Cable News Encouraging Town-Hall Temper Tantrums

Temper tantrums are what you get today when you elect an adult, Barack Obama, President. (He's arguably the first adult we've elected since Jimmy Carter.)

Fellow parents recognize today's bratty, bullying behavior of the extreme right for precisely what it is: An extended temper tantrum.

After trashing the china shop (the economy, international relations, the separation of powers) for eight years, the Republicans were, metaphorically speaking, "sent to their room" last November.

But, like so many naughty children sent to their rooms, they're still yelling and screaming -- acting out.

And making mischief, with such ridiculous behavior as "tea party" protests. Or the Birther and Deather nonsense. Or, of late, yelling and screaming at public forums and disrupting them.

Real mature.

Like misbehaving kids sentenced to a time-out, parents will know, many of these people (whose inner child became an outer nutjob) will continue to act like willful brats.

"The people who lost nine months ago are having a childish tantrum," one caller to Thom Hartmann's national Air America radio show said calmly this week. "It's finally sinking in that they lost."

Well, maybe. The childish, brattish behavior isn't abating. This is mainly because of encouragement by the right-wing media, the ultimate nightmare soccer parents, who see little reason anyone should act like responsible, civilized adults.

The temper-tantrum troops are described by another radio host, MSNBC's Ed Schultz, as "older white uneducated nut jobs who watch Glen Beck." Their public temper tantrums, while uneemly to many adults, are cherished by Fox Noise and right-wing talk radio.

Broadcasters, in private, have an accurate name they disdainfully use for these angry rent-a-mob tantrum-throwers -- "The shut-ins."

True, these bullies don't get out much. Except, that is, to throw temper tantrums for the cameras. Because acting like self-centered children is what they do best. They could care less about what might benefit other people and about the greater good. It's all about Me. The Ronald Reagan religion.

"Know what the GOP is today?" asks Schultz.

"It's a 50's-60's white crowd who can't stand the fact there's black guy in the White House."

So, in a gesture of ultimate futility, they throw temper tantrums in public. This is not, we should point out, the same thing as legitimate protest. This is also not, as some would posit, " democracy in action."

Parents, at least, know the difference. So do many thinking people of all political stripes.

These town-hall brats are like disruptive children who, after acting out in grade school, are dragged, often kicking and screaming, down to the principal's office.

But today, instead of encountering an adult who'll try to set them straight and/or discipline them, these children will meet cameras and microphones that encourage, magnify even venerate their boorish public behavior.

Many of these outsized children have been interviewed this past week by their enabler, the poisonous Fox News. (Moms once called their likes "a bad influence").

"Tell us, Bobby, why you heroically kicked and screamed when a grown-up came into the room and tried to speak to you and your neighbors."

Remember what Mom used to say about "Raise your voice, lower the tone of the conversation"?

But adults aren't in charge now. Certainly not in the media, anyway.

The kind of thing cable news now does best - well, most often, anyway -- is to feature bad behavior and encourage argument and highlight conflict.

So, go to your (dressing) room, cable news.

But alas, what makes good parenting isn't good TV. Shwing bad , childish behavior is what gets ratings.

Follow Bill Mann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/newsmann

Comments

[babyboomerorig]

To use your children's extended temper tantrum theory....­it's time for the adults to squelch the tantrum.

Swat their butts and put them to bed.

[Boikin]

Can you even see the center from where you stand?

[Senzasord]

Just for laughs look up the word Malkin in the dictionary. It is sure to amuse and it is really quite appropos.

[jmpurser]

"(He's arguably the first adult we've elected since Jimmy Carter.) "

THANK YOU!!!

A sizable chunk of American is certifiably insane right now either because we've got an adult in the white house and/or a black man in the white house.

[zanngra]

Perfect analysis! Just when you think it is impossible for Fringe News to sink any lower, they prove you wrong.

[Aylah95]

Spot on

[drgrph]

To be fair and balanced you need to include groups like Code Pink. If you actually believe breaking into a Congressional committee with red hands and yelling at Secretary of State Rice "legitimate protest", then you are wholly biased - using different standards depending if they reflect your position or not.

Maybe it's just that legitimate protest is all in the eye of the beholder. Was the Weather Underground's bombing of the Pentagon "legitimate protest"? How about animal rights activists that break into offices to "free" what is being used for testing? Was the trashing of LA post-Rodney King verdict or Newark post-MLKing "legitimate protest"?

Some will say that these were legitimate forms of protest while other would not. What I'd really like to know is how yelling at tone deaf Senators and Congressmen became such a big deal at all. Am I the only one who is insulted by canned, off-topic responses to e-mails or the dismissive office help when calling my Congressman?

There is one thing that you might help me with, though. Where is the definition of "legitimate protest" in the Constitution?

[Senzasord]

Bombing the Pentagon, Animal rights activists, riots in LA Newark, Detroit, or anywhere else are and always have been considered criminal activities. The assassination of Dr. King, and the attempts on Ronald Reagan and George Wallace are also criminal acts. Nobody argues otherwise. If you have a tone deaf condescending representative in the House or Senate, then elect someone else.
By the way the first amendment cites the right of the public to peaceaby assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances. The operative word is peaceably. When the protests become violent they lose their legitimacy.

[lgillooly]

Without Campaign Finance Reform, a Fairness type Doctrine and a media that is held accountable for lying and inciting hatred these people will continue to believe the Corporate funded right wing media monster. Why do we have laws about truth in advertising a product, but NO laws about truth on our public airwaves?
Why can Palin blatantly lie about death panels without having to come out and retract it because it is a damn lie?

[RobinSeattle]

CNN and Fox News: All Food Fights All the Time!

CNN: The most trusted name in food fights!

[noaxe397]

Republicans are trying to demonize working people who are under/uninsured or unemployed people who want universal coverage so they don't lose HC when they lose their job as the new welfare receipient.
Have you noticed ever since welfare reform passed in 1996, you don't see that card being played as much by conservatives? (which was as much a race card as an economic one, even though the typical welfare receipient at the time was a 29 year old white woman with two kids recently divorced)

Their new freeloader is the working person who wants health care. The GOP answer is HC reimbursement accounts (its YOUR money, and it's portable.) "Who pays for the uninsured"? is often heard. "Why is your health care your employer's responsibility, does he insure your car or home?" is another phony arguments.
I've even heard on Morning Joe and CNBC employee benefits (not just healthcare) referred to as welfare. Period.

So, what on the surface appears as an economic issue (just as welfare was perceived) is actually a cultural issue. And for a Republican that boils down to "Why should I take care of you.? As if!

[HPdevotee]

So true noax397.

The most glaring hypocrisy can be seen in the numbers...­the federal gov'nt has been bailing out the southern GOP (the largest concentration of repubs in the nation) for decades.

The northern and eastern states, where there are strong unions and higher standards of living have been subsidizing the poor, weaker unionized republican states by the billions through medicaid and welfare. Greedy repub. senators, FOX and the corporations that fund them, then manipulate the low-information, generational poverty stricken voters into a faux sense of patriotism based in an ideology that will actually keep them ensla.ved, that will keep their standard of living in decline. All the while the bloated corporations feast.

Unbelievably frustrating and pitiful.

[harriscrl3]

I agree with this and my problem with these cable news network that have these folks on is that its encourging bratty behavior. I dont mind the guy yesterday at the town hall in Montana that ask the question respectfully but these temper tantrum throwing brats should NOT be allowed on TV because what it does is that it reinforce their brattish behavior if its rewarded. People who intimidate to get their way should NOT be allowed on TV.

[JohnnyChristmas]

I will NEVER FORGET thiis past eight years, or the 24/7 subversion and sedition that has followed! NEVER!!

[Estreet1964]

It's not just Faux News and right wing radio that are throwing gasoline on this fire.

I was appalled earlier this week when both CNN and MSNBC had cameras at the ready for LIVE BREAKING NEWS! coverage at a town hall meeting. They were salivating to break in for live coverage if anyone started screaming.

This is the state of television news today folks, just waiting for those "Jerry Springer" moments. And of course the masses of unhinged Beck-heads won't let them down.

[Alexander2791]

I fully agree that CNN and to a lesser extent MSNBC have been using these faux-protests, orchestrated by the far right to their own rating goals. To wit, C Matthews hosting the man with the gun the next day nad showing the same pictures again and again. What is the constructive goals? Corporate greed and ratings!

[blaqntelligence]

" the masses of unhinged Beck-heads­..."

Most apt description/name for these types.

[ProfessorDuh]

Obviously, we need some reverse Jim Crow laws in this country. When they come to the polls, ask the old white people whether the Social Security and Medicare programs that keep them alive are run by the federal government. If they answer "No," throw them back out into the street.

[MajorKong]

I actually believe that George H. W. Bush was an adult.
I didn't always agree with him, but he was a competent public servant.

[ProfessorDuh]

He was completely corrupt, like his son, but, unlike his son, he wasn't stupid.

[newsmann]

Agree...he was an adult. Too bad he started the vicious campaign tactics, though. Bush pere shouldn't have been left out.

[Alexander2791]

you are living on a different planet. Even responsible republicans like me disagree with you!

[Alexander2791]

you have za crooked definition of adulthood. Ypou need to be seen by a shrink!

[Alexander2791]

look at the definition of "competent" in your dictionary if you own one!