I just wanted to put it out there that I am a terrible person ...

[beachmom]

In reaction to Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize, the RNC's Michael Steele put out this statement:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8691858

"The real question Americans are asking is, 'What has President Obama actually accomplished?' It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain - President Obama won't be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action."

Not one note of grace whatsoever. So the DNC went all in, so to speak, with its reaction to the RNC:

The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize — an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride — unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore – it’s an embarrassing label to claim.

My reaction? SPOT.THE.HELL.ON.

Now maybe tomorrow I will change my mind. But I am sorry: you have to speak to these folks in a language they can understand. They walked into this minefield, and the DNC decided to go for the low hanging fruit. These jerks said John Kerry was in cohoots with the terrorists for YEARS simply for criticizing the POLICIES of the Bush Administration. It's about time they reap what they have sowed. So I'm all about the Old Testament today.

Incidentally, I have not seen reaction from John Kerry yet. I DID see this from John McCain, who for once has shown leadership where there has been none within the GOP:

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/mccain-pride-in-obama-for-prize.php?ref=fpblg

[karynnj]

1. Kerry's daughter is getting married this weekend - so he may have been busy

I assume that he is delighted as what Obama is doing is very very close to what he wanted done.

Now, as to terrible person, my first thought, was "this is what Ken Blackwell et al also stole from John Kerry in addition to the Presidency." (until now, I was too embarrassed to admit that. To be less happy because it should have been 2005 and Kerry is pretty poor - rather than rejoicing in the honor to our country.

As to your reaction, I was the first (and maybe the only - I left the thread) to post that we should have taken the high road. Now, my first reaction was like everyone else's. My second I posted. The fact is these attacks go back and forth forever - and while it is true they are by far worse, civility needs to be re-established. Here, their reaction is so transparently a bratty tantrum that we could have passed on retaliating - a rare occasion, as usually we need to correct lies. It just seems that at some point we need to try to pull the hate down. Here we are the victors and this is incredible for Obama. (It also shows that what Kerry and Kennedy said in endorsing him was true and real - this is more on what Obama represents than on any list of actions.)

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Well if you're a 'terrible person'..

..then I guess I am too, lol, because I feel the exact same way! :D

[wisteria]

3. Terrible? Hell no! I feel the same way. And, the DNC response was just perfect. n/t

[Luftmensch067]

4. I agree!

I think Karynnj is right and someone needs to take a stand at some point to reestablish some kind of civility and maturity in our political and national discourse. But sometimes a brat just deserves a big, hard smack, and in the RNC is SO out of line on this one that I'm glad to see them smacked down.

[Blaukraut]

5. Put me in the 'Terrible' camp, too

The right has gone off the deep end. Every time you think they can't sink any lower, they manage to surprise once again. They ARE siding with terrorists here.

[ladym55]

6. What is our problem in the good ol' USA???

Well, not actually OUR problem ...

Every time I think I can't be more appalled by our national "discourse," something ELSE happens.

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. I think that's awesome. It's a recognition that our president is working VERY hard to turn the ship of state away from the rocks. So instead the Republicans get nasty AGAIN ... and EVERY media outlet focuses on that. NPR played a RUSH LIMBAUGH reaction sound byte fer cryin' out loud.

When Brazil was awarded the Summer Olympics, the flippin' Republicans cheered and gloated. Instead of thinking, hmmm, wow, how cool to award this to a South American country, they CHEERED because Obama failed (not that Brazil won). How mean-spirited AND self-centered!

Taking the high road ... it's something President Obama has tried to do. However, there comes a time to tell it like it is. Beachmom, I'm with you on this. There are times when bullies need to be called bullies and liars, liars.

[ray of light]

7. beachmom, I must be naughty too. Because, I think like you do.

It's about time the DNC said it so starkly clear as they finally did there!


And I'm sorry...But a week after the Republicans cheered our country losing something that would have brought jobs and great pride...just so they could have their revenge at Obama...No. There is not one thing they care about that helps main street Americans.

Also, in thinking of how they just critisize Obama for everything, it made me remember how they claimed we just critisized Bush for everything.

So I thought...What laws did Bush break?

1. Lied for war
2. Outed a spy (Plame)
3. Illegally spied on us.
4. Geneva conventions-torture
5. Refused to stop the banking industry from their actions.
6. Refused to stop the oil industry from their price gouging.
7. Refused to regulate the trade agreement.
8. Used lies (False science) and caused greater pollution and harm.

Those are of the top of my head. The list goes on.

Right now, Obama has to wade through their leftover crap and try to fix what Bush did. But he has not broken any laws. He's out there trying to help-not breaking laws-but trying to regulate and improve conditions--one step at a time.

But Republicans hate him for his politics, his skin color, and want him to fail even if it causes US to fail.

[Inuca]

8. It is difficult to keep track

of how many sharks they have jumped in recent years, but yesterday they jumped a HUGE one. I had a very busy day, was barely able to get online, and watched a bit of news only late just before collapsing. But I listed a bit to Laura Ingram on the radio, and then the Limbaugh and Beck quotes that were in the news at night. The meanness and absurdity of these comments are just indescribable.

OTOH and as I think Karyn also said upthread I just want all this insanity to STOP. In my view, the fact that things have gotten so much more poisonous instead of moving toward some form of bi(post)partisanship is one of Obama's main setbacks so far. I think he truly meant what he was saying during the campaign, it's part of who he is. And it is unfortunate (but not surprising) that it did not work out. So far at least. Kudos to Lindsey Graham by the way, and his comments about Beck, it reminded me why in spite of everything (and this includes a lot!) I never fully disliked him.