Fear is the starting point for a lynch mob and getting rid of what scares them becomes an obsession. Under the right tutelage, this fear can be turned into the kind of hatred that causes people to ignore reason and go after a man the way right wing America is going after Obama. This process is nothing new. Irrational fear has been around for a long time and a lynch mob is never far behind.
For many people, the fear of blacks in positions of power is normally tucked away in a corner of their minds seldom visited. But when Barack Obama came along as a candidate for President, that fear began to stir. At first it just lay there with its eyes open; then, when Obama was elected, it stood up and became a part of their everyday lives. It was under right wing tutelage that people's fears were turned into an irrational hatred that energized the Tea Party Movement.
Manifestations of this fear appeared early in the campaign. A woman being interviewed at a baseball game surprised viewers by saying, "I believe he's a Muslim"; no elaboration; just a matter of fact statement of what she believed. "He's a Muslim".
Other rumors followed. "Barack Obama is not an American citizen but a Muslem living in the United States as an illegal alien." Of course Fox and Rush Limbaugh spread the rumor far and wide until it took root with millions of Americans. From the Obama campaign, there was a denial and nothing more. They had made their decision not to make race an issue, a policy they have maintained up to the present.
The ready acceptance of these rumors by right wingers is understandable. Since Obama would be disqualified to run for office if the rumors were true, their problems would be over. Barack Obama would disappear from their lives and their worst nightmare would be over.
All the while, right wing leaders like Dick Army were crouching in the shadows waiting for an opening. Just consider their luck. The country was in a historically bad recession and people were restless, looking for someone to blame. The first African American had just been elected president presenting opportunities to exploit racism. Right wing ideologues like the Koch brothers were worried about their profits and willing to bankroll any plan to stop Obama's agenda. Now add Fox and Limbaugh into the equation and what more could they ask for.
Conservative storm troopers broke up town hall meetings in the summer of 2009. Taken by surprise, Democrats, and moderate Republicans were put on the defensive, where they remain today. At this point the mob was formed and their torches were lit.
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