“Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big Government

I wasn’t going to post anything on Barack Obama’s comments about people “clinging” to guns and religion, until Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer offered his Obama can do no wrong defense.

Baer contends that:

1. He (Baer) is a small town guy at heart, because he enjoys the music of John Mellencamp, and wasn’t offended by Obama’s comments (I won’t debate him on that).
2. Many people are frustrated with government – particularly the pay, benefits, abuses of power, etc (I concur).
3. People often express their frustration by illogical policy stances (I don’t disagree).
4. Issues like the “defense of marriage amendment”, gun rights, abortion, and religious freedom are meaningless.
5. Anyone who doesn’t support Obama’s agenda is naive. (Obviously, I take issue with the latter two points.)

Essentially Baer – like Governor Rendell when he declared “Jesus would support my health care plan” – is calling on “small town folk” to stop being Conservative, to support gay marriage, abortion, gun control (though it is Philadelphia Democrats who seem “bitter” and “cling” to guns as an issue), and above all, fixing health care.

Of course, when Baer says “fixing” health care, he means support RendellCare (or Obama/Hillary’s plan). He, and others, argue that the debate is between “fixing health care” and not. He pretends the debate over how to fix health care does not exist, or that Rendell/Obamacare might make things.

Though I think those of us “bitter” and frustrated with government have a better plan.