I was listening to Bill O’Reilly spin about the uproar that followed his tasteless remarks about Helen Thomas. His presentation of the "facts" struck me as a perfect template of how to combine insult and propaganda. To prove there is no substance but just abuse in his rhetoric, I took out the keywords and made a kind of mad-libs game with it. I have supplied some suggestions for each category, but feel free to substitute your own mad-as-hell-libs to get a real feel for how simple and powerful the O’Reilly tool really is.
I was listening to Bill O’Reilly spin about the uproar that followed his tasteless remarks about Helen Thomas. His presentation of the "facts" struck me as a perfect template of how to combine insult and propaganda. To prove there is no substance but just abuse in his rhetoric, I took out the keywords and made a kind of mad-libs game with it. I have supplied some suggestions for each category, but feel free to substitute your own mad-as-hell-libs to get a real feel for how simple and powerful the O’Reilly tool really is.
Here’s the original item, transcribed from his broadcast, with a few ellipses to make it manageable. You can go to the Women's Media Center website to watch the clip and follow along if you like here:
"Political correctness gone mad: that is the subject of this evenings talking points memo. Let me introduce you to the players. First we have the far-left Media Matters website which routinely assassinates the characters of conservatives and Republicans. These guttersnipes distort the public record hoping to harm people with whom they disagree. They never scrutinize liberals. Then we have a group called the WMC which was started by Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinham among others. ...
"Last week I was a racist for supporting responsible immigration reform. This week I’m a sexist ageist for poking fun at Helen Thomas. ...And please remember this. Saturday Night Live can mock Sarah Palin all day long but I can’t mock Helen Thomas. The New York Times can brand people any vile name they want but I can’t make fun of an absurd question at a Presidential press conference? That’s some system isn’t it."
Now you try it.
(_1-Hated ideology_) gone mad: that is the subject of this evenings talking points memo. Let me introduce you to the players. First we have the (2-extreme political position) (_3-Hated Organization_) website which routinely assassinates the characters of (_4-people we like_) and (_4-more people we like_). These (_5-denigrating name_) distort the public record hoping to harm people with whom they disagree. They NEVER scrutinize (_6-people we like_). Then we have a group called (_7-another Hated Org_)which (show connection to) (_8-despised opposition leader_) among others.
Last week I was a (_9-insulting label_) for supporting responsible (_10-hot-button issue_). This week I’m a (_11-insulting label_) for poking fun at (_12-opposition leader_). And please remember this. (_13-Hated organization_) can mock (_14-despised opponent_) all day long but I can’t mock (_15-respected person_). (_13-Loudmouth opposition tool_) can brand people any vile name they want but I can’t make fun of (_12-opposition leader_)? That’s some system isn’t it.
Here are some suggested mad-as-hell-libs to get you started. Feel free to improvise and insert your own. Paste them in comments if you make a good one.
- Hated ideology
Conservatism
Cronyism
Creationism
Partisanship
Protectionism
Trickle-down
Right to life activism
Banana-republicanism
- Extreme political position
Far right
Ultra-conservative
Right-wing
Fundamentalist
- Hated group
Fox news (Rupert Murdoch)
Wall Street Journal (Rupert Murdoch)
Washington Times (Rev. Sun Myung Moon)
National Review (William F. Buckley)
Focus on the Family (James Dobson)
Heritage Foundation (Patron - Maggie Thatcher)
American Liberty League (Oops - out of date. This was the Fox News of FDR’s day)
- People we like
Liberals
Progressives
Moderates
Intellectuals
Humanists
Pluralists
Pacifists
Independents
Open-minded citizens
- Insulting noun
hypocrites
toadies
criminals
dung beetles
panderers
charlatans
popinjays
swimming-pool-pissers
- People we hate
conservatives
neocon hawks
Republicans
evangelicals
oligarchs
partisan hacks
- Another hated group
(see #3)
- Despised opposition leader
(see individuals listed at #3) Or go the website and pull out the most offensive name or two. Or you can leave it out.
- Disparaging label (connect each to the related terms below)
elitist (a)
terrorist (b)
Tax-and-spend liberal (c)
soft on crime (d)
girlie-man (e)
supporter of voter fraud (f)
friend to rapists and murderers (g)
Hollywood liberal (h)
- Why the label is silly
a - levels of experience in political appointees
b - balance of national security and personal freedom
c - plan for children’s health care
d - treatments for non-violent drug offenders
e - transgender operation guidelines
f - voter identification standards
g - DNA evidence appeals
h - it’s only a movie
- Another label
(see #8)
- Someone who is fair game
a - Sarah Palin
b - Alberto Gonzales
c - William Buckley
d - Charleton Heston
e - Arnold Schwarzenegger
f - Norm Coleman
g - the guillotine
h - the Church Lady
- Loudmouth right-wing tool
Ann Coulter
Rush Limbaugh
Bill O’Reilly
Sean Hannnity
Laura Ingraham
Michael Savage
- Liberals often attacked
President Obama
Jimmy Carter
Bill Ayers
Keith Olbermann
Harry Reid
Nancy Pelosi
ACLU
MoveOn.org
- Ridiculous Republicans
Joe the Plumber
Norm Coleman
Larry Craig
George Bush
Dick Cheney
John McCain
Sarah Palin