Who Is Really Bitter Or Angry?

 by Steven D. Laib  

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Senator Obama and his wife are both products of the anger of the 1960's

Growing up in Berkeley California gave me ample opportunity to view the radical American Left close up.  It was not an experience I wanted, but one that was thrust upon my by circumstances. 
At least there was one redeeming factor present; it was an opportunity to learn from watching the radicals and applying my knowledge of history and politics to the situation.  What I saw was a lot of anger. 

It must be noted that the political Left in America has always been motivated more by emotion than anything else.  Emotional reactions to economic inequality in society, to the fact that war exists, to various forms of "injustice" required, in their view, immediate and effective action, and if the action was ineffective, it was because the actors had not done enough.  Impossibility of attaining the desired result was not to be considered, or admitted.  Emotional reactions of this sort are not rational, but no one at U.C. Berkeley seemed to understand that they were dealing with essentially a bunch of  adults throwing a childish temper tantrum en masse.  Robert Bork noted the same thing during his tenure at Yale Law School. 

Of course, there were things in America that needed addressing.  It is essentially certain that there always will be.  The question which should have been asked was how to best address them, rather than demanding instant solutions, regardless of the cost or consequences. 

Senator Obama and his wife are products of both the anger of the 1960's and its aftermath.  Benefiting from the forced changes in society they attained Ivy League educations, positions of prominence and significant wealth.  Their tax forms, recently released, indicate an income of about four million last year.  I would be way more than satisfied with one quarter of that, but it becomes obvious that the Obamas are not.  Like Johnny Rocco in the movie Key Largo, they want more, and like Rocco, they probably will Never get enough.  And, because of this, They are angry.   

The anger that Senator Obama feels became evident in the Philadelpia debate against Senator Clinton, particularly when he indicated that he would want to increase capital gains tax rates, even if it would reduce government revenue.  Quite obviously, he cares little about the effects that this would have on the economy, particularly in reducing the amount of investment capital and increasing unemployment.  Likewise reduced stock prices would negatively affect the retirement investments of many American workers.  The Senator doesn't care.  What he does care about is getting back at wealthy people who make money from investments.  Ordinary people caught in the backwash of his revenge are simply unfortunate collateral damage. 

The Obamas close relationship with Pastor Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers likewise betray anger.  Wright is also wealthy and successful, but he isn't happy.  His sermons an his anti-American attitude are ample evidence of that fact.  Ayers is an unapologetic revolutionary who says that he and his Weather Underground bombers didn't do enough.  Michelle Obama's resentment at having to pay off her student loans indicates more of the same.  She didn't have to work while she was in college or graduate school like a lot of other people have.  It appears, instead, that she wants a free
ride, while others have to work and, pay for opportunities that she seems to think are hers by right.  At the same time she says she hadn't been proud of her country, and that her husband could be shot going to a gas station because of his skin color.  Obviously her view of America is very different from that of the average American.     

What particularly distinguishes Senator Obama's political position is his mistaken belief that the people of western Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley region and the "rust belt" are bitter because the government has done nothing for them since the local economy worsened.  He couldn't be more wrong.  These hard working Americans have done difficult, dirty and dangerous jobs, forming the backbone of American Industry for many years.  They are well aware that the problem is not what government hasn't done for them; the problem is what government has done
to them; it was government action that shut down much of the industry on which they depended.  They would like nothing more than to return to work,  What they "cling to" is a cultural heritage and a lifestyle that the Senator and his compatriots would like nothing better than to stamp out.  It is a threat to him and his political goals because it is independent; it does not need or want government interference.  That is what the modern Left cannot accept. 

I suppose that Senator Obama has a right to be angry.  After all he has accomplished he still is not
the richest, and at the same time most powerful man in America.  Many people would be quite happy to be in his shoes.  They would be praising God for having made it possible for them to achieve this much.  But the Leftist is never satisfied with
anything less than perfection, even when perfection is impossible.  To borrow from Robert Graves in Claudius the God, Senator Obama has been wronged because he is not king.  This simple fact also leads me to question his supposed faith.  Following Pastor Wright's example, instead of being thankful, he is angry.  Wright cannot say God Bless America
because he sees nothing good here despite his personal success.  Or is it possible that he has found that his success depends on his willingness to bite the hand of America that has fed him and allowed him to retire a wealthy man. 

I have recently begun to wonder whether the Obamas have read and studied the Book of Job.  It might be quite instructional for them if they did so.  Then they might understand why the people of Western Pennsylvania still have their faith, and why they don't want the government telling them how to live.    

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