A Republican member of the House of Representatives accused President Barack Obama of being "an enemy of humanity" during a conservative values forum this past weekend. In a speech Saturday before the How to Take Back America conference, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) made comments that went far beyond the limits of traditional White House criticism. At one point, Franks demanded that Obama release his birth certificate to prove his constitutional eligibility to hold office. The bluntest charge, however, centered on the president's position on abortion, which the congressman derided as "insane" and godless.
Yeah, we could and perhaps should just ignore blowhards like Trent Franks, who in all honesty probably could spell "cat" if you spotted him the "c" and the "a". In today's overheated and often poisonous political climate, though, lunacy like Franks' is fueling those who have no problem going as far as to seriousy ask whether the President should be killed. Must we wait for sometime to actually attempt an assassination (or worse, be successful)?
Our elected representatives are free to feel as they choose, but I do think there needs to be a recognition that they have a tremendous impact on a very impressionable on angry portion of the electorate. There are undoubtedly people out there angry, unbalanced, and motivated enough to attempt to kill the President or other public figures the disagree with. Instead of merely advocating for his preferred policy positions, which is his right, Franks is throwing dry limbs on a fire that's already raging. By questioning the President's citizenship, Franks is revisiting a canard that's been debunked many times over. Calling the President an "enemy of humanity" is simply beyond the pale. Disagree with him if you must. This is still a free country, but when you speak as an elected representative in a public forum, you must recognize the need to take responsibility for your words. When you speak of a President in such disparaging, highly-charged, and factually-challenged terms, you're doing far more than merely pandering to the lowest common denominator. You're fueling a climate of ignorance, anger, and rage that could well have tragic consequences.
The reality here is that Franks is a largely anonymous and ineffectual political personality who owes his position to his ability to sow fear, unfocused anger, and disinformation. He has every right to spew forth as he sees fit, but there's also an implied responsibility that comes with being in a position of public trust. From where I sit, Franks neither recognizes nor particularly cares about his responsibility to maintain a level of civil public discourse. Then again, the great thing about being a Republican is that you never have to worry about being held accountable.
