Think Progress Writer Amanda Terkel Discusses The Right Wing’s Attempt To Smear Mark Lloyd

Think Progress writer has a compelling blog posted today about the attempts of those to the far right of the mainstream attempting to smear a man named Mark Lloyd, who is the FCC Chief Diversity Officer/Associate General Counsel. Since the far right is so dominate in the talk radio media, conservatives have been watchful and eager to attack anyone who they even remotely think could be in the way of right-wing talk radio continuing its dominance.

Here is an excerpt from Terkel’s blog at Think Progress:

Since the FCC appointed Mark Lloyd as the agency’s Chief Diversity Officer/Associate General Counsel on July 29, conservatives have made him their new target in the ongoing campaign to baselessly warn about the reemergence of the Fairness Doctrine. The most absurd attacks have come from pundits like right-wing radio host Michael Savage, who has called Lloyd a “neo-Nazi” and “piece of garbage” intent on closing down “conservatives in the media.” He said that Lloyd’s title — Chief Diversity Officer — is “code word for the KGB.”

Such hateful words from Michael Savage is nothing new as he is known to attack people (especially minorities) while standing in defense of pretty much anything white and conservative.

Terkel highlights an attack from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who seems to be right in line with what Savage is thinking:

Simply put, I strongly disagree with Mr. Lloyd. I do not believe that more regulation, more taxes or fines, or increased government intervention in the commercial radio market will serve the public interest or further the goals of diversifying the marketplace. I am concerned that despite his statements that the Fairness Doctrine is unnecessary, Mr. Lloyd supports a backdoor method of furthering the goals of the Fairness Doctrine by other means.

Typical far-right talk from a far-right senator who is well outside the mainstream in a party that clearly is a diversity-challenged one.

Terkel works hard to put everything into context for her readers.

Check out her blog:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/22/mark-lloyd/

White House Addresses Hate Coming From The Far Right Using Term ‘Nazi’

This kind of rhetoric was bound to happen as the extremists on the far right gain more and more power and influence. The hateful Rush Limbaugh, the de facto leader of the Republican Party, has gone off the deep end with his ridiculous talk comparing President Obama to Hitler and comparing (presumably) the Obama Administration to the Nazis. This is a dangerous time in our nation and the anger is reaching high DEFCON status thanks to men like Limbaugh, who have made a career out of hate. With our nation’s first black president, the anger we’ve seen at illegal immigration (almost exclusively for the nation’s southern border … and I’ll give you one guess as to why) and more, it’s dangerous to hear this kind of rhetoric coming from people of influence … people who could spark the next Timothy McVeigh to commit heinous and deadly acts of terror.

Rush Limbaugh has been right at the forefront of this hate as he tries to harness and direct anger coming from extremists on the far right (many of which have been in full view at these tea parties and now organizing to aggressively disrupt town hall meetings around the country). Take a look at the pattern of hate coming from Limbaugh as he repeatedly goes to Nazi references. Sadly, this is a disgrace of a man that many people listen to and believe in.

But, this Nazi talk is very dangerous and a slap into the face to those who suffered at the hands of Nazis (not that Limbaugh would necessarily care since his objective seems to be to scare whites into being afraid of this new black president).

Here is a response from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as posted on Huffington Post:

“I know the president feels strongly that we can discuss these issues without personally maligning… that we are doing so in a way that respects the dignity of each individual,” he said. “I think anytime you make references to what happened in Germany in the 30’s and 40’s, I think you are talking about an event that has no equivalent. And I think anytime anyone ventures to compare anything to that, they are on thin ice, and it is best not employed.”

“But I think what the most important thing is, is that we can have a discussion in our democracy about where we want to go,” he added. “The president strongly believes we can do so without yelling at each other, pushing at each other or degrading each other. We have seen some stuff, I mentioned it a week ago, we have all seen imagery that just shocks and surprises us and I think the best thing to do is just take that temperature down a bit.”

It’s hard to appeal to the conscience of a proven bigot like Rush Limbaugh.

Here’s another comment about Limbaugh’s crazy words:

DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee)spokeswoman Jennifer Crider issued the following statement in response to Rush Limbaugh’s outrageous comments comparing Democrats to members of the Nazi Party and use of the Nazi swastika:

“Rush Limbaugh’s comparison of the Democratic Party to the Nazi Party in World War II is as disgusting as it is shocking. Limbaugh’s use of the Nazi swastika in attempting to make a tasteless political comparison has no place in the public discourse.

“Just this past weekend, Minority Whip Eric Cantor said that the GOP ‘needs’ Mr. Limbaugh. He should immediately condemn Limbaugh’s hateful rhetoric in the strongest possible terms and encourage Republican Members to do the same.

“At a time when families need real solutions to rebuild the economy and make health care more affordable, Rush Limbaugh is attempting to sidetrack the important debate through his use of symbols that are synonymous with murder and intolerance. Americans deserve better.”

Fear of Limbaugh has pretty much paralyzed far too many of the true good people in the Republican Party.

The de facto leader of the Republican Party needs to have his title taken away, but it won’t happen until the good people in the GOP get some guts.

White House Addresses Hate Coming From The Far Right Using Term ‘Nazi’

This kind of rhetoric was bound to happen as the extremists on the far right gain more and more power and influence. The hateful Rush Limbaugh, the de facto leader of the Republican Party, has gone off the deep end with his ridiculous talk comparing President Obama to Hitler and comparing (presumably) the Obama Administration to the Nazis. This is a dangerous time in our nation and the anger is reaching high DEFCON status thanks to men like Limbaugh, who have made a career out of hate. With our nation’s first black president, the anger we’ve seen at illegal immigration (almost exclusively for the nation’s southern border … and I’ll give you one guess as to why) and more, it’s dangerous to hear this kind of rhetoric coming from people of influence … people who could spark the next Timothy McVeigh to commit heinous and deadly acts of terror.

Rush Limbaugh has been right at the forefront of this hate as he tries to harness and direct anger coming from extremists on the far right (many of which have been in full view at these tea parties and now organizing to aggressively disrupt town hall meetings around the country). Take a look at the pattern of hate coming from Limbaugh as he repeatedly goes to Nazi references. Sadly, this is a disgrace of a man that many people listen to and believe in.

But, this Nazi talk is very dangerous and a slap into the face to those who suffered at the hands of Nazis (not that Limbaugh would necessarily care since his objective seems to be to scare whites into being afraid of this new black president).

Here is a response from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as posted on Huffington Post:

“I know the president feels strongly that we can discuss these issues without personally maligning… that we are doing so in a way that respects the dignity of each individual,” he said. “I think anytime you make references to what happened in Germany in the 30’s and 40’s, I think you are talking about an event that has no equivalent. And I think anytime anyone ventures to compare anything to that, they are on thin ice, and it is best not employed.”

“But I think what the most important thing is, is that we can have a discussion in our democracy about where we want to go,” he added. “The president strongly believes we can do so without yelling at each other, pushing at each other or degrading each other. We have seen some stuff, I mentioned it a week ago, we have all seen imagery that just shocks and surprises us and I think the best thing to do is just take that temperature down a bit.”

It’s hard to appeal to the conscience of a proven bigot like Rush Limbaugh.

Here’s another comment about Limbaugh’s crazy words:

DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee)spokeswoman Jennifer Crider issued the following statement in response to Rush Limbaugh’s outrageous comments comparing Democrats to members of the Nazi Party and use of the Nazi swastika:

“Rush Limbaugh’s comparison of the Democratic Party to the Nazi Party in World War II is as disgusting as it is shocking. Limbaugh’s use of the Nazi swastika in attempting to make a tasteless political comparison has no place in the public discourse.

“Just this past weekend, Minority Whip Eric Cantor said that the GOP ‘needs’ Mr. Limbaugh. He should immediately condemn Limbaugh’s hateful rhetoric in the strongest possible terms and encourage Republican Members to do the same.

“At a time when families need real solutions to rebuild the economy and make health care more affordable, Rush Limbaugh is attempting to sidetrack the important debate through his use of symbols that are synonymous with murder and intolerance. Americans deserve better.”

Fear of Limbaugh has pretty much paralyzed far too many of the true good people in the Republican Party.

The de facto leader of the Republican Party needs to have his title taken away, but it won’t happen until the good people in the GOP get some guts.

Jim Quinn Takes Racist Shot At President Obama

Media Matters for America has an audio clip of far-right talk show host nut Jim Quinn taking a racist shot at President Obama as he calls him “brown man” while having a lunatic-type fit about health care.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200908050022

Big Hollywood Writer Singles Out Minorities for Attack

The backlash against minorities continues to build since the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America. Now, in reality, this is hardly an unexpected occurrence as many older members of the Republican and conservative wing of the political spectrum are angry. The country they knew is slipping away and what many of these individuals see is the browning of America. And, they don’t like it one bit. These bitter and angry individuals show their frustration with the severe backlash to anything even remotely resembling affirmative action and with illegal immigration (with the way that the Latino population in this country is growing and the projections for the future).

This all brings me to a blog published on Big Hollywood by a man named Brian Jennings. Jennings goes on and on about how the country is going into debt (conservatives didn’t care as much about it when George W. Bush was president) and then laments bailouts (or potential bailouts) for minority broadcasters.

Here is what Jennings wrote (with the graphic included):

Well if we can spend millions to protect the salt marsh mouse in San Francisco Bay, we can surely shell out billions to bail out minority broadcasters. It’s good for the economy and after all Congress is on record as saying it needs to save our nation’s newspapers, too. So, the table is set for government financial intervention of the media.

Minority broadcasters are asking tax-cheat Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for financial assistance. Sounds like the financial and auto industries, and it is. These broadcasters, including the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the Inner City Broadcasting Coalition, the Spanish Broadcasting System, and others say they can bounce back because “unlike the auto business, broadcasting has been healthy for many years.” Has it now?

Jennings continues:

As the nation digs itself further into debt and unemployment continues to increase, media is being hit as hard as any sector. But, there is an important point to be made. Perhaps suspect business models should be allowed to fail. If there is bailout money for minority broadcasters, what about bailout money for the nation’s non-minority broadcasters who face what many believe is their only path – bankruptcy. The answer to that is a forgone conclusion. Minorities will get a bailout because after all they are minorities and deserve special treatment. But, other broadcasters – especially the consolidated media will not get a dime. No media should be bailed out.

It’s the same old politics of fear in regard to under-qualified minorities supposedly getting so muchspecial treatment while “others” work sooooooooooooo hard and, well you know, just can’t get a break.

Jennings seems to think that minorities get all of this special treatment that “other broadcasters” don’t seem to get.

I doubt Jennings, or others like him, truly would want to trade positions with minorities.

He makes some reasonable points in regard to conflict of interest if the media is taking money (in the form of a bailout). So, maybe no media should be bailed out, but to take an obvious and angry shot at minorities (the way this writer did) has a bit of a smell of resentment and perhaps racism to it.

He also took an angry, partisan cheap shot at Timothy Geithner.

Brian Kilmeade Blasts Sen. Al Franken, People Of Minnesota

This video is Brian Kilmeade and Andrew Napolitano (two more right wingers) on the radio flipping out with hate over Franken’s election.

KILMEADE: Explain to me this Minnesota. How you could do something that is such an embarrassment to America … to put this hateful character into the U.S. Senate, who is a clown of a person, who is maniacal by nature and ran as a comedian and … you don’t like Norm Coleman … that’s one thing, but for you to sit there and vote for Al Franken … I don’t get it.

This is more right-wing stuff from Kilmeade who holds a prominent position at Fox News.

KILMEADE: … He is an angry, evil person who wrote two hateful books. He is a bitter, partisan pundit without any depth to his character and the people of Minnesota have thrust him upon us.

This is laughable coming from someone who works for Fox News.

Still, what a vicious and aggressive attack by Brian Kilmeade who showed his partisanship and proved he has no credibility in terms of objectivity.

The video is here: http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907010021

Another Argument To Smear Sonia Sotomayor: Asking Whether She Got Into Princeton Because Of Affirmative Action

The attacks just keep on coming against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Conservatives have gone beyond questioning her record and qualifications – both of which are fair game. Many on the far right are questioning Judge Sotomayor’s intellect, labeling her as angry and as a bully and referring to her as an “affirmative-action” pick. Here is a radio exchange by a pair of old-school right wingers: Fred Barnes and Bill Bennett.

BARNES: I think you can make the case that she’s one of those who has benefited from affirmative action over the years tremendously.

BENNETT: Yeah, well, maybe so. Did she get into Princeton on affirmative action, one wonders.

BARNES: One wonders.

BENNETT: Summa Cum Laude, I don’t think you get on affirmative action. I don’t know what her major was, but Summa Cum Laude’s a pretty big deal.

BARNES: I guess it is, but you know, there’s some schools and maybe Princeton’s not one of them, where if you don’t get Summa Cum Laude then or some kind of Cum Laude, you then, you’re a D+ student.

Note to Fred Barnes: You know your opinion is extreme when you have a hard time convincing even someone like Bill Bennett, who is highly conservative.

Some on the right continue to use affirmative action as a weapon to attack and to marginalize the accomplishments of people of color, and probably always will.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/28/barnes-sotomayor-affirmative-action/