Upset Over Cancelled Fox Debate, Kondracke Attacks ‘Left-Wing Liberals’ As 'Junior-Grade Stalinists'

[babylonsister]

"Stalinists-R-Us!" :silly: I salute you!

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/11/kondracke-stalinists/

Upset Over Canceled Fox Debate, Kondracke Attacks ‘Left-Wing Liberals’ As ‘Junior-Grade Stalinists’

On Fox News’ Beltway Boys, co-host Mort Kondracke blasted the decision by the Nevada Democratic Party to pull out of a Fox News-sponsored presidential debate.

Kondracke said, “This tells you a lot about what Moveon.org, Daily Kos kind of left-wing liberals are all about. I mean they are not about free speech and free debate.” He added, “This is junior grade Stalinism on their part.” Defending his network, Kondracke claimed, “If Fox was embarrassingly right wing or something like that, it would be plain for all to see.” Watch it at link:

Indeed, the heart of the problem is Fox’s propensity to be “embarrassingly right wing.”

As Atrios has said, “The problem with Fox isn’t that it’s conservative, it’s that it’s basically a propaganda outlet” for right-wing partisans. Matt Stoller added that the Fox News audience is not the issue, “the problem that we have is that allowing Fox News to singlehandedly host the debate gives that channel the legitimacy of claiming to be a real news source.” And the more deference Fox is given as “a ’serious’ news operation,” notes Markos, the greater platform it has to peddle unfounded smears against the left.

By refusing to engage these substantive concerns, tonight’s Beltway Boys segment helped prove the point.

(HT: Newshounds)

Transcript:

KONDRACKE: Now this tells you a lot. Fox or no Fox, this tells you a lot about what the Moveon.org, Daily Kos kind of left-wing liberals are all about. I mean they are not about free speech and free debate. If Fox, you know, was embarrassingly right wing or something like that, it would be plain for all to see. They just want to stop at any of their — any Democrats from participating in this because it is a Fox thing, and they’re willing to intimidate them to do it. This is junior grade Stalinism on their part.

BARNES: Stalin?

KONDRACKE: Stalin.

BARNES: Alright, I agree.

[saltpoint]

1. Oooo Mort. We love it when you talk dirty.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Clueless.

[amb123]

3. Fine, and right-wingers are Hitler wannabes.

Two can play at this game. :nopity:

[Joe Chi Minh]

4. Let's hope he finds that they're not Junior Grade. And it's just a foretaste!

[Glorfindel]

5. Goody, goody! I can think of nobody I'd rather be insulted by

I wish we could exert such pressure and influence that NO Democrat EVER would consent to appear on that sewer of filth that calls itself FOX *yech!* Alas, it probably will never happen, but we have achieved one small step in the proper direction (I almost said "right" direction.) :bounce:

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. ...as determined by professional Stalinists! (or Mussolini-ists?). nt

[CrazyOrangeCat]

7. (i.e. Karl Rove)

[billybob537]

8. Ohh BOO HOO

It is truly gratifying to hear the scum of the EARTH crying becouse we learned to play their game on them. BOO HOO you scumbags. ESAD

[GrantDem]

9. This is the exact reason...

that liberals, progressives, dems, whatever you choose to call yourself should boycott the entire network. It is not enough to boycott a single debate. Anytime they appear on FOX period it further legitimizes their slanderous propaganda front that they try to pass off as journalism.

That goes for viewers as well.

[ShortnFiery]

10. LIBERAL and Proud of it!

:hi: :applause: :hi:

[C_U_L8R]

11. if Mort was a real journalist

he wouldn't be a flak on Faux.

No sympathy for these repuke whiners.

[iamjoy]

12. I See Both Sides of This

of course, calling us Stalinists is just petty name calling - it's really no different than Liberals calling Conservatives Hitler/Nazis.

Fox News is a Conservative mouthpiece. They are shamelessly biased.

This was a chance for Democrats to reach a different audience, one we might not normally reach. A debate forum is certainly going to give our candidates a better chance at articulating their vision than going on O'Reilly or Hannity.

So, here was the chance to reach a new audience and we decided to cancel it over a comment by their president, the whole fuss over which was overblown, because it just as easily could have been a joke about Dubya's naivite. After all, they scheduled the debate after that whole b.s. Madrassa story, which was truly offensive in my opinon.

As for "giving legitimacy" to Fox, they already have it in terms of viewership and ad revenue. They don't need us.

But really, it's not about stifling free speach. That's really a stretch. It's about being stubborn, petty and childish. There's some of it on both sides.

[Le Taz Hot]

14. The people who watch faux nooz

aren't about to be swayed by Democrats no matter what station they're on. People watch Faux to have their thinking done for them and Faux tells them all liberals/Democrats/progressives/commiepinkofags are evil and hate America.

Appearing on Faux nooz only gives them an air of legitimacy which they are not. They're paid shills for the neocons. Boycotting a propaganda wing of the White House has nothing to do with being stubborn, petty or childish, it's looking the WH propaganda machine in the face and saying, "No more! You are NOT journalists and this is NOT news."

[iamjoy]

15. Then Why Book It In The First Place?

I could argue about whether or not we will ever reach Fox viewers or not, but that's a whole other debate (ha, ha)

The question is, if "Faux Snooze" is such a mouth piece for the Conservatives and so shamelessly, hopelessly biased - why did we try to have a debate there in the first place?

[tanyev]

13. It's becoming more and more plain for all to see.

That's why this is making them so mad.

[bemildred]

16. Name calling is not journalism, asshole.

(I'm not a journalist, see?)
:-)

[Larry Allen]

17. I guess we'll have to become post doctorate Pravda grade Stalinists to win their respect.

[HappyWeasel]

18. WERE COMMUNISTS!!! VODKA VODKA VODKA!!!!

[Got WMD]

19. Thankfully....

we have "liberals" like Kondracke on the Beltway Boys to balance the likes of Freddy Barnes. Shame on us for questioning Fox's committment to fair and balanced reporting. We are the lunatic fringe...

[mnhtnbb]

20. And the RW trolls have attacked the Edwards blog with a full court press.

http://blog.johnedwards.com/

[Rydz777]

21. Poor Mort

Fred just eggs him on, inciting these outbursts, trying to liven up an otherwise dull exchange of empty platitudes.