“American Exceptionalism!”
You are no doubt familiar with this phrase. It is a phrase that we use frequently to make us feel good about ourselves. We use it when we talk about our society, our way of life, our entrepreneurial spirit. We use it when we talk about our freedoms, our rights and our historic achievements.
Sometimes we use it in reference to aspects of our society that in reality are not quite so exceptional…like our education, our health care, our legal system, our economic inequality and our exalted status as the world’s lone superpower.
“American Exceptionalism!” We are Americans and therefore we ARE exceptional.
If we are in fact an “exceptional” nation one would think that we would look out for those who allow us to live our exceptional lives in peace. We are referring to the American military.
There are those who feel that we spend too much time and effort “glorifying” members of the armed forces. It is true that in a country without conscription these men and women volunteered to serve. They knew what they were signing up for. Nobody made them do it. There is a great deal of truth to that point of view.
It is also true that they volunteered to do something that most of us do not have the courage to do…risk their lives for their fellowman. They are in fact the only thing standing between our ability to live our “exceptional” lives in peace and a regular replay of the horrors of 9/11. Whether or not they deserve the reverence that we send their way is subject matter for another rant. What they most certainly deserve is the care and benefits they were promised when they signed up.
There are new reports that the VA continues to fail to provide military veterans the care they were promised. Reports out of a VA hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming tell the story of systematic efforts being undertaken to conceal the fact that military personnel have to wait 3-6 months to receive care.
A veteran seeking a medical appointment is supposed to be seen within a 14 day window. Schedulers in Cheyenne report that they are being taught by their supervisors how to adjust the records to make it appear that veterans are being seen on a timely basis when in fact it takes 3-6 months to get in to see a doctor. This report comes on the heels of a scandal at the Phoenix VA where as many as 40 veterans have died while waiting for the care they were promised
There is a systemic failure on the part of the VA to care for returning veterans. It seems like every six months we hear reports of another scandal within the VA. People will cry out in outrage...congress will hold hearings…and nothing will be done.
“American Exceptionalism.!”
Monday, May 12, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Republicans Politicize Benghazi
Trey Gowdy says that it would be wrong for his Republican counterparts to politicize the deaths of four Americans murdered in the attack on the Benghazi consulate.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” the newly appointed Republican chairman of the Watergate like select committee investigating the events surrounding the attack and the administration’s response, told the hosts that he would do everything in his power to conduct a fair investigation and refrain from politicizing the tragedy.
On one hand, as committee chairman Gowdy’s comments carry some weight. On the other hand the very formation of his committee in and of itself reeks of partisan politics. Darrel Issa and his House Oversight Committee have been conducting hearings on the matter for the better part of two years. We know what happened and we know how the administration handled the aftermath…badly. The only purpose for appointing Gowdy’s committee is to politicize the event and drag out the scandal through the elections.
Want proof!
W
hile Gowdy was telling the “Morning Joe” crowd that Republicans would not politicize the death of four Americans, the National Republican Congressional Committee was sending out an email proclaiming “Benghazi Was a Cover-up” and proclaiming itself to be a “Benghazi Watchdog.” Viewers were encouraged to become "Benghazi Watchdogs" by donating $25-$500 to help Republicans expose the cover-up.
Nothing political going on here!
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” the newly appointed Republican chairman of the Watergate like select committee investigating the events surrounding the attack and the administration’s response, told the hosts that he would do everything in his power to conduct a fair investigation and refrain from politicizing the tragedy.
On one hand, as committee chairman Gowdy’s comments carry some weight. On the other hand the very formation of his committee in and of itself reeks of partisan politics. Darrel Issa and his House Oversight Committee have been conducting hearings on the matter for the better part of two years. We know what happened and we know how the administration handled the aftermath…badly. The only purpose for appointing Gowdy’s committee is to politicize the event and drag out the scandal through the elections.
Want proof!
W
hile Gowdy was telling the “Morning Joe” crowd that Republicans would not politicize the death of four Americans, the National Republican Congressional Committee was sending out an email proclaiming “Benghazi Was a Cover-up” and proclaiming itself to be a “Benghazi Watchdog.” Viewers were encouraged to become "Benghazi Watchdogs" by donating $25-$500 to help Republicans expose the cover-up.
Nothing political going on here!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
This & That
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK/ROUND ONE – Moderate Thom Tillis successfully defeated two unstable Tea Party challengers to secure the Republican nomination for the North Carolina Senate seat. Tillis earned the right to face off against Democrat incumbent Senator Kay Hagan in the general. Winning the North Carolina seat is critical to any hope Republicans have of taking control of the Senate. Tillis’ ability to defeat Tea Party candidates backed by Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee is a big win for the Republican establishment. On a side note…90% of the money spent in the campaign came from outside special interest groups. The purchase of this election was brought to you by the United States Supreme Court.
ROUND TWO – Speaker John Boehner successfully defeated two Tea Party challengers to win his party’s nomination to seek a thirteenth term in congress. Yawn! Boehner’s camp flooded the local airwaves with radio and television ads over the past several weeks. One has to wonder if the money would have been better spent elsewhere than on a campaign whose success is a foregone conclusion.
BENGHAZI…again – Republican leadership has authorized the formation of a Watergate type ad hoc committee to investigate the events surrounding the attack on the Benghazi consulate that took four American lives. Democrats have refused to participate in what they feel is a political witch hunt. Both sides need to be careful here. By refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the committee Democrats risk being accused of a cover up. For their part Republicans run the risk of being accused of politicizing the deaths of four Americans. As one Republican analyst said: "There is a fine line between an invetigation and a kangeroo court." Either way this is a boil that will continue to fester through the upcoming elections.
NIGERIA – The United States is sending kidnap and hostage negotiation experts to assist the Nigerian government returning the 200 young girls kidnapped by Islamist terrorists. This is a moral issue and we applaud the administrations’ willingness to help. But once again we have to ask…why us? Why do we always have to be the one stepping in whenever a tragedy occurs? Is there no other nation in the world capable of offering the Nigerian government the assistance they seek?
PUTIN – It appears inevitable that the Russians intend to annex the Ukraine. The large number of Russian troops now stationed on the eastern Ukrainian border, the internal violence and unrest propagated by Russian agents and the call for subsequent new elections mirrors the course of events immediately prior to Putin’s invasion of Georgia and later Crimea. President Obama is soon going to have to decide when enough is enough. The world, as always, is sitting on its hands and watching.
ROUND TWO – Speaker John Boehner successfully defeated two Tea Party challengers to win his party’s nomination to seek a thirteenth term in congress. Yawn! Boehner’s camp flooded the local airwaves with radio and television ads over the past several weeks. One has to wonder if the money would have been better spent elsewhere than on a campaign whose success is a foregone conclusion.
BENGHAZI…again – Republican leadership has authorized the formation of a Watergate type ad hoc committee to investigate the events surrounding the attack on the Benghazi consulate that took four American lives. Democrats have refused to participate in what they feel is a political witch hunt. Both sides need to be careful here. By refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the committee Democrats risk being accused of a cover up. For their part Republicans run the risk of being accused of politicizing the deaths of four Americans. As one Republican analyst said: "There is a fine line between an invetigation and a kangeroo court." Either way this is a boil that will continue to fester through the upcoming elections.
NIGERIA – The United States is sending kidnap and hostage negotiation experts to assist the Nigerian government returning the 200 young girls kidnapped by Islamist terrorists. This is a moral issue and we applaud the administrations’ willingness to help. But once again we have to ask…why us? Why do we always have to be the one stepping in whenever a tragedy occurs? Is there no other nation in the world capable of offering the Nigerian government the assistance they seek?
PUTIN – It appears inevitable that the Russians intend to annex the Ukraine. The large number of Russian troops now stationed on the eastern Ukrainian border, the internal violence and unrest propagated by Russian agents and the call for subsequent new elections mirrors the course of events immediately prior to Putin’s invasion of Georgia and later Crimea. President Obama is soon going to have to decide when enough is enough. The world, as always, is sitting on its hands and watching.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Let The Festivities Begin!
If you are a political junkie then today is your Christmas Eve. For tonight marks the beginning of the primary season.
The war that we will be watching closely is the one being waged within the Republican Party between Party moderates and the Tea Party Patriots. The Republicans have a very good chance at winning control of the senate. The question is whether they can set aside their internal bickering to nominate candidates who have snowballs chance in hell of defeating weak Democrat incumbents.
You may recall that in 2010 the Tea Party managed to place into nomination a host of misfits that allowed weak Democrat incumbents to hold their seats. Todd “legitimate rape” Akin comes to mind. Akin was such a flawed candidate that incumbent Claire McCaskill anonymously ran television ads promoting Akins candidacy in the primary. A weakened McCaskill understood that Akin was the only Republican that she had a chance to beat in the general. Akin won the Republican nomination and McCaskill beat him by 15 points in the general.
Tonight all eyes will be on North Carolina where incumbent Democrat Senator Kay Hagen is in real trouble. The Republican moderates want to nominate state House speaker Thom Tillis. A seasoned political veteran, Republicans believe Tillis gives them the best chance to unseat the weakened Hagen. Tillis has won the support of the NRA, Jeb Bush, Mitch McConnell and Mitt Romney. Local Tea Partiers have other ideas. They favor the more conservative Greg Bannon or Mark Harris. Bannon has stated publically that the Supreme Court has no authority under the Constitution and that the right to bear arms includes the right to own nuclear weapons. Will Bannon be this year’s Akin?
Will moderate Republicans reign in the Tea Party bunch and take control of the Senate? Or will the radicals on the right once again propel Democrats to victory?
“Tis the season!”
Let the festivities begin!
The war that we will be watching closely is the one being waged within the Republican Party between Party moderates and the Tea Party Patriots. The Republicans have a very good chance at winning control of the senate. The question is whether they can set aside their internal bickering to nominate candidates who have snowballs chance in hell of defeating weak Democrat incumbents.
You may recall that in 2010 the Tea Party managed to place into nomination a host of misfits that allowed weak Democrat incumbents to hold their seats. Todd “legitimate rape” Akin comes to mind. Akin was such a flawed candidate that incumbent Claire McCaskill anonymously ran television ads promoting Akins candidacy in the primary. A weakened McCaskill understood that Akin was the only Republican that she had a chance to beat in the general. Akin won the Republican nomination and McCaskill beat him by 15 points in the general.
Tonight all eyes will be on North Carolina where incumbent Democrat Senator Kay Hagen is in real trouble. The Republican moderates want to nominate state House speaker Thom Tillis. A seasoned political veteran, Republicans believe Tillis gives them the best chance to unseat the weakened Hagen. Tillis has won the support of the NRA, Jeb Bush, Mitch McConnell and Mitt Romney. Local Tea Partiers have other ideas. They favor the more conservative Greg Bannon or Mark Harris. Bannon has stated publically that the Supreme Court has no authority under the Constitution and that the right to bear arms includes the right to own nuclear weapons. Will Bannon be this year’s Akin?
Will moderate Republicans reign in the Tea Party bunch and take control of the Senate? Or will the radicals on the right once again propel Democrats to victory?
“Tis the season!”
Let the festivities begin!
Monday, May 5, 2014
Good Enough For Us
The president continues to take flack on his foreign policy bona fides. Critics call him weak, disengaged and feckless. His foreign policy disjointed, ad hoc and without any true sense of direction or urgency. The New York Times Editorial Board in a recent op-ed wrote: “Mr. Obama’s record on foreign policy is not as bad as his critics say. It’s just not good enough.”
“Not good enough?” What does that mean?
It is true that the Obama is seen as a weak president in many countries across the globe. Washington Post reporter and bestselling author David Ignatius makes that point. “I travel the world. Ideology aside…President Obama is seen as ineffectual and weak among foreign diplomats and heads of state.” His drawing a red line on Syria’s use of chemical weapons and then failing to act when Assad crossed the line played no small part in fomenting that opinion. The president most certainly has made some mistakes and his cautious approach has fed the narrative. But basically Obama has been the type of foreign policy leader most Americans and world leaders wanted after eight years of George W. Bush’s ham fisted diplomacy.
Critics should remember that in spite of all the bluster about our president being the leader of the free world he is first and foremost the President of the United States of America. He answers to the citizens of this country not the foreign heads of state that are only too happy to have him do the heavy lifting while they sit back and pad their wallets. The American people have made it clear that they are war weary and have no desire to enter into any conflict that does not pose a direct threat to our borders. Senators McCain and Cruz can bang the war drums all they want. They are in the minority when it comes to spending our blood and treasure on another civil war in a foreign land. If conscription were the law of the land mothers and fathers would be praising his patience and level headed approach.
The first priority of the President of the United States is to keep the country safe. By all accounts he has done that. He has pulled us out of the quagmire of two unending wars and he has been resolute when it comes to dealing with those who would threaten our shores. (See Osama bin Laden and the use of drones to eliminate terrorists, even those born within our boarders, who pose a direct threat to our way of life.)
But Obama is no Putin. And in spite of the daily praise showered on the Russian leader by FOXNEWS we are most happy for that to be the case.
By all accounts the president is listening to the American people; keeping the country safe while using diplomacy as the first response to foreign aggression.
That may not be good enough for the NYT…but its good enough for us.
There remains the unanswered question…when will enough be enough for this president. What will it take to cause this president to act in a manner that will satisfy his critics?
Let’s hope we never find out.
“Not good enough?” What does that mean?
It is true that the Obama is seen as a weak president in many countries across the globe. Washington Post reporter and bestselling author David Ignatius makes that point. “I travel the world. Ideology aside…President Obama is seen as ineffectual and weak among foreign diplomats and heads of state.” His drawing a red line on Syria’s use of chemical weapons and then failing to act when Assad crossed the line played no small part in fomenting that opinion. The president most certainly has made some mistakes and his cautious approach has fed the narrative. But basically Obama has been the type of foreign policy leader most Americans and world leaders wanted after eight years of George W. Bush’s ham fisted diplomacy.
Critics should remember that in spite of all the bluster about our president being the leader of the free world he is first and foremost the President of the United States of America. He answers to the citizens of this country not the foreign heads of state that are only too happy to have him do the heavy lifting while they sit back and pad their wallets. The American people have made it clear that they are war weary and have no desire to enter into any conflict that does not pose a direct threat to our borders. Senators McCain and Cruz can bang the war drums all they want. They are in the minority when it comes to spending our blood and treasure on another civil war in a foreign land. If conscription were the law of the land mothers and fathers would be praising his patience and level headed approach.
The first priority of the President of the United States is to keep the country safe. By all accounts he has done that. He has pulled us out of the quagmire of two unending wars and he has been resolute when it comes to dealing with those who would threaten our shores. (See Osama bin Laden and the use of drones to eliminate terrorists, even those born within our boarders, who pose a direct threat to our way of life.)
But Obama is no Putin. And in spite of the daily praise showered on the Russian leader by FOXNEWS we are most happy for that to be the case.
By all accounts the president is listening to the American people; keeping the country safe while using diplomacy as the first response to foreign aggression.
That may not be good enough for the NYT…but its good enough for us.
There remains the unanswered question…when will enough be enough for this president. What will it take to cause this president to act in a manner that will satisfy his critics?
Let’s hope we never find out.
Friday, May 2, 2014
All Benghazi...All The Time!
Benghazi...Benghazi…Benghazi… the story that just won’t go away.
The lead story once again in today’s politics is the raid on the US Consulate in Benghazi. Chairman Darrell Issa and his Oversight Committee found another piece of red meat to chew on with the delayed release of an email that appears to contradict White House and State Department assertions that they believed the raid was a spontaneous act carried out by individuals who were protesting an anti-Islamist video.
The White House says that they believed the attack was a spontaneous event. They say their belief was based on talking points provided to them by the intelligence community.
Republicans believe that the White House knew that the attack was an orchestrated terrorist attack but that the administration did not want to appear weak on terrorism in the middle of an election campaign. According to Republicans the White House politicized the death of four Americans for political gain. The White house has consistently denied that allegation.
Here is what we think happened.
There were massive protests going on in Cairo over the anti-Islamist video. When the attack occurred in Benghazi the CIA and State Department assumed it was a spillover of those same protests. At some point in time the administration received “after action reports” detailing the RPGs and other heavy armaments used by the attackers. The munitions made it clear that this was no spontaneous attack but a planned assault by terrorists. Whether the terrorists were inspired by the video is anybody’s guess. By the time the reports came in the administration was too far into its assertion that the attack was spontaneous to suddenly change course and admit to the terrorism. This is not all that surprising given the administrations’ unwillingness to give any advantage to its political opponents. Now that the dust has settled and the facts are becoming clear the cover-up is proving to be more damaging than the story itself.
Issa and the Republicans are only too happy to pile on the criticism. Republicans have been extremely efficient at halting this president’s agenda and Benghazi offers another opportunity that is too good to pass up; especially in an election year.
Republicans are also happy to divert the public’s attention from their horrific congressional record. Blocking the president may be good politics but the American people want to see the country moving forward.
Politics aside, the real scandal here is why a US Consulate was left unprotected in a war zone. The State Department has requested an additional $350 million to beef up security at American embassies across the globe. The Republican House denied that request. The consulate in Benghazi had asked the State Department for additional security forces on two previous occasions. Those requests were denied. Once the attacks began, spontaneously or not, there was nothing the State Department nor could the US Military do in time to stop the carnage.
The Benghazi story lives on…and it’s not going away any time soon…especially if Hillary decides to run.
The lead story once again in today’s politics is the raid on the US Consulate in Benghazi. Chairman Darrell Issa and his Oversight Committee found another piece of red meat to chew on with the delayed release of an email that appears to contradict White House and State Department assertions that they believed the raid was a spontaneous act carried out by individuals who were protesting an anti-Islamist video.
The White House says that they believed the attack was a spontaneous event. They say their belief was based on talking points provided to them by the intelligence community.
Republicans believe that the White House knew that the attack was an orchestrated terrorist attack but that the administration did not want to appear weak on terrorism in the middle of an election campaign. According to Republicans the White House politicized the death of four Americans for political gain. The White house has consistently denied that allegation.
Here is what we think happened.
There were massive protests going on in Cairo over the anti-Islamist video. When the attack occurred in Benghazi the CIA and State Department assumed it was a spillover of those same protests. At some point in time the administration received “after action reports” detailing the RPGs and other heavy armaments used by the attackers. The munitions made it clear that this was no spontaneous attack but a planned assault by terrorists. Whether the terrorists were inspired by the video is anybody’s guess. By the time the reports came in the administration was too far into its assertion that the attack was spontaneous to suddenly change course and admit to the terrorism. This is not all that surprising given the administrations’ unwillingness to give any advantage to its political opponents. Now that the dust has settled and the facts are becoming clear the cover-up is proving to be more damaging than the story itself.
Issa and the Republicans are only too happy to pile on the criticism. Republicans have been extremely efficient at halting this president’s agenda and Benghazi offers another opportunity that is too good to pass up; especially in an election year.
Republicans are also happy to divert the public’s attention from their horrific congressional record. Blocking the president may be good politics but the American people want to see the country moving forward.
Politics aside, the real scandal here is why a US Consulate was left unprotected in a war zone. The State Department has requested an additional $350 million to beef up security at American embassies across the globe. The Republican House denied that request. The consulate in Benghazi had asked the State Department for additional security forces on two previous occasions. Those requests were denied. Once the attacks began, spontaneously or not, there was nothing the State Department nor could the US Military do in time to stop the carnage.
The Benghazi story lives on…and it’s not going away any time soon…especially if Hillary decides to run.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
FOXNEWS Viewers...This One's For You!
I live about five miles from Speaker John Boehner’s West Chester residence. As you might imagine it is a very conservative community. The news outlet of choice around here is FOXNEWS. If you walk into any home or business you will in all likelihood find FOXNEWS providing background noise for the day’s activities. Most of my friends and family members have made FOXNEWS their news outlet of choice. So it is with some amount of trepidation that I write this posting.
It is my personal belief that the misinformation coming out of FOXNEWS has had a detrimental effect on the Republican Party, the conservative movement and the country. For too long I have nodded my head in polite agreement as I listened to friends and family parrot what I know to be the factual misrepresentations coming out of the FOX cable news channel. Well, enough is enough.
So to all those advocates of the FOXNEWS network…this blog is for you.
FOXNEWS viewers are uninformed. That is not just my personal opinion. ABC, NBC, CBS and PEW all conducted surveys to determine viewer preferences for current events. They each asked focus groups a series of questions about civics and current news topics. They also asked the participants to provide their primary source for news and information. Across the board, the most uninformed of all the groups surveyed was the group of participants that sited FOXNEWS as their primary source for news and information. The results are not surprising, especially given the personalities that FOXNEWS hires as paid contributors.
FOXNEWS hired Sarah Palin as a political expert. FOXNEWS viewers believe that Ms. Palin is qualified to serve as president. This is a woman who quit her governorship, doesn’t read and according to her campaign SUPPORTERS preferred Bloomingdales to briefing books.
FOXNEWS gave us Dick Morris as polling expert and campaign guru. Morris is the guy who on the morning of the election predicted that Romney would defeat Obama in a landslide.
FOXNEWS hired Carl Rove to handicap the election. Rove raised hundreds of millions of dollars in support of candidates that the American people rejected. On election night Rove embarrassingly refused to call Ohio and the election for Obama when every other major news outlet…including the pollsters at FOXNEWS…had already made the announcement.
FOXNEWS hired Glenn Beck. Enough said!
FOXNEWS supports candidates like Todd Akin, Sharon Engle and Christine O’Donnell. Candidates no more qualified to serve nor capable of winning and election than I am.
Viewers of FOXNEWS slurp at the tough and parrot the talking points. But their actions often tell a different story.
Viewers of FOXNEWS typically support the Tea Party. Fair enough! They can be found at Tea Party rallies bearing signs that say “KEEP YOUR GOD DAMN GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE!”
Viewers of FOXNEWS hate the president and bemoan the size of government. Then they drive on federally paved highways, send their kids to government funded public schools, buy food protected by the FDA and breathe air protected by the EPA. I could go on but you get the picture.
FOXNEWS complains about the government meddling in people’s lives. Palin likes to chime in here and talk about freedom and liberty. Viewers applaud and parrot the talking points. Then they support laws that tell taxpaying citizens who they can love, who they can and cannot marry, when they can and cannot vote; all while restricting access to legal women’s health services.
FOXNEWS likes to talk about the “takers.” These are the people who dare to access the social safety net. The 47% who FOX says are happy to live on the government dole. Viewers applaud and parrot the talking points. Then they stand in line to collect their unemployment benefits and use emergency rooms and Medicaid to tend to their health care needs.
FOXNEWS supports the NRA. Fair enough! Viewers proclaim their right to bear arms. “If you take away my gun you take away my liberty.” Another talking point! They bemoan the tragic mass shootings at places like Columbine and Sandy Hook. Then they block every attempt to pass sensible gun laws to curb the violence.
FOXNEWS portrays Ronald Reagan as the godfather of conservatism. Viewers nod in agreement. Reagan raised taxes nine times in his eight years in office.
FOXNEWS portrays Republicans as sober fiscal conservatives and Democrats as lavish spenders. Viewers parrot the party line. History tells us that deficits typically shrink under Democrat presidents and increase under Republican leadership. Clinton balanced the budget. Bush 43 left office with a $5 trillion deficit. Wars can be expensive.
Speaking of wars…FOXNEWS portrays Republicans as warriors and Democrats as weak and feckless. Viewers agree! Bush sent the full force of the US military after bin Laden and failed. Obama got him with a handful of Navy Seals.
FOXNEWS rips Obama and the intelligence agencies for violating Americans’ privacy. “Hacking our emails and tapping our phone logs is a violation of our basic freedoms” they say. Viewers parrot the talking points. Yet FOXNEWS and its audience had no problem with Bush signing the Patriot Act into law. The Patriot Act is the very cornerstone on which the current eavesdropping procedures are based.
FOXNEWS likes to tell its viewers that we are a nation of laws. Viewers enthusiastically nod in agreement. Talking points to follow. But they look the other way when we violate the Geneva Convention by water boarding detainees. And they are silent on the topic of due process when we hold detainees at Guantanamo indefinitely without filing charges. Sarah Palin attends an NRA Convention where she defends water boarding and proclaims “If I were in charge, they would know that water boarding is how we baptize terrorists.” In one sentence Palin offends law abiding Americans, Muslims and the religious community. Viewers give her a standing ovation.
Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. But if you are going to voice your opinion, then at least make it an informed opinion. Check out another news outlet to get a different slant on the issues. ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS the Cartoon Network…I don’t care. Listen to opposing views and then make up your own mind rather than allow one news outlet to make it for you.
FOXNEWS likes to say they are “Fair and Balanced” in their reporting. Roger Ailes says that FOXNEWS was specifically launched to provide a counterbalance to the left leaning reporting coming out of MSNBC.
If you watch FOXNEWS and you don’t know who Roger Ailes is…then you are truly uninformed.
It is my personal belief that the misinformation coming out of FOXNEWS has had a detrimental effect on the Republican Party, the conservative movement and the country. For too long I have nodded my head in polite agreement as I listened to friends and family parrot what I know to be the factual misrepresentations coming out of the FOX cable news channel. Well, enough is enough.
So to all those advocates of the FOXNEWS network…this blog is for you.
FOXNEWS viewers are uninformed. That is not just my personal opinion. ABC, NBC, CBS and PEW all conducted surveys to determine viewer preferences for current events. They each asked focus groups a series of questions about civics and current news topics. They also asked the participants to provide their primary source for news and information. Across the board, the most uninformed of all the groups surveyed was the group of participants that sited FOXNEWS as their primary source for news and information. The results are not surprising, especially given the personalities that FOXNEWS hires as paid contributors.
FOXNEWS hired Sarah Palin as a political expert. FOXNEWS viewers believe that Ms. Palin is qualified to serve as president. This is a woman who quit her governorship, doesn’t read and according to her campaign SUPPORTERS preferred Bloomingdales to briefing books.
FOXNEWS gave us Dick Morris as polling expert and campaign guru. Morris is the guy who on the morning of the election predicted that Romney would defeat Obama in a landslide.
FOXNEWS hired Carl Rove to handicap the election. Rove raised hundreds of millions of dollars in support of candidates that the American people rejected. On election night Rove embarrassingly refused to call Ohio and the election for Obama when every other major news outlet…including the pollsters at FOXNEWS…had already made the announcement.
FOXNEWS hired Glenn Beck. Enough said!
FOXNEWS supports candidates like Todd Akin, Sharon Engle and Christine O’Donnell. Candidates no more qualified to serve nor capable of winning and election than I am.
Viewers of FOXNEWS slurp at the tough and parrot the talking points. But their actions often tell a different story.
Viewers of FOXNEWS typically support the Tea Party. Fair enough! They can be found at Tea Party rallies bearing signs that say “KEEP YOUR GOD DAMN GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF MY MEDICARE!”
Viewers of FOXNEWS hate the president and bemoan the size of government. Then they drive on federally paved highways, send their kids to government funded public schools, buy food protected by the FDA and breathe air protected by the EPA. I could go on but you get the picture.
FOXNEWS complains about the government meddling in people’s lives. Palin likes to chime in here and talk about freedom and liberty. Viewers applaud and parrot the talking points. Then they support laws that tell taxpaying citizens who they can love, who they can and cannot marry, when they can and cannot vote; all while restricting access to legal women’s health services.
FOXNEWS likes to talk about the “takers.” These are the people who dare to access the social safety net. The 47% who FOX says are happy to live on the government dole. Viewers applaud and parrot the talking points. Then they stand in line to collect their unemployment benefits and use emergency rooms and Medicaid to tend to their health care needs.
FOXNEWS supports the NRA. Fair enough! Viewers proclaim their right to bear arms. “If you take away my gun you take away my liberty.” Another talking point! They bemoan the tragic mass shootings at places like Columbine and Sandy Hook. Then they block every attempt to pass sensible gun laws to curb the violence.
FOXNEWS portrays Ronald Reagan as the godfather of conservatism. Viewers nod in agreement. Reagan raised taxes nine times in his eight years in office.
FOXNEWS portrays Republicans as sober fiscal conservatives and Democrats as lavish spenders. Viewers parrot the party line. History tells us that deficits typically shrink under Democrat presidents and increase under Republican leadership. Clinton balanced the budget. Bush 43 left office with a $5 trillion deficit. Wars can be expensive.
Speaking of wars…FOXNEWS portrays Republicans as warriors and Democrats as weak and feckless. Viewers agree! Bush sent the full force of the US military after bin Laden and failed. Obama got him with a handful of Navy Seals.
FOXNEWS rips Obama and the intelligence agencies for violating Americans’ privacy. “Hacking our emails and tapping our phone logs is a violation of our basic freedoms” they say. Viewers parrot the talking points. Yet FOXNEWS and its audience had no problem with Bush signing the Patriot Act into law. The Patriot Act is the very cornerstone on which the current eavesdropping procedures are based.
FOXNEWS likes to tell its viewers that we are a nation of laws. Viewers enthusiastically nod in agreement. Talking points to follow. But they look the other way when we violate the Geneva Convention by water boarding detainees. And they are silent on the topic of due process when we hold detainees at Guantanamo indefinitely without filing charges. Sarah Palin attends an NRA Convention where she defends water boarding and proclaims “If I were in charge, they would know that water boarding is how we baptize terrorists.” In one sentence Palin offends law abiding Americans, Muslims and the religious community. Viewers give her a standing ovation.
Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. But if you are going to voice your opinion, then at least make it an informed opinion. Check out another news outlet to get a different slant on the issues. ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS the Cartoon Network…I don’t care. Listen to opposing views and then make up your own mind rather than allow one news outlet to make it for you.
FOXNEWS likes to say they are “Fair and Balanced” in their reporting. Roger Ailes says that FOXNEWS was specifically launched to provide a counterbalance to the left leaning reporting coming out of MSNBC.
If you watch FOXNEWS and you don’t know who Roger Ailes is…then you are truly uninformed.
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