Confusion

The rest of the world seems confused by the values of some Americans...

Europeans Are Trying To Figure Out Why Conservatism Went Off The Rails In America

from DownWithTyranny!

This past weekend, journalist Paul Harris tried to help U.K. readers understand what happened in the U.S. election and why the Republican Party seems so hell-bent on self destruction. The picture he paints of the GOP doesn't look anything like mainstream European conservative parties, but like extreme right, neo-Nazi fringe groups. Reporting from Pella, Iowa he interviewed 75 year old Shirley Schutte as an example of some mighty ugly sentiments. "Obama is a Muslim," the right-wing crackpot asserted. Was she sure about that? "I am. I am not sure he even should have been there [in the White House]. He has been a disaster."

I hope Observer and Guardian readers understand how Hate Talk Radio and Fox has brainwashed millions of Americans, particularly in places like Pella, Iowa. Harris cites a poll of Mississippi Republicans showing that most of them believe Obama is a Muslim. "Neither has the party leadership done too much to discourage equally outlandish ideas, such as Obama being born in Kenya. From business mogul Donald Trump to top elected officials, Republicans have carefully crafted a message of Obama as a radical 'other' hoping to transform America in some dangerous way," writes Harris.