For some, even simple questions are part of a socialist plot

It seemed like a pleasant enough exchange.

While working the long line of people who waited last week outside UNLV's Cox Pavilion for an opportunity to hear President Barack Obama, I encountered three tourists from Scotland. Obviously, they couldn't vote for or against the president, but they expressed such admiration for the man that I noted it in Friday's column.

As absolutely nothing is taken at face value in this vitriolic political climate, I should have known better than to think a few innocent questions would be perceived as the curious inquiries they were.

It turns out it's all part of a larger socialist plot, and I played the willing dupe.

At least, that's what some readers have suggested.

Herbert Burr writes, "You are as sick as your Socialist guests from Europe. You have watched this Marxist imposter intentionally destroy your country as he promised in his two-year election campaign. He confirmed that promise in his disgusting unprecedented apologetic trip to Europe all at our expense. While you obviously think that this cockroach is popular he has to be the most hated person in this country's history. He has destroyed more people's lives than anyone in history including mine.

"This moron has spent and wasted trillions of dollars (most of it borrowed) putting this country on the verge of bankruptcy. At the same time he has converted the most successful CAPITALIST LAND OF OPPORTUNITY into another SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST failure that I moved here legally to escape 49 years ago!

"If you prefer four more years of this traitor why don't you move to Communist Cuba or Socialist Europe and take your damned Democrat traitors with you! I might add that if you are capable of checking you will find that all of these wonderful Socialist countries in Europe that your Messiah emulated are currently bankrupt and are experiencing violent revolutions. Personally I have been anticipating the same kind of reaction here for the last two years and I predict that it will still happen. And why not?"

In a letter three times as long as the column note, Ray Kolander lets me have several pieces of his mind on the subject. As newsprint is tight, I offer this excerpt:

"After reading your article titled, 'Obama ranks up there with Elvis impersonator on visitors' list,' ... I have come to the conclusion that Scottish tourists Gillian Govan, Brian Williams and son Griff, must be afflicted with one or possibly both illnesses, that is too much Las Vegas Sun and drinking too much Obama Kool-Aid. However, seeing that they haven't lived in the United States for the past three-plus years and are completely oblivious to what has transpired during that time, I guess I should give them the benefit of the doubt. Aren't they paying attention to what is occurring with their fellow European neighbors, such as Portugal, Italy and Spain? America is heading in the same direction with 4 more years of President Obama. Complacency and dependency are the pillars of this Administration.

"... The President has done a magnificent job polarizing the nation on the basis of income, race, sex and age. His constant poisonous class warfare rhetoric spawned the creation of the Occupy Movement, who claim to be the 99%, but in reality are the 1% who want to make a living off the backs and toils of anyone but themselves.

"... About the only good thing President Obama has done in the past 3 plus years is assassinate Osama Bin Laden, which could not have been accomplished without the surveillance and enhanced interrogation systems in place that were implemented by that, in his own words, 'evil Bush administration.'

"... Hopefully, however the 'hope and change' that President Obama promised us is on the horizon. For the sake of this great Nation, the change that recently occurred in the state of Wisconsin will carryover to November on a national scale."

Other than that, I think we're really beginning to get along.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.