The level of disrespect shown to the President is unprecendented..Bill Maher

[HipChick]

Video at link, in case you did not catch Bill Maher tonight

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/when-youre-the-president-you-get-a-little-extra-respect-bill-maher-panel-battle-over-brewer-obama-confrontation/

The media has been abuzz for the past two days over the allegedly confrontational conversation between Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and President Obama. Some analysts saw dark racial undertones in the way Brewer challenged the president, and on his show tonight, Bill Maher waded into this controversy and got into a loud argument with the panel over whether Brewer was being “disrespectful” towards Obama.
’

Martin Bashir identified the moment as part of a pattern over the past few years of conservatives attempting to make Obama out to seem more radical and liberal than he actually is. Kennedy tried to accuse liberals like Maher of holding a double standard, and if the same thing happened to Bush, they would be applauding. Maher disagreed, saying that he believes a certain level of respect should be given to the office of the presidency. Republican Dana Rohrabacher shot back, asking what Brewer said that was so horrible.

Bashir brought up the remarks Brewer made to the press after her initial meeting with the president almost two years ago, and how in her statement she described their meeting as cordial, but in the passage of her memoir that’s gotten so much attention, she describes it much differently, as if Obama was being condescending. Maher quipped, “It’s very hard not to be condescending when you’re explaining something to an idiot.”

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Yeah...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4653616

[Spazito]

2. Hmmm, could you point out the Governor or any politician in that thread, please....

What username were they posting under in that thread?

If there are none, I am unsure of your point given the discussion on the show was the Governor of Arizona's lack of respect not anonymous posters on a forum somewhere.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. So you're saying that Maher's point was that ONE person's disrespect raises the disrespect shown

President Obama to unprecedented levels?

Please...

[Spazito]

5. The discussion was on public figures showing disrespect...

to the President and using the latest display, that of the Governor, to talk about it. While Bush was President please show me where this same level of disrespect was shown to him by a public figure like the Governor of a State. I don't recall such an incident but I stand to be corrected if you have facts that show otherwise.

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. How about a public figure like the "public"? :20

&feature=related

Stop acting like he's treated differently than any other president. My goodness.

[Spazito]

8. Again, the discussion was about public figures who have shown disrespect....

not about the public. The clip you have in your response is the public NOT public figures. If the panel on the show had been talking about the public they would have also talked about the grotesque racist comments and placards found at the teabagger gatherings.

Public figures, politicians, during the bush Presidency, referred to him as President Bush, both Democrats and republicans. During these four years of the Obama Presidency, it is not uncommon to hear them refer to the President as simply Mr. Obama. There has been a big difference in the level of disrespect shown to this President compared to that shown to President Bush by public figures, politicians.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. Here you go...

Pete Stark on the floor of the House of Representatives: "I came here last year, and accused President Bush of being a liar. A year later, I feel no reason to apologize or change my opinion."

Democrats boo Bush at the 2005 SOTU:

&feature=related

Come on, I can do this all day. Disrespect is disrespect.

[Spazito]

10. I listened to the clip twice, it sounded like "No"s to me but...

whether it was "no"s or boos, it was disrespectful. I also did a search for the Pete Stark comment and found it, it, too, was disrespectful.

I stand corrected. There was definitely disrespect shown to President Bush by public figures in arenas where it should not have happened.

As a member of the public, I certainly did not and do not respect Bush but that is a totally different thing than public figures showing disrespect for the Presidency.

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. Then we are in agreement. It's about the office, and not right from either side.

Now I can shower... it's not easy using W as an example to make a point lol.

[Spazito]

32. LOL, you are right, it is about the office...

and the kind of disrespect show to both the Obama Presidency and the Bush Presidency was and is wrong.

I genuinely appreciate you having done the work to show where it happened to Bush and also totally 'get' why it was not easy to use him as an example but it was a good example to use nonetheless.

[arely staircase]

14. how big a horses ass must one be to get booed by millions?

w big, that's how big.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. So it's not about respecting the office then?

Hmmm.

[arely staircase]

16. just a question. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. So is it about respecting the Office of the Presidency or not?

[FarLeftFist]

19. There's a difference between the public and elected officials.

[kysrsoze]

22. Absolutely. And there's also a difference between arguing and hate-baiting for the knuckledraggers.

[kysrsoze]

21. Ummm... he is treated differently. I'm astounded at the racist overtones in it all

She's got her stupid finger in the President's face, and she has the balls to say afterward, "I felt threatened." Maher got that joke right... she was afraid he might move next door to her. And all the birth certificate garbage, angry black woman/man, etc., stuff. Of course, what else would you expect from the party of the Deep South.

Again, you missed the point that this kind of cracker crap is coming from the Republican politicians themselves, and it's because they know their racist base just salivates over this stuff.

Granted, this goes along with continued gay bashing, Muslim bashing, and all other sorts of Rebublican politicians' hate platform, but why are you giving them a pass on it?

[cherokeeprogressive]

25. I don't see it as giving anyone a pass, and your own post has its overt racial overtones.

"cracker crap..." Really?

I hate standing on this side of the issue, but here I am. I'm looking at a whole lot of hypocrisy here. Some people get mad because he's called "Obama" and not "President Obama". You've been here longer than I have... How many different names have you heard (read) Der Chimpenfuhrer identified by, right here on DU? Or how about his wife, "Pickles"?

[got root]

26. trying to confine it to just this one instance is missing the big picture

and not just with her own past behavior, but by a LOT of republican leaders.

and the sample size is growing as we 'chat' online.

And I, and a LOT of other Americans are getting FED UP by it.

The inferred, and outright racism is making me sick... it's BAD enough seeing on internet discussion boards, but seeing it from our leaders is a whole nother level of BAD.

[kysrsoze]

27. I don't care if you call him Obama or Barry. I'm just stunned at how rampant racism is these days.

Growing up in the 70's, I would have thought this country would have gotten past racism by now. It's disgusting how backward our country has gone. And yes, I'm white, and this country is loaded with crackers. And if anyone deserved ridicule (not for who he was, but what he did), it was Bush Jr. Hell, Poppy seems downright decent in retrospect - more so than Reagan.

Anyway, again, you're comparing what a bunch of people spew on a website forum with public elected officials who swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. I hold no expectations on a forum, and for the most part, don't give a shit what they say on FR. But there's no excuse for that garbage coming from not just one, but many members of Congress, and state Governors. I expect my elected officials not to act like complete morons. And if that doesn't bother you, you absolutely are giving them a pass.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

35. you do realize that cracker used as YOU used it

is pretty damned racist in an of itself?

probably not...so keep calling OTHER people racists...

sP

[HipChick]

6. If you bothered to read the link, they are saying the series of disrespect lead to this event

[gulliver]

36. Nope...

Show me a picture of an elected official with their finger in Bush's face. Otherwise, what Brewer did was truly unprecedented.

Calling someone a "liar" in a public forum (as Stark did Bush) or an ad (as everyone does to everyone) is not equivalent to the personal, in-your-face, in-your-space act by Brewer on that tarmac. The meanings are completely different. She's an utter flake, so it is no surprise she would be so classless. Even Sarah Palin would not go there, and she probably eats salad with her fingers.

Republicans are infested with dummies and crackpots. But every once in a while you get one to reveal it clearly.

[emilyg]

4. It's been many years

since I cared what Maher said.

[JackDragna]

11. It al comes down to this..Republicans don't think anyone but themselves have a right to office.

eom

[Zippydo77]

12. Respect

I agree, he's cleaning up the mess of the past 40 years.

Show the President some respect.

[gvstn]

13. I saw the "lame stream media"

...disrespecting the President from day one. I remember thinking during President Obama's first 9 months that I had never heard a newly sitting president of the U.S. referred to by his last name only. It was disgusting. Blitzer and his ilk should have some respect even if others do not. Obama is going to be re-elected but I would love to compare all references to President Obama to all references to the next GOP president in his first 9 months in office to see how many times, titles of respect were omitted.

Sure as discontent grew during a President's term shorthand references to Obama or Bush would happen but never on the "News" on a regular basis. It seemed to happen almost immediately with President Obama. How many times have you heard him referred to as President Obama on newscasts? Usually it is just Obama, like he is just some guy, not the President of the United States of America. Very bad.

[EFerrari]

20. I honestly think the last time a president was disrespected this much

we were in a civil war. Roosevelt was treated very badly, too, at times but he had enough power to shake it off.

[renegade000]

29. i think you're right...

Many people believed Lincoln was this anti-slavery "radical" (despite him going out of his way to find middle ground to counter that perception), much like how people seemed to think that Obama is going to grab all their guns and socialize everything....despite huge evidence to the contrary...

At least we've got the secret service now....

[Initech]

23. That whole Brewer thing is royally pissing me off.

I didn't see all of the argument but the people that Maher had on the panel definitely werent of the caliber he normally has. And it showed.

[appleannie1]

24. President Obama has been disrespected since the day he took office.

He has never been referred to as President, just Obama. If they use his entire name they put emphasis on his middle name as if it was dirty or something. They have accused him of being a Nazi, a Fascist, a Socialist and a collaborator with those that attacked this country. They still to this day refuse to believe that his birth certificate is real. The entire nation stood behind President Bush after 9-11. President Obama orders Seals to rescue a crew being held hostage by pirates, orders Seals to take out Bin Laden and recently to rescue an American being held hostage. Instead of giving him credit they call it grandstanding. As a child I was taught never to put my finger in anyone's face because that is totally disrespectful. Jan Brewer does it to the president and people seem to think it is cute or something. Well, disrespect is never cute nor does it show intelligence. It is not only disrespectful, it is rude. Even most children have more manners.

And when before have you ever heard the first lady referred to as "Cow" "Big ass" or Mooochelle? The only reason for the disrespect is neither of them are white and they have the "nerve" to live in the "white" house.

[rbrnmw]

28. +1000

[CakeGrrl]

30. Bingo. Nail on the head.

There IS a racial component to this ugly disrespect from some corners, whether some people want to admit the possibility or not.

[JDPriestly]

31. Obama does not seem to be in the slightest annoyed by this.

Jan Brewer is what she is. She is who she is.

She comes across as a rather crass woman and an attention-getter. Just another mean Republican. What's new?

So, I don't think this is at all important.

This story is getting more attention than it deserves. President Obama handles these shenanigans very well. He is just above it all -- very presidential in that respect.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

33. not that he is necessarily wrong in this point

but Maher is the disrespectful and condescending people on the planet...

sP

[Hippo_Tron]

34. I'm pretty certain Jesse Helms said Clinton better not show up to Fort Bragg without a body guard...

And he said it on the anniversary of JFK's assassination. The lack of civility has been going on for a while.