When the 'progressive' media promotes right wing policy agenda as acceptable under a democratic politician....our media icons become a zombie version of FOX news.
Below is an open letter to 'left' media icon Rachel Maddow. She is certainly not alone in choosing to promote the political interests of a politician over the principle of policy. What is ironic is that she became famous for challenging other media establishments for doing the exact same thing.....
Sent to Rachel on Nov 28, 2011. No reply.
I realize that it is incredibly naive to believe that a letter from a viewer and Massachusetts neighbor (waving hi from the Berkshires) could make much of a difference in the path you choose to take.... But hey, you never know right?
Rachel, I used to listen to you on Air America. Back then, you didn't speak out against a political party or politician. You made your arguments based on principle and honesty. It was the foundation of your success. With your ability to analyze and communicate the underlying causation of political problems in a clear, ironic, and often humorous manner; it was a joy to listen.
Not anymore. You still maintain your razor sharp ability to strike at the heart of an issue, yet it is now selectively applied to promote one side of the corporately bankrolled and controlled two party system over the other. On your program last night, I couldn't believe my ears listening to you champion Obama as he worked to extend the payroll tax holiday. You know full well that extending the payroll tax holiday is a tactic to dismantle and defund Social Security. Bernie Sanders articulated this point clearly in his filibuster speech last year (the one you gushed over, remember)?
Here's a link to a video clip from the speech to refresh your memory. http://www.youtube.com/...
Last night you reduced yourself to portraying the extension of the payroll tax holiday as a bipartisan no brainer. "The President is for it....and the Koch Brothers are for it....and then you went on to make the entire issue about how the Republican Presidential nominees are against it. And you said this in your cutawy segment to speak on the issue with Ezra Klein: 'Putting your money where your mouth is means coming up with now, economic policy that really DO help the 99%, that don't just empathize, but really do help'.
This policy does not HELP the 99% but insteads imperils the future of Social Security. And, you already know that it this is a Republican political strategy and idea (hence, why the Koch Brothers are for it) and the reason both John McCain and Orrin Hatch have championed this idea. Yet, instead of presenting one of your brilliant analysis and rebuttals of rejecting a policy idea that imperils the very economic survival of a huge portion of our seniors and disabled, you worked to advance support for the policy and make it a political point for the Obama campaign.
It was a sad display from the woman who has spent her career calling out Republican media sources for perpetrating spin, hypocrisy, and distortion onto their viewing audience.
The worst part of all is that the PEOPLE need you right now, and you are not only betraying their interests, you are adding more weight to our burden. It's bad enough to have to constantly fight to correct the fallacies of Fox news, but now YOU?
I hope this is all part of some grand strategy to keep your position and you are waiting for the right opportunity to help turn the tide. Perhaps, you believe that your soft media messaging to direct the White House (what a great campaign that will be EH? Taking a note from Occupy in a nice manner!) is a set up. But, that seems awfully like the same logic people apply to Obama when they credit him with playing multi-dimensional chess, when in reality, he is selling us all out.
But, Rachel. Iran is coming. After all the years you spent decrying the waste and fraud of Iraq, will you choose to stay silent now when they look to be readying for the grand finale?
We need you. Liberals trust you. I believe that is why the White House co-opted you. Gave you the best intervews.
So, I ask you in all sincerity....are you part of the solution or are you part of the con?
Sincerely
D Lusignan
Here is Rachel's latest segment promoting the McCain/Hatch/Koch Brothers policy as needed and good under Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Again, here's Bernie Sanders on why this is a HORRIBLE idea:
http://www.youtube.com/...
Obama is ever so clever. Steal the horrible ideas from the Republicans and promote them and gain political points for berating for the Republicans for not working to implement under him. Only problem...horrible Republican policy is horrible Republican policy whether promoted and championed by ANY politician.
Last December, The Nation magazine sounded the alarm on the implications of the Payroll Tax Cut, predicted it would be next to impossible to repeal, and warned readers about the underlying Republican strategy of the policy:
http://www.thenation.com/...
"The most dangerous feature in the president's proposed compromise on taxes is not the $700 billion tax cut for billionaires. It is the Trojan horse provision that threatens to destroy Social Security by undermining the longterm solvency of the social insurance system.
Barack Obama has proposed to knock two percent off the FICA deductions every worker regularly contributes to the Social Security Trust Fund, the money set aside for their future retirement benefits. Obama’s one-year tax relief sounds attractive and workers can surely use the money, but the consequences could prove deadly for the federal government’s most popular program.
Doubtless, that is not Obama’s intention—he regularly calls for strengthening Social Security—but the president has bought into a Republican proposition favored by conservatives who would love to do away with this New Deal creation. They know this will deprive the trust fund of $120 billion in annual revenue and that shortfall will sooner or later have to be made up to sustain future benefits. Can you imagine Congress finding $120 billion for Social Security amid all the other fiscal pressures?
For that matter, can you imagine Congress turning off this modest tax break for working people once it’s in place? If you believe that, you probably believe Obama is going to fight to recover the $700 billion tax giveaway to billionaires while he is in the midst of his reelection campaign.
Nancy Altman, a thirty-year policy expert and co-chair of Social Security Works, fears this perverse policy turn "will lead inexorably to killing Social Security." The right-wing agitators will renew their claim that Social Security is unsound and should be privatized, only now their case will have a little substance. Democrats in Congress should discard Obama’s proposal before it damages the crown jewel of the federal government."
Unreal. But, it gets worse. Now, democrats who are trying to save the payroll tax cut extension (legislation originally proposed and contrived by Republicans as a means to defund SS) are considering 'negotiating' away the proposed millionaire tax surcharge.
http://news.yahoo.com/...