Limbaugh Yells "Nazi" (And The Press Yawns)

Despite the fact that Limbaugh has not apologized for his comments and is continuing to compare the Obama White House and the Democratic Party with Nazis, many in the media don't consider it newsworthy and haven't condemned it. And more important, journalists don't show any signs of believing that the episode tells us anything about the radically unhinged nature of the right-wing media in this country today. That story's just a non-starter. Period.

It's just Rush being Rush, right?

If I could play assignment editor for a moment here: The political story of the year continues to be the unhinged radical-right response to Obama's inauguration and the naked attempt to dehumanize and delegitimize him through a nonstop smear campaign sponsored by the GOP Noise Machine. The misguided movement breaks all kinds of taboos in American politics, as well as in the press, and is redefining our political culture -- for the worse. Yet the press continues to play dumb.

So spooked are journalists by decades' worth of "liberal media bias" attacks that they refuse to connect the glaringly obvious dots on display. They refuse to drill down into the rancid undercurrent that's behind the Obama-is-a-Nazi dementia, the town hall mini-mobs that are wreaking havoc across the country, and the bizarre birther conspiracy theory. The three right-wing phenomena are all related, and they all revolve around a runaway hatred of Obama (as well as the federal government), and they're all being fueled by the Noise Machine, especially Fox News and Limbaugh, both of which no longer recognize common decency, let alone journalistic standards.

Yet instead of putting Limbaugh on the receiving end of well-deserved scrutiny and scorn for his outlandish Nazi rhetoric, rather than turning his comments into a political firestorm, the press plays dumb and actually goes out of its way to legitimize the worst offenders of the GOP's hate brigade.

Read the full Media Matters column here.

 

 

 

Follow Eric Boehlert on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EricBoehlert

Comments

[johnie2xs]

08:54 AM on 08/12/2009

These disingenuous responses of Congressional Rethuglicans, and their MSM minions and syndicated bloviators concerning Rush's supposed entertainment value, is absolutely stunning. How they can sit there, with their smarmy smiles plastered on their mugs and with a straight face invoke the idea that Rush is an "entertainer" and not taken seriously, is a monumental disservice to the whole idea of rationality and logic.

Someone please explain to me. How it is that the a) fomenting of fear, b) dissemination of disinformation and the c) selling of sedition in the guise of patriotism, constitutes the basic elements of entertainment?

In what life; on what Planet, does this pass?

There is this constant Broadcast vs. Cable dynamic, always raised when comparing these two ways of presenting information to the populace, as if they are totally separate industries needing a separate set of allowances. Free speech should not mean that you are free to lie repeatedly, under the protective umbrella of opinion. And remember, broadcast radio doesn't even merit this dodge. In the case of Rush and Clear Channel, the entire legislated weight of the FCC does,and should apply.

If I can't yell "Fire" on broadcast TV, when it's a lie,
why then is it alright to yell "F*ckin' Fire" on cable?

[TheProf]

02:04 AM on 08/12/2009

The press has abrogated its responsibility. It allows nut cases to make outlandish statements that had they been said by a liberal would have been front page and above the fold. Shame on them. They have become cowards. Their cowardice gives credibility to people like Rush Limbaugh who is himself a coward. Aren't their any men or women of meaning and honor out there? It is disgusting. Just like the health industry, they have been bought and sold. Makes one embarrassed to be an American. We must look incredibly stupid from the point of view of other countries. What a country! I spent six years in the service to defend this?

[Erik Kartmann]

12:57 AM on 08/12/2009

Finally Rush gets the attention he deserves: 'ZZZZZZZ'

[Rangergirl]

12:42 AM on 08/12/2009

What is wrong with the media that they don't condem Rush comments? Are they afraid? or are they complicent?

[kechco]

11:43 PM on 08/13/2009

Limbaugh, Fox News, et al have been getting away with propaganda, lies, distortions for years. Those who stand up to them are bullied and intimidated. Now, with Obama in, they have taken it to a new level. America is more devided than ever and the sickness of hate is eating us up.. Boehlert is right-the media rolls over and plays dead. Too scared of the right wing. Obama has been called a Nazi Fascist B### on Boston right wing radio since the election and listeners eat it up.. I have even called the FBI to complain. I think they thought I was some kook. It would be fine to ignore them all, but their listeners hang on every word. We need to speak up for the Presidency, even those who do not agree with Obama. So much goes ignored until a crisis --terrorist threats, financial collapse, failing infrastructure and transportation system.
Now we have a threatened President and there is no outrage, no guts. Having lived through 3 assassinations in this country, I fear another tragic outcome. Call sponsors. Speak in support of the President. Expose lies. Boycott sponsors of Beck, Limbaugh. Have a support Obama day.

[LeftistGuerrilla]

12:39 AM on 08/12/2009

Or maybe they find him painfully boring like the rest of us.

[truthorsnare]

12:30 AM on 08/12/2009

We need to hold the sponsors of his show responsible for his rhetoric. Whoever runs a commercial during his tirades will not see a dime of my money for anything that they sell.

[jkc1968]

12:07 AM on 08/12/2009

Rush Limbaugh is the Howard Stern of NPR. Millions of people pay to listen to Howard Stern on satellite radio because he's funny, entertaining and will say and do just about anything to stir up controversy. From what I understand, Rush has about 20 million people tuning in to his show every day. I don't listen to Rush, but it sounds like he's entertaining and will do just about anything to stir up controversy, like Howard Stern. The difference is, we know what Howard Stern does is for entertainment purposes. On the other hand, Rush has 20 million naive people believing his way of entertainment is actually real and factual. I wish I could sell 20 million people snow in the summertime everyday!

[Erik Kartmann]

01:02 AM on 08/12/2009

Howard Stern funny? More like can we get a girl in here to go topless. But maybe Rush could benefit with some of that....

[old timer 37]

01:03 AM on 08/12/2009

Rush is on Clear Channel, not NPR.

[johnie2xs]

11:55 PM on 08/11/2009

The fact that FOX is on basic and MSNBC is not, is no accident nor is it just the machinations of the Cable operators.These are contractual setups demanded by Murdoch.

Couple of other points.

FOX also has a very cozy relationship with Clear Channel, Providing them with news*.
(http://www.dailycardinal.com/article/7736)

And in the event you do a lot of traveling you will notice that most of the top chains all have FOX for news, but won't have MSNBC. Yep!!! Contracts again!!

[JumpDownTurnAround]

01:26 AM on 08/12/2009

Really? Where I am they're both on Basic.

[johnie2xs]

07:05 AM on 08/12/2009

The exception, not the rule.

[caseyblab]

11:23 PM on 08/11/2009

Old Rush had his Hate Goggles on when he looked into the mirror and hollered what he saw there.

[pjkool]

11:14 PM on 08/11/2009

Let’s get the history right about Nazi Germany. Hitler and his thugs, the Brown Shirts, went after liberals, promoted a climate of extreme nationalism, persecuted homosexuals, perpetuated fear of a communist takeover and abolished trade unions. When Hitler took over, only Nazi’s were allowed to participate in the legislative process. Now tell me which party in 2009 America has policies that most resemble 1930’s Nazi Germany. We need to confront American right wing fascism now or we will be confronting it at on doorsteps in a few years. President Obama and the Democratic congressional leadership should call on the Republican party to control this runaway breakdown of order within their party. Americans have died in wars to preserve a system of civil discourse. The Republicans are promoting unpatriotic behavior.

[miksmaster]

11:33 PM on 08/11/2009

Well written! You are on the right track. ALSO, one of the first things Hitler did was to control the media. Anyone out there remember when DICK Cheney proclaimed "I want all the TV's in my hotel to be preset to Fox News". The Neocons keep crying about the Mainstream Liberal Media. If there really was a Mainstream Liberal Media wouldn't they be all over this? The headline says "and the press yawns". The same old story, same old song and dance.

[ghtrains]

12:15 AM on 08/12/2009

Agree 100%. I have been trying for several days to get my opinion past the scrubbing that this whole campaign is nothing more that a smear campaign to associate our president with one of the worst groups in our world's history. The emotional impact on those of us who have family who died in WWII is enormous. Some are outraged at the use of such comparisons. Others believe what they hear and become afraid. The whole situation is a disgrace.

[Common Sense 101]

11:01 PM on 08/11/2009

I expect that kind of behavior from Rush. I think more of him as a shock jock but when Pelosi does it, an elected official that is suppose to be holding a lot higher standards and representing this country well it's disgraceful.

[lis60]

10:44 PM on 08/11/2009

I so agree with this! Most of CNN has really disappointed me!! I'm their attempt to be "neutral" they simply repeat things without question. And very few of their anchors seem shocked! They allow Dobbs to rant his nonsense. I have given up on them. The petitions to Becks advertisors seem to help, maybe it's time to contact CNN and it's advertisors in a more organized way.

[Rescisco]

10:36 PM on 08/11/2009

If the right gets away with doing and saying these things now, will this not embolden them the next time they are in power? One can only guess where that will lead. Or perhaps we already know and are just too afraid to say it.

[imsosure]

10:31 PM on 08/11/2009

If only the press would do more yawning at this despicable sloth, he may actually be seen for what he is.

[ohiomark]

10:19 PM on 08/11/2009

Let me correct that headline.

Pelosi yells NAZI and the press yawns. Rush pushes back and points out who the Nazi's really were (socialists) and the press goes nuts.

[ersf]

10:38 PM on 08/11/2009

A basic mis-interpretation of history uttered by someone who has no clue.

[ohiomark]

11:15 PM on 08/11/2009

So the Nazi Party, isn't the Nationalist Socialist Workers Party?

What color is the sky in your world?

[salkoc]

10:41 PM on 08/11/2009

PEOPLE IN OHIO CANT WEIGH IN ON ANY CONVERSATION........your divine intellect gave us BUSH 2 ..........so your opinion is what i wipe with .

let me guess your part of the 20 % ....that still thinks bush was a good president , that there are wmds ...and iraq attaked us on 9/11. please go have a beer with joe the plumber until we call you to go back to work .

listening to fox for your data shows.......just a reminder the majority rules . you lost get over it .

why dont you go seek the truth ......find the link of pelosi yelling nazi ....and post it .
see ya in 2012 .

[imsosure]

11:06 PM on 08/11/2009

I like the you lost part but they're too immature to get over it and besides there's nothing like watching close the deal for Obama having another term and the GOP becoming a footnote in some history books but not many. They are losers and pretty funny too.

[ohiomark]

11:11 PM on 08/11/2009

She didn't yell Nazi, but then again neither did Rush.

What Pelosi said is that the town hall protesters were carrying swastikas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4UujNkWfGE&feature=related