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Friday, July 31, 2009

Politics Feelings

Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 8:42 AM

A whopping 58 percent of Republicans either think Barack Obama wasn't born in the US (28 percent) or aren't sure (30 percent). A mere 42 percent think he was.

That means a majority of Republicans polled either don't know about — or don't believe the seemingly incontrovertible evidence Obama's camp has presented over and over and over that he was born in Hawaii in '61.

It also explains why Republicans, including Roy Blunt, are playing footsie with the Birther fringe.

Surprise, surprise: Birther sentiment was strongest in the South and among the 60-plus crowd - presumably because seniors can't log on to the Internet and rely on rumor, word of mouth and right-wing talk radio.

It's not a matter of evidence. No final, incontrovertible proof could change a Birther's position. Why? Because the whole sad business is not about facts but a feeling. The feeling is that Obama is not an American. His name, his color, his politics—all form this one code: unAmerican. Everyone knows that John McCain's right to run for the highest political office in this country was on even more rocky ground than Obama's (he was not born on American soil). But from Cain, the Birther receives the codes (a look, a way of talking, a way of acting) that generate the this final feeling: an American.

True, a black person can generate the code "an American." Most Birthers certainly feel that Micheal Jordan is an American. But the problem is a question of association. Jordan's associations are understandable for a black American; Obama's are not (he lived overseas, his mother is a white woman who slept with exotic men, he is intelligent, he talks good English). This is the point of crisis. This is why that woman with her birth certificate was having such a fit. Her sense-making systems had crashed. What was left was to shake and shake. Obama is not even a black American to the Birther. He is not even a nigger. He is a completely foreign body.

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It isn't about association, but about power.

Posted by Mike989 on July 31, 2009 at 9:00 AM

i believe irish catholic JFK's election was seen in a similar light by "real americans". have we elected any catholics since then? nope.

Posted by Max Solomon on July 31, 2009 at 9:11 AM

You're right, Cholly. If it weren't the place of birth issue, it'd be something else because these people want another half-wit (just like them) in the White House and - shall we say it? - they will hound and sizzle and spew until they get that "N-word" out of office.

This is what so-call Christian politics have wrought.

Posted by Bauhaus I on July 31, 2009 at 9:14 AM

The birthers would create evidence to prove that Michael Jordan wasn't an American if he were elected president. Black people can't have power in their world.

Posted by Cracker Jack on July 31, 2009 at 9:24 AM

Well put, Charles.

Posted by Kris on July 31, 2009 at 9:37 AM

Good Morning Charles,
Whoa! Intense stuff. One can read into the poll whatever they wish. It does nothing for me. I dismissed the "birthers" during the campaign assuming the Obama team vetted Obama properly. Yes, the "birthers" remind me of the JFK assassination conspiracy theorists. They are paranoid and will never be convinced (BTW, I read a piece last week on a group that denies man ever set foot on the moon! And, don't forget the Flat Earthers). No doubt some are racist. Like David Paul Kuhn said "why are they broaching the subject now" when Obama is nearing seven months into his Presidency?

I didn't vote for Obama. But, he is my (our) President and most certainly is American. I can serve him if need be. The "birthers" are merely ranters. All sides of the political equation have them.

Posted by lark on July 31, 2009 at 9:38 AM

I think the most telling thing to come to light about all of this was last week's news that McCain looked into this issue, but decided it wasn't worth pursuing. Don't you think he would have raised holy hell about it if there was anything to be gained from it?

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on July 31, 2009 at 9:46 AM

Great post.

As Charles notes: Everyone knows that John McCain's right to run for the highest political office in this country was on even more rocky ground than Obama's (he was not born American soil).

I wish that same poll had asked those Republicans whether they believe John McCain was born in the United States.

Posted by cressona on July 31, 2009 at 9:46 AM

Mudede FTW

Posted by Timothy on July 31, 2009 at 9:48 AM

Obama might as well be an extra-terrestrial as far as Republicans are concerned. Just the fact that he can speak in complete sentences is proof enough for them.

Posted by crazycatguy on July 31, 2009 at 10:31 AM

Race has definitely tinged this sentiment. But if you look back to the Clinton years, they were relentless in trying to bring him down too. Rush was on television every night. Race adds a frightening dimension for them, but the bottom line is that the far right throws everything it has at any Democrat who has the keys to 1600. Whitewater. Travelgate. They salivated when they finally had the Monica story - and took it all the way to impeachment. Why would they be easier on a black man in the White House? They are apoplectic about this and don't know what else to do with themselves. I just hope Obama doesn't do anything to give them a real cause, like Bill handed them Lewinsky.

Posted by stella on July 31, 2009 at 11:09 AM

and among the 60-plus crowd - presumably because seniors can't log on to the Internet

This makes me as sad as anything about the future. As we get older we will no longer be able to log into the Internet nor surf the web. I kind of like it so I am certainly going to miss being able to do it in my old age.

Posted by Bill W.

on July 31, 2009 at 11:18 AM

Southerners are the least educated and most racist. If you want reason and logic ,abandon all hope of that from the south. But this does explain why they vote Republican.

Posted by Vince on July 31, 2009 at 11:26 AM

No, seniors can log on to the Internet; they just don't know what to do with it. So they get those urban myth email forwards, take them as gospel, and meanwhile haven't even heard of Snopes.

Posted by keshmeshi on July 31, 2009 at 11:41 AM

The thing about the birthers not believing the evidence that Obama was born in the USA is the same thing about them believing in the Bible despite its flaws: Faith.

They've been fighting reason and logic their entire lives to cling to a belief. They believe the Bible is the literal word of God. They believe in a giant space daddy above who is all powerful. They believe the Earth is 5000 years old. No evidence on the contrary can dissuade them.

They also believe this black guy with a funny name was born in Africa. They believe that because his father was African he must be too. They believe that this man who wants to take away their guns, force universal healthcare on them, has ruined the economy, and wants socialism isn't American, at least not as they see it. No evidence on the contrary can dissuade them.

Denial is a powerful force.

Posted by Matt Hickey

on July 31, 2009 at 12:18 PM

I happen to have the displeasure of knowing one of these "birther" types. And, as he stated to me, that even if a birth certificate was produced, he still wouldn't believe it was real. Because, as he put it to me, "a birth certificate can still be forged."

How does one argue with such stupidity?? I'm at a loss.

Posted by Frau Blucher on July 31, 2009 at 12:25 PM