Remember when the GOP and right wing were constantly screaming in our faces about being patriotic? Remember if someone didn’t support the Iraq war they weren’t patriotic?
Remember when French fries were supposed to be called America fries because the French didn’t support the Iraq war? To call them French fries was unpatriotic.
Remember when the Dixie Chicks were chastised because they criticized then President Bush? They were called unpatriotic.
Remember when candidate Obama was called unpatriotic because he didn’t wear a flag lapel pin (even though John McCain didn’t wear one during a debate)?
The GOP and the right wing would wrap themselves in the American flag at the drop of a hat and dare anyone to not be as patriotic as they were.
And yet, when the United States lost the bid to hold the 2016 Olympics in Chicago the GOP celebrated with obvious glee. That’s not unpatriotic?
Why were they celebrating an American loss? Because President Obama, a resident of Chicago, was actively supporting the bid.
So, does that mean when our athletes attend the Olympics to compete and wear the jackets and uniforms that say “Team USA”, these same people will boo? How do you think potential American Olympians feel knowing that Americans are cheering an American defeat? How demoralizing. How sad. How unpatriotic.
President Obama only flew to Copenhagen at the last minute to lend support of an American endeavor because the leaders of the other countries in contention were attending. He felt it was only appropriate for him to also show his support for his country by making a personal appearance, however brief. He was being patriotic.
I’m sure the United States, Japan and Spain were aware that Rio de Janeiro was favored since there has never been an Olympics in South America, and it was long overdue. However, in Japan and Spain, people showed obvious disappointment that their cities of Tokyo and Madrid were not chosen. Flip to news of the announcement in the U.S. and it shows Americans celebrating, cheering and whooping that an American city was not selected. In fact in one group they were particularly gleeful that Chicago was the first to be eliminated.
How will the Olympic Committee look upon this behavior – because the cheering groups were broadcast all over the world – when it comes time to consider the U.S.A. another time? You have to know they will think about it and question if America will fully support an Olympics. These same people who purport to be so patriotic may have torpedoed our shot at another Olympics. That’s not very patriotic.
This was not an Obama loss, this was not just a Chicago loss, it was an American loss. To cheer for that, is unpatriotic.
Cheri Cabot, Politics Correspondent
Cheri’s column, “Personal About Politics,” published every week, will reflect on how the life of a 60 year-old, middle class woman is affected by politics, policy and the current state of the nation - a look at the personal aspects of politics. Her column is part of Gather Essentials.
Cheri is a freelance writer, living in Southern California. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.
You can find all of Cheri’s columns on Personal About Politics at www.personalpolitcs.gather.com, The Obama Watch at theobamawatch.gather.comor her home page here, www.ccabot.gather.com
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Comments: 134
(of course this lack of patriotism has nothing to do with race.....)
How is your trip?
I was pessimistic and cynical about the potential for success with Bush at the helm of the ship of state. My dream was that he would either get it right, stop Dick Cheney from burning down the oil patch, or leave the work to the professionals, and be a figurehead. None of that happened. Today there is a relatively large group of revolting anti American traitors who are terrified that the government might just possibly start GOVERNING again. They are likely to lose all manner of opportunity to swindle and defraud if that happens.
I'll be honest--I live in suburban Chicago and I was not excited about the prospect of losing access to the center city for awhile.
But the appropriation of the Republican Party by right-wing talk show hosts and anti-American elements is real news, and it is right that you bring it, Cheri.
Even David Brooks, a conservative columnist at the New York Times (who decried the devolution of the Republicans Sunday morning), can't control the spinning out of control of the Republicans.
And it can get worse. We may be at the cusp of violent acts by elements whipped into a frenzy by anti-American rants on talk radio and Fox News.
I'm curious as to how much of this idiocy is motivated purely by people who are terribly sore losers? They're awfully similar to the loudmouths bellowing boorishly at football coaches upon the commencement of a bad season -- the way Bobby Bowden is being treated is a good example.
You mentioned the Congressman who changed french fries into freedom fries to show his intense patriotism. Although I have not wasted time Googling this guy I believe that this typical wacko GOP Congressman is still in prison.
Even McCain and Lindsey Grahman are coming to the realization that Beck/Hannity/Limbaugh, et al have no real political power. Yes, they can light up the phone lines to the White House and congressional offices but these self deluded right wing power brokers can't turn out the electorate. The GOP is now trying to increase their base and look for more moderate candidates. So, maybe they will regain their sanity and once again be a force to be reckoned with.
French fries became "freedom fries" on Capitol Hill in 2003 and reverted to "french fries" 27 months later in 2006.
Ron, I disagree that "Beck/Hannity/Limbaugh, et al have no real political power." On the contrary, they have hijacked the Republican Party. When you see apologies to Rush Limbaugh deliverd by the likes of Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) the power relationship becomes clear. I think you make a good point that whack-job radio hosts can flood the phone lines of elected officials but can't turn out the vote. It's a valid analysis of a major problem facing a party that is at this point in complete disarray.
Absolutely. And many Americans' minds as well. They actually remind me of the radio broadcasters in Rwanda who worked people up into a fury that turned into a genocide. These people need to be muzzled - I don't think what they are doing falls under the protection of free speech - what they are doing is inciting violence and revolution and murder.
Dave and Sheryl, Thanks for your thoughts on the talk jocks and the GOP. Yes, I realize that several GOP notables have had to backtrack and essentially apologize to Limbaugh. But, the GOP has basically let itself be hijacked by wackos and now realizes it can no longer let them select who is going to run under the GOP banner. Look at the utter failure which Limbaugh encountered when he tried to get his minions to register as Democrats and vote for Hillary in an attempt to block Obama.
Lindsey Grahman was quite explicit recently when he labelled the birthers and other right wing nuts as wackos. Cheryl, you are correct though that the talk jocks are so incendiary that they probably can tip an unbalanced person over the edge. But, the reality is that there just is nothing which can be done about it and it's not going to stop because the talkers have no conscience and they drive their incomes up by saying more and more outrageous things.
Great analogy regarding Rabin and Obama and I agree completely.
Yes, it is frightening that the wingnuts are drumming up hatred for Obama. While it is likely that every President has received some death threats I have either read or heard just recently that the Secret Service reports that the threats against Obama are up by 400% over what they were under Bush.
Republicans/conservatives apparently hate Obama more than they love America. They will cheer anything that makes him look bad.
Sadly, Beck's level of viewers has actually gone up since his vitriolic comments about Obama. But, I signed the Color of Change's petition which was sent to advertisers on Beck's show and apparently over 60 of them pulled their ads. The downside is that they are likely still advertising on Fox, just on different programs. At some point Beck will likely cost Fox more than he brings in and that will end his TV career.
You are right that the wingnuts hate Obama more than they love the USA. This shouldn't be surprising since many of these people are just not capable of love and a portion of their humanity is missing. Witness Limbaugh's 3 failed marriages. Also, a female friend was a decorator in NYC and oversaw the stone work in Limbaugh's penthouse there. She filled me in on what a hate filled individual he is.
That is the most telling mark of anti-Americanism right there.
The hypocrisy in these people is just gob-smacking! They fly a flag from their home and stretch one on a fence or in a front window and order champaign when we lost a bid for the 2016 Olympic games. Sick is what comes to mind!
It was a GOP loss due to their behavior.
Me thinks you meant 2016.
Doesn't matter anyway the world is going kaput on winter solstice 2012.
As an American I could no more believe ALL of the however many attendees at the 912 function would join in OR approve the inexcusable display of hubris and spite that was broadcast worldwide at the elimination of the USA.
Might be a way to rip off a few of the hundred different heads of the loosely organized fringe of the Anti Obama faction so they will have to declare themselves, make a decision and pick a leader.
Yesterday, Chicago lost its bid for the 2016 Olympics (which went to Rio de Janiero instead), and it's looking very likely that US border procedures were one of the main factors which knocked Chicago out of the race: 'Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago's official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be "a rather harrowing experience." ... The exchange underscores what tourism officials here have been saying for years about the sometimes rigorous entry process for foreigners, which they see as a deterrent to tourism.
http://current.com/items/91087941_did-chicago-lose-olympic-bid-due-to-us-passport-control.htm
Our airport security is a joke compared to most countries, so I don't see how that would factor in....also Rio has one of the worst crime rates in the world....one would think that would be a consideration.
Since 9/11/01, I've traveled to the Philippines, Canada, UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, and Spain, with airport security experiences in the US, Japan, Philippines, UK, France, Hungary, Finland, Germany and Spain and several border crossings to and from Canada. My impression (based only on my experiences) is that the US is more stringent about airport/border security than any other country I've visited (particularly when it comes to entry/arrivals).
Ha ha, WM H! That's right. Isn't that the Aztec doomsday date?
It is true that Rio was the better choice of all, even though it has a high crime rate; it is an exotic city and the first in Brazil and S.A.
But yeah to booo because Obama went, that's just a sorry excuse for being a sorry excuse.
I am shocked to see the South in action, from my recent trip south of the mason dixon.
I didn't know that South America had never hosted the Olympics, so it seems about time. It might have helped our economy, but we can't be selfish or pout.
When we watch sports, does the losing team cry? It is undignified and immature. Gloating over winning is also inapropriate. Americans ought to show more dignity.
I understand the disappointment, but good sportsmanship suggests keeping a pleasant expression.
I cannot answer your questions, Cheri. I don't know the answers. I don't have any "fellow right wingers" either. Please don't label me. I am independent and do not wear labels.
t seems like poor sportsmanship, but now that I think about it, our country has very little experience with losing. I guess that would account for the tears.
In that light, I guess we should be proud of our record.
People are not "cheering because the U.S. lost the Olympics"........
They are cheering because Obama blew it on this one......
PRESIDENT Obama is everyone's PRESIDENT. CHICAGO is a city in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The US OLYMPIC TEAM is not a partisan organization, nor are the OLYMPICS events in any way, shape or form political. In fact, they were founded to bring nations together in peace and sportsmanship.
The GOP shows exactly the opposite - UNsportsmanship, as well as total lack of patriotism, class, intelligence, common sense, etc.
Un-freakin'-believable.
People are not "cheering because the U.S. lost the Olympics"........
They are cheering because Obama blew it on this one......"
I think not. He had absolutely nothing to do with the decision. It is Rio's time. It is South America's time to shine.
I wonder if they'll cheer that we're rated the 13th best country to live in. Probably not, since it's our lousy health care and lousy educational system that earned us this honor, and heaven forbid we should do anything to fix those problems.
If we keeping arguing over which news programs we watch, we will 1) never agree, and 2) always argue about things BESIDES the actual issues that matter. Anyone else see what a tremendous distraction this is?
If that is the case, shouldn't there be an equal number of folks watching the other networks? Everyone who watches Olbermann surely agrees with his views, right?
OK, I give. Trying to have a factual argument, where we talk about something as basic as ratings, just can`t happen with people who put out this quality of debate.
So, by this logic, the complaints that "the GOP" made about patriotism are valid, because we have deemed those who oppose the Chicago bid are unpatriotic, correct?
Foks, we HAVE to get out of this two-track line of thinking---it isn`t GOP and Democrats. We need to stop classifying argumetns like this. One, it oversimplifies the issue, ignoring all of the gray areas between the two parties, and two, it furthers this divisive "two camp" political mindset that is crippling our country with partisan arguing.
Arguments that I have heard people--not the GDP---saying are things like: "the Olympics overwhelmingly tend to be a financial loss for the cities that host them" or "we have more pressing issues to address than sending our president and his wife, on two separate chartered jets, to Copenhagen to make a case for Chicago in front of the Olympic Congress".
Now, aren`t those fair concerns, assuming both are true? If they aren`t factual, then let us disucss the facts, but if they are I think people have a right to condemn the games coming to our shores in 2016.
Think a moment. With all that's happened, and all that's happening, can we really afford to throw borrowed money into this? I don't think so, and neither should you.
How is this a thing to cheer?
I'm severely confused.
A lot of people believe this, but do some research---you will find that in a vast majority of cases the cities that host the olympics lose big time.
Just borrow the money from China? Print more?
Obama just got done telling the world at the United Nations how bad we are then he bopped into Copenhagen to tell them we want the Olympics. Can't have it both ways.
Nevermind the points he made in his comment---let`s not debate those....let`s just call people names and stir the hate. That works well. I don`t want to hear ANYTHING about how you and Dexter are against "Purveyors of Hate and Bigotry" after these recent displays. Walk the walk, guys.
Don't you people ever get tired of this race-baiting,anti-Republican crap? Say something intelligent for a change!
But never tired of comparing President Obama to Hitler.
Your hate disgusts me!!!!
Neither Bush nor Obama are megalomaniacs with a delusional program of world conquest and genocide.
BTW, I think Bush was the worst president in my lifetime. I think overall Harding and Coolidge were worse along with a couple of 19th century one termers. He's nowhere near Hitler. Heck, he's not even Anastasio Somosa.
Thank you -- again -- for your article, and one of many very conscientious and insightful writings.
See, here is the thing, from my perspective: none of this is new; it's racism .
If there is anything that astonishes me, it is that so many people are astonished at the mindset and the depths to which people go when it comes to racism; the depths are as bottomless as the bottomless pits.
Another thing that I find amusing is when people attempt to accuse African Americans of racism, as though it is really going to detract and distract from the real hatred -- their OWN hatred.
Hear me out, and please do not lose sight that I am speaking from experience and not from opinion and/or theory: there is no limit to which racists will go to express their hatred. It is one of the vilest, evilest, most despicable sentiments that I have had the displeasure of ever experiencing. It's also why I constantly say,
I want front row, center seats to the event where all of these injustices, and all of the wickedness converges and is judged.
There is NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING that is worth the loss of my soul to eternal, everlasting torment and punishment, and only a fool would think otherwise. Comparatively speaking, these people are "doing their thing" now, and for what? Power, wealth, ego and self-importance?
Jesus summed it up very well when he said, "what value is it to win, or gain the entire world, but lose your soul to eternal damnation."
The racial hatred that people feel shall never be overcome, and it shall never be legislated away. But a day of reckoning is coming, and I plan to witness the demise of those whose actions have been, most prominently, hatred, and iniquity.
Only because they Hate the Black President!!!!
Maybe you meant to put that in a new thread and maybe you didn't, but the fact is that you didn't. I really wish you had because I hate being the bearer of bad news; the world around you isn't at all as simple as you are.
Now, that Obama is Hitler sign will not paint itself, get crackin!!!
That's a very good one, Don!
Of course we want our athletes to win when they compete -- that is their battle that they worked for -- nothing to do with Obama.
Get it?
http://www.gather.com/viewImage.action?fileId=3096224744840273
The thing that bothers me about the Olympic mess was why would a US president, one especially claiming the world is falling apart now bother to get involved in something no one before him bothered with? He had to know that anything like this would bounce back negatively on him. He got quite a bit of criticism from the Left too if you bothered to look.
Perception is everything, especially today and it simply did not look good for the President to fly over and then have his presentation basically ignored by the Committee.