Why Does the Right Hate America?

It’s been pretty astonishing to see how much hatred Republican’ts have demonstrated for the United States with their glee over the failure of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. “[I]t’s hard to miss the oddity of watching Americans revel in America’s Olympic defeat,” remarks Washington Monthly blogger Steve Benen. “There are obviously far more important international developments than an athletic competition, but I honestly can’t think of the last time I’ve seen so many high-profile Americans root so enthusiastically against their own country.”

Interestingly, former GOP congressman and now MSNBC talk-show host Joe Scarborough is not among the hatemongers. As he wrote today in The Huffington Post:

Count me as one conservative who is disappointed that President Obama’s hometown will not be hosting the 2016 Olympic Games.

Chicago is a beautiful city that would have made a perfect backdrop for the Olympics. The President was right to fly to Copenhagen to try to land the games, not for the sake of his city, but for the good of his country. The fact President Obama failed makes me respect him more for taking the chance, and the fact many right-wing figures opposed the President’s mission shows just how narrow-minded partisanship makes us all. ...

You’ll find the whole piece here.

READ MORE: “Five Ring Circus,” by John Cole (Balloon Juice); “Conservatives’ Olympic Glee Continues,” by Steve Benen (The Washington Monthly).