More Orly Taitz!

Finally, at long last, we have an extreme right-wing personality making the rounds in the corporate media who tears down the facade of "legitimacy" and "respectability" the Far Right bestows upon its craziest enthusiasts. Orly Taitz, the Czarina of the "Birther" Movement, is not saying anything zanier than what we've grown accustomed to hearing from Michelle Malkin, Glen Beck, William Kristol, Alan Keyes, Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, and Rush Limbaugh. The Orly Taitz phenomenon illustrates that when the Republican Party chose to fuel the white hot rage of its looniest elements to win votes (as the McCain/Palin campaign did in 2008) it sometimes becomes impossible to contain the fire. Orly Taitz raises the question: Where does the Republican Party draw the line?

Dr. Taitz, whose curriculum vitae famously includes training as a lawyer, dentist, and real estate agent, is a very smart self-promoter who latched onto the nuttiest conspiracy theory ever cooked up and has made a kind of career for herself as an "expert" pundit on all things relating to the birth of the President of the United States. Orly's shtick is no different from any other ubiquitous right-wing gasbag we're forced to endure on the public airwaves -- just look at Dick Morris, Bernie Goldberg, or Frank Gaffney -- why these men are considered "experts" in anything defies me.

Enter Orly Taitz.

With her thick Russian accent, her fake eyelashes, her Euro-fashion sense, and her batshit craziness Orly Taitz has it all. In a perverse way the more I see her on TV the more hopeful I feel about America. It's like seeing a tape-loop of Joseph Welch shaming Joe McCarthy during the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings over and over again. Ms. Taitz's very existence as part of the American Right has the effect of de-legitimizing the American Right. It's beautiful. No wonder even Ann Coulter -- Ann Coulter! -- has distanced herself from Taitz saying, in effect: "I don't want to encourage that woman, she's a nutjob!" When Coulter claims to be put off by a fellow traveler you know something strange is happening -- Or maybe Anne is just pissed off that Orly is crowding in on her turf?

Which brings me back to my original point: Orly Taitz is no different from the countless other right-wingers we see all over the airwaves. Both the New Yorker and the New York Times Magazine ran puff pieces on Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh, respectively. Last Sunday, George Stephanopoulos, host of This Week on ABC had on his show the former Chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner only to be followed by Michelle Malkin who spews bile every bit as goofy as anything that comes out of Orly Taitz's mouth. Sitting at the same table where Greenspan and Geithner had held court with their erudite (but nauseating) remarks, Malkin went on to claim that the Tea Baggers and those who are currently disrupting town hall meetings represent grassroots "counterinsurgencies" against President Barack Obama's health care agenda. Malkin said Obama advocated not only a "redistribution of wealth" but a "redistribution of health." Catchy phrase. Forget about the fact that Malkin misused the word "counterinsurgency," the point here is that given Malkin's past remarks and writings she should never be allowed to come near a "serious" news/commentary show. Stephanopoulos might as well have had a segment with Orly Taitz follow Greenspan and Geithner.

Media Matters had this that I found in about two seconds:

Back in 1996, as a guest on ABC's This Week:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I think that someone has to -- should have to pass a bare threshold of credibility before they're put on the air to millions of viewers. You know, his story couldn't get past the fact checker at The National Enquirer, so I think before ABC News puts him on, then there should be some questions asked.

George Stephanopoulos as host of ABC's This Week last Sunday:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: With that, we bring in ... Michelle Malkin, syndicated columnist, also the author of the new book Culture of Corruption.

What's on next week George? A split screen debate between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Orly Taitz?

Unfortunately, the Orly Taitz stuff might work (in a way) if the Stephanopouli let it. The Swift Boaters have never been held to account and the Supreme Swift Boater Jerome Corsi was back at it again in 2008 with his wretched hit job on Barack Obama (he's now a big Birther). Only a thorough discrediting of the lies and right-wing smears from corporate media can stop this kind of thing. But seeing Andrea Mitchell the other day -- the wife of Greenspan -- allow Republicans to cite bogus health industry financed "think tanks" on health care without challenging them doesn't bode well. The right-wing lunatics have infiltrated the mainstream media news shows because the corporations that own those shows like what they're saying.

Comments

[johnlevy]

"Taitz is a reactionary and a racist and should have no place in the American political discourse -- but since she's right wing the corporate media give her a platform." Someone with a differing opinion "should have no place in the American political discourse."??? Perhaps during the 60s, even William Ayers used Voltaire's phrase, "I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Holmes wrote, “We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death.”

"Europeans are wonderful people who have an excellent public health care system." As in Denmark being touted as the shining jewel of government health care? Henrik Hansen, who teaches economics at the Copenhagen Business School, states that Denmark's lifespan is severely declining.

Joseph, your intelligence shines through your bias. Look past the smoked mirrors and seek the truth. Don't parrot the party line, don't mock those who question. Truth eventually makes itself known and it's the journalist's responsibility to facilitate that process.

"Batshit craziness!" Phrases like that are used to dehumanize those with differing viewpoints. It's a lot easier than dealing with factual commentary and was a favorite device of a certain Volkisch regime known for it's comic book propagana as a way to begin to deal with the Judenfrage. You attempt to rip Taitz to shreds without a shred of factual evidence.

[chancher]

Orly Taitz is really Michelle Malkin in a blonde wig and a fake Russian accent.

[Deni]

The "truce" between NBC owner, GE, and Murdoch tells you all you need to know about MSM. They're corporate owned and the bottom line is profit. We don't have "news" in this country any longer. We have "infotainment." If you want hard news, you're not watching TV. Now, if you want right wing nonsense, you've got multiple sources for your entertainment.

[OneTop]

Very good article.

I agree, she is no different than any of the others that you mentioned.

She just wants a piece of the wing nut pie. It's proven to very lucrative for all the rest.

[Freenation]

is taitz the new face of right wing n.uts if yes then obama has nothing to worry till 2016...

some more interesting facts:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/03/orly-taitz-melts-down-on_n_250441.html?show_comment_id=28348680#comment_28348680

[RaderBarbarian]

Every time one of the rightwing nutjobs appears on mainstream media, I will send that media an email which will say one thing only: "The right-wing lunatics have infiltrated the mainstream media news shows because the corporations that own those shows like what they're saying." I will not credit Joseph Palermo; instead I will make them Google the quote to find out who said it - and trust me, they will, they will. Want to join this campaign? Then cut and paste this quote in an easily accessible file, and EVERY TIME, paste it in an email and send it to them with nothing else added. They'll get the message - over and over and over again.

[lupinella]

Wonderful piece. The idea that Dr. (?) or Ms. Taitz is any different than the others is silly. She simply lies in a stronger accent.
Also, will now add the word 'stephanopouli' to my vocabulary.

[SewaneeLeftist]

Extremely good article. Very good to question how any of these clowns receive a respectful hearing on supposedly mainstream media, not just from Faux Anti-News and Whacko Radio Land. As you say, they're certainly not experts on anything of value to the country, although it's of value, in a negative way, to see how deep the hatred and irrationality go. Especially important to emphasize the point that the liars are getting away with criminal activity at worst and deeply deceitful practices at best.

[jde]

Good piece.

And I just wanted to comment that I thought having Michelle Malkin on This Week wasn't a very distinguished moment in the long history of Sunday morning political talk shows.

Sadly, the entire format may have died with Tim Russert. God bless his soul.

[realpolitic]

Amy Goodman of the Democracy News news broadcast and a leftie used to appear on MSNBC from time to time. One time she mentioned to Chris Matthews that she was saddened that MSNBC fired Phil Donahue, despite relatively good ratings, only because they thought he might damage their image by questioning the Iraqi war. Matthews said he knew nothing about it. I have not seen Amy Goodman on MSNBC since then and that was over a year ago at least. Corporations have very long memories!

[jennyjen]

If you want a good laugh - take a look at the video of Malkin on the View this week. She was ranting and raving about how dishonest Obama and the administration are when Joy asked her if she was this vocal during the Bush administration about their lies.

Malkin made a face that was priceless. She then stated that she believed in the Iraq war than and believed in it now.

Ummm Michelle - the lie about the war was not the only lie told by Bush and the Bush crime family.

Can't wait to see how she spins the latest Blackwater mess?

[R8RBOB]

If I was a birther and thank GOD I'm not, I would go to Hawaii and find at least 10 people who are of Obama's age group and pay them up to 50 bucks to go to the dept. of Health and request their b/c. Insist that they request their long-form. If they can get their long-form that all these birthers have been crying for, fine. Now I can challenge Obama on why he didn't produce his long-form, but if these 10 people come back with a "cerfication of live birth," the same copy that President Obama has then game over.

These birthers can't and won't do that because they would be exposed as frauds. They know Obama is an American citizen. They just want him to blink and make him create the doubt about his presidency. Mr. President, do your thing and let the sideshow entertain us.

[roshni]

The point is that they don't care about the BC itself, they are just agitators.

[Emerald1943]

Excellent article, Professor...as usual!

As I watch the debate over health care reform unfold, I am amazed at those who would vote against their own interests and for the interests of the corporate bl00dsuckers who would drain the people of their hard-earned money while denying them coverage when the chips are down. I scratch my head in disbelief that any sane person could support the status quo....enter Orly Taitz and the presidential birth certificate flap.

Here is just another incidence of the mainstream media dropping the ball. Instead of educating the public about the necessity of the reforms and the substance of the different bills in committee, we are deluged with stories about the well-organized disruption of the town hall meetings and the ridiculous "birther movement", including its spokesperson, Ms. Taitz.

It looks as if the American people will ride along on the wave of corporate propaganda, never questioning the whys and the wherefors, while accepting sound bytes that the MSM can plumb for ratings. Ms. Taitz and her ilk are another distraction to draw the American people away from the real issues. the issues that will affect the lives of every American for many years to come.

It's high time the media does its job, to inform the American public about the issues...and time to give Ms. Taitz her walking papers. Ms. Malkin can certainly go with her.

[Ciganka]

Taitz is a nutter, but Obama team strategy is the real difference. Republicans want to damage the Obama presidency in the way they managed to damage the Clinton presidency.

The Obama team's response to the republican wiles has been astute. It reminds of a line I saw on "Designing Women" where Julia said something like, "Here in the South we don't hide our crazy relatives, we bring them into the living room for everyone to see." Instead of hushing these fools, the Obama team allows them enough traction to become front runners for the republican party. A new Southern Strategy?

Once people start to wonder about Taitz, they also start to wonder about Coulter, Malkin, and Limbaugh. The most interesting part may have been the rage of the crazies in the base when Coulter and Malkin disassocieted themselves from these ideas.

I have never doubted the loyalty of the republican base and some eyes will surely open. We often forget how painful the civil rights movement was and think that nothing changed, but let me assure you, a great deal changed. It was certainly not enough, but this eye opener will be another change. It really is progress.

Taitz gives people cover to disavow the republicans with dignity. Many have been busily sawing off the branch on which they are sitting. Now they have a chance to stop sawing and get out of the tree.

[surfergirl70]

I could not agree more. When I hear people say, "why doesn't Obama just produce the long form certificate and put the issue to rest?", I think to myself, "why would he want to do that?? He's just letting them flail and spew and dig their own grave, while he remains above the fray..."

[NancyY]

I read Mr. Palermo's article and was singulary unimpressed with the slurs against Orly Taitz' nationality (as I was with reading a number of comments on this message board). The name-calling and other distractions have no place in a frank discussion of issues and ideas.

When I first heard about the question of Obama's birth certificate, I thought it was just "sour grapes" on the part of those who were angry that he had been elected. But then I started wondering: why was no birth certificate produced, to shut those people up? To date, there has been one 'birth certificate' produced that has Obama being born in Hawaii, and another one produced that has him being born in Kenya. Which one is correct? Is he actually a citizen of the United States? These are questions that need to be studied objectively by people with their eyes open and mouths shut.

Here's another thought: in the '80's, many people adored Arnold Schwarzenegger (the now long-time governor of CA) and wanted him to be President. However, he is not a natural-born citizen - he was born in Austria. Who knows what might have happened if Schwarzenegger had been President, instead of Clinton and/or Bush? The fact of the matter is, our Constitution has strict guidelines as to the qualifications for President of our country and they must be followed unless and until they are changed.

[thebirdstheword]

what the hell are you talking about? nobody wanted schwarzenegger to be president in the 80's.

and that kenyan 'birth certificate' is such an obvious fake that nobody but taitz will be associated with it.

ms. palin, is that you?

[momcat4obama]

can't be palin: no exclamation points, and the grammar is correct. I'll admit, the "logic" is severely lacking, but NancyY is no sarah palin....

[Caedwyn]

Umm, ok, sparky, let's review, shall we?:

Obama's birth certificate has been released & verified again & again - by the REPUBLICAN Governor of Hawaii, by the 2 Hawaiian newspaper announcements of his birth (provided to those newspapers by the Hawaiian Dept. of Health, not the Obama family, btw). It has been verified by every REPUTABLE Federa/gov­ernmental/­agency/ind­ividual again & again - NOTHING is going to convince these 'birthers' that Obama was born in the U.S. They've SEEN the proof - they don't WANT to believe it.

As for the 'Kenyan" birth certificate - don't make me laugh! It states it was issued in Kenya - at a time when Kenya was not even Kenya yet! It names a town of birth that did not exist by that name at the time. It is an extremely OBVIOUS fake, and is being treated as legitimate by the same people who are denying the legitimacy of a State Issued, Federally verified birth certificate.

You wonder why we consider these people nutjobs & whackadoos????

There is also this to consider - even if he were born in any other country, as an American Citizen, Obama's mother passed on that citizenship to her son. Doesn't matter where she was, she was still an American Citizen. Just like if my parents had been born in Ireland, and I was born here, I would be considered a full citizen of Ireland. Obama was born a citizen of the U.S. Doesn't matter where his mother was visiting at

[LeftRight]

No birth certificate has been produced???? So I'm assuming that you didn't vote on November 4th, because you've OBVIOUSLY been under a rock for the last year and change!! The man released his birth certificate more than a year ago now!!!!

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

NancyY, I'll tell you what would have happened if Arnold became president of the United States -- exactly what happened during the Bush II years, but on steroids! Europeans are wonderful people who have an excellent public health care system -- which Arnold used as a boy but takes health care away from poor children in California -- as for Taitz? Why should we listen to her at all on anything? Do you think people in Russia are glued to their TVs to hear some American from Louisiana tell them how Medvedev has no right being president? Taitz is a reactionary and a racist and should have no place in the American political discourse -- but since she's right wing the corporate media give her a platform.

[iconoclast6]

Unfortunately, I'm a public employee (community college) in CA, and Ah-nold is no more than a shill for Social Darwinism. And the best thing about it is: It's already done! It can't be stopped. The public sector in the fifth-largest economy on earth, is going away. I'll give it five more years before we start privatizing our colleges, libraries, and parks.

I'm only grateful that the G0P doesn't have the votes to push a Constitutional change in order to run the β&alp­ha;st&alph­a;rd for POTUS.