How Obama Enables Rush

[proud2BlibKansan]

President Obama lowered taxes. Why doesn't the country know that? Rick Perlstein on how Rush Limbaugh helped mislead a nation—and why the Democrats let him get away with it.

We live in a mendocracy.

As in: rule by liars.

Political scientists are going crazy crunching the numbers to uncover the skeleton key to understanding the Republican victory last Tuesday.

But the only number that matters is the one demonstrating that by a two-to-one margin likely voters thought their taxes had gone up, when, for almost all of them, they had actually gone down. Republican politicians, and conservative commentators, told them Barack Obama was a tax-mad lunatic. They lied. The mainstream media did not do their job and correct them. The White House was too polite—"civil," just like Obama promised—to say much. So people believed the lie. From this all else follows.

And it was all too predictable.

more . . . http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-06/obamas-tax-cut-how-rush-limbaugh-misled-the-country/

[whyverne]

1. No mystery, demagogy.

That's why the founding fathers, in their wisdom; only had the House elected by popular vote. The Senate was appointed and the President had the Electoral College.

[Tatiana]

2. This is where Obama could really stand to learn from Bill Clinton.

Every attack was countered, every lie was rebutted with truth when it came to his policies and his record. He has surrogates to do this many times, but Clinton was not averse to going out in the media and vigorously defending himself.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

4. Even Bill Clinton

would be hamstrung in the current broadcast environment. Thanks to the Telecommunications Act, which Clinton signed, it became possible for media to be aggregated and conglomerated in the hands of a very few, and it's paying dividends for them.

[HipChick]

5. Who or Where are Obama's surrogates?

[Tatiana]

8. Axelrod, Plouffe, Sens. McCaskill and Durbin, Gov. Patrick, etc.

And if he is having a hard time finding surrogates, then that really would say something, wouldn't it?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

3. This is what happens . . .

when there are literally a thousand hours of right-wing hatecasting for every hour of liberal programming. A thousand to one. Really. This is why liberals will always lose on issues: we don't invest in the media infrastructure.

Rupert Murdoch started a broadcast operation with no concern whatsoever for EVER making a profit. His goal, instead, was to change the media landscape in his favor, and in favor of his politics.

To this day, no liberal has stepped up and manifested anything similar to the Right's don't-count-the-costs approach to pursuing victory.

[LostInAnomie]

6. Aww... from the thread title I was prepared to be outraged about Obama aiding the Canadian "Rockers"

Because that would REALLY piss me off!

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. Amen!

This is one of THE most important issues facing America. What truly astounds me is the seeming complete lack of acknowledgement by Dem leaders that the right wing hate machine WORKS. Even here on DU, the majority seem not think that the issue of organizing and countering Rush and FOX News is as important as other issues. They are dead wrong. Simply look at the lack of Rec's on this thread.

Cheers!

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I think they are starting to pay attention

This was forwarded to me by a Congressional staffer I am friendly with. :)

[applegrove]

10. I cannot believe this post has negative recs!!!

Grrrrrrr.

[cbdo2007]

12. Of course - half the idiots here probably don't even know Obama lowered their taxes.

They take this as an insult to their intelligence, when many here at DU attack Obama at every curve and help to further some of these false rumors.

[applegrove]

13. Oh I'm thinking of trolls, not regular Duers. Most Duers do know that Obama lowered their taxes I

think. I disagree with you.

[spanone]

11. the mainstream media is creating a reality that doesn't exist...frightening as hell

[Enthusiast]

14. "mendocracy"

I like that.