Booknote via Free Republic, a RightWing Republican site, and the command center for "Freepers" (and "trolls") who spread propaganda and disinformation throughout the Net.
Liberal media activists beware! Richard A. Viguerie, venture capitalist of the conservative movement (described as the “funding father of the right”) and David Franke, a founder of the conservative movement, detail how conservatives—shut out by the liberal mass media of the 1950s and ’60s—came to power by utilizing new and alternative media, and then created their own mass media.Viguerie and Franke give a first-hand account of how the right took power by using direct mail, talk radio, cable news TV, and later the Internet. Can liberals do the same?
We can, and are. The question of "how" it can be done even more effectively will be one of the focal points of Democracy for California.
Posted by Diana at September 5, 2004 11:01 PMThe first (and ugly) step liberals must take to thwart the lies of the right is to stop trying to be so truthful all the time. The notion that truth will win out is false.
During the a car ride home from the '68 Democratic convention in Chicago visiting French author Jean Genet heard someone ask rhetorically about how politicians could stand at the podium and "just lie outright so easily". Genet responded: "How can Ford call one of its cars a galaxy?"
The point being that "truth" has little bearing on perception. The right realizes this perfectly and has zero compunction about knowingly spreading distortions and lies. The advantage the right has in this arena is that they are convinced that the ends justifies the means because they assume they already have the absolute truth in their religion. They are not seeking the truth, they believe they own it.
The left on the other hand tends to define themselves as "truth seeking"; a sort of quasi-religious endeavor and can not bring themselves to engage in such activities without feeling as though they are being heretical to the their cause. Way to much time is spent by the left analyzing itself to death when they should be acting. Street theatre is a good start.
In a sense street theatre is a lie, a distortion, an exaggeration. But it also communicate truths. That was the attempt of the yippies like Abbie Hoffman whose antics were quite effective in raising public awareness of cultural absurdities and government lies.
The internet is a perfect media vehicle for "framing" the truth, but we need to be ruthless with it if we are to succeed at countering and then overwhelming the rightwing media machine.
The main rule of that is: if you are going to lie about it, don't be shy about it.
I know what you mean, cul, and I agree with just about everything you've said. I would only differ with you on this point:
"The notion that truth will win out is false."
I suspect you meant something more akin to what Churchill said in fighting the Nazis:
"Truth is so precious it needs a bodyguard of lies."
Liberals play it too nice, and wear virtue on their sleeve, telegraphing their moves to their opponent.
If I fault liberals on anything, it isn't so much that they seek the truth, although I concur with the point you're making, but that they so often compromise the truth, and run scared the instant the truth doesn't seem to be working as they hoped. Then they're ready to fight dirty. Hence the reputation for "flip flopping."
This is a very tough battle, and I don't think the answers are clear cut. It's a matter of being more shrewd, more strategic, more imaginative and more creative in how one wields the sword of truth, not in dropping the sword and resorting to fists.
And then there is always this to think about:
"Beware in fighting monstors that you don't become one" - Nietzsche
Only comment I have, If you want to see distortion and lies; go to DU.com
The right has it's share of nutballs and liars, the difference is that we marginalize them, not nominate them for office.
Posted by: delftsman3 at September 10, 2004 07:48 PM"The right has it's share of nutballs and liars, the difference is that we marginalize them, not nominate them for office."
Ha!
Posted by: Diana at September 14, 2004 08:17 AM