Do you think a nation led by Barack Obama will be less prone to fear mongering?

[MrScorpio]

I think fear fatigue is settling in after a very long time.

What I wonder, if we're willing to turn the page.

[KittyWampus]

1. Yes, I would like for Obama to call upon our higher selves. People are ready, IMO

[elleng]

2. The NATION has never been prone to fear mongering;

its been the most important part of Reps m.o. for many years, so to the extent they won't be heard, neither will the fear mongering.

[jberryhill]

3. Lest we be taken in by too much Hope Mongering

(TM)

[unpossibles]

4. well, except for all the righties (and some lefties) afraid of

a black President.

[Skittles]

5. I would say yes

President-elect Obama displays a calm, cool type of leadership that does not resort to fear mongering tactics

[bluedawg12]

6. PE Obama won't be playing the fear game like dumbya.

A new wind will blow through DC: bringing competence and intelligence.

As far as the fear baiting, fear thriving right wing, screw 'em. They live off of perpetual strife.

[Raine1967]

7. if it is, it will not be PE Obama's doing.

He is not a fear mongerer. he tells it like it is and always offers reasons to not be afraid, even in the face of fearful things.

He has made it clear that the road ahead will be hard but has always said that as a nation- together- we can get thru it. He doesn't seem to be a man that uses fear as a weapon.

The fear will not be from him, so I say no. What I am concerned about is the irrational fears of those that simply have become too accustomed to living in fear. They can only control things if we give them that control.

I say no. A great leader does so by example. It will take some time, but Barack Obama will not lead in such a way that will incur fear -- the exception being those fringe folk who look for any excuse to live in fear.

[sohndrsmith]

8. Yes.

I agree with you on the fear fatigue... but I think the change in national perception is bigger - and more substantial - than boredom. Mr. Obama is more than just "someone other than Bush", he's so much more than that (not that I'm suggesting you imply that he is).

Obama brings clarity and reason and most importantly - integrity - to the national consciousness, how America represents herself and how the rest of the world views us... we're in such dire straights it may be hard to see any progress or change, but we have a brilliant leader for the first time in ages.

I think the fear perception will change, but that doesn't mean the threats we face will be eliminated. I think we'll feel and BE - far more empowered under Obama. We won't be propagandized into baseless hate/fear (many of us never fell for that garbage to begin with) but we are in an entirely different scenario. Responsibility and integrity will mean something again, and that will uplift many fearful hearts into more confident ones. I think even in the face of terrorist threat, it will feel different because of the specific guy at the top... Obama is unique and will prove to be a historic leader, regardless (but not disregarding) the color of his skin.

I really think we have a remarkable individual on our hands this time... and rather than reading history, we're going to be living it... more than we realize. That's my sense, anyway.

[Hekate]

9. Yes. It's one of the many reasons I voted for him. I think he'll be a good man to lead us ...

... out of the wilderness.

Hekate

[Golden Raisin]

10. The example and standard is set at the top.

Bush/Cheney set a tone of fear, contempt and fascism. Obama already has and will have to continue to set a much loftier tone. Yet another task in which he will have to expend precious time and energy undoing 8 years of horrid Bush conditioning, abetted and not protested by the media.

[rvablue]

11. Even if there wasn't "fatigue", PE Obama doesn't roll like that anyway! n/t