Thomas Friedman Warns Obama’s Critics
Aaron Keyak — October 1, 2009 – 4:00 pm | Israel | Obama | Stop the Smears Comments (6) Add a commentThomas Friedman of The New York Times has a great piece that laments the type of criticism levied against President Barack Obama. Friedman even draws the—unfortunately, already noted—analogy of what Obama is going through to what Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin experienced leading up to his assassination.
I have no problem with any of the substantive criticism of President Obama from the right or left. But something very dangerous is happening. Criticism from the far right has begun tipping over into delegitimation and creating the same kind of climate here that existed in Israel on the eve of the Rabin assassination.
What kind of madness is it that someone would create a poll on Facebook asking respondents, “Should Obama be killed?” The choices were: “No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care.” The Secret Service is now investigating. I hope they put the jerk in jail and throw away the key because this is exactly what was being done to Rabin.
Even if you are not worried that someone might draw from these vitriolic attacks a license to try to hurt the president, you have to be worried about what is happening to American politics more broadly.
Comments
Like Mr. Friedman, I fear for President Obama’s life. I recall the shock and horror I experienced upon learning of the assassination of Mr. Rabin. I may not be Jewish, but my love for the Jewish people as my spiritual forbears is deep and abiding. Although Mr. Rabin and Mr. Arafat did not particularly like one another, I believe that they realize the essetial truth that, at some point, killing one another was not going to brink about Peace. We are no closer to Peace in the middle east today than on that fateful eve in 1995. Given the challenges facing the human species from global warming, isn’t it in our enlightened self-interest to find a way to work together for the future; for our children and our children’s children?
May the Creator send his love to shower down upon all, like the gentle rain on a hot afternoon.
That isn’t nothing compared to what President Bush went through, and you know it.
Once again Freidman has captured a current American truth by his keen example of the horrific Rabin assasination. The analogy fits, and it is disturbing. When no elected Republican leader of any stature comes forward to protest this growing insanity we ought not be surprised if this mob mentality soon gets out of hand.
Where is William F. Buckley when we need him?
I’ve been quite heartsick at some of the comments and stories regarding our President. I fear for his safety, and can nearly hear the cheers of Glenn B. (“Sweet!”) Rush L. and others on the right, if anything dreadful happens after some of the rhetoric of recent weeks. The man won the election for cryin’ out loud. let him be president people. I was totally against GWb but never let that disappointment carry over into my everyday life. I always knew that a new day would be coming. My country is going to the dogs fast. These attacks only add to the problem.
I will always have my Freedom Of Speech and no human can keep me from it…
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This has gone on for decades now - from all sides of the aisle.
I can see other names substituted for President Obama’s. It’s wrong no matter where it originates.
The Five Thousand Year Leap implores us to return to civility. It’s a good read.