Carlson baselessly criticized caller for suggesting world opinion of U.S. has worsened under Bush
SUMMARY: Tucker Carlson baselessly criticized a caller to his MSNBC show by conflating "the rest of the world" with "Islamic extremists." In fact, worldwide polling suggests that America's image has indeed declined worldwide since President Bush took office in 2001.
On the "Voice Mail" segment of the July 13 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson baselessly criticized a caller by conflating "the rest of the world" with "Islamic extremists." Responding to concerns from the caller "Gail" that "[w]e have a president who's arrogant and brags and makes the world hate us," Carlson responded: "[T]he fact is, they, meaning Islamic extremists, have hated us for many years over many presidents." He then chided the caller: "I mean, that's ridiculous. This is a problem that is deeper and more complex than a single president, and you ought to know that, Gail." In fact, worldwide polling suggests that America's image has indeed declined worldwide since President Bush took office in 2001.
In 2002, the Pew Global Attitudes Project reported: "Since 2000, favorability ratings for the U.S. have fallen in 19 of the 27 countries where trend benchmarks are available." On June 13, the Pew Global Attitudes Project reported that trend had continued: "America's global image has again slipped and support for the war on terrorism has declined even among close U.S. allies like Japan. ... [F]avorable opinions of the United States have fallen in most of the 15 countries surveyed."
From the July 13 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:
CALLER: Gail Ford, Southbury, Connecticut. The rest of the world did not hate us under Eisenhower, FDR, JFK, or Clinton. We have a president who's arrogant and brags and makes the world hate us.
CARLSON: Yeah, take a history course, Gail. I mean, that's the problem with political partisans. They have a time horizon about eight minutes long. I don't think Bush has helped. I think the war in Iraq weakens this country. I'm opposed to it, as I've said countless times.
But the fact is, they, meaning Islamic extremists, have hated us for many years over many presidents. In 1979, the Iranians took the hostages. In 1983, they bombed the barracks in Beirut and killed all those American Marines. They bombed the World Trade Center under Bill Clinton. I mean, that's ridiculous. This is a problem that is deeper and more complex than a single president, and you ought to know that, Gail. Next up.
I think that bow tie cut off the circulation to that overgrown noggin!
She didn't say Islamic extremists hate us more she said the rest of the world Tucker. Don't play dumb and act like you don't understand it.
What a complete piece of propaganda that was.
Pucker Carlson: "I think the war in Iraq weakens this country. I'm opposed to it, as I've said countless times."
He opposes the war in Iraq, and he's said it many times, but he supports and votes for the politicians who intend to continue it indefinitely. Which makes opposing the war nothing more than a pretty thing to say because it sounds good while the blood continues to flow unabated.
I'm opposed to my bedroom being painted green, and I've said so countless times. But the next time I paint my bedroom, if I paint it green again, what difference does it make whether I say that I oppose it?
in that it is deeper than one President. Remember the "Ugly American" from the late 50s, early 60s? the protests across the globe during Vietnam? Has it worsened under GWB, probably. But we have since at least the early 60s had very good press across the world.
Oscar,
Interesting post. Is there some reference that you can point to that supports your contention?
Thanks!
...is wearing thin AA. Why so defensive? Oscar is right.
[link to en.wikipedia.org]
Wikipedia is fantastic, by the way. Here's a nice summary of exactly what Oscar is referring to. And, by the way, admitting there is a problem -- unlike what you've been conditioned to believe -- in no way makes ME a part of the problem... a sympathizer, etc. So, save that nonsense.
Americans have long had a reputation internationally of being brash and generally uninformed with regard to world affairs. I'd argue that Bush adds a new level of ignorance to that perception. Just consider this recent candid remark from Bush - "Russia’s big and so is China." [link to www.msnbc.msn.com]
Check out that link for the rest of Bush's candid comments from the G8 conference. My impression was one of a president who is more interested in travel iteneraries and gifts than world issues. I'm no fan of Blair, but at least he comes across as intelligent and interested.
Last year, the Canadian Liberal Party ran a campaign against Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party. Their big dirty secret to expose? Stephen Harper likes George Bush (actually, a more accurate description would be that Stephen Harper kisses George Bush's butt 24/7), wants to be his friend, and supports his policies. This wouldn't have been effective under Clinton, even though the Conservative Party at that time was much more liberal than the US Democrats.
If I get shot by someone in the arm, I don't blame the bullet. I blame the person shooting the bullet. Tucker also minimizes the extent to why the world is against us, it isn't just Iraq. How many more enemies have we picked up this just past week in Lebanon and the Middle East as we've done NOTHING to help stop the spiraling violence, especially against civilians and civilian infrastructure?
can't turn down good pig when it is offered. I mean Bush can't be bothered when there is fresh pig to be eaten. Has anyone seen pictures of that pig? It sure looks good. What were we talking about again?
WE all have seen how the rest of the owrl disregard Bush and his bush!t policies. Even Putin has littel respect for our global village idiot...with just cause. V Fox of Mexico and the Saudi royalty are about the ONLY real friends Bush has bought. Our best friends oveer in Great Britian are questioning our sanity. Seeing the rheteric of our "liberal" media.....I question our sanity too.....than god for Media Matter to shed some light in our current dark ages of Bush! James Carvelle is sexier anyway......even for a bald man!
But then we all make mistakes.
Yes, our current administration is out of touch with reality. Yes, indeed we have made more enemies than friends because our current administration is out of touch with reality. Yes, we've tried to put our money where our mouth is but money is what's caused most of the problems we have in the first place and the current administration is out of touch with reality. Yes, the MSM does most of its talking with their fingers planted deeply in their ears and the current administration is out of touch with reality. Yes, God is pissed and is probably working on His plan of attack to get even because the current administration is out of touch with reality. No, I really don't want to be around when the whip comes down because I'm firmly attached to reality.
Did he just say..."They bombed the World Trade Center under Bill Clinton"???
I seriously don't think that Clinton would be reckless enough to allow 9/11 happen.
In 1993, if I remember correctly. But I fail to see what that has to do with the caller's point. The US has always been disliked by part of the world, simply because it's a superpower. That goes with the territory.
But under Bush, it has for many people gone from having no opinion about the US, to dislike, and from dislike to hatred (for obvious reasons). That's an irrefutable truth, which is why Carlson has to use that old standby the straw-man.
Let's talk about allies and friends around the world. American's have always been disliked or hated by a few, but even our friends don't want to hang out with us anymore. We cannot always act unilateral, and by refusing to finish the job in Afganistan, crying wolf in Iraq, and trying to bluff North Korea and then doing nothing when they called it, Bush has done nothing but make us more hated. And not just that, but has created a terrorist friendly environment where the increased amount of people who hate us get practical experiance in ways to attack us and kill our citizens and soldiers.
took place a month after clinton came into office. it was a right wing talking point by guys like limbaugh that clinton "didn't do anything" about it. he did. the bombers are all serving life sentences. it also shows bush's utter lack of comprehension on the threat of another attack that before he went into that classroom on 9-11 he knew the first tower had been hit. which is why he made that hilarious little joke about "i thought that pilot had bad aim."