Michelle Derangement Syndrome
Is there a point where one's political dislike becomes so engrained it seeps into a personal hatred that borders on psychosis?
Michelle Derangement Syndrome
Ari Rabin-Havt
Is there a point where one’s political dislike becomes so engrained it seeps into a personal hatred that borders on psychosis?
The first lady has endured four years of attacks not on political positions -- where criticism would be completely in-bounds -- but on her style, her weight, and her butt.
The reaction to her appearance, by video, at last night’s Oscars ceremony demonstrates the depth of conservative delusion.
Never mind the First Lady was invited to attend the event, Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post groused: “It is not enough that President Obama pops up at every sporting event in the nation. Now the first lady feels entitled, with military personnel as props, to intrude on other forms of entertaining (this time for the benefit of the Hollywood glitterati who so lavishly paid for her husband’s election).”
Fox News’ Todd Starnes took to Twitter to assert Michelle Obama “made [the Oscars] about herself.”
Christian Toto of Breitbart.com claimed her appearance was an “unprecedented cultural power grab.” He continued, “Michelle Obama hijacked the Oscars tonight, and we're all supposed to be giddy at the chance to see her shine anew.”
And Rush Limbaugh bloviated “I thought of the Macintosh ad from the Super Bowl in 1984. Exact type of scenario except Michelle Obama was actually the dear leader of this -- obviously a totalitarian state."
I get it.
They hate the President. They hate the First Lady. They hate the fact that the majority of Americans voted to reelect Barack Obama to another four years in office.
And they hate that the vast majority of people watching the Oscar’s reaction to the First Lady’s appearance was to think, “Oh cool, Michelle Obama – Wow Argo won. Good for Ben Affleck. Remember Gigli, wow that movie sucked.”
Get over it. (Not Gigli, America is still owed an apology for that film.)
For better or worse our President and first family serve both a political and ceremonial role. Conservatives who cannot stand to see Michelle Obama on television without shaking with rage need to get some perspective.
It’s not unprecedented for political figures to appear at the Oscars. Laura Bush took part in the ceremony in 2002. I somehow doubt the right considers that a hijacking. (Fun fact: the first President to speak at the Oscars was Franklin Roosevelt in 1941.)
Michelle Derangement Syndrome is not a new disease. For six years conservatives have tried to paint the First Lady as an angry black woman, a stereotype designed to cynically scare white swing voters away from the President. With “positive views of [Michelle Obama outstripping] negative by about 4 to 1,” they are infuriated with their failure.
- Well, you have a computer or smart phone with access to wifi or the internet... and since all of what I mentioned isn't free, can't be all that bad, now can it?
— sabu000 - Who said anything about derangement? God forbid we question the Obamas about anything. How about fixing the country first and stop lying then you can do your celebrity stuff. I've never seen an administration more busy doing everything other than leading the country.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Michelle Obama is the first lady, not the president.
— daxtremesolja - yes dax, how is that working out for ALL of us? — Mottz
- Tell you what, when boehner and the rest of the gop stop lying about the President and put country before party, then we progressives will admit that maybe the right can be trusted to help run the country. Boehner can stop his lies that Obama has put nothing forth on the sequester.You can google the president's plan in a couple of seconds. Now, try to find anything that the repubs offer other than cut spending. I mean, what cuts, to what programs and how much. There is no such thing. — mike l
- I vote, but I am not registeted R or D. I see a big waste here of taxpayer money so those in the liberal media can feel good and those in the conservative media can gripe about it for the wrong reasons. In these tough economic times caused by both major political parties, I am more concerned about the economy than I am with Mrs. Obama's bangs or how Rush Limbaugh feels about them.— FletcherT
- "Taxpayer"(MY) money??????
This is PUBLIC money for the PUBLIC good as was the case for Roosevelt, Reagan and Laura Bush. Promoting a major American product of culture and an excellent source of profit for the "Job Creators".— Cuddles - Cuddles - 90% of all Hollywood production occurs offshore. How exactly is it an "American" product???
Please. The direct connection from Hollywood to the Democratic party is obvious. Obama employes Hollywood writers for his speeches no less!
Notice how virtually NO CULPABILITY is being directed at Hollywood for violence in movies and video games, yet at the same time, shootings like CO (where the shooter impersonated a character from a movie!?!) go unchecked.
Amazing the blind hypocrisy from the left. Everything is "ok" to them as long as it advances their agenda. There's a word for that in our lexicon...their called "wh*res".— Professor1982 - "90% of all Hollywood production occurs offshore. How exactly is it an "American" product???"
Where'd you get that BS statistic? Care to cite your source? And you do realize that the majority of people employed by Hollywood are Americans rights?— daxtremesolja - Again, wrong. The vast majority of TV production happens in the US, most film production does as well as does almost all post-production (film, TV and commercial). You've obviously never been to LA.
Now go pull some link from Alex Jones, Mad Magazine or the Onion to refute that. You excel at that task.— Last Man Standing - the conservatives just go crazy over this stuff because they hate being constantly reminded that black folks occupy the white house. they'd rather they just stay indoors and not come in public to remind them that they're version of America is dead and not coming back ever.— Ryan
- Ryan, how is this "new America" working out for ALL of us? I would say for the 8% of unemployed...not so much. I bet if they had a job they wouldn't care if the President was tangerine. If you don't believe that this White House is the most over matched in history you just aren't paying attention — Mottz
- "The reaction to her appearance, by video, at last night’s Oscars ceremony demonstrates the depth of conservative delusion." --- Really? The liberals had field days with Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush. I think that YOU need to "get over it" and "get some perspective". But then again, you aren't thinking for yourself. I get that. Media Matters has a way of brainwashing liberals and indoctrinating them into the hivemind.— psyrus
INDEPENDENT VOTER HERE: Y'know what Democratic Party strategists are saying when conservative figures respond in a manner such as this?
"Just let them keep talking..."
You are not served by publicly stoking your anger at the mere sight of something with which you disagree.
