Dan Savage (on Olbermann) Says Right's Goal Is Obama's Death
Dan Savage, who writes the "Savage Love" column, is a take-no-prisoners commentator. He describes the Republican "Birchers and Birthers" like Michelle Bachmann as "bat crap crazy" and excoriates Democrats for "lying down" when they should be fighting back.
Tonight he said on Olbermann that he believes that the right's goal is the assassination of the President and that all the talk about "death panels" and the rest is designed to set the stage for murder.
It was a shocking statement and Olberman quickly said that not all rightwingers are hoping for a Presidential assassination. But Savage didn't apologize. After all, if you portray Obama as a man who would convene death panels to euthanize the elderly or the disabled, then, to the right's way of thinking, he may have to be stopped. If he's Hitler, if he's a baby killer, as the right claims he is, then his departure would be no loss.
I think Savage is terrific but, of course, I don't know if he's right. After all, rightists spent the weekend celebrating Ted Kennedy's death -- but, to my knowledge, none of these lunatics ever tried to kill him.
Nonetheless, we need to think about this. The lynch mob that is the rightwing media has worked hard to create a climate of violence around Obama and Democrats. And they have succeeded. I mean, just watch Glenn Beck. I am not saying Beck wants Obama dead. But he has no control of the actions his words might inspire. Nor do Limbaugh, Michael Savage, or the others. And I very much doubt they care.
I'm glad Dan Savage pointed this out. We need to hear more from him and less from the consensus hacks who treat politics like a friendly round of golf.
Why would anyone think that the crazy right would ever accept the election of an African American President. After all, they tried, almost successfully, to destroy Clinton. And this is, for them, a thousand times worse than either Clinton. Terrified haters are dangerous.
And these people are scared to death (what an apt phrase).
Democrats and the media should challenge any rightwing hint that sounds like a call to assassination. If that is not what they want, they should be forced to say it isn't.
Remember Rabin. First came the incitement (Netanyahu spoke at a rally where Rabin was portrayed as an Arab terrorist and as a Nazi). Then the religious nuts held ceremonies praying for Rabin's death. Finally, murder.
Asked about who she blamed for her husband's death, Leah Rabin said, "the right. They kept screaming he was selling out the country. Of course, I blame them."
I have no doubt that the political far right and their media mouthpieces are intentionally trying to create an atmosphere of fear and hatred. There are gonna be death camps? They're gonna kill your granny? They're coming to take your guns? Calls for revolution to save the country from totalitarian socialism? It is common knowledge that there are some truly unhinged folks, who have the access to high powered weaspons, on the fringes of our society. If something happens the hate mongers will cowardly hide behind the mantle of free speech and the 1st amendment. But with the attack on the Holocaust museum and the right wing's predisposition for violence they know exactly what can happen if they keep on jabbing that beehive with their sticks.
September 1, 2009 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Assassination is an ancient and viable tool for political change. It's been used and used frequently ever since there have been politics. It's only in the last half century or so that murder for political power has been labeled conspiracy theory.
I mean, seriously, back in the day princes murdered their own brothers and sisters to get their hands on the crown, because the rewards are enormous. Lone nuts don't kill presidents - presidents kill presidents.
September 2, 2009 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
The rhetoric they are using is laced with violence for a reason. They are inuring the American people to violent language in conjunction with Obama. He's a Hitler...a killer...the end of America.
They want him dead. And these people have started with cops, abortion doctors, the Holocaust Museum. There is no way this will stop there.
Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. Be prepared.
September 1, 2009 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it marvelous when the truth is spoken out loud.
September 1, 2009 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed!
September 2, 2009 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
the irony of this is inescapable.
even to a liberal like Keith O.
but not ALL liberals, right Keith :)
look, if he calls out the right-wing religious "zealots" as bat crap crazy in one breath, and then claims they are out to kill the prez in the next....
well you there it is for everyone to see: hypocrite
September 1, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
People who talk about "irony" don't have a clear thought. There is an unbroken line from Sarah and Michele and Glenn beck on the one end, to the preacher who wants him dead and his ilk, and from there to the assassin's bullet. As there was with Rabin.
If you're defending them, you are also responsible. Own it. Fucking "irony"!!!
OWN IT!
September 1, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
And let's not forget Liz Trotta on Fox news openly wishing for an assassination of Obama. How can an organization allow that to air and then simply shrug it off like no big deal? It is Murdoch's rabid propaganda machine floating ideas of secession, armed resistance and assassination. It's an organized effort and they need to be discredited.
September 2, 2009 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and discredit as well every treasonous pinhead who listens to them *before* someting happens.
September 2, 2009 7:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
The right-wing hate industry cannot stop itself because the formula is the more outrageous the bigger the audience the more you can charge advertisers.
The other thing happening on TV and in movies is the almost constant reinforcement of glorified vigilantism.
Alot of yahoos (i.e. the kind that really believe vampires are hiding in our society) don't understand fictional devices and begin to see themselves as 'the one' who is special enough to 'do the deed'.
Real crazy sh*t...
September 1, 2009 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
They did this before, to Bill Clinton. Remember -- Bill and Hill ran drugs into Arkansas, murdered Vince Foster and Bill used cocaine in the White House? They always do this.
September 1, 2009 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, good point Destor. This time it is different, in a much more serious way, with Clinton I don't recall all the rhetoric of addressing our country's ideological differences with violence. Sure, political rhetoric can get heated, and usually does, but calling for politicians to be assassinated? The line that should never be crossed has been...
September 1, 2009 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Glad you said it.
September 1, 2009 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Leah Rabin called them on it too late.
We need to call them on it now. If something happens, they are going to come right on the air to say we are exploiting the situation. They need to be blamed NOW as Savage rightly does.
September 1, 2009 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
M.J., the comparison to Rabin is on point, and the one to Kennedy has no merit whastoever. No crazed mob was marching in the streets claiming Kennedy was not born here. And the race element must not be understated; even Rabin didn't have that one going against him but they still got him.
September 1, 2009 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
While it is true that nobody was calling for the murder of Senator Kennedy, the fact that many are openly celebrating his death -- dancing on his grave, figuratively -- could be interpreted by some nutjob out there that an even bigger celebration will occur when/if someone can get to Obama. So, in that sense, I think the Kennedy reaction is part of this story, part of the incitement to violence against Obama.
Just the way I see it.
-- ARG
September 2, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, look what happened to JFK!
September 2, 2009 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay. Not being in States, I don't get all the exposure to these happy events that you do. Thanks for responding and I get your point.
September 3, 2009 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Of course beck wants My President dead. So does rush and savage and hannity.
The same people pray, on their knees every day that some American City or Cites be attacked. Thousands dead? Good. Hundreds of thousands dead? Even better.
These are animals. Not human beings.
September 2, 2009 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Animals everywhere now feel they have been insulted.
September 2, 2009 4:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
hahahahahah. well put
September 2, 2009 5:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
RE: "The lynch mob that is the rightwing media..."
MY COMMENT: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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RE: "Terrified haters are dangerous."
MY COMMENT: Nicely understated. I might even say that they constitute an "existential threat".
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RE: "I mean, just watch Glenn Beck. I am not saying Beck wants Obama dead. But he has no control of the actions his words might inspire. Nor do Limbaugh, Michael Savage, or the others. And I very much doubt they care."
MY COMMENT: THEM care whether Obama lives or dies? "Six Of One, A Half Dozen Of The Other." The DESTINATION is consequential only to the extent that it inspires the über-consequential JOURNEY. "Getting there is (far, far more than) half the fun!" It's not about HIM; it's strictly about THEM!
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RE: "Remember Rabin. First came the incitement (Netanyahu spoke at a rally where Rabin was portrayed as an Arab terrorist and as a Nazi). Then the religious nuts held ceremonies praying for Rabin's death. Finally, murder."
IN THE NEWS: Pastor Steve Anderson calls for Obama to be put to death like a 'salted snail'
3 MIN VIDEO - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x359198
September 2, 2009 4:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
ALSO SEE: "Gospel of Hate - Arizona pastor Steve Anderson spews bile toward Obama, Frank, and gays", by David Neiwert, 08/22/09
(EXCERPT) Most disturbing of all, you can hear him, in his Aug. 16 sermon titled "I Hate Barack Obama," not only openly avow his complete and utter hatred of the president, but openly wish for his death -- because of his support for abortion rights and the "lewdness" he supposedly has brought to American society.
His key motif, inspired by one of King David's imprecatory prayers against his enemies, is to compare Obama to a slug or snail and wishing he could pour salt on him:
Yeah, God appointed him to destroy this country for the wickedness of the United States of America. God appointed him because that's what our country has turned into. That's who we deserve as a president.
But let me tell you something: I don't love Barack Obama. I don't respect Barack Obama. I don't obey Barack Obama. And I'd like Barack Obama to melt like a snail tonight. Because he needs to recompense, he needs to reap what he's sown.
You see, any Christian will tell you that someone who commits murder should get the death penalty.Because that's what it says in Genesis Chapter 9, that's what it says in the Mosaic Law, that's what it teaches us throughout the Bible. 'Who so sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.' 'From the image of God created he Man.'
And when Barack Obama is gonna push his partial birth abortion, his salty saline solution abortion, hey, he deserves to be punished for what he's done. I'm not going to pray for God to bless Barack Obama. This is my prayer tonight to Barack Obama.
...Now, look, if somebody wants me, if somebody twisted my arm and tells me to pray for Barack Obama, this is what I'm going to pray, because this is the only prayer that applies to him: 'Break his teeth, O God, in his mouth. You know, as a snail which melteth, let him pass away. Like the untimely birth of a woman, that he thinks -- he calls it a woman's right to choose, you know, he thinks it's so wonderful. He ought to be aborted. It ought to be, 'Abort Obama.'
He goes on to equate Obama with Hitler, Stalin, and Jeffrey Dahmer...
ENTIRE NEIWERT ARTICLE & 20 MIN AUDIO* - http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/gospel-hate-arizona-pastor-steve-and
*Double-dog GUARANTEED to make your skin crawl**!
**sociopaths/psychopaths excluded
PS. I recently had my gaydar recalibrated (at considerable personal expense, since my health insurance provider had the audacity to deny coverage) and it decisively indicates that "Pastor" Steve(n) Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona is "way more gay" than Congressman Barney Frank. Go figure!
September 2, 2009 5:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
You got this one exactly right! And I can just hear the Republican usual suspects like Peggy Noonan and Liz Cheney, quoating Rice with that mantra, "Who could have known..."
September 2, 2009 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
And you'll never hear the MSM call them on it because unless they have a left-wing zealot on record calling for the killing of, say, Boehner or Grassley, they can't do their lame---and ultimately enabling--balancing act.
September 2, 2009 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I dare say, if anyone on the left had even put the words "assassination" and "Bush" together in the same sentence, paragraph or post, there would have been hell to pay.
It was a line NO ONE dared to cross.
These evil preachers, rightwing bloggers, wingnut radioheads and Fox News blowhards have crossed that line so many times since the election, it seems almost commonplace.
The MSM, the FBI and the Secret Service needs to give Obama the same sort of protection they gave Bush, they should probably be even more stringent because race is a sad factor.
But no doubt, the same idiots who excoriated anyone even critical of Bush will likely defend these dangerous crazies' right to free speech.
HYPOCRITES!
September 2, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I consciously edited everything I wrote online and email, anytime I wrote about the last administration, to make sure nothing I wrote could be twisted or construed as a threat.
September 2, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink