The clouded wrath of the crowd
As Election Day approaches, the right-wing media are becoming increasingly vitriolic and irrational.
Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Jerome Corsi, and others have attacked Barack Obama over his visit to his ailing grandmother.
On Monday, Savage responded to Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama by insisting, "The only people who don't seem to vote based on race are whites of European origin." Later in the week, Savage said welfare recipients shouldn't be allowed to vote. Fellow radio host Jim Quinn went a step further over the edge, declaring that there was "good reason" for allowing only landowners to vote.
A Washington Times columnist called Barack Obama a "Marxist" who believes that "murdering innocent babies ... is an inalienable right." ABC's The Note declared that little piece of overheated rhetoric a "must-read."
The creative conspiracy theorists over at WorldNetDaily claim that Obama "campaigned for" "radical Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga" during a 2006 trip -- a claim supposedly substantiated by obviously fake emails Jerome Corsi claims to have obtained. In the extraordinarily unlikely event that the emails are real, they still do not substantiate WND's claims -- in fact, they don't contain so much as a single statement of support for Odinga.
Syndicated columnist Thomas Sowell compared Obama to Hitler, Mao and Jim Jones. What's the similarity? Well, they all spoke inspiringly of "change."
Believe it or not, that isn't the craziest Hitler comparison to ooze forth from the right-wing fever swamps in the past month. Bill O'Reilly recently declared that Nancy Pelosi practices her speeches too much, noting that Hitler also practiced speeches before delivering them (O'Reilly claimed he wasn't comparing Pelosi to Hitler. Right.)
For radio host Bill Cunningham, comparing Obama to Hitler doesn't go far enough. He prefers to suggest that Obama is the antichrist. (Cunningham has frequently peppered his comments about Obama with gratuitous references to the candidate's middle name, Hussein -- once embellishing by referring to "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama.")
KSFO radio host Lee Rodgers falsely claimed that Obama has admitted that he would "stand with the Muslims" against "the Western world" -- a twisted fantasy reminiscent of Savage's claim to "doubt" that Obama "would take our side" in the event of a terrorist attack. Speaking of which: Two weeks ago, Savage announced that "[N]ot all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists happen to be Muslim." Just in case the bigotry and stupidity of that statement isn't obvious: Tim McVeigh wasn't a Muslim.
There is, in short, a lot of hate and venom spewing forth from right-wing media, particularly radio and blogs. The last time a Democrat was elected president, the right used that hate to mobilize opposition to him and his agenda. There's no reason to think the Rush Limbaughs of the world will react differently to an Obama presidency. The only question is whether the "mainstream" media will take their cues from the far-right hate merchants again -- and whether progressives will be more aggressive in fighting back.
Jamison Foser is Executive Vice President at Media Matters for America.
I'll fight back! -- With comments on MMFA that almost no one will read.
Okay, maybe I'll shoot an email or two to the networks.
Just today I heard Hannity responding specifically to an e-mail from a "Mr. Hee Burt" by noting for his listeners that "Mr. Hee Burt" was NOT a great American, but an unrepentant far-left radical socialist Muslim baby-killing success-hater.
While not one for hero-worship, I have an uncomfortable level of admiration for you right now...
I'm not worried. The liberal blogosphere has changed everything, especially Media Matters. The repubs don't control "the means of production" any more. The MSM now takes their cues from blogs, not party apparatchiks.
You're more optimistic than I am. I'm hopeful, but definitely still worried.
hitler liked dogs. therefore, anyone who likes dogs...
the mccain campaign keeps running that ad about how obama can't handle a crisis because he has "no executive experience" but then neither did kennedy, and most historians recognize that his careful deliberations with his brother bobby defused the cuban missile crisis, and made it into a propaganda coup for this country. and obama has not been dumb enough to be singing "bomb bomb iran" in front of microphones, like mccain. as for the alaska executive herself, no one could think she can handle anything more than a shopping spree at saks.
the mccain campaign keeps running that ad about how obama can't handle a crisis because he has "no executive experience"
Is that the mirror that Palin uses when she tries on $10,000 outfits? If not, I don't get it.
I expect it's supposed to be the mirror McCain is looking in when he talks about "lack of executive experience."
I'm pretty sure she had handlers and consultants for the shopping, actually.
Oh another american! Remember how every time this comes up you claim there is no evidence christians are claiming Obama is a muslim? Hmmm?
That's a nice looking horse in the background. Me and my homies once drove up on a sidewalk in DC to take a quick picture of some goverment shrine or what not. A mounted DC cop rode over and offered to take the picture for us so we could all be in the picture!
That is a fine looking horse. The way the hint of brown speckles this fascinating creature is enough to make me want a ranch. Imagine, getting paid to ride a horse all day. NICE
Horse cop...a perfect job for a Republican. You get to ride around all day crapping all over the place, and somebody else has to pick it up.
Had one pass gas on me at the Pikes place Market in Seattle a few years ago.
Oh yeah, that moron with a sign. I sent a screen shot to my pastor . they need to know about this blatant violation of the 3rd commandment which reads ' you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless for misuse of his name " For this moron to call himself christian and ignore the basic tenet of the bible taught to every child in church is stunning.
That's a nice looking horse in the background.
And a steaming pile of hors**t in the foreground, holding a lie-filled sign.
Looks like Theocratic Fascism is alive and well in the US. Did someone say something about Hitler?....
As Election Day approaches, the right-wing media are becoming increasingly vitriolic and irrational
Just like the McRepug campaign, erratic, vitriolic, and hopefully extinct on Nov. 4
Here's a cool ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE
That is a cool ad. Thanks.
Stuff like that sure gives me...Hope in the possibilities. I feel all warm and fuzzy now. Thanks, man.
I am on facebook, as are many of the people I went to college with.
A close relative and one college alum have changed their facebook middle names to Hussein
I used to be a Rush Limbaugh listening conservative back in the day (Clinton days.) But I slowly changed as I matured and experienced more of the world. The last straw was the Teri Schiavo incident. I haven't forgotten that. I swore off all those right-wing personalities after the lies they spewed. I now get my news about them via this website. I am not a liberal, but I will never be a victim of the right-wing media again. Don't worry. There are more like me out there. In fact, many of my conservative friends have found their faith in the Republican Party extremely challenged with this election.
And yes, the right-wing media is absolutely frightening.
You encourage me, amigo.
i always thought that media was suppose to be non partisan? But that is not what I have been seeing. The media has been covering for Obama especially MSNBC who has partned with ACORN and La Raza election night. You say the right wing media is becoming vitriolic and irrational. No they have found the truth about Obama. I as a registered democrat had never heard of Obama so like most people Or so I thought did research to find the canidate that most reflected my views and beliefs. I thought that was what elections were for, people to represent us.
At the same time the financial crisis was just getting started and I kept hearing that McCain and Bush were responsible so I began to dig to find the answer.
What I found was it was just the opposite. Even President Clinton admitted on a News show that it was the democrats fault. RESEARCH IT
DODD, FRANK, PELOSI, REID, SCHUMER, WERE GETTING DONATIONS FROM FANNIE AND FREDDIE AND THERE IS EVEN A VIDEO FROM C-SPAN SHOWING THE CEO OF FANNIE WITH THE BLACK CACUS STATING THEY ARE FAMILY AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND EVEN A HEARING IN 2004 ON C-SPAN WHERE THE DEMOCRATS INCLUDING STATED "THIS IS NOTHING BUT A HIGH TECH LYNCHING OF FRANKLIN RAINES. TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE DEMOCRATS WERE WARNED AND THEY BLOCKED ANYTHING GETTING DONE.
JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF INFORMATION IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD JOHN MCCAIN TRIED IN 2005 TO PASS LEGISLATION AND WARNED THAT WHAT HAS HAPPEND WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT THE DEMOCRATS WERE NOT READY TO GIVE UP THE PARTY AND SWEETHEART DEALS FROM COUNTRY WIDE. SO IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING UPSET IT IS BECAUSE THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA WILL NOT TELL THE TRUTH. I am very disappointed that the media feels it is their place to tell the American people who they should vote for and not give us the information and let us make the educated vote. So I have been sending and talking to friends about what I have found out and working against Obama. He has lied about everything. They will not be drilling for oil or other things the American people want like security of our borders then work on immigration, education, abortion, what is important to us on main street. We out here know ALOT more and understands ALOT more that the media thinks we do. I will say one thing you can post this or not that is up to you but freedom of speech and freedom of the press is something that is precious and the media in this election has been disguisting. So if he gets elected just remember I tried to tell you because if Obama wins WE WILL BE IN A FULL FLEDGE DEPRESSION. Mark my words and remember these words so before you make accusations do some research yourself especially his former district
I believe that us liberals won't stand for the smears coming against Obama, if they are, as we know they will be, unsubstantiated. Much like everything thrown at Bill Clinton. It's funny that they called him Teflon Bill, because nothing stuck to him. Nothing stuck, because he didn't do anything that he had been accused of. Prepare for a massive attack on Obama from the right, to attempt to impeach him sometime in his first 4 years in office, if he wins. It will be worse than Clinton, you can bet on that. It's going to be ridiculous. And yet, we'll still hear claims of liberal bias in the media no doubt...
I suppose that would depend on whether Media leads the impeachment brigade. Remember the Fairness Doctrine will probably be re-enforced and talk radio will no longer be the "driving force" in the Media. As an aside, will the Fairness Doctrine apply to PBS so that they may have to broadcast an hour of country music for every hour of classical?
Oscar, I think even too many country music artists are catching on for that to be considered a counterpoint.
Maybe an hour of classical music, followed by five minutes of Sean Hannity alternately blowing into a jug and screeching "Socialist!" and "Unrepentant Terrorist!"
So then, who would get the five minute opportunity to sip from the jug?
The Fairness Doctrine can't be "re-enforced," it would have to be enacted. The FCC dropped the requirement in 1987 and two attempts to establish it by law failed.
We also should recall that the Obama campaign has said he is against the return of the Fairness Doctrine.
My choice of words could have been better. Obama may be against the return of the Fairness Doctrine, but if there is a veto proof majority in Congress, that becomes a moot point. There seem to be plenty of voices from that sector that foretell another attempt at "enacting" (re-establishing, re-enforcing, etc) the Fairness Doctrine (AKA "The Lawyer Full Employment Act.")
Stupid lawyers. Who needs 'em? You're on your own, pal. If you get swindled out of your pension, lose your job due to injury, are poisoned by local industry, are not paid equally for equal work and can't represent yourself in court, it's your own fault.
By the way, the fairness doctrine, which I do not favor (I favor media de-consolidation) and have not heard many voices supporting it, never mandated equal time as you imply above. The FD mandated a short rebuttal if requested. That's all. At least get your facts straight, it makes your straw men a skoshe more believable.
There is far more talk about reinstating the "Fairness Doctrine" coming from Talk Radio than there is from anyone with the power to actually do so. Believe it or not a lot of us crazy hippie libs don't care for the idea. Now undoing the damage to ownership limitations is a whole nuther kettle of plumbers.....
I don't want the Fairness Doctrine, but I would like to see some regulation about station ownership. I know few people who want the former, and many who want the latter.
As of now the right-wing attack machine has made my choice for President very clear: Instead of a write-in for Hillary I'll be voting for Obama. Because a vote for him is a vote FOR a very stable Democratic party, which in return will help dilute crazy talk from radical conservative pundits and their eventual dwindling following.
Bottom Line: Their's strength in numbers.
I believe what the right are doing is called "impotent rage." All but the stupidest Republicans know they're screwed.
"The Nice Democrats":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxqSipov5E
Hate speech is very lucrative, and as long as people listen to it, and respond to it, it will remain so.
I wish somebody would explain to me how, unless you're talking about money, you can 'support' a candidate secretly.
It seems to me that poliyicians support candidates by saying they do publically, standing with the candidate and saying 'Vote for Jubilation T. Cornpone!", and that those appearance would show up in newspapers, radio and TV.
So Corsi comes back from Kenya, not with front pages of newspapers and videotapes, but--secret e-mails (which turn out not to say what he says, on top of it)?
That's sort of like saying, " I love this guys music, but I won't buy his CDs or go to his concerts or tell people about him."
(If there is money involved, that's another thing, but that's noe what Corsi is alleging, because that could get him sued. Just 'support'.)
What's the problem for the last 8 years the dems/libs have been crucifying Bush. So what is any different than after Obama wins he shouldn't be subject to the same persecution from the right.
You guys can't have it both ways, or sure you can just watck kieth olbermann, and listen to air america.
Have you ever watched Fox News? Do you honestly think that there is ANY comparison between Fox and Air America? The neocons have been using hate speech and fearmongering ("terrorist fist bump" "pals around with terrorists") while liberals generally point out ACTIONS. If you think Bush has done a good job then I suggest looking outside your bubble.
And i bet they will continue being obstructionists if Sen Obama becomes president Obama. I am sure their job description willchange little.
It's awesome that Michael Savage has no clue that his comment "[N]ot all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists happen to be Muslim," is actually a play on a John Stuart Mill quotation: "Not all conservatives are stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."
I also think there's probably a lot of hard working Christian, Catholic, Israeli, and Hindu terrorists that wouldn't appreciate his comments.
http://deskofz.blogspot.com
Two words: Fairness Doctrine.
"There is in short, a lot of hate, venom and spewing from right wing media and blogs."
No one will deny it is very lucrative for the corporation that owns them(Wall Street Journal, and Fox News), and for the individual commentators (Rush Limbaugh is a multi-millionair. Hate sells
If anyone is interested in learning about the methodolgy of the right wing media, I strongly suggest you read:Echo Chamber, by Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Joseph N. Cappella. Unlike many books critical of the right wing media, this one is 'fair and balanced'.
My Question for Nancy Pelosi: Tinyurl.com/PelosiQuestion (see video)
Thanx, if any president should be facing impeachment, shrub is.
William Ayres was NOT a muslim either....hmmmmmm
an interesting comparison. I love when an "intellectual" puts his foot in it...like 'bama & especially 'biden when NOT scripted.
Comparing Obama to Hitler, is not only reactionary desparation, but also Orwellian double-think. This is absolute proof that the 'liberal fascism' of Jonah Goldberg, or similar comments made Ben Stein, are the death throws of the neoo cons, drowning in their own shrewd Lies.
John Bryans Fontaine
Westport, CT
The problem with ultra right-wing talk radio is that it is everywhere, and there's no way to counter the messages to the audience it reaches. When I drive across New York state and turn the radio dial, I get rock and country music, occasionally NPR and several conservative talk radio show. In some places NPR cuts out, but you can get Hannity and Limbaugh every where you go. That means that a LOT of Americans listen to this stuff. How to reach them and get them to stop allowing themselves to be brainwashed. That is going to be a huge challenge.
Maybe it is because we recognize the method that the left is using,, Sal Alinsky's Handbook for Radicals. (this article for instance)
Media portray Palin negative 46% positive 7%.
Obama said he would have a government with transparency, so why did he NOT give the federal court his vault birth certificate?
Obama has no valid birth certificate.
You don't know what you're talking about. Even WorldNetDaily admits that Obama's birth certificate is legitimate.
http://www.fightthesmears.com/
Now I'm confused. If all terrorists are Muslims, and Obama associates with Bill Ayers, who is a terrorist, then Ayers must be a Muslim. Or maybe he's not a terrorist. The answer may be in Kenya.
We shoud take our cue from how Obama has ran his campaign. Keep our focus on the solutions and ignore the likes of Rush.
You are not allowed to ask Biden or Obama a tough question, cause when you do you are banned to ever speak to them again, or if you are a PRIVATE CITIZEN of the U.S. and you ask a tough question you get investigated. These two most recent issues alone make me worried about this possible administration. Then when you hear a conversation that Obama had back in 2001 that redistribution was not investigate enough by the Supreme Court during the civil rights, what do you think he is going to do with future judges with this court. I love this country and I want the government out of my life. Do not kid yourself the Obama Admistration will get your money, just read the 401K ideas the Democrates have in mind if Obama gets in the offi that was detailed in the WSJ. GET OUT OF MY LIFE, leave my money alone. I do know what is best for me and my family, not the Government.
My suggestion would be "No more Mr. Nice Guy", at least to expose their blatant name calling and misinformation.
As mentioned above they have 10 times as many radio stations in their pocket, so Dems will have to be more effective - get the word out, even advertise, that alternatives are available, like Air America on XM 167 or listen directly from their website www.airamerica.com, or www.huffingtonpost.com, www.dailykos.com, and of course this website. Even on XM there are several right wing channels vs the 167.
George
George, why do you think Air America has never been successful, they are losing money and they have gotten more press time then any other radio network. The messages is bad, the commentary is bad and the product is bad. I am sure they will et bail out money to keep them on the air, but if the fairness doc is brought, they will have to air the same radios show they hate. If they bring back the Fairness doc, it should be across the board, which include Television. The Fair Doc was created in 1948, when T.V. industry was just getting going. I am sure they will not update it, just turn it back one. Like I said before, you can kiss the freedom of speech good bye if Obama is elected. Just remember, if you do not like what you hear on the radio, you do not have to listen. Just turn to a new channel. I guess that is why Air American does not do well.
Paulson just GAVE mortgage co. PNC $7.7 Billion to do mortgage modifications without requiring that ANY mortgages acually BE modified. Talk about wealth redistribution. By the way, did you know that bancruptcy judges already have the power to modify the repayment terms of second, vacation, and investment homes (and luxury boat loans), just no power for primary residence nodifications. It is not socialism to have the same “perks” apply to all folk. The elites already see the “bottom up” help on the way in the new administration, versus the current “top down” approach of Paulson. http://seekingalpha.com/article/101965-hedge-funds-threaten-to-block-mortgage-modifications
Richard you are so right, with the Democrats in charge of the House and Senete now and these things are happening, this is why we can not have the Democrats having 60% majority in the Houses and a Democrate President. IT will only get worse, good point Richard.