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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:33 AM Jun 2014

Fox News' Vicious, Unhinged Attacks on a Military Family

http://www.alternet.org/fox-news-vicious-unhinged-attacks-military-family



When an emotional Jani and Robert Bergdahl strode into the White House Rose Garden on Saturday to the share the emotional announcement by President Obama that their son, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl would be returning home after being held captive for five years by the Taliban, it's unlikely they could have foreseen that their family would soon be under attack by the right-wing media, or that Robert Bergdahl would be depicted on Fox News as a possible terrorist sympathizer; mocked on national television as he awaited a reunion with his ailing son.

They couldn't have foreseen it because I don't think it's ever happened before. I don't think we've ever seen a dedicated media campaign to not only undermine a returning prisoner of war, but to also cast doubt onto the soldier's family; to portray them as un-American even as they prepare for their reunion.

Instead, Fox News has helped transform the prisoner swap involving Taliban detainees into "an increasingly vicious partisan issue," as Buzzfeed described the Republican decision to go into relentless attack mode, complete with enlisted publicists and strategists, to subvert the return of an American POW.

It's symptomatic of a conservative media mini-mob that now obsessively politicizing everything, and does it all with the knob turned up to 11.
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Fox News' Vicious, Unhinged Attacks on a Military Family (Original Post) xchrom Jun 2014 OP
Look Fox and ReTHUGs are a lynch mob malaise Jun 2014 #1
indeed. xchrom Jun 2014 #2
Its like the scene from "To Kill A Mockingbird" GusBob Jun 2014 #18
No wonder Joe was so ready to nuts on Chuck Todd this morning! CTyankee Jun 2014 #21
Trust neither of them malaise Jun 2014 #22
How whacked out is Scarborough? gratuitous Jun 2014 #34
I know. Mika was trying to calm him down... CTyankee Jun 2014 #35
Hand her the tranquilizer gun gratuitous Jun 2014 #36
which is why she never succeeds at calming him down... CTyankee Jun 2014 #37
rec for being so truthful handmade34 Jun 2014 #3
How does Fox News even have shred of credibility left after their Cliven Bundy bullshit? world wide wally Jun 2014 #4
NPR has jumped into the fray. barbtries Jun 2014 #5
This whole thing is breaking my heart. DeadLetterOffice Jun 2014 #6
+100 narnian60 Jun 2014 #26
Terrorists Scarsdale Jun 2014 #7
And don't forget about ZZ Top! klook Jun 2014 #9
Pox News is a terrorist The Wizard Jun 2014 #8
The Four Architects of RW Negativity... CJCRANE Jun 2014 #11
Thank you for the meme "Pox News". It's even better than Faux News. Viva_Daddy Jun 2014 #29
Why don't we ever have sulphurdunn Jun 2014 #10
I wonder if we are seeing yuiyoshida Jun 2014 #12
The word "American" means nothing to the far-right perdita9 Jun 2014 #13
Funny how obsessed everyone is about Fox. Anyone watched the OTHER networks saying the same?? 7962 Jun 2014 #14
other outlets? doxydad Jun 2014 #19
MSNBC this morning. CBS yesterday. CNN Tuesday. I'm sure I'm not the only one seeing it. 7962 Jun 2014 #24
I saw those, and I disagree that ... doxydad Jun 2014 #27
From what I heard Chris Matthews was LITERALLY frothing n/t tularetom Jun 2014 #28
This guy was captured in Afghanistan, not Iraq. 7962 Jun 2014 #32
And what is your point? doxydad Jun 2014 #43
And I bet most was spent on Iraq 7962 Jun 2014 #45
Wrong again, Skippy. doxydad Jun 2014 #48
According to most sources, Iraq has cost more than Afghanistan, Skippy 7962 Jun 2014 #50
Spoken like a true TROLL. doxydad Jun 2014 #52
Oh yes, when you have nothing of value to say, scream "Troll!!" 7962 Jun 2014 #55
Pfft. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #47
That's why God invented drones world wide wally Jun 2014 #33
The level of Di Fi? HangOnKids Jun 2014 #40
What does Bush have to do with any of this? 7962 Jun 2014 #41
Did you forget your post? HangOnKids Jun 2014 #42
Yeah, if Bush did the same we'd all be going apeshit 7962 Jun 2014 #44
Nice dodge HangOnKids Jun 2014 #46
that's some.. doxydad Jun 2014 #49
Ewww, thats just nasty 7962 Jun 2014 #51
Joe Scar was bellowing the SAME line on MOrning Joe today... CTyankee Jun 2014 #23
Confusing 'obsession' with 'concern', 'bemusement' LanternWaste Jun 2014 #54
After we force our government to enact real campaign finance reform and publicly funded Dustlawyer Jun 2014 #15
I like the way you think. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #31
Wolf-PAC.com. There was something I saw yesterday too about a new super PAC Dustlawyer Jun 2014 #53
The mob mentality of the GOP strikes again davidpdx Jun 2014 #16
fAUX nOISE... doxydad Jun 2014 #17
republican fox directs the charge & made that family a target. SO WRONG, this should be a crime. Sunlei Jun 2014 #20
This family, and especially Bowe Bergdahl, is going to have a long road ahead back to normalcy. riderinthestorm Jun 2014 #25
Call me naive, but I thought they would eventually get used to a black president. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #30
I'm with you...I naively believed that our country had matured and was more tolerant and CTyankee Jun 2014 #38
Veteran status is not a get out of jail free card... CAO Jun 2014 #39

malaise

(267,823 posts)
1. Look Fox and ReTHUGs are a lynch mob
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:36 AM
Jun 2014

They hate it that Obama rescued the POW. That and nothing else is behind this madness.

They are beyond out of control.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
21. No wonder Joe was so ready to nuts on Chuck Todd this morning!
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:33 AM
Jun 2014

Joe is always at the ready with his GOP talking points du jour....

malaise

(267,823 posts)
22. Trust neither of them
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:36 AM
Jun 2014

Fuckie Todd so wants that MTP job from hack Gregory that all of a sudden he sounds moderate

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
34. How whacked out is Scarborough?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:32 PM
Jun 2014

This whacked out: He made Chucktodd look like the reasonable guy in the shoutyfest.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
36. Hand her the tranquilizer gun
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:39 PM
Jun 2014

But considering where her bread is buttered, how much could Mika realistically do?

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
37. which is why she never succeeds at calming him down...
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:41 PM
Jun 2014

he's getting to be a kind of comic act in the repuke party....he screams and waves his arms and his panelists all react with a bit of alarm, like Sam Stein did today...it's part of the schtick that is Morning Joe...

handmade34

(22,755 posts)
3. rec for being so truthful
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:41 AM
Jun 2014

the haters are so out of control… I have lived through, and read about many Presidents… NONE have had to put up with the vitriol that President Obama does

world wide wally

(21,719 posts)
4. How does Fox News even have shred of credibility left after their Cliven Bundy bullshit?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 06:52 AM
Jun 2014

On second thought...Maybe they don't

barbtries

(28,702 posts)
5. NPR has jumped into the fray.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:05 AM
Jun 2014

possibly somewhat tempered but they're spreading shit. i switch to cd when they start though - get too pissed off to listen.

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)
6. This whole thing is breaking my heart.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:08 AM
Jun 2014

I cannot imagine what this is like for his family. Their hometown fucking cancelled their son's welcome home event because of this shit. What the hell is wrong with people?

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
7. Terrorists
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:11 AM
Jun 2014

If they are using the fact that the father grew a beard therefore he MUST be a sympathizer, then I guess ALL the men in the Duck Dynasaty are too. For all we know, and maybe someone should investigate this, the Duck family is running a terrorist camp down there, while pretending to be "
sportsmen"??It would be a perfect cover, out in the wilds where hearing shooting is normal. Also, too, the father is religious another warning sign. These people NEVER stop with their quest to find fault with the President for EVERY move he makes.

The Wizard

(12,482 posts)
8. Pox News is a terrorist
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:17 AM
Jun 2014

enabling propaganda operation that works 24/7 to ensure Republicans gain or stay in power. The Republican bigots and their propaganda handmaidens at Pox and other corporate media outlets should be hammered continuously as they are a threat to domestic tranquility, the general welfare and a more perfect union. Their Machiavellian strategy to divide Americans and even families for political gain is immoral and must have the light of day shined on its nefarious goals and tactics if the term We the people is to be anything more than a catch phrase. I mention the other corporate propaganda outlets because they just do what Pox is doing but with a bit more sophistication. Pox just provides cover for ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN.

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)
11. The Four Architects of RW Negativity...
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:34 AM
Jun 2014

Newt Gingrich - came up with the idea of using insults instead of arguments and to constantly insult your opponent

Karl Rove - made projection into an art form, whereby you project your own weakness onto your opponent

Philip Zelikow - studied "public myths" and invented the idea of "public perception", which is an idea or opinion, which may be untrue, but is accepted by a specific group

Frank Luntz - developed the idea of using or not using specific buzzwords to frame the argument

The RW has perfected these techniques so well...that in fact these techniques are all they have left, there are no core principles, no policies, no ideas to improve things.

But by wedding themselves to these techniques they have lost control of their own emotions. They can only react against what the other side is doing. Which often leads to them going round in circles.

Viva_Daddy

(785 posts)
29. Thank you for the meme "Pox News". It's even better than Faux News.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 12:08 PM
Jun 2014

And it's also ancient. The Roman Empire invented the term Pax Romana (Pax, meaning "peace&quot . Opponents of the Empire responded with Pox Romana.

yuiyoshida

(41,764 posts)
12. I wonder if we are seeing
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:38 AM
Jun 2014

The last dying remnants of an increasingly shrinking GOP in its death throngs? Fox News last gasp before falling into obscurity? Wouldn't that be something if it were true.

perdita9

(1,142 posts)
13. The word "American" means nothing to the far-right
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:39 AM
Jun 2014

This family seems a little different but so what? That's what freedom is all about. So what if Dad grew a beard and learned a foreign language. He took positive action to gain a way of negotiating with his son's captors. Good for him.

These people are Americans. I don't admire the Taliban but at least you don't see them &$%*ing their own over to gain a political advantage.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
14. Funny how obsessed everyone is about Fox. Anyone watched the OTHER networks saying the same??
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 07:57 AM
Jun 2014

Simply change the logo in the corner of the screen and I've heard similar diatribes from many other outlets.

doxydad

(1,363 posts)
19. other outlets?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:13 AM
Jun 2014

Fox is skewed and twisted to the point of outright lying.IF you have seen this type of base hypocritical reporting elsewhere....excepting all Tea-Hadists sites or media, please let me know. Until then, I'm calling bullshit on your assertions. main street media does not twist the news like you say.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
24. MSNBC this morning. CBS yesterday. CNN Tuesday. I'm sure I'm not the only one seeing it.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 09:15 AM
Jun 2014

And many instances too. I said early on this was going to be a huge mistake for the President. We released 2 guys wanted by the UN for war crimes as part of the 5! If it was another country doing it, we'd be up in arms about releasing terrorists.
I dont know the truth yet about this soldier, but I do know stories about his leaving came up soon after his capture and then went away. I dont think the administration did their homework on this one and I dont think its going away. When you have politicians on the level of Dianne Feinstein saying it was wrong, there's a problem.
If Bush had done this we'd all be yelling about his going around the law.

doxydad

(1,363 posts)
27. I saw those, and I disagree that ...
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 10:50 AM
Jun 2014

any of those media outlets were frothing madly...as was Faux Noise. NONE. Let's let the military do their job, instead of the jack asses over at Fox playing judge and jury.... ALSO, I blame Bush and the puppeteer Cheney for this entire fucking mess. They are liars, and scumbags. refresh my memory...why did we invade a sovereign nation? OH YEAH..I remember! It was all those WMDs. Those 2 ass holes still need to be keel hauled up to the Hague and hung for war crimes...and they know it.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
32. This guy was captured in Afghanistan, not Iraq.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 04:30 PM
Jun 2014

And I blame Cheney for 90% of that. I bet if you doped up Bush and got an honest answer out of him, he would say Cheney set up the whole Iraq mess. Which I consider the worst foreign policy decision in our history.

doxydad

(1,363 posts)
43. And what is your point?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 09:07 PM
Jun 2014
This guy was captured in Afghanistan, not Iraq.

Bush, and the Puppeteer Cheney started the entire goddamned mess. IF they had quietly gone after Bin Laden instead of lying us into a 3 TRILLION dollar fiasco of 2 wars, this would all be a moot point. Put the fucking blame where it belongs. ROVE, CHENEY, RICE and that ass bag Bush.

doxydad

(1,363 posts)
48. Wrong again, Skippy.
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 07:15 AM
Jun 2014
And I bet most was spent on Iraq

We are STILL paying in Afghanistan...and will continue for decades.
 

7962

(11,841 posts)
50. According to most sources, Iraq has cost more than Afghanistan, Skippy
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 07:50 AM
Jun 2014

You forget that we pretty much ignored Afghanistan for years after invading Iraq. And Iraq was always a much bigger operation than Afghanistan. Of course the ACTUAL spending is a lot more than reported. And we could've been out of Afghanistan years ago if not for the folly of Iraq. We'll be paying in both for years to come.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
55. Oh yes, when you have nothing of value to say, scream "Troll!!"
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 03:27 PM
Jun 2014

I dont understand your problem. Would you rather have been in Iraq than Afghanistan? Do you consider both wars equal? Because if you cant see the difference in these two wars, then YOU truly have no clue.
Iraq was a terrible lie perpetrated on us. We had the worlds support going into Afghanistan. All of it was wasted when we started Iraq. And thanks to that, we now have a much stronger Iran, among other problems.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
47. Pfft.
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 07:11 AM
Jun 2014

Then Dubya wouldn't have been a war president. His place in history would have been compromised.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
41. What does Bush have to do with any of this?
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 06:05 PM
Jun 2014

And yes, Di Fi. Compared to Louis Gomert, I'd say she has a lot more credibility

doxydad

(1,363 posts)
49. that's some..
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 07:17 AM
Jun 2014

...weak kitten thought process. Bush is a fucking murderous thug, liar and your great-great-grandkids will be paying for his 2 wars. Wake up and smell the Cheney.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
54. Confusing 'obsession' with 'concern', 'bemusement'
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 09:35 AM
Jun 2014

Confusing 'obsession' with 'concern', 'bemusement' or even the drudgery of knowing what propaganda is being used, is a simple mistake often made, I imagine.

Dustlawyer

(10,493 posts)
15. After we force our government to enact real campaign finance reform and publicly funded
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:06 AM
Jun 2014

elections to return to actual Representative Democracy, we can then redo the FCC and yank Fox's broadcasting license! We need news programs that would be required to be TRUTHFUL in their reporting! What Fox does is hurtful to our country and needs to be stopped!

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
31. I like the way you think.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 01:15 PM
Jun 2014

What organizations do you belong to or suggest for campaign finance reform?

Dustlawyer

(10,493 posts)
53. Wolf-PAC.com. There was something I saw yesterday too about a new super PAC
Fri Jun 6, 2014, 09:26 AM
Jun 2014

that is set up that proclaims it is the super PAC to end all super Pacs but I cannot recall the name. It is to elect candidates willing to enact campaign finance reform which is what I have been advocating for several years now! They claim that by the 2016 elections they will get it done!

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
20. republican fox directs the charge & made that family a target. SO WRONG, this should be a crime.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 08:15 AM
Jun 2014

I've always thought any Vet who comes home is pushed to fast into work or education. Vets really need a stress free year or so off. Even more so for anyone who was a POW. It should be a crime to harass this family.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
25. This family, and especially Bowe Bergdahl, is going to have a long road ahead back to normalcy.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 10:33 AM
Jun 2014


Its shameful work by the right in destroying any chance for a normal return to their small town Idaho lifestyle.

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
30. Call me naive, but I thought they would eventually get used to a black president.
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 01:04 PM
Jun 2014

I thought three, maybe four years into it they would finally settle down & realize that we are in the 21st Century & demographics are changing. But these people are rabid in their hate. They have lost all reason in regards to this president.

And shame on the media for amplifying their voice bigger than it is. And shame on Fox news for existing.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
38. I'm with you...I naively believed that our country had matured and was more tolerant and
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:44 PM
Jun 2014

welcoming of minorities, immigrants, women...how WRONG I was!

Ugh. I am so disappointed...and disgusted...

 

CAO

(20 posts)
39. Veteran status is not a get out of jail free card...
Thu Jun 5, 2014, 05:44 PM
Jun 2014

...nor should it be.

Even with all the caterwauling, a song and dance investigation will be made and Bergdahl will quietly shuffle off to start writing his book.

The right has denied the administration their ability to tout this but the end result, Bergdahl being home, will be the same.

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