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.
Will a “Vote for McCain” sign be considered a racist right wing propaganda vehicle?
Only if it says “Vote for McCain….or the terrorists win”.
Some liberal people I know will take anything that is pro-McCain as anti-Obama and therefore racist.
Are you trying to claim that McCain is white?
You didn’t hear that from me
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.
Actually Jiminy - the pebbles remain safely and securely in my hand.
Hillary failed to put this question to bed as I suggested above. I Watched the original interview without the benefit of Youtube and came away thinking that she could have done better,
Now - I think she should have done better answering the question. I’m not convinced that this is some deep dark conspiracy.
Fox News, Barack HUSSEIN Obama and all the rest of these accusations and smears, misdirections long before this Clintons interview and so on are not justified by whtwtrdood pointing out of this incident.
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/
Next I suppose you guys are going to tell me that the Right Wing planted a prostitute in Spitzer’s hotel room for the propoganda value of it. Spitzer actually thought she was a New York voter so it was up to him to make her happy with a $5,000 rebate and certian other favors.
Funny.
Weirdly enough, though, the investigation may have been spurred by a tip from GOP trickster Roger Stone. That’s what Stone claims in fact — though I’m not inclined to believe him, to be honest with you.
It really doesn’t matter - if a Democrat turned in a Republican under similar circumstances I would be mad at the Republican and understand that the Democrat is doing what he or she needs to do.
I’m not even sure it’s true (that Stone turned him in) — more of an interesting side note.
Guys:
While you’re at bashing that “right-wing propaganda machine”, don’t forget that politicians and their supporters on both sides obfuscate, exaggerate, and outright lie all of the time.
Case in point, Obama’s repeated argument that McCain wants the war in Iraq to last 100 years. Obama and team have distorted what he said so much so that the Annenberg Political Fact Check, a nonprofit and nonpartisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, stated: “It’s a rank falsehood for the DNC to accuse McCain of wanting to wage ‘endless war’ based on his support for a presence in Iraq something like the U.S. role in South Korea.” That’s not stopping Obama one of whose senior aides was quoted saying its rare you get such a “clean shot”.
Both sides have propaganda machines. It really irks me when you guys act like Republicans are all evil, self-interested fascists and Democrats are all altruistic, thoughtful public servants who have never acted out of bad motives.
Why can’t you deal with a particular issue without the unnecessary and overblown generalizations?
This is interesting. McCain did say we might be there for 100 years. And it’s unrealistic to think such a stay will be as peaceful as the stay in Korea. So I think that the Obama charge is fair, though I can also see why you might disagree.
The Annenberg Political Fact Check is, unfortunately, a joke. In their effort to appear “centrist”, they have to hit the Democrats every time they hit the Republicans. If Bush said the earth was flat and Democrats said it was round, the Annenberg people would say “they’re both wrong because it’s an oblate spheroid, which isn’t perfectly round.”
Is this an argument for a moderate? Hmmm…who is most likely to be a moderate in this race? Who could it be? Who could it be?
Which goes back to critical thinking.
Bottom line - John McCain is a continuation of Bush with regards to Iraq. Clinton and Obama are not. Iraq ends sooner rather under Clinton or Obama than McCain.
Yes, there is a left wing narrative as well. The question is which one has a broader reach on Main street. The left wing noise machine pales in comparison to its counterpart.
Finally - all Republicans are not bad, Nor are all Democrats good in terms of policies supported. Frankly I want our government to institute polices at cater to all interests (best it can) rather than a narrow set of interests or self interest.
I see Republicans in general (modern party) needing the most help. In terms of Democrats - More better Democrats is important to me. The operative word being “better”.
More later after a morning appointment….
John DiCaro: I should add that I definitely respect that you cited the Anneberg Fact Check as opposed to another source, though. Even though I have my problems with them and don’t agree with them here, they are a more reputable source than most.
After seeing this story today in the NYT, I stand corrected. The Right-Wing Smear Machine is definitely out of hand!
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/air-america-host-suspended-for-clinton-remarks/
So, she has made jokes about assassinating President Bush and that’s acceptable. During the Republican Primaries, she joked that if John McCain got the nomination Mitt Romney’s supporters would go on a killing spree and then commit mass suicide, and that was okay. She calls Hillary Clinton a whore, and is immediately suspended. Hmmm. Perhaps David Shuster can give her some ideas on how she can occupy herself with all the free time she’s going to have now.
In all seriousness, people need to understand this is just another example of how much of an egomaniac Senator Clinton is. She used used to getting what she wants and too damn bad for anyone in her way.