The New, Cynical Civility
I read an interesting article on alternet about the new "civility" we're seeing from the formerly-rabid right. If you're wondering why the talking heads went from demonizing Obama to saying "lets all be Americans" -- and wondering where to find some more honest opinions on the web -- here's some pointers.
I started my Fox News Election Day Agony Watch at 6:30 a.m. I was expecting a lot of last-minute shrieking about voter fraud, ACORN and Barack Hussein Osama terrorist-mongering, the climax to a vicious campaign that Fox had been promoting over the previous month or two, but what was so strange that day was the relatively subdued, quasi-civil tone that Fox was taking.
...
The Fox execs also did their best to affect a civil, gracious tone. That's why watching the Fox News agony-of-defeat spectacle was more subtle than I'd expected: The mob leaders had decided to abandon the mob -- meaning if I wanted to get a glimpse into the raw screeching agony that the right wing really feels when the camera is turned off, I would have to head into the blog world, where they could squeal their lungs out in safe anonymity.
You can see this in action over at Davey Horowitz's blog at Frontpage, too. In "A Historic Victory", he writes:
I think it's important for all my fellow conservatives to take a moment in the next few days to reflect on these facts and not rush into the partisan struggles which are bound to crowd our political space in the years to come. Let us reflect on the fact that sharp as our divisions are, we are a nation that settles our differences at the ballot box and not in civil strife. Let us do the American thing and give this man the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to prove his mettle by assuming his role as the leader of our nation -- one and indivisble; let us see if he will live up to his promises to heal the country's wounds and unify its contending factions. ... There will be time enough to hold him to account if he does not honor his promises, and to celebrate with him if he does. In the meantime, let us celebrate this historic moment in America's progress, and do everything we can to show the generosity of spirit that has made America a land that we love.
This after giving his page over to the folks who were all too happy to drum up fear of the candidate, and wonder if he was a Muslim.
Is a little honesty too much to ask? Just come out and say what you mean, folks.
I started my Fox News Election Day Agony Watch at 6:30 a.m. I was expecting a lot of last-minute shrieking about voter fraud, ACORN and Barack Hussein Osama terrorist-mongering, the climax to a vicious campaign that Fox had been promoting over the previous month or two, but what was so strange that day was the relatively subdued, quasi-civil tone that Fox was taking.
...
The Fox execs also did their best to affect a civil, gracious tone. That's why watching the Fox News agony-of-defeat spectacle was more subtle than I'd expected: The mob leaders had decided to abandon the mob -- meaning if I wanted to get a glimpse into the raw screeching agony that the right wing really feels when the camera is turned off, I would have to head into the blog world, where they could squeal their lungs out in safe anonymity.
You can see this in action over at Davey Horowitz's blog at Frontpage, too. In "A Historic Victory", he writes:
I think it's important for all my fellow conservatives to take a moment in the next few days to reflect on these facts and not rush into the partisan struggles which are bound to crowd our political space in the years to come. Let us reflect on the fact that sharp as our divisions are, we are a nation that settles our differences at the ballot box and not in civil strife. Let us do the American thing and give this man the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to prove his mettle by assuming his role as the leader of our nation -- one and indivisble; let us see if he will live up to his promises to heal the country's wounds and unify its contending factions. ... There will be time enough to hold him to account if he does not honor his promises, and to celebrate with him if he does. In the meantime, let us celebrate this historic moment in America's progress, and do everything we can to show the generosity of spirit that has made America a land that we love.
This after giving his page over to the folks who were all too happy to drum up fear of the candidate, and wonder if he was a Muslim.
Is a little honesty too much to ask? Just come out and say what you mean, folks.
posted by J. Edward Tremlett at 10:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home