Who is America?

Sacha Baron Cohen as anti-terror expert Israeli Colonel Erran Morad

Has the United States become the laughing stock of the world!  News coverage paints a rather bleak picture of American but a Brit has done even more – highlight how easily Americans are coaxed into a divided position.  He poses that question in various pranks and both average citizens and some rather influential Americans answered the question.  Dick Cheney, Jason Spencer, Dana Rohrabacher, Joe Wilson, Sarah Palin and a host of others, knowing they’re being recorded, leaves us not knowing whether to laugh or cringe when watching Who is America?, Sacha Baron Cohen’s new comedy series on Showtime.

It’s easy to understand how the average American could be pranked by Baron Cohen – he goes to extreme lengths.  It’s still surprising to see Americans go to full on racism so easily after hearing details about a basic real estate development?  On the other hand, we assume that people with public exposure would have a staff dedicated solely to vetting contacts.  For better or worse, Baron Cohen’s targeted “celebrity politicians” missed every clue.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney signing a “waterboarding kit”?  Are you kidding me?  In what world is that appropriate?  That certainly paints at least some detail about Americans.  The plastic water bottle and towel should have been his “shot in the face” saying something in this was a setup.

“Dick Cheney is it possible to sign my waterboard kit?”  Cheney agrees saying, “Sure . . . that’s the first time I’ve ever signed a waterboard.”

How many would go as far as Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) did on the first episode of Baron Cohen’s new series?  Arming 3-16 year old children with guns!  Americans are simply too attached to guns. We shouldn’t entertain the idea of arming children to protect schools on any level.  Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz understood the ridiculousness of supporting such a program . . . especially on camera.  Even if you think a “Kinderguardian” program is exclusively for children in another country, why would any American support that premise for anyone’s child?  Joining this parade of embarrassment were Gun Owners of America Executive President Emeritus Larry Pratt, former Illinois congressman and conservative talk radio host Joe Walsh, gun rights advocate and president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League Philip Van Cleave,  and former Senate Republican leader Trent Lott.  It seems that some are all too willing to throw the babies out with the bath water as long as it means keeping unfettered access to guns.

Spencer said his actions were based on his extreme fear of terrorists.

Let’s not talk about whether it’s appropriate for Georgia State Representative Jason Spencer to bare his buttocks knowing he’s in a recorded interview.  Let’s, instead, consider his expected result.  Did he really believe that touching his bare buttocks to a male ISIS soldier would deter that soldier’s resolve to do him (or anyone else) harm?  His behavior is extremely disturbing on many levels.  Spencer said his actions were based on his extreme fear of terrorists.  So the flurry of racial slurs must have been based on his extreme fear of minorities.  Man, did Spencer ever answer Baron Cohen’s question!

Surely Americans are a little tired of talking about Sarah Palin.  But she keeps surfacing.  I’m usually mildly entertained when I hear her position on anything.  Unfortunately, her response to being duped by Baron Cohen reached a new low.  Palin took to social media before any of the prank aired on the show in an attempt to get ahead of negative press.  Her biggest mistake in this debacle is using veterans as a way to change the narrative.

I’m a veteran easily insulted at how celebrity politicians (or public personalities as Palin describes herself) claim support for veterans when they want to pivot and disguise their true agenda.  Palin should take her licks, take a knee and then go home.  This isn’t the first or last time she will face negative press.