Today Rush Limbaugh began his radio show by criticizing President Obama for going to the golf course immediately following his speech on ISIS and their execution of James Foley. Limbaugh claimed that the "drivebys" (by which he means the mainstream media) has come out with strong criticism of Obama's actions. He then pretends to prove his point by quoting from two "drivebys";
-Maureen Dowd, a NYTimes opinion columnist whose attacks on the president have become a media legend all their own
-Joe Scarborough, a Republican former-Congressman commentator on msnbc.
Limbaugh went on to call Obama "narcissistic" and therefore incapable of feeling human emotions. In January 2007, Limbaugh used the term "Halfrican American" to describe then-Senator Obama. In January 2008, Limbaugh described Obama as "robotic" and "not even human". How does this tie in to the current situation in Ferguson MO?
Limbaugh has been suggesting to his audience for 7 years now that President Obama is Less Than;
Less Than an American - he's only "Half American", presumably not his "African" half.
Less Than a human - he's robotic, narcissistic, unable to feel human emotions.
And if someone in such an exalted position, who is black, can be considered Less Than, this gives Limbaugh's listeners permission to view every black person in America as Less Than, as sub-human, as non-American. Indeed, Limbaugh is urging his listeners to believe this.
If millions of Americans listen to Limbaugh every day, and have internalized this message, and if (let's say) 30% of the police on the streets are among these listeners, then how can these police officers be expected to view African Americans as full citizens, fully endowed with certain unalienable rights including freedom of speech and assembly, not to mention life and liberty?
With right wing radio spewing this message day after day, year after year, is it any wonder that our police forces have forgotten that they are supposed to be protecting and serving all Americans? Is it any wonder that there are police officers who feel that they have the right to scream "I will f**king kill you" at American citizens on American streets?