Media’s 24/7 Sliming of Dems Will Happen. And we will…?

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

I can’t prove the assertion in the title. I’m not connected to any “inside” track. And anything a lowly wage-earner like me could possibly know about conspiracies is almost certainly disinformation.

But the assertion is true, and I bet you know that. And so we must ask some questions.

It might possibly be illegal, and it’s certainly anti-consumerist, to entertain the mental state they used to call “remembering.” It’s a superstition of mine that remembering is indispensable to being prepared for the future. It seems if you notice something happens again and again and again, over a period of years, that you might expect it to happen again in the future. Now, if you find that notion a little whacky, it’s best we part company here. Otherwise, here’s what I remember about our Media, our Democratic politicians, and our elections:

I remember the Media going 24/7–literally–on the horrible crimes of Bill Clinton. And the need for him to remove himself from office immediately. No other thing in America was discussed for over a year. Just the evil that was Bill Clinton. Any rumor, whether pushed by his declared enemies, and whether it be of children begot with prosititutes, murdering his best friends, etc was worth reporting AND commenting extensively upon. If you were his friend, or a political associate, even a family member, no charge, whether proven or not, was beyond the pale. While everything he was charged with and worse was a matter of routine with Republicans. But you wouldn’t know that from the Media.

I remember 2000, when Gore was ridiculed by Media. Where his quotes on record were then falsified and the falsification endlessly repeated by Media pundits. Where Gore was painted as a phony, an elitist, out-of-touch. At the same time Bush, from a family every bit as patrician as Gore’s, was painted as a regular Joe. Bush–a man known to be afraid of horses–buys a ranch (with no animals) just before running, and the Press treats him as though he were John Wayne.

I remember 2002, when Democrats were portrayed as being cowards, and Media coverage underlined the strength of George Bush and the weakness of Dems. Where lie after lie was told about the Democrats, and Media merely reported the lie and provided no connected dots.

I remember 2004, when Kerry was successfully portrayed, with Media’s eager promotion, as a coward and a fraud in connection with his War Hero medals. Where Media joined the Republicans in protraying Kerry, and his wife, as effete, wild-eyed liberals. With no critique at all of George W Bush, who had already committed several publicly acknowledged crimes against the Constitution and people of the United States. (And yes, the mofo was wearing a wire in the debates!)

I remember 2006, where Media continued to bury Republican scandals, treat alleged Democratic scandals as being true, and in general–while having to admit a growing disaffection with Bush–did little to highlight his crimes. While still echoing false charges against Democrats.

I remember a lot more, but it’s all of the same type. Well, besides memory, there’s other things that apparently aren’t too legal, or valued by Corporate mass-reach Media. By which I mean Reason and Foresight.

Applying those two capacities together with Memory, I can say with 100% certainty that right this moment the wheels are being greased for a  24/7, prime-time-all-the-time, “story” which will be utterly contrived, and which all America will see for weeks on end. And this story will slime the Democratic candidates.

You could bet money on this. Republican operatives are at work on, and Media pundits are set to amplify, all manner of false charges. Which will be presented to the American Public as having some measure of legitimacy. Even if proof to the contrary is easily accessible.

They’ve already been test-driving Muslim/Hamas/Radical with Obama, and we’ve all heard of legitimate (LOL) news outlets perpetuating the disinfo. They’ve been quiet, relatively about Hillary, but rest assured that Vince Foster’s ghost lurks in the wings. Along with dozens of other scandals. (And remember, in shotgun advertising, it’s not the quality, it’s the quantity.)

So that all brings us to this point:

What the hell are we going to do about Media’s upcoming 24/7 destruction of the Democratic candidate?

The Netroots to date has managed a very limited grasp of what Media is up to. Everyone, even frontpagers at DKos, seem perpetually astonished that Bill Kristol, Matthews, or any of the other Twits posing as journalists, is being dishonest or willfully blind. It’s as if we had neither memory, nor reason, nor foresight. Or that we prefer the lazy pleasures of being wronged but morally superior to the necessary difficulties of making things right.

To quote my comment in a dairy by clammyc over at DKos:

We are woefully unprepared for

the upcoming “scandals” invented by the rightwing and presented as legitimate news by the media. It will last at least 2 weeks, probably more, and be 24/7. As sure as water is wet.

If we are true to form, we will be completely reactive, spending our time and energies on debunking (which will not ever be covered the same way), writing eloquent, outraged, essays, and being shocked! shocked! that the media would behave this way.

And we will lose.

Unless we begin, today, to discuss and focus on how to neutralize the corporate media.

It’s a big ugly problem, and I can understand that no one wants to do the hard work of changing our established pattern of moaning and whining and being victims.

But unless we come to grips with the media’s enmity to democratic and humanly decent principles, and figure how to sabotage their lies right now, put them on the total defensive so Media will fear the consequences of slanting the news, we are all going to be fucked over.

And don’t say you didn’t see it coming, people.

Or am I completely wrong about this? Can we do anything that would work besides surrender in advance? Or shall we content ourselves with losing again?

Sorry, but I must retire for the evening soon. But if anyone has anything to develop on this notion, please do so.