If this is the tone that the current Administration wishes to set, then removing them ought to be not just a priority for conservatives and the GOP, but to remove them in 2012 ought to be a central goal for anyone who prefers to keep shallow cheerleading at sports and not in world policy.
This was offensive to me as someone who tries to be fair-minded when I can stomach it, against the offensive bias of people such as this Axelrod guy. I have conservative views, but incredibly, I am not a far right extremist (yeah, the two aren't automatically inclusive, go figure). This was offensive to me as someone who does not truly judge whole collections of people based on one fact about their life, in a broad stroke (in other words, I do not practice prejudiced and bigoted and illogical judgement of certain groups; in this case, Muslims).
Who, exactly, are the people that the Obama Admin is talking to -- and about, through these words? The tone was pandering, unaccomplished and lightheaded. Who are they trying to change? One sad old woman at a McCain campaign stop in 2008? A few ignorant Christian preachers in some backwards church in the U.S.? A white supremacist leader and his angry, damaged followers hiding in hills somewhere? Who are they trying to "convert" to "progressive" ideals (so-called) with this language?
The Presumptuous Presidency. That's what we ought to start calling this administration and its myopic legions, if this is the extent of communiques from the road at the breach of an important -- allegedly so -- speech. Read the message from the White House, and tell me if you HONESTLY think someone would disagree. Anyone, that is, that isn't living a foul, bigoted, closed life. In other words, what is there to disagree with but for the most foul bigot (and, sorry, that blatantly means the obtuse majority of conservatives, too, you "open-minded" liberals), and what in it was not part of the policy in the past? These folks believe their own fallacies, it seems. Fully! But what could possibly be offensive about the White House's bid to communicate with the greater Muslim world?
For one, Axelrod called Americans who are Muslims "Muslim Americans". Excuse me? SO, clearly, by labeling, by categorizing, by dividing they are uniting. That is what we learn from this statement, plain and simple.
Tagging everyone with "[_____] American" labeling that does nothing but make us seem like a country overseen by untreated obsessive compulsives who are hopelessly labeling everything.
I am then going to preemptively label myself a "Disappointed American" then, till the Obama Admin's insulting and pandering lecturing goes away.
This, immediately below, is an abbreviation of the mindless and offensive part, to me, of the Axelrod message:
We can extend that ... abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time. "
"Muslim countries ... are filled with extraordinary people who ... want to live their lives ... just as in America. Part of what makes America great is ... seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching [us].
We can extend that ... abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time. "
Duh.
When has this kind of policy has NOT been our attitude -- throughout the Bush Administration, and prior? Wishing it were the view does not make it true. And all the arguing about it, all the attempting to link war to it, still does not make it so. Afghanistan and Iraq wars and reorganization nightmares they became are not joyous events, but they are not the foul, self-interested events that Obama's friends want, backhandedly, for everyone to believe them to be. Obama reminds that he inherited these wars. Thanks for stepping up to the plate, sir.
It bothers me for how it simply points out the obvious, and brings one to the only conclusion for someone who is not a blatant, ignorant bigot and anti-Muslim (rather than anti-terrorist or anti-extremist Muslim zealot). So how many blatant bigots are out there influencing everyone in America, exactly? Only those fooling themselves are convinced that they are loudly influencing America. Look at the foolishness from the White House.
So, where have you been living, Obama Admin folks, with crazies who think all Muslims are bad people, or terrorists? Let me know where that is, as I don't want to live there.
This is a most arrogant, self-anointing presidency, judging from such presumptuous, egotistical, statements backhandedly offensive to those outside their fanatic followers ("believers"?) such as this message.
It appears they blatantly believe that GW Bush found all Muslims to be evil, then, judging from this, but like true propagandists, they don't come out and say it, they just lead you from the position that they want you to believe GW and conservatives have, to what view they have, with such a "letter" to American people.
That, or "wake up, America! September 11 happened a whopping eight years ago, so get over it now!"
What a shame.
Here's the whole message, in entirety:
Hello -
As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.
The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/NewBeginning/
As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.
The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/NewBeginning/
Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.
We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.
Thank you,
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President
We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.
Thank you,
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President
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