January 2012. I have written several times on media demagogues, and I never fail to be struck by how many Americans continue to allow themselves to be scammed by these exploiters of patriotism and religion, these self-promoting demagogues on talk radio, FOX, MSNBC... True, there exist many ignorant and gullible (and just plain stupid) among the citizenry, but still...
I began thinking of similarities between the media demagogues of talk radio and cable TV and the jihadis who serve as a threat to America’s (and the West’s) political and social cohesiveness. So, what might be some of the similarities between jihadis and the media demagogues who pollute talk radio and cable TV?
Never-ending outrage. America’s media demagogues, as with jihadis, are always angry, always outraged over this and that. However, the demagogues often make use of feigned anger, as they are playing to their audiences and realize they must be angry over a wide array of issues so as to milk said audiences.
False piety. Both the demagogues and jihadis make big deals of their faith, their religion, but in fact are religious frauds, as they exploit religion. For the demagogues, religion is but a hook to make more money.
Self-righteousness and omniscience. Both the demagogues and the jihadis view themselves as self-righteous instruments of a higher calling, and both view themselves as imbued with omniscience, which allows them to issue their self-righteous pronouncements. But let us consider the demagogues of talk radio Right and of the FOX agitprop channel, and let us consider just how omniscient they are.
Rush Limbaugh is today’s most successful demagogue by a wide margin, thus let us consider how successful Limbaugh, as well as his Radio Right colleagues and the demagogues of FOX non-news are as regards their political influence:
* Limbaugh et al railed non-stop at the Clintons [Result? Clinton served two terms and Hillary is still prominent in government.].
* Limbaugh et al railed non-stop at Nancy Pelosi [Result? She was a long-standing Speaker of the House.].
* Limbaugh et al campaigned non-stop to have the Democrats defeated in 2006 [Result? The Democrats swept to power].
* Limbaugh et al sought to prevent John McCain from getting the Republican presidential nod [Result? McCain was nominated; Obama won.].
* Limbaugh et al virulently attacked Obama during his 2008 campaign [Result? Obama was handily elected.].
* NOW, 2011/2012, Limbaugh et al are none too pleased with Willard Romney (”He is not a conservative,” railed Limbaugh.), and actively seek to undermine him; replace him with some Super Neocon [The upcoming result? Romney shall be Obama’s opponent in 2012.].
* Limbaugh et al daily rail against the mainstream media, claiming said media undermine and control the thought process of their (the demagogues) audience. For example, on 6 January Limbaugh told listeners the mainstream media sways the thought process as regards how the citizenry regard the Republican candidates, [Question(s): BUT does not Limbaugh’s audience watch FOX and listen to talk radio in general and Limbaugh in particular? So how are they swayed?].
The destruction of reason. After centuries of humankind striving to become, well, more civilized, we now have media demagogue jihadis who are actively striving to derail the journey by appealing to humankind’s baser instincts.
The destruction of language. Both the demagogues and the jihadis debase and destroy language in an attempt to recruit true believer followers. The more they can strip down communication to a utilitarian chassis, the greater chance they will have of using language as a verbal IED, if you will, to both attract disgruntled followers and then to help destroy society.
Hate as a by-product. When all is said and done and blown up, hate is the only realized by-product of both the media demagogues and the jihadis.
Demagogues and jihadis are all base, bottom-feeding slugs. Need I say more?
Finally, one difference: As reprehensible as the jihadis are, at least they are honest about their goal. America’s talk radio and cable TV demagogues, however, desire publicity and wealth, and disguise their avarice behind false fronts of reason, patriotism and faith.
Allow me to close with a quote from the poet, Dryden, and one which encompasses both demagogues and jihadis:
“I curse thee not! For who can better curse the plague or devil than to be what they are: that curse be thine.” -From Encyclopaedia of Quotations, Sixth Edition, David McKay, Publisher, Philadelphia, 1893.
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