A Message to Conservatives: What it Means to Be an American
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To "Tallgrass Palms," and all others on the Breitbart site who share his bigoted views: .
Being a patriotic American is about more than simply walking around with a flag pin attached to your lapel and declaring to everyone in earshot how much you love America. Being a true American is about being willing to come together to promote and support the best interest of the nation and the ideals that it represents. Conservatives like Ike Eisenhower used to recognize that fact, but I don’t see that in many of today’s conservatives.
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What I see is a bitter and irresponsible group of reactionaries who are more than willing to sabotage America, and it’s ideals, in order to appease the delusional views of a radical few - and the irony is, the vast majority of you - like Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney - ran like the wind when this nation called upon you to serve.
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Republicans have developed a reputation of being so mean-spirited, fraudulent, and un-American, that the American people can no longer even take them seriously. The GOP has racked up a one hundred year record of swindling the American people. History will never forget the damage and purposeful misery that you’ve put America through - and neither will loyal Americans (http://wattree.blogspot.com/2010/10/gop-one-hundred-year-record-of.html). If Al Qaeda represents a rattle snake in America's garden, the modern GOP is, at the very least, a python in the bedroom. After all, Al Qaeda can only blowup buildings, but the modern GOP is trying its very best to destroy the very foundation upon which this nation rests.
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As I pointed out in a previous piece, what Obama critics are failing to recognize is if the president is engaged in diplomatic talks and using the threat of military intervention as leverage to further the United States’ interest, when we have Republican politicians using the issue to jockey for political advantage, and loudmouths like Cornel West running around talking about, "If you do it, we’re gonna impeach you!" for personal advantage, that hurts America’s ability to negotiate. So titles, claims of patriotism, and PhD.s notwithstanding, these people are either so selfish that they don’t care about American interests, something much less than effective thinkers, or both.
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When the vast majority of Americans look at President Obama, they don't see "a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs;" they see a decent man, who loves both America, and his wife and family. They see the guy next door who's been chosen to be a modern-day David who, to everyone's complete shock and surprise, has dredged up the strength and courage to wage a desperate battle against the Goliath of wealth, power, and presumption.
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When America looks at Obama, as they watch him turning grey before their eyes, they see themselves fighting the good fight for American ideals. They see him as the personification of everything America once was - a feisty little underdog, all alone, in a desperate battle against those out to destroy America, and they see the GOP as a bunch of spoiled fat cats who think their right to control America is an entitlement. So the American people are under no illusions.
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Americans, by nature, tend to gravitate toward the underdog, and while President Obama is undoubtedly the most powerful man in the world, he's also our first Black president, and as such, Americans can clearly see that he's under siege in Washington, D.C., so they've rallied behind him to protect his flank. .
So, while the racists, bigots, and Joe Wilsons get a lot of press, they don't reflect the actual character of America. The vast majority of Americans are corny, like myself. They truly believe in the ideals that this nation was created to represent - if they didn't, Obama never would have become president in the first place, and now, reelected. For that reason, while race baiters of both races may get a lot of press, for the most part, they're spittin' in the wind. Due specifically to their activity, America may not quite be a post-racial society, but the vast majority of Americans are way out in front of them.
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I suspect that most Americans see Obama like I do - not as some kind of Messiah, but like a neighbor doing battle against a group of thugs who are trying to takeover the neighborhood. That's why I defend this man, because I admire both his character and his courage. So I'm not going to just sit back and peep through my blinds and watch a man of his character be bludgeoned to death while he's defending MY home. That's not how Americans do things.
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I also support him in gratitude of his service, and I want to give him his roses while he can smell 'em. History is certainly going to honor him greatly, but like Martin, he won't be around to see that. As a result, I never got the chance to thank Martin, but I'm not gonna make that mistake this time.
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So, Bravo, Mr. President!
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So Tallgrass, "Blackie" here, former marine. I got a pretty good fix on your attitude toward Black people, and I don't have a problem with that. You have every right to your opinion. But here's what our military had to say about my son. He’s currently a federal agent, and even as we speak, he’s out in the world fighting to make America safer, and defending your right to be a bigot, because that's what Americans do:
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MEMORANDUM FOR OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL SELECTION COMMITTEE
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FROM: 92 SFS/SFO
2 E. ARNOLD STREET
FAIRCHILD AFB, WA 99011
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Staff Sergeant Eric L. Wattree
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I wholeheartedly concur with Staff Sergeant Wattree’s request to attend Officer Training School. He represents the enlisted ranks with the highest standard and will bring that dedication and professionalism to the officer corps.
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2. Eric continues to lead a stellar military career; his enlisted performance reports speak for themselves. His leadership and experience, especially in contingency environments, remains a vital asset to our unit and wing. As one of my primary Phoenix Raven team leaders, he’s propelled to the forefront of all major deployments throughout the world. He’s repeatedly secured aircraft and crews, supporting a wide variety of missions, in the most austere and terrorist-ridden environments where security is severely inadequate. The diversity of these missions never limited SSgt Wattree’s capacity to adapt to each situation. For this reason, Eric was selected as our 2000 Outstanding Phoenix Raven Member of the Year and the 2001 Air Force Reserve Component Airman of the Year for the 92d Security Forces Squadron.
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3. Whether operating under peacetime or contingency operations, Eric easily assumes control and tackles every situation with meticulous tenacity, a quality highly desired in our Air Force officers. Requested by name, Sergeant Wattree, provided security for presidential Banner missions throughout Greece, Peru and Viet Nam. While deployed to Afghanistan, he flew numerous combat missions in our nation’s pursuit to eradicate terrorism through Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, he provided round-the-clock force protection for aircraft in other high-threat environments including Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Oman.
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4. Sergeant Wattree motivated his personnel during the worst conditions and raised the level of esprit de corps to integrate personnel from other Air Force specialties into a cohesive team. His leadership, integrity and devotion to our Air Force play an integral part in our future leadership. Eric has what it takes to become a commissioned officer and earns my full support to attend Officer Training School.
FRANK HELLSTERN, JR., Captain, USAF
Operations Officer
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So tell me, Tallgrass, what have you done for America lately, other than trying your best to make it a little less American? I’ll be anxiously awaiting your response.
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IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MERLY SALUTE OUR HEROES
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Eric L. Wattree Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com
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Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.