Demonizing Obama Not A Wise Tactic For Conservatives

Sometimes it's good advice to follow that old Native American axiom about "walking in another man's moccasins" because to see the world through another man or woman's eyes is often the best way to understand them. I've always found this a necessary formula in dealing with polarizing issues and unless we now step back and rein in the strong dialogue currently being waged against President Obama, efforts to change the direction of the country may be jeopardized.

Recently statements by conservative leaders at a Southern Republican Leadership Council mirrored the sentiments of the majority of a nation deeply dissatisfied by the president's policies. These remarks were posted on the Drudge Report, which reaches millions of American voters: "Obama the most radical president we've ever had," "Obama setting this country on the path to decline," "Obama inflicting untold damage to this country," "Obama closest thing to a dictator we've ever had," "Obama is a socialist," "Obama the destroyer."

There is justification for these blunt appraisals but the fact is that Barrack Obama was elected by nearly 70 million Americans and he managed to secure the votes of many Republicans and Independents who are now deeply regretting doing so.

I know my Democrat sisters voted for him and at the Thanksgiving dinner after his election, they were jubilantly enjoying his victory after "suffering through eight years of Bush." However tempting it would be, it would be cruel of me to now say, "What do you think of your guy now?" Constantly reminding them of their poor judgment would also be a poor way to secure their cooperation come this November. It is only through looking at Mr. Obama through their still adoring but delusional eyes that we can determine the best way to wake them up.

I voted for George W. Bush and I never regretted it but I was deeply offended by the unwarranted and vitriolic attacks against him. Those who leveled these attacks became "the enemy" and, sad to say, remain so to this day. I would have preferred criticism against "my guy" to be constructive and civilized but it never was.

The smart tactic for conservatives would be to strictly level attacks against the Democrat Congress without whom most of Mr. Obama's disastrous policies would never have been enacted. This is where it is must vulnerable. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were put in their positions of power in 2006 and they are both up for reelection in November in addition to Representatives Henry Waxman, Charles Rangel, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, and the rest of the Obama water-carriers in the House of Representatives.

Among the important Democrats, senators, and Obama minions up for reelection are Barbara Boxer, Calif., Blanche Lincoln, Ark., Charles Schumer, N.Y., Kirsten Gillibrand, N.Y., Patrick Leahy, Ver., and Arlen Specter, Penn.

If the Tea Party momentum continues at its present rate, the prospect of a 1994 upset is possible, but it could just as easily lose a lot of steam since the media has the power to diminish its impact.

Consider what happened during the passage of that horrific health reform bill when angry shouts of "Kill the bill" and spittle from an angry protester morphed into the "N word" and a black congressman getting spit upon. The oft-repeated lies register in the minds of those unaware of the true version of what happened and this is where precautions can be taken to thwart the malicious press reports.

Although there is no one organization overseeing the grassroots protests, efforts should be made to ensure that radical elements do not infiltrate the gatherings.

These imposters are more likely the ones that will draw the attention of a hostile media looking for negative fodder. Tempers need to be reined in even though the anger is legitimate concern for the nation. Imagine how much more effective it would have been if the crowd had been completely silent when the Black Caucus members took their strategically motivated walk to the Capitol.

David Letterman, of all people, actually did more to salvage the image of the Tea Party by having as his guest Pam Stout, a true representative of the type of person involved in the movement.

He allowed her to state her case in a lucid and forthright manner and she managed to dispel the image of the stereotypical angry hysteric that the media insists makes up the Tea Parties.

This leftwing media, however, is a major force to be dealt with. Solidly in the camp for Mr. Obama, it ignores the evidence that our president may not have the superior intellectual prowess that it's magically endowed him with. Mr. Obama mispronounced the word "corpsman" as "corpse man" more than once. He declared a town in Kansas was destroyed by a natural disaster that killed 10,000 people. The actual number of dead was 12. He said he had visited 57 states during the 2008 campaign.

President Bush's every misstep was magnified and he was vilified in every entertainment venue. I watched a 2007 film last week, "I Could Never Be Your Woman," with Michele Pfeiffer, in which her daughter sings a song to the tune of "Isn't It Ironic": "While the North Pole is turning to slush, on my TV, there's President Bush. And isn't he moronic? Don't you think? Incredibly moronic.... He's a pa-a-in, in the whole world's ass. He'd stab his mom for a gallon of gas. How can it be, we voted him in?"

Conservatives don't need to resort to such puerile insults of a sitting president when they have such an important job to do: Taking back Congress. This is doable if done right.

If I were in charge of the RNC and other conservative groups, I would run ads targeting those most powerful and influential Democrats with their own words. For example, Mr. Schumer: "When it comes to those little, yes porky amendments, the American people don't care." Congressman Phil Hare: "I don't worry about the Constitution."

It wouldn't take a lot of research on YouTube to find outrageous videos of the ridiculous statements made by Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Franks, Mr. Rangel, and other prominent Democrats. Then I'd have a split screen showing the actual accomplishments of said politicians. In most circumstances, these would be quite meager.

With nightmare bills like cap and trade on the horizon, we can't afford to be wasting time attacking someone who's in office till 2012. It's simply unwise.

Alicia Colon resides in New York City and can be reached at aliciav.colon@gmail.com and at www.aliciacolon.com