Conservative media blast Krugman for column about right-wing extremism
SUMMARY: Several conservative media figures attacked Paul Krugman over a recent column in which he wrote that "right-wing extremism is being systematically fed by the conservative media and political establishment."
Several conservative media figures attacked New York Times columnist Paul Krugman over his June 12 column. In the column, Krugman wrote that "right-wing extremism is being systematically fed by the conservative media and political establishment" and went on to state that "the likes of Fox News and the R.N.C. ... have gone out of their way to provide a platform for conspiracy theories and apocalyptic rhetoric, just as they did the last time a Democrat held the White House." Media Matters for America documented numerous examples of such rhetoric in an April 13 report titled "Emerging Culture of Paranoia."
On the June 12 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, during a discussion of the Holocaust museum shooting, co-host Willie Geist said, "Both sides exploiting this. For sure. Here's Paul Krugman in this morning's New York Times, on the op-ed page." After Geist read a portion of Krugman's column, co-host Joe Scarborough said people who write him "use Paul Krugman as their shield for their left-wing hate. This is because Paul Krugman, like a lot of I would say extremists on the right, they only see their side. They have a close-minded worldview. And so Paul Krugman uses this tragedy, uses this death to try to knock down his opponents on the right."
During a discussion of Krugman's column on the June 12 edition of The Neal Boortz Show, host Neal Boortz asserted: "He's talking about all of the right-wing -- the conservative opposition to the programs of Barack Obama. You know what he refers to it as? It's all hate. It's all hate." After a caller responded, "It's not hate," Boortz stated, "You and I both know that. We know that. But the liberals, they're very effective at indoctrination and brainwashing techniques."
And on the June 12 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck, Beck said of Krugman's column: "[H]e's linked conservatives now to conspiracy theorists. In other words, this isn't about me. It's not about Bill O'Reilly. This is about you. You -- you're crazy. You're a conservative? Oh my -- they're watching you, aren't they? Is that that black helicopter there? I mean, they're just trying to make you feel like a crazy person. Why? To silence you." As Media Matters documented, during his June 12 radio program, Beck "demand[ed] a retraction" for Krugman's assertion in the column that Beck had "warned viewers that the Federal Emergency Management Agency might be building concentration camps as part of the Obama administration's 'totalitarian' agenda (although he eventually conceded that nothing of the kind was happening)." But Beck had previously said that he couldn't "debunk" the FEMA conspiracy theory.
From the June 12 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: In today's New York Times, that, yes, is still in business today, Paul Krugman took some nasty shots at me, Bill O'Reilly, and some other commentators saying, quote: "For the most part, the likes of Fox News and the RNC haven't directly incited violence." Uh, really? I mean, is that saying that in some small part, we have?
He also said, quote: "And at this point, whatever dividing line there was between mainstream conservatism and the black helicopter crowd seems to have been virtually erased." OK, OK. All right. So, he's linked conservatives now to conspiracy theorists. In other words, this isn't about me. It's not about Bill O'Reilly. This is about you. You -- you're crazy. You're a conservative? Oh my -- they're watching you, aren't they? Is that that black helicopter there?
I mean, they're just trying to make you feel like a crazy person. Why? To silence you. Tonight, here's "The One Thing." If offering opinions on the news can be linked to hate and extremism, then Paul Krugman should be in the cell right next to me, and on the other side will be Bill O'Reilly. Oh, and Paul? We can talk for years. Oh, yes, we can.
From the June 12 broadcast of Cox Radio Syndication's The Neal Boortz Show:
BOORTZ: Well, we -- maybe we believe some of the worst press about -- I mean, Paul Krugman has an article today. What is it, New York Times? He's talking about all of the right-wing -- the conservative opposition to the programs of Barack Obama. You know what he refers to it as?
CALLER: What?
BOORTZ: It's all hate. It's all hate.
CALLER: It's not hate. It is not hate.
BOORTZ: No, no. You and I both know that. We know that. But the liberals, they're very effective at indoctrination and brainwashing techniques.
I am beginning to wonder if future historians will refer to an American Cultural Revolution in which our core values were distorted and fundamentally damaged by the irrational and uninformed -- not to mention hateful -- Right.
Now if the so called "real" conservatives would grow a set, they might be able to get their party back. The Daddy party needs some real daddies (or better yet Mommies) to give them a kick in the collective butts and tell them to stop getting coerced by the dumb as dirt brigade on their teevees.
Aw darlin, don't get carried away...he's just another partisan columnist. Though he does occasionally hit the mark. Hey they all do. Occasionally.
The Daddy party needs some real daddies (or better yet Mommies) to give them a kick in the collective butts and tell them to stop getting coerced by the dumb as dirt brigade on their teevees
Now can I choose one of the Mommies for the Republican party? No not Sarah[yuck]...I want Mika!! ;-)
And I know you jest about having the vanilla bean, Mika, being able to kick the Repubs backside. A surefire Rosie the Riveter, that one...........NOT! I've seen more fight from a wet noodle. :-0)
I am not sure what is more offensive? Glenn Beck or the fact that the MSM think this guy is just AWESOME?
The basic premise of the new spectrum is that history proves that government is evil and dangerous and always diminishes freedom and facilitates tyranny. Therefore, the more government activism or intervention -- the less freedom exists in society.
Consequently, they propose acceptance of a new spectrum which places anarchy [no government] on the extreme right and totalitarian dictatorships [total government] on the extreme left.
Then----groups we currently consider extreme right (such as Birch Society) place themselves in the CENTER of the new spectrum because they claim to favor "limited government".
It is a rather transparent attempt to pretend that everything despicable, dishonorable, frightening and dangerous originates exclusively from the LEFT side of the spectrum whereas everything decent, honorable, moral, and desirable may be found exclusively in the center and center-right side of the spectrum.
Furthermore, the new "middle" or "center" (Birchers et al) propose that liberalism, socialism, communism, fascism, nazism are ALL forms of "collectivism" or "statism" (aka PRO-government activism) and, consequently, they inevitably produce tyranny -- therefore, not much point in making fastidious distinctions between or among them.
I recently completed a report which reveals the RIGHT-WING ideas, personalities, and organizations which impacted and motivated James W. Von Brunn.
My report is based, primarily, upon first-time-released FBI files and documents and may be seen here:
http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/vonbrunn
Look at the guest lists of some of these shows, and tell me that they're dealing with mainstream conservatives. They're not, unless of course, the fringe is becoming the norm, and I still think that it's not.
Why don't real conservatives step up, denounce this crap, and take back their party?
I hope you're right. I'm not so sure myself. I think a lot of people who normally would be considered conservatives have been driven out of the conservative establishments, handing control of the asylum to the lunatics. The divide appears to be the 26%-ers vs. everybody else. However, the 26%-ers are receiving far too much deference in the government and press.
I think that conservatives, both moderates, and regular old fashioned conservatives, are out there, and they are the majority, but the loudmouths are the ones who are being heard.
Due to the swell of media sources since the Clinton years (internet, blogs, 24/7 news getting bigger, and so on), the roar is louder. I don't remember any left wing pundits / columnists in the media who were so ANGRY about Bush as the right, in general, are about Obama. And we're only a couple of hundred days into his first term.
I think Beck should be arrested
for the above quote
There is absolutely no reason that I can consider as to why Fox-Noise, Rush, Savage, and other talking heads would even think that the report was about them...
Oh wait...
This is right-wing corporate owned media we are talking about here...
Never-mind!
As for Paul Krugman... I've used him as a source in two separate essays in school... I personally feel that no essay on the economy is complete without his name being somehow part of it.
Anyone who thinks the "liberal media" wouldn't be having a field day if leftwing terrorists had attacked twice in the past week the way rightwing conservative terrorists have attacked Americans twice in the last week is as delusional as the people who believe the national media is "liberal".
In a week where 2 conservative terrorist attacks on America have taken place, what is the top political story in the mainstream media? David Letterman making a joke about Sara Palin, a person who is a joke to all but the rightwing and their MSM.
Krugman is one of the few liberal columnists who tell it like it is without being afraid that the cons will dismiss him as the librulmedia. I'm glad he is where he is; if he were part of the Obama Administration, he wouldn't be so free to tell the truth.
These are not stupid people. They know that in their world there is no such thing as bad publicity. Limbaugh is exposed as a Vicodan addict and his viewership increases.
No different with Dave Letterman. Alex Rodriguez knocking up Bristol Palin? Cruel and unusual. Hilarious delivery. But mean. Right? Poor kid. Imagine what she goes through.
As to the question whether Von Brunn was incited by Glenn Beck, Von Brunn was insane. Timothy McVeigh was obviously insane. It seems unlikely that a rational provocation can be drawn.
tell that to the average New Yorker they might believe the NY Times
a city in which every other criminal carry's a gun yet the honest citizen has no 2nd amendment rights. yeah chuck shumer is your kind of guy..along with rangel and hillary...a real fine bunch!!
BECK: Paul, I feel like saying to you, PROVE you are not bogarting the cigarettes."
KRUGMAN: Those aren't cigarettes, Glenn. They're rat feces. I've been telling you that for a week. And stop that fake sobbing.
BECK: I'm sorry! I just love my self-inflicted dragon tattoo... and I fear for it!
KRUGMAN: Then maybe you shouldn't have used Bill's dinner knife for it.
O'REILLY: Hey, I need that back, I got a falafel care package. Oh, and Glenn, your wife sent you another water bottle of Grey Goose.
[Cut to end theme music]
THANK YOU.
njguy93@yahoo.com
Hey Solon, I tell ya what, you find out who the dozen [or more] leftwing moonbats are that give every Conservative a thumbs down no matter what they say, & since you're one of my Lib buds I'll investigate who is responsible on my side for this thumbing down crap ;-)
Seriously though, I think this thumb up & down stuff is foolish & it was bound to be misused.
We from Europe look at his and other positive outbreaks in the US with hope and optimism.
Keep it up, guys!
Bring all those black helicopters down!
They are disgrace for the whole civilised world!
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Comeon Neal, what do you think your job is? Pretty funny that the propagandists don't know they are propagandists.
The ones who are exploiting this are the frauds on conservative talk radio and television who say asinine things like Obama criticizing Israel contributed to the attack on the Holocaust Museum. Somehow, this idiocy found its way to the White House Briefing Room, via Ann Compton of ABC NEWS, who actually asked the utterly asinine and absurd question of whether or not Barack Obama visiting Buchenwald actually may have been responsible or may have contributed to what happened at the Holocaust Museum. The fact that the question somehow found its way to the White House Briefing Room is a disgrace and that was a sad day and a sad moment for America.
THANK YOU.
njguy93@yahoo.com
It seems to me there is a difference between the "liberal" shows such as Olbermann and the Hannity/O'Reilly/Limbaugh. Olbermann/Maddow tend to talk about specific people and incidents. Hannity/Limbaugh/O'Reilly making sweeping generalizations "them" (liberals, anyone not Republican/Conservative) against "us/you" (Conservatives) in apocalyptic terms.