Posted on 03/24/2010 12:37:05 PM PDT by neverdem
On the heels of health care, a new Harris poll reveals Republican attitudes about Obama: Two-thirds think he's a socialist, 57 percent a Muslim—and 24 percent say "he may be the Antichrist."
To anyone who thinks the end of the health-care vote means a return to civility, wake up.
Obama Derangement Syndrome—pathological hatred of the president posing as patriotism—has infected the Republican Party. Here's new data to prove it:
The belief that Obama is a “domestic enemy” is widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come.
These numbers all come from a brand-new Harris poll, inspired in part by my new book Wingnuts. It demonstrates the cost of the campaign of fear and hate that has been pumped up in the service of hyper-partisanship over the past 15 months. We are playing with dynamite by demonizing our president and dividing the United States in the process. What might be good for ratings is bad for the country.
• Michelle Goldberg: What the Polls Really Show The poll, which surveyed 2,230 people right at the height of the health-care reform debate, also clearly shows that education is a barrier to extremism. Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped. It's a reminder of what the 19th-century educator Horace Mann once too-loftily said: "Ignorance breeds monsters to fill up the vacancies of the soul that are unoccupied by the verities of knowledge."
The full results of the poll, which will be released in greater detail tomorrow, are even more frightening: including news that high percentages of Republicans—and Americans overall—believe that President Obama is "racist," "anti-American" "wants the terrorists to win" and "wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one-world government." The "Hatriot" belief that Obama is a "domestic enemy" as set forth in the Constitution is also widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come. It's the same claim made by Marine Lance Corporal Kody Brittingham in his letter of intent to assassinate the President Obama.
This poll is the latest and most detailed evidence of the extent to which Wingnuts are hijacking our politics. It should be a wakeup call to all Americans and a collective reminder, as we move past health-care reform, that we need to stand up to extremism.
John Avlon's new book Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America is available now by Beast Books both on the Web and in paperback. He is also the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Previously, he served as chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and was a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun.
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I think he might be a robot...
I prefer the term “Communist.” Otherwise, count me in.
And please add “illegal alien” to the list.
Probably a garbage poll, given the source... But those numbers don’t sound so bad to me! If anything, they should be higher!!!
The truth that Obama is a “domestic enemy” is widely held—a sign of trouble yet to come to those in power and their special interest support organizations including Mr. Avlon.
Fixed it!
Spin it any way you want ahole he’s toast!!!
Oh and don’t forget we’re running around throwing bricks through Dems windows and cutting their gas lines and whatever other crap the media is reporting. Personally I think the dems are doing this to themselves so they can blame us! I am not shutting up NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ME!!!!
Well I have a college education and I’m absolutely sure Zero is a socialist so I guess I’m skewing their neat little package of numbers.
:-)
Who doesn’t KNOW that he is a socialist at this point? They actually think the obvious is the insane.
This schmuck better read the polls and walk the streets. Rage is the norm out there.
Of course he’s a socialist.
He’d certainly describe himself that way if it wasn’t for political calculations.
Obama is and was a MARXIST in college.
Here is an interview from someone who knew him: send to everyone you know if you wish to spread the (blocked) word:
http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/02/13/marxist-obama-why-the-media-has-been-silent/
The other side is not allowed to co-opt BDS and PDS for ODS.
That’s BS.
They probably are, but it is a Harris poll. They probably want to downplay the average american’s dislike of the great zero.
This guy is a little pussy, who’s married to that dingbat Margaret Hoover on OReilly’s show.
He’s a one note johnny.
Actually, I think the Daily Beast is Satan’s newspaper.
refuse his stinking health care.
time to revolt now.
he is a muslim communist illegal alien and sent from the devil.
The sad thing is that there are some on the right that actually believes, 1) that any/all of it is true, and 2) that any of it matters.
The demons on the left can only demonize folks on the right to the extent that we allow it.
Screw them.
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