NEO-CON UNDERMINING OF INFORMED PUBLIC DEBATE

[JohnWxy]

The Neo-cons are committed to the undermining of informed public debate of issues. It involves disruption, disinformation and the promotion of phony controversies. It also involves attempts to denigrate critical thinking and asking questions and not accepting simple programmed answers from those in power.

I suppose most DUers have DU on their Favorites list and don't arrive here by using Google. But if you Google "Democratic Underground" look at the second and third hard links in the list:

The 10 Worst Quotes From The Democratic Underground For 2003 ...
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interviews.
www.rightwingnews.com/quotes/du.php - 24k - Cached - Similar pages

Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)
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< More results from www.rightwingnews.com >

Of course the fact that DU gets this much attention from the Right is a compliment. It may mean DU has some influence or gets considerable attention which the Right doesn't like.


The Neo-con tactics undermining of effective communications through disruption and dissinformation has been widely discussed by others.

I suggest reading The Republican Noise Machine by David Brock. Look up Grover Norquist and Frank Luntz in the index and see what Brocks has to say about their activities. This book is perhaps one of the most important books written in the last 15 years.

Another good read (so as to not lose the forest for the trees) is Banana Republicans by Rampton and Stauber.

Here is a bit from the above link to THe Nation article on Norquist (emphasis my own):

Launched in 1993 to rally conservatives against President Clinton's healthcare plan, Norquist's invitation-only, off-the-record Wednesday meetings started small, with a dozen or so activists in attendance; a year later, it had grown to forty-five, including representatives of the National Rifle Association, on whose board Norquist serves; the Christian Coalition; the Heritage Foundation; and staffers from Gingrich's office. Since the arrival of President Bush, attendance has climbed to more than a hundred--including representatives of the White House, the Republican National Committee and the House and Senate leadership. Reporters and editors from conservative media outlets are frequent attendees, along with a smattering of corporate lobbyists.

At one recent meeting, topics of discussion ranged from a report on allegedly wasteful federal spending to the campaign of a potential challenger to a Democratic Congressional incumbent. Norquist introduced the day's speakers and allotted ten or fifteen minutes to each. "The meeting functions as the weekly checklist so that everybody knows what's up, what to do," says Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, a conservative pollster who has been a regular attendee for years. Often, more informal get-togethers--along with fundraisers and dinner parties--take place at Norquist's Capitol Hill home, where, she says, the door is always open "and there is always Chinese food."

...and from the link on Luntz:

Reprimanded
According to Salon.com, "In 1997, Luntz was formally reprimanded by the American Association for Public Opinion Research for his work polling on the GOP's 1994 'Contract with America' campaign document. Luntz told the media that everything in the contract had the support of at least 60 percent of the general public. Considering the elementary phrasing of that document (stop violent criminals, protect our kids, strong national defense), it seems almost laughably uncontroversial. But one of AAPOR's 1,400 members wasn't so amused, and filed a complaint requesting to see Luntz's research and a verification of the figure. Luntz's response? He couldn't reveal the information because of client confidentiality." 4

and about the Banana Republicans:

Banana Republicans is the latest book by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber of the Center for Media and Democracy. The bestselling authors of Weapons of Mass Deception lay bare how the "right-wing conspiracy," as represented by the national GOP and its functionaries in the media, lobbying establishment and electoral system, is undermining dissent and squelching pluralistic politics in America.

How a GOP echo chamber methodically spreads its views through conservative media giants and highly placed columnists, journalists, and opinion makers.

How, even within its own environs, the national Republican Party has squelched disagreement and moderation, stripping traditional oversight agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, of mission and influence.

How GOP leaders have strong-armed powerful lobbying firms into exclusively hiring Republicans, so that even K Street is political, rather than merely opportunistic.

How corporate-funded think tanks and Republican Party pundits have equated disagreement with treason, and the government has used its power to punish dissent.

Also read Worse than Watergate by John Dean and The Book on Bush by Eric Alterman.

for a more historical perspective read: Blinded by the Right by Brock.

[justabob]

1. Lots of great info, thank you

Important here, I think, are how they used existing organizations like the NRA, with offices nationwide - even in the smallest communities - to spread the word. When the religious right stopped running Buchanan and joined forces with the greater GOP they got hold of the churches too. The word can go out to millions of organized, focused soldiers with the click of a mouse. They are on message, word for word, reciting the same memo that the folks at FOX and other outlets got.

It is all terribly important, but the way they used the existing networks of people was brilliant - from a purely strategic point of view.

on edit:

Upon thinking about it further... I wanted to clarify what I said. I am not happy about their success. My point is that it is important to understand how they were able to do it, to be able to counter it.

[JohnWxy]

7. Yes. I just wish people would take the time to read some of the good

books out there on this subject , some of which I mentioned. It's very important to NOT lose the forest for the trees. This is how, in part, they win elections, by drowning out all attempts at real, substantive discussion and especially discovery and examination of any relavant FACTS with repetitive chants and of course, the masterful use of THe Big Lie (repeat it long enough and non-critically thinking people will start to think it must be true).

Banana Republicans in particular is fun to read (even though the devious techniques of the Neo-cons are disgusting).

Here's some more on Neo-Con machinations:

I Long for the Good Ol' Days When Ignorance Wasn't Treated Like a Legitimate Political Position

[linazelle]

2. They definitely want to confuse people and it's working

"The Neo-cons are committed to the undermining of informed public debate of issues. It involves disruption, disinformation and the promotion of phony controversies. It also involves attempts to denigrate critical thinking and asking questions and not accepting simple programmed answers from those in power."

I mean, the POTUS is taking Anna Nicole Smith's case?!! COME ONNNN. :eyes:

They are beyond ridiculous.

[JohnWxy]

9. here's another

http://www.imao.us/archives/001215.html

[teryang]

3. Rep. Murtha discussed this as the no policy policy.

He said in his recent town hall meeting concerning the Iraq war, I propose specific policy changes and they respond with we're staying until victory is achieved" and "stay the course," that's not a policy response."

As he points out talk of victory is completely detached from reality on the ground in Iraq. Staying the course is not a policy, its a jingo, a soundbite for the media to stifle debate.

Instead of coming up with a policy, they formulate zingers as a substitute for rational dialogue.

[JohnWxy]

5. Really well put!

Like advertizing jingles, which people can repeat (without doing ANY thinking!).

[StClone]

4. Nominated

The crux of our problem is in maintaining an educated and informed populace. The powers see fit to preclude both.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Remember, if you're catching flak, it's because you are over the target.

Of course the fact that DU gets this much attention from the Right is a compliment. It may mean DU has some influence or gets considerable attention which the Right doesn't like.

[JohnWxy]

8. I like that!

...and boy if that ain't TRUE!