President Obama School Speech: Are Conservatives Acting like the Know Nothing Party of the 19th Century?
President Obama School Speech: Are Conservatives Acting Like "Know Nothings"?
I recall an old episode of CNN's Crossfire. Co-host Tom Braden, after debating with some extremists, compared them to "the zanies of the 1800s." I was curious about this, so the next day I inquired of my high school geography teacher. She told me about the Know Nothing Party, which was active during the middle part of the 1800s, according to Wikipedia. They basically opposed anything having to do with Catholics, including the Washington Monument's granite from Pope Pius IX.
I understand conservatives being alarmed about the liberalism of the President, but are they acting like "Know Nothings"?
President Obama School Speech: Where Was The Tea Party Movement 10, 20, and 30 Years Ago?
On one level, I think that the tea party movement and vocal opposition to the health care plan initially trying to be shoved down the American people's throats has been good because it has encouraged citizen participation in politics. But anyone who is remotely objective needs to ask this about the conservative movement in this country: The national debt, before President Obama took office, was several trillion dollars, right? And our freedoms have been intruded upon over the years before Barack Obama took office, right? Why wasn't there a massive grass roots tea party movement by conservatives during the Presidencies from Nixon to Bush 43? It's interesting that when a liberal African American becomes President, this movement suddenly "blossoms" with the rhetoric over concern about the national debt and infringed upon freedoms, when these trends began way before the current administration.
I disagree with a lot of things that President Obama has done, but I don't throw out the baby with the bath water. What I've basically heard conservative pundits on TV and the conservative radio hosts do is nothing but run down Barack Obama. He's always wrong in their eyes, whether it be the over the President Obama school speech or anything. He can't even take his wife out on the town in New York without getting criticized by these partisan hacks. Many conservatives seem so blinded in their ideology like the Know Nothing Party was. It's just as hateful as what was levied against Bush-Cheney by liberal hacks.
Sources:
Dawn Teo, Top AZ School Official: Obama Speech "Promotes Worship-like Reverence": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/top-az-school-official-ob_b_277638.html, September 4, 2009, The Huffington Post
Know Nothing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_nothing_party, Wikipedia
Published by Roy A. Barnes - Featured Contributor in Politics
Roy A. Barnes writes from the plains of southeastern Wyoming. View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentWell done, this Presidential speech has incited some strong emotions. On the positive aspect more people are getting involved in their country's politics.
I never thought I'd see the day when parents would demand a President of the United States be barred from addressing their children. Because our current President is of another party (and, in some cases, because he is of African descent), he is now being treated as, immoral, villainous, toxic and alien. It will surely not be lost on African-Americans that a new precedent is being set for our first African-American President. Speaking as a Democrat, I have never in my life dreamed of treating any Republican President like a drug pusher or sex offender simply for offering to speak to schoolchildren. It is the height of impudence that any President's remarks be "screened" by parent-ideologues of the other party, by tendentious teachers or school administrators. That any teacher, principal, school board, municipality or state should take part in this outrage is nothing less than a scandal. I rarely use this term, but there is no other term for it: is un-American.
Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I hid behind the excuse that you've already put yourself out there so why should I - BUT, I think you are absolutely right. I think the objection is more about fear that the president will actually make a *favorable* impression on America's children - and that would drive many conservative parents nuts. No - wait. It already has. ;)
I think it is all about perspective. Look, the nation wasn't in a complete recession back when Bush was in office. So taking Air Force 1 out for a night on the town wasn't a big deal. Now, everything is about money (or, more importantly, the lack there of) so many things just look extravagant now that wouldn't have then. Next, there were plenty of Bush haters and that is something no one can deny. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Now you hear about the Obama haters. It is just the way the media is. But now it is about their kids in school. That's a huge line to cross considering the current political climate.