Much has been made of late of 'Obama haters'. Leaving aside the obvious pack of racists, throwbacks, and narrow-minded squares colloquially known as 'teabaggers', I don't think there are many people who hate the current occupant of the White House. There are those who are angry at his policy decisions, and there are those who could simply care less about politics.
I am among those who oppose from the left some of the policy decisions - health care reform, DADT & LGBT rights, economic reforms, and most of all the escalation of the war on Afghanistan. What I would like for steadfast supporters to understand is that, as such a person, I by no means hate our President.
I will try to make this point herein with a loose analogy.
The last time I checked, President Obama is a cigarette smoker. Like myself, he has tried several times to quit.
My wife and her family despise the fact that I smoke. I have a love-hate relationship with smoking. I love the way it makes me feel, the entire ritual of smoking. I hate the fact that I am addicted to a product manufactured by evil mega-corporations, and I hate the detrimental effects it has on my health.
My wife voted for Obama (full disclosure: I am a British citizen, and therefore cannot vote. During the campaign, I did my best to convince friends and family to vote for Obama, despite the fact that I cannot vote. I like to think that I played some role in convincing my twice-Bush-voting, Reaganite father-in-law to vote for Obama, which he in fact did).
Last night I had a conversation with my wife, expressing my dismay at the President's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan.
My wife, who at 32 cast her first vote ever for Obama, reacted strongly. "He's only been President for a year now, give him time, for crying out loud."
Leaving aside the fact that the decision to unilaterally withdraw all troops from a war zone can in fact be done in less than a year's time (at least, that's what George McGovern's campaign promise was in 72), I pointed out to her all the reasons why I opposed the escalation, and then said in no uncertain terms that I believed that this decision would make Obama a one term President, much to my chagrin, as he would surely be succeeded by a Republican, perhaps one as disastrous as Sarah Palin.
I then went out on the balcony to have a smoke (read: cool off and collect my thoughts - you fellow smokers will catch my drift).
When I came back inside, this is what I said to my wife:
"Let me put it this way: I am sure you are aware that Obama is a smoker, and that he has fallen off the wagon a few times, trying to kick the habit.
Isn't it perfectly normal that you, as someone who is against cigarette smoking, wants Obama to stop smoking. That you can't understand why such a smart, successful, together guy would do something as foolish and dangerous as smoke tobacco?
You want what is best for Obama, his presidency, and his family, right?
That's how I feel about some of his policy decisions. I don't want him to be a one-termer. I don't want the media to be able to say, "this is Obama's war now". I don't want him to make decisions that I know he knows better about, but just can't help himself because of the position he's in, the people he is surrounded by, and the stress and strain of his Presidency. I want Obama to succeed.
I am disappointed in Obama the way you are disappointed in me: for being too foolish to see my way out of a bad situation."
We can all do better, and that includes the President. I support him, like a disappointed spouse or friend supports someone despite the bad choices they make. But I will not stand silently by while he risks self-destruction.
I am sorry that this isn't a better diary. It's been a hell of a day, and the Martinis are having their way with me...
Love - CM