Rick Moran Succumbs to Obama Mania

Here at "An American Expat in Southeast Asia" I try to write about the subjects that I have an intimate knowledge of. Subjects that pertain to Southeast Asia and ones where I can offer a clear and concise analysis of and a perspective from an American citizen here. Many of my posts here regarding Barack Obama starting in January of 2007 have been my own direct translations of Indonesian media reports along with my own analysis and opinion of how Barack Obama's bid for the presidency is viewed here in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. In fact the very first English language translations on the web of the life of a young "Barry Soetoro" were first posted here back in January of 2007. I've spent a lot of time researching Barack Obama in Indonesia and interviewing people in the region. Speaking the language and having spent much of my adult over here, I think I am fairly qualified to opine on the matter.

That is why I took issue with a recent post by Rick Moran at Rightwing Nuthouse entitled 'Enough With All Of This "Obama Is A Mooslim" Crap'. In a haughty long-winded screed aimed at fellow conservatives Rick Moran wielded a broad brush and accused his fellow conservatives of being "ignorant" and "unschooled" for having the audacity to dare question issues pertaining to Barack Hussein Obama's Muslim heritage. I emailed Rick Moran and asked him to clarify his remarks with regard to how Muslims elsewhere perceive Barack Obama and his Muslim heritage what Moran had considered "bizarre". In a Pavlovian response, Rick Moran accused me of being a "bigot" and that he didn't "give a shit" what I had to say regarding Obama. Needless to say, I was taken aback. This is the type of response I've come to expect from the Obama fanbois but one that I didn't expect to receive from a self-proclaimed conservative. Surely one would think that substance trumps symbolism, but apparently not for Rick Moran.

For Rick Moran, it's quite simple, and that is the the veracity of these reports regarding Barack Obama's heritage or patriotism is not to be made an issue of. What is an issue for Rick Moran though is the audacity of conservatives to dare tread into what Moran and his liberal cohorts consider to be an illegitimate area of inquiry. For Moran, simple things like facts though are irrelevant. Exacerbating Moran's agony it seems was the publishing of a photograph of Barack Obama dressed as some sort of Muslim goat herder. The same Barack Obama who won't wear an American flag pin on his lapel.

Between now and November I will continue to translate Indonesian media reports and offer a perspective from Southeast Asia offering a fresh insight when I can. And if I uncover photos, I'll see that they get published as well. I will stand by what i have said previously that an Obama presidency will be disastrous for Southeast Asia and to the overall war on terrorism. I'm also not alone in my sentiments. Greg Sheridan has also recently voiced his concerns on how an Obama presidency will affect the region. In the end though it will be for the American voters to decide.

And Rick Moran? As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Moran can sit there on his fat ass in front of the computer screen with his bag of Doritos and can of Diet Coke and stew all he wants. Eventually he will have to come to the bitter realization that his hubris and sanctimonious sermonizing contribute nothing to the national debate or to the marketplace of ideas.