"Baracknophobia" and the "Audacity of Fear"

Much has been made so far about experience in this election cycle. John McCain constantly harps on the unknown quantity of Barack Obama, and perhaps it is this lack of knowledge that has led to the phenomena which Jon Stewart, on Monday's The Daily Show, termed as "Baracknophobia."

Now, it should be noted that the term Baracknophobia isn't new; I'm sorry Jon, but it was posted first on this site in February. I'm not sure if this is the first use, but Jon didn't coin the term himself!

At any rate, despite the "audacity of hope" given to many by Obama's campaign, many feel, according to Stewart, an "irrational fear of hope," or Baracknophobia.

Tonight folks we're gonna examine the "Audacity of fear." You know there's an awful lot to be afraid of in the world: terrorists, tomatoes. What I learned this weekend, a panda that has been highly trained in the martial arts. But there's one emerging fear that trumps all others: Baracknophobia.

It is defined as the irrational fear of hope, the irrational fear that behind the mild-mannered facade Barack Obama is intent on enslaving the white race. It's true, wake up white people.

The sickness manifests itself mostly through rumor, often in the form of the only email your grandmother has ever been able to successfully forward.

After a series of mainstream media clips complaining about how easy it was to spread a rumor on the Internet, Stewart continued.

So I got it. Internet, rumor, reckless, bad ... mainstream media, responsible, good.'

Except that a series of clips followed from mainstream media actually spreading a bunch of ridiculous smear stories.

I think all those clips must be from that new cable show "sh*t I unquestionably read off the Internet with your hosts All of Us!"

If you think Baracknophobia is bad in America, you should see it in Sean Hannity's America!

Ah yes, the days of campaigning sans dirty tricks, mudslinging - well, they probably never existed, but if they did, they are long gone.

Watch the clip from Monday's The Daily Show.