The slog through the bog of misinformation can get dreadfully. . . swampy. . . when I'm attempting the near-impossible: Talking with Republican friends (I have a few) about Barack Obama.
Yes, yes, he's a Muslim. A Commie. A black-liberation radical.
And now this: He's a Marxist! His Marxist economic policies are going to destroy our country!
Help me. Please. Help me with brief, cogent rebuttals to such nonsense. "Crazy liberal destructive redistribution of wealth, blah blah blah." I get to sputtering with disbelief and incredulousness when I hear such tripe, and yes I know my task is hopeless: Talking sense into a hard-core Republican -- even one who dislikes both Bush and McSame -- is an exhausting business.
Try googling 'Obama Marxist' and just SEE how many wackjobs are out there spreading this guilt-by-the-most-marginal-of-associations-garbage. Yet I have discovered that the Republican men I know are most concerned about their wallets. Not the war. Not health care. Not the incompetence and corruption of these past years.
"Obama will hurt small business, big business, and Wall Street." What do I say to THAT? All that comes immediately to mind is, "Good Lord, man, they're alREADY hurting!"
Help!