Posted on 11/08/2008 10:35:48 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
For a while I thought it was just me. But in the final days leading up to the national election, I began to notice it on both local and national talk shows around the country.
And now that we are a few days past Mr. Obama’s election night victory, it seems quite clear: things have gotten more intense, not less.
I’m writing here about the attacks that are being telephoned-in to conservative talk radio hosts around the country. I’ve noticed a consistent increase of people that I’ll call “Obama enthusiasts” popping-up as callers on conservative talk shows, and no matter what the topic on the show may be, the assertions from the callers follow a predictable pattern.
The precise choice of words that the caller uses in their line of attack may vary, but the pattern essentially goes like this: A) The caller asserts to the host that “all you ever do is attack Barack Obama;” B) The caller then comes around to asserting to the host that “you are obviously a “racist” (or “you are a bigot,” or “you think Black people are inferior to White people,” or something of that sort); and then the caller concludes with C) “you should be removed from the ‘public airwaves’” (or some variation of the general sentiment that “you should just be silenced” or “you should shut-up”).
Now let me be clear: I’m not complaining about this, not at all. In fact, I welcome it on my talk show at 630 WMAL radio in Washington, D.C. It’s no secret that talk radio thrives in controversy, and conversely, a talk show can become boring if everyone is “in agreement” with the host.
But entertaining talk show content is one thing. And the broader implications of people’s words outside of a talk show can be something different (I’m reminded here of the many times over the years that I’ve heard Rush say “words mean things”). And the implications, the “meaning,” of the pattern that I’ve identified above, seems to be this: If you so much as question the President-elect, you are necessarily a “racist,” and your voice should, therefore, be removed from the public square.
I must also add that, while the hostility I’m hearing on conservative talk radio is mostly directed at white, male hosts, it’s not necessarily a “black against white” phenomena. For example, on my show last Friday while I was discussing Mr. Obama’s remarks about the economy at his recent press conference, I received a call from “Roberto,” a man with a Hispanic sounding accent in Arlington, VA. Roberto’s opening salvo was to say that I was being “patronizing” by pronouncing his name with the traditional, Spanish “rolling R” sound.
Now, I grew up in Southern California surrounded by Spanish speakers, and I was taught by my “white Mom” that, as a matter of respect, I should speak Spanish as it was intended to be spoken, and NOT like a “gringo.”
But never mind that “respect” thing. As far as Roberto was concerned, I was simply offensive. And then, of course, the pattern kicked-in - - I was questioning the President-elect’s remarks because I’m a racist, and therefore I should be silenced.
I’ve heard this rhetoric enough times, and on so many different talk shows in addition to my own, that I believe there is some organizational effort behind it. I’m not insinuating that the finger prints of our President-elect are on this, and the participants in this might be quite loosely organized, at best.
But there is a certain mindset, a certain philosophy that underlies this rhetoric, and it is becoming more widespread. It is the belief if you are not in lock-step with the President-elect’s agenda, or if you merely dare to question it, you are obviously motivated by your hatred of ethnic minorities, and you have no place in the broad national debate. And it is an anathema to our freedoms under the First Amendment.
Conservative Americans in particular need to understand that in this new era, the rules have changed. And to understand this change, conservatives need to begin by reading “Rules For Radicals,” a book published in 1971 by noted “community organizer” (and a man who is said to have influenced Mr. Obama) Saul Alinsky.
Column space is limited here, so you’ll have to get a copy of the book for yourself. But consider this notion from Alinksy’s rule #5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.”
And consider this language from rule #11, wherein Alinsky suggests that the main job of a “community organizer” is to bait his opponent into reacting in a certain way: “The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength.”
Welcome to the new era.
It’s this same hypersensitive mentality that leads libs to mercilessly attack anyone who’s black that dares to be a Republican. They’re ‘Uncle Toms’ and are betraying their own race by supporting IDEAS that make sense. So in order to preserve the illusion that only Democrats can speak for black people they concentrate their efforts on making sure the flock stays in line, and shoot the defectors in the back whenever possible.
**So it begins...**
The Funny part... every time I’ve been called a RACIST was by another WHITE PERSON. These White Liberals have So DILUTED the WORD, My new answer is thus:
“Racist?? Why THANK YOU! That means you’ve run out of Talking Points, so I WIN THE ARGUMENT!”
They spit and Sputter, as I happily walk away.
What is going on? I could get into all other sites in Favorites, but not Free Republic. My browser would not do anything when I clicked on the site. Freaky.
Rumor was Jim had to clean house to the DUmmies saying the SS swooped down, I think the ISP itself went into brainlock.
Are others having problems? ....Yes, I thought the Fairness Doctrine kicked in.
Hey, someone calls me racist because I didn't vote for Little Lord Obama, and THEY'LL be the toothless one, literally.
Although, I guess the smarter retort might be to say that I didn't vote for him not because he was half-black, but because he was ALL red!
Same here.
thanks, I figured it was probably some clean up work.
FR has been down all day. It was possibly a DOS attack.
If you want to know what is going in a situation like today.
Bookmark this link for the back FR2.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freerepublic2/
The calls might have meaning down the road.
“There are numerous instances of complaints about racism on your show. We have here recordings of scores of calls made by your own listeners complaining about bias and bigotry. The new rules enacted by the FCC will apply...”
This type of endless conservative bashing and endless conservative suppression by all of the political left along with all leftist allies all over the world is part of why I seriously don’t see conservatives successfully making any kind of political comeback until, at least, sixty years from now, if ever. Massachusetts has been a leftist haven for over fifty years now and counting, and both Massachusetts Republicans and Massachusetts conservatives are still clueless about how to make Massachusetts seriously and successfully go the conservatives way. Many choose to leave Massachusetts as the definitive solution. Now, the entire U.S. has voted in the majority for “Massachusetts politics” at the national level, and I see similarities where the Republican Party at the national level and conservatism at the national level are seriously and successfully suppressed for, at least, sixty years, if not even longer. I get very tired of optimism from both Republicans and conservatives when I don’t see it ever actually materialize into reality, just from within the state of Massachusetts.
Knowing this I can go to bed, I get kinda of jittery if I don't get my FR fix at least once a day, I've calmed down now. Night.
While I acknowledge the ignorance of many blacks who voted for BHO because he represents himself as a black man, they showed the country and the world that they are racists.
We must not even THINK negative thoughts against Obama. We MUST agree. We must join the cult. /s/
I have never seen the country so divided, and the Obama people are building resentment by trying to take away our First Amendment rights.
I had the same problem trying to log onto FReepers all day Saturday. No go, “this site is currently unavailable”.
That’s why I’m in front of my PC at 2:50 a.m., cold coffee in hand, and soooooooo glad it’s back!
Liberal hackotage? Yes, and IMHO, be braced for more.
I'd appreciate an explanation from the moderators of what caused the blackout. But, hey, we're back again!
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