Republican Patriotism

Senator John McCain and former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin Presidential campaign slogan was "Country First."  At every rally for the Republican presidential and vice presidential candidate giants signs were everywhere claiming that Republicans put the country first.  Of course, McCain and Palin lost.

And apparently because the Republican candidates lost the Presidential election, conservatives now no longer feel a need to put the Country first.  Instead they now cheer for the Country to fail.  They cheer when bad things happens to Americans.  They now put solely their self interest before that of the nation.  Or as they put, they are patriots.

Nothing says Patriotism like praying for the President of the United States to be killed. Yet, this is exactly what the Reverend Wiley Drake of the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park prays for every night before he goes to sleep. Drake stated on Fox News that he is only repeating what God has told him; that Barack Obama should die. And yet another preacher also shares in Drake's prayers. Pastor Steven Anderson said he prays for Barack Obama to die and go to hell. Preachers praying for the President of the United States to die; that is putting the Country first.

Wiley and Anderson are not the only conservatives praying or wishing for bad things to happen to President Obama. Conservative talk show Rush Limbaugh has repeatedly expressed his desire that President Obama fail and as a result the Country fail as well. Why you may ask; because his side lost. Plain and simple. After eight years of conservative failure under George Bush, the economy failing, America's loss of respect around the world, terror attacks, the destruction of Louisiana and people losing their jobs, homes and spirit, wouldn't the "Country First" party want a little success if only to ease the pain of so many Americans.

Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity and others said the hell with that. I hope he takes the nation down and everything fails. That is putting the Country first.

Senator John McCain is a good man and a real American hero. When he lost the Presidential election his speech was both gracious and moving. McCain stated, "I urge all Americans … I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited."

But the conservatives have not heeded John McCain's words. From day one that have been on a calculated mission to destroy anything Obama tries. From Health care, to the economy, to the cash for clunkers program, conservatives have been united to watch Obama fail, even if the country loses as well. And that is putting the country first.

Take for example the 2016 Olympic Games. Chicago, a city within the United States, had a serious bid to host the games. The Olympic Games would bring prestige, money and visitors to one of America's biggest cities. But solely because President Obama put his name on the project, conservatives began railing against the President because he was going to go make a personal pitch for the games. Conservative pundits argued it was a waste of the President's time and effort to get the games for his home city. They claimed that bribery and corruption were amiss, without every showing any facts. Never mind the fact that one of the beloved sons, Mitt Romney, claims that he is qualified to be President because he ran the organization that brought the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City in 2002.

Much of the world watches CNN, NBC and Fox News. At the very least, they all are told what American news is saying about certain situations. And what does it tell the world when the Conservatives spend hours on television and on the radio stating how the Olympics are not a priority? What does it tell them that Conservative Americans believe the President is part of corruption involving the Olympics? It tells them they are not really wanted.

And when the Olympic Committee announced that Chicago would not host the 2016 games, conservatives in this Country rejoiced. The Conservative Website the Drudge Report, who worked for weeks to weaken the Olympic bid, rejoiced with its headline: "World Rejects Obama." John McCormick of the Weekly Standard wrote "Cheers erupt at WEEKLY STANDARD world headquarters." Rush, Glenn and Sean all had celebrations.

But did Obama lose, or did the Country lose? The 2016 Olympics were an opportunity to show the world that the United States was a welcoming nation again. It was a chance to be on the world stage again for two straight weeks. It was a chance to once again show America strength and endurance on American soil. It was a chance to teach, to learn and to gain. But the conservative rejoice because they only see that Obama was beat, not that the Country lost out and was snubbed by the rest of the world. And this was putting country first.

On October 9, 2009 President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the will of Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize should be awarded to "the person who shall have done the more or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Apparently, the people who decide who gets this believed the American President was worthy of this distinction this year. This is a great honor for the President personally but even a bigger win for the United States. After years of alienating the rest of the world, engaging in war on two fronts, and pitting country against country, the United States is once again viewed as a nation of peace. As a nation of statesman. A nation that still stands as a beacon on a hill.

Of course, the Conservatives do not view it this way. They are on the airwaves claiming that the President is not worthy of this honor. Rush Limbaugh called the decision a "bigger embarrassment than losing the Olympic bid." RNC Chairman Michael Steele stated that it was unfortunate that the president's star power has out shined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights." Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin stated that if Obama had an ounce of humanity he would give it back.

And the right is not alone in bashing Obama's awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Taliban has come out against it as well stating "We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan." Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh stated "Unless real and deep-rooted change is made in American policy toward recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people. I would think such a prize would be useless." So Obama should get credit here, when last year conservatives would not be in the same room with Muslims of any stripe, today Conservatives, the Taliban and Hamasstand in solidarity in bashing the President. Odd a true conservative, Mike Huckabee, believes the conservative outrage is odd and stated, "There will be an outcry from those on the right who will say that Obama's nomination, made two weeks into his Presidency, is impossible to justify, but I think such an outcry will sound like right-wing whining."

Many conservatives argue that they "want their country back." Which country are they referring to? Do they want back the years of George Bush? Do they hearken for the days of IKE? The only thing that is clear is that they hate Obama.

Conservatives hate President Obama because they feel he is too liberal, despite the fact that Liberals don't think he is liberal. They hate him because he is an academic, even though we want our children to go to college. They hate them because his proposed reforms will hurt the established corporate interests that run the Republican Party. And yes, some hate him because he is black.

But Conservatives claim to love America. But is it patriotic to claim you love America when it it obvious that you really can't stand Americans?