He really is the Obamamessiah, he can open the eyes of the comatose

BBC Radio 4 news at 07:30 reported on Barack Obama's speech at the memorial service for the victims of the recent shootings in Arizona. The report was brief but part did make my ears prick up (I paraphrase as closely to the words as I can remember):

'President Obama said that the had visited Congresswoman Gifford and that she had just opened her eyes for the first time'

Yes, the Obamamessiah is back and now he can heal the sick!

Meanwhile the BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell has written another 'feel the love' piece about Barack Obama. Read the whole piece but here are a couple of highlights:

'It wasn't the usual sort of memorial service. It wasn't, for a start, very solemn. Music of all sorts, from choral to soul, built up towards the speeches. It followed pretty much the pattern of every other Obama rally I have been to.'

This was meant to be a service to commemorate the six people killed but Mark Mardell is happy that Barack Obama turns it into a rally?

'The audience whooped and hollered during the speech. But there was no doubt they were local people, and I presume this was a sort of cathartic release after days of horrible tension. The biggest cheer was when the president revealed that Gabby Giffords had opened her eyes.'

Why is there no doubt that they were local people? Is cheering at a memorial service acceptable? How about at a political rally? And there is the Obamamessiah reference, albeit watered down a bit in print.

'The US TV networks call this part of the president's job - a sort of "healer-in-chief". But here Mr Obama attempted to go well beyond binding the wounds, to deal with what he sees as a more profound sickness.

It was a subtly political speech, defying the expectation of those who those who thought he would remain aloof from the debate about the sometimes febrile and vitriolic nature of American politics.

When he said that this tragedy must not be an excuse for Americans to turn on one another for more point scoring and pettiness, Mr Obama appeared to rise above party and castigate both Republicans and Democrats.

But it is the right that has been revitalised by the Tea Party movement and its sometimes harsh language.'

So whilst Mark Mardell thinks that Barack Obama rose above party politics, something that I do not see, Mark Mardell sees no reason to do so; just look at the stark contrast in those last three lines again:

'Mr Obama appeared to rise above party and castigate both Republicans and Democrats.

But it is the right that has been revitalised by the Tea Party movement and its sometimes harsh language.'

The right has indeed been revitalised by the Tea Party movement and as a result made huge advances in Congress. As a result of this Barack Obama is having to appeal for bi-partisanship in politics, something that he was not interested in when the Democrats controlled Congress. Mark Mardell seems happy to ascribe 'harsh language' to the right, has he really never heard the language emanating from the left during the George W. Bush presidency and since?


A few days ago I blogged about 'hate' in US politics and included (point 5) this:

'Here's recent Democrat pollster and strategist Mark Penn in November 2010 saying that Barack Obama needs another Oklahoma City bombing to 'click' with the country as though that positive result would be worth the deaths...'

It looks as though the wishes of some on the left for deaths that Barack Obama could use to boost his popularity have come true, are they really happier now?

Mark Mardell seems to have missed the harsh language used by Barack Obama in recent years, let me help him out... As reported by The American Patriots Commission:

** Obama: “They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun”
** Obama to His Followers: “Get in Their Faces!”
** Obama on ACORN Mobs: “I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!”
** Obama to His Mercenary Army: “Hit Back Twice As Hard”
** Obama on the private sector: “We talk to these folks… so I know whose ass to kick.“
** Obama to voters: Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat”
** Obama to lib supporters: “It’s time to Fight for it.”
** Obama to Latino supporters: “Punish your enemies.”
** Obama to democrats: “I’m itching for a fight.”

Mark Mardell also seems to have forgotten the hatred expressed by so many of the left in recent years as they wished Dick Cheney would have more heart attacks, and some expressed the desire that Karl Rove be shot.

Mark Mardell once again shows why he is not an unbiased commenter on American politics  but a partisan supporter of Barack Obama. And the BBC show that they are institutionally biased in favour of the US Democratic party.