I am SICK and TIRED of the insults of President Obama! And I don't mean real policy differences either.
If one took his critics seriously, one would have to believe that he is alternately an African- AND Indonesian-born, socialist, communist, fascist, baby-killing, satan-worshipping, Muslim, cult-leader, evil genius, imbecile, who NEEDS a teleprompter to put two words together, and who STOLE the election by funnelling TRILIONS of dollars to thugs AKA ACORN and the Nation of Islam.
The unprecedented ugliness and smears that have been hurled at Obama cannot be separated from the unprecedented nature of his presidency. Athough America proved that we judge people on merit and character, there are still some who can't wrap their brains around the reality of a President Barack Obama.
During the election, people I know personally who never showed a hint of racism and accept the idea of black achievement generally couldn't come to grips with the idea of a black PRESIDENT.
Doctor, lawyer, governor, fine... BUT PRESIDENT? For them, that was a step TOO FAR. Fortunately, America marched forward without them on the path to that more perfect union!
FOR BACKGROUND PLEASE SEE AND REC A GREAT DIARY BY DAWNT PROVIDING DETAILS: ASU Says Obama Too Inexperienced for Honorary Degree
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"Racism" isn't just burning crosses on someone's lawn or calling someone the n-word. Feeling like someone can take certain liberties in how one treats a person of color is one of the most dangerous types of true racism. In subconsciously thinking the person is "less than", the actor behaves in ways that may even be contrary to his own set of ethics and even self-belief about race.
SOMETIMES "RACISM" IS THAT NANOSECOND OF FAILING TO PAY THE USUAL AMOUNT OF ATTENTION TO DOUBLE-CHECK/CONFIRM THAT THE TASER IS NOT A GUN.
http://cbs4.com/...
Or in this case, to feel that a university CAN disrespect the President on this personal level after inviting him to be a commencement speaker.
First of all, it’s unheard of and just plain rude for a university to invite the sitting-President of the United States --- or any person for that matter --- as a commencement speaker only to embarrass the President by announcing that he has been rejected for an honorary degree AFTER having publicized his generous commitment to attend! That is not done. Plain and simple.
By definition and function, a commencement speaker is someone who is considered accomplished, wise, and worthy enough that his/hers should be the final words of instruction to a graduating class of seniors as they head out into the world!
This unequivocal, public refusal to confer an honorary degree on President Obama is a striking and not-at-all accidental snub of the worst order. Unfortunately, I suspect that it is, in fact, racially-tinged.
It goes without saying, the President is asked/begged by hundreds of universities every commencement season. I'm sure Obama's choise of ASU --- instead of just making the rounds at all of the top-tier Ivy League schools that invited him and would have given him his due respect --- was meant to honor the school and its students BUT also to signal in clear terms his tangible support for public higher education.
This is a sad showing for ASU on multiple levels.
Growing up, most Americans believe that being President of the United States is not only a big deal --- a great accomplishment --- but probably THE highest level of accomplishment possible. That doesn't mean that we all want to be president though. But while many of us wanted to be athletes, popstars or actors and astronauts, there was always the recognition that being "leader of the free world" is a pretty prime gig! And a tremendous source of pride. Until now, apparently. Nothing's really different. Well, ONE THING is different. So, everything's different.
To be clear, Obama is not the alcoholic, C-student, failed oilman, draft-evader, murderer of words who became president by fiat. Instead President Obama is the magna cum laude Harvard law grad, president of the law review, constitutional law professor, former U.S. Senator, best selling author, and multiple Grammy winner who won by a healthy majority vote and a 2 to 1 advantage in the electoral college!
CUE KANYE WEST TANTRUM!
Earth to FoxNews & Co! IT WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE. So by deduction, millions upon millions of voting Americans believe that Obama is not only capable of being President but that he is the RIGHT person to be President RIGHT NOW.
Yet, there is the ugly and dismissive undercurrent in the wingnut realm that Barack Obama is some sort of Manchurian Candidate. A puppet who can't function unaided and is NOT his own man. A pawn who is beholding to or is otherwise subservient to a growing list of suspected overlords. Most recently the Saudis and Satan himself.
Also, after ample opportunity for critics and supporters alike to witness Obama's intelligence and superlative grasp of complex issues at various town halls and press conferences and in countless interviews --- even if one doesn't agree with him on the particular policy --- there are some who continue to push the teleprompter-as-necessary-crutch storyline!
These people not only have zero credibility since we will believe our lying eyes and ears, thank you very much; but they are exposing their own prejudice by pressing a deeply insulting and divisive stereotype borne out of their own ignorance and illogical belief that a this man can't REALLY be "so damn good" --- obliterating the competition not JUST measuring up --- while standing on his own.
Something our President has clearly shown time and time again.
Although they see it, it's as if these critics are heavily-invested in not believing that someone like Barack Obama can be the visionary, independent thinker and actor that he clearly and confidently embodies. Their own lying eyes and ears be damned! So they search desperately for and find non-existent "signs" --- anywhere and everywhere --- of who is REALLY pulling the strings of this very convincing puppet.
It's insidious; it's racist; it demeans us all. Period.
BUT BACK TO ASU FOR A SECOND -- SINCE IT IS WHAT HAS GOT ME SO HOT AND BOTHERED. AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
Let's play a game we all learned on Sesame Street : ONE OF THESE THINGS!
Columbia University (Ranked #8), Harvard Law School (Ranked #2), Arizona State University (Rank #121).
Which does not belong?
IMHO, ASU has actually done President Obama a favor as his CV won't be dragged down by having to list an honorary degree from the school ranked 15th overall on a list of institutions of higher education requiring the LEAST amount of studying. In other words, beer pong won't interfere with your studies!!!
Although no one wants to be labeled an "elitist" or snob, let's put this "joke" into perspective: ASU stiffing President Obama, a Columbia and Harvard Grad, on an honorary degree is the equivalent of DeVry snubbing an M.I.T. grad.
Also, a little research into past ASU honorary degree recipients turns up the following:
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Failed presidential nominee --- Barry Morris Goldwater
Failed presidential nominee --- George W. Romney
Failed presidential nominee - Mo Udall
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Call me crazy but perhaps I'm starting to see another pattern here. If it's NOT his race, Obama's fatal flaw is apparently WINNING THE PRESIDENCY. What a loser.
So let me go out on a limb here and advise John McCain and Mitt Romney not to make any far-away vacation plans for next May! They may be losers in the Presidential Sweepstakes but they are FUTURE WINNERS in the eyes of the brain-trust at ASU!!! PRESIDENT Obama will just have to sulk his sorrows away IN THE OVAL OFFICE. Ha!
I'm sure I'm way more ticked about this than he is. He will surely honor his commitment to the students and will be gracious in the face of ASU's disgusting behavior. To paraphrase that old slogan, our President will never let them see him sweat!
After all my venting, let me leave you with some wonderful images of OUR FIRST FAMILY: