When (if?) Republicans/Conservatives watch "It's a Wonderful Life" - do they root for Mr. Potter?

[NRaleighLiberal]

I can just see it - cheering when Mr. P tries to trash the building and loan.

Toasting when he takes the newspaper and steals the money in hopes of destroying the Bailey family.

Considering what they've done to block or try to block every attempt by President Obama and the Democrats to make things better and move us forward....you have to believe that they would be happiest if the country becomes the "Potter's Field" that Clarence shows to George in his journey.

Think about how the movie makes you feel, and imagine a group of people who thinks of the Mr. Potter character as the hero.

[merrily]

1. Yes, Potter. Haven't you ever been scolded by a rightist for being unfair to the rich?

I used to post on a political board that welcomed posters of any political persuasion and I got that all the time from the board's Republicans, many of whom had a strong streak of Libertarian, and the board's Libertarians.

[BillZBubb]

2. They see themselves as George Baileys.

Their self delusion is immense. They can cling to Bailey being an honest small business man, good Christian, and family man--that's them to a "tea" right?

What I find fascinating about holiday movies is how effective the right wing has been in keeping "A Christmas Carol" off the airwaves. The corporate media doesn't like it. There is no place for conservatives to hide in that one.

[sendero]

3. Exactly...

... its amazing how many bad guys in this country and probably the world think they are the good guys. The human capacity for rationalization and denial are immense.

[grahamhgreen]

4. Dreaming of Pottersville.

[NBachers]

5. I watched an old Gene Autry film last night- the slimy capitalists were sticking it to the farmers

The Mammoth tractor dealership was putting the farmers in hock to buy their newfangled tractors. They sabotaged Gene & the gang's traveling barn dance / horse auction.

Then they sold the notes to their finance company partners-in-crime across the street. The finance company repossessed the tractors right at harvest time, and tried to get the farmers to sign over their crops and farms.

The slimeballs were driving around in a big long fancy car and hiring goons to disrupt the protests. There were a few great big huge fight scenes. The slimeballs got the sheriff to intervene and arrest Gene.

I was wondering the same thing- would Republicans have been rooting for the slimeballs?

I have a friend who was born the same year I was- 1949. His theory is that, in all the westerns we watched as kids, it's always the rich, well connected capitalists who are pushing around the common folks. He sees the writers of these horse-operas as leftist or communist influenced people who were putting their slant into the films they wrote. We, of that age, adopted this viewpoint as we grew up.

It's still a common theme in media today- corporate profits and fascism vs. people and freedom. Who roots for the corporate fascists?