October 12, 2008 at 00:51:51

Where Are the Slander Merchants Taking Us?

SAVE AS FAVORITE

VIEW FAVORITES

By Mark Harris (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

opednews.com Permalink

The vitriol signals a political trend with dangerous authoritarian implications. But it's also just one factor in the larger mosaic of a democracy in decline. The empty fuel of crude slander is all the McCain campaign has to run on; ironically, against a Democratic candidate who can't come up with even one progressive policy proposal not watered down enough to be almost guaranteed to eventually disappoint. Meanwhile, it's not even an issue for the mainstream media that legitimate minority candidates are excluded from the public debates.

This may especially be the case if their grievances are driven by the convenient scapegoat of a new Democratic president. Undoubtedly, an Obama presidency will serve to further inflame America's cottage industry of right-wing demagogues, media blowhards, and closet racists to whip conservatism's frustrated malcontents into a frenzy of new resentments against "liberal America."

Such tendencies could get particularly nasty in a depressed economy, all the more so if the Democratic president's social policy falls short in bringing hope to ordinary Americans.

1 | 2

www.Mark-T-Harris.com

Mark T. Harris is a freelance writer living in Bloomington, Illinois. He has written for Utne, Z magazine, Dissent, and other publications.

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author

Contact Editor

View Authors' Articles

Book Recommendations for "Slander"

Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right
by Ann Coulter

$14.95
Lowest New Price $3.17
Number of pages: 327
Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Slander and Sweet Judgment: The Memoir of an Indiana Congressman
by Andy, Jr. Jacobs

$29.95
Lowest New Price $14.59
Number of pages: 456
Publisher: Guild Press of Indiana