Who is The Real Wild Kingdom Subject: President Obama or Marilyn Davenport

 Marilyn Davenport.

   Let us all remember this name. She is the newest member of the Sarah Palin School of Absurdity and Ignorance.

  The Davenport ditty: she sent out an email depicting President Obama as a baby ape in a family of simians. As she would explain later, it was an Internet joke exploiting the issue of the President’s birth certificate, an issue that is ignored by everyone except Donald Trump, the KKK, Tea Party, Republicans so far to the right that left is only a rumor, and those who buffer all their criticism of the President by saying, “I’m not racist, but….”

   This Davenport is not just the heralded Soccer Mom, those bastions of suburban motherhood who generally, share the same wealth, politics and color. No, Ms. Davenport heads a Republican political committee in Southern California. She also is a member of those pekoe-named geniuses called the Tea Party, whose major purpose in life is to brainwash a politically apathetic and, in some cases, ignorant, public into believing untruths about President Obama and/or his Administration. To hear the Tea Party people’s messages, the President himself caused the financial ruin of the United States, the health care mess that will kill many of us early, and all the armed conflicts taking place in the world.

    Soon those espousing the latest Tales of the Tainted Tea Potters will directly link the President to Hurricane Katrina, the Kennedy Assassination and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the latter happening 19 years before he was born.

   Of course, we have now heard Ms. Davenport’s insincere apology. Like the infamous “It was a gift” alibi used by many deadbeats on Judge Judy, people publicly caught with Timberland boots stuck in their mouths resort to apologizing “to anyone who was offended” by some ridiculously ignorant and inappropriate comment.

    It is, apparently, effective, because Americans accept these words, publicly criticizing the “apology” but still re-elect these creep or download YouTube clips of the moron’s newest video.

   Disrespect has become more American than the sweetest tasting apple pie, and we allow it to go on. Poking fun at our political leaders has long been part of America’s political fabric, as have differences of ideology that have led to meaningful debate about and changes in doctrine.

   Our Presidents have taken their share of criticism, and at one time such words were buffered by levels of respect, although there have been some notable ”gaffes” brought on by the Internet, the ACLU and people who have poisoned the intent of the First Amendment. Yet most lines were never crossed.

   But with our first African-American President, the aforementioned “gaffes” have become commonplace, often invoking pictures of monkeys, apes and gorillas as part of a package that will be quickly forgotten after that “apology”  (that old sweet talk, as The Honeymooners Ed Norton called it) is made to those “who were offended” by some inane remark.

  Since he’s been in office, President Obama has been depicted as a wild, hairy gorilla. He has appeared in a fried chicken joke ad, his intelligence and his citizenry have been ridiculed. Some southern geniuses publicly likened the President to Hitler and claimed America would become the Muslim world’s best friend because Obama’s middle name is Hussein.  Of course they fail to make the same comparisons to our lighter complexioned presidents whose names are shared by serial killers, world despots and just plain old evil people.

   But the insults and lies, some dangerous, are spread by many, a growing number who unfortunately carry clout in this country, people like Ms. Davenport and her spiritual mentor Sarah Palin.

  Old Sarah, who shares a first name with one of Charles Manson’s murderous clan, has even long-jumped over the line by ridiculing First Lady Michelle Obama’s work to end America’s childhood obesity problem. Even the most zealous critics of past Presidents have almost always refrained from attacking First Ladies, but Palin and similar thinking folks who make the rules in this country have altered the playing field.

   Now it’s anything goes when it comes to people of color who are elected to office, especially President Obama.

 That we allow this utter reflection of disrespect towards our own President, speaks volumes about us as a people, and I’m not referring to “free speech”.

    Surely, no American, especially one whose actions can lead to the very end of the world, should be treated with such hatred, and believe me it is hatred. Ten seconds after the Obama inauguration in 2009, thousands of Americans went on countdown, vowing that no matter what good this President did, it would never be good enough. In effect, neither he, nor any other black would ever hold the nation’s highest office again.

        In summary, Ms. Davenport should be fired, plain and simple. There is nothing wrong with criticizing the President based on the pros and cons of his position. In fact, it is healthy and helps provide the checks and balances we need to share an ideal Democracy. But too much of the criticism aimed at President Obama is rooted in nothing but a Crayola mentality: color is the key and the President’s place on the palate of colors is non-existent in the minds of the Davenports, Palins and their ilk.

   The message is clear. Many Americans would rather have vanilla ice-cream, even if it is the bargain brand variety that requires underhanded deals to get stocked in the first place. (the Presidential election of 2000 was a clear example).

   For such people,  only vanilla ice cream acceptable.