To the Editor:
It is surprising and appalling how much hatred exists in this country toward our president from the right wing. It seems he can do nothing right and it leaves one wondering what the real motivation is behind such unconcealed dislike for our commander-in-chief.
A case in point could have been found by watching Fox News on Thursday morning.
President Obama was criticized for having suggested that he can work with Congress on what happened in Benghazi, and on other issues, and yet supposedly ruined that opportunity by standing behind the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, who had just been openly lambasted by Republican U.S. senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham earlier that day.
Senator Graham suggested that he would never vote to confirm Ambassador Rice for the position of Secretary of State if she received the nomination because the information Ambassador Rice provided over the attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was erroneous.
Firstly, Ambassador Rice had nothing to do with the consulate in Benghazi.
She had no oversight and was not, therefore, in the position to make decisions over the consulate’s security. President Obama merely asked Ambassador Rice what her information was regarding the attack. She stated what she was told.
Secondly, Ambassador Rice had not been given the chance to testify about the matter and, hence, did not have the opportunity to defend herself
President Obama rightly defended Ambassador Rice. And may I say that it is contrary to the spirit of "innocent until proven guilty" to prejudge and condemn someone -- such as saying you will not confirm Ambassador Rice if they were to be nominated for a cabinet position -- before they have been investigated for alleged wrongdoing or professional incompetence, let alone allowed to defend themselves.
Yet, it was the president who was criticized by several hosts at Fox News for hurting the possibility of the White House and Congress working together. And why? For no other reason than the president had the temerity to stand up against unfairness. Supposedly, the bellicose prejudgments by Lindsey Graham were extremely unifying and did nothing to hurt any working together or compromising by both parties.
The right simply hates the president. I don’t know where this hatred could be coming from other than he is black and is thought of as an anti-colonial, anti-establishment, closet Muslim threatening the white power structure in the country. (No structures should ever have power based on color, creed, gender or religion. And for those with eyes to see, the demographics have changed so much over the years that the Good Ol’ Boys power structure is dying of its own accord whether Obama is president or not.)
People can have political disagreements and even believe a politician’s policies are harmful. However, there is no other reason for such sullen hatred of this man than old-fashioned intolerance.
Rebecca Kaye
North Adams
Nov. 15
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