He has also started watching more television.
Specifically, more Fox News.
You already know where I'm going with this.
I'm talking to him on the phone yesterday while waiting for DS's martial arts class to end, and then suddenly my dad blindsides me with this anti-Obama rant about how some "administrative law judge down in Georgia heard a case about Barack Obama not being a 'natural born citizen' because his father was not a U.S. citizen, and Obama's lawyer did not even bother to show up to the hearing so now he won't be on the election ballot..."
Birther shizz? Seriously? I thought we were past this.
My response was something like "Dad, I believe this question was settled once and for all when Hawaii released the President's long form birth certificate ages ago. So I really don't want to hear anything more about it. If you don't like Obama's policies, that's one thing - we can talk about that, but these ridiculous attacks on his person are just not appropriate, and I think it's time you turned off the TV."
He took it ok. "Alright, I won't discuss Obama with you anymore."
It was kind of sad. Maybe I overreacted. This is something he's passionate about and I'm basically saying get a life!
But I can't help but think this is precisely what is wrong with America. People perseverating about the wrong damn things, when we have Real Problems. I totally see where the elderly learn their politics. Gah.
5 comments:
Maybe you can introduce him to comedy central. Also Netflix. And streaming internet.
My parents are hooked on Huffington Post and dailykos. They're not as bad as Fox News (or perhaps not as good at what they're trying to do), but sometimes they do hit those extremes where I have to say, "No, that's not the whole picture. These aren't black and white issues."
did you see Obama's birthday card to Betty White on her 90th birthday, where he asks for her long form birth certificate? Funny :-)
Thankfully very few people in my family watch Fox News.
Aargh. Fox News is an oxymoron. It has nothing to do with the news. It's like a never ending right wing pageant performed by a bunch of hairdos.
It seems like so many American don't watch news coverage to gather data and form an opinion. They collect their opinions ready made, no substitutions, no special orders. It's infuriating that so many people allow themselves to be what to think and just parrot back somebody else's opinion. Think for yourselves, people!
This touches a raw nerve. I had a letter to the editor published recently and not one of the responses was actually a response to anything I said. Just [insert party line here]. I have no problem when people disagree with me, but it irks me when they just wait until I stop talking to say something unrelated and snarky.
I'll stop now. Aargh!
this sort of thing is precisely why i can't be bothered to get involved or care about politics. yes, i do vote, but only for the candidates/issues that i care about. all the rest of "the game" is a bunch of annoying time wasting.
UGH I know what you mean. I went with my MIL and SIL last Saturday to do some shopping, and on the way up in the car my MIL started going off that Obama supposedly cut the heating oil benefits here in Maine (apparently he singlehandedly does things... which goes to show an inherent lack of understanding of our political system, the president rarely acts alone). Instead of saying all that, I was like "NO POLITICS IN MY CAR PLEASE" and it worked. I felt a little bad about it, but it's not really a conversation when one person is just spouting off and the other is not able to get a word in edgewise.
P.S. Thank you for your comments on my blog- you are awesome.
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