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analysis

Book Tour Shows Palin
Hitting a Nerve

'Going Rogue' phenomenon may foreshadow something bigger

Nov 22, 09 2:46 PM CST
Matt Taibbi

Palin: Our First WWE Politician

Pick an asshole, any asshole, and she'll rock the house

Nov 22, 09 10:44 AM CST
ROLLICKING RHODE ISLAND

Zip It on
Communion
Ban: Bishop
to Kennedy

Tobin thinks Patrick's spiritual matters should be left private

Nov 23, 09 1:21 PM CST
Once-Profitable Services
Are Killing Local Budgets

Utilities, transport, even gambling, are now $3.5B drains

Nov 23, 09 11:52 AM CST
DAVID FRUM

Pundits Lie, Numbers Don't:
Women Despise Palin

Frum: So stop telling us how popular she is with 'the people'

Nov 23, 09 9:26 PM CST
Debt-Happy US Faces Payback Time as Rates Rise

Cost of debt to skyrocket $500B in next 10 years

Nov 23, 09 7:29 AM CST
First State Dinner to
Reveal Obama A-Listers

Mad scramble for invitations

Nov 23, 09 1:42 AM CST
Ethics Panel Charges Sanford With 37 Violations

Civil committee slams SC gov for travel expenses

Nov 23, 09 2:25 PM CST
editorial

NYT to Blankfein:
Your 'Apology'
Is Bull

Editorial board schools Goldman CEO in true meaning of 'sorry'

Nov 22, 09 4:53 PM CST
the big plan

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

Nov 21, 09 5:06 PM CST
Jim DeMint Becomes Hill's Top Tea Partier

South Carolina senator throws weight behind conservative insurgents

Nov 23, 09 7:47 AM CST
Congress' New
Whipping Boy:
The Fed

Bernanke & Co. run into populist ire over Wall St bailouts, unemployment

Nov 23, 09 8:54 AM CST
Palin Pulls in Big Bucks
—for Democrats

'Going Rogue' boosts Dem fundraising to new high

Nov 21, 09 6:50 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

OPINION

Right Fans Flames of Extremist Fury: Rich

Right-wing rhetoric complicit in rise of extremism

By Amelia Atlas| Posted Jun 14, 09 10:12 AM CDT|

(Newser) – When a Fox News anchor cautions against the rising extremism of hate-driven Americans, as Shepard Smith did after the Holocaust Museum shooting, we should take note, argues Frank Rich in the New York Times. Unlike his fear-mongering colleagues, says Rich, Smith—not known for having an agenda—had "extraordinary words to hear on Fox" when he warned of the "frightening" email he has received since Barack Obama's election.

"What is this fury about?" Rich wonders. An irrational minority, "fearful of the fast-moving generational, cultural, and racial turnover Obama embodies," only grows angrier as the president's popularity rises. This rage is spilling over, and it's not just the TV and radio entertainers that are feeding this hysteria: The conservative establishment is dipping into fringe rhetoric. Such views are "toxic," and "no one, not even Fox News viewers, can say they weren’t warned," concludes Rich.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (4)]

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith returns to his alma mater, May 10, 2008, to deliver the University of Mississippi'ss commencement address. Smith has been a voice of reason on Fox News, says Rich. (AP Photo/University of Mississippi, Kevin Bain)

Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly appears on the Fox News show, "The O'Reilly Factor," on Jan. 18, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)

James von Brunn, who opened fire at the US Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Washington, DC will be charged with murder. (AP Photo/Talbot County Sheriff Office)

RNC Chairman Michael Steele during a fundraising dinner., April 16, 2009. Steele called the Homeland Security report about right-wing domestic terrorism "the height of insult." (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Protesters from Rev. Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church demonstrate during funeral services for Dr. George Tiller Saturday, June 6, 2009, at College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

2009-06-13: Shepard Smith (Fox News) talks about hate-filled emails swamping Fox. (DemocraticBlogger)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

A sizable minority of Americans is irrationally fearful of the fast-moving generational, cultural and racial turnover Obama embodies—indeed, of the 21st century itself. - Frank Rich

Conservatives have legitimate ideological beefs with Obama, rightly expressed in sharp language. But the invective in some quarters has unmistakably amped up. - Frank Rich

But hyperbole from the usual suspects in the entertainment arena of TV and radio is not the whole story. What’s startling is the spillover of this poison into the conservative political establishment. - Frank Rich

The only voices that might penetrate their alternative reality—I emphasize might—belong to conservative leaders with the guts and clout to step up as McCain did last fall. Where are they? - Frank Rich

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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27 comments

VIEWING:

Reader64481089
Jun 14, 09 10:22 AM CDT

If the wave of hatred by the hard core right continues then some freak of nature will take it upon himself that "God has spoken to him" and attempt some horrible feat which will lead to innocent people once more dieing for extremist ideas yet Papa Rush and a few others keep feeding the fire and fanning the flame, perhaps this is truly what they want? Reply

+14

IN RESPONSE:

JaneMP
Jun 14, 09 1:00 PM CDT

Yes, I believe that is exactly what Rush wants. He would love to know he has such an impact on the person--feeds his huge ego. And those who feed this extremism are repsonsible for the climate they've crated. The responsible people MUST demand they shut up!

| 0 minutes ago

Derni
Jun 14, 09 10:28 AM CDT

The right like the left have fringe members that are ill-and have other serious problems-they have little control and act on their impulses-they present a real danger now that Obama is President because their belief system is now being challenged by the reality of what has happened-this also happens with those that have acted out in other areas of our society-killing of a doctor that does abortions. What they appear to do deems righteous in their own minds and for a cause but really only allows them the avenue to act-out their impulses. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

flame821
Jun 14, 09 10:47 AM CDT

could we get a list of right-wing terrorist vs left-wing terrorists? Outside of Huffington (who switches side every few years) I honestly cannot think of a left-wing terrorist.

+10

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jun 14, 09 10:58 AM CDT

Leave Arianna aloooone !!!

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Jun 14, 09 11:06 AM CDT

Every once in a while the Peta nuts will let loose some cows and chickens.

IN RESPONSE:

NutsInNY
Jun 14, 09 11:08 AM CDT

Laughing out loud!!

IN RESPONSE:

MarkFL
Jun 14, 09 1:21 PM CDT

The difference is that the left fringe is living in a treehouse and writing poetry about the Dalai Lama while the right fringe is in the next tree over ready to shoot. There is no right left dichotemy here. There are talking heads on both sides who says dumb stuff and there are elected officials who are corrupted by power on both sides too. However, there is no denying that right wing ideology is one of violent suppression and left wing ideology is that of peaceful liberation. In the middle they just debate how to spend public money. The democrats are liberal on some issues and conservative on others (the definition of a moderate). The Republicans are conservative on every issue and liberal on none (except for the few moderates that are dismissed by the party like Olympia Snowe or Michael Bloomberg, even Schawzeneggar). A true left wing party would be the Green party which has little or no elected reps. The republican party is extreme in their views which foments extremism in the public.

| 0 minutes ago

flame821
Jun 14, 09 10:40 AM CDT

I wonder how long it will take the survivors of such an attack, or the family members of the victims to file a lawsuit against some of these enablers. I would truly love to see Dr. Tiller's family bring an actionable lawsuit against O'Reily for 'fanning the flames' as it were. I think losing some of their cash would be the only way to get it through to these people that if you want to toss matchbooks around an insane asylum you are going to be held accountable. Reply

+11

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jun 14, 09 11:00 AM CDT

Fox would be sued as well, of course.

IN RESPONSE:

justme
Jun 14, 09 7:10 PM CDT

Did you actually listen to O'Reilly talk about Tiller or his killer? If you didn't all you have for info is what his detractors have said. I make it a point to listen to both. O'Reilly was factual on every point and clearly identified his opinions as opinions, something unfortinately rare in news these days. He never advocated anything more violent than writing to your elected officials, somthing also more rare than it should be.

| 0 minutes ago

Doctor_Zaius
Jun 14, 09 10:42 AM CDT

If the commentators on the right don't tone down the rhetoric there is only one way this will end. A giant bloodbath that will ensure the Republicans status as a minority party for the next two generations. Those of us on the left were plenty pissed off at Bush but we didn't go out and kill people. This is a phenomenon unique to the right, at least in this particular political incarnation and it may be too late to halt no matter what is done. I think the crazies on the right have reached critical mass. Reply

+12

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Jun 14, 09 11:03 AM CDT

Yes, critical mass is an excellent analogy. By the way, everyone should take the time to read Frank Rich's essay. It is one of the best written and most persuasive I've seen in recent years. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 14, 09 11:05 AM CDT

I love it when the right is seen as it really is. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Caps
Jun 14, 09 11:41 AM CDT

yell, me also.

| 0 minutes ago

Doctor_Zaius
Jun 14, 09 11:07 AM CDT

"By the way, everyone should take the time to read Frank Rich's essay. It is one of the best written and most persuasive I've seen in recent years." Of course Kokuaguy, Rich is a genius. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

NutsInNY
Jun 14, 09 11:22 AM CDT

Allow me to suggest the term "barrynoia" to describe the condition these wingnuts are suffering from: harboring pathological fear of our otherwise well-liked president, Chairman Barry! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

MarkFL
Jun 14, 09 1:23 PM CDT

Your propensity to call him Chairman Barry certainly feeds the flame, Nuts!

| 0 minutes ago

Shannonals
Jun 14, 09 12:14 PM CDT

Kind of like Chairman Ron Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Deebles
Jun 14, 09 1:08 PM CDT

Psychological gaslighting by a cable channel using politics as the theme but expertly crafted to pull and keep as many people as possible for a pure profit motive is the problem. I never watch Fox because it is addictive. It was designed to be addictive and it constantly reinforces an attitude that dulls empathy and strokes ego. Simply repeating Fair and Balanced over and over and hearing it enough times doesn't just make you believe the statement--your synapses change and the statement becomes true. That is the way the brain works and salesmen know this and that is the problem with news as profit. The first ad man was Edward Bernays and he was Freud's nephew. He was the one that started tobacco sales on their way. He discovered quite early that just saying something makes it believed and desirable if you hear it enough. Once you're hooked, smoking is bad sells as many cigarettes as smoking is good. The key is to get the word smoking into awareness. That's why drug ads don't work. They use the word drug. That is why Fox is soothing to the people who watch, and irritating to the people who don't. I avoid MSNBC for the same reasons. As it loses viewers, it resorts to the same gaslighting techniques. But it is losing viewers simply because their viewers are comfortable with their world view now. Getting them back would require removing some of the comfort and adding the paranoia that pays so well. News is supposed to simply inform you, not manipulate your basic reality structure---you need that intact for your own life. To ask Fox or MSNBC to change is like asking Tobacco to change. That Keith guy and that O'Reilly guy are the same guy. Different words; same intention. When half of America disagrees with the other half: that's normal. When both halves think the other is stupid: that is not normal. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

dontlikenobody
Jun 14, 09 1:44 PM CDT

Has anybody else noticed that the ONLY channel you can get (on 4 or 5 screens at once) in most restaurants and hotel bars is Faux Noos? Are they catering to their customers' tastes, or is their a hidden agenda/profit motive?

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Jun 15, 09 8:53 AM CDT

to be fair to keith olberman, he seems to support his comments with facts (usually undisputed video) produced on air, whereas oreilly kinda just throws crap out there, and, if anything, may support it with another fox-originated story or poll. olberman wants to be correct, and orielly just wants to be right

| 0 minutes ago

dontlikenobody
Jun 14, 09 1:44 PM CDT

Sorry, "is there." Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

metalworldorder
Jun 14, 09 8:11 PM CDT

I forget who it was (and I don't feel like scrolling) but they asked about "left wing terrorists." I think the earth liberation front would count as "left wing terrorists." Google it if you haven't heard of it. It's nothing good. But on Rush, the dude's an air thief. I consider myself fairly moderate on issues, but it's almost embarassing to say I agree with the right on certain issues when he's so loud on everything wrong about the GOP, and pretty much the human race. Man I hope a 3rd party replaces the GOP. Now would be a good time for that to happen. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
Jun 14, 09 9:46 PM CDT

This isn't as bad as conservative French newspapers unabashedly (and successfully) calling for the assassination of socialist leader Jean Jaurès in the run-up to WWI, but it's plenty bad enough. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sache
Jun 15, 09 9:49 AM CDT

Amen Frank Rich. The scary part is that people who hate will never listen to reason. The fanners of flames of hatred don't see where they are doing any wrong. Try telling Rush, Hannity etc, they are a part of this problem and see how far you get. Denial and more of the same. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Jun 15, 09 10:31 PM CDT

The GOP created this mess when they were fighting for a win and the top brass of that party (cheney, Bush, Limbaugh, Gingrich, etc) is pathetic and they showed for the last 8 years that they care very little about American's, they care solely for their party politics and they will continue to use fear mongering if it gets them what they want...they don't care at what cost because there won't be any loss to them personally. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 27 comments »

Barack Obama • Bill O'Reilly • Fox News • Frank Rich • domestic terrorism • culture wars • Shepard Smith • right-wing extremism

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Right Fans Flames of Extremist Fury: Rich