Obama’s Image Conflicts With the Hate Speech of His Hillary-Bashing Followers

Photo Credits: DenverPost/Kathryn Scott Osler

The contradiction has been bugging me for weeks now, like a loose thread in the carpet that I walk over several times a day, until I finally take a break from whatever it is I’m doing and fix the darned thing.

But in reality, the issue at hand is much more serious than a loose thread. It’s ultimately about who will serve as the next president of the United States and the kind of followers he or she attracts.

Consider this: day after day, the Obama campaign presents its man as the harbinger of the new politics, the one who has transcended the struggles of the Baby Boomers. The impression you get from his extensive PR is that Obama can unify the country solely by virtue of his charismatic self and even go forth to change the world.

Although scripted by a talented team of speechwriters, Obama’s oratorical gifts are impressive. Reading from a teleprompter in the style of an evangelical preacher, Obama expertly works a crowd to the feverish pitch of a revival meeting with hundreds stomping their feet and shouting in unison, “Yes, we can!”

There’s no disputing it: Obama’s campaign has created excitement, especially among the young, who are eagerly embracing their newfound messiah’s much-touted ethical purity and mantra of change.

But here’s the rub: wherever I go on the internet, be it the mainstream media or left-wing blogs, such as the Huffington Post or Politico.com, I encounter overwhelming numbers of hate messages written by Obama supporters directed at Hillary Clinton and her family. And I have to ask, do we really want to elect as president of the United States a man who presents himself as morally pure, while attracting as followers hundreds of rabid hate-mongers apparently incapable of civil discourse?

The hate mongers were out in full force recently in response to MSNBC’s suspension of David Shuster for his on-the-air remark suggesting the Clinton campaign has been “pimping” their daughter Chelsea. An unbelievable number of Obama’s supporters jumped to Shuster’s defense while verbally assaulting the Clintons.

(For a letter to MSNBC written by Smith College Professor Lois Dubin protesting Shuster's blatant misogyny, go here.)

Here are a few examples randomly pulled from the Washington Post, the NY Times, Politico.com, and the Huffington Post.

From the Washington Post

Example 1

The Clintons are ridiculously thin-skinned sometimes. The phrase "pimped out" no longer has anything to do with prositution. Grow up, Billary. This is exactly the kind of crap you pull that has me supporting Obama.

Example 2

Seems to me that the analogy is fitting, given the Clintons's pimping out of the White House during his reign. Anyone remember selling access to Bill via the Lincoln Bedroom? What about transfer of top secret technology to China after Bill's fund raising activities with Chinese government surrogates? How about Bill's influence peddling this year for uranium exploration that is netting him $100MM+? Suddenly Hillary can afford to "donate" funds to her own campaign. Yuck - how slimy can you get?

Example 3

The P.C. police strike again...

The New York Times

Example 1

Yes, the comment was offensive, and Shuster was rightfully suspended. But I have a feeling Clinton is taking this further as a matter of potential political gain. And I have a feeling it’s going to backfire on her: it reeks of the victim card.

Example 2

Clinton will benefit from the sympathy… hence the letter. Also, the letter will ensure that Chelsea is now off limits. She will be free to make calls to super delegates without any discussion as to the appropriateness of such calls.

Example 3

The lady doth protest too much. The MSNBC comments were way over the top, but nowhere near what Fox says on a daily basis. This is a ploy to get her base worked up and angry. She’s hoping that people will rally to her, like they did in NH. I don’t think this story has much sticking power though.

Politico.com

Example 1

I agree that MSNBC shouldn't cave in to Clinton criticism. This is journalism and it's supposed to be free speech and hard hitting. Sure sometimes people can make an edgy comment...one that is a bit insulting...but that's the price of free speech. Journalists cannot back down every time they offend someone; that's their job. In fact, the media has often not been critical enough of the Clintons.

Example 2

I wouldn't go so far as to call the comments offensive. Were they in bad taste? Of course, but in no way does it seem that the gentleman from MSNBC was going so far as to call the daughter of the former first family a whore. Don't you just love the politically correct atmosphere that we've allowed to be created in this country? I'm sure this made the Clinton campaign happy to gain airtime prior to next round of caucusses and primaries. Just another non-issue during this year's nomination process.

Example 3

And the Clintons think Barack Obama will have trouble standing up to the Republicans in the Fall? Please..... Campaigns are rough. Billary put Chelsea out there to campaign for Mom yet she won't accept interviews & apparently can't accept edgy criticism either. Grow up Clintons or get out of the race!

From the Huffington Post

Example 1

“Shuster should have given them the middle finger. Pimp is becoming part of the vernacular today. It's one of the slang words thats utterly harmless. And the fact that the Clinton Machine is pimping Chelsea out makes this even more pathetic. People get so pissy and uppity over the stupidest things.

“What they really need to address is how the hell Chelsea became the ugliest child/ person in politics. Or Public office. That poor thing got beat with the ugly stick one too many times.”

Example 2

The Clinton"s want to have it both ways. They put Chelsea out front, but will slap you down if you dare to try to talk to her or about her. First of all, Chelsea is not a baby, she"s a 27 year old woman working for her parent"s friend"s hedge fund. Now, let"s look at a few of her actions. She continued to speak with caucusgoers in Nevada long after she was warned that the time for solicitation had passed. She called The View women and in a babydoll voice begged for votes. She"s calling superdelegates trolling for votes and meeting with them privately. So, maybe the only argument here is whether she"s being pimped or whether she"s doing it freely. Either way, she has interjected herself into the race, so game on. We women need to wise up and realize that Hillary is, once again, playing the victim for votes. That"s soooo yesterday.

Example 3

Last year, the then 25 year old Clinton Child started her First job as a HEDGE FUND manager earning a SIX Figure salary. She is old enough to come out and speak for herself and not have mommy and daddy defend Her Royal Highness.

Example 4

I'm really disappointed in MSNBC for caving in to the Clinton's. All this got her was some free campaign coverage. And Keith Olbermann!!! I can't believe he sold out too! He knows perfectly well how the "pimped" comment should have been taken!!! Nobody was calling Chelsea Clinton a "whore". It was a term meant to infer that Chelsea was being "used" to further the Senator's presidential campaign. The term "pimped" has evolved into the vernacular and for Keith Olbermann not to defend David Shuster right as an journalist to say this is just a case of the pot calling the kettle black! Especially since he used the SAME term (and justifiably) in his Special Comment: "President of Hypocrisy".

I repeat the question: do we really want to elect as president of the United States, a man who attracts such hate-spewing followers? It's something to think about.