Weapons of Mosque Distraction -- Don't Eat the Synthetic Red Meat

[nashville_brook]

The GOP wants no more than for the Dems to spend the next few weeks marginalizing Dems in less than indigo-blue districts from their base. Already in Florida we're seeing the leading Democratic candidate for governor, Alex Sink distancing herself from the First Amendment in order to placate her imaginary red friends and causing much concern for rank-and-file party members like myself.

Obama didn't do us any favors when he walked back his initially strong statement with regard to Cordoba House. Jon Stewart did a great job of covering this last night, when he showed Obama saying he's not sure if it's the right thing to do to have an Islamic Center 2 blocks from the WTC site and following it up with: "Yes We Can (but should we)." "You can build a playground next to a Catholic Church...but should you?" -- thank John Oliver for that one. Go watch that clip right now if you haven't seen it.

This manufactured controversy is making for great comedy, but it's sucking the air out of our political dialogue. It's reminding me of how Louis Gates and The Beer Summit was allowed to derail the healthcare debate, right at the most critical moment. It's bullshit, in other words.

Religious freedom is a core principle of this country, and if our party can't dig in and swing for the fences on this, then I wonder what's getting ready to happen to Social Security.

[obxhead]

1. It's amazing with all of the serious problems we have that all the

media can focus on is a building intended to pray to a magic man in the sky.

People are losing their homes because there are so few jobs. Not even reported. Fuck the MSM for driving this non issue forward with such fervor.

[nashville_brook]

3. i think it's calculated to distract. keep the children entertained with loud toys while the adults

go and dismantle Social Security.

They're going to squeal about some imaginary boogieman (privatization!), and then declare victory when they raise the retirement age.

[obxhead]

5. That's exactly what it is. Republicans can't hold up on the issues

so they (the MSM in support of the right) create non issues to bicker pointlessly on about.

[nashville_brook]

9. i used SS as the example here, but the same goes for BP, unemployment, and foreclosures.

seems like average Americans are losing every single fight with the monied interests.

[DirkGently]

2. Wonder what ball the rw is hiding this time?

This kind of social wedge bomb is textbook. It can't be ignored, but we ought to shun and ridicule it as well. We do not have the luxury of taking out the Islamaphobe fidget and stroking it again. Even they are having a hard time keeping a straight face. Slap them down, but don't lend this "issue" the aura of legitimacy in doing so.

Great post.

[nashville_brook]

4. stroke that Islamaphobe fidget! and pay no attention to the nice man stealing your retirement.

[DirkGently]

7. Smokescreen for SS follies tba soon?

[nashville_brook]

8. make some noise about the principle > back off of the principle > declare victory!

it applies equally to Social Security, the Gulf of Mexico Disaster, and unemployment/the economy.

make a little populist noise, then do most of what the Chamber of Commerce tells you to.

[Mojorabbit]

13. Well one of our Fl Dem Senate

candidates, Greene is opposing the mosque too. Sigh. Can't stand the guy anyway but Damn.
http://www.wesh.com/news/24633506/detail.html

[nashville_brook]

6. question for the unrecc'ers -- will you stand with us to protect Social Security

if and when the administration goes along with raising the retirement age?

can we at least agree that hands off Social Security is CORE?

[DirkGently]

11. Hmmmmmmm. Crickets?

[nashville_brook]

12. well, to be fair, Obama wouldn't do anything that would hurt working Americans...

unless Rahm said he has to.

[nashville_brook]

10. please let us know what you think about SS cuts --> link to POLL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8965414

[Desertrose]

14. Americans are easily distracted anymore....

and we better learn to look past the MSM latest piece of bullshit and see what is really going on.



Good post nb

[nashville_brook]

17. this is a great example of Sneercasting which FOX specializes in --

they can't function without stories tfor their blonde barbies to sneer at...and thus, breakrooms across this country sneers with them. it's why i stay out of our breakroom.

[Turborama]

15. Happily sending this to the greatest, can't believe it took so long!

BTW have you seen this piece on the Rachel Maddow Show yet? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x495917

Thanks for the thread and the Daily Show link.

:kick: just before falling off page 1.

[nashville_brook]

16. thanks Turbo! -- that segment of Rachel is densely packed with goodness.

The Freedom Fries freakout analogy is brilliant.

[Laelth]

18. I share your fears over what will happen to Social Security. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[nashville_brook]

19. this is the BIG piece of cake they've been trying to get for decades -- and it's the only

thing that separates us from Third World status.

[DirkGently]

21. Something would seem afoot. Your "synthetic red meat"

comment is right on target. This is a very calculated controversy. May have come from the blognut Salon identified, but when Gingrich picks it up, there is some cold political maneuvering going on. This type of pseudo-ethical wedge issue was his specialty, when he was relevant.

[nashville_brook]

22. it was exactly Newt and newtlike operatives who catapulted this propaganda.

[nashville_brook]

20. ...