A man who is accused of shooting and killing two at a Tennessee church apparently targeted the congregation "out of hatred for its support of liberal social policies," police said Monday.
One might ask: where would such extreme hatred of Liberals come from?
To get the answer, turn on Right-Wing talk radio any day.
There, on a daily basis, you'll hear the most amazingly vicious bashing of Liberals imaginable.
From Savage to Limbaugh to Hannity to the rest of HateWing radio, every day, one hears the most extraordinary demonization of Liberals and Democrats. If you get all your news and views from HateWing radio (as many Dittoheads do), you'll be convinced that Liberals are traitors who are working hand-in-hand with Al Qaeda to undermine the American nation.
Along with the hate, there's a hefty of dose of violent threats against Liberals on the AM radio dial these days.
Take right-wing nutcase Michael Graham, for example. In June 2007, he said he wanted to see someone "whack" the Clintons in a Sopranos spoof. And in 2003, Graham said of Hillary Clinton: "I wanted to bludgeon her with a tire iron."
Such inflammatory language is nothing new for the right-wing. Recall how Ann Coulter once wrote that the debate over Bill Clinton should be about "whether to impeach or assassinate."
Such seething hatred and threats of violence have ricocheted around the GOP echo chamber for at least the past couple of decades. And it hasn't been limited to right-wing talk radio.
Recall the comment by Jesse Helms in 1994: "Mr. Clinton better watch out if he comes down here. He'd better have a bodyguard."
Or G. Gordon Liddy's comment in 1995, when discussing how he'd used stick figures of the Clintons for target practice. "Thought it might improve my aim," he said.
Given this toxic stew of hatred and violent threats that poisons our nation's political discourse, we really shouldn't be surprised that there are many people out there who harbor extreme hatred toward Liberals.
The creator of the progressive site, BeggarsCanBeChoosers.com, Marc McDonald is an award-winning journalist who worked for 15 years for several Texas newspapers, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, before he quit his day job and set up shop in cyberspace in 1995. McDonald's articles have appeared in a number of popular progressive Web sites, including OpEdNews.com, BuzzFlash.com, Crooks and Liars, Salon.com, Progressive Daily Beacon, The Neil Rogers Show and The Raw Story. McDonald's Web articles have also been featured and reviewed by various national and international media, including CNN Headline News, the BBC, the Washington Post, USA Today and many more.
Why should intelligent readers believe a nut case, who walks into a church [any church] and opens fire on the congregation? He hates Liberals? How about he hates, period, endnote. And then, we're suppose to cast blame on right-wing radio? Look, I'm not a fan of Rush Limbaugh or any other right-wing big mouth, but a nut is a nut is a nut.
You want to blame someone, something? Blame the media who turns these events into mega-opportunities. Get a gun and go out in a blaze of glory. That's the message. I, too, am entitled to my 15 minutes of fame, anyway I can get it.
Come on. There are sick, deranged people out there [which says more about our ridiculous attitudes towards mental health patients and being swamped by guns than political leanings].
A crazy man is a crazy man. Who cares if he's a liberal or a conservative? The bullets kill just as effectively. And if he didn't have the political edge, I guarantee: he'd come up with something else. Like maybe, the Devil made me do it.
We need to reinstitute common sense into the public discourse.
by
Margaret A. Frey (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments)
on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 6:52:36 PM
Did A Culture of Right - Wing Hate Lead to Church Shootings?
I can say with confidence that I would hate to see this poll become another weapon against free speech. The individual who did the church shootings occupies the same psycho strata as any garden - variety abortion clinic bomber. I think that hate crime laws are necessary. The constitutional balance to constitutional free speech is the use of legal petitions. We send petitions around to the businesses that advertise on these wacky stations encouraging them to DROP THEIR ADS with the radio station. A successful use of this can be found re: lots of businesses that pulled their ads off of the Michael Savage Show. An Interfaith group actually formed to counter the damage done by buffoons like Michael Savage & others of his ilk. They call themselves "Hate Hurts America." Other fabulous groups are: The Southern Poverty Law Center, The Anti - Defamatioin League, Jews on First (refers to first amendment issues) and The Council on American Islamic Relations.
by
Jane Schiff (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 47 diaries, 34 comments)
on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 10:15:43 PM
What a Rush Limbaugh or a Michael Savage fear more than anything else is a loss of sponsorship and a loss of advertising revenue to their stations which ultimately hurts their ability to buy prescription drugs and prostitutes (joke of course). What an advertiser or a sponsor on these rightwing-radio stations fears most is a public boycott and alot of bad publicity for their company.
The conservatives have been using this tactic for years. It is time to fight back with our wallets.
by
E. Nelson (25 articles, 1 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 273 comments)
on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:23:55 AM
The very phrase "RIGHT WING HATE" breeds a certain emotional response.
When I see those words together, I expect the whole piece to be laced with the same uninformed tone as a Mike Savage Rant.
There is a group in this nation who would have the first amendment done away with for anyone who does not share their political point of view. In this very community I have been shouted down for posting an opinion that goes against the popular convention... There is no attempt to refute my argument, only a personal attack. This article is an extension of this mindset. When the Left Wing starts preaching the censorship rhetoric, that some people's freedom, people like Mike Savage and Rush Limbaugh, for example, need to be shut up, the left wing is guilty of the hate that they are accusing the right wing of embracing.
A man who is completely psychotic goes in and commits MURDER... Rather than blame the man responsible, the article blames talk radio, and this is funny since most of these people are against the military invading foreign nations due to the actions of AlQaeda....
Take note, I am not suggesting that invading a country, because of the actions of AlQaeda, was a good idea. I should not have to make this statement, but experience has taught me that if I do not, I will be labeled a warmonger, or worse.
Margaret A. Frey has it right when she says that we need more common sense applied to our discourse.
Ciao, CZ
by
steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 673 comments)
on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 6:43:51 AM
Threats of violence is NOT protected speech, never has been and never will be.
You don't go more than 2 sentences into your post before you repeat one of the standard Republican talking points that Liberals want to take away everyone's 1st amendment rights. I never could figure this one out, especially after what President Bush has done to our constitution in the name of fear.
I assume you aren't a hate-monger unless you want to prove me otherwise so I would hope that you assume I respect and would defend our constitution to the death.
by
E. Nelson (25 articles, 1 quicklinks, 24 diaries, 273 comments)
on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:50:07 AM
Well, it is a natural response to statements like "Mike Savage and Rush Limbaugh" are responsible for this.
Now, something disturbs me. When I read things like "Threats of Violence are not protected speech" I start hearing warning bells... There is a type of fallacious argument called "Begging the Question."
Basically, the argument involves stating something completely bogus, as if it is true, in order to buttress your point. Now, I don't recall anyone ever accusing Mike Savage, as distasteful as he is, or accusing Rush Limbaugh, as distasteful as HE is, of threatening violence.
If Either Mike Savage or Rush Limbaugh ever DID threaten violence, they would be taken off of the air, probably before their next commercial break. So no, no threats of violence there. Though I do like how you labeled me as someone who spouts off right wing talking points...
Here is a simple question, and it involves logic. If Mike Savage takes the blame for this lunatic, what do you think will happen? Do you think he will be able to remain on the air? OR, do you think the people blaming him will jump for Joy over having him ripped from the air, silencing him? These people are the same people talking about the "fairness doctrine" meaning further government regulation to stop people whose opinions don't meet with the "agenda" Are you going to suggest that you could not imagine a day when some people's first amendment rights would be stripped?
Please, don't insult readers' intelligence.
Now, since you bring up what Bush did regarding the Constitution, and the tearing down of rights, (That is wrong, BTW) are you suggesting that this justifies the blaming of a radio host for the actions of a Psychotic individual?
I don't, Do you?
Ciao, CZ
by
steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 673 comments)
on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:26:38 AM
Growing up in the 50's and 60's threats of violence was not protected speach. Now as a gay adult, I understand deeply what we have lost by the loss of the fairness doctrine and civil discoarse. The anti-crowd are treading off the edge because no-one is standing up for common courtesy and respect. This free spewing of hatred and threats of violence is not protected speach and in saner times would land the people involved with legal repercussions. The general population would do well to contemplate the gay-rights process, and see that demonizing anyone for any reason falls outside of the free speach, civil discourse, fairness doctrine and if we expect to have a discoarse we need to stand-up to the demonization and call it the character assasination it is and honor the power of words to create harm and spur the wounded among us to the action so threatened. These hate crimes then act as terrorism of the demonized group.
by
Susan Lee (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments)
on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:22:39 AM
8 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
