On the Bill Maher show the coin of the realm is sneering, elitist derision of the political right. Maher used to pretend to be a libertarian to broaden his audience, but now he's dropped that pretense, no longer even has guests on with opposing viewpoints and just spews hate at those he disagrees with. A favorite target on recent shows has been the tea party movement, whose members Maher reviles as racist, redneck retards. He repeats the standard leftist spin that the protesters are all angry, old, white men who have no legitimate concerns and are just protesting because they are racists who don't want a black president.
This week he had help in his ongoing smear campaign from Janeane Garofalo, who showed up with her own shovel full of bigoted bullshit. Maher may be a vicious, lying bastard, but at least he's clever. Garofalo trumps him by both being irritatingly shrill and remarkably stupid. Maybe I'm being too harsh on her. It's possible that she's just bigoted and incredibly ignorant. I guess that's marginally less offensive as it means that unlike Maher she doesn't know any better and is just repeating what her masters have taught her to say, kind of like the loyal household slave lashing out at the field hands who still dream of freedom.
Garofalo demonstrated her hate and ignorance this week in a remarkably ill-informed tirade at the beginning of the show. Here's a transcript with some observations and infusions of actual fact.
"It's obvious to anybody who has eyes in this country"
Unless those eyes are actually watching the rallies and paying attention, of course.
that the teabaggers, the 9-12ers, these separatist groups that pretend that it's about policy, they are clearly white identity movements, they are clearly white power movements."
Which is why they show up in white hoods and swastikas with burning crosses? Oh wait, they don't. The people carrying the racist posters at the rallies turn out to be Democrats. But she does almost hit on a real point. The movement does want to empower the people, all of whom are threatened equally by our runaway government which threatens people of all races equally.
What they don't like about the president is that he's black or half-black.
Raised by whites, educated in predominantly white schools and totally assimilated into white culture. The reason he's acceptable to the left is that he's black without being threatening because he's such a nice, safe, white-acting black man.
What also is shocking is that people keep pretending that that's not really the case with these people. I'm not talking about people that do have problems with his policy, that's fine. But these people who are also being led by the Glenn Becks, Michele Bachmanns, Rush Limbaughs, whomever, they are no different than any other white identity movement that's part of our history."
I seem to have missed the mass lynchings, tarring and featherings, cross-burnings, church bombings and rioting associated with the tea party movement. Maybe the media failed to report it. So no, these peaceful protests which actually have nothing at all to do with race are not in any way like past white identity movements. Maybe Garofalo needs to read a book on the history of civil rights in America, because it's kind of insulting to the memory of those who gave their lives in the struggle to be free and equal to suggest that all they were up against were a bunch of peaceful protesters.
"This has been going on since the founding of this country that white power movements have tried to establish themselves and hold on to power, and it's just very weird that whenever this comes up in conversation so few people are willing to say that yes it's racism, straight up racism."
This might be because very few people are as paranoid, bigoted and stupid as Garofalo is, of course. It might just be obvious to everyone but the most kool-aid drunk partisans that people holding signs about economic and civil rights issues are actually concerned about those issues and not racism.
"And the Republican party has been willing to carry water for racists in this country since about the 1950s."
I guess the Republicans were helping out the racists when they provided the majority support for every piece of civil rights legislation in Congress from 1955 to 1965. Again, Garofalo shows how much she needs to take a basic class in American history.
"Electorally these white power people don't have their own party. Maybe they will one day, so they are electorally dependent on the Republicans. But also, troublingly, FoxNews is happy to feed into this. AM radio is happy to feed into this. And so they will continue to do this until somebody does something."
Would that be something like silencing free speech and making protest against the government illegal? That seems to be what Ms. Garofalo is leading up to here. Shut down AM radio, take FoxNews off the air and round up the protesters and send them off for reeducation.
"What you're saying is absolutely true. There's this tacit nudging towards violence."
Really? Then why has there been virtually no violence at these thousands of rallies? Quite a contrast to Garofalo's leftist friends who were rioting last week at the G20 conference in Pittsburgh.
"Then also, how about showing up armed? What if black people showed up armed at a McCain rally. What would be the response? But can you imagine the media spin on that. If black people showed up armed we would be on lockdown martial law, first and foremost, but it would be considered the height of violent intent and malicious intent."
And there's the crowning irony. One of the first known protesters to show up armed at one of these rallies was in fact a black man, who brought his gun to a rally in Arizona. And the reaction was not a lockdown or martial law. The local sheriff pointed out that it was perfectly legal under Arizona law and the media bent over backwards to ignore him and cover up the fact that he and many other protesters were black.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ruvy
I can see where lots of folks will want to take it out on the little liar who was on TV. So, this is the little shit who incites scream-a-thons on blog sites and talk radio.
It looks like you Americans are headed for a civil war in the not too distant future. Keep the powder dry and the guns oiled, Dave. You'll need them.
Sigh....
2 - zingzing
first of all, if "we" have garofalo, it's a pretty good reaction to the ridiculous nut jobs on the right. she is to us as beck would be to you.
"It's possible that she's just bigoted and incredibly ignorant"
what is she bigoted against? i'm really struggling to figure this out.
"Unless those eyes are actually watching the rallies and paying attention, of course."
well, that's not true. we went over this a couple of weeks ago. you were asked for ANY evidence that backed up your claims, but you squirreled out of it by claiming you never claimed that which you just claimed again.
"The reason he's acceptable to the left is that he's black without being threatening because he's such a nice, safe, white-acting black man."
ha. barack hussein obama is just a man, eh? wonderful. you act as if a mean, dangerous, white thug could get into office... sophisticated, urbane, educated and charming are not exclusively white traits.
"If you go on YouTube and watch videos of the rallies you can find black speakers prominently at almost every event. Yet if you watch the left-dominated media those speakers never seem to get on the air and it is never the black protesters who get interviewed. They go straight for the craziest white guy they can find on the periphery of the crowd carrying an irrelevant sign."
does "irrelevant" mean racist? and you do see black speakers. the right is perfectly happy to bring out the tokens. i'd like to see the black protesters amongst the crowds as well, but we went over this a few weeks back. there just aren't that many.
"so she's either deliberately spreading disinformation or so filled with hate she's brainwashed herself into believing that her twisted perceptions are reality."
oh my. go watch fox. i'm so glad the "death panels" thing died down. and i'm so glad that obama isn't from nigeria or timbuktu or wherever the birthers are claiming now. and where does that information come from?
"This might be because very few people are as paranoid, bigoted and stupid as Garofalo is, of course."
i can name a few... and i think you know who i'm talking about.
"I guess the Republicans were helping out the racists when they provided the majority support for every piece of civil rights legislation in Congress from 1955 to 1965."
as usual, i'll bring up that the civil rights legislation ALWAYS broke on regional lines rather than by party. but the "southern strategy" was certainly a republican idea.
"the media bent over backwards to ignore him and cover up the fact that he and many other protesters were black."
no they didn't. how'd you find out? i saw it on cnn.
garofalo does go a bit overboard. and she does have some pretty whack opinions. i don't really see why she gets the airtime she does. she's a comedian, not a political commentator. (jon stewart started that way, but he's just too damn good.)
anyway, i'm not the biggest fan of her, but i do find some of the stuff you use to attack her to be just as suspect as the things she says.
next, write a piece on glenn beck. now there's a nut. and he's even more obvious about it than she is.
3 - Christine
Oh my gosh, Dave, I saw this Maher show the other night. It was so damn frustrating, I wanted to scream. Garofalo needs a muzzle!
And it's too bad about Maher... I used to like him a lot because he was more in the middle and had some good points to make. I still watch all of his shows, but he is going down the left-wing deep end and he's angry to boot. Maybe he needs to change his brand of "pot"!
4 - Cindy
She should have been more accurate. She should have said it's a movement that supports privilege. Guess what color privilege mostly turns out to be? But technically, you don't have to be white. You could be Bill Cosby, for example.
5 - Cindy
Oh and as for those in the movement who are not rich, they're simply the brainwashed dupes of the elite.
6 - Baritone
Anytime a right winger goes on a tirade against the left - which is often - one of the first words that comes out is "elitist" or elitism" or some other variant of the word. What the fuck does that mean? Who, specifically are the elitists? Give me some names, and then go into some detail as to what determines their elitist status. And then, go on to tell us how this is a bad thing. Are their right wing elitists? Are they bad or good?
I really don't know how anyone from the right can have the temerity to go off on left wing pundits - even someone as "out there" as Garofalo in light of the bastion of right wing idiots who have commandered AM radio and take up virtually all of the air at FOX News.
We could certainly measure their relative impact just given the ratings. How many people watch FOX including O'Reilly, Hannity and Beck? How many people listen to Limbaugh? Then let's measure it against Maher's numbers. Do you suppose that there are many conservatives who pay for a premium cable channel just for the priviledge of watching Bill Maher?
Yes, Maher is well left of center as are Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow all on MSNBC. Again, their numbers rarely rival FOX.
What left wing voice does FOX have to offer?
At least MSNBC starts out the day with Joe Scarborough who spouts right wing ideology. CNN has the ever loveable Lou Dobbs.
Dave and most other conservatives here vehemently deny the existence of racism in their ranks even to claim that all the people with racist signs at the stupid tea bag rallies were democrats. Did Dave or someone get their names and check their respective voter registrations?
It's such crap that they push the notion that Dems/leftists are racists, and the Reps/conservatives are all embracing of people of color. Talk about repeating crap that their "masters" have brainwashed them with.
B
7 - frog
If personal attacks are not allowed, then why is this article onthis site?
8 - Jet Gardner
Um you did notice who wrote it didn't you?
9 - Mark Saleski
If personal attacks are not allowed, then why is this article onthis site?
it's personal attacks against other people in the comments.
writers can spew whatever drivel they feel like.
10 - Jet Gardner
What kind of a stupid ignorant and ridicu... redicuo... uh dumb question was that anyeay?
11 - roger nowosielski
Well, I suppose the writers have the privilege.
Still, it looks like Dave couldn't keep his normal demeanor under wraps, not for long anyway.
After a fairly balanced article on unemployment, the real Dave comes marching in - roaring and spitting fire like a wounded lion.
12 - Jet Gardner
I'm terrified to ask what reason the 1922-s dime comment was edited out?
13 - Jet Gardner
Of course it always helps to pay attention to which article you're posting a smart ass remark on wouldn't it?
14 - roger nowosielski
It was too complex for me to digest it, Jet. Can't help you there.
15 - Doug Hunter
The concept of 'elitism' as it is defined is in two parts, the first is the idea that your views are superior and wiser than normal coupled with the idea that that gives you the right to shape and govern society. By definition, libertarians, myself and Nalle included, don't mean to intentionally shape society (not from the top down anyway) and believe in limited government sort of voiding the second part so that sorta leaves liberals to carry the banner.
It's really not the worst epithet in the world. I've noticed alot of left wing rants, like yours, come complete with taunts and implications of racism and I'd certainly rather be an elitist than a racist for example.
16 - Cindy
Anytime a right winger goes on a tirade against the left - which is often - one of the first words that comes out is "elitist" or elitism" or some other variant of the word. What the fuck does that mean? Who, specifically are the elitists? Give me some names, and then go into some detail as to what determines their elitist status. And then, go on to tell us how this is a bad thing. Are their right wing elitists? Are they bad or good?
The elite are just what they sound like, the small dominant group that holds power via wealth and influence. Aka the bourgeoisie. The people for whom the rest of us are brainwashed into believing things like, the US is a meritocracy, on whose behalf the 'work ethic' is instilled in workers. The ones who originally robbed the land from the commons and funneled the now destitute into factories during the industrial revolution. On whose behalf we have government, so that government may engage in acts in service of their interests, like gaining more power.
There used to be the aristocrats, after feudalism there were the bourgeoisie, also now called the elite. You didn't think it just went from aristocrats to equality, I hope. Society was shaped by the interests of the bourgeoisie and it still is. It's not like they have ever given up power once obtained. And there are self-made elite, not just inherited like in aristocracy. They still functioned and continue to function with the same power and influence.
In short they are the ones who own 99 percent of the country's wealth.
17 - roger nowosielski
There's another idea in the background as well.
Many leading thinkers from the Left tend to be intellectuals, hold professorial positions in the universities and colleges, the Ivory Tower types, etc. - for which reason they have the reputation (not altogether unjust) of being removed from the hoi poloi. Yet, they seem to set the agenda for the Left at large.
Not so with the conservative voice. Only William F. Buckley Jr., and George Will perhaps, could be said to carry such an aura.
You certainly wouldn't think of Limbaugh, Beck or Hannity as elitist types - in fact, they make their best to come across as "populist."
18 - Dave Nalle
Anytime a right winger goes on a tirade against the left - which is often - one of the first words that comes out is "elitist" or elitism" or some other variant of the word. What the fuck does that mean? Who, specifically are the elitists? Give me some names, and then go into some detail as to what determines their elitist status. And then, go on to tell us how this is a bad thing. Are their right wing elitists? Are they bad or good?
I was raised as a liberal elitist, Baritone, so maybe I can enlighten you. We come from old money, have trust funds, summer in the Hamptons or Bar Harbor or Nantucket (largely depending on what city you originate in), attend one of a small group of private schools and then go to certain particularly elite colleges (which is where I broke with the tradition). We go on to get graduate degrees and then get jobs in academia or with the government or with think tanks or in journalism or in the media or at museums.
Who are we? Most of the Kennedys of my generation went to the same elementary school and/or high school I did. So did most of the Roosevelts and Rockefellers and Guggenheims. So did Al Gore and Evan Bayh and Harold Ford and Brit Hume and the list goes on -- and there are other schools which serve the same crowd.
If the system works as it should, these rich kids learn that wealth carries with it responsibilities, including an obligation to enter into public service and careers which help others. What they don't learn is what life is really like for the lower classes, just that they need the help which only the enlightened members of the elite can give them.
The elite really break down into two groups, the wealthy elite and the intellectual elite. They overlap to some degree, because some of the wealthy are intellectual as well and because some of the intellectuals are wealthy. My background is more in the intellectual elite than the truly wealthy.
I really don't know how anyone from the right can have the temerity to go off on left wing pundits - even someone as "out there" as Garofalo in light of the bastion of right wing idiots who have commandered AM radio and take up virtually all of the air at FOX News.
Why? Garofalo's behavior is worthy of consideration in its own right. You can write an article about how crazy Glenn Beck is if you like.
What left wing voice does FOX have to offer?
I'd argue that in many ways Bill O'Reilly is left wing.
CNN has the ever loveable Lou Dobbs.
And I certainly wouldn't classify Dobbs as part of the conservative mainstream.
Dave and most other conservatives here
And as we've discussed before I don't consider myself a conservative. I'm a liberal non-socialist and therefore incompatible with the modern left.
vehemently deny the existence of racism in their ranks even to claim that all the people with racist signs at the stupid tea bag rallies were democrats. Did Dave or someone get their names and check their respective voter registrations?
Actually, the group which printed the posters had their logo on the bottom and it's not a right wing group. They're basically marxists, but that still puts them on the left.
It's such crap that they push the notion that Dems/leftists are racists,
That argument is going to continue to be made so long as the Democratic party continues its policies of racial exploitation and division.
and the Reps/conservatives are all embracing of people of color. Talk about repeating crap that their "masters" have brainwashed them with.
As an outsider you just don't get it. Sure, there are some racist Republicans just as there are some racist Democrats. But the Republican party doesn't countenance racism or race based policies, while the Democratic party certainly does. These are facts which you can't just wish away, I'm afraid.
Dave
19 - Doug Hunter
#11
Yes, believe it. The racism attack the left has been chanting daily for the last year or more is obscenely frustrating and has drawn more than one rant from me as well.
Seriously, a racist is viewed as about one half step above a pedophile and anyone not onboard the liberal agenda gets tarred with that virtually everyday if you come in contact with any form of media.
The one positive to this is that the same raw emotions which cause Dave to pen an article like this are creating some significant backlash and activism on the right.
20 - Cindy
What they don't learn is what life is really like for the lower classes, just that they need the help which only the enlightened members of the elite can give them.
What the lower classes need is to break away from the illusion that they need these bloodsuckers. People are trained to be good cows to be milked. That is what indoctrination that I talk endlessly about does. It creates a society of people who are willing slaves and never even question where they got the idea that things have to work this way. They just defend it--on autopilot.
21 - roger nowosielski
I have never accused Dave of racism, Doug. I'm certain he'd be ready to confirm this were I to ask him.
As to raw emotions, yes, we should put them to good use when we can - for activism, definitely. But backlash is reactionary, though emotionally satisfying.
22 - Cindy
Talk about repeating crap that their "masters" have brainwashed them with.
The problem is that it's not their masters. It's the masters of the left and the right. The right are just more virulently selfish. The left are just as brainwashed--just not as selfish. They are still playing in the same game.
23 - roger nowosielski
That was quite a revelation on Dave's part, though. Now one can understand why Bush Sr. had no idea what the supermarket scanner does, and that's just one example of how our "leaders" are removed from the ordinary folk.
Yet the amazing thing is - we elect them as our representatives. Utter foolishness.
Yet even Baritone here would argue that we're better off for having the lawyers and accountants represents us - because they're smart.
24 - Jet Gardner
Roger 17-But a lot of them graduated from Jerry Falwell's Liberty Baptist University... that's something
25 - roger nowosielski
Like who, for example? You mean Hannity et al?