The Politics Of Fear – Danny Donovan – Mad Science #3
January 27, 2012 Danny Donovan 24 Comments
Wow, well this is my 3rd week on MDW and things have certainly stated with a bang. If its not fairly evident by this point, I enjoy a good debate.
I am also an avid political junkie. As a good lefty, socialist, tee-hugging, hippie, liberal I love MSNBC, watching for hours and have an undying love for Rachel Maddow and Alex Wagner. For some reason I find the absurdity of our system relaxing. Not so this cycle however, More and more I am watching out society turn into ravenous hate filled pineapples.
(kudos to Joel Watson of Hi-Jinx Ensue for my new favorite terminology “hate filled pineapple“)
Newt “Do as I say, not as I do” Gingritch comes out swinging with his race baiting riff on Regans “Welfare Queens” . This time taking it to a whole new Dickensian level of fucked up’edness. Theories on having kids scrub toilets in schools so we don’t have to pay some single mother’s health insurance. Because you know, that’s where the big money in the country is.
Not Wall Street.
Not Lobbying.
No, people are going to college to get MBAs and trying to break into that sweet stack of fat cash that awaits those unworthy blood sucking union guys that throw sawdust over a kids puke.
This guy who may very well make it all the way to the nominating process of a political party in the 21st century wants you to believe that Barack Obama is the worlds greatest Food Stamp president, and that all of our problems are because of uppity black people stealing hard earned money from the “job creators”.
This is a man that hasn’t had to work for a living since the mid 70s. Now those of us who pay more attention to this stuff than any sane person should knows deep within the egocentric ravings are certain buzz words set to ignite a fire of ignorance into their base.
Now the fact there are crazy racist people running for office is no surprise, after all how many times did former KKK clansman David Duke try to run for president? No, that’s not the shocking part. The shocking thing is that people are buying it. Not just buying it, but salivating over every horrendous half-truth tossed their way like jackals that have somehow been denied their God given rights because the guy in charge has a funny name and dark skin.
In 2004 we saw that GOP decided to bank on fear. The wars in the middle east, the terrorist attacks on September 11th, etc. George W. “hey, what’s this button do? Why y’all screaming? Them blinky red lights are purty” Bush had a tough road to re-election (or election if you’re keeping track)
A controversial “win”, and 4 years of things not really going the way his handlers hoped they’d go over. He couldn’t win by the merits so what’d he do?
Play the fear card.
The old school, little girl picking daisies as a mushroom cloud explodes in front of her style of campaigning. “Terro’ists are comin’ to destroy ’merica!” He spurt out as he gagged on a pretzel.
And it worked, he ginned up enough fear of brown people with funny names coming over to steal your children and blow up you homes to get soccer moms and people with poor comprehension skills to vote for him. While at the same time, taking an actual war hero who fought in Vietnam, and knew what war does to people, while Dubya sat pretty in Texas and painting him as a commie that’d be hiding under his table if a Saudi said boo.
America woke up shortly there after. McCain and crew tried to get Barack Obama, with all manners of attacks.
“Look! He’s got an anti-American preacher friend!”
No, not buying it.
“He’s a muslim!”
Wait, I thought you said he h a hung out with a Christian preacher?
“Shut up! Dark skin! Funny name! He eats babies! Deaaaaaaaaaaaaaaath Paaaaaaaaaaaaneeeeeeels!”
Are you on medication? Is there someone I need to call? Are you allowed out without super vision?
That was soundly rejected with the help of Sarah “I am going for the milf vote” Palin being too dumb to turn oxygen into carbon dioxide. So people chose brains over beer, and overlooked the funny name and the dark skin and we got, what I honestly would say is a pretty damn good President.
I was actually there on the National Mall freezing my star spangled banner off as he got sworn in. It was a beautiful moment in the country, where people gave into their better angels, and for once we weren’t divided by race, or sex, or sexual preference, or anything like that. We were all Americans celebrating a beautiful moment.
I lost my gloves and scarf somewhere along the way, (also to this day I don’t know where my pants are… but I am almost SURE I had them on the bus ride back home.) but complete strangers stopped gave me hand warmers and spare gloves etc.
I was full of hope, and change, and I didn’t even care I lost my pants! Things were looking up. We had the worlds worst economy, and we were fighting the entire planet, and a lot of stuff going on but we beat the tide of cynicism and bating tactics. The American people got smarter! They voted for something instead of against it. Fear lost, hope won! Yay!
Until 2010.
Enter the tea baggers.
Waving flags that yell “Don’t Tread On Me” and pretending like wearing a tricorner hat and preaching about, taking their country back (from the Black president) using the iconography and the slogans of a pre-emancipation proclamation society, they were falling in line with the old “He’s got a funny name! He has dark skin!” mentality I thought we grew out of as a people.
I sat around hoping and praying it was just a bunch of dumb clucks, like those survivalists that hide in the woods of Michigan preparing for when the Empire strikes back.
But no, it was just an opening act for something much worse.
The Mitt & Newt Show.
Between Mitt’s dead on Thurston Howell the third impression (what, that’s not an impression? That’s him? Holy hell what a douche) and Newt’s war on the under privileged we’re seeing a much bigger problem. So far they’ve taken their little show on the road. Iowa, South Carolina, and now on their way to Florida!
With just two and a half contests under their belt they have insulted, poor people, black people (or ‘Blah People’ as Rick “Don’t google me bro” Santorum would put it) Mexicans, etc.
This cycle is all about demonizing those that have been victimized the most due to the economic horror show of the last 10 years.
We need to rise up against this type of negativity. If we can reject those that want to fight against (insert favorite punching bag here) in favor of fighting FOR something (better jobs, life, freedom) we can actually go back to being a great nation.
In programming note news, I will be live on the air on Thursday, January 26th 2012 on The Black Tribbles at 9pm est. Speaking about, what else, but Static Shock. http://www.gtownradio.com/ I hope you can join me and enjoy the broadcast! I am looking forward to it!
Martha Thomases
January 27, 2012 - 5:23 am
Mitt Romney doesn’t have in his entire body the grace and poise and talent and smarts that Jim Backus’ Mr. Howell had.
George Haberberger
January 27, 2012 - 8:54 am
Wow.
Hardly know where to start. Your column is such a rabid calumny it really doesn’t deserve a response.
Claiming that opposition to Barack Obama’s policies can only be evidence of racism is insulting and offensive.
Your depiction of George Bush is insulting and offensive.
McCain and crew tried to get Barack Obama, with all manners of attacks.
In fact McCain said this: “I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States,”
And this:”He’s a decent family man, a citizen who I just happen to have serious differences with on fundamental questions.”
Your description of the 2004 election:
He couldn’t win by the merits so what’d he do?
Play the fear card.
The old school, little girl picking daisies as a mushroom cloud explodes in front of her style of campaigning.
Yeah I remember that ad. I was 13 years old. It was 1964 and it was the politics of fear alright. But it’s not a good example if your trying to demonize the Right. Democrat Lyndon Johnson used it against Republican Barry Goldwater.
More politics of fear: Edward Kennedy speech describing Robert Bork’s America. A speech in which, “Bork responded, ‘There was not a line in that speech that was accurate.’ In an obituary of Kennedy, The Economist remarked that Bork may well have been correct, ‘but it worked.’ ”
The politics of fear is not exclusive to either party, but it seems to have a pretty good grip on you.
Mike Gold
January 27, 2012 - 9:28 am
When it comes to Jim Backus, I agree with Martha 100%.
Given your graphic, Danny, I’ll assume you know that Rachel Maddow is, or at least was when she had the time, a serious comic book fan. She talked about Green Lantern (and others) on her old radio show all the time. Kindred spirits; she does a great job on MSNBC — particularly her world-class support for our kids in uniform.
George, I’ll bet that you did not see the anti-Goldwater commercial BEFORE the 1964 presidential election. It was aired only once, and that was the day before the election (or the weekend before; I should check). AFTER the election it was so contentious it was been aired so much it could be a Geico commercial. It still gets airplay to this day.
Same thing was true about Apple’s 1984 spot that introduced the Macintosh. Aired only once as a paid spot. Aired a million times as an example of exceptionally effective advertising; it’s the Citizen Kane of commercials.
I make no excuses for LBJ’s over-the-top mushroom cloud commercial. For historical note, by the time it was aired it was totally irrelevant and unnecessary. LBJ already had the election completely sewn up. LBJ carried 45 of the 51 states (counting DC) and scored over 60% of the popular vote. No way he needed that spot.
George Haberberger
January 27, 2012 - 10:06 am
Mike,
I can’r say for sure if I saw that ad before or after election. I do remember seeing it in my parents living room in the house we lived in in 1964. So if it was after the election, it wasn’t long after.
For historical note, by the time it was aired it was totally irrelevant and unnecessary. LBJ already had the election completely sewn up.
And Nixon didn’t need to break into the Watergate Hotel to defeat George McGovern. Politicians never seem to know how much is enough.
Danny Donovan
January 27, 2012 - 12:08 pm
Yeah Mike, I’m well aware of Maddow’s fandom. Loved the pieces she did from NYCC a few years back.
And George, sure everyone of both aisles has their “This guy is eeeeeeeeeeeeeviiil” acts, and yes, McCain DID speak up against the “Obama is a muslim” accusation but his campaign was filled with cheap taudry antics that were not worthy of his service to the country.
Bush will go down as one of the worst men to ever hold public office, and I hope sometime within my lifetime that whole administration gets sent to the Hague for their war crimes, I am happy that black stain has been washed off.
But thanks for commenting even tho you feel I didn’t deserve it! haha.
Martha, too right! :p
Denise Michaels
January 27, 2012 - 1:14 pm
There’s a lot of opinion of this piece. Michael Davis’ column is about a clear act of racism where’s the outrage there?
Larry White
January 27, 2012 - 1:54 pm
Denise,
Ditto.
MOTU
January 27, 2012 - 2:22 pm
MICHAEL DAVIS LIVE ON THE RADIO SAT JAN 28.
THAT’S TOMORROW!
10AM EST-7AM PST
WWSU 106.9 FM / http://listen.to/WWSU
DON’T MISS IT-THERE WILL BE A TEST!
Danny Donovan
January 27, 2012 - 2:24 pm
I am race war’d out after last week’s column. There will be more anger in coming weeks, but I wanted a nice little op/ed to clear the palate.
I’ll be listening to the show MOTU! and I will pass it along!
Mike Gold
January 27, 2012 - 3:22 pm
Could be worse. You could be in East Haven CT, where four policemen were busted for
by the FBI conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges following an investigation into alleged civil rights violations. The mayor was asked what he was going to do about all this, way he was going to do for the Latino community that has been shat upon so severely for so long. The mayor’s response was “I’m going to order some tacos.”
Turns out, he didn’t have to bother. He’s been sent hundreds and hundreds of tacos since he buffooned himself into the headlines.
Danny Donovan
January 27, 2012 - 3:29 pm
I am STILL trying to figure out how to be offensive enough to get free food. I would LOVE some tacos right about now.
MOTU
January 27, 2012 - 6:50 pm
What do one is looking at is,
MICHAEL DAVIS LIVE ON THE RADIO SAT JAN 28.
THAT’S TOMORROW!
10AM EST-7AM PST
WWSU 106.9 FM / http://listen.to/WWSU
DON’T MISS IT-THERE WILL BE PUNCH & PIE!
Danny Donovan
January 27, 2012 - 7:44 pm
There is something going on tomorrow… I can’t quite place my finger on it… something we should be listening to.. hmm. I wonder what it is? eh, I am sure it’ll come to me…
Rene
January 27, 2012 - 8:33 pm
I hate Bush and I hate the Tea Party, but calling then racist is a cheap shot, man. Many of them supported Herman Cain. I always say that it’s more about culture than race with them. Obama’s “dark skin” isn’t as big a factor in their distaste for the man as the following facts:
– Lived outside the US when he was young, has a foreign father, has a foreign-sounding name
– Is an intellectual
– The church he attented is closer to Liberation Theology than to Dominionism
– Was a community organizer
– Is more identified with Chicago and the big city than rural, small town (“real”) America
They have a narrow view of what being a real American is, but most of them aren’t racist. They would probably hate Obama just as much if he were white.
JosephW
January 28, 2012 - 1:30 am
Unfortunately, Rene, the Tea Party started off as racist whether you (or they) want to believe it. For all their claims that they’re not, isn’t it interesting that they didn’t become a major factor until AFTER Obama took office? For all their blather about being concerned about wasteful spending and being “taxed enough,” they didn’t seem too concerned about it when Dubya was President and spending like the provebial drunken sailor. Now, one could suppose they just weren’t very well organized during the Bush administration which, given the amazing level of media coverage they got AFTER Obama took office, indicates they weren’t a REAL grassroots movement, but rather a movement that was bought and paid for by certain groups pushing a specific anti-Obama agenda.
As for the “Cain Factor,” it really is a stretch to suggest that the Tea Party aren’t racists simply because they supported him. Cain was nothing more than the flavor of the month. The fact that he’s Black actually offered the teabaggers an out for the claims that they were racists. The reality, though, is that their “support” of him was little more than a variation of the “some of my best friends are. . .” canard. I mean, for fuck’s sake, Santorum’s wife tried to pull the “Rick’s not a homophobe–we know many gays and lesbians and they’re very nice people” ploy. So why would you believe that any Tea Party support of Cain proves they’re not racists? Go back and read stories of how Blacks were treated by whites during the slave era or even during the era of Jim Crow. Yes, there were many genuine racists but if you asked those people about SPECIFIC blacks (the ones who worked as their maids and butlers and chauffeurs and farmhands), they would actually speak fondly of them and consider them to be friends (there was, however, a deep social hierarchy in the South that was pretty similar to the British class system where the lord and lady of the manor could confide in a servant in PRIVATE but if it got out that the lord or lady considered the servant to be some sort of “equal,” it could lead to ruination).
Rene
January 28, 2012 - 6:01 am
Joseph,
I agree with you that the Tea Baggers are hypocrites when they whine about taxes and stuff. But it doesn’t follow that they’re racist just because they’ve been formed to attack Obama.
American society became tremendously polarized during the Bush years. The Right came to despise anyone who is not a red meat conservative and consider you un-American if you’re not a gun-toting, good redneck Christian from SmallTown, USA. Even if you’re white.
There is racism in the Right, but I think it’s restricted to fringe groups. You seriously believe, in this day and age, that millions of Americans are racist just because they don’t like Obama? Obama has many other characteristics that arouse their hatred, and I’ve listed them. If John Kerry were president, they probably would be just as strongly opposed to him. If Clinton was president TODAY, they would probably lynch him.
American society has become polarized, but I don’t think it has become any more racist, quite the opposite. Racism still exists, but it’s in steady decrease.
George Haberberger
January 29, 2012 - 8:18 pm
It is really kind of funny to read comments by people who obviously are not Tea Party members and probably don’t know any Tea Party members, describe members of the Tea Party as racist by one person and then corrected by another person as not being racist, only anti-intellectual.
Hey you know what? I believe all the people who voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries were anti-feminist and obviously hated women because they were not voting for Hillary. What other reason could there possibly be?
Rene
January 30, 2012 - 2:01 pm
Yeah, they’re not anti-intellectual.
Good, because if I hear one more comment about how Sarah Palin is the bestest person ever because she is “one of us”, she is a “real” person from “real” America born in SmallTown USA, she has no time for stupid things like book learning, she is not a phony East Coast intellectual, she isn’t a pointy-headed ivory-tower academic, she isn’t a member of the phony cultural elite, if I hear one more comment along such lines, I will vomit.
So it’s good to know that the Tea Party isn’t anti-intellectual after all. Will they stop spouting such nonsense, then?
By the way, I find it depressing how both the Right and the Left seems full of morons that idealize a sort of rural, simple-living utopia. The difference is that the Right’s is Christian-favored, while the Left’s is New Agey.
Reg
January 30, 2012 - 10:03 pm
“Racism still exists, but it’s in steady decrease.”
Not by any stretch of the imagination is this an accurate statement.
Reg
January 30, 2012 - 10:03 pm
More’s the pity.
Rene
January 30, 2012 - 11:01 pm
Really, Reg?
Racism isn’t in decline in the Western world?
I didn’t say racism doesn’t exist anymore. Only that it’s in decline.
I doubt anyone not of white ancestry will say things were better for them in past decades, as opposed to now.
Are blacks still lynched? Or segregation written into law? Is it socially acceptable anymore for middle class persons to display racism openly? Yes, I wish the decline of racism were quicker, but it’s hard to deny that it isn’t real.
I mean, can you imagine someone like Barack Obama as US President in the 1960s?
Rene
January 30, 2012 - 11:11 pm
I suppose the only way one could argue that racism isn’t in steady decline in the West is to use the same argument some on the Left used in the 1980s. That the US was actually more odious than South Africa, because at least South Africa hated openly. That under the veneer of official tolerance, the US is as racist as ever, or perhaps even more racist.
I don’t buy that. I may be cynical, but I’m not that cynical. That racism can’t be displayed as openly now as in past decades is not only “political correctness”, but represent society’s increasing and genuine condemnation of racism.
I would say the same of homophobia. Life for gays isn’t by no means a paradise these days, but in Western countries is vastly preferable than what it was in any other moment in the past 100 years or so.
Reg
January 31, 2012 - 12:33 am
Rene,
You have NO IDEA how much I wish I was wrong (and indeed, I may very well be)in my assessment, but just reading through blogs, forums,etc,…gives me pause.
What has amazed me (especially reading through such seemingly innocuous forums as comics or even mainstream news sites) is the amount of stuff that comes through even moderated sites that is astonishingly stunning in its virulence.
It’s amazing because this is NOT 1960-70-or even the 80’s. But 2012. There’s some real nasty stuff that’s being spewed (and not just against African Americans…but predominantly so it seems) not from the fingertips and minds of bitter 50 or 60 year old leftovers from those eras, but teenagers and twenty somethings. Individuals that have NEVER lived in a segregated society, and have been in school all of their lives with other cultures…and yet the stuff I’ve read would be indicate that quite a large number would absolutely fit right into those ‘good old days’.
Rough economic times have the tendency to remove the veneer. And what SHOULD be the cause for people casting off the superficial and irrelevant differences and work together in recognition of the common bond of humanity…more often leads to the search for scapegoats.
Rene
January 31, 2012 - 9:00 am
You may have a point there, Reg.
But I think a lot of it is the Internet effect. You mention forums and yeah, I’ve read some horrible stuff in them. You must know about the Internet Dickwad Theory. Anonymity + Audience = Total Dickwad.
I still think racism is fringe these days, and those who are racists and have no other mean of expressing it, will flock to the Internet.
If today we have about 10% of racist comments in forums, if we had the Internet in past decades, we’d probably have 50% of racist comments or more.
I mean, interracial couples walk the streets here in Brazil openly now. And no one gives a damn about them. Jeez, my own girlfriend would be considered black if we were in the USA, and no one looks twice when they see us together in public.
If we were a couple 40 years ago, or even 20 years ago, people would not be so cavalier about it. But now, it’s just business as usual. So yeah, I think racism is in decline.