I can't stand listening to Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, or Hannity and Colmes. It's not that I don't agree with their political views. In fact, I lean toward conservatism. I am a Christian with a firm belief in my faith. We have some common ground in our ideologies.
These folks make a living at preaching the gospel of anti-liberalism. They do it well and are very popular, often drawing larger audiences than all of the liberal talking heads put together. Not all of what they do is bad, in fact, since Limbaugh went on the air, conservatives, at odds with the liberalized media, finally had a voice. These commentators should be given the latitude to say what they want in defense of conservatism.
What makes these folks unlistenable, in my view, is not their ideologies, but their divisiveness. They are dividers, not diplomats. They point out problems and foibles, but give no solutions. They view the world in black and white, when there are colors and a wide spectra of gray. They don't consider ideas from the political center, let alone to the political left. They rant but don't reach.
I don't know which side, the right or the left, is to blame for the widening political divide in this country. As is the case with most ideals, the fault lies on both sides. Whatever the initial cause, Limbaugh, Coulter, and Hannity represent the paid clergy of the political right.
We all remember when the news broke about Obama's pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright, who shocked many people in this country when his sermons became public. He was quoted for such divisive remarks as:
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America.
"No! No No!
"God damn America ... for killing innocent people.
"God damn America for threatening citizens as less than humans.
"God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme."
"We bombed Hiroshima. We bombed Nagasaki. And we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye."
"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost."
"The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied."
Wright's preaching caused quite a stir, especially among the talking heads of the political right. Obama had to publicly separate himself from his pastor since it would have been political suicide to agree with Wright's words. Liberals, for the most part, dismissed Wright by declaring him (and his kind) just another religious nut. The language Wright used, left little ground, however, for the redemption of anyone but his Black congregation.
Similarly, we find the same divisive speech with voices such as Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity and Colmes. Here are some examples:
Limbaugh on Obama
Understanding the Obama Cult
[Liberals are] going to see that their lives aren't any better. No, wrong. They're going to continue to delude themselves into thinking their lives are better. But they won't be. It doesn't matter. He's going to be there. It's a cult.
If he told them they were all going to go to the Hale-Bopp comet, they'd jostle to be first in line. As long as he's there, this group of Obama voters, as long as he's there, they could lose everything and still think the world's getting better because he's there, and he's telling them, and it's just his air, it is his manner of speaking, plus they know what a beefcake he is underneath the shirt and tie now.
Coulter on Obama
Genius, Thy Name Is Obama
With Time magazine comparing Obama to Jesus, I guess we should be relieved that, this week, liberals are only comparing him to Abraham Lincoln.
The one thing every liberal on TV seems to know about Lincoln is that he put rivals in his cabinet, as subtly indicated in the title to historian and plagiarist Doris Kearns Goodwin's book: "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln." Like Lincoln, Goodwin is always open to contributions from her rivals, although Lincoln was better at crediting their words.
And hasn't Obama talked to former rival Hillary about becoming his secretary of state? Hasn't he had a sit-down with Sen. John McCain? Did I imagine this, or is he even now brokering peace talks between Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck?
Ergo: Obama is a genius.
Indeed, historians have just named Obama the best president-elect ever.
Hannity and Colmes in an Interview About "The Chicago Way" of Politics
(Trying to prove guilt by association.)
Will Senate Seat Scandal Bury All Chicago Politicians?
I want to talk about this Chicago way. America is now learning about pay to play, that political patronage, that if you raise enough money, you might be able to buy yourself a U.S. Senate seat.
David Axelrod literally once defended this political patronage in past defending one of his clients. America watched Reverend Wright. We're told for political reasons Barack Obama went for that church. Started his political career in the home of unrepentant terrorists. You know, if you put all — or you can be friends with Louis Farrakhan and Father Pfleger.
What is this Chicago way?
Remember, when reading the news or listening to one of these folks, that both left and right wing commentators get paid to be divisive, to bring controversy into the story, to create argument and tension. What we lack in this country, is a news media that presents something other than schisms within society. We lack unifying messengers who can bridge the gap between left and right, between atheists and the religious, between democrats and republicans. Unfortunately, when someone does try to reach across to the other side, they are vilified by both - by distrust on the opposite side, by cries of "traitor" on their own side.
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