I'm not going to provide a lot of what you over-educated privileged Kossaks call "analysis" to this story. Just thought I'd toss it out there for discussion, 'cuz ya'll are the smartest guys in the room, and all.
An article on MSNBC says that Rick Perry thinks President Obama grew up "in a privileged way."
"It reveals to me that he grew up in a privileged way," Perry said of Obama when asked by host FOX News host Sean Hannity to comment on the president's recent comment that American business interests have been "lazy" in their approach to the global economy. "He never had to really work for anything."
"This president has never felt that angst that they have in their heart," he added, referring to the nation's 14 million unemployed. "And I think he's always, when he has had problems, he's always pointed to somebody else and said it's their fault, not mine."
Gee. I wonder what "privilege" Mr. Perry might be talking about? I hope he doesn't get that dog whistle stuck in his throat.
There's more...below the squiggle of derision:
Yes, there's more. Perry also thinks that Obama's too smart, and he's embarrassing America when he's with foreign leaders. No. Really. That's what he thinks.
Perry, who grew up poor in rural Texas and frequently jokes about his poor college grades, added in his interview with Hannity that Obama's perceived intellect has contributed to the decline of the United States in its relationships with other nations.
"His thinking that he's the smartest guy in the room has hurt America around the world, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. And I think that mentality of 'I'm the smartest guy in the room and therefore it couldn't be my fault' is really hurting America. And we need a president who has been through their ups and downs in life, and understands what it's like to have to deal with the issues in our economy that we have today in America."
Because, what America really needs is another dumb Texan who can just impress the hell out of them ferriners.
Well, you can't say that Perry isn't playing to his strengths. Racist dog whistles and ignorance. Problem is - the Right will lap it up.
EDIT: This reminds me, for some reason, of my dad's favorite saying...
"You can never sink so low in life that you can't be a bad example for somebody."
EDIT: Rachel has picked up on this at Maddowblog:
Yes, the old and familiar "otherizing" politics we've become accustomed to in the Obama era are at play here. (Though any of us who've been called "affirmative action babies" and the like know that sentiment long predates Mr. Obama's election.) Uttering falsehoods about the president never having "had to really work for anything" (you know, like Americans do) has the twin benefit of stoking white voter angst about that already very unpopular affirmative action baby in the White House, while avoiding the embarrassment of going full Orly Taitz in order to do so.
But what is particularly peculiar is how it goes beyond race-baiting. Sure, candidates have used socio-economic backgrounds as a wedge issue before. But as the Occupy movement continues to grow, it is particularly notable to see a Republican this compelled to turn a man raised by a single mom, without wealth, into Richie Rich. Rick Perry wants voters to think President Obama embodies the One Percent, with all the associated privilege -- not just now (because even the president would admit that), but all the way back when, when he grew up in that distant, foreign, socialist Hawaii.