Bob Tyrrell of the American Spectator recently reported that MSNBC contacted him specifically seeking a guest who would defend the “birther” conspiracy theory — and refused to have him on when he informed the network that he would calmly explain why the theory was incorrect and that Obama was, yes, indeed born in the United States.
That a legitimate news channel would specifically seek to cloud the truth, to echo conspiracies, to legitimize nonsense at the expense of reality, is horrifying enough. But what happens when people buy into it?
Few prominent mainstream conservatives identify with the “birthers.” The most serious conservatives who do are perennial candidate Alan Keyes — now a Constitution Party member — Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily, who did not vote for John McCain, and Jerome Corsi — also a Constitution Party member. In other words: the most serious conservatives that do are not serious at all.
But regardless of what the Republican Party’s leaders are thinking, its base has become utterly unhinged. Only a quarter of North Carolina Republicans believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States, and the numbers aren’t much better in Virgina. The town hall meeting protests are not examples of ordinary Americans rising up against an oppressive government: they are embarrassing displays of lunatic paranoia designed on shutting down debate. It’s not that the other side has any serious points to make, but rather that a town hall meeting is, well, supposed to be a town hall meeting, not a mosh pit. Elsewhere, the tea parties are erratic and unfocused, a far cry from what poor Rick Santelli surely envisioned them being. Our supposedly capitalist leaders are talking of secession (Texas Governor Rick Perry), total socialism (Senator Jim DeMint), and death panels (former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin).
Quite simply, these people don’t sense the sarcasm when Glenn Beck says that we’re getting closer to giant missile parades.
My e-mail inbox is bombarded daily with mail from websites like WorldNetDaily and the Patriot Depot flacking “Got a Birth Certificate?” bumper stickers, “A Question of Eligibility” DVDs, and “the latest proof” that Obama was born in Kenya and that his birth certificate was forged.
What on Earth is happening to mainstream political debate in this country? Cable news is virtually unwatchable, the influence of the dying newspaper industry is shrinking, and blogs are trafficked not for their reason, but for their passion. Cass Sunstein may have been right when he predicted, nearly a decade ago, that our increasingly customized world would lead to a culture of narcissism.
There seems to be little reason to believe that a sensible, center-right candidate could not, channeling Nixon, echo the concerns and pragmatism of the Silent Majority. But if over half of the national party’s rank-and-file are convinced that our president is a Kenyan, I don’t envision him getting nominated.
14 responses so far
1 ottovbvs // Aug 11, 2009 at 1:01 pm
…….I’m shocked…. shocked…… to hear that the media is interested in generating controversies where none exists……and relieved to hear the Republican party and conservatism has never ever exploited that appetite…..good to know……..Seriously, what you don’t seem to get Alex is that this state of affairs has been largely brought about by the activities of conservative talk radio and Fox News …..remember the physics law every action produces a reaction
2 Geoff C // Aug 11, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Does anyone know where the link to the leaders of the birther movement went? It was posted yesterday evening?
Thanks in advance!
3 AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Ottovbvs – Can you describe how, exactly, you think that conservative commentators gave birth to the birther movement?
4 ottovbvs // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:01 pm
AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 3:55 pm
“Ottovbvs – Can you describe how, exactly, you think that conservative commentators gave birth to the birther movement?’
……….Read what I said again and point to where I said ” conservative commentators gave birth to the birther movement?”
5 AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:04 pm
“this state of affairs has been largely brought about by the activities of conservative talk radio and Fox News ”
I assumed by “state of affairs” you meant the Birther Movement, unhinged base, etc.
6 ottovbvs // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:17 pm
AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:04 pm
“I assumed by “state of affairs” you meant the Birther Movement, unhinged base, etc.”
……..”state of affairs” refers to this statement by Knepper which is all too true:
“What on Earth is happening to mainstream political debate in this country? Cable news is virtually unwatchable, the influence of the dying newspaper industry is shrinking, and blogs are trafficked not for their reason, but for their passion. Cass Sunstein may have been right when he predicted, nearly a decade ago, that our increasingly customized world would lead to a culture of narcissism.”
……..The birther controversy is perfect raw material for the media who are interested in inciting controversy not reporting the news and providing sensible analysis…….the Politito-tainment grew out of conservative talk radio and Fox News…….the others responded in kind….. for example MSNBC is clearly a Fox wannabe……god knows what fruit farm the birther controversy came from……judging by the woman with the Tammy Faye eyedo it was very strange wherever it was
7 barker13 // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:52 pm
“My e-mail inbox is bombarded daily with mail from websites like WorldNetDaily and the Patriot Depot flacking “Got a Birth Certificate?” bumper stickers, “A Question of Eligibility” DVDs, and “the latest proof” that Obama was born in Kenya and that his birth certificate was forged.”
Mine isn’t.
(*SHRUG*)
Have you ever considered that maybe there’s something about your cookies profile and the sorts of sites you visit?
I’m just saying, Alex… (*SHRUG*)
BILL
8 AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Barker13 -
I try to keep updated on what all the strains of thought are in politics: where everyone’s at. If you’re not monitoring the more radicalized elements, then you’re not truly keeping yourself abreast of what’s going on.
9 ottovbvs // Aug 11, 2009 at 5:11 pm
barker13 // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:52 pm
“Mine isn’t.”
…….Mine is….put yourself on the Townhall list…..right up your street
10 barker13 // Aug 11, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Re: AlexK // Aug 11, 2009 at 4:58 pm (#8) –
OK, fair enough… just don’t confuse “what’s going on” for what’s mainly NOT going on.
(*SHRUG*)
In other words, while it may be true that where there’s smoke there’s fire, don’t confuse a weenie roast with the Towering Inferno.
(*SMILE*)
* Jeez… did I just “out” myself there in terms of my age or what…?!?! (*GRIN*) (*CHUCKLE*)
BILL
11 greg_barton // Aug 11, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Come now, Alex. MSNBC is just trying to be fair and balanced.
12 franco 2 // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:25 am
“That a legitimate news channel would specifically seek to cloud the truth, to echo conspiracies, to legitimize nonsense at the expense of reality, is horrifying enough.”
This is why MSNBC is not a legitimate news channel. You see something can’t be two things at once Alex. That is like saying “an honest guy like Bernie Madoff” You see?
It is soooo obvious to anyone who is familiar with leftist tactics what they are trying to do. They want to discredit their opponents and change the debate. Health care reform vs. crazy birthers. That is an argument the Democrats can win. MSNBC is the go-to propaganda organ of Axelrod and Emmanuel.
Imagine if the Bush administration had used this tactic and tried to associate the Democrat Party with those who believed or claimed to believe “Bush knew” of the 9/11 attacks. This is believed by far more people than the “birther” meme. I wonder would that have been a useful tactic? Furthermore the two paranoid fantasies are quite different in their plausibility and their implications.
If Obama was somehow not born in the USA, it doesn’t make him evil or a bad person. It is a mere technicality. It doesn’t even impugn Obama’s patriotism. He could still love America and wish it well.
The 9/11 conspiracy theory has us also believe that Bush and many more higher-ups ALLOWED our country to be attacked for personal and political gain. So these two memes are very different in their implications. I never heard any media type including mainstream talk
“The town hall meeting protests are not examples of ordinary Americans rising up against an oppressive government: they are embarrassing displays of lunatic paranoia designed on shutting down debate. It’s not that the other side has any serious points to make, but rather that a town hall meeting is, well, supposed to be a town hall meeting, not a mosh pit. Elsewhere, the tea parties are erratic and unfocused, a far cry from what poor Rick Santelli surely envisioned them being. Our supposedly capitalist leaders are talking of secession (Texas Governor Rick Perry), total socialism (Senator Jim DeMint), and death panels (former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin).”
Alex sides with the Statists here like a good moderate Republican. He wants regular folks to listen politely to their elected officials and quietly allow all their rhetorical tricks – all their lies and distortions to pass. When an official says something like, “We all can agree our healthcare system is broken, we are now seeking ways to fix it” blah blah, it is a persons’ CIVIC DUTY to shout out that we DON’T all agree…not shout down, shout out.
These town hall meetings are orchestrated to promote this plan, not to listen to constituents, and not even to explain the plan because they themselves don’t really know what is in it. Alex wants everyone to go along with the farce. Why, I don’t know. Perhaps he thinks everything gets decided by civil, reasoned debate – even though the Statists and the State-run media refuse to provide a forum. Perhaps Obama and the elite Democrats will stumble on his writings and be convinced of the error of their ways….
Supposedly capitalist leaders? Apparently Alex has a misunderstanding of what capitalism is – not surprising coming from today’s Republican youth. Smart enough to not be Democrats, too stupid and inexperienced with government to be conservative. Capitalism, my boy, and secession, are not mutually exclusive as you imply.
DeMint wants total socialism? Please explain.
As to the Palin reference:
Imagine we are debating Social Security when that was implemented. Would it have been crazy for someone to warn, “Someday your Social Security number will be used as THE KEY to your identity. You will be required to give it to any government agency and even private entities. It will be used as your identification number. Then at some point politicians will spend your retirement funds on other things and the whole ponzi scheme will collapse.” Alex would have called that, what extreme paranoia?
Alex some of us have the common sense that comes with experience and others live in a fantasy world where MSNBC is seen as “legitimate” those who want or threaten to secede are somehow anti-capitalist and those predicting dire consequences based on legitimate experience with government are alarmists.
13 franco 2 // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:28 am
Sentance should read:
I never heard any media type including mainstream talk radio express this (9/11 conspiracy theory), and if they did how come it didn’t have any effect?
14 ottovbvs // Aug 12, 2009 at 2:44 pm
franco-2 // Aug 12, 2009 at 11:25 am
“That a legitimate news channel would specifically seek to cloud the truth, to echo conspiracies, to legitimize nonsense at the expense of reality, is horrifying enough.”
This is why MSNBC is not a legitimate news channel.”
…….Whereas Fox New is a legit news channel of course……..MSNBC has seen there is gold in those darn’d hills and Fox has already staked a claim and is raking it in……..MSNBC is a Fox wannabe but can’t quite steel themselves to go all the way probably because of their financial reporting component and the need to protect its brand identity so they are about 50% on the way to being a Fox……..I’m sure Franco considers Fox to be Cronkite arisen
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