For quite some time, I’ve been pointing out that hardcore conservatives like Sean Hannity have been using words or terms like “socialist” and “anti-American” to attack people. These words are designed to attack and de-humanize people in the eyes of conservatives and people in middle America who may be a little more easily influenced by what they see on television. Frankly, a lot of people can’t distinguish between opinion reporting (hopefully based on some facts) and news reporting. Fox News has been an expert at blurring the line. But, that part is a topic for another day.
Hannity, and people like him, have cleverly turned words or terms like “socialist” and “anti-American” into verbal weapons. You don’t like liberal policies then you call them “socialist.” Liberals are routinely labeled as “anti-American” by so many conservatives. Think about how President Obama was attacked by conservatives during the campaign and since his election and inauguration. He has been called a socialist, fascist and communist. People have tried to portray him as a hater of America and a hater of white people (the absurd claim made by the idiotic Glenn Beck).
For example, I believe the birther movementis founded on a blend of racism and xenophobia (think about the hysteria for some about illegal immigration).
Now, back to Hannity, who for years has provided a comforting platform to people who have made racist comments about black people (Jesse Lee Peterson, Dog Chapman and Rush Limbaugh to name just a few). In this video, posted by Media Matters for America, Hannity is called out by a gutsy guest for his use of these code words to attack people.
The audience member referred to these code words as the “new N-word.”
The rest of the audience (probably stacked with conservatives) tried to shout the man down, but he made his point.
It’s good to see someone call Hannity out for these kinds of attacks.
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