On April 2nd, the Chicago Sun-Times' Andrew Greeley accused anyone who isn't a Barack Obama fan of having a "sick mind." This takes political name calling to its worst level thus far in the campaign. Sadly -- but all too typically -- the sort of uncivil ignorance displayed by Greeley is exactly the kind we always see from liberals who want to shut down debate by an out of hand branding of their political opponents as bad people, not just people who have a difference of opinion. To hatemongers such as Greeley, conservatives aren't just wrong, they are evil and now he's decided that anyone who doubts Obama is mentally ill.

Greeley attacked conservative columnist Thomas Sowell, who Greeley claims has a "very clever" sick mind, as well as several others, some by name and others by inference. Greeley claimed that Sowell indulged in "hate" for Senator Obama in his columns. Naturally, Greeley doesn't give us any examples of "hate" for Obama, he merely states it outright as if it were axiomatic. In fact, he ascribes the emotion of "hate" as a result of a "sick mind" to several columns he alludes to but his only examples discuss interpretations of Obama's motivations and actions described by conservatives without any hateful rhetoric involved.

Of course, if you take Greeley's word for it, everyone in Illinois simply loves Obama so that should be enough to make him president, apparently. But, no one has ever said that Obama is a jerk or a dirty player in politics. What conservative commentators ARE saying, however, is that the claim that Obama is somehow a "uniter" and that he is interested in "change" is not reflected in anything he's ever done. Of course, Greeley reiterates the claim as if it is fact without giving us a single shred of proof to show that it is true.

Of Obama's work in Chicago, Greeley says:

Anyone who knows anything about Obama's activity as a community organizer in Chicago, even before he joined Trinity knows his style was always one of bringing people together in consensus. For someone with legitimate claims to scholarship, Sowell is curiously innocent of regard for facts.

Like I said, there is no proof presented to prove that Obama built any sort of "consensus" in anything he's ever done. It is just stated as fact. But the reason there is no evidence of Obama's consensus building stated by those such as Greeley is because there isn't any to be found.

The truth is, Obama never built any coalitions from disparate groups with differing opinions. He worked exclusively with people who agreed with him and with whom he agreed. No "consensus" ever need to be built. Obama has not one instance of "consensus building" in his entire life. After all, what consensus needs to be built among people who all agree already?

But, to those such as Greeley, no objections to an Obama candidacy can be built on facts, Obama's history or the truth. It must be "hatred" born of "sick minds." One wonders what Obama the nice guy would think of sycophants such as Greeley using demonization of opponents as a means to support him?

Greeley also offensively regurgitates the he's-an-articulate-Negro line of reasoning for why people should support Obama.

... their venom indicates that both are offended by this attractive, charismatic and intelligent young man. The last American politician who was the subject of such animus was JFK.

First of all, Obama is NO JKF and second of all, all blacks should be offended that Obama is so constantly being described as "attractive, charismatic and intelligent" as if he is an amazing anomaly among the African American community! Does Greeley imagine that so few black Americans are "attractive and intelligent" that he must single Obama out for such praise?

Of course, the sadest thing is the fact that Andrew Greeley is supposed to be a man of God. That he uses this sort of opprobrium as a political tool to beat down his opponents really doesn't speak well to his vows, wouldn't you think? Greeley's absurd hero worshipping of Obama is not befitting a man of the cloth.

The final word on this column is that it is empty of any serious political discussion. Greeley should be ashamed of his substance free name calling and the Sun-Times should be ashamed he writes for them.

(Photo credit: PBS.org)