A co-worker of my husband’s whispered to him and asked if he thought “he” would win. My husband asked, “Who, McCain?” The co-worker nodded wordlessly. My husband, sensing her discomfort and fear, whispered back, “Yes, I think he will win.”
Discussing this interchange led us to the inescapable realization that there is real fear out there of speaking out, of expressing one’s opinions about this election in public. We had to acknowledge that there is also a real reason for that fear.
For starters, our McCain-Palin yard sign was burned. Yes, it was burned. We immediately got another one from McCain Headquarters and stuck it back in the yard – inside the fence. As my husband planted it, I thought out loud, “Let them try and burn this one – they’ll have the cops to contend with for trespassing and destruction of private property!” We had no doubt who “they” were.
My husband and I have no fear of expressing our views and opinions; I hardly ever leave the house these days without at least 2 or 3 McCain-Palin buttons on me; my car sports two McCain-Palin bumper stickers and a “Stand Up for America!” sticker.
We are not fearful of expressing our political preferences, but there are clearly many who are. As the Commentary by Michelle Malkin of Creators Syndicate in the October 17 edition of the Jacksonville Times-Union very clearly expresses, there is a “Rage” from the Obama supporters that is felt by those who support Senator McCain.
There is a fear of that rage. Rightly so, considering the actions of some of those supporters so far. Those who do not support Mr. Obama are subject to more than just the usual liberal disdain for those who do not agree. That standard liberal disdain has escalated to something much worse: extraordinary virulence and not-so-subtle threats.
My mother has mentioned that her friends in New York City and Miami are anxious and fearful of what may happen if Mr. Obama does not win. There has been growing concerns about comments such as “we’ll see what happens if he doesn’t win!” There have been other comments made by the supporters of Mr. Obama in those cities that there will be “repercussions” if he does not win.
At the cost of being trite, it must be said that the fear is palpable in many quarters.
Is this the type of atmosphere in which one of the greatest privileges given to U.S. Citizens should be put into practice? Should American citizens feel threatened to vote against their conscious and personal choice because they are afraid?
I have had my own concerns about Mr. Obama since the start. Those concerns go far beyond his lack of experience, his lack of leadership ability, his lack of discernment, his bad choices, and his lack of executive expertise. The concerns I have are justified by and reflected in the fear that has become part of the mindset of those who do not support him.
To me, if anything broadcasts the man’s complete unsuitability to be the President of the United States, it is the broad base that supports him: the “literati,” the “celebrities,” the “elite.”
The man is reflected in the support he attracts.
It is the kind of support and the company he frequents that feels it necessary to tear Governor Palin to shreds, throw unbelievably gross insults at her from the concert stage and jeer at her from a comedy stage. The company he keeps is able to afford to pay almost $40,000 for a dinner and concert.
We’re supposed to accept that they, the supporters who are buying his election and he, “really” feel what we, the true middle class feel and experience daily?
I don’t accept it. I never will. I fear for this country should he be elected.
Does anyone else but me hear the jackboots, yet?
Copyright, MCzwz, All Rights Reserved. Originally posted on www.thoughts.com/MCzwz/blog on10/17/2008
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