The Return Of McCarthyism: Hysteria In Action On The Right (VIDEO)

***UPDATE 9/22/09*** I haven't found another embeddable version yet, but sharp-eyed reader Mark points out that you can watch the video here.

***UPDATE 9/22/09*** The video has been removed by the user. Please email [e-mail] if you know of another copy.

Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are paving the way for a return of McCarthyism with their hysterical and shrill denunciations of President Obama and his administration as secret Communists and Marxists and Fascists who actually hate America and are trying to destroy it from the inside. Crooks and Liars highlights this well-done video juxtaposing the conspiracy theorists on the right with the disgraced Senator Joseph McCarthy. The result is pretty revealing.

WATCH:

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Comments

[EmmaJ76]

06:47 AM on 10/03/2009

This article is very right in it's assessment. I have been saying for a while (and you can check back through my posts to see this) that the rabid rants from the rant are stinking to high heaven of McCarthyism, and look what happened then. So many people named as so called commies when in fact
McCarthy's list was bull. It was scare tactics, division tactics and the only unamerican there was McCarthy.

I see this fear climate, this division being created now is even more scary. There is no truth to these lies but just like McCarthyism, it is being swallowed hook line and sinker by the curtain twitchers and boogey men hunters.

It's insanity.

[Stephen Cox]

08:49 PM on 09/29/2009

I don't see how any American in their right mind can even give credence to the Lies and out right Bigotry that these supposed Americans are spewing forth. They should be greatful that we live in a Country that allows free speech and provides them with the right to do the smear job that they get paid to do. They also should be glad that I'm not the President I would reinstate the Draft and send them to the worst possible Battle that we are currently fighting and order them out front that way they could take a Bullet for this Country that they are so in love with! Hanging them in Public is to good for them and would be waisting a good rope. If this is what the Republicans want then they are getting their money's worth and Old Joe would be proud that he bred such hatred.

[OswegoKayaker]

11:14 AM on 09/24/2009

The McCarthy era was a way for the Republicans to frame everything as either Republican or Communist. Any Democrat was suspected. Helen Gahagan-Douglas served in the House for three terms as a New Deal Democrat who was in favor of rent control, an advocate for federally controlled oil drilling and protecting the water rights of small farms. There was rapid inflation after World War II, Douglas led congressional efforts for price controls. All things that did not sit well with Republicans. She ran for the Senate in 1950 and ended up facing a Congressman named Richard Nixon in the general election. He called her the Pink Lady saying she was “pink right down to her underwear.”  His campaign staff called thousands voters asking them if they knew she was a communist. She lost.

Since Feminists were often liberals they were painted with the same red brush as labor unions. The child labor amendment Congress passed in 1924 was now seen as a Red plot. In 1947 hearings, for example, Nixon asked Jack Warner of Warner Brothers, “How many anti-communist movies have you made?” 
Many Americans were enraged when McCarthy attacked General Ralph W. Zwicker and Edward R. Murrow with his "See It Now" program showcased McCarthy's methods. The TV airing of the Army-McCarthy hearings destroyed him.
And now the Republicans are out of power again and pull out the red bogeyman.
So bizarre now that RED states are considered Republican.

[BonoVox]

12:10 AM on 09/24/2009

I like how Murrow points out our founders were not fearful people.

As we sing at the ballpark, "And the home of the brave."

[OswegoKayaker]

09:34 PM on 09/24/2009

Just remember the Cincinnati Reds were so afraid during the McCarthy era that they changed their name to the Redlegs -- so much for the home of the brave.

[beornborg]

11:21 PM on 09/23/2009

An embeddable version of the video can be found at http://www.dramatube.net/video/the-return-of-mccarthyism-1

[Paul Frank]

06:23 PM on 09/22/2009

The implied parallel logic is weak, but the general point holds--emphatic, steely-eyed, gravel-voiced, desk-pounding accusations of undesirable group memberships, (communist, radical, anti-capitalist, etc.), and adverse motivational attributions, (communist/leaning, racist, etc.) have little to do with good social problem-solving and a lot to do with social demonization and stigmatization that is just plain wrong.

[PamperedHousecat]

04:27 PM on 09/22/2009

Glenn Beck: This is what adult ADHD looks like.

[johnkilmy]

11:42 AM on 09/22/2009

When i first heard of this socialism, communism, marxism name calling... All i thought was mcarthyism.
http://www.electroniccigarettesinc.com

[xtrakool]

07:03 AM on 09/22/2009

It is only nine months into the Obama Presidency, so far the Limbaugh's, the Beck's,the Hannity's etc, have used the Fascist and Communist route to criticize and stir up hatred against Mr. Obama. I am willing to bet that sooner or later one of these Guys out of frustration and to their national audience use the N word to refer to Mr. Obama. It is only a matter of time.

[Foreground]

12:36 AM on 09/23/2009

Point: They were using at least the Socialism/Communism thing before he was even elected. That was the entire point of "Joe" the "Plumber."

[swengnikaerb]

05:52 AM on 09/22/2009

Beck's journey will end the same way McCarthy's did, disgraced at the bottom on a booze bottle.

[nancychatter]

08:04 AM on 09/22/2009

I wrote this in an e-mail to Beck 3 weeks ago.
When he said let meknow what you think on his
"show".

[marco01]

04:50 AM on 09/22/2009

They are propagandists and political bullies. They have have relentlessly pitted one half of the country against the other, stoking fear, anger, and hatred against their fellow American. They have no decency or respect for the facts.

Their followers have been duped and exploited against their own interests.

I challenge you cons to read this article - the whole thing.

http://rationalrevolution.net/articles/contradictions_inherent_in_ameri.htm

[fauxmccoy]

04:14 AM on 09/22/2009

yikes -- arrived in my email -- a coupon for glenda's new 'book' --
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extra extra read all about it
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anyone have a cyanide capsule ring handy? i think i'll need it

[LeAnn Cammack]

01:30 AM on 09/22/2009

Wish Murrow were here.

I'm going on record to say that I despise these anti-American hate speeches by these commentators on the far right, and I oppose their hatred of President Obama. Liberals and progressives are not anti-American, nor are the Democrats. This demonizing has got to stop. It is unacceptable and treasonous.

Be opposed to the President's policies, his politics, but leave the hatred and comparisons to dictators and thugs to yourself. It has no place in civil America, and it demeans and dishonors the votes of millions of Americans who voted for our President.

[hwoodude]

07:56 AM on 09/26/2009

LeAnn..well said...hatred and anger only perpetuate hatred and anger. The Limbaugh, Hannitys, Becks. Coulters, Savidges, et al, with their anti Obama one note yelling and screaming are geared to gaining attention to themselves in their quest for attention, ratings and, yep...money! The problems that King George Bush and his merry band of liars, plunderers, and money spenders - who now write books re-writing the truths of their ineptness while in office - left Obama can only really be solved one way: by Republicans and Democrats working together with paience, respect, and insight. These three qualities are unkown to the above mentioned talk show hosts. They all create problems, not solve them and spawn hatred and confusion in their quest for ratings. Yes, we need a two part system, which is the bedrock our our freedoms. This is how we will solve the many problems in the U.S. and the world. "Ye shall know the trurth and it will make you free."

[roydoe]

10:26 PM on 09/29/2009

From Murrow to Couric. I like my Scotch without water.

[Rudderman]

12:04 AM on 09/22/2009

What is it with the right? Everyday it’s another –ism, shouted louder and more often. Brings to mind, Ferris Bueller’s great line from the beginning of the film.

“Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism's in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.

Roger that, Ferris.

[rjohnson7]

11:10 PM on 09/21/2009

Interesting as we look back and see how wrong Edward R. Murrow was. If he was alive today, he would have to eat those words and regret the day he ever spoke them. Socialism is just a tame word for what our radicals in Government have for their agenda, "Communism".

Interesting,

Richard.

[HailSinfonia]

11:13 PM on 09/21/2009

Oh please.

[Foreground]

11:40 PM on 09/21/2009

Dear Richard: Due to the fact that most people who accuse Obama of anything even remotely resembling Socialism or Communism don't seem to have any idea what those terms mean, please define, in your own words, what Socialism or Communism mean to you, why you consider them to be bad things, and how the heck you reconcile Socialism and Communism with bailing out Wall Street and enabling private Insurance companies to gouge out what's left of our wallets by not forcing through the Public Option.

With Love,

Guy who was awake during High School Social Studies Class.

[fauxmccoy]

12:35 AM on 09/22/2009

this will be rich! i await with bated breath.