The power of the right-wing propaganda machine
One of the great mysteries in politics is the extent to which smears become imprinted on voters’ brains. We all know how Republicans successfully propagated the lie that Al Gore claims to have invented the internet (this is debunked by Snopes.com here) and about how the Clintons staff “trashed” (this is debunked here, though James Lawrence still believes it) the White House before leaving.
Over the past few months, I’ve been surprised by how many crazy smears I’ve heard my friends tell me they believe. One friend told me he thought Obama was a Muslim and another said that his preacher, Reverend Wright, had made many anti-Semitic comments. Neither of these claims has any basis in reality. And neither of these friends is the D&C Chili blog type — both have PhD’s and both have jobs with a lot of authority.
There’s a lesson here: never underestimate the power of the right-wing smear. And don’t assume that, just because someone believes one of them, that that person is an idiot.
Great post.
There is another side to this of course, lack of critical thinking via acceptance of things at face value. No peeking behind the curtain. Toss a shortage of intellectual curiosity and the right-wing noise machine keeps spewing.
You can tie this concept to the unFAIR plan. If citizens are not getting a top notch education, if they aren’t intellectually curious, if they are in a school that is drill, drill, drill and no thinking (NCLB), it makes them easier to manipulate.
Which Right-Wing Propaganda Machine did the two Clinton Campaign County Coordinators in Iowa that sent the email claiming that Obama was a Muslim belong to?
When Hillary Clinton says, “Senator Obama is not a Muslim, as far as I know”, just what do you think the implication is that she is making? I seem to recall there’s a large “D” next to her name on the Senatorial roll.
She never said that.
But I will allow that when she talks about Rev. Wright she is assisting the right-wing propaganda machine.
That was proven to be a Fox News tactic. Nice try though.
Really? She made the statement on 60 minutes and I’m 100% positive that is a CBS Program.
Find me the footage.
While you’re at it, maybe you can prove to me that the earth is 6000 years ago and dig up some WMD in Iraq.
Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t believe what I read on Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/03/hillary-obama-not-muslim_n_89546.html
Nice job staying with it and arguing/winning your point about what Clinton said.
Clinton’s comments on Obama’s race were awkward at best but more importantly seemed to me (who watched the interview) to play right into the entire Fox news or Right wing rabble rouser (like that guy who opened for McCain) spewing Barack Hussein Obama.
Clinton should have answered with more robust words that basically said who cares what his religion is - he is an American he is running for President. He has ideas, here are mine - go out and vote for the best candidate which, of course, I believe is me.
But she didn’t which fed this divisive narrative.
I find it interesting that you target Clinton with out acknowledging the right wing noise machine. (Yes the left is trying to get one too but it pales in comparison). The point of this post is that people tend not to check stuff out and just buy the line that is fed to them.
All this goes back to my first comment on critical analysis and intellectual curiosity.
We need more of that as a society. We are getting/doing less.
Don’t be so quick to forgive grasshopper:
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200803110002
Whitedood’s response is exactly what they are HOPING you will accept…
That 60 Minutes broadcast was January of 2008 - the Fox News story was in January of 2007. How quickly time flies when you’re having fun. And they’re still just trying to get the Dem’s to implode against each other. Don’t buy into the mantra.
My bad — I missed the “NOT” in “not a Muslim.” I thought you wrote that she said “IS a Muslim, as far as I know.”
Sorry about that. You’re right — she did say that.
I also will no longer believe what is said on Hardball with Chris Matthews or Countdown with Keith Olbermann because they both carried versions of the story with that phrase as well. (How many more examples do you want?)
One other question, when James Carville compares Bill Richardson to Judas Iscariot because of his endoresement of Senator Obama instead of Senator Clinton, did he mean it in a loving, who’s your buddy kind of way or am I missing something?
Like you ever did. I envision that you have used a paperclip and scratched those numbers off the old dial television you still watch, or have removed and blocked those channels from your cable box, just in case. You probably can’t even tell me what color glasses Olbermann wears.
You’re right. But what you’re saying kind of reinforces my point that these crazy rumors — which I do believe have their origins on the right — get repeated by all kinds of people who aren’t on the right.
Here’s the Faux News video whitedood…get your tissue box - it’s a real tear jerker. Speaking of jerks…and Judas…
You’re asking us progressive/liberal tree huggers to teach you religious instructions? Wow - what time do I pick you up on Sunday. Make sure your shirt collar is starched STIFF!
Link:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/19/fox-obama-madrassa/