Here is a quick premier in dealing with the right’s bitterness today:
1) They will lectures you not to politicize terrorism. You write, “So, you’re flip flopping from when Bush blamed Clinton for not getting Bin Laden? Oh, and by the way, President Obama got Osama.” (Never let them steer the topic away from the very thing they are trying to avoid.)
2) Righties suggest we can’t be sure Osama is dead. You say, “You asked us to believe Sarah Palin had a brain against all evidence. I’m willing to go with the President here and assume that he and the CIA know more about what they’re doing than you do, since you keep steering us wrong. Oh, and President Obama got Osama Bin Laden.” (If you must respond to a troll, make it hurt. Always bring up something they do not want to have mentioned and follow it up with the narrative they are most trying to avoid. After all, they wouldn’t be trolling if they weren’t trying to reframe the debate.)
3) The bitter right will snark that Obama is mourning the death of his “brother” Osama. You say, “Wow, that’s big of you to admit that he loves his country so much that he would kill his own brother to defend the USA, which is more than I can say for any Republican. Just what was Bush’s excuse for not going after Bin Laden? Oh, that’s right, he said he wasn’t concerned about him. Oh, and by the way, Obama got Osama.” (Handy link to the video of Bush saying he wasn’t concerned about Bin Laden. You might be feeling petty right now, but remember, you are dealing with paid trolls with the mindset of being out to disrupt the dialogue and equilibrium and most especially, the narrative. Even trolls don’t like being mocked lightly.)
4) The Fox News watching set will say that Obama shouldn’t be trying to take credit for this and they bend over backwards to pretend like they care about the troops. They may say he “snubbed” Bush and has “no class” (you know how the repeat everything their masters tell them). You say, “God Bless Our troops. If only Bush had cared about getting Osama way back after 9/11, eh? But then, we tried it your way and it didn’t work so the President decided to use intelligence and look where that got us. Shocking, I know! Would you prefer we keep giving Bush credit for things he didn’t do, just to make you feel better, sort of like oh, gee, I dunno, an handicap or reparations for Bush’s failures? Oh, and by the way, Obama got Osama.” (Remember not to go back and follow up with the troll; you are engaging in hit and run here, not dialogue. A troll is never up for dialogue. Your intention is to hit them hard, bring up the issue they want to avoid, and reiterate reality.)
5) Desperately, they will state that Obama was only following Bush’s lead. You say, “Technically, Bush was following Clinton’s lead on trying to find Osama, and he had 8 years to do it but failed. Luckily we elected a smart guy who got him in 2. Oh, and by the way, Obama got Osama.” (You can always begin any of these with “Bless your bitter little heart, honey.” or “Bless George Bush’s failed presidency.”)
