I'm a little down lately - some work things, some family things, and some politics. Mostly, I just feel like the messages that get out in the media from the left are so filtered, and watered-down, while the right-wing messages build up like snowballs running down a hill. The Smear Vets vs. National Guard is the prime example, where a right-wing driven story mushrooms despite being completely debunked, while a left-wing driven story disappears (questions about documents don't help either, I grant you). I know that they have been
laying the groundwork for decades, but the change has been very apparent the last dozen years or so, and lately it is discouraging, if not stifling. BTW I'm a big fan of
TomTech's
This Week in Fascism Series. He has really opened my eyes to how dangerous the dysfunctional media truly is. Anyway, below I'll discuss how bad I feel it's gotten, then plead with this community to cheer me up by (please) pointing out ways in which it's not too late to counter the RWCM.
I know I'm not the first to say this, but let me start by thanking all you here at dKos for what you do. Those that get out there and work for the Democratic Party, thank you. Those that do online research and organization, thank you. Those that provide humor and empathy, thank you. And even those that use dKos as a place to vent frustrations from time to time, thank you (this group is particularly potty-mouthed, though).
Anyway, what's got me so depressed about the media:
1. Any prominent Democrat is too easily labeled and vilified. Reid is the perfect example. Most Americans couldn't name him if asked who the Senate Minority Leader is, yet I bet those same Americans would agree with the statement "Harry Reid, the Senate Minority Leader, is an obstructionist" or "Harry Reid ... is slowing down vital legislation" or somesuch nonsense. Now you and I can appreciate that he is taking a bold stand against these labels, but the reason he is already being effectively labeled is clear. Hannity and his ilk go on the air and use epithets -- not racial slurs but a label used to characterize someone every time they are mentioned. These epithets, including "Tom Daschle Reid," "obstructionist Reid," and, for some reason, "dingy Harry" are absorbed by the right-wing goners, but the real problem is there is no counterpoint. Left-wingers do not use epithets in that insidious, repetitive way. Now I am no fan of name-calling and I do not think Democrats should resort to it, but when an average person hears the noise machine never mention Reid without the "obstructionist" epithet, saying it over and over and over, and no constant counterpoint (maybe one sound bite on one day of Reid's response, no constant presence of another view), it's going to stick in the back of their mind. Insidious and it depresses me, because they do it to every single Democrat.
2. The clamor for "balance" has led to marginal viewpoints being given equal credence as more generally supported views. Thus, we hear all about the theories of those who deny global warming, but not that this represents 0.01% of climate change scientists (a very well-paid subset, no doubt). Or we hear after the debates about Kerry choosing to use one set of numbers for his employment outlook, and this is equated to Bush flat-out lying to the American people.
3. Payola payola payola Do I need any other reason to be depressed? The Williams flap has led to no universal indignation. Just politics as usual for most people (sigh well what can ya do, that's politics). I can't believe that there are those who can hear "what he did was probably unethical, but probably not criminal, and besides he has apologized, the President said it won't happen again, so what's the big deal?" and just nod their heads.
4. The ditto phenomenon. Not Rush per se, but the disturbing ability for right-wingers in power to get their followers to first and foremost agree with everything they say, then only after that think about what it is they are agreeing with. Thus, instead of repeating the argument (lest they actually think about it), they "ditto" it.
5. The sole-sourcing of news and opinion. It is truly scary that right-wing "goners" indeed live in their own universe, surrounded by only one world view. Stop me if I'm wrong, but I believe Fox News is the only news organization that states it is the only place for real journalism and the only place for fair and balanced opinion. The radio airbags do this too. The labeling of all media except right-wing media as liberal, or in the palm of some cadre of Hollywood elite, or compromised in some other way, is a convenient excuse to get viewers/listeners to tune in constantly (good business, for sure). But it also provides a built-in, and often unmentioned defense against those who correctly point out the lies and distortions of the right wing: my detractors are biased. I have posted on this before, with a useful parable that gets to why any rational person would reject this. But the sole-sourcing just gains more traction each month.
6. The unexplosiveness of right-wing scandals. Boy, I was so excited when I thought it was becoming unavoidable, even for the RWCM, not to discuss the obvious corruption within the right wing power structure. But the sizzle is gone from scandal, because of the ditto phenomenon, because of sole-sourcing. I honestly believe if Delay was indicted tomorrow that would not slow down the right-wing legislative agenda one iota, not in Congress and not in public opinion. After all, Gingrich was taken down by scandal, that slowed them down a little but not much. If that happened again today, not even a speedbump. Evidence is that Gingrich (and Ollie North, this is truly frightening) is now a well-respected right-wing pundit that is often featured several times a week on Fox and MSNBC.
7. The mainstreaming of hate and fear. This is exemplified by the likes of Ann Coulter and others who just appeal to the lowest in each of us. They make outrageous statements, provide no facts or rational analysis, and hide behind the veil of punditry.
8. The apolitical non-stories. I'm sorry, am I the only one who doesn't care one iota about Scott Petersen? That Greta van Susteren, though, she must have cared an awful lot. Throughout bloody days in Iraq, throughout the presidential election, Fox News' token liberal focused on non-stories night after night. Hannity and others have held her up to show Fox is "fair and balanced," but how fair and balanced is it to have apolitical non-stories night after night? These stories also fill air time on all news networks and thus we all lose context and counterpoint.
9. The political non-stories. Ah, but Petersen was a political non-story. The death of the unborn and all. But Kerry and Cheez Whiz? Gore and Love Story? I mean give me a break. But of course this is what they focus on, not just Fox News, all of them air these "issues" then scratch their heads when a majority of Americans believe Kerry has no plan for health care when in fact it's been available online for months.
10. The invented enemies. This goes along with the next point, since the invented enemies are (surprise!) all liberals. The whole "defending Christmas" nonsense, which most people surely dismissed but many got stuck in the backs of their minds, since, hey, it does seem like there are fewer Nativities up this year. Sure, people have always demonized the opposition, but this goes further. The Cupertino thing is a perfect example. I don't care that well-read people know the guy was proselytizing in class, the sole-sourcers only heard that this teacher was singled out for censorship because he was Christian and that he wasn't allowed to pass out the Declaration of Independence. And, the right-wing goners heard how the principal had banned our founding document from the school altogether. This is a problem because, just like with the epithets, people hear a lot of buzz from one side and a cool and ready dismissal from the other, and they get the buzz stuck in their heads.
11. The terrifying hate speech aimed against liberals. This is a recent and truly terrifying phenomenon, and the trend that has me depressed the most. While I am still too comfortable (complacent? naïve?) with the good ol' USA to think that Bushism will lead to something akin to Nazism, Tomtech's response to an articulate but misguided critic, as well as his thoughtful analysis, lead me to greatly fear this new trend. There is a genuine anti-intellectual, anti-liberal movement in America, one which is fueled by unadulterated hatred. It is scary that 1/3 of high schoolers essentially endorse government censorship, that pundits can talk about hitting liberals with a baseball bat and laugh, that Savage still has a radio program at all, that liberals can be grouped with terrorists (over and over and over again) as grave threats to our national security. Oh, I forgot, worse than terrorists. Liberals are traitors, too. This is half the country we're talking about here! And thus anyone on the fence moves to the right just out of fear of being branded a traitor. This is the one thing that truly has me chilled to the bone right now. The prospect that someone, somewhere will spit on me because I support a higher minimum wage. Or, Gd forbid, harm my children because they assert that life evolved and was not designed.
Anyway, that's it (that's long, I know). But I really do want to hear better news. Is it too late to combat this combination of willful disinformation and hate-sowing rhetoric?