Fair and Balanced
Yesterday, Faiz Shakir flagged an LA Times inquiry into the massive dishonesty of Rush Limbaugh. The piece, by James Rainey, is quite strong but I didn’t like the lede:
You have to give Rush Limbaugh a perverse kind of credit. At least when he is demonizing Barack Obama, fabricating Obama policies, blaming Obama for single-handedly causing the recession and the stock market crash, he doesn’t pretend to be fair.
What Limbaugh doesn’t pretend to do is to be even-handed. His show is clear where it stands, on the conservative side. This blog, similarly, doesn’t apologize that it’s fighting for progressive policies and ideas. But at the same time, I try to be fair. I’m not going to peddle a damaging story about a person whose policy ideas I disagree with if I think the story is false. I’m not going to say Jonah Goldberg is secretly a fascist. I’m not going to claim that John Boehner wants to feed atheists to lions. That would be unfair. The whole point of Rainey’s article is that Limbaugh isn’t just right-wing — he’s inaccurate and dishonest. But he certainly does pretend that he’s both honest and accurate. He’s pretending to be fair. He just isn’t.
45 Responses to “Fair and Balanced”
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November 10th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
One easy thing the Obama Administration can do from day one is end the relationship that Limbaugh has with the Armed Forces radio and television networks. There is absolutely no reason why he should get to occupy such a prominent place in the information made available to our troops overseas.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I’m not going to claim that John Boehner wants to feed atheists to lions.
It would be irresponsible not to speculate that he wants to, however.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
1. CAP - the group that MattY works for and which has links to the BHO team - is pushing a scheme that would reduce Rush’s influence through legal means rather than the market. HugoChavez would be proud, even if he were quicker at it.
2. More on CAP here: infowars.com/?p=5850
3. While I’m sure various sites have caught Rush misstating various aspects of some BHO plans, I’m sure that he gets much more of them right and also says the things that BHO doesn’t want to hear. Thus the attempts to get him off the air.
4. A BHO ad lied about Rush in such a despicable manner that even JoeKlein (MattY’s role model) ended up coming out against the ad.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I’ll know that the republican party MIGHT be changing when rush is gone.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
One easy thing the Obama Administration can do from day one is end the relationship that Limbaugh has with the Armed Forces radio and television networks.
That is an excellent suggestion. Our troops deserve far better than Limbaugh’s blatant disinformation.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Limbaugh is the paradigm of a constant liar who claims to be honest. I think even his fans understand how to parse this.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
MattF, we really do need to thank 24aheaddotcom for providing us a real-time example of exactly how a limbaugh fan “thinks,” a term i use advisedly: it’s really all just empty sloganeering and beligerent mouth-foaming.
it’s too bad the right-wing talk radio didn’t learn from reagan’s actual use of radio in the ’70s, which was, you know, by and large reality-based….
November 10th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
You peddled the lie that Palin is anti-contraception:
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/09/the_courage_of_their_convictions.php
Why didn’t you make a correction?
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/06/nation/na-sexed6
November 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
What Limbaugh does is run a children’s clubhouse for anger management class dropouts.
They play little games like “Spot the librul peridy” and “operation chaos”, sing little songs and dance around for a few hours each day.
If he keep America’s morons busy for a little while each day, why bother him?
November 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
One of the people I canvassed had been convinced by Limbaugh that the Democrats were going to confiscate her 401k and merge it with the Social Security fund. She was a hard-core Republican already, but you can see what we’re up against.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I seriously doubt that Obama would do anything to get Rush off the air, beyond ignoring him, as we should do; getting Rush off of Armed Forces Radio is certainly a good idea, however.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
On the Dems’ 401k shenanigans:
Are we simply to believe that Teresa Ghilarducci’s plan to strip 401k’s of their tax-advantaged status is a daydream, a silly idea that George Miller brought into a House hearing just for fun? If so, fine. If not, Obama will undoubtedly enrage his new upper middle class supporters.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Oh liberals can be very unfair and dishonest. Especially about Iraq vs. Afghanistan. Krugam, as good as he is, was unfair during Hillary vs. Obama. Hillary’s primary campaign arguing “he just can’t win.” Um, no, he won Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc.
Still Hannity and Limbaugh seem to be about “cocooning” a word Matt has used which I like. I would guess as effective as they are at spinning certain narratives, this cocooning and denial of certain elements of reality just damages their side.
It’s funny to watch “reality-based” conservatives succumb to the cocooning effect, like Doug Holtz-Eakin.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
mort says: I seriously doubt that Obama would do anything to get Rush off the air, beyond ignoring him, as we should do; getting Rush off of Armed Forces Radio is certainly a good idea, however.
So, he shouldn’t get him off the air, he should just get him off one set of airs. Okalidokaley.
And, since BHO has a habit of lying about and smearing those on the airwaves who oppose him, expect that to continue now that he’s in office. You haven’t heard about any of those except the one in #4 of my comment above because, of course, the MSM didn’t call BHO on any of his long series of lies. Other than the ad in #4 above, here are two other examples of BHO lying and smearing Rush and Dobbs: link, link.
Suggestion: change the line from “BHO doesn’t lie and doesn’t want his enemies off the air” to “it would be a good thing if those who opposed him were driven off the air”.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Rush’s (and Hannity’s) whole point, as long as it makes money, is to make sure that Washington is stalled for the next four years. Towards that end, he’s trying to keep the base stirred up enough that they continually hassle any GOP Rep or Senator who might consider voting *for* anything that GWB would have vetoed.
And yes, I think Fox and other right wing outlets are overrepresented on the AFN. Having the likes of Rush on the AFN is deleterious to morale, and likely to be an impediment to implementing the CIC’s policies.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hmmm (#12) said: Are we simply to believe that Teresa Ghilarducci’s plan to strip 401k’s of their tax-advantaged status is a daydream
Back when Bush was looking to privatize Social Security, we used to hear a lot of talk about putting all of the options on the table, so that we could make an informed decision. I guess that only goes for conservative options?
As it stands now, I wouldn’t want my well funded 401(k) dicked with, since I’ve got a loooong way to go until retirement. But, Ghilarducci is looking at the big picture. Why don’t you take a look at the abstract for her book on the subject, then comment.
November 10th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Very nicely done, as long as you stay away from education policy, we’re good.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Why don’t you take a look at the abstract for her book on the subject, then comment.
Sorry, homes, already there. Read her House testimony, listened to the Fresh Air interview and the talk radio one. She aims to dick with your 401k, buddy. Hope you like a little redistribution!
I actually don’t think the Obama adminstration is stupid enough to go for this plan. But Rush and co. will make a little hay as long as House Dems are dumb enough to keep her name in the news.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
So, he shouldn’t get him off the air, he should just get him off one set of airs.
Oh, I’m sorry, does Rush have some Constitutional right to be on Armed Forces Radio? Or is it just a little government welfare for another rich white asshole?
The whining of conservatives is really pathetic. “We are all John Galt. But don’t you dare take away our taxpayer-funded benefits.”
America is done with you. Please go away.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
JRoth: save the racism for someone else. While I thought at one time we became white, BHO says I was wrong.
cmholm Says: Having the likes of Rush on the AFN is deleterious to morale, and likely to be an impediment to implementing the CIC’s policies.
Damn straight!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Main Entry: even-handed
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: impartial and fair
Synonyms: aboveboard, balanced, disinterested, equitable, fair, fair-and-square, honest, honorable, impartial, just, justifiable, neutral, nonpartisan, objective, on the level, on the level*, on the up-and-up, reasonable, right, square, straight, unbiased, unprejudiced, upright, virtuous
November 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Karen Marie, there is no such thing as a true synonym. You’re like Ann Coulter when she said that Al Gore <did say he invented the internet–synonymously.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Might as well just ignore 24Ahead as well. He’s sounding like Michael Savage.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:39 am
He’s sounding like Michael Savage.
Chris Kelly is a Michael Savage wannabe. “Wannabe” because even the freepers ignore him.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
wow, another internet tradition with which i am not familiar!
i guess i should just throw out my thesaurus.
are dictionaries still allowed?
November 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Re: Are we simply to believe that Teresa Ghilarducci’s plan to strip 401k’s of their tax-advantaged status is a daydream
Who is Teresa Ghilarducci? I don’t recall her being elected president last week. Nor is she listed as a member (present or future) of Congress. That being the case why should we be concerned, in any serious way, with any ideas the lady may have on anything? Her ability to translate her ideas into policy about equal to, well, mine or yours.
Re: And, since BHO has a habit of lying about and smearing those on the airwaves who oppose him
In other breaking news Barak Obama has been accused of being a politician. And, oh yes, a dog bit a man.
November 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hey, JonF:
Have you been invited and testified in front of a House committee recently? Were you an invited guest on NPR’s “Fresh Air” in the past six months?
No? Neither was I. But she was.
While it’s not much, it’s evidence that her plans or plans similar to them are entering the liberal conversation. As I said, I don’t think that the Obama administration is stupid enough to go for this early on in the adminstration.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I previously said: Having the likes of Rush on the AFN is deleterious to morale, and likely to be an impediment to implementing the CIC’s policies.
24AheadDotCom Said: Damn Straight! (with a link to Hugo Chavez putting the screws on domestic TV networks)
… which is a non-sequitur.
BHO would - if he axed Rush on the AFN - be acting within his legal role as CIC.
Chavez is in the midst of changing the rules regarding his legal role (to whatever he says they are) in Venezuela.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:05 am
The notion that anyone could be “smearing” the likes of Lou Dobbs is really incredible. You can accuse him of inviting guests on his show from recognized hate groups in order to disseminate white supremacist mythology, and you’re still well in the realm of established fact. You’ll have to be tagging him with some pretty outlandish behavior before you’re anywhere into “smear” territory.
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