Let’s try a different tack. I’ll pick on one ultra-conservative myth, and one ultra-liberal myth at a time. This month, the ultra-conservative myth I’ve chosen to attack head-on is that Obama is some kind of dictator, or will be, or whatever. Or, in pictorial form, this:
So, in what sense is Obama a dictator? First, let’s define the term dictator, using a universally-understood and acknowledged example: Josef Stalin.
Josef Stalin ruled over the Soviet Empire. He killed somewhere between 20 and 50 million of his own people. He suppressed religion and the press. His people routinely starved and died as a direct result of the state’s actions or inaction. He held politically rallies and gave speeches that drew thunderous applause, because the first person to stop clapping would be spotted, dragged outside, and either summarily executed or sent to a death camp. He was an evil megalomaniac. If you spoke out against Josef Stalin, you died, or you were sent to a death camp. Your family also died, or were sent to death camps with you. The Soviets lived in a police state under Stalin’s rule for over thirty years, until six months before his death in 1953.
Similar stories could be told of any major or minor emperor or dictator in history: Napoleon. Hitler. Pol Pot. Alexander the Great. Genghis Khan. Saddam Hussein. And so on, and so on… All killed an inordinate number of people including their own people. All created absolute power for themselves in a police state. All ruled until forced from power militarily, or until they died (which often happened at the same time). These are all hallmark characteristics of imperialist dictators.
The last Federal execution occurred in March 2003. It appears the last President before this one killed two people, and the current President has actually killed no one. Even if you count the number of Americans who have been killed in foreign wars over that time, both Presidents combined would not even bear mentioning on a list of leaders who killed their own people. If you and I speak out against the President — well, nothing happens, because both of us have recently done it. “The President Sucks.” There, I just did it again. I have not been killed or sent to a Death Camp. Fox News is still in business, so I guess this President isn’t shutting down the press in order to stifle disagreement. Our Constitution has not been revised to allow him to stay in office any longer than any of his predecessors. Which part of this screams “emperor Obama” to you?
I am no personal fan of the current President. But he’s either the worst damned dictator in history, or he’s got a lot of catching up to do.
The Center View 