Here's the really ominous and frightening thing that resulted from the act of the family of dead man Donald Charles Unsworth. It wasn't their plea in his obituary when Unsworth passed back in September in Rome, Georgia, that read, "The family respectfully asked in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or to the campaign of whoever is running against President Barack Obama in 2012." They have that right. And that could easily be shrugged off as a warped, cranky, and hateful dig from another of the pack of visceral Obama loathers. The woods are chock full of them.
It's the cheers and encouragement that Unsworth's family got for their bizarre request that poured in from every part of the country. Three months later the praise still pours in. The Unsworth family request to spend cash in the deceased Unsworth's name to defeat Obama has been gleefully picked up on blogs and websites. Hundreds call Unsworth a patriot, true American, and claim that he's following God's bidding even in death to defeat Obama. One contributor from South Carolina proudly wished, "And may he and his family find great comfort in the massive Republican takeover of the 2010 mid-term elections!" Blog respondents have encouraged others to follow Unsworth's family lead and make similar requests for donations when their loved ones pass.
The Unsworth request is more than merely a perverse ghoulish stunt to get a little publicity, grab a little extra cash, or even to tweak Obama. It's part of the boundless and never ending creative ways that the zaniest of Obama bashers have found to ridicule, demean, and denigrate the president and presidency. It's beyond farce and even hate. The hundreds that responded to a dead man's appeal "to fight Obama" as one who cheered Unsworth noted is infuriating testament to that.
That's not the end of it. Daniel's Funeral Home knows a good thing when it sees it. It still proudly displays the Unsworth Guestbook online with this explicit notation, "This Guest Book has been kept online by America - Land of the Free and Home of the Brave." Since the guest book is maintained on line by the funeral home that buried Unsworth the presumption is that they endorse the dead man's request to rally support and money against President Obama. They have invited comment and response in the guest book. Why not take them up on it.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He hosts nationally broadcast political affairs radio talk shows on Pacifica and KTYM Radio Los Angeles.