How powerful is the president?

Who is more powerful, a Hollywood comedy producer or a U.S. president? Inane question? Yes, but since inauguration of Barack Obama, it's become germane. Explanation to question:

Two powerful/wealthy white males confront two powerful entities; the first, his producer; the second, the president.

The first calls his producer by his birth name. Punishment? Fired. The second makes scurrilous charges against the president. Punishment? Not fired, becomes Republican front-runner, eventually goes back to television.

After inauguration, calls to “take back” America, accompanied by racially charged language, arose. Whites, some armed, attended rallies, some at Obama events. Republicans' first objective: Make Obama a one-term president.

Precursor of the hate to come. Bill O'Reilly advising an angry white radio caller that, he too, would join a lynch mob if Michelle Obama said anything else he did not like. Keith Olbermann was the only one to address O'Reilly's comment.

Has the so-called “liberal” media gone after O'Reilly? No. Allegedly, Fox is hated by the lamestream media - isn't O'Reilly Fox's No. 1 entertainer?

Rocker Ted Nugent stated to a receptive white male audience his intentions to harm Obama.

That political coward, Mitt Romney, who figuratively got on his knees to get Nugent's endorsement, has not come out against this latest attack against Obama.

But he has trash talked, telling Obama to start packing. Another white male is coming to “take back” the White House.

Thomas Sass

Iowa City