A poll by Democracy Corps found that a full 55% of likely voters believe the word "socialist" describes the president either "well" or "very well." This might sound nuts, but I suspect the explanation might be revealed with the unasked follow-up: What is Socialism anyway? I'd bet 100% of respondents wouldn't have a damn clue.
In America, "Socialist" has become a lazy, generic put-down rendered meaningless by repetition, a great non sequitor... Basically a grown-up equivalent of high school kids using "gay" to disparage everything from X-Box 360s to non-brand tennis shoes. But if Obama were a socialist president, he'd just be one of many it seems:
"George W. Bush might have now nationalized more companies than Hugo Chavez. He certainly has nationalized companies with far greater worth. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and now AIG. Let alone the bailouts of Bear Stearns and all the rest. Who knew George Bush would turn out to be such a socialist?"
Cenk Uygur, Huffington Post
"Bill Clinton's State of the Union speech reveals a socialist who wants to take away your freedom."
John Doggett, WorldNetDaily.com
"Ronald Reagan, icon of the conservative movement whose mere mention of his name causes social and fiscal conservatives to bow their heads in deep reverence, was a Socialist. That's right -- Ronald Reagan was a Socialist."
Lee Ward, Wizbang Blue
Socialist President? It's the American way... suck that Sweden!
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We also have a tradition of electing presidents who are Nazis.
ReplyDeleteyea like that nazi we have in office right now
ReplyDeleteNot just a nazi but a black communist muslim nazi from Kenya.
ReplyDelete