We've all read
Frank Rich's latest op-ed in the Times, and it's a great piece. His best analysis is on Fox, a network that is allowed for some reason to play both sides of the fence. FOX's news is conservative, all RED, but FOX's entertainment programming is not RED, it's much more permissive, sophomoric, lewd, suggestive, etc.
As Rich points out, some of it is even indecent.
Why do the Heartland Reds let this stand? Why do they allow such immoral content on THEIR station? Oh, we could speculate that they, more than anyone are watching this crap. That underneath the facade of moral certitude are fetishes for all sorts of sexual-perversions, but that is neither here nor there.
The point is the REDS should be opposed to much of FOX's programming, they just aren't complaining.
Well, I say WE help the REDS keep FOX in check.
HOW?
Details after the fold >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The point today is that FOX should not be allowed to play both sides of the fence. They should be held accountable for their entertainment programming. They should have to fill their entertainment slots with shows like 7th Heaven, the Walton's, etc., and they should never have porn or even pop-music stars on their news shows. If they despise popular American culture so much, they should not take part.
Of course, filling your entertainment programming solely with shows like 7th Heaven is not a way to generate television revenues. FOX needs stuff like WIFE SWAP, the OC, etc. to make money. And the HEARTLAND REDS let them get with clearly immoral programming.
But why do the REDS allow this? Perhaps the REDS just need help communicating their views. Perhaps they just haven't gotten around to letting FOX how they feel about some of their immoral programming choices. We all know how busy the REDS are in the life or death fight against gay marriage; they probably just haven't gotten to FOX yet.
Well, I say that we, the helpful grassroots, progressive Democratic Party, should help our friends in the RED. Let's get the REDS message to FOX for them.
HERE'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING. Every time we see a FOX program or FOX NEWS guest that we think is probably offensive to our more sensitive American friends on the right, each of us should send an e-mail to FOX, representing ourselves as upstanding, Christian FOX viewers, and urge them to remove such programming. Tell them we love their news, but that we just can't stand for such sin. And every time we e-mail FOX news, we e-mail FOCUS ON THE FAMILY also, and urge them to get in on this battle with us.
This means every time WIFE SWAP runs, every time pre-marital sex occurs on the OC, every time a porn star is talking about her new book on FOX NEWS, every time the boss is mean and lies on MY BIG FAT OBNOXIOUS BOSS, we inundate both organizations with e-mail.
Let's play the RED machinery against itself. For so long we have lamented how the Republican system uses the poor to accomplish the goals of the rich, uses the Christians to accomplish those with clearly no interest in anything but power and money--well enough.
It seems like our criticism of the hypocrisy of the Right has no traction in the public sphere, well fine, let our criticism emanate from within the Right. This is the type of shit Republicans have been doing for years--successfully, while we sit back and just shake our heads. Enough. I mean, what better way to spend at least the next year--sowing the seeds of division in the Republican Party.