IMAGINE NOT BEING SCARED

I have had a couple letters I posted on Salon.com that were Editor’s Picks. This one is from February 15, 2008. At the time the Democrats did not yet have a candidate. Now that they do, I wish they would heed my incredible wisdom :)

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√  Imagine Not Being Scared

I’ve thought for the past several years, as ‘fear’ and ‘being frightened’ have been the hallmark of every Republican speech, that the most obvious rebuttal the Democrats could make would be to point out that the Republican Party was the party of “fear”. Not fear-mongering, which assumes somehow that they’re in control and just using fear, but to paint them as the party of FEAR. Of being SCARED.

In other words, Barack Obama (should he be the candidate) should be constantly hammering home the point that for the past 7 years we’ve had a president who is AFRAID. Who’s consumed by FEAR. Who’s overwhelmingly FRIGHTENED. Not only would it put the GOP on the defensive to prove they’re not afraid – and to stop boasting about fear as acceptable behavior among adults - but fear is such a basic part of the Republican ideology, regardless of 9/11, that the American people should be reminded of it constantly by the Democrats.

Saying things like, “Imagine having a president who’s not afraid. Who will face this country’s challenges without being scared. Who governs from a place of confidence, not of fear”.. or.. “My Republican challenger is very afraid, ladies and gentlemen. At a time when we cannot afford to be afraid. We need strong leaders. As Americans we need a leader who is not frightened.”

When you think about it logically, a political party that uses ‘fear’ and ‘being frightened’ as their strength is extremely bizarre. It should be turned on them, used to deride them, to laugh at them, to mock them for being overwhelmed by America’s enemies.

Friday, February 15, 2008 05:33 AM