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Conservative media ignore their own long history of invoking Nazis to smear progressives

August 13, 2009 7:50 pm ET — 13 Comments

Numerous media conservatives have misrepresented House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments that protesters are "carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care" to express outrage that she would call the protesters "Nazis" -- even though she didn't. However, their outrage rings hollow -- the conservative media frequently invoke Adolf Hitler and the Nazis to smear the Obama administration, Democratic officials, and progressive policies, and such rhetoric has escalated in the past few days, largely due to Rush Limbaugh.

Conservative media falsely claim Pelosi asserted or suggested that health care reform opponents are "Nazis"

Following Limbaugh's lead, numerous media figures have advanced this false claim. After host Rush Limbaugh said August 6 that Pelosi is "basically saying that we are Nazis. She is saying that the people who oppose this are Nazis, and I'm going to tell you what," MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Fox News' Gregg Jarrett, and The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan and James Taranto falsely claimed or suggested that Pelosi called health reform opponents "Nazis."

In fact, Pelosi said protesters were "carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care." Speaking to reporters, Pelosi was asked if she thought there was "legitimate grassroots opposition" at recent town hall events. She responded: "I think they're astroturf; you be the judge. They're carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on health care."

Some in the media also accused Pelosi of lying for saying protesters were "carrying swastikas" -- but they were. Numerous conservative outlets and figures, including The Washington Times, Andrew Breitbart, and The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore asserted or suggested that Pelosi was lying. But swastikas have appeared at town hall meetings. Indeed, as Media Matters for America senior fellow Eric Boehlert and Fox News contributor Alan Colmes have noted, multiple protesters at health care reform protests have held signs featuring swastikas.

Limbaugh has ratcheted up Nazi rhetoric to new levels in recent days

In the past week, Limbaugh has made comparisons of the Obama administration and Democrats to Hitler and the Nazis with alarming frequency. Conservative New York Times columnist David Brooks responded to one such comparison by stating: "What he's saying is insane."

Here are some recent examples of Limbaugh's obsession with Nazi comparisons:

Other conservatives have drawn comparisons between Obama administration, Democrats and Nazis

Conservatives have also used Nazi rhetoric to attack Obama administration policies and proposals, particularly health care reform

Conservatives have long used Nazi rhetoric to smear progressives

Al Gore

Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton

Current or former Democratic officials

George Soros

 "Left-wing media"

Media Matters for America

Other progressive organizations, including NCLR, SEIU, ACORN

Progressive movement, progressive individuals

— M.W.
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    • Author by oscar the grouch (August 13, 2009 8:29 pm ET)
      2 2
      Lush Rumball, among others, seems to be getting more desperate each day (at least according to posts here). Sometimes, I wish I had the time to listen to him and others at least for a day or two to see if MMFA's perception is correct.
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      • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (August 13, 2009 10:05 pm ET)
        6  
        Conservatives who live in glass houses should not be the first to throw stones.
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      • Author by donaldmaddog5642 (August 13, 2009 11:55 pm ET)
        4  
        Oscar, why would Ol' Rush-bo be desperate? He's GOT his! The clown makes 10 million a year! If I made that kind of dough, I wouldn't care what anybody thought of me, either. MMFA can't touch him.
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        • Author by pete592 (August 14, 2009 1:11 am ET)
          3  
          Not desperate for money, desperate for material.

          Rush wants desperately to break out the racial stereotypes and racist epithets because this black man in the Whitehouse needs to learn his place in what Rush and his followers believe is the natural order of things, but he knows he can't go there. So Rush has to quell this temptation by repeatedly substituting something that conjures even more fear and apprehension than an "uppity" black politician: Nazism.

          "If I made that kind of dough, I wouldn't care what anybody thought of me, either."

          Therefore, like Rush, you'd become a sociopath.
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        • Author by oscar the grouch (August 14, 2009 1:11 am ET)
          3  
          Just know about him what I read here. Maybe he is afraid that he will let something slip like Eddie Haskell Beck apparently did that will cause him to lose advertisers, or maybe he is starting to realize that there are some conservatives (including me) that do not fall for his brand of conservatism. There are some of us that are even more "compassionate conservatives" than gwb claimed to be. Maybe we are more pragmatic than idealistic and realize that although all things are not as we wish them, we need to be Americans first and idealiogs last. Lush,Shamity, Eddie,the Dolt, etal, do not speak for me, but at the same time I will express my opinion.
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          • Author by vhw28672478 (August 14, 2009 11:10 am ET)
            1  
            The media is major joke
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            • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (August 14, 2009 3:43 pm ET)
              1  
              FOX NEWS,EIB {exellence inbulls--t}network, and the rest of the CONSERVATIVE media is a joke and a tragedty for the people who believe it.
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    • Author by roninkannushi1711 (August 13, 2009 9:26 pm ET)
      1  
      Matterers,

      Someone said, "...the pot calling the kettle black." I do not know who, but have heard the saying. The conservative media is voicing violent ad hominem acts in the mirror. Like those that say, "a race war," is eminent, people who carry swastikas are the hateful fact, in our health care debate.

      My mind, had strained against fear, until reality summoned my conscious. Reason overcame confusion, and calm was restored. It is fear of losing control, that the wrong-talkers are attempting to avoid. They will strive to contain the masses, without accepting social growth.

      A sad day is being reduced to a dying ideology. We have voice, and will conquer with vote. The vote is mightiest amongst the pen, and sword.

      Best wishes,
      Ronin Kannushi.
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    • Author by pete592 (August 13, 2009 11:13 pm ET)
      4  
      Of course the right-wing professional liars ignore it. Ignorance is their business.
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    • Author by tman418 (August 14, 2009 12:38 am ET)
      5  
      Rick Santorum compared a Democratic filibuster to the Holocaust once.
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      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (August 14, 2009 2:43 pm ET)
        1  
        I'm sure Rush didn't think Santorum's remarks were beyond the pale.

        That was a long scroll getting past the links here. And all pretty mainstream right wing personalities. I'm sure some wingnut will counter with "Yeah, but T.H.E.Y. had signs with Bush as Hitler!!", "they" being a protestor at a demonstration five years ago.
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    • Author by katabear (August 14, 2009 9:18 am ET)
         
      Here is what is so weird about using the Nazi's or Hitler in the way that they do: When you think of who the very worst Left wing tyrant was in history, it was Stalin. When you think of who the very worst Right wing tyrant was in history, it was Hitler. And what do they have in common?, using deception and the military to kill millions of people. Hmm, so Hitler is really the Right wing posterboy but they use their own icon against those they consider to be their opposition? And in doing so, they apply those same deceptive tactics and and unprincipled blue-print behaviors in trying to achieve their toxic ends. Wow, the conservative, right-wingers aren't smart enough to even be aware of their own campmates. What fools. But, we always knew that didn't we?
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    • Author by bastonal (August 14, 2009 2:32 pm ET)
         
      Limbaugh is a fascist-Repugs are always trying to steer that away from themselves by accusing others of what they are.

      Oldest trick in the book...accuse your hated opponent of exactly what you are propagate, believe in, ideology, philosophy, agenda, etc...

      And Limbaugh & the republicans are corporate fascist, now using their brown shirts and storm troopers tactics....So Limbaugh points the finger away from himself & the republicans by accusing Obama & the Dems of being exactly what he & the republican are, and what exactly what the republicans are doing.

      Because it's so clear republicans do not want to be labeled what they are...Which is exactly what they are - corporate Nazis fascist - So accuse Obama & the democrats of being what the republicans are to take the focus of fascism away from the republicans.

      Republican ideology and fascism are both the right of the political spectrum...their ideologies and agenda are nearly identical.

      So it's very easy to see what Limbaugh is doing....he wants the fascist Nazi republicans disassociated from Nazism so he accuses his enemies (Obama & the Democrats) of being what most people hate....Fascist & Nazis!

      But we ALL know what the lying filthy pigman Limbaugh is trying to do!
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