I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America. He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is no stranger to controversy – his comments on black-on-black violence ignited a firestorm last year – and he is once again being criticized by the left for his remarks on the president’s patriotism. Speaking at a fundraiser for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Giuliani brought up an opinion shared by many conservatives but rarely mentioned by politicians.
Even under withering attack, Giuliani (more or less) stuck to his guns. In an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, he declined to apologize for the remarks. “The reality is, from all that I can see of this president, all that I’ve heard of him, he apologizes for America, he criticizes America. This is an American president I’ve never seen before.”
Giuliani went on to say that he felt that Obama lacked belief in American exceptionalism, and that his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright was cause for concern. When Kelly argued that you could love America without believing in American exceptionalism, Giuliani held firm:
“I don’t feel it. I don’t feel this love of America. I believe his initial approach is to criticize this country, and then afterwards to say a few nice things about it.”
Giuliani said that he would not level the same accusation at Harry Truman, Bill Clinton, or Jimmy Carter, liberals who still went out of their way to say wonderful things about America.
Democrats have come out in force to denounce the remarks, but the White House has been largely silent. Spokesman Eric Schultz offered only a brief quip: “I will say I agree with him on one thing he said, which is that it was a horrible thing to say.”
Only if your definition of “horrible” includes speaking truth to power. Saying that the president does not have a love for his country is horrible only if it isn’t true. And the unfortunate – some might even say horrible – truth of the matter is that Obama has proven time and again that he hates almost everything America stands for. Can you “hate the sin but love the sinner” when it comes to patriotism? Sure. Plenty of patriots love this country while mercilessly criticizing it. That’s part of living in a country that celebrates ideas and free speech.
But beneath that, a true patriot does not believe that we have to fundamentally change America into something else entirely. He does not believe that this country would be better off trading independence for socialism. He does not believe that this country’s history is something to be ashamed of. Are there parts to regret? Policies to question? Politicians to criticize? No doubt. But any American who feels a deep love for his country knows instinctively the difference between attacking an aspect of the U.S. and attacking the core. Obama may or may not love America, but he has not shown any ability to discern that difference.
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