I am not surprised when FOX lumps anyone with whom they disagree into the dubious category, far left. We know they are simply a right-wing bull horn. However I a more surprised when the NYT tosses labels around without any connection to reality. While I do not think that the NYT is perfect by any means, I assume they will at least do their research. A mistaken assumption perhaps?
Today the NYT ran a story entitled Obama Supporters on the Far Left Cry Foul. It discusses recent frustration with Obama's move toward the so-called center, and suggests that this disillusion is occuring over on the far left. The article resorts to typical straw men and reductive categories rather than discussing the complex and nuanced positions of the American Voter.
Its claims that only the far left opposes the Iraq war, and only the far left opposes telecom immunity, and that only the far left supports gun control the are dubious at best, and at worst are outright contradicted by polls in the reality-based community.
More on the flipside.
The article discusses frustration with Obama as occurring in his far left supporters and uses straw men such as 'Green Party' voters and 'liberal bloggers'. See below....
Now, however, after critics have accused Mr. Obama of shifting positions on issues like the war in Iraq, the Bush administration’s program of wiretapping without warrants, gun control and the death penalty — all in what some view as a shameless play to a general election audience — Ms. Shade said she planned to switch back to the Green Party.
"I’m disgusted with him," said Ms. Shade, an artist. "I can’t even listen to him anymore. He had such an opportunity, but all this ‘audacity of hope’ stuff, it’s blah, blah, blah. For all the independents he’s going to gain, he’s going to lose a lot of progressives."
(snip)
Joe McCraw, 27, a video engineer from San Carlos, Calif., who writes three liberal blogs, said Mr. Obama’s shift on the domestic spying measure was a watershed moment.
"This is the first time I’ve ever seen him lie to us, and it makes me feel disappointed," Mr. McCraw said. "I thought he was going to stand up there, stand by his campaign promises like he said he would, and it turns out he’s another politician."
Now in the reality-based community we all know that the people who hold these views are about as varied as America itself.
Gun control is not a far left only issue.
"What do you think is more important -- to protect the right of Americans to own guns, or to control gun ownership?"
.
Right To Own Guns/Control Ownership/Unsure
% % %
4/23-27/08
37 58 5
11/07
42 55 3
4/18-22/07
32 60 8
Opposition to the Iraq War is not just a far leftissue only:
CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 26-29, 2008. N=1,026 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3
"Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?"
Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %
6/26-29/08
30 68 2
6/4-5/08
30 68 1
4/28-30/08
30 68 3
3/14-16/08
32 66 2
And Opposition to Telecom Immunity is not just a far left issue.
By way of EFF....
The Melman Group, a national polling organization commissioned by the ACLU, recently published a poll finding that 57 percent of likely voters opposed immunity for the telecommunications carriers who participated in the government's warrantless surveillance program, while only a third supported letting the telecoms off the hook. The poll had a margin of error of +/-3.1%. As shown by the poll:
Opposition to immunity is widespread, cutting across ideology and geography. Majorities of liberals, moderates, and conservatives agree that courts should decide the outcomes of these legal actions (liberals: 64% let courts decide, 26% give immunity; moderates: 58% let courts decide, 34% give immunity; conservatives: 50% let courts decide, 38% give immunity).
Sounds like the New York Times and article author William Yardley need a reality check. Their sensationalism and haphazard labeling are costing them credibility.
Send them a reality check.