Obama Brings Out The True Feelings Of The Right

David Neiwert points us to this horrid article at Media Matters by right-winger Debbie Schlussel. Schlussel "argues" that Barack Obama cannot lead this nation during our war against Islam because his loyalties are in question. Why? His name of course. His name is Barack Hussein Obama--he must be an enemy!

An Obama presidential run is going to bring out the worst in the Right. We are going to see all the racism, all the xenophobia, and all the anti-Islam hate you can imagine. I am curious to see how the American public as a whole responds? How many people will accept these arguments and see Obama as un-American (or at least won't vote for him as president)? How many will be turned off by this racism and see Obama as an appealing individual?

I actually feel optimistic about this. I think most Americans are not willing to accept such overt racism in 2006. I am more worried about more subliminal messages being crafted by Rove and his disciples.

In related news, Virginia racist Republican representative Virgil Goode refuses to apologize for sending a letter to his constituents that says in part, "The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Quran." I love how he refers to Keith Ellison as, "The Muslim representative from Minnesota," indicating that Ellison does not represent the Democrats or the American people, but Muslims. Disgusting.

It's possible that this will play in rural Virginia. But I can't believe that most Americans are not offended by such statements.