Limbaugh's Lies Sabotage the Health Reform Debate

[depakid]

In conservative states, right-wing talk show hosts are spreading lies about reform. No wonder Blue Dog Dems are blocking health care overhaul.

There's a showdown at the House Energy and Commerce Committee corral. Seven Blue Dog Democrat members are banding together, and if they don't get their way, they can gun down the health care bill.

The Blue Dog Seven are spooked by pressure from their constituents and recent polls that show American's approval of Obama's health care initiative has dropped below 50 percent for the first time.

Drive across the seven states they represent: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Utah, turn on your car radio, and you'll know why public opinion has changed. According to Pew research, 22 percent of Americans get their news from talk radio. And conservative talkers have been lying to their listeners about what's in the health care bill.

Lies from Sean Hannity like, "If you don't have private insurance the year that this bill is passed, you can't get that later on from your employer." Lies from Rush Limbaugh that the bill would "outlaw individual private coverage." Lies provided in talking points from the Republican National Committee like "Democrats are proposing a government controlled health insurance system, which will control care, treatments, medicines and even what doctors a patient may see."

Tell a lie often enough, and people will believe it.

And there is nobody there to call them on their lies. Nobody there to set the record straight. Nobody to push back against the propaganda that corporate radio promotes in its own political self interest. In the Blue Dog Seven states, just three stations broadcast any kind of progressive talk. Three progressive radio stations in seven entire states. But Sean Hannity "freely" prevaricates on dozens of radio stations; Rush Limbaugh deceives people on 98 in those seven states alone. 98 publicly owned frequencies where public debate comes second to selling ads for Snapple.

Special assistant to the President for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Susan Crawford told Broadcasting and Cable magazine, "The administration understands the important role traditional terrestrial broadcasting continues to play."

Maybe they should be listening to FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, who says in Broadcast Blues, "If you're concerned about health care or you're concerned about the environment as your number one issue, fine, but a piece of advice from me, is you better make media reform your number two issue, because you won't get anywhere on number one without media reform."

Former Republican Senator Trent Lott had it right when he said Conservative Talk Radio is running the country. There needs to be a showdown, but it's the 1996 Telecommunications Act that should be gunned down.

http://www.alternet.org/media/141547/limbaugh%27s_lies_sabotage_the_health_reform_debate/

[Optical.Catalyst]

1. Limbaugh wants President Obama to fail; lying is just another tool in his box

Actually, Limbaugh is a tool

[rurallib]

6. Limbaugh will stop at nothing to make Obama fail. Nothing

[Frustratedlady]

2. This is a good example of how much power the RW has through RW radio.

By feeding the same message, over and over and over again, they are using their art of propaganda to control the sheeple. They've been doing it since before "W" won the White House. I don't think people realize how powerful these constant "hammerings" are.

If you switch stations and listen to several different RW commentators, you will find the same talking points.

I'm referring to the Coulters, Becks, Hannitys, Limbaughs of the RW community.

Don't ever think these are just RW nuts...they are RW tools, and they are effective.

[DFW]

3. Someone needs to send this to Trent Lott:

He was one of the singing senators, so he should be able to sing along with "Rush, the Big Fat Gas Bag:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlp-D_Y1UNo

[madaboutharry]

4. I think that President Obama needs to get on television and

take America to school. He needs to stand up there like he did when he was a professor, along with charts and a blackboard, and just explain the whole thing once and for all. And he needs to call out the republicans on every single lie they have told the American people and explain why what they are hearing from the republicans is a lie. I am wondering if Rahm Emanuel is thinking this already.

[randr]

5. The message is the medium

MM was right and we need to make corrections to the changes in the "Fairness Doctrine" made under RR.
It was all over RW radio during the campaign that Obama would bring back the "Fairness Doctrine" and they were shitting in their pants that they would have to share their playgound.
The airwaves do belong to the people and they need to be shared.
How do we enforce a balance of opinion is the big problem. But the more people behave as children the more adult supervision they require.

[irislake]

7. I'll bet Limbaugh's lies have WAY more influence

on the politicians than on the American people. Chomsky points out that in spite of right-wing corporate propaganda the vast majority of Americans want a national health programme. Some Democratic politicians are chicken, some are crooked, and too few are honest and ethical. For example Dennis Kucinich.

Too bad.

[DeeDeeNY]

8. Media reform is of utmost importance

Without an informed electorate, this country is in trouble

[depakid]

11. Well, the ONE thing you surely don't do as a Dem (if you expect even a semi fair shake)

Is take it off the table.

No, you leave it up there like a sword of Damocles- and let it be known that your folks at the FCC are gathering evidence for administrative rule making.

Clinton pandered and pandered- going so far as to appoint Michael Powell to the FCC!

And he gave both the corproate media and the pharmaceutical companies BIG money rights to disease monger on TV- even though no other nation allows it (with limited exceptions in New Zealnd. For good reason.

And what exactly did that get him? Double the derision. And what did it get the rest of us? See the OP above.

[killbotfactory]

9. They don't give a shit what people think

They are bought off by powers that represent the status quo.

[Cha]

10. Oh yeah, I'll get this

on the greatest for more exposure! Thanks, kid!

[DeeDeeNY]

12. Kick