The Forgotten Man Forgot Its Mind

One of my most favorite things to do is converse with Republicans, who now call themselves tea baggers, about past presidents and their ideology and/or governing philosophy. For instance, Republicans really believe that Reagan shrunk government, reined in the deficit and cut spending. As we all know in reality he did nothing of the sort. He actually grew government, tripled the deficit and increased spending every year. He also raised taxes numerous times. But in their little make-believe world, Reagan is the model they strive for every president to follow. If you think about it, Bush followed Reagan's model to perfection. After all, Bush did everything Reagan did except raise taxes.

Once you get into this sort of conversation with a Republican they behave in one of two ways. They either hunker down on their fantasy talk or they realize Republicans have not governed with their principles but still believe Republicans hold such principles. It's almost a lost cause. But like I said, it's fun.

This brings me to a newly minted painting by a right wing tea bagger/Republican. The artist calls it the Forgotten Man.  I'll post it below.

As you can see it has our current president, Barack Obama, standing on the Constitution while past president, James Madison, tries to urge him off of it.  Clearly a dramatic scene and well rendered.  I only wish I could draw or paint half as well as this.

But there are a number of things wrong-- factually and historically-- with this painting.  I understand it is the artist's interpretation of what he perceives to be taking place today and I of course have my own perceptions too.  Nonetheless, historically and factually speaking there are number of inaccuracies in the painting that may account for the artist's blurred historical perception and why he feels the way he does about today's president.

You'll  also notice the more liberal presidents are on Obama's left while the more right of center presidents are on his right.  Well, except for the fact that Lincoln was a liberal and was a champion for what we today call Big Government.  So that's fallacy number one.  Lincoln in no way would be standing next to Reagan in terms of ideology.  But in the Republican Fantasy World they are nearly the same person.

Secondly, the right of center presidents are looking at the Forgotten Man sitting on the bench.  While those on Obama's left (the liberal, Middle America haters) are looking away from the poor man even cheering as Obama stomps the Constitution. And who do we see next to Bill Clinton?  FDR who is standing.  That is fallacy number two.  We all know FDR was in a wheelchair.

If you look closer you'll also see George W. Bush almost directly behind Obama but still portrayed with the other left-leaning presidents who just so happen to hate the middle man.  But unlike the lefties, Bush is still staring at the man on the bench just like his fellow "conservatives."  The problem is, Bush is out of place yet he still cares for Middle America.  This is exactly how Republicans view their Grand Leader as well.  Forsaken by events that caused him to do things a typical America Loving Republican wouldn't normally do, like grow government and spend like a drunken sailor.  But he did it all to help America while the press hounded him turning the country into a media driven hysteria.

This is how they view his presidency, with solace.  Though in reality, as we have already discussed, Bush governed nearly identical to Reagan.  They both grew government and demanded a strong Executive.  They both ran up large amounts of debt.  They both created huge budget deficits and they both left their predecessors with huge financial troubles.  The only viable difference between Bush and Regan is Bush cut taxes and Reagan raised them numerous times.  In the reality-based community George W. Bush would be standing next to Reagan.

The painting is symbolic of how Republicans and self-proclaimed conservatives view modern society.  Reagan and Lincoln side by side.  George W. Bush hounded by events that caused him to do things a normal Republican wouldn't do.  Interesting too, if you look in the back you see Richard Nixon near the middle but definitely in the mix of liberals.  I don't know any person with all their chromosomes that would ever label Nixon left of center on anything.  He was and will always be (except to Republicans) a genuine right of center Republican president.  Not in the tea bagger world view, however.  He's part of the "I Hate the Middle Man" crowd standing directly next to LBJ, who by the way signed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Medicare and Medicaid!!  All very progressive, monumental pieces of 20th century legislation and you have Richard Nixon to his left??  No wonder Republicans really think Obama is standing on the Constitution.  I would too if I believed half of what this painting depicts.