The Fairness Doctrine, Paranoia, and Right-Wing Self-Pity

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I've been fascinated of late with the far-right hysteria about the reemergence of the "fairness doctrine," because conservative activists are gearing up for a knock-down brawl against an enemy that doesn't exist. Everyone from obscure right-wing bloggers to Rush Limbaugh to Washington Post columnists are prepared for a fight that isn't going to happen. And yet, the nonsense doesn't stop. Perusing the news this morning, there are still more conservative columnists railing against the "plan" to bring back the fairness doctrine, and unhinged propaganda about the "unprecedented government assault upon the First Amendment" that is allegedly on the way.

The New Republic's Marin Cogan asked around, trying to find Democrats who actually support bringing the fairness doctrine back, or media-reform liberals who might push for action on this. Cogan couldn't find any.

Obama opposes it. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D) of New Mexico, allegedly a supporter, said, "Somebody plucked this out of the clear blue sky. This is a completely made-up issue." Mark Lloyd, co-author of a Center for American Progress media report, said, "I don't think there's any movement [to restore the fairness doctrine] at all.... We don't support it. " Craig Aaron of the media-reform group FreePress says, "n reality, the fairness doctrine as it existed is never ever coming back."

So, what's the point of baseless right-wing hysteria? Cogan makes the case:

Republican paranoia is nothing more than that.

Democrats may scratch their heads over why this has lately become a right-wing obsession, but the paranoia is not without precedent. The prospect of being in the opposition often brings out the worst in conservatives -- paranoia and self-pity. Plus, when the conservative coalition seems threatened, there's no better way to unify the party than scaring up liberal bogeymen.

Quite right. Given the collapse of the Republican Party's electoral fortunes, folks like Limbaugh and Michael Gerson have to create a rallying cry, and there's no better way to whip up the Republican base than to make far-right activists feel like victims. "Liberals are coming to take away your talk radio!" is, obviously, pretty effective.

It's kind of pathetic, actually.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Not sure what you're on about, but if no real politicians are talking about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine then the Right Wing pundits like Limbaugh are just blowin smoke up their audience's #######.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

if no real politicians are talking about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine then the Right Wing pundits like Limbaugh are just blowin smoke up their audience's #######.

Which goes back to that other article about how shock jocks appeal to their audience's paranoia by making out that they represent some sort of oppressed minority.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

if no real politicians are talking about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine then the Right Wing pundits like Limbaugh are just blowin smoke up their audience's #######.

Which goes back to that other article about how shock jocks appeal to their audience's paranoia by making out that they represent some sort of oppressed minority.

Exactly....the victim mentality.....which is where the self pity come in.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Exactly. And don't ever question the messiah.

[Nagishkaw 510]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Exactly. And don't ever question the messiah.

[HAL 9000 96]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Yeah you certainly do hermano.

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Yeah you certainly do hermano.

can you push 1 on your cpu for english when you reply?

[HAL 9000 96]

so when the left complained about gwb, the iraq war, the patriot act, whatever topic they felt was the flavor of the day, they were patriots. when republicans do it, they are whiners. got it.

Yeah you certainly do hermano.

can you push 1 on your cpu for english when you reply?

Awwwwwwwwwww

[peejay 327]

Actually I'm more worried about the pricks doing away with the 401K deduction. The Fairness Doctrine doesn't take money out of my pocket. Eliminating the 401K deduction does. And the pricks are looking into eliminating the 401k deduction as we speak. Feedom of speech always takes a backseat to the pocketbook. You wanted change? Here it is.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Actually I'm more worried about the pricks doing away with the 401K deduction. The Fairness Doctrine doesn't take money out of my pocket. Eliminating the 401K deduction does. And the pricks are looking into eliminating the 401k deduction as we speak. Feedom of speech always takes a backseat to the pocketbook. You wanted change? Here it is.

everyone...

He is worried about the 401K deduction, ok? just making sure you understood he is worried about the 401K deduction, because the 401K deduction is worrisome

Edited November 20, 2008 by TävôLuDô

[Ban Hammer 13,364]

Actually I'm more worried about the pricks doing away with the 401K deduction. The Fairness Doctrine doesn't take money out of my pocket. Eliminating the 401K deduction does. And the pricks are looking into eliminating the 401k deduction as we speak. Feedom of speech always takes a backseat to the pocketbook. You wanted change? Here it is.

everyone...

He is worried about the 401K deduction, ok? just making sure you understood he is worried about the 401K deduction, because the 401K deduction is worrisome

here's your sign

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Actually I'm more worried about the pricks doing away with the 401K deduction. The Fairness Doctrine doesn't take money out of my pocket. Eliminating the 401K deduction does. And the pricks are looking into eliminating the 401k deduction as we speak. Feedom of speech always takes a backseat to the pocketbook. You wanted change? Here it is.

They're talking about doing away with pre-tax deduction. I think just about everything should be on the table for discussion in terms of how to get this economy back on track. That isn't to say that I support the idea, but it's time to rethink how we are going about doing things.

[HAL 9000 96]

Actually I'm more worried about the pricks doing away with the 401K deduction. The Fairness Doctrine doesn't take money out of my pocket. Eliminating the 401K deduction does. And the pricks are looking into eliminating the 401k deduction as we speak. Feedom of speech always takes a backseat to the pocketbook. You wanted change? Here it is.

They're talking about doing away with pre-tax deduction. I think just about everything should be on the table for discussion in terms of how to get this economy back on track. That isn't to say that I support the idea, but it's time to rethink how we are going about doing things.

Correct. In this economy, there is growing and growing unemployment. Not really much of an increase in benefits-eligible jobs at all.