General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What The Hell Happened? [View all]Claire Oh Nette
(2,636 posts)Those who listened to the Nixon-Kennedy debate say that Nixon won. Those who watched the Nixon-Kennedy debate say Kennedy won.
I wasn't born yet, so I can't say from experience. What I can say is that the advent of televised debates and televised congressional proceedings had led to visual politics--comms over legislation, style over substance, image is everything.
When the news divisions had to turn a profit, too, everything became about ratings. Ratings determine cost of advertising. Viewers drive ratings. Pay attention to which companies advertise. They subsidize the networks for our viewing enjoyment. No, so we become brand aware and consume what they sell.
The GOP lost on school segregation and looked for another issue to keep the rubes riled up. Atwater realized the conservative values preached on Sundays might deliver at the polls. THey got into bed with Falwell and the other televangelists and the churches. Why, abortion, that's the ticket. We'll go after abortion. In the 80s. Ten+ years after Roe v. Wade. Nothing drives white souls to the polls like defense of innocence they're not responsible for.
Oh, Reagan, Bush I, Bush II, tRump* Zero action on abortion in 24 years, most of which with majorities in Congress.
Hmm. Ooh, teh Gay. But the courts ruled in favor of marriage equality. Never mind that "marriage" is a civil partnership, and economic partnership. No Church license? you're still married. No State license? You can't get married.
Now, they go after the minuscule % of trans-girls or trans-women who are competitive in athletics. Again, a very small subset of a very small subset to begin with. I golf. A Lot. Know what we say to the trans-woman who won the Senior Womens Amateur Golf Tournament in these parts?
Champion.
Takes a whole lot more that dangly bits or lack there of to play championship level scratch golf.
SMaller and smaller groups to demonize. Sadly, more vocal demonization, and more brazen bigotry and violence ahead, until we squash them all at the ballot box.