Strawman! Strawman! Get your Strawman here! [View All]

Spout 2 Strawman arguments, get 1 free!

Geesh! This is what our political discourse has been reduced to. Obama picks a guy who, although wrong on gay rights and abortion, seems to have done quite a bit of good on a multitude of complex and difficult issues in this country, and it’s proof…proof I tell you, that Obama is a “hate-mongering homophobe” ready to turn the social development of this country over to a bunch of “flat-earthers”.

As a bonus, we get to see a few DUer’s using “strawman arguments” made all the rage by the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh.

We’ve got the

- “When does Obama reach out to Nazi’s” Strawman
- “When does the KKK speak at the inauguration” Strawman
- “When does Obama reach out to Jeffrey Dahmer” Strawman
- “Why not invite Osama Bin Laden” Strawman

And many, many more…all designed to do what Strawmen do…divide this country by what we disagree on, instead of uniting us by what we agree on

Rush and his ilk have made a fortune by fostering the “Us against Them” rhetoric that is tearing this country apart at the seams. I would argue that this "Black and White", "the friend of my enemy is my enemy" crap has contributed greatly to the mess we are in.

In reality, the only way you affect change is through persuasion, not by ignoring or shutting out. Condemning Obama for reaching out to people that don’t agree with him, (our you), is like trying to “win the hearts and minds” of Iraqi’s by blowing their children to bloody bits!

Look, we are all American’s, and we are facing some serious problems. We need to roll up our sleeves and work together as Americans to solve them.

We will fail if we remain so rigid.

Maybe Rick Warren will never accept Gay Marriage, but maybe, common ground can be found to support civil unions, or at least ensure gay couples share the same basic civil rights married couples enjoy. Then again...maybe he will see by example that he was wrong all along.

Maybe Rick Warren will never support “abortion on demand”, but maybe common ground can be found to drastically reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and increase support to those that are struggling to get by in tough economic times.

Bottom line is this. If you’re looking for a president or a country that agrees with you 100% of the time…GOOD LUCK!

I’m not sure I’d like to live there, because it sure wouldn’t be America.