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The GOP's Young Hatemonger
Audra Shay, accused of endorsing racism on Facebook, became head of the Young Republicans on Saturday. John Avlon uncovers new details about her disturbing online comments. Avlon is the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America.
Thirty-eight-year-old Audra Shay’s campaign to become the next chairman of the Young Republicans went from obscure to infamous over the past week, after The Daily Beast revealed details of posts of her Facebook account. Specifically, a thread where one of her friends posts that “Obama Bin Lauden [sic] is the new terrorist… Muslim is on there side [sic]… need to take this country back from all of these mad coons… and illegals,” and Shay responds eight minutes later with: “You tell em Eric! lol.”
“This is an outrage and I CAN NOT believe this nation has him as our leader! It makes me sick!” She posted a few minutes later: “My disdain for Obama is directly proportionate for his disdain of this country.”
Following those revelations, several Young Republican colleagues urged Shay to remove herself from tomorrow’s election at the group’s convention in Indianapolis—a request Shay, the favorite going in to the vote, has pointedly refused. Instead, she said that she was responding to an earlier post from her friend, and labeled criticism against her “political attacks” which “proves that my opponents will stoop to the lowest levels to steal this election from the jaws of victory.”
Now, The Daily Beast has obtained more troubling details about her online musings—despite clear attempts by Shay to scrub her social-networking pages clean. Specifically:
* In October 2008, in the wake of news that an effigy of Sarah Palin was being hung outside an affluent Hollywood home as an offensive Halloween decoration, Shay replied, returning to the “LOL” style that she employed after the “coons” comment: “What no ‘Obama in a noose? Come on now, its just freedome [sic] of speech, no one in Atlanta would take that wrong! Lol.”
She picked up the thread again the next morning with a clarification and a new insight. “Apparently I could not spell last night. I am wondering if the guys with the Palin noose would care if we had a bunch of homosexuals in a noose.”
* Posting and endorsing a conspiracy-theory video that attempts to prove that Obama believes he can only “ensure his own salvation” and “fate” if he helps African Americans above whites, complete with Barnum-esque captions (“LISTEN AS HE ATTACKS WHITE PEOPLE”).
* Numerous posts in which Shay says that President Obama is “anti-American” and has “disdain of this country.”
Collectively her comments are products of an increasingly common GOP mind-set I call Obama Derangement Syndrome, the right-wingers’ version of a virulent strain of obsessive presidential hatred that many liberals exhibited during the Bush years. Symptoms include comparing the president to Hitler and ascribing to him every evil and unconstitutional intention imaginable. It is accompanied by the belief that such a partisan fever is patriotic.
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The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
The 'Birthers' Began on the Left
John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
Queen of the Tea Party
John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
The Tea Party, Day 2
John Avlon’s new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the web and in paperback. Advance orders can be placed here. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
Redhead5050
This woman is not young, obviously not well educated as can be easily discerned from her biggoted posts and lack of command of the English language. And it would seem, Republicans want to perpetuate this ignorance with the election to leadership of such an incompetent person.
Llplo99
Apparently this ignorance is a symptomatic problem within that party. I saw a comment on Politico.com that says Palin is the Republican's best hope for POTUS.
openhand
It's a refusal to accept differences that is at the heart of this. These people don't love their neighbor, see differences as a threat, believe there is only one answer, theirs.
They therefore become increasingly isolated and will only identify with someone who ticks all their boxes, the lowest common denomenator. What they don't understand is that with the U.S. electing Obama, rightly or not, there has been a structural shift towards embracing common values.
They will only get more frustrated as they continue to marginalize themselves.
FortuneTeller
OMG, say it isn't so...if they're thinking that palin is their best chance they are so over. The GOP mutated during the regan, bush the Ist years, festered during clinton and greedily grew under bush 2nd/dick c. admin. The raging infection that is the current republican party represented by Shay et al, does not bear any resemblance to the party of Mr Lincoln. Old-rich-white-men calling the shots while their undereducated base belives they can't understand what palin is saying because she is more intelligent than they are. They refuse to consider that no one can understand her because she makes no sense. I was a member of the GOP then we parted ways and I became an independent, so did a lot of people. Sadly, the party was kidnapped by radical groups and is now part of the lunatic fringe. RIP GOP, we hardly know you.
Infojock121
Sometimes Politico is very irresponsible with their journalism. They will print just about anything to get readers. To say Palin is the best hope for the White House is ridiculous and foolish. When she displays a commanding knowledge of policy THEN and only then should she be mentioned as a presidential candidate.
Infojock121
Sometimes Politico is very irresponsible with their journalism. They will print just about anything to get readers. To say Palin is the best hope for the White House is ridiculous and foolish. When she displays a commanding knowledge of policy THEN and only then should she be mentioned as a presidential candidate.
Longgone
Is the group actually called the Young Republicans National Federation?
As in: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&addres s=389x1540361?
vim876
It's all the more upsetting because these people have taken over a party. One of the problems with a two-party system is that if one gets taken over by radicals, people don't really have any choice at all. (This is not to suggest that other systems don't have their own problems. Clearly, they do.)
Andrewp111
Politico is right, even though you obviously do not agree. Palin and Huckabee are probably our only candidates for 2012, and only Palin can raise money. I don't think the others will even run, especially if they can't raise money. I think Romney is toast. His poor performance in last year's primaries while outspending his opponents proves that. The libs and the MSM are going after Palin so hard precisely because she may be our only viable candidate. She can only win if Obama crashes and burns in 2012, but the liberals recognize that with today's economy, a crash and burn scenario is possible. If Obama becomes Herbert Hoover II, Palin could be our next president.
helojed
She's a twit at best. Seems the Repubs are aiming high with this one.
seriously1
She's young compared to other republicans.
motrbotr
With the tax cheats and racists that Obama and the left have appointed or trying to get appointed, I guess the right is just taking cues from the left.
bgeasyas123
Don't forget all the adulterers and addicts on the right side!
Cinghiale
Wow, that's a pathetic response.
Show yourself out.
GMundy19072
It never ceases to amaze me how ill-informed the right is...tax cheats, liars, adulters, racists and outright corruption one need only look at Bush's last eight years for an example of what the Republican party is capable of...taking cues for corruption from the left? You obviously do not read the newspapers or your source of information is Fox News (a news organization by name only as it is a mouthpiece for the GOP and Rupert Murdocu who is on his way to controlling all print and web media)
I would strongly encourage you to do some homework before you make broad statements with no basis in reality..
bobbygoode
Keep it up!
Cazador
Funny how conservatives always accuse Dems for the PRECISELY the things they are themselves doing. So Obama is a fascist, racist and hates this country, these are the words from people who make songs about his color, who supported a president who suspended habeas corpus and want to abandon the union because taxes went up for the rich a mere 3%. You know what conservatives? You deserve the leaders you have.
vi-lontano
You are such a joker...
Racists on the left...what a hoot!
I guess giving false information to start a war..
transferring the wealth of this nation to cronies through No-Bid contracts
and countries like Saudi Arabia (where most of the terrorists came from...but they're Bushy pals so I guess you're cool with that)
Bankrupting 98% of the tax payers to enrich the top 2%...
Illegally firing lawyers (appointed by themselves)...because said lawyers
refused to stop following the law !!!!!!!
Is just the kind of government a person like you deserves....
wildn0102
motrbotr; It seems to me that you ppl. have a selective memory when it benefits your talking points! Hence, "tax cheats" by the Obama administration? Have you heard of the following ppl.? Rove, Libby, Gonzalez, Rumsfeld and Cheyney.
As for Audra Shay- She is the reason why minorities around the country view the republican party the way that they do. I'm sure she could care less, but when you're trying to win a general election, every vote counts!
This is what Eric Holder spoke about when he mention us a nation of cowards when it comes to race. On the other hand, the very people that post this crap are nothing but cowards! You see them in public and they don't have a word to say.
Btw; LOL?
sviolette
and the war criminals on the right.
Destrina
reply to vi-lontano:
By racists on the left he means Rev. Wright who said:
"Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office."
Transferring the wealth and cronies are still in full effect. Both sides merely transfer the wealth from the pockets of the taxpayers to their own pockets and the pockets of people who lick their boots. ACORN, Turtle Tunnel in Florida, Mayor of Sacremento, Kevin Johnson.
And as for firing the lawyers, a great parallel are the Inspectors General who have been fired illegally. By the way Obama co-sponsored the law when he was a Senator and the broke it when firing them improperly.
In response to bgeasyas123:
There are adulterers on both sides, Bill Clinton is an obvious one, as well as Barney Frank who admitted to allowing a gay prostitute to run a sex-for-money business out of Frank's own house.
Seriously, both sides are full of amoral, spineless cowards. Wake up and realize the left-right game is just a distraction to keep your eyes of the freedoms BOTH PARTIES keep stealing from us.
Obamanaut
Ooh, burn! I'll tell President Barack Obama (D), how you feel. So negative...
yweston
Just a reminder "tax cheat" Palin just paid $17,000 in back taxes in February and paid AK for expenses she charged the state for living at home and traveling with her children at the expense of AK taxpayers.
BTW didn't we pay for all the "liquor" George Bush's daughters drank when they were "underage"
oldsoldier
BTW didn't we pay for all the "liquor" George Bush's daughters drank when they were "underage"
IDK if we bought the Bush sisters booze or not, but it is fairly well documented that the we paid for Michelle and the kids to use Air Force One as the family station wagon for shopping trips to Europe and as Obama's we paid for Obamas use of a couple of G5's to fly to dinner in New York.
oldsoldier
vi-lontano
Racists on the left...what a hoot!
Yes, Racists on the left. During my military career, I was stationed in Kentucky. I went home to visit family in Oregon. When I was departing Oregon (A very liberal dem state) I stopped at a gas station and filled up, there was an attendant and another customer there (both native Oregonians) talking and I joined in the conversation. During our brief discussion they bith asked where I was headed, I told them I was enroute to Kentucky, the station attendant responded that he could not live their because "there are too many niggers", the other customer laughed and agreed. I got in my car as left. Saying and agreeing with such statements is hardly the actions I would expect from such Tolerant, Liberal, Dems as Oregon has.
MissKaren
I hate to bring this up but Ted Bundy was a member of the Young Republicans, too.
yweston
Oh Well, that says everything. And they haven't changed a bit!!
pallen02
When decrying the lack of education and mastery of the English language of others, it's probably a good idea to check the spelling and punctuation of one's own posts before publishing, yes? While I agree with your point, you look like a horse's ass.
larose501
Yes, you are correct she is not young! Obviously suffering from some type of emotional frustration. People who pick up hate and biggotry, generally, are socially deficient in enough human characteristics that intellectually they simply are unable to articulate humanely and assimulate properly into mainstream society. Therefore they find groups of like kind that are easily persuaded because of their similar inadequacies. It is good that they aren't smart enough to move in stealth mode so that we can keep an eye and report on them, thank you and Mr Avlon
apollo29
No one could ever give a better description than this!Brilliant and exact!
austin216
WOW!!! She's so ignorant. I hope she wins.
RogerHWerner
The Young Republicans have a history of electing very nasty people. And why would a 38 year old be considered a Young Republican? Doesn't this women have a life?
Charlemagne712
midlife crisis
vim876
Young Republicans takes registered Republicans under the age of forty. (I just realized that sounds like a joke. It's not.)
sviolette
In republican years she is quite young. 100 is just middle aged to them.
ross1776
It is rather unfortunate that both parties seem to have merged. And both use racially charged hate speech in order to define their positions, including those especially in the liberal left wing. What is more hate speech and unconstitutional than Janet Napolitano's "right wing" extremist memos, and now the pending legislation on "hate speech" in which now evidence of criminal conduct is reduced to "perceptions of intent." And Obama, after all, has socialized now both the banking and automobile industries, making all Americans now enforced shareholders with the banks now loaning back that debt to Americans at additional interest to reap more profits. How could the banks be bankrupt at all when they are merely branches of the Federal Reserve who prints the money.
Incredible the ignorance it appears that spreads on both sides of the aisle. And Obama is more dangerous than Bush, actually, since he has held himself out as a Constitutional lawyer and is clear that he is anything but.
And merely, as was Bush, another lackey for the bankers. Just why do you think we are still in the Middle East after all. War means debt, and debt means profit for those European bankers, after all.
Wake up America. Obama is no savior, simply another lackey politician. And that new "global warming" tax will eat up that $600 credit he promoted in order to get elected faster than you can say either "Hope," or "Change."
talkinhedz
Kudos, a Very balenced and well written piece..Also Sadly..A very truthfull piece.
Spasticula
This Republican racist is differnt from the party line... how exactly?
Obamanaut
Redhead5050:
The FIRST thing I wanted to do is mention this woman's lack of command of the English language. I can't say she is completely ignorant because of it, though. A great many people lack such high skill (I'm a journalist and I still make mistakes). The only thing I need to understand about this tragic woman is that she belongs to the other guys and she can keep making her bigoted, ignorant rants all she wants. I think I'll write a letter the RNC thanking them for her.
oldfolks2327
the republican party does endorse this behavior by being silent on the issue
namedujour
She's representational of the GOP. They think that's how you're supposed to be because they don't know any better.
marabout40
Is she related to Sarah Palin?
onlyhope
this does not come as much of a shock to me..the republican party ( which i was raised to be) has become a laughing stock within the political and social world. If the only hope for the young republicans is this, then i am sad to say that i am republican. I truly believe in my ideals and given the fact that i tried to become a member of the young republicans numerous times and was rejected the common courtesy of even a response. It seems to me the republican party is more ingenuous then they are genuine in there hopes to save this dying party.
bigjimtx
We must elect the "Common Person", unedcuated, poor grasp of reality and ignorant....good for you Republicans, good for you! You have elected the m,ost common person you could find way to continue being the party of the incompetent.
YeahISaidIt
She is not "common". She is vulgar. The "common" person is not hateful like Ms. 38-year-old whose behavior is pretty much identical to an 8th grade bully with bad skin, zero brains and stinky breath.
oldsoldier
Exactly what do you find biggoted about her post? Is it bigotted to be astonished that this nation of allegedly educated left wingers would vote in a man with the least experience of all potential cadidates? I too hold a great disdain for Obama, and why not? Bush started the ball rolling to run the economy into the ground and Obama, after promising to fix the economy has taken actions that actually accellerated the downhill run.
After reading the posts here that contain a left wing tilt, I find an odd characteristic. They seem largely to hold a message of "tolerance toward all", especially regarding ones race. However the pseudo "tolerance" seems to abruptly come to a halt when it comes to listening to those of an opposing viewpoint.
If a person views others of another race with a jaded eye, what makes them any different than another person who views others with a jaded eye, based on their political affiliations? Those who abhor Republicans/Conservatives or Democrats/Liberals, are no less bigotted than a person who dislikes others based on their race.
YeahISaidIt
@oldsoldier:
Democrats/Liberals DO indeed feel the need to demonstrate their so-called "intelligence". While they are, perhaps, not as clever as they'd like to think (nobody really ever is), they, at least, focus on *intellect* whereas the Republican/Conservative base their grounds for argument on *morals*.
I have absolutely nothing against morals -- but it seems to me that if conservatives intend to appoint themselves "moral police", they ought to make certain they are "morally" qualified. Most people aren't, but conservative Republicans think its perfectly okay to tell others what is right/wrong all the while demonstrating their own moral bankruptcy. With absolutely NO sense of shame.
So, yes, Democrats do tend to focus on intellect because at least it is rational, fact-driven and used to seek solutions where the Bible is not the end all be all. Read, in contrast, at the posts made by most conservatives and you'll find they accuse zealously, condemn disingenuously and rarely offer any solutions, preferring, instead to post asinine "I-told-you-so" comments which are very hateful in nature.
crownie
@oldsoldier:
It is quite different to judge someone based on political affiliation rather than race. Your political affiliation is a choice - you decide what you believe in and vote accordingly. People tend to judge you based on those choices. However, skin color - and thereby race - is not a choice you make. you do not balance options and decide which skin you think you like best.
Do not try to rationalize your ignorance, sir. You, and your party as it stands today, are a sad group of hateful people.. and that's your CHOICE.
RenelCarolipio
Redhead,
The ultra right wing neocons have highjacked the party of both Lincoln and Reagan. They have become more rabid, and they ante up their hypocrisy, bigotry, and hatred.
It also seems to me that the Republican party is being led by ignorant, under educated, and ill informed lunatics (i.e. Limbaugh, Hannity, et al). They embrace ignorance under the leadership of Sarah Palin. You would have to be a certified idiot to truly believe that Palin is fit to be VP, let alone POTUS. It is also obvious that McCain lost because of Palin's sheer stupidity and ignorance. Note to lunatic neocons: I think Palin is a wonderful and great wife and mother, but you have to admit that she is just plain dumb. There are a number of Republican women who is ten times qualified to be VP or POTUS. McCain really made a mistake of having Palin as his running mate. It just boggles my mind to see that so many people still support Palin despite her profound ignorance and stupidity.
And no, contrary to the neocon spin, we are not afraid of Palin. We bash Palin because of the magnitude of her hypocrisy and stupidity. In fact, I would love to see her run for the 2012 presidential election. Palin will help re-elect Obama in 2012.
I can only hope that Governor Huntsman of Utah will consider to run in 2012. He is one MORMON Republican that I can eventually vote for based on his vast experience and his rational and compassionate nature. Then again, both the right wing fundies and left wing wackos would be out to get him but am sure he will prevail.
I miss the truly compassionate conservatives. I want them back
Johnny-Boy
She's not very smart, is she?
judeseverin
Smart is not the point. This group is highly determined and dangerous. This is the same group that put a C student in the White House for 8 years. Radicals fight til the death. Do not confuse their ignorance with their ability to rally their troops, spin lies and win elections.
lorijen
Indeed, there are a lot of crazies out there, and if you (GOP) give them a platform for their fears and hatreds, they will reward you (GOP) with loyalty at the polls.
Cazador
Not so, FRD was a C student at Harvard and John Kerry actually had a lower GPA than Bush while in Yale (!) The problem is philosophical, Bush is a 12-Step program ideologue and a close-minded zealot.
Cleanerman
Very true. Palin might be President in 2012. I live in the South and until this last election, I thought things were changing some for the better in this region. It is not. There are a lot of racists in America but even more so in the South. There are a lot of open-minded, good people in the South-- but it is still scary how many are NOT. The last election brought all the intolerant people out in full force (nationwide) and it even shocked me--a resident in a Southern border state.The hatred put forth by the local Republican Party that reins supreme here was just jolting to me and made me feel ashamed. The GOP "appears" to be becoming a smaller regional party, but, beware--appearances are or can be deceiving.
nspineda9
You said radicals fight to the death. I too will fight to the death. you think only conservatives have guns. I am tired of letting them wave their so called second amendment on me. If they start a war I am not backing down. no more oppression it is time for us liberals to be tough and fight back. kill or be killed.
parke47
little known fact.george bush had a higher gpa than john kerry.I wonder why the news media never reported that?
vim876
Don't you mean steal elections?
oldsoldier
Very true, after all the left did all that after Reagan and handed us an adulterous liar in Slick Willie. The radical left and its Messiah Obama are now doing the same thing with their own radicalism.
isabella
Which C student in the White House? I just read that Pres Obama's Pol Sci grades were mediocre at Columbia. It didn't stop him getting into Harvard Law, or being head of the H L Journal, a prestigious position usually given to the top student of his year, which Obama was not. I also read that he never wrote an article for the Journal. His academic shortcomings did not interfere with his ability to rally the troops, spin lies (?) and win elections, either,but perhaps are being revealed by his dependence on the ubiquitous teleprompter.
misha1000
Why am I not surprised?
MWaterman
I actually AM surprised. There is a part of me that can't get it out of my head that the majority of republicans are smart and well educated. I started changing that opinion with the Palin fiasco, but always thought of that, along with the election of George Bush, as an aberration. Now I think it might actually be true that Republicans have so "dumbed down" their party that it may be beyond any hope of recovery.
propitiousmoment
In the 60's and 70's and probably before, that was true. There were jokes about how dems were blue collar and repubs were upper class. The republican party now, however, is more like two parts, the upper class/money interests, and the religious right which tends to be mainly lower socioeconomic status but can be duped into supporting the monied against their own interests.
HarryParatestis
The Republicans are about as smart as a now infamous plurality group of voters, in 1933 Germany.
ExRepublican
Thinking back to when I was an ardent Republican I too cannot believe the GOP of today. I also think this country needs a strong alternate party, but 99% of the current Republicans fill me with disgust even horror. (Not that the Democrats are without their own scum, but the party's aim is higher and hypocrisy far less.)
WHO will lead them back to being a worthwhile entity? Scary
roger37
Yes, Republicans are fairly "smart and well educated." But they are also largely Southern, and that puts a different spin on things. Statements like what is in these peoples' emails are Conventional Wisdom in the South, except for the few of us that passed Critical Thinking 101.
KIMBER93
Go over to YouTube and do a search for McCain/Palin rallies and get a look at the attendants. Not all Republicans subscribe to the idea that the earth is 4000 years old, but all of the people who subscribe to the idea that the earth is 4000 years old are Republicans.
The wealthiest, most cynical and self serving people in this country have crafted a targeted appeal to the bigotry, religious fanaticism and xenophobic nationalism of the most undereducated and emotionally reactive people in this country to whip them into being a reliable voting base. Throw them enough red meat of hatred, xenophobia and horribly twisted takes on Christianity, and they can be counted upon to turn out and vote against their personal interests 100% of the time. The only smart and highly educated people in the party are the ones doing the manipulating to boost their own personal wealth and power.
jvhobson
It's important to understand the appeal of ignorance and xenophobia. Climate change and the Great Recession are too frightening for many people to address rationally. Too many people don't WANT to understand what's really happening, and prefer simple answers- and they don't care if those simplistic answers are lies. These simplistic answers revolve around making the problem THEIR fault- Not OUR fault. "They" can be any group at all- ..blacks, homosexuals, Christians, Democrats, Repulicans etc. Although many on both the left and the right fall into this disfuncional mindset, there is a difference. Currently, most Republicans view such thinking as a virtue, while (hopefully) more progressive people recognize it as a fault.
njtaylor2001
You forget, the Republican party was the one who campaigned against intellectuals and the educated elite. And they claimed to be the "small town" party, evidently not realizing that small town = small number of voters.
palecon44
As l've pointed out on many spaces: after all that has, or hasn't, occurred from Jan. '01 to Jan. '09..... the GOP lost a shade over 4% in the national election. The Neo-cons showed themselves to be exactly what they are. And less than 5% of the voters in 2004 cared. "Dumbed down"? Don't be ridiculous!
emerger
Well you'd appreciate this beauty at WSJ.com:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124649175841883047.html
Karl Rove wraps himself in the flag in praising some family who's members have served in the military. The comments from the readers are mind-boggling.
Rove avoided service himself, not to mention that he helped push the USA into the Iraq war. The hypocrisy bellows like a fog horn and yet the lunatics are all on the lawn applauding this villain. It's creepy scary.
cbeenthere
Obsessive presidential hatred exhibited by liberals during the Bush/Cheney administration? If there was it was too little, too late.
donniebnyc
I agree. Unlike these insane Obama haters, we who despised Bush did so based on his horrific actions, not on lies spread by racists. And no matter how angry Bush made us, we never attempted to incite violence from the craziest people we could find.
BasPos
You mean Cheney/Bush.
jonponder
A president whose despicable acts bring this great country to its knees -- like dividing the country by lying about his reasons for invading another country then dividing Americans against themselves before leading them into an unnecessary war that costs the lives of hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers and innocent Iraqis and a trillion or two dollars, not to mention collapsing the world economy before slinking back to Crawford to spend the rest of his life pursuing his one true interest: working on his abs -- deserves the "deranged hatred" of all Americans, at the very least.
To compare regular Americans' antipathy toward Bush, a strutting, aristocratic popinjay, to the baseless, incoherent, paranoid raving of right-wingers about Obama is the sort of facile cluelessness that has become the hallmark of the mainstream media in our era.
parke47
being wrong is not lying and all the world agreed at the time and the deranged hatred we ''evil neocons"have for obama is nothing compared to the lunacy you libs showed toward bush in you your never ending lust for power and control over every aspect of peoples lives.
namedujour
Hey jonponder: Give it up. They can't grasp it. If a person is still defending Bush, that person's reasoning ability is impaired. Therefore, explanations and debate are wasted effort.
Like this line here: "the lunacy you libs showed toward bush in you your never ending lust for power and control over every aspect of peoples lives." Wow. I shouldn't embellish on that. It's a work of art.
Or this one: "being wrong is not lying and all the world agreed at the time..." The world agreed at the time? What world? The one in parke47's mind? There were demonstrations all over the REAL world, when Bush declared war. We were outcasts. If you traveled, you said you were "Canadian" because the world was so disgusted with America.
Furthermore, you can't afford to be wrong when it comes to declaring war. You let the inspectors finish looking for weapons of mass destruction, if that's your justification. When they don't find them, you withdraw and go home. You don't invade. You don't reword the CIA intelligence that says Iraq is not a threat and decide oh yes it is (wag finger in face). So that's either really wrong, or it's lying. Take your pick.
We're back to "stupid". That always sums it up in the simplest way possible. Done and done.
PinkoLefty
Deer Oddra,
U ARE DA BOM! YOU HAVE MY FOOL SUPPORT! By the way, I loved the edit of the 23rd Psalm. You're not just in the same valley anymore; you're right inside the freakin' shadow!! As an atheist I can't really relate much, but it's clearly more ballsy than the original.
Dear Democrats,
Please stand quietly at a safe distance while the GOP is busy shooting itself squarely in the foot.
Jessica150
Hilarious.
Dylan111
Yes, I had the same reaction: I hope she wins the election. Let people see them for who they really are. And what is with these hip hop Republicans? I know I certainly would not want to belong to a party which has a substantial percentage of people who despised me.
al-nafs
From what I gather, hiphoprepublicans.com is supported by a younger urban crowd that is conservative, but not socially inept.
I am an independent who could definitely be swayed by a fiscal conservative arguments. However I am so put off by this party, I could never vote them into power in good conscience. I love my country too much.
Llplo99
Why am I not surprised? This Obama Derangement Syndrome is rampant among many conservatives...I see it all over the internet.
fleetw1978
What is really amazing is that many people use the internet to post vile and racist things and forward them to people on thier mail lists that do NOT share thier point of view. I've had in-laws and cousins forward me stupid, outright racist, and unfunny idiotic things knowing that I would find them offensive. When I respond indicating my disapproval and the overt racism, they play the victim or bitch about free speech. Really eye opening. I was brought up with a value system that taught me to keep my mouth shut if my mind had thoughts that were offensive or out of bounds. I"m convinced parents no longer teach such values>
Andreams
Totally agree. Since President Obama's election I've learned more about my "friends" and family than I ever wanted to know. The one that particularly impresses me sends God and Christian emails regularly and then here comes an Obama hate email. Something is wrong with this picture.
furysmom
My cousin accidentally sent me one of those forwarded hate emails. It felt good to respond and question her (newly found) Christian belief system since she obviously felt so much hatred towards her "enemies." Still waiting to hear back from her.
wmhogg
That has been my experience exactly. People I thought were Christian friends forward me racist, mindless emails accusing Obama of being a secret Muslim, and wanting to destroy the country. They usually provide quotes from real people of authority, though the quotes themselves are fabricated. It is like a self-reinforcing paranoia group. It is really sad to see people delude themselves primarily because of their racist core beliefs.
MomHon
So, so true. I had to put the foot down on 2 in-laws. One immediately respected the boundaries, the other not so much - and it changed my opinion of both of them. I knew they were Repubs, but really... But the really sad case was a friend from college, a friend for 35 years, who simply refused to stop forwarding those things around & who indeed played both the victim and the free speech cards. The things were stupid, extremely racist, unfunny - and LIES. I tried a few times with her, finally did the debunking "reply all" option & declared the friendship dead. My only regret is she had the only good photos of me from my college years.
Maggie22
Turns out my brother-in-law is a big 'ol racist from the South. We really never knew until President Obama was elected. It is shocking the hateful things he has sent us and he knows we worked for the Obama campaign. My husband finally wrote him and requested he not send that sort of thing to us and so far, so good. He has well over a hundred people on his email list that he sends that stuff to. I can only hope most of them find it as offensive as we did.
da5id1
I got this kind of viral video thing a while back from my ACCOUNTANT purportedly professing to support the troops in Iraq because of the deep Christianity of the founding fathers. The teeniest, tiniest, bit of research discloses that the founding fathers, at their most candid moments, were not Christians, barely Christians, not Deists,and wrote many admonitions, warnings, and outright refutations of church and religion (particularly vis-�-vis the state) -- both organized and not. I gathered a bit of this up and accidentally hit "reply all" so that his entire client list was copied. I only get business e-mails from him now. He is a very good accountant.
jobert
I think the three of us are related. Will you be at the next family gathering? I need strength in numbers. As it is now, I am the only non-Republican, and I can't stand it.
motrbotr
Is that the syndrome where we all follow him over a cliff because we are all blinded by his aura?
bgeasyas123
No, that's the syndrome where you all want him dead because your blinded by racism and hatred that stems from the intimidation you feel from a president who can read.
AlanD2
Too late, motrbotr. You and your fellow conservatives already did that with Bush.
al-nafs
motrbotr: If you had a rational argument instead of a fear based emotional hatred, then perhaps I would listen. The Republican party has not yet figured it out.
Obama won because most people supported his ideas. Not because of his race. If he fails to do what he said he would do, you will see that support dissipate. The Republican party will also dissipate if it does not get in touch with the needs and desires of the voting public.
Rational arguments and ideas, a functional opposition party. That's what we need. Miss Audra, for all her education, can't even spell correctly. FAIL.
KIMBER93
I get those too. I point out that their e-mails generally cite no sources or authors, I paste copious soundly sourced facts that disprove whatever lies and paranoid propaganda they're pushing, and hit "reply all." It's always good for a fireworks show in the inbox. The most important thing is to constantly let them know the facts are not on their side and that there are other red blooded Americans who do not share their ideas. They tend to live in a Fox News/e-mail forward echo chamber where people either think like they do or are afraid to speak up if they don't.
parke47
obama derangement? please google the obama deception unless your afraid?
slimpikins
Here we go again. Thanks for the good work Mr. Avlon. We are reassured that all of the Republican leadership seems to be cut from the same racist, ignorant, hypocritical cloth. The more they speak the more fun it is to watch. You go girl. Keep on misspelling your heart out. Pick up the rock and let the sunshine in.
dewhastme
Who cares about the Young Republicans?
Its hilarious that youngest republican they could find to run the organization is 38!
(and semi-illiterate)
Mabeline
Thank you - this made me laugh way out loud - AND I'm an Independent.
My guess - Palin/Shay in 2012! That would be a show - riddled with sadness, but it would be some show...
MissKaren
Ted Bundy was a young Republican.
oldsoldier
...And Obamas buddy, Bill Ayres is a left wing kook, Weatherman, terrorist, bomber. Your point?
apollo29
That sums it up!
leetz1
Based on what I've seen out of the right in recent years and especially in recent months, it sounds like she would be an appropriate fit for them and most definitely someone they'd love having as a leader.
patriotradical
I don't think anyone should use racial slurs. It divides people and we don't need that right now. However, I do not think that those of us that see Obama as a threat to our freedoms and our way of life, are all racists! The race card is over played. America is a melting pot and most all of us now have the blood of all races running through our veins. It is absurd to claim that everyone that dislikes this POTUS because of his policies, his ideologies, and his hatred toward America, is a racist! I don't look at what other think or say, I watch what Obama does. Anyone that thinks this man is anything but dangerous is very misinformed, uninformed, or simply unintelligent! He has managed to finish off what was left of this country in record time and he intends to do so because you can't usher in communism/fascism in a healthy and robust economy! The 2008 election was about race, not policy! Those who push to destroy our American way of life will regret it someday when they have no freedoms left! I guess they will enjoy life here if cap and trade passes? What adult wants to be told they can only spend "x" minutes in the shower? Or that they can only watch their television "x" minutes per day? Or that the air they breathe out is polluting the environment and they may have to pay to breathe? You laugh, but if you do, it is only because you are uninformed and you haven't read the bill!!!! HR 2454, read it for yourself! Those of you that are not intelligent enough to defend yourselves---don't worry! Those of us who have read history for ourselves, and those of us who trust our own judgment more than governments will be defending your rights as well. Please stop acting as if you know so much when you don't read the bills for yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blue4ever
cuckoo!!
Cforchange
I've read this article outloud to my 2 voters who are in the eve of registering to vote for the first time. My maybe young Republican's were not confused about language such as "noose" or "Obama" Bin Lauden and they were far from impressed.
This election will be the first concrete clue about what 2012 will be about. If Shay is elected, 2012 will be about race not policy. If that's the case, we are heading towards a civil war. It clearly indicates that progress as whole is not the GOP's goal. Shame, shame who let that David Duke in?
dcbooknurse
I'm not sure if this is racism or more of the idea that admitting to a mistake is a sign of weakness. One of Bush's big problems was that he was incapable of admitting that he was wrong. Remember the rallying cry of 'Stay The Course,' even when the course was a disaster. The ultimate result is not a person who looks strong but a person who looks like they cannot see the situation clearly. Ms. Shay's rhetoric may appeal to the base but it is not going to convert any Democrats and will drive away the Independents.
safariman
Tick Tock.....Gallup....Rasmussen....Quninnipiac......
It has nothing to do with ODS. People are beginning to realize that the Pied Piper is lost.
veryneatmonster
Wow, just wow.
Notice how she blathers on about Obama's "socialist/anti-American" actions, but doesn't list any examples to prove her point. Even if she did, it would be the usual bloated hyperbole infused with THE FURY OF CAPSLOCK!
felixsama
God, I am not awake- I almost googled THE FURY OF CAPSLOCK! LOL, as they say. Very good.
Responding to a post a little earlier about the Repug.s having dumbed themselves down- has it occurred to anyone else that the culmination of the many and varied genocides of the last 2 centuries is that we, as the human race, have dumbed ourselves down? Killing the 'intelligentsia' and generally, those who thought independently, whatever historical point you want to pick.
Not a flattering or cheery thought, but look at this - Palin? This bimbo we're talking about today, just after, what was that twit's name? The 'beauty' queen? I know they're all repug.s but we dem.s seem to have been retarded as well. Kerry? Like I said, I'm not awake, but we all better collectively wake up- or we're DOOMED, DOOMED I TELLS YA !
patriotradical
As someone who didn't think Palin was qualified in the beginning, I am curious about one thing---what do you on the left have against her? What did she do that has caused so much hatred towards her? Not being sarcastic---really want to know! I mean in detail, what did she do to cause the left to dislike her so?
djanimaequeen
patriotradical I can answer your question: Before she was picked as the VP candidate all you cons ALL OF YOU were bitching how unqualified Obama was. Then all of a sudden here comes miss I-can't-name-the-papers-I-read and she's all the rage. To me that was proof that republicans are racist and irrational.
debnewyorker
THE FURY OF CAPSLOCK. Help me I'm dyin' here. HiLARious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TXBigDog
Is Obama Wrong for YOU? http://allpoliticianssuck.blogspot.com/
If you are one of the following then Obama is the wrong president for YOU!
If you need a job in 2009.
If you really need a job in 2009 and are desperate.
If you prefer gas or fuel that is economical.
If you believe that we should use our own natural resources.
If you believe sending our money to foreign governments should stop until our debt is paid off.
If you believe the government should lower taxes.
If you believe government officials should serve two terms only.
If you believe that lobbyists should not be allowed to contribute to public officials.
If you use a minivan to take your kids to school.
If you use an SUV to take your kinds to soccer practice.
If you own a boat for fishing.
If you own a boat for water skiing.
If your boat requires a truck or SUV to pull it.
If you own a pickup truck.
If you own an ATV that requires a truck.
If you own a motorcycle that requires a truck or SUV to pull it.
If you are a retired person with a recreational vehicle.
If you own a camper that requires a truck or SUV to pull it.
If you own an gun for protection.
If you own a gun for hunting.
If you do not want the government in your life, daily.
If you agree that the government has not once successfully managed anything.
If you want a job other than working for the government.
If you believe the government is hurting the economy.
If you believe the government should help business and employment.
If you do not believe that prosperity comes from the government.
If you believe that the government should encourage growth for all businesses.
If you believe that the government is hiding the truth about how the economy got this way.
If you believe the people that created this economic failure are still in office.
If you believe that the people trying to fix the economic failure caused it.
If you believe that the government is NOT transparent.
If you believe the economy is the # priority
roger37
Beyond stupid.
YeahISaidIt
If you wake up with an alarm clock.
If you have a dog.
If you drink coffee on Mondays and tea on Tuesdays.
If you wear underpants.
If you floss your teeth.
what in god's name is this rubbish?
citivas
So I guess the Ku Klux Klan rebranded itself to the Young Republicans organization. Good to know...
MaliciousDisorder
Ku Klux Klan was a democrat thing down yonder
cbeenthere
This propaganda has been shot down over and over again. What is the need you have to keep peddling it?
EtienneEtoile
"Thurmond was increasingly at odds with the Democratic Party, on September 16, 1964 " and joined the republican party along with all of the KKK
JDK-JDK
Which turned into a GOP thing after the Dems passed Civil Rights.
You always seem to leave that out, Mal...
AlanD2
Ask the blacks they lynched how "democratic" the KKK was, Malicious.
al-nafs
I don't care what the party name is. As an independent African American male voter, I will vote for the candidate that I feel brings ideas or potential solutions that have the greatest value to my country.
Period. Democrat, Dixiecrat, Republican, National Socialist. It matter not what the party name is, what matters is what they intend to do.
However, since we are discussing the south, and terms like 'coon', I would like to remind everyone of an interesting trait of the raccoon. It will hold onto a shiny object and not let go of it, even to free itself from a trap. Instead it is caught and killed.
Learn to let go of the past.
parke47
to al-nafs. thank God finally a voice of reason in all this lunacy.
apollo29
They are all subsidiaries of Al-Craquer in America, and are the equivalent of Al-Qaeda in the middle east.
Thank you.
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