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"Summer of rage": Obama Derangement Syndrome grips conservative media once again

July 01, 2010 7:32 pm ET — 18 Comments

In recent weeks, conservative media have been consumed by "Obama Derangement Syndrome," accusing President Obama of being insane, of colluding with Russian spies, of trying to create a civil war and implement one world government, among other things, while also claiming that his administration is trying to control everything under the sun, including the Internet and, inexplicably, your toilet.

Conservative media ratchet up anti-government speech

On the June 10 edition of his Fox News show, Glenn Beck turned to his blackboard, on which he had outlined his theory that "the politicians [had] joined with the revolutionaries so they could gain power," and said that now is the "time to break apart" that conspiracy. He then warned his viewers that the "summer of rage is about to begin." Other conservative media figures, including Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Jay Severin, and Pam Geller, have similarly elevated their anti-government rhetoric to new heights, not only spewing baseless facts and utter falsehoods, but alluding to violent revolution and civil war, all to attack and undermine the Obama administration and progressives.

Media Matters previously documented the violent, doomsday, and anti-intellectual rhetoric that had arisen in the conservative media just a few months after Obama was sworn in as president, in which conservative media figures appealed overtly, just as today, to feelings of anger and paranoia in their audience. At the time, David Horowitz dubbed this particular "hysteria" the "Obama Derangement Syndrome."

Conservative media: Obama is "trying to create a civil war"

Conservative media figures have been warning of the coming "rivers of blood" and that Obama is pushing America toward civil war.

Geller: Obama "is itching for a civil war. And at the rate he is going, he is going to get one"

Beck still beating war drums: "I think we're headed for a civil war"

Beck suggests Obama is "trying to destroy the country" and is pushing America toward civil war

Limbaugh on LA's Arizona boycott: "This is the kind of stuff that starts civil wars folks; this is not coincidental"

Savage: "I almost feel as though Obama's trying to create a civil war in America for his own reasons"

"You need to riot": Right-wing uses violent rhetoric

Conservative media: Obama is undermining U.S., wants to cut it "down to size" and destroy it

Conservative media figures have accused Obama of trying to destabilize and destroy the United States, as well as its economy and social systems.

Limbaugh distorts Obama's remarks to accuse him of wanting to cut U.S. "down to size"

Limbaugh: Obama "thinks the problem with this country has been too much liberty"

Pushing falsehoods about oil spill, Quinn declares: "Barack Obama was sent here to destroy America"

Quinn: "Yes," Obama is "trying to destroy the country"

Limbaugh: Freedom evaporating "right in front of our eyes," Obama "loves punishing this country"

Savage sub Kuhner: Obama "is a dictator," wants to "destroy corporate America and create a green socialist utopia"

Conservative media discuss Obama's mental state

Much like conservative media figures did months ago when they discussed Obama's mental state, alleging that "something is not right" and that Obama has "deep psychological problems" and "deep-seated inferiority feelings," they have once again turned to psychoanalyzing Obama.

War Room fill-in Glen Meakem cites Krauthammer to say Obama is "a clinically diagnosable narcissist"

Savage compares Obama to allegedly insane King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Conservative media: Obama may be a Russian spy, in collusion with Russians

Since the FBI arrested 11 people it suspects of being Russian undercover spies, conservative media have speculated that Obama is "one of them" and have asked why the Russians "have to spy on us" considering "Obama will tell them anything they want to know." Limbaugh has also said Obama "wants to expand" the rights of Russian spies.

Severin: "If it comes out that Barack Obama is" a Russian spy, "I will have been right"

Limbaugh: "Why do they [Russians] have to spy on us? Obama will tell them anything they want to know"

Limbaugh: Obama "wants to create an illegal alien bill of rights," "always wants to expand" rights of terrorists, spies

Conservative media: Obama wants the disaster in the Gulf to push through agenda

Conservative media figures have pushed falsehoods and wild allegations in claiming that Obama is intentionally prolonging the crisis in the Gulf, in order to, among other things, push his cap and trade agenda and "shut down" offshore drilling.

Savage on his "wild allegations": "Haven't you watched enough movies to understand how this works?"

Levin repeats Jones Act & foreign aid myths, says Obama would better respond to disaster in blue states

Beck conspiracy theory: Obama waited 71 days to accept intl. help with oil spill in order to pass cap and trade

Beck: "It's almost like we're intentionally making things much, much worse" in the Gulf of Mexico

Savage's "logical" analysis calls for investigating Obama to determine whether he "purposely did not help Louisiana"

Bolling wonders if Obama "let" oil rig leak so he "could renege on his promise" to "allow some offshore drilling"

Michael Brown on Fox News: Obama wanted oil spill so he could "shut down" offshore drilling

"Sabotage!" Right-wing media respond to oil spill by dreaming up conspiracy theories

Conservative media: Obama administration vying to control everything, including Internet, "your toilet"

Conservative media have been saying that the federal government is in the process of taking over everything -- from companies, to the Internet, to "your toilet," and that it is trying to control not only the people but the information in an endless "power grab."

Levin's bizzare rant: The "iron fist" of government "is in your toilet, it's in your light socket"

Beck suggests "internet kill switch" is communist because Chinese government has similar authority

Levin says government "would take us off the air in a second" -- "They're picking us off one industry at a time"

Beck falsely claims financial reform bill would let government shut down Fox News

Fox's Payne calls financial reform bill a "giant power grab"

Severin repeats falsehood that financial reform bill lets government "take over any business" that might hurt economy

Fox's Napolitano on conspiracy show: Government wants the same "power over the internet that the Chinese" have

Beck fears gov't "will need to control the people" because they'll be "hungry," "frightened, and there will be civil unrest"

Beck falsely claims government will take control of Internet, tells listeners to "buy a short-wave radio"

Limbaugh claims Obama, Kagan, and Sunstein want "forced neutrality" to make sure you're reading their "garbage"

Sunstein Internet control falsehood migrates to Fox

Beck: "Stuff is being scrubbed" from the Internet "overnight"

Beck says the FCC is "marching forward" with net neutrality plans, suggests it's putting a "boot on your throat"

Beck on net neutrality: "This will control every aspect of the Internet ... We are losing our country"

Beck scares about net neutrality, says "please share that with your friends" "while you have access to the Internet"

Beck renews witch hunt: Sunstein has "more power than the Fed," "will control your every move"

Conservative media: Obama is working toward one world government

Conservative media figures have been fomenting fear that Obama is pushing the United States toward a "new world order" and trying to institute a "global government" and a "single [world] currency."

Limbaugh: Obama is "all for a single [world] currency"

Drudge links Greek debt story with "New World Order"

Without offering any evidence, Beck claims Clinton Global Initiative is about "global government"

Encouraging viewers to use their "imagination," Beck links health care, "overspending," and "global government"

Beck: "A new world order" and "global government" is "being cobbled together today"

Black helicopter alert! Conservative media suggest Obama supporting one-world government

Conservative media: Obama is a thug running a "thugocracy"

Conservative media figures have falsely claimed Obama's proposal for a BP escrow account amounts to "seizing private assets" and letting the administration "run the money" and have accused Obama of being a "thug" running a "thugocracy."

Conservative media defend BP against "shakedowns," "show trials," and environmentalists at least 62 times

Limbaugh: The way Obama is dealing with BP is "far more than thugocracy," it's "straight out of Communist Manifesto"

Stossel Repeats 'Shakedown' Claim Against Obama, Calls Him 'Thuggish'

Limbaugh: Hugo Chavez "is a thug, but unlike Mr. Obama, he's a patriotic thug"

Savage: If the country survives Obama, historians will say his was "the most terroristic regime in the history" of the U.S.

Fox lobs falsehoods to attack BP escrow account as "Chavez-like"

Limbaugh: Obama administration is "going after Toyota" through "thug politics"

Stossel says escrow fund is a "thuggish Chicago shakedown," refers to "Vladimir Obama"

Limbaugh: "If I didn't know better, I would say that Hugo Chavez is actually running this country"

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by einreb (July 01, 2010 7:50 pm ET)
      15  
      What's to add? Rush Limbaugh seems to be an angry, paranoid, unhappy, newly married rich person who makes sweeping generalizations without citing references, who doesn't much care for the current President, Barack Obama characterized as a Marxist, a Socialist, or a Fascist, a Chicago Thug and sometimes as a weird combination of the four.

      Whereas, Glenn Beck seems to be an angry, paranoid, rich person who makes sweeping . . .
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mary59 (July 01, 2010 10:50 pm ET)
        7 2
        I think I discovered where Limbaugh, Glen Beck, et al get some of their sweeping theories...they google "Rube Goldberg" and have at it.
        [http://moviegoings.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/rube-goldberg.jpg]

        Of course, the paranoia and faux anger must be added...perhaps pumped up by non-prescription meds.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Big Dan (July 03, 2010 7:24 am ET)
        2  
        The "Summer of Rage 2010" tour. How can people even listen to rightwing talk radio? Don't they have anything better to do than listen to rich white guys whining and yelling? Seriously!!! Get a life, if you listen to these guys. Do you have several hours a day to set aside and listen to these whiners and complainers?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by terrapin53 (July 01, 2010 8:33 pm ET)
      8  
      Dayum!!!!!!!! I go on vacation and these guys have been busy.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by voltaire (July 01, 2010 9:15 pm ET)
      15  
      It's so nice to hear this rational discourse from the same people who claimed as anti-American anybody who dared criticize Bush (now ranked in the bottom five of presidents)! The wingnuts are clearly ratcheting up their insane hatred of Obama, and they are willing to take down the economy to score points. Why do they hate this country so much.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Koyaanisqatsi (July 02, 2010 8:46 am ET)
        9  
        I was listening to portions of Beck's radio program last night. I am more convinced than ever that this person has delusions of grandeur. I think he beleives that he has the power to change the course of history. He believes he can do this by goading one of his minions into taking a shot at the POTUS.
        That is his objective. Others that are openly campaigning for an asassination attempt are: Cheney and Cheney, Bachmann, Quitter, and Lymphbaugh
        Report Abuse
        • Author by usp (July 02, 2010 1:26 pm ET)
          4  
          they don't hate the country. they just you.

          and me...and the rest of us.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Willa (July 01, 2010 10:27 pm ET)
      9 1
      Now, let's just think about things. A few years ago, this nice Canadian couple wanted to come to the US. They were educated, she was a pretty blond . . . good upstanding folk who were welcomed because they were the kind of people we want emigrating to our country - not those poor desperate folk from Mexico who are willing to come in and work at jobs that we really have no interest in doing ourselves.

      But, OH MY, this nice Canadian couple also happens to be illegal aliens! Not only did they lie about who they are, but they happen to be Russian SPIES! Maybe we need to give a bit more thought as to whom we want to invite into our country.

      Yes, there are some certified nut cases and bonafied instigators and thugs out there. However, none of them reside in the White House. Can't same the same though for FOX news.




      Report Abuse
    • Author by Rodrian Roadeye (July 02, 2010 8:52 am ET)
      3  
      I have an uncle retired from the military who claims that to pass one of his tests he had to take an engine apart then put it back together blindfolded. A so called family whizbanger who hangs on every word of Faux News as gospel. As Mark Twain said... "Common sense is not so common". Especially in geniuses!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ny2nc (July 02, 2010 9:36 am ET)
      6  
      What? Did someone expect these people to take the Summer off?

      The ECHO CHAMBER is a 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-years operation!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by little poncho (July 02, 2010 9:55 am ET)
      5  
      I don't believe limpballs, hand-daddy & ms. glenda don't change their pampers, as often as required. Thats what gives them a shi**y attitude, DAY IN & DAY OUT.......
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Timmee (July 02, 2010 12:37 pm ET)
      6  
      So in talking about civil war and revolution...where's the line they cross into being traitors exactly?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by CoolSlaw (July 02, 2010 2:54 pm ET)
        7  
        It's classic projection, and the right wing media do it often.

        These folks keep talking about "taking the county back"...many major right wing media personalities have called openly for revolutions and resistance, while at the same time accusing the Obama administration of outlandish conspiracies, new world order tyranny, and villainous doomsday plots.

        The tactic of projection works on this principle: "If I make a big deal out of accusing my opposition of the activity I'm engaged in, it becomes more difficult for them to expose me for actually doing it."

        Children often do this to siblings or classmates to try and blame them for their own poor behavior to escape chastisement.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by lynneg (July 02, 2010 1:15 pm ET)
      4  
      They are just greedy corporate whores. For the big Corps to keep the status quo they need the GOP to be in power. They secured ober 90 percent of talk radio and found talented propagandists that would sell their souls for money and power
      The real traitors to this country are Beck, Rush, Savage, Hannity etc. Their loyalty is to the big industries they protect
      Big oil/coal
      Wall St
      War profiteers (not to be confused with our soldiers)
      Health insurance co
      now the telecoms that want to make more money from the internet and charge for speed and access. (that's why these whores are against net neutrality) On EVERY issue one of these industries is protected and the fools that believe these guys are like a bunch of turkeys happily voting for Thanksgiving.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by tinka (July 02, 2010 1:40 pm ET)
      3  
      War Room fill-in Glen Meakem cites Krauthammer to say Obama is "a clinically diagnosable narcissist"

      Glen Meakem & Krathammer...you need to look in the mirror!

      Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.


      Sounds like Glenn Beck, Rush Limp(dick)buagh, Bret Baier and Savage to name just a few.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by n'est-ce pas (July 02, 2010 5:15 pm ET)
      1  
      Nothing new here. See:The Paranoid Style in American Politics
      Report Abuse
      • Author by rsinebada7366 (July 02, 2010 7:00 pm ET)
        1  
        When you watch the RW on TV, look for the tell tale signs of the 6 year old child lying to his Mom and Dad. Slack lower jaw, wide innocent eyes,
        sad, somewhat furrowed upper brow. It is hilarious. Before they get two sentences into their commentary, I start laughing. "Really, Sweetie?
        And how did that happen? The broken vase?"
        Report Abuse
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