Seeds of Hatred---Reaping the Harvest

I was shocked to learn that President Obama and others said they were shocked that Dr. George Tiller was murdered in cold-blood while serving as an usher in his Kansas church. If you believe that you reap what you sow then the murder of Dr. Tiller is not shocking at all.

What we are seeing could be the harvest of the seeds of the vile and unrestrained anger and hatred that have been planted, spread and nurtured by the sleazemeisters of the Right Wing--self-described media stars and politicians who claim to be true conservatives, real Republicans, and patriotic Americans exercising their First Amendment rights.

George Tiller was one of the few doctors in the U.S. who continued to perform controversial late term abortions. For years he has been literally (he had been shot before) and figuratively in the cross hairs of pro-life groups who oppose abortion in general and late term abortions in particular. He was a frequent target of Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly who, referred to the doctor as "Tiller the Baby Killer" and characterized him for the last four years as a "Nazi-like" criminal with "blood on his hands."

The Tiller murder comes just weeks after a man who said he was concerned that "Obama wanted to take away his guns" went on a rampage that left three police officers dead in Pittsburgh. The words the killer used to characterize his concerns were an almost verbatim recitation of a rant aired by Fox News commentator Glenn Beck just a few days earlier. Beck has referred to Obama as a man who wants to destroy America and the capitalist system. Beck once delivered an ominous warning about the president's agenda with Nazi soldiers marching on a screen behind him and ominous martial music playing in the background.

I'm certain that O'Reilly will insist, as Beck did, that it would be both wrong and unfair to link the inflammatory rhetoric and the vicious language of his repeated attacks against Dr. Tiller to the fact that a passionate true believer may have taken him seriously and decided to rid the world of this murderous Nazi abortionist.

But the venom spewers can't have it both ways. In their zeal to make headlines and establish themselves as true leaders of a movement and a party that has become consumed by anger and hate, these "celebrities" have chosen to abandon their civility, reason, and sense of responsibility. They either mean what they say -- in which case those who rid the world of murderers, Nazis, and other liberal villains should be hailed as heroes -- or they don't in which case they are simply cowardly liars committing libel in the name of the First Amendment as they discredit their once-proud movement and/or party.

They have made a bargain with the devil in exchange for ratings and their 15 minutes of fame. Now we are all paying the price.

This gutterization of discourse hit full stride during the presidential campaign last year when Obama was characterized repeatedly as a friend of terrorists, a secret Muslim, and a person who wanted to destroy America, slit the throat of Israel, and desecrate values that all true patriots hold dear.

Since he became president, the attacks have actually picked up in volume, intensity and scariness. I have seen President Obama portrayed as a Nazi, a socialist, a communist, an enemy of Israel, the destroyer of capitalism, and a racist. And that's in the self-described "mainstream" media.

When you troll with the true bottom dwellers (Limbaugh, Hannity, Liddy, O'Reilly, Savage, Beck, Gingrich, Cheney. Levin, and such) it gets really ugly. Each of these scumbags claims to speak for the Republican party. While none holds any elective position, the party leadership treats them with deference and respect. Is it any wonder that fewer people identify themselves as Republicans today than at any time in a generation and the number continues to drop on a daily basis? Anger and hate apparently just aren't in vogue this season.

Reasonable people can and will disagree about whether the deaths of Dr. Tiller, the Pittsburgh policemen, and other recent victims of violent outbursts can be attributed in part to the increasingly vile and vicious attacks coming from the Right.

But there is absolutely no doubt that we are suffering mightily as a society from the spread of hatespeech and the decline of civility in our public discourse. The truly racist, bigoted, and inaccurate attacks against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotamayor have taken the level of discourse to a new low--not just because of the outrageous and ugly rants themselves but even more so due to the way they have been legitimized and spread by the true mainstream media.

This has nothing to do with the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. People are free to express their opinions--that's what makes America great. But people do not have a constitutional right to viciously attack and slander people with lies at hateful comments on our commercial airwaves. The decision to provide these vermin with an electronic soapbox is a commercial decision that is made daily by owners of radio and TV stations who are putting their desire for profits ahead of the public good.

We are paying a huge price as a society for our unwillingness to marginalize these evil people and the media outlets that provide them with airtime and credibility. Unless and until we start making better choices and acting more responsibly, we will continue to reap the bitter harvest that will continue to sprout from the toxic seeds being sown in our midst.

Edmund Burke is credited with telling us that "all that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." We can all start by changing the channel when these egomaniacal zealots are posturing or are being quoted by others and inform the station management that we are V-chipping them until they start acting responsibly.

It is not necessary or even good if all of us agree about the issues. But we cannot afford the luxury of tolerating those who are angry and hateful and want us to be the same. The one value we can all stand for is the importance of civility.

We can't honestly call ourselves civilized until we learn to disagree like grownups.

Comments

[sassafra]

." We can all start by changing the channel when these egomaniacal zealots are posturing or are being quoted by others and inform the station management that we are V-chipping them until they start acting responsibly"

if we opine only the 28%ers are actually watching fox news for a hate and paranoia fix, .then praytell how is it that pandering in this product keeps foxnews making ratings mincemeat of the saner voices?
the two most likely conlusions are these; either there are large numbers of saner heads who, at face value are heard to loathe that style of rhetoric, yet are at the same time drawn to it as morbid closet watchers of train wrecks. another possibility is that there are a grawd awful lot of paranoid, haters out there that somehow got nielsen boxes...

so, which is it. a flawed ratings system that gives us shared moments of televised communal gold that harken back to those yesteryeare days when after dinner america would gather tohether, basking in the warm vacuum tube powered glow of their radios , nowadays we get perhaps jack bauer patriotically thumbscrewing the creep of the week, or is it that progressives, at the end of a long day of fighting the forces of evil in the universe, feel a need to just lean back, yank the spandex superhero costume out of their bottoms, crack open a cool one and just watch trains "kiss"?

frankly number two creeps me out.

[rasicar]

While being a huge fan of the now finished series and admitting that it might be slightly hypocritical of me to say the following being a fan:

It is a sad day when fictional characters in a science fiction series (Babylon 5) are able to sum up what the writer is saying with the very quick and simple, yet very true words:

"They forgot the first rule of fanatics: 'When you become obsessed with the enemy you become the enemy.' -John Sheridan, Babylon 5. "

[LiberalForever]

When the Rethuglicans got in bed with the evangelical right wing the vicious hate talk started, in the name of God.

When they allowed the lies of the swift boat ads to be spewed upon the public and followed the play book of Karl Rove, they made a deal with the devil.

They deserve to be where they are. All they have to cling to now, is a small, radical percentage of Americans, mostly located in the Civil War South. They have expired. Good riddance.

[dan-o]

Actually I think there is just as much hate speech and ignorance on the left as their is on the right. Most Americans are pretty middle of the road politically and can swing back and forth between political parties. If inflation takes off (like I think it will) then the agenda of President Obama will lose its lustre and will be as popular as President Carter. The reason is that inflation will hit the middle class people as they watch their retirement and savings rapidly lose value. Most people vote on pocketbook issues more than political issues. John McCain may have won the election if the economy hadn't tanked but it did and the Republicans took it on the chin.

You assume the republicans are just a southern fringe party but look at how close elections have been in recent years. Minnesota( a liberal state) has its senate seat teetering on 300+- votes. The country is very divided and could swing on a new terrorist attack or a continuing bad economy. The Democrats were consigned to the dustbin of history a few years ago and the Repubs were the new permanent majority. One thing we can be certain of is that history repeats itself.

[Larry Gellman]

I agree with most of what you said but not your first sentence. There is no where near the level of hate speech coming from Democrats and there is none coming from people who are viewed as heads of the party. That is not true at all for Republicans.

[godless09]

Turn off your TV's cancel cable tell the co. why you are cancelling( not that they care) but if enough of us stop listening this might give them somthing to think about. Seek out other sources for you info dont depend on the mainstream media.

[grooveygrover]

I had an history professor who taught us that a person's liberties end when they infringe on someone elses. That comment made so much sense to me, I graduated university 20 years ago and I still try to live by that.

hate speech against another person does infringe when it incites act of hatred and murder. Your first amendment rights end there...

[seanparnell]

But who decides what "incites hatred and murder," that's the question and where the First Amendment issues come in. Judging by any number of people here and elsewhere, anything that is critical of their favored policies is "hate speech" and harsh criticism of another person is "incitement to murder."

The First Amendment isn't just for people who agree with you or are the most polite in their dissent. Otherwise, about half the anti-war movement would have been silenced.

Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
http://www.campaignfreedom.org

[Havnagudtim]

Sean, the majority of the anti-war movement WAS silenced by deliberate policy of the corporate news. They refused to cover and ignored the many many anti-war demonstrations, particularly those occurring in DC, particularly at the behest of our former fearful administration. D/ub/ya has always been and continues to be afraid of the People. He never ever ever ever dares to face anyone other than a hand-picked, loyalty-oa­th-swearin­g sycophant, feeding him a simplistic talking points question for which he has a prepared soundbite response. The times are a-changing.

[Larry Gellman]

Sean--

There is no doubt that people have the right to the freedom of speech.

But none of us has the constitutional right to spew venom on a commercial media outlet that is in business to make money. That is a financial decision that is made by the owners of those commercial enterprises. They have sponsors and actually pay these purveyors of hate and anger to do what they do.

That has nothing to do with free speech. That is all about free enterprise and calculated business decisions. The real issue comes into play when reasonable people can show a potential link between irresponsible and hateful speech and violent and murderous behavior.

That doesn't mean that the people who are possibly guilty of promoting that violence should be silenced. But there is a very real question as to whether they have the "right" to spread their filth on the commercial airwaves or whether responsible businessmen and women should simply say that they don't want to be part of this.

That has nothing to do with censorship and free speech. These people are free to spew their hatred on any street corner in the country and I will defend their right to do so.

[imperator prime]

How can you dissemble over whether or not there was "incitement" when a man is dead? Not arguably-dead, not debatably-dead, not Schrödinge­r's-cat-in­-a-box-dea­d-- dead as in publicly-g­unned-down­-dead.

Hey, let's consider Republicans' own outrage a couple years back over a film depicting (but not encouraging) the fictional assassination of then-President Bush. Apparently that was incitement-- even treason, according to some-- without any "fanatical liberals" even *acting* on it. Yet here we have a premeditated murder, driven by ideology that was stoked by these media figures, and suddenly "oh, but any and all speech is harmless!"

If I get up on a soapbox in the parking lot outside my apartment and spend an hour every day railing on about how "my neighbour across the hall is an evil, child-murdering Nazi," and another resident of the building who came out to listen to me every day subsequently murdered that neighbour, citing that they were "an evil, child-murdering Nazi," where would be the question as to whether or not I bore some measure of responsibility? My fingerprints might not be on the weapon, but anyone with sense could tell you that I was a party to the killer's intent.

[pissedmichael]

I love it when guys like this bring up the Nazis, socialism, etc; If they ever actually read a book they'd learn that in the Nazi Germany of years gone, it was people precisely like Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Coulter, Bachmann, Liebermann, and on and on--who rose to the highest levels of that regime. In other words, all the cowards and bullies. And exactly the same types managed to keep themselves at the forefront in Communist Russia. This is why I find it so hypocritical that someone like Beck using old Nazi propaganda films to make his point against O'bama. Honestly, I don't know how they've managed to avoid severe back problems--stooping so low, for so long.

[Malco]

In my little country (New Zealand) broadcasters are regarded as having a responsibility to their audience in such areas as fairness, accuracy, balance, incitement to crime etc. If you feel you've been misreported or treated unfairly you can lodge a complaint with the broadcaster. Then, if you're not happy with their response you can take it to the broadcasting standards authority, a watchdog that has the power to fine the broadcaster or even take them off air for a while. The system is not perfect (I've been on the receiving end and felt a bit grumpy about their decision) but it does keep the loonies in check. Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly etc would never get away with their virulent hate-speak here.

[dan-o]

What about Olbermann, Maddow or other lefties? Or is it only "virulent hate speech" if you disagree with it? I don't agree with a lot of what those people say but they have the right to say it.

[seanparnell]

You nailed it - incindiary, harsh language is only "hate speech" if you don't like it. Make comments like "bush is a war criminal" or "cheney loves torturing people," on the other hand - well, that's free speech!

Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics
http://www.campaignfreedom.org

[Flavor]

Mr. Gellman, you hit every area that needed to be hit, 4 stars for this article and then some. I could have not word this any better than you did. You know, I know Mrs. Sotomayor will get in without a doubt, she is qualified and well able to take that seat and carry out the laws of the land, I am proud of her and her accomplishments. She is an american first, one who will represent all the people, she was not raised with a silver spoon in her mouth but her great mother told of the importance of education and did what she could do as a mother and bought the books needed for her child or children. Your also right Mr.Gellman about the nasty slander that has come out about her but something tells me this woman can hold her own and being a judge she already knows about the hatred that some people feel. It's a disgrace to the human race that one is talked about so negative before she can answer any questions needed to be answered. I have been for her having that seat every since President Obama, nominated her I don't let that foolishness bother me.

[dan-o]

What is different with Judge Sotomoyer's treatment than is being done with Gov Palin?

[ranchero42]

Didn't the Southern Poverty Law Center successfully strip all the assets from one of the many white supremacist organizations by proving the leadership was just as guilty of a crime by whipping the crowd into a frenzy of criminal behavior? Just because Bill O'Reilly eschews the trappings of a Grand Wizard doesn't mean he is any less responsible for crimes he advocated by failing to vehemently discourage them. If an investigation ensues; perhaps Fox News can edit the "Best of O'Reilly" to encourage rage against the government. That way they can strip assets from the enablers as well. The bill against NewsCorp is long overdue.

[noamjunior]

Gellman- dont apologize for anything. YOU are right on- the hateful psedochristians must be stopped- if they listened to reason, they wouldn't think murdering women's health practitioners is a good idea

[dan-o]

I find the use of hatred and vitriolic language to be kind of disturbing in an article decrying the hate speech used by right wing commentators and citizens. Both sides (left and right) are hypocritical when hatred of any opposing views are rampant in both camps. I agree that the language used by right wingers is wrong but we do live in a free country. Have any of you read the Daily Kos or many of the articles, blogs and responses here on H-Post. The hatred is rampant on both sides and the this article shows how hypocritical the author is. Change is needed but it is needed on both sides. My personal hope is that the vast majority of Americans who are Independent and very moderate will turn on both sides and throw them out of power.

[lgellman]

As I said below, I regret the use of some of my terms. But the point remains the same. As an independent who believes right after an election we should all support the president, I have been shocked at the tactics and rhetoric of those who claim to speak for the Right. You are correct that there is also hatred on Left. The huge difference is that the most over-the-top rants from the Right are coming from those who are the leaders of the Republican party and the most popular GOP spokespeople. The screeds from the Left come from the radical fringe--not the mainstream.

[alwqb]

The comments made here are people angry about what the Bush presidency did to this country. We defend our nation and our President unlike the treason the right spews. Any gross postings come from some yahoo on the right, thinking they are funny.

The left wants to solve problems and the right wants to keep creating problems. The left wants to fix things and the right wants everything broken according to their standards. The party of No.

How is the right different from any other religious extremist faction? Al Qaeda wants to crush women's rights, destroy the laws of the land, hate people that don't agree with them and do it all in the name of religion. This has to stop.

[dan-o]

See this poster makes my exact point.

[earlyautumn]

Here’s Bill O’Reilly in one of his past tirades against the just murdered Dr. Tiller:

“And if I could get my hands on Tiller — well, you know. Can’t be vigilantes. Can’t do that. It’s just a figure of speech.”

What kind of a message does that send to a Scott Roeder, mentally unbalanced, and already convicted of illegally owning weapons?

O’Reilly is guilty as hell of inciting this crime, and for him to have the platform to preach his ugliness and his hatred is frightening for this country.

It's said that the rest of the news media does not also condemn this kind of ignorance.

[sotothab]

Sir -

I agree with much of what you say in this article. But, I doubt the terms "vermin", "scumbags", or "bottom dwellers" will ever be part of a civil discourse. Irony there, for sure.

[lgellman]

That's a valid observation. I could find a way to make my point just as well without them.

[NedroidPrime]

Considering how these people behave and treat others, I would say those are very mild terms to describe them...

[grooveygrover]

I agree with this

someone has to be the example

[kuhler]

Thank you, Mr. Gellman, for an excellent article. I like your suggestion to contact the channel to voice objections via threat of V-chip, but I would take it one step further. Let's also contact their SPONSORS and tell them we will no longer buy their products if they continue to support these hate machines. No program can stay on the air without funding, and if enough people do it, this could have a noticeable impact.

[kuhler]

See TheThumb's comment below; you can obtain sponsor info thru google, etc.

[blairtone]

yes, kuhler, the way to stifle free speech has many avenues - aren't you stalinists awaiting the passage of the censorship doctrine along with the 'no choice' removal of secret ballot for union membership? perhaps you could reopen gitmo as a gulag for reeducation purposes as they did in Siberia. Also, burning any books and periodicals that do not agree with you would help.

[Shwazy]

The act of yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater is not protected by the first amendment. Neither is inciting a crowd to riot.

I would assert that O'Reilly's tirades on the issue were an incitation to riot, albeit not to a crowd physically assembled in one place. He openly mused about how it would be best if Tiller no longer existed. One of his fans did the dirty work for him.

If the same had happened with a crowd physically assembled rather than one sitting in their respective living rooms, O'Reilly could have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. I don't think there's really a functional difference.

[NedroidPrime]

Sorry there winger, but the only people I have EVER heard speak about burning books and censorship is the right.

What we are speaking out against is the same type of hate speech that was used in Germany to rile up the people. But of course, that would refer to you guys nowadays, so I can understand how you might be a little sensitive...

[zanzig]

Thank you Larry for unequivocally stating my gripes (and much more eloquently) about the First Amendment - or more accurately about the abuse of the First Amendment as committed by these bottom feeders. There appears to be a collective reusal in America to understand that free speec does not mean that you can libel, hurt, or otherwise seriously affect another human being with impunity, especially on grounds of race and religion. And yet, it is also obvious that religion is the one sacred cow in America which no one has First Amendment rights against, unless of course the religion is Islam. Should anyone care to make the same sort of scurrillous comments about Christianity and Judaism that one hears in America about Islam, no doubt the Courts woulod be awash with law suits.

[lgellman]

I support the right of people who say horrible things to say them. I even think that Fox News or the radio stations that carry these horrible hate filled rants have the right to do it. What I don't understand is why they WANT to do it and what I understand even less is why the so-called respectable news stations honor these lies and slanders by treating them as news that deserves a comment and response.

[cigi]

The answer....Money and lots of it! If it takes "hate speech" to get people to buy stuff then by God the Capitalist system of this country will go for the bucks everytime! The people who spew it and the companies that broadcast it are whores for the system that defines murderous rage as "normal" American behavior.