Is it really ok to disrespect the President

Driving down to work the other day, I saw a bumper sticker that called President Obama an "error" that needed to be corrected--or something to that effect.  I started to think about all of the extreme language that is used about him and how upset people (often republicans) get about anything he does or says.  I started to think about how I conducted myself when Bush was in office.  I was struck that I had said some bad things about him, but as I thought about it further, it wasn't really because he was a republican.  Bush didn't in any way command respect--he in many ways brought on ridicule by not thinking before he spoke.  I'm sure I never said the disrespectful kinds of things that I said about him about his father or president Regan.  Regan afterall was an excellent speaker and very charismatic--someone who commanded the respect of the people.  Someone, not unlike Barack Obama--intelligent, well-versed, a listener. 

Then this morning on Facebook, one friend had joined a group "petitioning to remove a group from facebook who was praying for the president's death."  Did I read that right??  Would someone really wish someone dead?  I don't think I even thought of that one about Bush.  Maybe I assumed we might all be dead for some of the stupid moves he made with regard to foreign policy and the rest of the world, but wish him dead???

I don't know who is perpetuating these attitudes and extreme disrespect, but I find it irritating, especially when a president is trying hard to do what's best for the majority of people and he is extremely educated and well-spoken.   He is deserving of respect, no matter how we view his politics, no matter if we agree or disagree with him.

This leads me to wonder if these aren't just white supremist attitudes bleeding through--is it that we can't believe a person is capable of leading our country or meeting our needs unless he looks like us?  Does he "deserve" disrespect simply because he is part African-American, regardless of his other outstanding credentials?  After all, he loves his wife and children, allows gardens to be planted at the white house, feels that U.S. should be cooperating with other countries for a better world.  But, because he is not taking a colonizing attitude, we are somehow unable to trust and respect him?

These tea partiers are not working for radical change--they are simple holding on tight to the status quo!