Missing the Point
Check out this NBC coverage of the ACORN scandal:
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That’s just bad journalism. The whole frame for the story is the ideological battle between conservatives and liberals. Look, ACORN is a target of some conservatives, and beloved of some liberals. This sting is the product of an ideologically motivated effort, and aired on a right-leaning Web site. These facts should be reported.
But it’s astonishingly myopic for a news organization to frame the story as though its effect on partisan politics is the primary matter of interest. Think of a typical American turning on the evening news. Is he or she primarily concerned with the ongoing contest between conservative and liberal activists? Or is the more interesting, relevant news that a taxpayer funded organization got caught on hidden video abetting what its employees believed to be a brothel for underage girls? The partisan stuff is useful context — not the core of the story itself. Once again The Daily Show grasped what a mainstream news organization benefitting from many more resources either missed or ignored.
Great job in quelling the racial tension that Rush set in motion all by his lonesome on the last thread, Conor. Yeah, Rush is really setting off the fireworks because Americans are otherwise completely irenic about black/white stuff.
As to ad hominem, peek in the mirror, fellow. You made no real argument about Rush. You just struck your normal self-righteous and priggish pose. You know, stuck in your thumb, pulled out a plumb and said, “what a good boy am I.”
The thing is, Conor, you don’t get yourself. I can’t think of anyone I’ve read for awhile who’s less self-aware and understanding than you. Your opinions aren’t rooted in anything worthwhile or significant. You have no core and it shows.
And the thing is, the people you hate, do have cores, souls, beliefs, passion, fire, truth, love, zeal, and a real capacity to take risks, to put it out there, themselves on the line and even at the risk of folly.
While you, well, what are you? Sneering, snide, condescending, and insufferably self-righteous but not right about anything, it seems.
There really doesn’t seem to be any “there” in you, but you feel compelled to make a fuss about yourself; demand attention when you have done nothing, really, to earn it.
I am interested in seeing how far a cypher like you can rise, though.
— johnmark7 · Sep 17, 06:01 AM · #
Johnmark7,
As long as you’re posting in the wrong thread, I’ll merely point out that it is bad form to elevate your ideas in the wrong space because on their merits they failed to convince anyone in the appropriate space.
— Conor Friedersdorf · Sep 17, 06:50 AM · #
Getting to you, I see.
Look, I’m 57, been to hell and back a few times. I even like you enough to read you, occasionally. I’d just like you to grow up a bit before you sneer at men (and women) with real accomplishments and a touch of greatness. You seem to lack gratitude and any semblance of humility; not to mention sincerity.
It’s one thing to be a Young Turk, but offer something real while you’re doing it besides youth, callousness, ingratitude, and resentment.
I don’t listen to Limbaugh because he teaches the baby food of conservatism like a priest who preaches the rudiments of faith, but he is singularly instrumental in instructing millions of people who’ve never worked out the whys and wherefores of Americanism. He’s almost indispensable. It’s not just preaching to choir. He’s actively converting perplexed and wondering minds.
Just what the heck do you do that’s as helpful?
And this conceit that you’re more honest, truthful, fair, observant than these guys and gals is pure hubris.
You got issues, fella. I’m guessin’ it’s Dad problems ‘cause you keep trying to kill the elder males of the tribe as surrogate fathers you hate.
A little introspection might do you a world of good, and some heart to hearts with God wouldn’t hurt either, but I’m guessin’ you hate Him, too.
— johnmark7 · Sep 17, 07:19 AM · #
Johnmark7,
Would you care to hire an impartial investigator and wager $10,000 on the question of whether I hate my father and God?
— Conor Friedersdorf · Sep 17, 07:30 AM · #
“but [Rush] is singularly instrumental in instructing millions of people who’ve never worked out the whys and wherefores of Americanism. He’s almost indispensable.”
Why would anyone take this poster seriously? Rush Limbaugh, bloviating hate monger, serial liar, ultra partisan hack… is “almost indispensable.” To himself and the profits of some radio stations, surely. The rest of us, including his listeners, would be just fine without him, or anything resembling him.
— Rob in CT · Sep 17, 04:01 PM · #
I just have to say how supremely accurate the title of this post is given the comments.
Otherwise, after having seen John Stewart’s piece on the ACORN scandal I’m glad someone has noted the “WTF” humor in the whole situation.
— C3 · Sep 18, 12:17 AM · #
This is a great piece. Very thought provoking. I like the sort of ending that leaves it opn to personal input. Makes it work for just about everyone I think. Nicely done! I’ll subscribe.
— true religion · Sep 18, 03:09 AM · #
The person who filmed these videos:
A) Began this project with an admittedly strong agenda. He was looking to do some damage to ACORN.
B) Went to great lengths, going through several different offices, one of which called the police on this person, before they struck gold with their hidden video catches.
C) And this was all used to help roll out a decidedly partisan site by Drudge Reporter and conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart.
D) Which got a you-know-what-load of airplay on FOX, a station that is well known for its wealth of Conservative high-rollers.
E) And it concerns ACORN, a group few beyond the Republican Party take to be that great a threat to the nation’s future.
Step back, and see how somebody who is not Republican might see the way this story developed. From source to distributor, everything is touched by the attitudes, the proclivities, and the agenda of those presenting the story. Expecting people to simply ignore, disregard the source may be tantamount to expecting these people to commit journalistic malpractice. The nature of the sources should be disclosed.
And if you’re that concerned about it?
Here’s what I would say: just be journalists. The people who shot this video, however true or damaging it may be, made themselves part of the story. It would have been better, and ultimately less susceptible to being disregarded, if the expose had uncovered actual pimps and prostitutes who had been so advised, or better yet, somebody within the office who would blow the whistle on it.
The Problem with the Conservative media is that it cannot free itself of the agenda it is built to support. Only by just being plain media, without agenda, without the need to support one, can those who call themselves conservatives truly gain a reputation for being fair and balanced.
Take this Liberal, this Democrat’s advice as you will. I appreciate that though we may have some disagreements, I don’t feel so hopeless about the prospects of having reasonable rivals and adversaries in this nation’s debates.
— Stephen Daugherty · Sep 22, 02:03 AM · #