Has Obama being elected done more to divide the country?

I figured this was the best place to post this, and I may have misworded the title. If anyone thinks of a better title, feel free to suggest.

But has Obama being elected done more to divide the country than to bring it together? I don't necessarily mean his policies, or "the fact that he's a socialist" like some would claim. Maybe I'm not sure what I mean, maybe it is those things as well.

But even leading up to the election, especially in the final months/weeks I personally noted more of a divide among people and voters across both sides.

Now since his election, we have had "birther", healthcare, and numerous other "controversies" than in my opinion have done more to drive a wedge into the people and divide them, keep them fighting amongst themselves while a bigger picture happens elsewhere.

Its true that we have always been "divided" but it just seems as though lately, its gotten worse. Peoples behaviors have gone to the extreme.

What are your thoughts?

I really would like to keep the conversation about the division of America, and not about Obama per se.

[edit on 10/26/2009 by ThaLoccster]

I think the exact opposite. He has done wonders in uniting the country. I have never in my life seen so many people in agreement. His problem is what they are in agreement on.

reply to post by JIMC5499


I have to agree to disagree!

It is not Obama that has divided this country, it is his puppet masters. I would say Pelosi is the one that has divided the country the most. I would like to see anyone come to this site and post a positive thread about her. I cannot think of anything that she has said that did not drip with acid.

To her each and anyone that disagrees with her "sob sob" are Nazi, right wing, terrorist henchman of the Republicans. Nancy, endisnighe here, hate you and your policies as much as I hate the Republican sockpuppets. You will not get me to join The NWO Agenda. Good Day.

I don't think Obama has done anything to divide the country, but I do think that his election revealed the division of the people. Just the fact of his being and becoming president reveals people's opinions about him. In other words, the people were already divided, him becoming president just highlighted the division.

reply to post by ThaLoccster


I actually believe over the 4 years tha this Presidency will last that he will bring most of the people together. Some people might hate Bush, but Americans as a whole hate Marxism/Communism more than they hate Bush. So I think people will continue to grow together in larger and larger numbers to fight off his attempts to bring the nation down.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


I think that goes without saying unless you believe the country was "united" before him.
I would say it's more divided

I would say obama is the water on the wedge.

reply to post by endisnighe


I agree but Obama chose to be the head of this Hydra.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
I don't think Obama has done anything to divide the country, but I do think that his election revealed the division of the people. Just the fact of his being and becoming president reveals people's opinions about him. In other words, the people were already divided, him becoming president just highlighted the division.

Thats more of what I was trying to say, especially in the title.

Has Obama being elected done more to divide the country?

Is what the topic should be, I don't know how to edit the title.

Like I said in the OP, America has always been divided. But I do believe that since his election, more division has been caused. And not just more division, but a more dangerous form.

Originally posted by ThaLoccster
And not just more division, but a more dangerous form.

I also agree with that. It seems to me that on one side of the "divide" we have a group of people who are resistant to change, progression, progressive political views and anything inclusive of everyone. They want to keep things as they are and even go back in time to a time when we didn't talk so openly about certain subjects. The time when abortion, homosexuality, atheism and interracial couples weren't really accepted as a social norm.

I really see the two sides of the division as progressives and traditionalists. Obama is progressive with his views on homosexuality, abortion, religion and inclusion. The traditionalists feel threatened, as if they are losing their country. The progressives are excited, looking forward to a future of solar power and tolerance. And any time people feel threatened, they're willing to fight. They're willing to stop the progress. And that can be dangerous.

[edit on 26-10-2009 by Benevolent Heretic]

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic
I'll ask you a pointed question.Do you support obama's stance on late term abortions?

This country has been divided since the inception of the 2-party system. Hell, having any kind of choice at all is a divisive mechanism. Go figure.

Just my 2-cents

reply to post by SamuraiSam

Originally posted by SamuraiSam

 

I actually believe over the 4 years tha this Presidency will last that he will bring most of the people together. Some people might hate Bush, but Americans as a whole hate Marxism/Communism more than they hate Bush. So I think people will continue to grow together in larger and larger numbers to fight off his attempts to bring the nation down.

Right, because the current President of the United States is a "Marxist/Communist" who is attempting to "bring the nation down." And you are all for "fighting off" this bad man, right?' Do us all a favor and go watch Glenn Beck screech about the ACORN Czar who wants to set up a death panel to kill your grandma while burning all the remaining copies of Obama's "real" Kenyan Birth Certificate.

Back on topic: Obama's election was a sign to most of us that the Country is, on average, far less divided then we see in the media. The real Powers that Be so desperately want us to buy into the whole left/right dichotomy thing that it seems to be all we see anymore. Honestly though, we're really not all that different, and most of us are somewhere in the middle.

But what the backlash against Obama has shown is that there are still those that are vehemently opposed to anyone not like them. Sure, we may be on average closer to the middle then the media depicts, but those that are on the extremes are all the more extreme and in many cases all the more vocal and bordering on the violent. NOTE: this does not mean that everyone who does not support Obama is a racist, in fact people that claim that are themselves generally racists; however, if you believe as Samurai Sam seems to believe, that he is a Communist secretly trying to destroy America. . . well, let's just say you "might be a redneck."

reply to post by Artephius Abraxas Helios


What you seem to have a hard time understanding is that only a small percentage of people actually voted FOR Obama. Most of the them voted AGAINST the party of Bush.

reply to post by SamuraiSam
Sam, you quite literally have NO evidence what-so-ever for that statement other than that you wish it to be true. Saying I'm having a hard time understanding your opinion is fine as long as you know that it is only your opinion. I really don't care if you have read somewhere in some poll that people only voted "Against" the party of Bush and not "For" the party of Obama, it does not give you a monopoly on the "Truth" and acting as if it does only makes you look childish.

That said, it may be factual that many voters voted against a continuance of Bush's policies; or, it may be that people were encouraged by then Sen. Obama's rhetoric. Everyone has their reasons for the way they voted, and their reasons are myriad, and personal to each individual voter as is the case in any election.

However, I don't believe I have a hard time understanding why you would want your view to be true. You want to believe that the only way a half black maybe Kenyan, probably Muslim, certainly Communist, and not at all like you, man named Barrack Hussein Obama could ever win the Presidency of the United States of America is if it were some backlash against the last President. And now that he's here, he's destroying your country and you want it back, dammit. Come on... you know that's how you feel, go ahead and say it. There's alot of people just like you on this website...and judging from stars and flags there's more of you then there are of people like me. Go ahead, feel free you'll probably gain some people's respect if you just come right out and say it. Spew your hate and fear. No one will blame you.

But it won't make your personal views anymore true or anymore verifiable. The truth is, this Country is more homogenized (hint to Sam: think Milk the drink, not Milk the movie) then it has been in the past. We're pretty much the same in the suburbs as we are in the city, and from coast to coast. Our differences are only magnified by the lens of the media, and Obama is a good example of how we can come together; but unfortunately also a good example of how the media can distort our differences. I could go on with you, but it would not be worth the time. No lessons will be learned here today, and only anger will ensue. I bid you good day.

Peace,
-AAH

I really believe that you don't become president in the U.S. without the blessing of David Rockerfeller and the rest of TPTB , including the Trillateral Com. and CFR. I trully believe Obama was sworn in as a final insult to the Constitution and the final demise of this country. Not to be racist here, but let's face the truth , there is much evidence that Obama is not a citizen ( born in the U.S.)

reply to post by L.HAMILTON


The birther threads are that way -------->

This isn't about that topic.

To be honest, none of your post was in regards to this topic.

I really would like to keep the conversation about the division of America, and not about Obama per se.

[edit on 10/26/2009 by ThaLoccster]

Thank you THaLoccaster

I found this article interesting.

US Politics More Vitriolic, Divided

Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, was not immune, nor was former President Bill Clinton. But today the volume of screeching partisanship is cleaving the American electorate, perhaps as deeply as at any time since the Civil War a century and a half ago.

"The environment is much more extreme today because of the level of public involvement, the level of incivility among both the political elite and the public," said Chris Dolan, a political scientist at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa.
...
While he believes that American history has seen dirtier political periods, Frazier sees today's climate partly the result of the "media culture."

"Vitriol seems to sell. If you are telling people the end of the world is at hand, they watch," he said.

This is SO true! There's so much nastiness on the airwaves that people hear it and pick it up and repeat it. I really wish we could be more civil when discussing our differences of opinions...

The US is divided beyond repair. I firmly believe the country should divide into two separate countries a right leaning and a left leaning. Face it.. it is either that or the constant never ending battle between the 50% on the left & 50% on the right. Who wants to endure this forever? Nothing will change this, the only logical solution is a split into two countries. Yes the logistics are huge but the infighting needs to stop and this is a surefire way to do it. Although a country comprised of low I.Q. evangelical young earth creationist rednecks would need constant aid from the world.. at least the other new country will have peace and prosperity.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


How in the heck are murdering unborn children, raping and pillaging the traditional nuclear family, feminizing men and the masculining of women, denigrating the foundation of marriage and giving handouts to people who are uninterested in providing for themselves called progress!?!? WTF!?!?

How are creating record deficits and debts, reneging on countless campaign promises, destroying the foundation of capitalism, misrepresenting legislation and circumventing the Constitution signs of progress!?!? WTF!?!?

Hell yes, Obama has done more to divide the country than to unite them. He ran as a centrist (liar!) and sprinted to the far left the second he was elected. He parties in the WH while the country burns. He appoints lobbyists and corporate moguls to positions with regulatory powers without any congressional oversight. He hides the language of legislation behind complex legaleze and away from the eyes of the public until mere moments before it is voted upon. He offers pork laiden incentives to Congresspersons to support his agendas. He does all of these things DESPITE his campaign promises to do NONE of them.

"Progress" towards something in an of itself does not necessarily denote a good thing - nor does "change." Oh yes, he is "Changing" America... for the worse. And we are rapidly "Progressing" straight into Socialism.

So, yes... divisive he is as those of us who are old enough to remember an America that was built upon personal responsibility, hard work, and a society built upon family values is burnt to the ground. This is NOT change we can believe in nor is this progress!!!