Language used toward Obama breeds hatred

I hated President Ronald Reagan, but this is not about individual hatred, but the collective hatred being constructed against President Barack Obama.

During Reagan's presidency, both parties put country ahead of party/ideology. Democrats did not preplan Reagan's demise, nor attempt to delegitimize him. Somewhere along the line, conservatives lost that national patriotism.

The 1980s was a time when there was trust in media, perhaps because journalists did their jobs. With the advent of the FOX “News” propaganda machine, and Republicans/conservatives becoming “victims,” the constant narrative that “liberal” media is out to get conservatives has taken its toll. Virtually all media is controlled by five corporations. The Gazette recently hired Dr. Ben (“Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery”) Carson as a syndicated “columnist.” Seriously, are not Charles Krauthammer and Jonah Goldberg enough far-right extremists/haters for you?

Extreme partisanship and language escalated with election/re-election of the nation's first black president, and “liberal” media is silent. During Obama's first inauguration, conservatives met secretly to damage him and began a process to cultivate their extreme hatred toward him by using the most extreme language ever utilized against a sitting president: socialist; communist; non-American; America hater; dictator; initially, a bad Christian, but Muslim polled better, so he's Muslim. Their hatred further fuels anger/hatred among everyday Americans, who use racially charged names and call for Obama's execution.

Conservatives. When will you stop hating Obama?

Corporate media. Do your jobs and reclaim Fourth Estate-hood.

Thomas Sass

Iowa City