Fox Activism: Will it Face a Counterbalance?

Fox and the Right Wing has stolen the presidential election of 2008.

In 2008 the Left was active and engaged. We spent our time, our money, and our hearts to get Obama elected. In 2009 though, we have left him twisting in the wind.

Fox has done an outstanding job in 2009 in thwarting any initiative President Obama has attempted to undertake. It really wasn't Fox itself and its' shameless promotion of anything that could damage the president (over the weekend I saw boxed images of Homer Simpson over top of the President). Part of this credit needs to go to the media.

The MSNBC guys were happy to show their disdain for Fox News all the way through the year. They would enjoy laughing it up about these silly teabaggers. But they really did nothing with their bully pulpits. And the same goes for the blogosphere. What did any of these outlets do to take back the streets?

Obama as a politician is smart enough to see what winds are blowing. There is a symbiotic relationship between Obama and the media. He knows the kind of political coverage he gets will allow him to move more freely. I am not talking about coverage of a speech or an appearance somewhere. I am talking about political cover. Fox provided the GOP all it needed and then some.

Where was Obama's? This is what is so disgusting. (Obama is not blameless here, he needs to step up a little, but, it is his rookie season and I expect things to get better.)

What did the left do to protect the political cover we granted to Obama? What did the media do to counter-act the real live activism that Fox has brought to the table? The mainstream media really did nothing for the left in 2009. The fact I made news for challenging the President if his knees were getting weak should not have been news. It should never have gotten to that point.

If a media outlet endorsed or came out for the President in 2008 they needed to back it up in 2009. I saw Stewart and Colbert doing it with the same intensity in 2009 as 2008, but not a lot of others.

The media for the 2009 Left became a pointer.

• "Hey, look - Fox is creating its' own storm and covering it."


• "Hey, look at all those angry people at the town halls!"


• "Hey, look at all the big rallies that Fox is self promoting."


• "Hey, I wonder why the poll numbers for the President are dropping."

Fox practiced yellow journalism on steroids. Over a hundred years ago we got into the Spanish-American War on the back of this type of journalism. The Right has seen what the Left did in 2008 and determined to stop it in 2009. They did it - kudos to them.

The media on the Left was focusing on real policies that make peoples' eyes glaze over - the Right gave them eye candy. No matter how ridiculous or goofy - the message was there. The messengers were fighting for their side.

If you really believe in what you did in 2008 was a worthy endeavor in 2008 and you worked hard in 2009 to help the President, I am happy to be shoulder to shoulder with you. If you took a vacation in 2009 and expected Obama to wave a magic wand to make it all better - here's a news flash - nothing will happen without your continued involvement.

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Here is something YOU can do to start 2010 out properly. This is from a Facebook Group looking for members. It is one guy who needs YOUR help. Yeah, I know I have spammed this around a little bit.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169917060735

JANUARY 15 2010 - MARCH FOR CHANGE

AMERICANS NEED TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN NUMBERS HERETOFORE UNSEEN TO DEMONSTRATE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES WE STILL BELIEVE IN AND WANT TO SEE OUR PRESIDENT & REPRESENTATIVES FIGHT FOR.

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I still think there are enough people on the Left who will do something.

• It is time for the so called Mainstream Media to help our country.
• It is time for the so called Mainstream Media to get its' hands dirty and allow the United States to become strong again.
• It is time for the so called Mainstream Media to stand up to the bullies who are beating down Obama and taking away the dreams of our nation.
• It is time for the so called Mainstream Media to get off the sidelines and help fix what they have allowed Fox News to destroy.

We need the same amount of oxygen in the room as Fox granted the teabagging loons.
We need a fair crack at getting the steering wheel back.

It is good for the reader to do some work sometimes.

I think we are all up to it.

 

Comments

[Josh Seipp]

Thanks Joe. I'm posting this around and hope to be there. Keep up the good work.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

thanks.

[jemiltd]

Don't get it twisted. Mainstream media is owned, operated and dictated to by corporations. Corporations are not interested in the country, they are interested in maintaining wealth and power. The people of this country are on the cusp of making or breaking true change in this country, we just seem to be unaware of our power at the moment. While we remain distracted by the latest rumors about the attention seeking "tenement roaches" (Vanity Fair) trying to get their 15 minutes off of Tiger Woods, extremists are gathering and collaborating.

I am of the belief that the President cannot evoke change without Congress helping him to do so. Congress is where legislation is created. Therefore I will be looking for an Al #Franken mentality to vote for in 2010 and going forward. We need representation that is genuinely for the people of this country not for partisan schoolyard games by a bunch of good ole'boys. Looking for quality of character, not party affiliation. By the way, if you are in Congress and aren't for #HCR, I respectfully and publicly request that you relinquish your government-provided health insurance and buy your own out of your own pocket.

[jemiltd]

Don't get it twisted. Mainstream media is owned, operated and dictated to by corporations. Corporations are not interested in the country, they are interested in maintaining wealth and power. The people of this country are on the cusp of making or breaking true change in this country, we just seem to be unaware of our power at the moment. While we remain distracted by the latest rumors about the attention seeking "tenement roaches" (Vanity Fair) trying to get their 15 minutes off of Tiger Woods, extremists are gathering and collaborating.

I am of the belief that the President cannot evoke change without Congress helping him to do so. Congress is where legislation is created. Therefore I will be looking for an Al #Franken mentality to vote for in 2010 and going forward. We need representation that is genuinely for the people of this country not for partisan schoolyard games by a bunch of good ole'boys. Looking for quality of character, not party affiliation. By the way, if you are in Congress and aren't for #HCR, I respectfully and publicly request that you relinquish your government-provided health insurance and buy your own out of your own pocket.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

good to hear from you -
i am already twisted and turning at windwills.

we can only control what events allow us to control.

we can still push the envelope.

i agree with you on HCR.

i think the real reform would be getting more congresspeople.

[cavegal]

Great job Joe. I'll do what I can. Will not be able to go to DC though.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

thanks

[TekVahana]

OK, Joe, I have a basic media wiki started here:
http://wiki.tekvahana.gorgeaccess.net/wiki/

I scraped the Facebook page for info, but need a 135 x 135 pixel logo. If anybody has any artwork I can crop or re-size.

Pretty generic, but it's a start! Come on over and sign up.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

signed up - thanks!!!
i am being eaten alive a little today...

[oldpol2]

signed up and left a post on the Ed Schultz facebook page. Have to do mine local.

[TekVahana]

I locked the main page and community portal pages down (for now to guard against defacement) but the rest is all open as a wiki should be. Still needs a lot of study to get it up to par. Glad my philosophy is on of Continuous Improvement!

Thanks for signing up!

[TekVahana]

Here's a new blog relevant to the topic:
March4Change
Countdown to January 15, 2010!
http://countdowntojan15.wordpress.com/

[PAposter]

I just wanted to thank you for stepping up and spreading the word...which doesn't happen a lot for Progressive movements.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

appreciate it,

[Catita]

This is a great idea.....few questions.

- Has a permit been granted to do a march/protest? Been to DC a couple of times and the planning has been horrible....how is this being organized? How can we help.....

- There are many working class groups....why not schedule this on MLK day? Reform and health care is another step towards civil and human rights...that we need to fight for....

- We need a movement.....and be glad to support any which way I can.

[msbadger]

Catita, I like the MLK day idea a lot. That could be HUGE.
Joe and all others: Any thoughts on checking it out?

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

Link for the permit - in here
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=206771574224&ref=nf#/group.php?v=info&gid=206771574224

planning and organizing thru the FB People.

need more human magnets to go to other site and attract people to the FB Page.

MLK Day is about service to others.
I see this as sending a message that we have Obama's back - slightly different

network at the event.

[msbadger]

Joe- I'm behind you on this all the way, but have zero funds and cannot physically support it. I really like your idea about forcing the MSM to give us equal time. The corporate power behind them will be hard to fight, but the longer we wait, the worse it will get, I think. I'm trying to think of a way to achieve this, or at least put a crack in the wall.... Just wanted to let you know I deeply appreciate your work and I'm out here, and so are many others...

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

can you be a human magnet?

need more human magnets to go to other sites and attract people to the FB Page.

[msbadger]

I will sure try! I will also share this with my son, who IS a human magnet. Sounds good, thanks again, Joe.

[Linda Casey]

Something to seriously consider, but I'll have to work out my schedule because I have two kids in school and I'm on my own with getting them up and out the door. Otherwise I'd be there in a heartbeat!

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

i know the drill.
do what you can.

[TekVahana]

Thanks, Joe! I'd love to go, but am too broke right now to get across my state, let alone way over there. I'll do what I can on some buzz, though. Best Wishes for success!

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

hit the talk radio shows,
call in and email...

[WakingLife]

I've been hearing about this. I want to try to make this. It depends on my work schedule. In the meantime, I'll try to spread the word.

I think it's great that you're getting involved in this. :D

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

thanks !!!

[wendynyc]

The most important thing for all those who supported the Democrats and this President to remember the 14 years that we had with the Republicans and the damage they have done to our country. We cannot let them get any control back - we need to keep a tight grip on power - let"s not get dis-illusioned so fast!

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

amen

[PAposter]

Joe,

I just want to thank you for trying to help out...for the life of me, I cannot understand why Maddow, Olbermann, Shultz, Matthews, Shuster, Stewart and Colbert will not spread the word...we need less than one half of 1% of the population to show up and D.C. would have to shut down.

Keep pushing!

Val

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

they are all on Vacation.
let's see what is happening by this time next week.

[Hurried Harry]

Joe - please e- mail me at jrand12345 at yahoo dot com I want to discuss this further and in more detail than this space allows.

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

try sending to politics at FindANerd.Com

[Hurried Harry]

Ok, I'll be in touch later this evening. I am sharing the computer with my teen. Talk to you soon then. Thanks.

[Hurried Harry]

Joe - I wrote to the organizer to see if we could tie it to a larger organization, such as Move On - to get funding from some liberal sources - Michael Moore, Health Care Now, Ralph Nader, etc. I didn't hear back from him. We need to get financial backing to market a march and provide transportation. I am willing to help, but do not have any clout so my calls to these organizations do not get returned. Do you have any connections at HP that might get the attention of leadership in progressive organizations? Certainly Arianna Huffington can get the attention of liberal grassroots organizations and assist them to motivate liberals with the same fervor that the Fox News has assisted the tea partiers. Without support, I do not see how we are going to get this off the ground in any numbers that will make a difference. We must outdo the tea party presence for a liberal march to be successful - and this must happen before the 2010 elections - and from what I can gather - the number of people signing up for the January 15 event is nowhere close to what is necessary. Move On boasts 5 million members - if that is true - they should know by now that we need a huge presence in Washington . . . NOW! Michael Moore advocates for increased liberal activism as well. We need their help. Please write me at my e-mail - jrand12345 at

[Joe The Nerd Ferraro - Huffpost Blogger]

keep emailing them.
call them.

i am trying to do this while seeing customers and promoting here.

i am pretty low on the totem pole here.

I would imagine the higher ups here at HP have gotten word to those running the show about this.

They may be waiting for us to take hold before going whole hog.

It is up to us to drag this thing to life.

[lori572]

time for arriana to put her money where her mouth is. I remember her campaigning with her husband for senate and it was clear that she was the brains behind the figure head. i just do not get it with her, she jumps into politics, makes bold statements, but never delivers anything tangible, all words.

which will change the political climate, huffpo, kos, or some other blog site? i, like so many, will march but it is as if it is being actively discouraged!