Right America Feeling Wronged

I realize that I am often very harsh on Christianists and the Kool-Aid drinkers of the political right in this country. However, for democracy to work and work well, it is important that there be an educated and informed electorate. Otherwise, the path is opened for mob majority rule and demagogues have positioned to have a field day preying upon the ignorance of the uninformed and easily misled. Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi has made an HBO documentary that provides an enlightening image of what is now the base of the Republican Party. It's not a pretty picture. Here's how Pelosi describes her effort:

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In 2008, I followed the McCain campaign across the country to listen to Americans who did not want Barack Obama to be their President. While not representative of the entire Republican Party, these are just some of the party faithful who turned out at campaign rallies along the way."

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And what did she find in this effort? Pam Spaulding discusses this at length - and includes video clips. What Pelosi encountered actually is - at least in my view - more than a bit scary. One has to wonder how people can remain so uninformed and bigoted in their views. It is very important that efforts be made to educate these folks and at the same time make sure that the majority of Americans know what the GOP really has come to stand for. Here are some highlights from Pam:

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"Right America Feeling Wronged" documents what we saw all election season long -- the ignorant, deluded, racist, scared and -- did I say ignorant -- base of the Republican party. The McCain/Palin mobs are captured in all their glory. . . . she [Pelosi] speaks with people about how they get their news. It's no surprise that they are all Faux News . . . . Here's one video clip:

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Pam goes on about another frightening aspect of the current GOP base: It's extremely racist:

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Also featured is a stop in Concord, NC to interview self-described rednecks where she asks them point blank if they are ready to vote for a black man. Let's just say they had no shame confirming that we are not living in a post-racial society. These people are scary folks; and they live in my state. I wonder what they thought when NC went Blue? What must they think now that the GOP is led (in name anyway) by a black man?

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Just remember this clip the next time some GOP talking head says their party doesn't have a race problem. They can't sweep these die hard social conservatives under the rug -- they are speaking up and speaking out loud and proud. They don't see anything wrong with an outright hostility toward a browning America. That's the GOP in 2009.

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And the beauty of the doc is that all Pelosi has to do is let the camera run and these people hang themselves. Now, with the election behind us, you really wonder what happened to these people she interviewed -- the people who said the election of Barack Obama would result in the end of the world or would drive them to leave the country.

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As a former Republican, I truly cringe when I see what the party has become and I blame much of it on the Christianists who have taken over the party. Besides being violently anti-gay, they are anti-black, anti-immigrant and anti-knowledge and represent America at its most toxic.