No one is trying to silence right-wing fearmongers -- but it is time to stand up to them

[marmar]

from Crooks & Liars:



No one is trying to silence right-wing fearmongers -- but it is time to stand up to them
By David Neiwert Monday Apr 06, 2009 9:30am


You have to wonder if right-wingers will ever get it: Difference isn't a threat.

They were mewling like wounded hyenas this weekend after some of us pointed out that there was a direct connection between the irresponsible fearmongering in which they've been indulging since Barack Obama was elected and Saturday's tragedy in Pittsburgh.

Michelle Malkin, for example, whined to her cultlike audience that liberals were being mean to them: "You killed these police officers. It’s all your fault." As Oliver notes, the Instawanker has been thrashing about angrily too.

My favorite, though, was Neil Sheppard at Newsbusters:

Let's be clear what these attacks on folks like Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity are all about -- the left-wing in our nation want to silence ALL opposing voices in the media, and they will do it using all tools at their disposal INCLUDING blaming journalists and political commentators for the criminal behavior of others.

This is a familiar refrain that comes up every time anyone raises a socially damning issue like this one: We're trying to oppress them, to silence their voices, by pointing out how morally and ethically bankrupt they are.

Actually, we're just pointing out how bankrupt they are. No one here has said anything about silencing their voices -- we just want them to face up to the consequences of their irresponsible rhetoric. It's called culpability: They obviously are not criminally culpable, nor likely even civilly culpable. But they are morally and ethically culpable. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://crooksandliars.com/node/27180

[Kerrytravelers]

1. By yelling this from the rooftops, they are telling all their ilk that we want to silence them.

It sends the message not to talk to those with whom you disagree with politically, thereby continuing the polarization the RW does so well and ending any notion of talking, of which the RW does so poorly. It also helps continue the myth that Obama is failing and that everything he does is meant to end America as we know it.

It is scary because they are telling this to angry people who are arming themselves.

[RandomThoughts]

2. The more they say about what they believe the better.

The real threat to society is not people speaking there beliefs, it is people lying about them, saying one thing then doing another. Or worse saying what they do not believe in order to fool people or get people to do things for other reasons they do not say.

When Riley blames rape victims for rape by the way they are dressed, or when Glenn Beck says he hates a few of the 9-11 widows, they show their thoughts to many people. That is good. Not because of what they said, but by others being able to see how they think.

I do not think what they say is good, but in those statements it shows a lack of empathy for others, a lack of caring. Seeing that about them is revealing to what can create there POVs and beliefs about groups and people.

Glenn Beck could have phrased his comment about 9-11 widows being to vocal in his view with compassion. The way he said it was without compassion for them. Same thing with Riley.

That is what their comments show, their inner thoughts, that is a good thing, even if we disagree with their thoughts.

[stillcool]

3. The empty drum beats the loudest...

I have no problem with these people screeching their hate, but I do have a problem with them being given a national microphone via all the cable 'news' programming. They are portrayed as main stream, and as having valid points of view. Allowing lies and distortion to parade as fact without being questioned is wrong, irresponsible, and unhealthy for everyone.

[OHdem10]

4. Unfortunately they have found it works. To be a minority party in

trouble, they sure get a lot of what they want.