Having Hate, Having Hope

A RIGHT WING talking radio head, of whom there are seemingly trillions, challenged an African-American caller on the air to tell how his life had been better when Obama was president. The man was nonplussed, as most people are when speaking on air to sanctimonious, aggressive talk show hosts on their turf, their petty electromagnetic empires. The caller mumbled something about having had a job when Obama was president, and not having one now. This answer technically filled the bill, but of course had, in actuality, nothing to do with the President of the united States or presidential policy. Easy for an experienced talking hatchet man to crumble, as the host did, although I can't remember exactly how. Probably used insults. I recall wishing that I could jump in and replace the caller. The man should have talked about hope, and how important it is to have it, and how the president of the United States, by his words and actions, can either inspire it or kill it. He should have talked about the difference between a president who told us "yes we can", and one who tells us that america was once great, but no longer is, and that he can "make America great again." he should have talked about climate change, and the difference between a leader who acknowledges its reality, and sets in motion a realistic, achievable plan to fight it, compared to a president who dismisses it, and claims its hoax, and not only does nothing to fight it, but instead destroys all initiatives to reverse it. Or what about he difference between a president who engages in serial marriages to trophy wives, has numerous affairs on the side, and is a self proclaimed sexual predator, compared to one who get married, raises successful children, and remains faithful and married to his first and only wife? Obama never responded to criticism of himself with vicious, slanderous insults; he preferred to behave like a gentleman, a decent human being. Obama didn't lie every time he spoke, even though the people who hate him accused him of it, the very people who ignore , justify, or support Trump's avalanche of daily lies. The African-American an who dared call a right wing radio hit man could have said that when Obama was president, he was inspired and ennobled by a leader who knew the value of all people, all minorities, rather than a leader who has consistently revealed himself to be a racist and misogynist. Under Obama, the nation was divided by those who hated him; under Trump it is divided by those who scream "lock her up!" about a woman who has never been convicted of even a minor violation of the law, divided by a president who viciously separated immigrants parents from their children, and by the followers of Trump who seem to regard extreme economic inequality as explainable by poor people being lazy and stupid and wealthy people being smart and hard working.the difference between Obama and trump and the reason why life was better under Obama, is that there is a difference between hope and hate.