Obama should distance himself from gabmeisters
WASHINGTON — As the war of words escalates between conservative gabmeisters and the White House, Americans might pause to wonder: Have we lost our minds?
On any given day, life in the nation’s capital feels like being trapped in an “Animal House” sequel—with less-funny people. If we all take off our sunglasses, can we play grown-up for a while?
The names on the right are by now familiar, thanks in part to columns like this. We in the media can’t stop talking about them. But Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh can’t be ignored. Not only do they have sizable audiences and loyal followings, but the president of the United States acknowledges them. Thank-you notes would seem to be in order.
In the latest blast from Pennsylvania Avenue, Fox News, which airs “Glenn Beck,” has been targeted as an extension of the Republican Party. Said White House Communications Director Anita Dunn:
“We’re going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent. … We don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
Beck must be shopping for serapes as he practices, “Make my day”—if I may mix my Clint Eastwood metaphors.
Inconveniently for Dunn, meanwhile, Beck has unearthed a speech in which she praises one of her favorite philosophers, Mao Zedong. For such times, God invented the word, “Oy.”
Of course, Dunn isn’t entirely wrong about Fox News, which is popular among conservative viewers for the same reason MSNBC is popular among liberal viewers. Some like Beck and Bill O’Reilly; some like Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. In media, as in romance, there’s someone for everyone.
The White House strategy of going after Beck & Co. is risky business, however. Anyone who has been misquoted or mischaracterized by the media—that would be anyone in the public eye, including members of the media—understands the impulse to set the record straight. But in this case, the White House has become the gift that keeps on giving.
Every time the president or one of his spokespeople mentions Beck or Limbaugh, the latter two enjoy increased ratings and bucks. Who’s the happiest man on Earth these days? Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, whose soles must rarely touch pavement.
What is the White House afraid of? To the point: Just how much does the White House doubt the intelligence of the American people?
Audiences may tune in to Beck and Limbaugh for their entertaining take on things, but they’re not necessarily going to buy everything they’re selling. They might note, however, that every now and then—between the crocodile tears and carnival stunts—Beck gets it right (see ACORN). And, much as more dignified conservatives might wish otherwise, he is effective (ask Van Jones). And now Dunn?
That said, Beck isn’t to be treated oh-so-seriously. Simple rule: Recognition empowers. If Fox News were a nation, Beck would be Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. You don’t want to give him ammunition. Obama did—and now Beck gets to make the president look both silly and sinister.
In response to the administration’s comments about Fox News, Beck installed a hotline for the White House to call when Beck gets his facts wrong. In one segment, he placed toy tanks, missiles and aircraft on a map to show where the enemy camp (Fox News) is located. More recently, he has invoked the Holocaust—“First they came for the Jews”—as a way of warning other news outlets that they could be next.
As a one-man doomsayer, Beck liberally sprinkles his right-wing rhetoric with hot-button references. Last week, Politico’s Ben Smith counted the number of times Beck has used certain adrenaline-pumping words since the show began airing in January: Marxist/Marxism 127 times; communist/communism 330; socialist/socialism 404.
As Beck’s hyperbole expands, so, apparently, does the White House’s attention—to no good end. The sooner Obama distances himself, the better.
Americans really aren’t stupid, someone should tell the president, though they do enjoy a good sideshow. Limbaugh’s listeners, not to be confused with his squadron of obedient flying monkeys, are among the better informed in the nation, according to recent Pew Research surveys of news audiences.
Concerns about misinformation are valid, of course, but the occupant of the Oval Office has the biggest pulpit.
Let the little dogs yap, Mr. President. It’s good for the nation’s spleen. And trust that the people who put you in office can tell the clowns from the ringleaders.
Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Her e-mail address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.
Nov 11, 2009 at 8:35 a.m.
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www.huffingtonpost.com/.../shocking-alle...
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thinkprogress.org/2009/11/10/post-destroy-obama/
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chattahbox.com/.../lawsuit-new-york-posts-goal-to-destroy-barack-obama/
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www.nydailynews.com/.../2009-11-10_new_y...
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Now, I realize and recognize these are just alligation but perhaps the White House was/is on to something.
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Oh, and to the person saying Fox is Obama's only critic...you are wrong! Plenty on the left criticize Obama.
Oct 26, 2009 at 10:41 a.m.
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Our nation has to be very careful at what it allows its politicians to do. The current president and his administration are building an empire. They are from the political party that controls both the House and the Senate in Congress. They are fully supported by the mainframe national news media - NBC, CBS, and ABC and PBS. They have balance on CNN. And they are deligimizing FOX - their only crittic. And they appont CZARS not agency secretatries requiring Congressional over-sight / approvakls. With little or no resistance politically, or media wise -- these people can practically do anything they want.
Oct 23, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
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Keith, Rachel, and much of MSNBC are just as far left-wing as Beck, O’Reilly, and much of Fox are right wing. This is news to whom? The constant berating done by the White House and you about Fox being right-wing is laughable when left-wing news organizations are given private meetings with the President and staff.
Try to be somewhat credible and discount something they say you think is wrong; every news reporting source is wrong, often. They report the weather, was that wrong? They reported on the idiot family passing their kid off as being in the balloon, was that wrong? They reported unemployment was again higher than expected, was that wrong?
If you are going to play along with the game of “Fixed” news, support your position with your facts and not echoes from Keith and Rachel.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.
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Yes, Keith and Rachel on MSNBC are liberal, but they don't try to hide it. They don't call themselves "Fair and Balanced" (Fox News), or "Independant" (Beck and O'Reilly). People actually believe that Beck and O'Reilly are middle of the road, because they simply say so, and because Fox News calls themselves "Fair and Balanced".
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.
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Many of the right wing comments from people here who obviously don't have an original thought also come from talk radio, specifically The Laura Ingraham Show on WCLO.
Oct 22, 2009 at 1:04 p.m.
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PanamaRed....your summary is superb in describing the Beck/Hannity/O'Rielly/Fox News type offerings:
"...based on opinion, not fact....no room for rational debate....whoever disagrees is shouted down or mocked....listeners aren't getting accurate information...Facts are left out or construed to back up their fanatical claims.....their purpose is to inflame public opinion...imagined threats are presented as real."
Shocking to think anyone would believe them, but they do....deeply disappointing. Whatever happened to getting the FACTS and making your OWN informed opinion? No need to think when you can be given a mindless opinion from Fox News. Or worse, taking as gospel the substanceless rants of a grandstanding host. Jeez, talk about lining up behind the lead lemming.
Oct 22, 2009 at 4:13 a.m.
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It’s hilarious that only Fox news is considered to have dubious opinion journalists by left-wing posters here. Almost as funny as the day after White House officials said Fox news wasn’t a news organization the President met for an off the record briefing with Keith and Rachel from MSNBC…nope, no hypocrisy here. Stand back and don’t look behind the curtain, nothing to see here just move along.
Oct 22, 2009 at 2:41 a.m.
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Ahh, i see what they did.They lumped the comedy news shows with the newspapers websites together( both at 54%).But why include "readers of news magazines" at 48% and leave out the O'Reilly Factor at 51%?...kinda sneaky.
Oct 22, 2009 at 2:23 a.m.
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Hmm...."some news audiences know considerably more than others." "...the audiences for SIX media sources scored this high"
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54%=1
53%=2
51%=3
50%=4
48%=5
??%=6
Oh, i see the results from the "Pew Research survey of news audiences" conveniently left out the O'Reilly Factor at 51%...wich is on FOX.
Hmm..."among the better informed in the nation, according to RECENT Pew Research surveys of news audiences" (from the article)
http://people-press.org/report/319/publi...
April 15,2007
Oct 21, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
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There is nothing an individual can do to convince some people that the "journalism" broadcast on Hannity, O'Rielly, Beck, or the Fox News network is based on opinion, not fact, and presents a one sided "conservative" viewpoint. In reality, they have become a parody of the conservative movement. They are extremists with no room for rational debate. Anyone who disagrees with their opinion is shouted down or mocked. If anyone listening and watching those programs think they are getting accurate information, then they have little chance of discerning the truth. Facts which do not substantiate the pundits opinions are left out or construed to back up their fanatical claims. Their purpose is not to promote a rational analysis or constructive discourse of "news" events but only to inflame public opinion on matters they view as threat to their doctrine. The threats are often imagined but presented as real.
Here are the results from the "Pew Research survey of news audiences" Ms. Parker alluded to in her article. Note that the Comedy Network news programs do as much, or more, to inform the public than Rush.
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"...some news audiences know considerably more than others." "...the audiences for six media sources scored this high: the comedy news shows and major newspaper websites (54% in the high knowledge group), the NewsHour (53%), National Public Radio (51%) and Rush Limbaugh's radio show (50%). Regular readers of news magazines were not far behind (48%)."
"By contrast, the regular audiences for many other sources scored no higher than the sample average. The audiences for morning news (34% high knowledge), local TV news (35%), Fox News Channel (35%), blogs (37%), and the network evening news (38%) were not significantly different from the norm for the whole sample (35%)."
Oct 21, 2009 at 12:02 p.m.
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whoahnellie... I'm going to guess you read the National Inquirer and think that's a real newspaper, too?
Oct 21, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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Pete: "Purrmaid I really do not see the connection you are making between Conservatives,Republicans, and a News morning program?"
I'll explain, "Fox and Friends" viewership is predominantly Republican. Republicans are predominantly conservative (adjective) in their thinking. I asked if there was a conservative (adjective) television program that imparted news/information without the cheesy show-boating sarcasm ala Gretchen Carlson.
Pete: "Conservative are about personal freedoms, low taxes, and States Rights."
The three items you list are found in all platforms and are not exclusively "Conservative" so I'm not understanding what that has to do with my request for a news show without the circus theatrics and rant and raves.
Pete: **Glen Beck is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and yes he tends to relate to the conservative movement. **But what independent American would not believe in the true conservative movement of personal freedoms, low taxes, and States Rights?
If you'll reread my earlier statement on which you are commenting, you will find nothing even remotely suggesting disbelief in "personal freedoms, low taxes and States Rights".
Pete: "Please use a(n) educated mind when judging others so you ID their story correctly."
For this I will apologize. I can see why independent thinking Conservatives (noun) would find it an insult to be linked with the moan and groan ilk on Fox and Friends. I stand corrected.
Oct 21, 2009 at 10:26 a.m.
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USARet: "Purrmaid: The Dems cried, complained and whined for 8 years and now the(y) have the WH, the Senate and the House. If they can do it, why not the other side? Isn't that the fair and balanced way?"
USARet: "Isn't that the fair and balanced way?" Ummm, maybe that logic works if you're on the playground in third grade. The "They whined so why can't we" is unproductive logic and I'm just incredulous an adult would defend it. Who gives a rip who can whine longer, faster, harder, or who was whining eight years ago? I want to hear some ideas and suggestions for fixing what is wrong. Deal in the here and now.
"Read G. Beck's latest book, might open your eyes a little."
My eyes are open and I see Mr. Beck as a pompous, narcissistic, empty pontificating windbag. He'll not see one dime from me.
Oct 21, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.
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Can it be? SarahB1, the bleeding heart liberal, showing her fangs?
Oct 21, 2009 at 8:38 a.m.
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Justaguy-First, zoom has no eyes to open. That defines his/her blindness.
Second, he/she worships and idolizes the government to no end. To him/her, the government has all the answers to our lives. That defines his/her shallowness.
Oct 20, 2009 at 1:01 a.m.
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zoom: you just need to open your eyes
Oct 20, 2009 at 12:58 a.m.
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"Probably won't ever happen though because he's right most of the time."
You have to have low standards, or be a lemming, if you think being right "most" of the time earns someone your "love".
Even a blind squirrel will find a few ACORNS once in awhile.
Oct 20, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.
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"maybe you should pull up your shade and look out the window, then you wouldn't have to cut on other people's comments and you could voice your own."
Pot...meet kettle...
Oct 19, 2009 at 11:31 p.m.
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sarahb1: if you want people like van jones and alike in the White House you might want to open up 2 windows and take a nice long look at the real world.
Oct 19, 2009 at 11:11 p.m.
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sarahb1: .... maybe you should pull up your shade and look out the window, then you wouldn't have to cut on other people's comments and you could voice your own.
Oct 19, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.
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Purrmaid: The Dems cried, complained and whined for 8 years and now the have the WH, the Senate and the House. If they can do it, why not the other side? Isn't that the fair and balanced way? Also, read G. Beck's latest book, might open your eyes a little.
Oct 19, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
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Is there a conservative news show that can deliver factual commentary without loading on self-serving heaps of sarcasm? Let me know.
Just this morning on "Fox and Friends" Gretchen Carlson's disagreement with funding vocational schooling included this statement, "Oh great...we're going to give money so somebody can go to cosmetology school to learn how to use a Flow-Bee....I need one of those for Christmas." It was delivered with disgust and not humor. I was just stunned at her lack of professionalism.
Her kind of condescending, grasping at the flimsiest of straws just to complain is what reallly turns me off lately about conservatives and/or Republicans. If they think the best party platform against the Democrats is one of complaining, they're in for another defeat.
Republicans would do well to remember, "When something goes wrong, it's better to talk about who's going to fix it than who's to blame." Does anyone vote for whiners and Chicken "The Sky is Falling!" Littles?
Oct 19, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.
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whoanellie: Pull up the window shades and take a look at the real world.
Oct 19, 2009 at 11:47 a.m.
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I love Glenn Beck and watch him with my family every afternoon at 4 sharp!! He 's quite dramatic at times, but what he says is true. I can't wait till the white house calls the red phone! Probably won't ever happen though because he's right most of the time. I like to be informed with the truth so that is why I watch Fox news and Glenn Beck, you should try it sometime you will be shocked by what is really going on right under our noses in the political realm!!!
Oct 19, 2009 at 10:12 a.m.
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Despite her obvious left-leaning tendencies, this article is mostly well written and reasoned. Liberals - did you notice that one of your own even admits that Rush listeners "are among the better informed in the nation"?
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