FDR: "I. Relish. Their. Hatred"

[Fumesucker]

Republicans referred to FDR as "That man in the White House" for the 12+ years he served as president, saving us from the Depression and the war. Unlike Clinton who counter-punched and eluded his attackers with feints and jabs, FDR laughed in their faces. When asked if he knew how much some people hated him, he replied he did and, "I relish their hatred."

People forget he was the target of an assassination attempt before his first inauguration.

If only we could have another leader like that, someone not interested in "bipartisanship" with people who hate him just for who he is.

[Brickbat]

1. FDR did the work he did to appease an angry and restive far left.

We need to get our shit together.

[fascisthunter]

9. well, I wouldn't call them "far left"

they were the majority of average Americans, so it was more of a centered position back then wasn't it?... how far we have slid to the right.

[Brickbat]

15. No, it was the communists and socialists.

They were gaining power and the majority of average Americans were worried about a revolution here.

[fascisthunter]

16. interesting

[AngryAmish]

2. Funny thing, I hate relish.

Who knew?

[timeforpeace]

3. Funny thing, but it wasn't his base he was talking about back then.

[Fumesucker]

14. Funny thing, he was obviously fighting for his base..

Kind of makes a difference..

[timeforpeace]

20. Funny thing, you're right.

[BeyondGeography]

4. FDR had southern whites on his side

Not only that, he placated them at every turn. Kept Cordell Hull from TN in his cabinet to keep the southern isolationists on the Senate happy (and which helped sink our relations with the Japanese, which Hull mangled) and avoided any and all legislative remedies for blacks. So when he made that remark it was interpreted purely along class, not racial lines.

It's a great line, but how do you think it would play coming from Obama, when the only region of the country that "hates" him is the South? Not to mention the fact that class consciousness, which was probably at an all-time high back then is pitifully low today in comparison.

[Fumesucker]

5. I live in the deep South..

The South doesn't hate Obama.. Both of my granddaughters voted for him in their schools mock elections, they made sure to tell me of it.

[Fumesucker]

6. I live in the deep South..

The South doesn't hate Obama.. Both of my granddaughters voted for him in their schools mock elections, they made sure to tell me of it.

[Fumesucker]

7. I live in the deep South..

The South doesn't hate Obama.. Both of my granddaughters voted for him in their schools mock elections, they made sure to tell me of it.

[Fumesucker]

8. I live in the deep South..

The South doesn't hate Obama.. Both of my granddaughters voted for him in their schools mock elections, they made sure to tell me of it.

Even down here it's a generational thing..

[Fumesucker]

10. I live in the deep South..

The South doesn't hate Obama.. Both of my granddaughters voted for him in their schools mock elections, they made sure to tell me of it.

Even down here it's a generational thing..

[jgraz]

11. I'm a little unclear, Fumesucker... where do you live?

:P

[Fumesucker]

13. Somewhere my damn internet connection is stuttering like mad..

:hi:

[roguevalley]

25. yikes, fumesucker. Your key is stuck. :)

[GreenTea]

12. Exactly how I feel & live my life!!

[tridim]

17. FDR didn't have to deal with Faux Newz and the Internets

Times have changed.

[Fumesucker]

19. I'm not interested in excuses..

We need a leader that obviously is fighting for the common man.

I haven't seen that yet.

[tridim]

21. It isn't an excuse, it's just the reality of technological progress..

and political regress (Faux and RW hate radio).

It's fascinating to think about past administrations in the context of instant "news", which pretty much kicked in only during the tail end of the Clinton administration.

[Fumesucker]

23. It doesn't matter one whit *what* Obama says or does..

Talk radio and Faux is going to scream, moan and whine with the volume on 11..

Why not get slammed for actually doing and saying something that invigorates those on your side?

What did Obama gain with Rick Warren at the invocation? Not a thing, and yet it came across as a cold bucket of water to those who were among his strongest supporters.

And on and on and on in the same vein.

[Kind of Blue]

22. And it seems, allowed 12years. n/t

[Laelth]

18. k&r for the Great FDR. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Thothmes]

24. I wonder if he relished the hatred

of the 120,000 American citizens he sent to concentration camps whose only crime was being of Japanese ancestory?