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Politics Week: Who are Our Enemies?

I'll be making a major announcement tomorrow on our newsletter and then on Wednesday right here on the blog about a new study we have coming out soon.  It has to do with how we "talk politics."  In preparation for that, it's Politics Week here at Communication FUNdamentals.  Today I'd like to share a bit of "politicing" going on and how we should and shouldn't communicate when we talk politics. Recently, President Obama made a very divisive comment while addressing the Latino community.  It was not well received by many as the following YouTube video shows.  He ran as a Uniter.  He promised to listen to both Republicans and Democrats.  He said he wanted to bring us together.  However in his recent address he stated: “If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2.” Not only has President Obama communicated that he sees half of the American people  (Republicans) as his enemy or the enemy of the Latino people, but that they need to be punished. I think that's rather disrespectful to half of the country.  I also think it comes at a particularly bad time for the Democrats when polls show that they are way behind. Later, the President made an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  He is the first sitting president to do so and, the fact that he had made the decision to appear there, does the image of the office of the President a disservice.  This is not the kind of venue that makes one appear presidential.   It was clear that the President didn't expect Mr. Stewart to be quite so harsh with him, though I think he had to expect some of that given the nature of the show.  The President came off as defensive and annoyed. While I don't agree with President Obama's stance on most issues, I didn't feel comfortable watching the sitting U.S. President on a Comedy Central show being treated like a common goofball celebrity, the depths of which was seen when Mr. Stewart called him "dude."  This is simply disrespectful to the President, even for this kind of a laid back show. I couldn't find a video to show you.  Frankly it's embarrassing to watch a sitting president laughed at by the audience and referred to as "dude" by the host, so I'd just as soon NOT.  Over all I'd say President Obama made a huge error in judging who his enemies really are. What say you?  What do you think of the President of the United States making an appearance on The Daily Show?  And what do you think of Mr. Stewart calling the President "dude?"

5 comments

  • Carla

    I am so glad the election is tomorrow. The dirt is beginning to get to me. As to his appearance on the Jon Stewart show, I agree with you. However, I think he’s encouraged the “dude” label by the way he acts and what he says. And, yes, it WAS disrespectful, but isn’t “respect” the word they are taking out of the next version of the dictionary? I feel it was a bad move for a sitting president to be on that show, but I think he did it ‘cuz Stewart is an outspoken liberal so he figured he’d be able to really shine. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that. And although I’m not a Republican by registration, I didn’t like that remark either. But, hey, what do I know? I mean. . . I’m one of those bitter folks who hangs on to their guns and their Bibles. . .

  • jojosblog

    I agree with you all. While I really bothers me to have a sitting US president treated this way, he walked right into it.

    Thanks for the RT!

  • Kimery

    We’ve lost respect for the office – starting way back into the Clinton years. I have a dear friend (who also used your materials to teach Speech) who used to go into the Spanish chat rooms to help her with conversational Spanish. She has heart for missions so this was also a great mission field for her. She was amazed at the disrespectful, crude jokes about what went on at the White House in those years. Unfortunately, the position has lost its respect, not just within our borders, but outside as well.

  • Kathy A.

    I disagree with this man, who calls himself “president,” being in office, personally. (He will not disprove his illegal status regarding citizenship. He pays teams of lawyers to scare off attempts to require him to prove his U. S. citizenship. That proves something is quite wrong with the 2008 U. S. Presidential election and the Democratic National Committee who nominated this man.)

    I disagree with any U. S. President using any tv or cable tv forum or program to promote any agenda he has. (other than what is picked up by news networks and has been stated before cameras that journalists use to report about speeches given by leaders in the U. S. government)

    I do not believe any legitimate U. S. President should be disrespected. (however, I do not believe that what I share, below, shows disrespect, because it is the truth; many have been deceived into voting for this man, back in 2008, and the result is that the wise ones are wiser now, and realize they were lied to; many have changed their minds about this man, having seen what he really believes and has done, since January of 2009)
    There is a difference between using a disrespectful term, such as “dude,” which I’d call disrespectful, as you do, JoJo, … and speaking the truth about what a person has shown and said that they believe.

    But, honestly, this man has not proven, by the laws of the U. S., that he is a legal U. S. citizen, nor has he proven, by his past actions or his present actions, “in office,” that he is worthy of or deserves to be called our President.

    He is a trained Communist / Marxist. ( it is the truth ) If we study what his Kenyan dad (who was a British citizen) taught and who his Kenyan dad arranged to mentor this young man, and the ideology he was raised under (Islam is not a religion; it is a deceptive, political ideology), we could only conclude that this man neither knows how to defend the U. S. Constitution, as its original intent, as stated by its authors, was meant to be used and understood, nor does he plan to defend the U. S. citizens who are either Jewish / Hebrew or Christian (true Christianity, not a “religion,” but the relationship with The Redeemer, Yeshua / Jesus), or are white. He is half white, but he calls himself a black man. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He simply is not qualified to serve as a U. S. President. When he was in the Senate in Illinois, he voted “present” more than anything else. He took no positions, though he personally took sides on most all issues, as we have seen him “play out” now that the deceived American public has seen him brought in to serve in the role of U. S. President.
    I realize I use quite strong language, and am willing for this not to be shown on your blog.
    But what if what I have shared is the truth?
    I would be willing for anyone to say I am a Communist or Marxist if that were true. It is not true of me, but what if it is true of this man some call our U. S. President?
    Am only interested in the truth, regarding this man, or any other, including myself. I do hope that this is understood as one reads what I have shared, above. Thank you for listening.

    a legal citizen of the United States of America,, and a daughter of one who served during two times the U. S. participated in war, and married to one who served in one war-time period.

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