Republicans: Take Your Party Back From Racists!

In this post, there are images that have been circulated by Tea Party and GOP voters. Simply, they are disgusting. My reason for including them is to confront those who still believe that racism is not an issue in today's society. It is also a reminder for those who identify with the Republican platform: THIS is the image that many have of your party. If you are a Republican and are as offended by this as much as I am, then you can and should do something about it! We all should.

The GOP has an image problem: Many people believe that they are judgmental, intolerant and narrow-minded. 

Certainly, there are very good and moral people within the Republican Party. Some of my dearest friends identify as Republican and I can state with 100% certainty, that they are as sensitive about unfair treatment and prejudices as I am. But because of their political affiliations, they are being judged and labeled as bigots nonetheless.

Is it fair? No. As a Democrat, I fight against stereotypes and labels. It is my belief that no one should ever be classified because of a demographic that they may fall into.
 
But on the other hand, are they making every effort to stand against those who have earned the Republican Party this reputation?  Are they shouting over the voices who foster this shameful conduct? Are they insisting that this is unacceptable?

I worked (very briefly) at a business where the office manager was never shy with her opinions. Either no one ever told her that it is a bad idea to discuss politics at work, or she didn't care: She hates Barack Obama and wants the world to know it! And once she learns that you don’t hate him or even worse, *gasp* voted for him: – Well, like I said. It was a brief job. 

On one occasion, she accused The President of treason and said he should be impeached and arrested. When I asked for an example of The President’s “treasonous actions” I received a misinformed and disconnected argument about health care and states’ rights. She had no understanding of how the ACA worked and I certainly wasn’t going to be able to convince her otherwise. 

I asked for other reasons as to why she hated him so much, hoping to understand why she possessed such a deep loathing for this man. I got the “liberal agenda” speech, that’s been told and rehashed ad nauseum. When I tried to ask questions or rebut a statement, she spoke over me and got visibly upset. She’s a very loud person, and has a hefty amount of conviction. And since she was the boss: Prudence won out over politics.

Being loud and in a position of authority however, did not make her right. Not surprisingly, she disagreed with that too.

Throughout this particular rant, she never addressed the “why”. She made blanket statements about how the President “hates America and wants to see us fail” or some other impotent claim that never yielded her political reasons. She mentioned Reverend Wright and questioned the sincerity of The President’s faith and even doubted his birthplace: But, she wanted to assure me it had nothing to do with race. I found this odd, because I never mentioned it either.

"I think the lady doth protest too much!"

And as I read Facebook posts and blogs from many of those representing the far right, I see more of the same. There’s a lot of opposition to the Affordable Care Act, upset over Benghazi and a few other topics, but no substance. No reasons reasons as to why. Certainly no critical thought when it comes to the accuracy of some of their accusations.

There are however, lots of footnotes or qualifying statements about "not being racist." Often, following conclusions that The President is a Muslim and therefore a terrorist. 

There are continued outcries from the far right, of illegal activity and wrongdoings by The White House. Stories, that if researched in the smallest way would prove ridiculous.

Every "scandal" is twisted to the point of lunacy. 

The newest right-wing indignation is over President Obama not using the words "Under God" when narrating the Gettysburg Address for the Ken Burns PBS Documentary. Some are declaring that this is proof that he is a Muslim.

Obama Removes 'God' From Gettysburg Address

As many 5th graders could tell you, there are 5 versions of the Gettysburg Address produced by President Lincoln. Since there were no recording devices back then, no one really knows which version he recited on that monumental occasion. The original draft, known as the Nicolay Copy is the version that the producer asked President Obama to record. John Nicolay was President Lincoln's personal secretary. Many historians believe that this is the official version since Mr. Nicolay accompanied The President on his way to Gettysburg. This is also the version that is in the Library of Congress. 

Somehow in the minds of the absurd, President Obama is responsible for Abraham Lincoln's omission of the words"Under God" in his original draft. 

The examples of false outrage go on and on.

We've all heard about the survey in Louisiana in which one third of registered Republicans questioned, directly blamed President Obama for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It's almost laughable. Almost. 

I’m not saying that there aren't valid reasons for disagreeing or even being angry over some of the President’s decisions or policies; I’m just not hearing any legitimate arguments from the loudest voices. Look, I don’t agree with everything President Obama does, but when asked, I can articulate a reason as to why. I don’t repeat empty catch phrases or misquote our founding fathers. I read as much as I can about any given subject, because (a.) I like to have legitimate reasons for being angry and (b.) I like to be informed.

Since the day Barack Obama was considered a viable candidate for President, he has been demonized. It has been reported that he was issued Secret Service protection six months earlier than other candidates because of the threats against him. Many of those threats came from white supremacists and end-of-times zealots, who believe that Obama is the Antichrist.

Then there are others, who may not be trying to physically hurt him, but loathe him all the same. Some are your “Average Joe” citizens that appear to be normal until they open their mouths. People who by all intensive purposes, seem to have it together, much like my previous office manager: They are successful, of average intelligence while simultaneously, fanatical in their hatred for Barack Obama. They are the ones who like to insert his middle name whenever they speak of him, just in case anybody has forgotten or cares that it’s Hussein.

And there it is: Hussein. 

And for those who don't know... YES, that is Racism!
 These same people feign confusion, stating that they are "just using his name, and what's wrong with that?". Well, nothing. I happen to like his name. However, I don't recall anyone telling William Jefferson Clinton or George Walker Bush to “put down the Quran!” In fact, until this President, middle names were largely ignored. The closest we got was George "W" Bush. Coincidentally, no one ever doubted the birthplaces of these men either.

Why is that?

• Noticeably, Barack Hussein Obama is not a traditional “American” name. 
• Or a white name. 
• Or a Christian name. 
• His middle name is shared by Saddam Hussein and Obama rhymes with Osama. It’s inconceivable for some to imagine that someone with THAT kind of a name could have been born in the United States. Especially if he happens to be black. 

I’m sure it would have rattled those same brains, if a person would have ran for President in 1972 (or even now, for that matter) with a name such as Nguyen Chuong. Alarm bells would have gone off in the minds of the bigoted: “That person must have an anti-American agenda!” 

And so with the candidacy of Obama, began the Birther movement. They joined ranks with the Tea Party and organized a coup d’etat of the Republican Party.

These are the same people who claim, a little too loudly, that they are NOT racist! Often followed up with the fallacous statement “I even have a best friend who is black!” Followed further with a sustained pause for effect as they cross their arms, Richard Nixon style.

They are too arrogant, belligerent or incompetent to see that they are indeed; racist.

“But you’re wrong”! I’m told. “That’s not why he’s hated! It has nothing to do with race! “
Okay then, why?
“Because he wants to destroy America!”
Um. What?
“Yes! It’s true! He wants to destroy this nation!”

The website renewamerica.com states this:

"President Obama nurtures a fundamental, visceral antipathy for America as founded. He illustrates this in every speech on foreign soil when he blames America for every global evil known to man."

WTF?

I mean, please… Go on.

"He seems driven by a commitment to punish this nation for being racist to its core. He believes that racism is in America’s DNA. Since it is in our DNA, it cannot be rooted out, it cannot be cured, it cannot be eradicated; it must be destroyed." 

This sounds like Charles Manson’s Race War. It’s just happening 40 years later. I continue to look for intelligent dialogue as to why the President is so disliked by the far right. And the vast majority of what I see has racial slurs or Christian fanaticism attached. Stupidly, those same people they try to turn it around and blame The President of their own fanaticism.

Example:

"Semi-retarded ebony squawkbox, pogrom agitator, and serial hate-crime-hoax enabler Al Sharpton leaped into the fray, claiming that the national debt “has been reduced every year for the last five years under this president.” In truth, the national debt has increased over $6.5 trillion during Obama’s reign—in effect, enslaving every man, woman, child, and race hustler in America to over $20,000 in new debt apiece.. - - The Week That Perished - Taki's Magazinehttp://americandigest.org/sidelines/2013/11/

(FYI, The deficit really is shrinking. I could link Forbes, USA Today, Bloomberg, ABC, PBS, FOX - Yes even Fox, or any other news organization, but I'm pretty sure that any disagreement would inevitably turn into accusations of a biased liberal media. So, what's the point. I'm going to save myself the effort and let people take a little personal responsibility.)

So, we are back to bigotry. Quit saying it’s not about race, when in fact, it is 100% about race. Is it always overt? Is it unintentional? Does it matter? Racism doesn't need a certified interpretation. At the end of the day, a turd is still a turd. It doesn't matter what you ate originally, it all ends up the same.

I’m going to be told that just because somebody doesn't like the President, doesn't mean they're racist. And they’re right. Not all dogs are Poodles. I understand that. And for those who are conservatives but not crazy, I’d like to offer some advice:

Republicans who don’t like the President’s agenda or his policies, for reasons other than race, or religion: You need to speak up, because right now the squeaky wheels in your party are getting all of the oil. They aren't doing you any favors. Certain members of  The Tea Party and The GOP are behaving so badly that it makes all Republicans look bad.

When you see these “jokes” about the President’s skin color, or hear someone say that he was born in Kenya, speak up! When they call him a Muslim, say something! Make a point to say that religion shouldn't matter even if he was, which he's not. When a person or an elected official is promoting a cause you believe in, but it's blanketed in bigotry or fear, you must set the record straight!

Say something that will bring attention to your concerns and give our country added value, because the people who are advocating for you, are instead hurting your cause. You have the Constitutional right to disagree with the President's positions on the ACA, Gun Control, Immigration Reform, Social Security, Medicare and anything else you choose. No one has ever said that the Left offers a perfect solution. By all means, add to the conversation. Debate! Make us better! Do not let a bunch of nuts drown out your voice!

Help! Participate in building a more perfect union!

A final thought....
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the Democratic Party's racist views prior to the 1960's. It appears like the ones bringing this up are trying to justify their own actions. Perhaps their mother's should have taught them that two wrongs don't make a right. But it's true. For a long time, the Democratic Party was full of bigots and hatred. The Kennedy era Democrat, saw what they didn't like and changed it. They cleaned house and got rid of the people who were destroying the party and more importantly, the Untied Sates. That’s what Democrats do. We change. We overcome and we do what we feel is right.

Now it’s time for the Republicans to do the same. Who will be brave and speak out? Who will vote out the dead weight and bring back some level of calm and reason? This is your time. Take it.

Think like a Democrat when it comes to social justice. Just do it as a Republican.

I don’t often (if ever) agree with Rep. Pete King of New York’s 2nd District, but he held the high ground during the shut down debacle. I remember John McCain demonstrated the same grace during his Presidential Campaign. These instances bring respectability to the party. Unfortunately it’s too far and in-between the maniacal cries of those in the same party. There are some Democrats who think it’s somewhat amusing to watch the Republican party self destruct, but I don’t see it that way. We need opposing views to make us better. Without an intelligent voice on the other side, there is no one to challenge new thoughts and ideas.

So for all of us: Fact check, educate and bring about honest debate. Give your thoughts substance. And if you are someone who doesn’t like a man or a woman because of a name, religion or skin color…. Stop talking. You’re giving the rest of a headache and you’re hurting my country.

-v-

It's all about me!

My Twitter profile says this:

 Bleeding Heart Liberal, Proud Mother, Blissful Wife, and Living happily ever after on a budget! Political Junkie and soap box standing commentator.

And that is the beauty of Twitter. No need to go into detail, it's all there. But, since this requires more than 140 characters, I will try to give you a little more information: So here goes:

I AM A:  Soap box standing, tree hugging, left wing preaching,  dirty joke loving, no prisoners taking, bleeding heart,  feminist!  Need to know more?

Okay fine. Let's start with Soap Box Standing:

I respect your opinion! I do. Unless it's stupid. Now to me, stupid isn't thinking differently from me. But I do want people to think things through. If you're going to make an argument against something I believe in, back it up and connect the dots. Let's take Immigration reform for instance. If you say something to the effect of "Kick them all out because they're stealing jobs". Then yeah. You've got more explaining to do. What jobs are they taking? It sure as hell isn't as the head of the IT department for Dell. Not because he or she isn't capable, but because if someone is a computer programmer, chances are pretty good that they aren't trying to escape bone-crushing poverty. When is the last time you were crowded out of a cucumber picking job?  Do you have a life long dream of scraping gutters? No? And if you do, when's the last time you applied for such a job? That's what I thought. You should be more worried about some guy in China taking your job. What about the "them" that you want kicked out? Where do they go? Where do their children go? Many families have lived here for generations. They have no home or family on the other side of the fence. It would be as if somebody forced you to... Iowa,  and you're from New Mexico; with no money, no resources, and all of your belongings confiscated. How would you feel? And if your reply to that is: “That’s not my problem," well, then you're an asshole. And yes, quite possibly stupid. I know that there is much more to this debate, and I am confident that at some point, I will be addressing it.

Tree Hugging:  I love trees.

Human's are smart. We can figure out how to do things without bringing life to extinction. Look what happened with Sperm Whales. We hunted them to near extinction and then were forced to figure out something else. And when we did. Boom! It was more efficient. And it happened at the end of the Industrial Revolution without hurting any business except for whale hunters and certain lamp makers. I bet they found other work. There's no need to destroy a resource before finding a better way.

Left wing preaching:

I bleed blue. Democrat for life. Now I'm not saying that the party is perfect... Close perhaps, but not perfect. The party started as a bigoted, close-minded organization and in the 60's was redefined. Today, we are so far removed from what it once was that it's not recognizable except for in-name only. I love reinvention. I think that if you don't like something, you change it. And that's a Progressive. One that strives for positive change. I want everybody to live the American dream, not just a few. I want everybody to be able to live without fear of hatred or inequality. I demand fiscal responsibility from everybody, including corporations. I believe we all share this land, and for that privilege, you have a responsibility to your fellow Americans.  I am proud to be part of a group that sees our government as an evolving work in progress. You can't stand in the same river twice. And why would you want to?

Dirty joke loving:

I admit it. I live in the gutter sometimes and still possess college-humor. There's a line however between what's tastefully naughty and what's discriminatory. I love to laugh. If a few choice words or the mentioning of body parts is part of the joke, all the better.

No Prisoner Taking:  

 I won't coddle you. If you spew hate, I'm done with you. Bye Bye.

Bleeding heart: 

I don't believe that any child dreams of growing up to be a drug addict or wants to sleep in doorways with newspapers for blankets. People deserve our help. I don't think we should enable people... Many of my counterparts misunderstand the difference: They believe that by feeding people we are making them lazy. Well, if you're hungry or can't shower, then you sure as hell aren't going to make it through a job interview. So, you give somebody a helping hand. You pay it forward so that someday, the person you helped can do the same. Yes, my heart bleeds. For every hungry child, abused animal and scarred piece of land. I won't apologize or be made to feel weak for that. Compassion is the opposite of indifference.

Feminist:

I love men. They are AWESOME! (Especially my husband!) And I love men because I am a Woman. A creator. A nurturer. A teacher. I believe that our bodies, are our bodies, and if we give up the right to do what we want with them,  we will never be equal to men.  I should be paying the same insurance rates and getting the same standard of care as any man. I should receive the same pay for the same work and skill level of any man. And more importantly, vagina's are awesome! If I just made you uncomfortable - get over it. Men have been paying homage to the penis since the beginning of time. Phallic symbols are all over the world in ancient and modern art and nobody thinks twice about it.

I am an average woman, living an average life. I have no “pull” with anybody in power and I certainly don’t have any money to contribute to sway someone’s opinion. I work hard, over pay my dues and still on occasion get ripped off or taken advantage of. My son is an adult now and trying to find his own place in this world. I am a proud-proud-proud mother and terrified that this world isn't good enough for him. My husband is my soul mate and while he doesn't understand why I feel the need to voice my opinions and thoughts, he supports me nonetheless. I have wonderful friends. I am blessed. I am happy. I am grateful for all that I have and for what I will someday obtain. I hover between agnosticism and atheism but firmly believe in humanness. That we are the keepers of the earth. And that by hurting her and her creations, we create our own hell.

 I grew up in a small working class town, under the roof of a crazed mother and a complacent father. My mother wasn't crazy in the figurative sense. She's literally nuts. She has never been professionally diagnosed, but it's generally assumed that she's a paranoid schizophrenic and bipolar. While these conditions are not her fault, the conditions that I grew up in, are. She has always been lucid and clear enough to see the results of her madness, and yet to this date she refuses to seek help. I understand that she comes from a generation that blamed and embarrassed victims of mental disease, but I would hope that any parent would choose their children's well-being over their own ego. My brother and I lived through measurable mental and physical injuries with no hope of help from the outside world.

I've always felt guilty for being resentful of my upbringing. There are so many children that have gone through horrible and unspeakable abuses, that when compared to my own, they would have chosen my life over their own without a second thought. But I also know that wrong is wrong. The degree of wrong doesn't change that fact. I also know that a person deserves better than the worst there is.

Extreme fundamental religion dominated my household.  My family attended a church who interprets the Bible literally and consider themselves the "chosen ones." They believe that they are the only ones who will enter Heaven someday. Because of my family's problems, my brother and I were ridiculed by the other children there and at times, their parents too. Our lives were not secret, and from an early age, I was willing to complain to anybody within earshot. But because my scars were not visible, I was well nourished and came from a "Christian" family, I was overlooked. Ignored. It was "A Family Matter." The last time I set foot in that church, I was 14 years old, but I can still quote scripture just as good as a preacher's wife.

My fellow church congregants weren't the only ones. My school counselors were no different. I was seen as a stereotypical rebellious teenager who was lying for attention. It was too much trouble to investigate. Nobody wanted to open that can of worms. I did have some very good friends whose families allowed me to stay with them for extended periods of time, and for that, I was and still am, grateful.

In the end, I was lucky. One of my best friend's and her mother took me in during my teenage years. I was cared for like one of her own, and she never asked for anything in return. Technically, I was considered a runaway, and she put herself at risk by helping me. She was a single mother, probably earning minimum wage, but she never asked for, or received one thin dime to help with my care. She taught me how to be independent. To never be a victim. To have pride in myself and to never allow someone else to make me feel inferior. She made the best flour tortillas and menudo soup in the world. She laughed so much! We all did! She taught me about equality and overcoming obstacles. She saved me. I realized back then how special she was, but now, I KNOW it.

I remember watching people in the grocery store; how they would glare at her because she was Mexican. I overheard people making snide remarks when she spoke in Spanish. People openly questioned what a Mexican woman was doing with a white girl. I learned that racism is alive and well in this country. I learned that the only day to deal with it is by demonstrating grace. By rising above it all and never allowing your shoulders to slump or your smile to fade. She taught me that to be a woman is to be a teacher. When somebody does something unacceptable, you speak up. You teach others how you want to be treated. If they don't learn that right off, you keep at it.

I must admit that I didn't always do things that would make her proud. I got into all kinds of trouble. I was a hell-bent, wild child. You name it, and I probably did it. I have experienced and done things that the makers of Lifetime movies get big bucks to recreate. I had a chip on my shoulder and I wanted to be a bad ass. But, I got into trouble one too many times and became ashamed of myself. I remembered my teacher. I remembered her lessons. I remembered her love.

When I was 20 I became a mother myself. I've tried my best to teach him the lessons that I have learned. It is important to me that he never judge. That he is proud and respectful. Insightful and free thinking. When he was about six years old, we went into a convenience store, and overheard a customer berating the store employee for having an accent. I believe it was Korean, but I could be wrong. At any rate, the customer rudely asked the man why he couldn't speak English. He told him to go back to where he came from. Before I could say anything, my small brilliant boy said loudly, "He's speaking English! I can understand him just fine. Do you want me to tell you what he's saying?" I doubt my son understood that he was insulting the customer's intelligence, but that fact wasn't lost on anybody else. I was so proud. He shushed that bigot with innocence and a moral superiority.

So, that's where I come from. Religion let me down, and a woman I barely knew rescued me. Kindness trumps dogma and empty words. I root for the underdog and voice my opinion when I see something that isn't right. I try to be respectful of other opinions, as long as they make sense and don't trudge over somebody else's happiness or well being. I love politics. It's a dirty business, and those in power often abuse it, but if they want to keep their jobs, they must listen. And I want to make them hear me. I was not listened to as a child. As an adult, I will do everything I can to be aware and not let that happen again.

-v-