Is Obama at War? With the American People?
Even the outrage he does show reeks of an over-rehearsed melodrama. Addressing the United Nations with his “the future does not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam” line while some scape-goated, third-rate filmmaker rots in a cell for something that his advisors knew all along had nothing to do with Benghazi just might be a new historical low. I can’t be the only one thinking “Wag The Dog” in this fiasco.
On second thought, maybe we have occasionally seen his animus roused. We saw it when Obama felt obliged to weigh in on the Zimmerman trial. “If I had a son, he’d look like Treyvon.” And again, “… could have been me 35 years ago.” We saw it in when Obama took sides in the “Beer Summit” incident. “Cambridge police acted stupidly.” We have seen his anger roused when the topic turns to his political rivals — “Bitter … clinging to their guns and religion”. We saw it when he insisted that certain religious groups should be made to violate their consciences to comply with his policies.
His enemy is not the existential external threat of the day (Islam), nor is it violence generally (observe his handling of Chicago and Fast & Furious). He is not passionate about defending all citizens equally (Zimmerman’s right to an unbiased trial, for example), but, from here in the cheap seats, his administration seems principally concerned with two things. Power and race.
He has systematically blurred divisions between the Administrative, Executive and Judicial branches of government, and has run roughshod over the 10th Amendment (among others). The people he has lied to are exactly those who elected him. So, perhaps the real enemy is any citizen or group so bold as to come between him and “his” power.
Similarly, the President, with his unique opportunity to bring lasting racial reconciliation between two ethnic groups who desperately need it, continually chooses to further divide the country along racial lines. Without consulting facts, or letting events play out, he reflexively takes the side of the person who looks most like him. Congrats, Obama, you’ve become the “anti-MLK”.
Does an administration seemingly “apart from, against, and above the people” — an administration that Congress has already held in contempt — deserve to complete its term in office?
While you good citizens decide how long to remain the targets of your own Executive Branch, I leave you with a reminder of what American leadership could and should sound like… meet your “Virtual President”.
Image: Winston Churchill, (sculpture, 1965); artist: McVey, William, 1905-1995, sculptor. George F. Dalton and Associates, architectural firm; Fred Toquchi Associates, architectural firm; author: Slowking4; courtesy of GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2