Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

pnwmom

(108,980 posts)
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:13 PM Jan 2019

The Guardian: How the conservative media transformed the Covington students into heroes

Last edited Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:53 PM - Edit history (1)


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/23/how-conservative-media-transformed-the-covington-catholic-students-from-pariahs-to-heroes?CMP=fb_gu&fbclid=IwAR1pJB-LPtmZN_rLEd0mxPb9jpY_fwT907DLidRL1wCU3kFuQQ69tDinR0c

On Tuesday night, Fox News hosts continued to feast on the controversy, which was sparked by a standoff between Covington Catholic high school students and a Native American veteran called Nathan Phillips. Footage show students wearing pro-Trump Maga hats taunting the Omaha tribe elder. The relentlessly repeated talking point — that there was a collective “rush to judgment” on the boys because they were Trump supporters – was used by conservative anchors Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham to attack mainstream media and left leaning social media users.

On Wednesday morning, Sandmann got almost nine minutes of airtime on a national breakfast program to make his case, after his family hired a Republican-linked PR firm.

In making this happen, conservative media have normalized the boys’ aggressive form of political expression, and tried to further discredit both fact-oriented media and high-profile liberals. Media outlets have been effectively gaslighted, and many climbed down from coverage which was based on the most clear and obvious interpretation of the boys chanting, making gestures and making tomahawk chops.

What it tells us is that in 2019, conservatives understand they can construct a parallel reality and have it accepted. They can act in bad faith and prevail, using tried and tested tactics that liberal media continue to fall for. Those are:

SNIP


ON UPDATE: The Guardian is a progressive British publication that does a good job of covering US news. At this point they aren't requiring a subscription, unlike many other reputable outlets, but they do ask for voluntary donations. I value their reporting, so I have sent them something. You might consider sending them something if you appreciate their reporting, too.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Guardian: How the conservative media transformed the Covington students into heroes (Original Post) pnwmom Jan 2019 OP
Recommended. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #1
I thought this was a great observation underpants Jan 2019 #4
And, to provide context, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #8
WH General Counsel went to Covington Catholic octoberlib Jan 2019 #2
Nailed it underpants Jan 2019 #3
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. When will the MSM, the procon Jan 2019 #5
Gaslit again. Cha Jan 2019 #6
They play up events like this they can twist and capitalize on Docreed2003 Jan 2019 #7
Repetition underpants Jan 2019 #9
Same way MSNBC had all the usual suspects on today pecosbob Jan 2019 #10

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
1. Recommended.
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:16 PM
Jan 2019

From the article:

In making this happen, conservative media have normalized the boys’ aggressive form of political expression, and tried to further discredit both fact-oriented media and high-profile liberals. Media outlets have been effectively gaslighted, and many climbed down from coverage which was based on the most clear and obvious interpretation of the boys chanting, making gestures and making tomahawk chops.

What it tells us is that in 2019, conservatives understand they can construct a parallel reality and have it accepted. They can act in bad faith and prevail, using tried and tested tactics that liberal media continue to fall for. Those are:


And given that the US corporate media is conservative, it is easy for these parallel realities to become accepted.

underpants

(182,843 posts)
4. I thought this was a great observation
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:23 PM
Jan 2019

To avoid confronting reasonable arguments or new evidence, conservatives emphasize the worst of the other side – like tweets calling for violence or doxxing. Tweets calling for violence or doxxing against high school students are obviously and clearly unacceptable, but nor are they typical of the criticisms made of the boys, their school and their conduct. They also focus the audience on liberal journalists and celebrities – mostly women – who their audience feel comfortable in deriding and dismissing.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
8. And, to provide context,
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:27 PM
Jan 2019

there was the clip of the boys taunting a girl at the march, as well as the black face incidents. Yes, incidents, plural. So this is not an isolated incident, but a part of a larger pattern of racist and misogynistic behavior.

octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
2. WH General Counsel went to Covington Catholic
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:18 PM
Jan 2019

Pat Cipollone, CovCath class of 1984, recently took over as White House general counsel. He had previously served as an informal adviser to the president on the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.


https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/22/covington-catholic-trumps-white-house-lawyer-went-kentucky-school/2650238002/

underpants

(182,843 posts)
3. Nailed it
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:21 PM
Jan 2019

Same old playbook but this time they had no choice but to come out savagely.

The MAGA was just too clear as were the initial reporting. The Parkland murderer and the bomb mailer both had MAGA hats and paraphernalia but those images were late in coming and were not highlighted by much of the media (at least not for days). Covington was too much for them. There was no way to miss it.

procon

(15,805 posts)
5. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. When will the MSM, the
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:23 PM
Jan 2019

brand name celebrity hosts, politicians, and even liberal audiences, learn this vital lesson?

Docreed2003

(16,866 posts)
7. They play up events like this they can twist and capitalize on
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:26 PM
Jan 2019

And ignore events like the MAGA bomber or the synagogue shooter that they can't manipulate. It's astounding how readily people eat their crap up and their version of events seems to take hold.

underpants

(182,843 posts)
9. Repetition
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:32 PM
Jan 2019

Typical RWers get up and watch Fox News (Fox & Friends), get in their car and hear the morning drive time talk radio, if they go to lunch they get some Rush, on the way home they get Hannity or maybe a local host, then they watch Fox again. All have some sort of the same message. Either the topic of the day or whatever they are on between big stories.

It works. In sales if you get the same message or product to someone 12 times (some say 16) their likelihood of buying shoots through the roof. Time shares live off this. The most vivid examples are Snuggies and Trump's campaign.

pecosbob

(7,541 posts)
10. Same way MSNBC had all the usual suspects on today
Wed Jan 23, 2019, 08:58 PM
Jan 2019

Jerome Corsi, Carter Page, Michael Caputo, Sam Nunberg, all telling us night is day and day is night...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Guardian: How the con...