# The Extreme Right Obama Hate is Flat Out Nuts **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 16, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312 "2009-04-16T18:45:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/181 "2009-04-22T06:06:30Z")
Oh, he just needs a big ol’ hug! And maybe a lot more fiber… ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/182 "2009-04-22T07:59:45Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > He **did** say “almost”. That’s a pretty big gap in the ‘almost’, though. Bush’s policies saved millions of lives in Africa. That’s not exactly an asterisk to a Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/183 "2009-04-22T10:52:40Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That’s a pretty big gap in the ‘almost’, though. Bush’s policies saved millions of lives in Africa. That’s not exactly an asterisk to a Presidency. I remember that he promised a great deal of money, but how much did he end up following through with? Also, what were his “policies”? He was a pretty anti-family planning type guy. Finally, I find it terribly amusing that the one accomplishment you can point to is something that isn’t exactly a plank in the Republican party platform. Not a lot of teabaggers had signs saying “More money for AIDS prevention among Africans!” ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/184 "2009-04-22T12:10:50Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I remember that he promised a great deal of money, but how much did he end up following through with? Also, what were his “policies”? He was a pretty anti-family planning type guy. > > Finally, I find it terribly amusing that the one accomplishment you can point to is something that isn’t exactly a plank in the Republican party platform. Not a lot of teabaggers had signs saying “More money for AIDS prevention among Africans!” Also, am I misremembering, or wasn’t the Bush administration’s AIDS prevention assistance contingent on Africa’s commitment to abstinence only mandates? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/185 "2009-04-22T12:35:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Tell that to AIDS sufferers in Africa. And the space program! We’re, like, 80% of the way to Mars by now, right, Sam? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/186 "2009-04-22T12:48:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Tell that to AIDS sufferers in Africa. This is just pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/187 "2009-04-22T14:19:07Z")
Why is that pathetic, exactly? Bush tripled aid to Africa and his administration funded AIDS relief in a big way: [President’s Emergency AIDS Plan Saved 1.2 Million in Africa](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aikvQ2bbZA1Q&refer=home) > [@](#): > > The largest U.S. foreign aid program fighting the AIDS epidemic has cut the disease’s death toll by 1.2 million from 2004 to 2007 in a dozen hard-hit African countries, researchers said. > > The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, started by President George W. Bush in 2003, lowered the AIDS death rate on average by 10.5 percent a year in those countries, said study author Eran Bendavid of Stanford University in a study published online today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/188 "2009-04-22T14:47:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The point being that the sort of slavish adulation the lefties openly admit they feel for Obama corresponds exactly to the kind of attitude they condemn towards any politician not of the Left. I guess if all you’ve got is a hammer, all the world’s a nail- all you seem to have is “The Left worships Obama!” 'Cause it worked _so well_ during the election. One thing you might want to ask yourself- why couldn’t the Right motivate its voters the same way? The ability to inspire is the mark of a good leader- what did \*your \*guy do wrong? Besides, you know, _everything_. One thing I’ve noticed, while we’re bandying about the selective perception- the Left attacks the politicians. The Right attacks _everybody_. You’re a great example of that, **Shodan**. _Party uber alles_! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/189 "2009-04-22T14:50:44Z")
Not sure why we’re hating on Bush’s AIDS relief program, given that it was the one clear good thing he did while in office. Is there not enough to dislike about the man, that we must deny him the few feeble crumbs of a positive legacy he has? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/190 "2009-04-22T15:42:31Z")
Yes, he deserves credit for his AIDS relief in Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/191 "2009-04-22T16:28:01Z")
The Obama-hate isn’t necessarily flat-out crazy. Consider: Bush and the Republicans had control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. It really should’ve been a wet dream for the Republican agenda- small government, low taxes, abortion outlawed… fill in the blanks, I don’t want to sound like I’m distorting. Instead what we got was a horrible mess. Corporate collusion. A seemingly unjustifiable invasion of Iraq and subsequent responsibility for as many as a million civilian casualties. Spoils for the rich, insults for the poor. Spying, torture, suspension of Habeus Corpus, a tanked economy… it goes on and on. Obama comes in and is 1) very popular. 2) very smart and articulate. 3) Seeming to possess a good will (though we’ll have to wait 4 years to be certain). He is able to publicly say phrases like ‘energy independence’ and ‘clean cars’ without twitching. He’s lowering taxes…for most people. He seems to be able to make nice with foreign leaders. Overall it looks like he could become a very successful leader- though again we’ll have to wait and see. Given all this, how could a die-hard Republican simultaneously be a serious rationalist these days? Republicans who dabble too seriously in facts and logic will soon find themselves faced with the impossible task of defending the Bush record (i.e. if R ideas are so good, why are the results so bad?). Stray too far down this path and a person discovers that they can’t remain a Republican. But for some (like evangelicals and the wealthy), there is _no choice_ but to be Republican! So. Obama’s example of leadership makes the previous administration look worse by comparison every day. Republicans are understandably personally offended- the comparison makes them look incompetent. But rationalism is off-limits, as described above, so what’s left is to accuse Obama of being a Socialist. And also a Fascist. And any other thing, so long as it is never, ever, a rational, factually supported argument. I guess I’m saying I view it as ‘understandably’ crazy behavior. They can’t resort to rationality, but neither can they ‘get on board.’ That’s all! Personally I think it is dangerous to lack a credible opposition party in American politics. Maybe the Libertarians can fill the gap??? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/192 "2009-04-22T16:48:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Cite, please, **Shodan**? How long you been around these parts, Bo? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/193 "2009-04-22T17:29:46Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Oh, everybody’s equal then. I had no idea. I guess the whole conversation is over. > :rolleyes: > > (might wanna read the rest of the thread) How long you been around these parts, **Stoid?** ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/194 "2009-04-22T17:33:04Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That’s a pretty big gap in the ‘almost’, though. Bush’s policies saved millions of lives in Africa. That’s not exactly an asterisk to a Presidency. Ermm . . . Yes, it is, **Sam.** For instance, it is nowhere near comparable to Carter negotiating the Camp David Accords. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/195 "2009-04-22T17:46:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How long you been around these parts, **Stoid?** Long enough to have a ‘rational’ fixation with Obama. > [@I'm totally in love with Barack Obama. He makes me weepy with happiness.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-totally-in-love-with-barack-obama-he-makes-me-weepy-with-happiness/469423/54): > > I need to have sex with him RIGHT NOW ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/196 "2009-04-22T17:58:02Z")
Hmmm. If Michele were to catch them _in flagrante delicious_, which one do you think she’d kill first? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/197 "2009-04-22T17:59:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Ermm . . . Yes, it is, **Sam.** For instance, it is nowhere near comparable to Carter negotiating the Camp David Accords. Be more magnanimous. It’s all he’s got. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/198 "2009-04-22T18:34:41Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Long enough to have a ‘rational’ fixation with Obama. Hey, I’ve got a big fat crush on my President, and I’m completely ok with that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/199 "2009-04-22T18:43:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Be more magnanimous. It’s all he’s got. You forgot Poland. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312/200 "2009-04-23T16:46:09Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > You forgot Poland. Well played! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-extreme-right-obama-hate-is-flat-out-nuts/493312.md?page=11)