I don't know about you, but i'm sick and tired of all the OUTRAGE diaries, that show the crazy fringe of the fringe wingers. I'm tired of hearing about BIRTHERS, BIRCHERS, HATERS, TRUTHERS and TENTHERS. I'M Tired of being yelled at, lied to and otherwise abused, by those Wingers described above and by those who only report on those who do.
For the last month, everywhere I go I see, hear and read about the outrages of these idiots and i'm sick of it. I understand why this is happening in the media. They are only interested in reporting on the fight and who wins or loses instead of reporting on the truth and challenging the idiots on their lies and distortions. I guess they think it builds ratings. RANTINGS = RATINGS. It also seems to work here on DailyKos. The most outrageous actions of the right wing are the Diaries that get recommended. Why? RANTING = RECOMMENDS. All the noise is drowning out the debate and encouraging the media to give us more of the same. If the media sees us react to every sound bite or every racial slur.
I don't know how to dial it back, and I am afraid that all the noise will only serve to tune out those who have an interest but are coming to the debate with serous questions. By reacting to the outrage you play right into the hands of right wingers and give the media the excuse for never covering the substance only the heat.
if we want to change the debate then we need to change what we are saying to each other. The stories we tell really drive the narrative, When we talk about the abuses of the health insurance companies, when we report about the money raised by Blue Dogs by the lobbyist. The more we talk about the Progressives fight to save the public option, the more likely the Media will pick up on it and move it into the mainestream. Every time a reporter challenges the right wing talking points we win, but it doesn't happen enough. We should be lobbying the media to ask the tough questions and create a healthcare debate hall of fame and a hall of shame for reporters who get it or don't.
We have the power to drive the debate, we just need to do more than just be outraged.