*sigh* My brother is slowly becoming a right wing birther/conspiracy nut.....

[Joe the Liberal]

I've known he was kind of headed that way when he used to watch Lou Dobbs but even then I had my doubts. Now I am certain, my suspicions we're confirmed today as we we're driving home from the store.

Out of no where he starts talking about how evil Obama is, health care, taxes this taxes that. I tried my best to talk some sense into him but the bullshit/propaganda has sunk in deep and taken it's toll. He just kept spouting off right wing nonsense and conspiracy's left and right, I really wasn't expecting it.

He now officially believes that Obama was born in Kenya and has signed an executive order to try to cover it up. That Obama provided funds for a relative of his to aid him (the relative) in a revolution in Kenya that resulted in many deaths, or something along those lines. :wtf:

That Obama is a "thief" and stole money from an alternative energy company to pay for Cash for Clunkers. Funny, he thinks global warming is bullshit but all of sudden it matters. Because you can't be stealing money from alternative energy companies cause they are trying to develop alternative energies to help stop global warming....oh wait, but I thought global warming was bull shit. :shrug: :eyes:

That health care in America is fine as it is right now, he is fine with free market principles and has no problem what so ever with health care insurance companies having a complete monopoly in this country. That everyone's taxes are going to go way up to pay for health care therefore there should not be any reform. Also that all the other countries who have universal coverage all have incredibly high and crippling taxes. Overall he has developed the typical "screw you I got mine" attitude towards it, but the amazing thing is that he doesn't even have health insurance or any health care coverage for that matter *facepalm*

He was actually defending the right wing protesters at the town hall meetings after I called them a bunch of misinformed idiots. He went on and on about a bunch of other bullshit, I can't even remember, I'm sure he's bought a lot of other nonsense as well.

He has watched a bunch of movies by Alex Jones which I think is where he gets a lot of it from. He doesn't watch Dobbs anymore, thankfully, but I think that was just a stepping stone that lead him to all the current bullshit he believes. I guess it's not all bad though, it could be worse for sure, he thinks the Republicans and the Dems are both equally corrupt. He did vote for Obama but that was before he started watching all the conspiracy theory movies.

He's a pretty good guy but I think just horribly misinformed, anyone else have experience dealing with family members like this?

[GodlyDemocrat]

1. Does he have any personal issues or problems in his life?

I think "Dr." Orly Taitz feels as if she is a failure in life (she can't seem to succeed as a dentist, lawyer, or real estate agent) so she has to latch on to a fringe movement, run back home to Tel Aviv, and then fabricate documents.

I'm not saying the same profile applies to your brother, but it might.

[Joe the Liberal]

5. Not at all....

He's almost out of school and has a pretty good steady job. He has a fairly new car, everything is going smooth, so I don't think the Orly Taitz theory applies here.

[GodlyDemocrat]

10. If your brother's a reasonable guy, show him the birth announcements in the Honolulu Advertiser

That has to convince him

[Joe the Liberal]

12. It may...

I'll give it a shot next time he brings it up.

[Aristus]

2. Executive orders are public instruments of government. If President Obama signed one,

it would, by definition, be unable to cover anything up.

Of course, that is a logical observation, and therefor, will have no convincing effect on your brother.

I'm sorry he's descending into right-wing lunacy. I'm lucky: my brother is even further to the left than me, if that's possible...

[kevinbgoode]

3. And he has no health insurance.

Here's an idea. Why not do a bit of research on some standard kind of procedure that he might encounter in his life, and then add up the typical expenses for that procedure, and hand it all to him with a note that says "So...tell me how you can pay for this?"

You don't have to be exotic. Hell, I have good health insurance and I'm still opening statement after statement from a simple gall bladder/hernia surgery performed in May. And that bill is already over $5000.

Then you can ask him how much profit a "free market" monopoly should have?

[Joe the Liberal]

6. Ah good idea.....

that may work, at least for the health care part of it, although he may just dismiss it all as "pffffft that'd never happen to me" or something like that.

[yost69]

24. I have no insurance either and I still think its a bad idea.

[aquart]

25. Welcome to DU.

Here's hoping you continue in good health. How were you going to pay for the swine flu shot?

[yost69]

29. I am going to get that shot why?

I don't get the influenza shot that kills more people than the swine flu. I am still here to type this. I will take my chances.

[ellie]

31. Good luck to you.

[Jennicut]

4. Oh yeah, my parents watch Faux news and believe a lot of the lies

We agree to disagree but they are over 60 and its hard to get them to change. My Mom seriously wanted to move to the south after the election! We live in CT. I told her if she wanted to leave her grandkids behind then they would forget about her too and that stopped her real fast from having that discussion anymore.
Sounds like your brother may be young and confused. If he is young enough he could eventually turn away from this. I would avoid talking about politics for now though because for me it always ended up in major arguments. We can argue a bit more civilly now but I still try to avoid it. They are my parents and I love them but they are horribly and sadly misguided.

[Joe the Liberal]

11. The thing is.....

he doesn't watch Faux or any of the major news outlets cause he believes they are in on the conspiracy. I always avoid talking politics, not just with him but anyone because I don't like arguments, he is the one who always brings it up.

[Jennicut]

16. Hmmm, he is definitely easily led into believing conspiracy theories

People who are directionless in life and looking for answers sometimes want to be told the whole world is a conspiracy, its easier then admitting its random sometimes. Or maybe that is just lectures coming out of me from getting my psych degree. :)

[Joe the Liberal]

19. That's for sure.....

I asked him the last time when he brought up a similar discussion why he believes in all that conspiracy theory crap and he said because it makes sense and they back it all up with facts.

And yet when I'd tell him it's all nonsense he would just say I'm brainwashed, naive and will believe anything :eyes:

[Jennicut]

20. He sounds naive and brainwashed to me.

Hang in there...I know its hard when its family.

[mitchum]

30. Tell your mom to stay where she is...

the south already has too many ignorant wingnuts. There is no need to import more.

[cynatnite]

7. My mother is a birther without insurance and she believes every RW talking point/lie...

My sister...I don't know if she is a birther or not. I'm thinking yes because she hates Obama and believes the RW talking points/lie about health care, too.

If they did watch Alex Jones it would make convincing them a bit easier, but no, they're into the Glenn Beck type of entertainment.

[Joe the Liberal]

14. Beck is worse for sure.....

I'm glad he doesn't watch Faux at all or Dobbs but he seems to have traded in Lou Dobbs for Alex Jones and a bunch of other stuff like that.

[snake in the grass]

8. saved for later n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. What kind of school?

How secure is his job?

He's young. He's healthy. He's lucky. One trip to the Emergency Room (let's hope not, even for purposes of discussion) might change his thinking about everything.

Sounds to me like the arrogance of youth and inexperience, but buying into the Birther nonsense is really troubling.

Ever have any hint that your brother is a racist? Seems to me that's at the root of all those people with that obsession..............

[Joe the Liberal]

13. He's in college right now....

and his job is pretty secure (worked there for years), I agree that one trip to the emergency would definitely change his thinking but I certainly hope he never has to go there. I know for certain he is not racist, he has friends of all different colors, so that ain't it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. Then he's just very young,

very inexperienced, needs to meet a lot of different people with different stories from different places in this world.

Right now, he's just latching on to the easiest path - it's hard work to be informed and become a liberal - so it sounds to me like he's just coasting, and doesn't really know what he's talking about.

He's young - don't worry - it's probably just another stage. With you as his brother, he's got a good guide over to The Correct Side.

Good luck......................................

[Joe the Liberal]

17. I agree......

Hopefully over time he'll change for the better, thanks.

[mitchum]

32. Is he going to school on a FEDERAL student loan?

If he is, he is a hypocritical piece of shit. Sorry.

[ginnyinWI]

18. I can't talk to my dad anymore. So think this thing through.

He is an old retired high school math teacher who has gotten very bitter since the election. Before the election he warned everybody that Obama would ruin the country, making it a socialist dictatorship. He's gotten steadily worse since then, to the point of writing personal insults in emails. He's just lashing out at the nearest target, of course, because I am the only Dem in my family of origin, but it still hurts and makes me wonder if he's gone demented or something. So I can't write to him about anything anymore, because he find some way to attack me for it. I've never seen him so riled up. When I innocently wrote to him about my kids, he attacked me because I "never write about and must not care" about my brothers! Huh? So it's gone way beyond politics, unfortunately.

If I were able to talk to him about his "Osama Obama Soetoro born in Kenya" theory, I'd simply ask him: "Was Obama's mother an American citizen?" Because if she was, then Barack Obama is a natural born American citizen, whether he was born in Kenya, the South Pole or the Moon. End of question.

So maybe you could ask your brother that question. Then have him go read the constitution where it defines what a natural born citizen is. Think, though, about how this might all end. Is your relationship to your brother able to stand a lot of political arguments? Cause if they get mad enough, they could just cut off the relationship.

[Joe the Liberal]

23. I don't think it will ever get that bad.....

or at least I hope not, so long as we don't talk politics we're fine.


Ack x( and it never crossed my mind to say that Obama's mother is an American citizen until AFTER the conversation was over. I hate when that happens, if he brings something like this up again I'll be sure to say that.

[dorkulon]

21. I hate to say this, but he'd have to be kind of stupid in the first place

to find himself believing all that bullshit. A more discriminating mind would evaluate the information and find it to be false before it had the chance to 'misinform' him. And Alex Jones is an immoral liar, anyone with half a brain could see that. Your bro may be a good guy, but he's not a bright guy.

[Kievan Rus]

22. Cue the Imperial March...he's going to the Dark Side

[Joe the Liberal]

27. Lol I like that analogy. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

26. Next time he brings that crap up, just give him a look that says ...

... I don't know you anymore.

[and-justice-for-all]

28. Poor chap, ask him what it is like to lose ones mind...

I am quite interested.