Right-Wing Bullies Continue to Attack Children

[doggie]

I guess it is typical bully tactics to attack someone that can't fight back. We thought we left this in High school.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca ... 86708.html

It's difficult to assign psychological motive when it comes to political tactics, but based upon the collective behavior of far-right conservative Republicans, we can only deduce that a considerable number of them are bullies and ought to be treated as such.

What other conclusion can we draw when they regularly attack children and ordinary citizens who aren't involved in the day-to-day political discourse? I'm not talking about low-level drones who lurk in blog comment sections and various other dark corners of the Internet -- disguised behind cowardly pseudonyms. I'm talking about the top-shelf players. Fox News hosts, AM radio talkers and various Internet commentators.

Naturally there are exceptions to every rule, but nearly every time there's a news story involving a child or group of children, the far-right erupts into a shameless frontal assault against the kids. In fact, there are almost too many examples to list here.

Trayvon Martin is the latest in a long roster of conservative targets. This week, various conservative media sources have made specious accusations about the character and motives of an unarmed kid who was shot dead. Arguably the easiest target in America is a dead black teenager: unable to posthumously defend himself and whose race makes him a lightning rod for all sorts of slack-jawed character assumptions, racial stereotypes, backhanded "unintentional" racism and white resentment.

So the far-right has naturally taken the path of least resistance here and is thumbing through Trayvon's tweets and photos -- and even his menswear -- to determine whether he had it coming.

Geraldo Rivera thought Trayvon's clothing might have invited the shooting. Rush Limbaugh and others have tried in earnest to connect Trayvon to the Black Panthers via, strangely enough, President Obama. Drudge posted sensationalistic headlines about Trayvon's past while illustrating the links with a "grills" photo of Trayvon which was obviously meant to feed anti-black "gangsta" stereotypes. Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller released what are purported to be Trayvon's tweets. Glenn Beck's The Blaze posted an entire list of infractions Trayvon might have committed at his high school. The list includes homicide, sexual harassment and armed robbery.

The absurd notion that somehow Trayvon's unsubstantiated "record" might somehow justify George Zimmerman's actions are totally indicative of the kind of bullying and racial dog-whistles we've observed from these people on countless occasions. And, by the way, it's this kind of behavior that's dooming the far-right to the margins of reasonable debate while fracturing the Republican Party.

As I wrote earlier, this isn't the first time a child has been targeted by the right. There's a long history of far-right aggression against both children and adult "noncombatants."

Sandra Fluke, whose reputation was assassinated in the right-wing media, is an ordinary citizen who simply delivered some brief remarks to members of Congress. For her obvious crime the right-wing media, and most notably Rush Limbaugh, declared war on a woman who hadn't ever appeared on cable news or talk radio or even maintained a blog. Easy, then, for the far-right to draw blood by means of overwhelming the so-called enemy with the full force of right-wing radio and television. How can anyone new to the scene, irrespective of age, race or gender, expect to fight back against a trained and monied right-wing attack machine? Limbaugh and others know this, so, to them, it's an easily winnable fight.

In addition to his infamous rants against the late Dr. George Tiller, Bill O'Reilly and his brigade of stalking underlings have made a career out of lurking in parking lots awaiting everyone from school principals to low-level nobodies. Here are some of his noncombatant victims:

Homeless Veterans, 1/31/08: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts the group outside of Fox News headquarters as they try to deliver a petition to O'Reilly.

Helen Jones-Kelley, Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 11/6/08: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters follows Jones-Kelley -- after she refused to talk to him -- to a fire station, where a police chief intervenes to stop the harassment.

Jenna Kern, Member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, 8/21/08: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts Kern in her driveway outside of her home.

Rev. Michael Pfleger, Catholic Priest, 4/3/08: O'Reilly producer Porter Berry confronts Pfleger outside of his church.

Dr. George Garcia, Boulder High School Superintendent, 5/29/07: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts Garcia on a wooded road away from his school.

Bud Jenkins, Boulder High School Principal, 5/29/07: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts Jenkins in the parking lot of his school.

Dr. Helayne Jones, Boulder High School Board Member, 5/29/07: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts Jones inside of her garage as she tries to enter her home.

Pedro Irigonegaray, Attorney for Dr. George Tiller, 11/7/06: O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters confronts Irigonegaray outside of his law office.

Just recently, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh mocked Malia Obama, imitating her voice with what can only be described as the most annoying sounds in the world -- ever.

Speaking of Beck, he once outed an Islamic private school in Northern Virginia when the school's sole newsworthy trespass was that an application to expand its campus was approved by the local zoning board. But Beck went on an extended googly-eyed, sarcasmo rant (lots of "maybe it's just me but... ") about the school being a de facto training camp for would-be terrorists, and even invoked September 11th imagery -- collapsed buildings and the like -- in the process. It's a grade school where large groups of children go for seven hours a day. Really smart. Outting a school for "terrorists" on the ultra-conservative Fox News Channel on a show that was viewed by loyal conspiracy wackaloons during a time when anti-terrorist fear-mongering and militant anti-Muslim hatred is at an all-time high. Worse, the school is full of children who then became potential targets. All because the school's zoning application was approved.

Rewind to 2009 during the health care reform debate when an 11-year-old girl asked President Obama a question during a town hall meeting about the "mean things" she observed on various protest signs outside. Michelle Malkin and other conservatives swooped into action, investigating and exposing the girl and her parents for being "Obamabots."

For whatever reason, this discussion always circles back to Malkin. The far-right blogger wasn't the first to stalk and attack children, but she certainly popularized it during the Bush era debate over expanding the SCHIP program. You might recall how Malkin famously stalked a 12-year-old accident survivor named Graeme Frost after he appeared in a commercial supporting SCHIP, the children's health insurance program.

The list goes on and on. World Net Daily attacked a high school play. Anti-choice activists targeted the child of a landlord who rents space to a women's clinic. Limbaugh, once again, attacked a 13-year-old boy and called him a "Nazi stormtrooper." The entire right-wing media Kraken was released on 11-year-old Marcelas Owens after he attended the Affordable Care Act signing ceremony. I won't even get into the jokes about Chelsea Clinton during the 1990s.

And they engage in these tactics without shame or apology.

You will not find this kind of bullying from high profile talkers with this degree of frequency anywhere else in the American political discourse. Why? In the absence of integrity, intelligence or empirical arguments, the last resort of a mindless posse is to target children and defenseless bystanders. It's because their policy positions and bumper sticker sloganeering is increasingly thin and indefensible, so they attack those who are unable to fight back. The alternative is to take on capable and experienced opponents who can potentially disprove and debunk their crapola ideas. But they're too cowardly for that.

Sadly, as the far-right becomes increasingly self-satirical and marginalized, this will get worse -- but only as long as it sells. The far-right knows its audience and the mob loves it. Think about that. Children are fair game and it's good for ratings. The sooner these unserious thugs and bullies are called out for their disgraceful tactics and banished from any and all debates of consequence, the sooner the rest of us can get on with thoughtful and reasonably passionate arguments about the future of the nation.

[reds]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Guest Anonymous]

Bravo, Doggie. Thanks for showing us this.

[Austin]

Doggie, it would be great if you could post a short synopsis with the main point of the article or a meaningful quote from the article, and then just perhaps provide the link to the rest of the article.

[GolightlyGrrl]

Today's right wing pundits are a useless bag of mashed assholes.

[Beeks]

Oh come on. If you think this is any less propaganda than the stuff you read on foxnews, you're kidding yourselves.

[FlorenceHamilton]

It seems that the right has finally pissed off the entire vaginal population. They have no idea the wrath that they have brought upon themselves.

[TXDuck]

Oh come on. If you think this is any less propaganda than the stuff you read on foxnews, you're kidding yourselves.

That should be easy to prove or disprove. Has Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, or Chris Hayes attacked a minor?

[GolightlyGrrl]

That should be easy to prove or disprove. Has Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, or Chris Hayes attacked a minor?

Not that I can think of.

[Beeks]

That should be easy to prove or disprove. Has Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, or Chris Hayes attacked a minor?

....what? I am not trying to prove or disprove whether anyone "attacked" anyone. I'm saying this HuffPo article is just as much full of bias as anything you'll find on Fox News.

[TXDuck]

A quick search reveals

Maddow Attacks PolitiFact

Maddow Attacks Glen Beck

Along with GOP platform, Newt Gingrinch, and FNC coverage of the ACORN scandal.

Hayes attacks Santorum (sorry for that mental image) along with Rick Perry and Mitt Romney

Olbermann did go after Bristol Palin. But let's face it, Bristol is a gray area. (Her advocating abstinence only sex education is just too stupid.)

He also went after Glen Beck and Campbell Brown.

Apparently, none of them went after minors or other non-combatants specifically.

We can all agree these are willing combatants, can we not? I believe none of these constitutes a minor or innocent family member.

[TXDuck]

....what? I am not trying to prove or disprove whether anyone "attacked" anyone. I'm saying this HuffPo article is just as much full of bias as anything you'll find on Fox News.

But the facts are these, some extreme ring-wingers have made political targets out of children and innocent family members. The left wing has not made this a habit. Why have right wing commentators done so? Do you have an alternate theory as to why this is so?

[BelieveinScience]

Comedian Maher (liberal) made fun of Bristol Palin. If that counts for anything.

I think both sides can get pretty nasty with each other but bringing in children to the mix is low.

[GolightlyGrrl]

Comedian Maher (liberal) made fun of Bristol Palin. If that counts for anything.

I think both sides can get pretty nasty with each other but bringing in children to the mix is low.

Most of the criticism of Bristol happened after she turned 18 and turned into a full-fledged fame whore.

[Austin]

Propaganda should be easy to disprove.

[doggie]

Doggie, it would be great if you could post a short synopsis with the main point of the article or a meaningful quote from the article, and then just perhaps provide the link to the rest of the article.

You don't want me to write a synopsis you know how poorly I write. But I can post less of the article. I always worry if will come out wrong if I write too much .

[Burris]

Oh come on. If you think this is any less propaganda than the stuff you read on foxnews, you're kidding yourselves.

Really? Zimmerman should be in prison facing murder charges. Last I heard, his paranoid ass is still free and probably stalking black people who walk too slowly and look at houses.

And Sandra Fluke - she takes birth control; ergo, slut (or, uh, round-heeled)?

But all of Rush's idiocies, my favorite - besides his inability to take care of his own domestic affairs peroperly - is when he defended the LRA.

[Witsec7]

Comedian Maher (liberal) made fun of Bristol Palin. If that counts for anything.

I think both sides can get pretty nasty with each other but bringing in children to the mix is low.

Last time I checked Bristol wrote a book and included in that book was how her son was conceived in a drunken dumb fuck. Not something any responsible ADULT would want their child to read as an adult. But hey she was the one who brought it up...for a profit.

[BelieveinScience]

Last time I checked Bristol wrote a book and included in that book was how her son was conceived in a drunken dumb fuck. Not something any responsible ADULT would want their child to read as an adult. But hey she was the one who brought it up...for a profit.

Gotcha. I just remember it being talked about but you're right if was calling it to herself by writing a book like that then I think the snarking on her is justified by maher. I don't follow politics/politicians/their kids happenigns etc.. because I think all politicians suck so I should probably stay out of political conversations here.

[2xx1xy1JD]

The only thing I question is the description of this as an easily winnable fight for Limbaugh. He's a caricature, and the latest crap just seems to be pushing him farther into that loony-fringe mode.

As a Canadian, though, I'll have to ask the Americans here to weigh in. From what I see, regular people are appalled by the attacks on Fluke and horrified by Trayvon's killing - but I don't get Fox up here, and don't know the sort of people that think Limbaugh is G-d.

[meda]

The only thing I question is the description of this as an easily winnable fight for Limbaugh. He's a caricature, and the latest crap just seems to be pushing him farther into that loony-fringe mode.

As a Canadian, though, I'll have to ask the Americans here to weigh in. From what I see, regular people are appalled by the attacks on Fluke and horrified by Trayvon's killing - but I don't get Fox up here, and don't know the sort of people that think Limbaugh is G-d.

From slightly south of the border, in a "blue" state, the opinion in my area is that Limbaugh was rude, BUT Fluke should not expect free birth control. Also, that Zimmerman probably acted hastily, but probably the kid did something to provoke it and we don't know all the facts, so gee why are the black people all upset?

The power of the narrative is strong here....

[debrand]

From slightly south of the border, in a "blue" state, the opinion in my area is that Limbaugh was rude, BUT Fluke should not expect free birth control. Also, that Zimmerman probably acted hastily, but probably the kid did something to provoke it and we don't know all the facts, so gee why are the black people all upset?

The power of the narrative is strong here....

Yes. My goodness, people here don't give a damn about facts. They just repeat what they've been told and ignore anything that hurts their favored views of events.

[margiebargie]

You will not find this kind of bullying from high profile talkers with this degree of frequency anywhere else in the American political discourse. Why? In the absence of integrity, intelligence or empirical arguments, the last resort of a mindless posse is to target children and defenseless bystanders. It's because their policy positions and bumper sticker sloganeering is increasingly thin and indefensible, so they attack those who are unable to fight back. The alternative is to take on capable and experienced opponents who can potentially disprove and debunk their crapola ideas. But they're too cowardly for that.

Yes, yes and yes. This is the whole problem with religion and extreme politics. They don't have a leg to stand on. They cannot win a debate. They cannot show results. They are obligated to resort to this kind of behavior to "persuade" people to go along with them - or at least intimidate people into silence.

[dairyfreelife]

So this is Rush, O`Reilly and Beck being their usual arse selves. Also, Fluke isn't a child so she doesn't count here. The three named people are the crazy of the crazy. Well, Beck is rather, erm, nuts. I actually wonder if the guy is mentally unstable. O'Reilly is just a arrogant jerk who thinks he's right and everyone else is wrong. Rush is just a entertainer who wants to get people riled up, though he does have a political force, I find him hard to take seriously. He's a radio talk show host and nothing more. The sooner people (right-wingers who believe his talk) learn he's just a radio show guy, the better. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Rush didn't even believe half of what he says himself.

As for the Martin case, I still don't get what's so special about it that it's national news. Seriously, teens getting shot happens far more than news ever shows. Homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-24 yos with 11.3 out every 10,000 that age being killed this way (CDC). It's horrible he was killed, yes, but imo there's nothing extra special about this case to make it to the headlines. I felt the came about the Anthony case too.

The president's children, especially minor children should be off-limits. It's really low to mock Malia Obama. She's a child. As for Bristol Palin, she probably was an adult at that point. I haven't heard anyone mocking Piper Palin, who was only about seven or so when Sarah became VP candidate for McCain. They joked about her licking her fingers to try and pat Trig's hair down, but that was about it. Children of anyone should be off-limits. I can't stand the paparazzi taking pics of celeb's children. Those children don't ask to be in the spotlight and they aren't on tv themselves so unless the parents say someone can take a picture of their child or children and post it online, it's wrong. I was totally ticked off at a headline on my AOL news about some celeb's daughter and went straight to criticizing the parent's that the child was too old for something. It may be attacking the parents, but it's using a non-celeb child to attack a celeb, which is awful. If the child isn't being abused, leave the kid and parents alone. I don't get how just because someone was in a movie or tv show makes their whole lives suddenly on display. Seriously, who cares if some actress is eating a burger at Wendy's? Who cares if they shopped for a shirt at Sears? Who cares if some actor is at a park with his daughter? Because someone playing a character on tv suddenly makes them unable to do normal things like most of us or something. I don't get it at all.

Ranting a little and getting off-topic, but the point is that no children should be the target of any public mock/criticism. They don't ask for it and what their parents do is not something they can control.

[sriracha]

+1 for the article share, Doggie. A stand up piece.

I think the right wing/Republican party (is there a difference?) has become infested with misanthropes - they ONLY support people who think exactly like them, and the typical working American is a burden or a socialist or an extortioner or a lazy shiftless bum or a whore, etc etc etc. The list goes on about the rainbow of different ways they hate and distrust their fellow Americans who are not carbon copies of the Duggars. I wonder if these people have any real friends or if they leave their house at all.

The attack on Trayvon should go down as a SHAMEFUL part of the Republican's history. SHAME ON THEM. I spent some time on Townhall this week in the comments section. All I can say is HOLY FUCKING SHIT. As an ex religious republican, I never wanted to see them as racist, but after this incident it is completely without a shadow of a doubt that the right wing is infested with race-baiters and race-based haters. There's no doubt in my mind. And they deny it like the Independent Fundamental Baptists deny being legalistic.