know, and 45% of independents. And the republicans appear to be doing substantially better economically, either moving into the upper middle class transforms you into a republican or being a democrat prevents you from earning a good living.