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The Obama Watch
The Patriots of 1966
Enthusiasm for the country’s makeover is the new nationalism.
Out of government, liberals regard dissent as the essence of patriotism. Once in power, they consider dissent an affront to it.
The left is suddenly nationalistic, policing the proper level of jingoistic disappointment after Chicago’s lost Olympic bid in Copenhagen. Even though the Obamas and Oprah had personalized the bid and treated it like a junket of regional boosterism, all Americans apparently should feel deep sorrow at the loss.
Liberals at MSNBC, who couldn’t muster up much anger about MoveOn.org’s “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” ad a couple of years ago, saw treachery in insufficient sadness at the defeated bid. Rachel Maddow furrowed her brow over it all.
How this squares with the left’s trans-nationalism isn’t clear. Or its own definition of true patriotism, the enlightened kind, which treats reductions in American power as an occasion for celebration, not sadness. Isn’t global “parity,” not American dominance, their hope for a fairer world?
It is not that the Olympic committee members in Copenhagen didn’t listen to Obama. They heard him all too well. It just so happened that the speech to which they paid the closest attention was the globalist one he had given days earlier at the United Nations.
Once Obama had lost the bid, he dropped his nationalism and resumed this feel-good prattle, saying that “one of the most valuable things about sports is that you can play a great game and still lose.” Jimmy Carter couldn’t have said it better.
The goal of liberalism is to root for a tie, not a win, whether in war or in sports. “Equality,” not justice, is its end. So it always seems odd to hear liberals adopt a fervent nationalistic tone. But then, nationalism is now equated with enthusiasm for whatever their agenda is at the moment.
To pay higher taxes is “patriotic,” said Joe Biden famously. But it is not patriotic to ask indignant questions at a healthcare townhall forum. That’s “uncivil,” say liberals who spent eight years championing the lone and unruly dissents of the Cindy Sheehans.
Nightly they bemoan on MSNBC the supposedly shocking new levels of anger across the land. But what’s shocking is that the anger isn’t greater. Last year’s anti-Obama attack ads look like understatements.
Remember Obama’s heated objections last year to a McCain campaign ad that said he supported sex education for elementary school children? The Kevin Jennings controversy exposes that as a sham. If anything, the ad now looks too soft.
Jennings, Obama’s so-called czar for “Safe & Drug Free Schools,” has written a foreword to a book called Queering Elementary Education, reports Byron York, “which included chapters like ‘Why Discuss Sexuality in Elementary School?’ and ‘Locating a Place for Gay and Lesbian Themes in Elementary Reading, Writing, and Talking.’”
York adds that “Jennings worked hard to bring discussions of overtly homosexual topics — and in some cases, sexual practices — into classrooms. As a young teacher, nearly two decades ago, Jennings was approached by a 15-year old boy (some defenders now say the boy was 16) who said he had had an encounter with an older man. Instead of pursuing the matter with the authorities, Jennings, by his own account, offered some simple advice: ‘I hope you used a condom.’”
This latter fact throws an additional light of irony on last year’s furor over the McCain campaign ad: Obama had protested that his support for K-12 sex education was narrower than represented and was simply targeted towards protecting children from abuse.
In the next few weeks, Obama administration education officials will no doubt reassure perplexed parents that this is no big deal, no more propagandistic than EPA officials teaching children about “climate change” or teachers training children in songs to the president. Under the new nationalism, parents are left with the impression that placidly accepting the makeover of the country is patriotic.
About the Author
George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
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Grzmlyk| 10.8.09 @ 8:30AM
I am originally from Chicago, and I do not lament the loss of the Olympics one iota. Although I'm a moderate sports fan (go Bears!), I haven't been able to get worked up about Olympic competition since 1968's winter games in Grenoble, when, as a child, my first look at Peggy Fleming told me in no uncertain terms that I was a heterosexual (of course now I feel the requisite guilt and shame at enjoying my once-normal orientation).
The Olympics have become such a bloated exercise in crass hype and craven greed on the part of all concerned that they have long since become overshadowed by externalities. They are downright unseemly. Despite some interesting competition (and much uninteresting competition), the games themselves collapse under the weight of commercialism, politics and government graft on a truly impressive scale.
I was visiting Barcelona back in 1998 and I visited the site of 1992 Olympics. Just six years beyond the games, the area was an eerie, empty ghost town, a deteriorating eyesore that had long since ceased producing revenue – if it ever produced any.
I will say that, apparently, Barcelona spent billions of taxpayer dollars giving the city a facelift, and in some regards the resulting aesthetics were impressive. But the slums around the airport didn't seem any more prosperous, and the great historic sites were, of course, unchanged.
I say screw the Olympics. When the interminable two weeks of arcane crap and over-the-top advertising hits my TV in 2016, I'll enjoy the Rio skyline - as I reach for the remote to change the channel.
Steve| 10.8.09 @ 10:22AM
Right on, my brother. The Olympic spirit is summed up for me in transgendered East German athletes and the attempted knee-capping of Nancy Kerrigan. Oddly enough, Tonya Harding is now one of my neighbors, dwelling heavily armed in the backwoods, but evidently peaceable. You go, girl!
waddyakiddinme| 10.9.09 @ 12:17AM
Hey stupid, don't play darts or go drunk huntin with her.
John II| 10.8.09 @ 1:20PM
Besides which, who the hell would want the SUMMER Olympics to be held in the muggy American midwest?
"Rio . . . we're going to Rio . . ." (Zero Mostel, "The Producers," 1968)
Alan Brooks| 10.8.09 @ 9:37PM
the Left still thinks that America is too aggressive, and the rest of the world is not.
A secular version of "take the mote out of thine own eye."
Alan Brooks| 10.8.09 @ 9:44PM
...the hard Left, not the goo goo left.
waddyakiddin me| 10.8.09 @ 11:44PM
Ohhh you pontificating snob!
Louis Jenkins| 10.8.09 @ 9:10AM
It is hard to express disappointment that the games were lost to Rio. There are too many other problems confronting this nation, and under the devisiveness that the Obama administration has produced, how can this nation come together (I hate that phrase) er, ah, cooperate to produce a world class event? The Olympic Committee has told us "You are not a world class nation any longer!" Most of the readers and posters here know why. This nation has been neutered by the very people who seek to make it better. I'd rather be an ugly American and have a soul.
waddyakiddin me| 10.8.09 @ 11:48PM
So your point is...people who try to make the country better are trying to cut off it's balls? My God you people are stupid.
JBobs| 10.8.09 @ 9:58AM
The photo tag for this article has been published many times, but it stands as one of the true precursors to Obama's attitude toward America. Some of us knew then and many more are finding out each day.
Nick| 10.8.09 @ 10:48AM
Yes, when did liberals become so jingoistic? Have they forgotten that in the past 30 years the United States have been cursed with the olympics 4 times, 2 summer and 2 winter games. How arrogant of them to want the games again.
And thank you Mr. Neumayr for enduring the torture of watching MSNBC so the rest of us do not. But who really cares what Wesley Crusher...er...I mean Rachel Madcow says?
And don't forget, guys like Jennings are like Napoleon in "Animal Farm." They want to get their hands on the "puppies" and train them to turn on the parents someday. Don't let them get away with it.
waddayakiddin me| 10.8.09 @ 11:51PM
Oh yes, bash those gays homophobic moron
Nick| 10.9.09 @ 11:59AM
The only time I would be "afraid" of a homo, is if one was coming at me with a gun and I did not have one.
Other than that, of what is there to be afraid?
Demosthenes| 10.8.09 @ 11:35AM
For the left, if “patriotism” doesn’t mean supporting a Democrat in office it means sacrificing your freedom or money to government. It’s patriotic to root for Obama, regardless of what he’s doing. It’s patriotic to pay taxes, regardless of government waste. It’s patriotic to submit to unjust or inefficient laws, regardless of their effect on ourselves or our economy. The liberal version of patriotism is submitting to your betters in government because you can’t decide for yourself.
To conservatives, patriotism is supporting our troops overseas and our Constitution at home. It means supporting America, not just one man or one party, and fighting for freedom against its enemies both foreign and domestic. Domestically, freedom means believing that individuals can run their own lives and capitalists can run their own businesses. Patriotism is one of our core strengths, both as conservatives and as Americans, and we cannot let Obama and the Democrats dictate what patriotism should or should not be, especially when they want use it to their own ends to undermine the patriotism we know.
waddya kiddin me| 10.8.09 @ 11:54PM
Oh yeah lets not forget the poor capitalists who were forced to obey the unfair laws which were preventing them from robbing from the poor and keeping it!
Ammo Guy| 10.8.09 @ 12:11PM
“The goal of liberalism is to root for a tie, not a win, whether in war or in sports.” That reminds me of one of the great moments in GWB’s presidency when he told GEN Bob Casey (who was resisting the idea of a surge when he was in command in Iraq) – “Bob, we’re not playing for a tie.” Man, I miss that attitude.
Ammo Guy| 10.8.09 @ 1:10PM
I'm mortified - I got the first name of GEN Casey wrong - it is George, not Bob - and, worst of all, he's at the top of my chain of command! Gotta be more careful on future posts...sigh.
waddya kiddin me| 10.9.09 @ 12:00AM
Yeah, good times with the Decider. Non existent Weapons of Mass Destruction, non existent yellow cake uranium from Niger, Shock and Awe, the war will pay for itself, candies and flowers from the populace, 4,500 dead, 30,000+ seriously wounded, etc., etc., Hey Dr. Strangelove lets nuke them. That will show those ragheads whose boss.
Al Adab| 10.8.09 @ 12:51PM
Not long ago those now touting the Obey mantra were espousing a different call. Remember when "dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" made the rounds?
Patriotism, in an American sense devotes itself to the increase of Freedom within our nation. Nothing there implies any mandate to impose egalitarinism in the name of fairness or justice. In fact it implies that government may not impose beyond its limited functions.
A great American once said, "There is no substitute for victory." While we need not follow the Wilsonian, spread Democracy, model, we might wish to examine the condition of our liberty within our nation. Does that condition need attention and action from the citizens?
waddyakiddin me| 10.9.09 @ 12:05AM
Hey buddy, Reader's Digest went out of business because of the illiterate mish-mash you have posted here.
Al Adab| 10.9.09 @ 1:41PM
Interesting. You clearly have a differing perspective. Could you expand?
Sue| 10.11.09 @ 8:58AM
Hey, waddyakiddin me: Get your head out of from "you know where" and wake up. Reader's Digest went out of business because of the looney left crap they started publishing. They used to be a very good read informing the public about Al Queda, the fleecing of America, etc. I know; I subscribed for 20 years and quit subscribing when it went left.
How many years did you subsribe to it? I bet none along with other publications of differing views from yours. Read everything you bozo, then make up your mind. Don't continue drinking the kool-aid because that's when you'll wake up and find out that YOU have become the enemy of the loons too.
WAKE UP!
Pingback| 10.8.09 @ 1:50PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : The Patriots of 1966 [spectator.org] links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Alan Brooks| 10.8.09 @ 7:32PM
Top notch article, not just a 'piece'.
The hard Left means well but doesn't know that without virtue there's no justice-- and since no consensus will ever emerge on morality, we will know no virtue and hence nothing but dreary "I'm okay, you're okay" situational ethics.
Even if we're not 'okay' at all.
Alan Brooks| 10.8.09 @ 7:43PM
.. oh, and as for nationalism, the Left still thinks that America is too aggressive, and the rest of the world is not too aggressive. A secular version of "take the mote out of thine own eye."
I've been to the only nonaggressive nation there is-- Denmark-- and how many decades will it be until the rest of the world is as civilized as Denmark?
5? 10?
Who would want to think about how civilized the world might be 50 or 100 years from now?
Alan Brooks| 10.8.09 @ 7:53PM
"Under the new nationalism, parents are left with the impression that placidly accepting the makeover of the country is patriotic. "
You can make over small nations, but not large ones-- unless by civil war. Denmark evolved peacefully because it is small; China will not evolve peacefully because it is huge.
waddyakiddinme| 10.9.09 @ 12:11AM
Is there a point here in the middle of all this pony doodoo?
Sue| 10.11.09 @ 9:00AM
I've still not seen one single entry from you publishing either facts or informed opinions. All you've done is call what others write about "names" and poorly conceived ones at that.
Why are you wasting your time here? Maybe you should move over to a website where you hear what you want to hear and you respond in kind.
kenny komodo| 10.8.09 @ 11:22PM
Let's see; bikini clad babes on sunny Brazilian beaches or angry leftists with clubs and signs threatening peaceful citizens. Doesn't seem much of a choice to me.
waddya kiddin me| 10.9.09 @ 12:14AM
Oh, there will be angry leftists. We learned a lot from the TeaBagged.
Larry in Iowa| 10.9.09 @ 1:12AM
I must admit I marvel at all those lefties, who cheered every American setback and military death in Iraq, that are now “Outraged” that many conservatives laughed when the IOC was not as impressed with the Obamas and Oprah as they are.
Larry in Iowa| 10.9.09 @ 1:14AM
I’m guessing that most of the left is intimately familiar with “teabagging” since it seems they can’t go a day without mentioning it.
Louis Jenkins| 10.9.09 @ 9:48AM
This thread is played out but I believe the Liberals are going to have their very own event at the summer Olympics this year- they invented the word as they use it- so they'll have their very own "Tea Bagging" competion.
Larry in Iowa| 10.9.09 @ 1:21AM
By the way, here is a CNN story (Vast Right Wing Conspiracy?) about 550 metric tons of non-existent yellow cake uranium being sent from Iraq to Canada. I'm sure the rest of your rant is just as accurate.
Tenn Slim| 10.9.09 @ 8:05AM
"But then, nationalism is now equated with enthusiasm for whatever their agenda is at the moment."
Opine.
Remember Marx's strategy. Same as Alinsky, and Now OBNA. Shift the focus, intermittently, slide left, slide right, never stand still. A moving Target is difficult to hit. We are witnessing the excrement of 50 + years of angst, from the left. Unable to IMMEDIATELY impose thier will, finding reality something strange to thier utopian views, the LEft is falling back on basics. When that happens, the rest of us stand in awe. We normallly do not shuck and jive as a way of life. Normallly, what one says is exactly what one means. Not So with the Left. It is not always clear what in the H... they are saying, but eventually the fog clears. To our dismay.
Ene
Semper Fi.
Sue| 10.11.09 @ 9:18AM
There is never any "fog" with the left. They are very open about their agenda - which Obama was. The problem is people don't "listen" and "investigate" for themselves and use critical thinking skills of their own. They are spoon-fed drivel from the media and no "patriotic" flags are ever raised.
The other issue is the schools and organizations that used to be dedicated to promoting social mores with traditional views. The left's agenda has been infiltrating these organizations for decades now.
Their only objective has been to force upon generations of Americans their views of homosexuality, statism, etc. If they can indoctrinate the young (before the age of majority) they win the day. This indoctrination is precisely why they target these public institutions and organizations.
But, most mothers are aware of their intentions and will do everything possible to protect their children from the toxic environment they want to create whether it be "sex with anything" is okay by society, acceptance of all behaviors no matter how perverted, allegiance to the "state" for your survival, no self-reliance or individualism encouraged, multi-culturalism is the "norm" now instead of "Americanism."
Moms have been aware of this game for 50 years now. The "rightful" check has become a way of life for tens of thousands of our citizens and the Nation has been weakened for it. No job is humiliating to perform in America because it is an American job. But the politicians have demeaned its citizenry by declaring "jobs Americans won't do" as the reason for destroying our Country through illegal immigration and forced acceptance of the radical left's agenda.
There is no fog for the true American mothers. There is only fog for the indoctrinated ones like "waddyakiddin me." You can tell by his words that he believes America is here for the exploiting even as he spreads his sewer words about conservative values. His issue is he wants to be the exploiter without consequences to society.
It can't happen. We will become a third world country under his ideas and ideals. It's been proven time and time again. The Nazi's embraced the homosexual agenda during the war and look what happended there. The left embraces the homosexual agenda here and pretends the right is the Nazis.
If you want to have sex with the same sex after the age of majority fine. But don't indoctrinate our children in our schools that this is "normal" behavior. It isn't. I have yet to see one single "life" created from the coupling of a man with a man, and a woman with a woman.
Leave our children alone!
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