When did it become OK to shout out rude, racist and hate-filled epithets in America’s public square?

How does a rational person respond to people so filled with fear and anger that they accept distortions and flat-out lies as absolute truth? How can a nation survive when one set of leaders demonizes its opposition with personal and vitriolic attacks on those with whom they disagree? Who are the people who do this?

A Harris poll released on March 24 gives some insight into who they are, and into the belief systems that spawn their hatred.

Among other findings,

• 67% of Republicans believe that the President is a socialist
• 61%, that he will take away American’s right to own guns;
• 57%, that he is a Muslim;
• 51%, that he wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one-world government;
• 55%, that he has done many things that are unconstitutional;
• 45%, that he is a domestic enemy as described in the Constitution;
• 45%, that he was not born in the United States;
• 41%, that Obama wants to use an economic collapse or terrorist attack as an excuse to take dictatorial powers;
• 38% that he is doing many of the things that Hitler did;
• 24%, that he is the antichrist; and
• 24%, that he wants the terrorists to win.

Think about that. Approximately half of the Republicans believe that the President of the United States is a traitor bent on destroying America. To read what I think about this read the post at the top of the page on the right.