Hertzberg: R/Wing think tanks are like welfare programs for right wing writers

[eleny]

His words were stated in a far more clever manner. But this is the flavor of what he just said on Hardball.

Tweety just said that money is raised for these think tanks so that the right wing philosophy can keep getting into newspapers like the Wall Street Journal. That's their sole purpose.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. That's exactly what they are. Wingnut Welfare. eom

[eleny]

2. It was nice to hear that on prime time talking head tv

:hi:

[EFerrari]

3. They have a greaat system going. Propagandists that hit every point

in the media from books to periodicals to little rags to the cable shows. We should do as well.

[eleny]

9. It's a non stop calliope

[gratuitous]

4. I disagree

Right wing think tanks are not like welfare programs, they are welfare programs for right wing writers.

[eleny]

6. I bet that's exactly what he said, too

Spot on!

[annabanana]

5. I love to hear those cesspools called out by name. . My ears

perked up. . "Heritage Foundation". . "A.E.I." . . .Hudson Institute". .

They should certainly be called out by name on a reegular basis..

[eleny]

7. It was good to hear that floating out of the tv

I would expect to hear that from Mike Malloy or Peter Werbe or even on C-span's Book Tv from a lefty writer. I didn't expect to hear it on Hardball.

[CitizenPatriot]

8. and it seems tax payer money may have

funded some of these partisan tanks (illegally of course).

I don't have a link, but it seems I've been reading a number of cases of state senate activity,e tc where tax payer money has been used improperly...

[eleny]

10. I hope you can find some of those articles one day and post them

:hi:

[CitizenPatriot]

17. I'll be looking around for them -- If I find them, I'll

def post them . One of the scandals JUST broke a few days ago...Of course, I can barely keep up with half the Rushublican scandals re propaganda on our dollars:-)

[Hello_Kitty]

12. Armstrong Williams?

Maybe not a think tank, per se, but they were paying him (illegally) to spout propaganda about education programs.

[eleny]

13. I remember that scandal

[EFerrari]

14. And remember the retired generals? These folks probably don't work

for thinktanks but I bet the idea came from one.

[CitizenPatriot]

15. right! ...when this dam breaks, it's going to be interesting...nt

[CitizenPatriot]

16. yeah, I remember that now...they have NO shame...

I can't wait until all of the propaganda comes out. It's an absolute disgrace.

[daleo]

11. Welfare programs often provide training for honest work

These think tanks certainly don't do that.

They also provide a sinecure for right wing politicians when they lose elections, and act as a sort of bogus academy, providing a forum for publication without the need for genuine peer review. As such, they are a vital part of the propaganda machine.