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Welcome to You're Doing It Wrong, a weekly column taking the Powers That Be (PTB), especially the media and talking heads, to task for poor information and poor framing.
Well, this week I’m ruffled by, yes, the Chik-fil-A brouhaha and something the media is doing that is not constructive.
This week marked the big right wing Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, so there were not only prominent people speaking up about it, but the media covered it pretty heavily on Wednesday.
People like Mike Huckabee set the stage by framing the argument as one of defending Dan Cathy’s freedom of speech and stopping him from “being disenfranchised from his citizenship and rights of free speech”. Rick Santorum not only cited the free speech, but also freedom of religion. Pretty soon all their followers were parroting these talking points.
Now, both of these men are politicians who formerly held high offices, both have been candidates for the highest office in the land, and one of them is now a media talk show host. I don’t know about you, but I shudder to think that anyone in their position would have such an incorrect understanding of the Constitution.
In media coverage, platforms were given to not only the luminaries, but to the folks who showed up to take part in the appreciation day. But instead of giving some historical context, most of the media let those statements go unchallenged.
The Constitution is meant to set the rules for government. The First Amendment in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights provides for the exercise of freedom of speech and freedom to practice religion. This DOES NOT MEAN that you are free to say whatever you want without consequence, only that you will not be punished by the law for saying it. This DOES NOT MEAN that you are free to practice your religion without consequence, only that you will not be punished by the law for practicing it. This isn’t rocket science; this is remedial understanding of the Constitution and how government works.
The news is supposed to make you smarter, not just provide simple claims and facts without any factual explanation for the reader/listener. The news is not supposed to just report what a person says, especially when it is false, essentially playing stenographer and contributing to the dumbing down of the masses. The news is supposed to give you the tools to understand what’s going on in the country and the world. How can anyone come to a better understanding when false beliefs are given voice to by the media without any kind of critical challenge or explanation?
Would Walter Cronkite or Edward Murrow give voice to people who so categorically have incorrect information without questioning that information? Would they fail to point out the erroneousness of those statements? I think not.
The Fourth Estate is supposed to be a check on the PTB. So, if you’re a journalist, and you let blatantly incorrect information go out via your platform without correcting it, you’re hurting we the people, not helping we the people. You’re Doing It Wrong!
Comments
here's to the First Amendment! :D
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I think everyone
has come out of this looking pretty stupid. The wingnuts who "appreciated" Chik-fil-A, the liberals who got so very wrapped over the whole thing, and the media who covered it like it was news and not just a lot of stupid people acting stupid. I have looked at this brouhaha and I just keep wishing that Americans would get one-half this worked up over the Citizens United decision. Or one of any number of other things that are wrecking their lives.
This is not a defense of Chik-fil-A, by the way. They suck. But the way to deal with them is to vote with your dollars. Spend them someplace else.
i think the reason things like this Chick-fil-A appreciation
day get covered so extensively in the media is because the PTB needs bright shiny objects to distract us with so we don't start thinking much about major things like Citizens United.
that said, the issue of marriage equality is a big one too, but the media just glorified the pro-con fighting part of the CFA kerfluffle instead of touching on why Cathy's statements and donations were really a big deal to a lot of people.
it's bigger than that, poli...
the faith-based (conservative and progressive) blogosphere is a-blaze!!! i've *never* seen anything like it.
this is a case where, "oooh, shiny", said the media, is actually going to have a positive impact in moving the dialogue forward and doing so before the election.
i'm hopeful... it was just so damn disappointing....
to see the media mostly ignore the underlying issue of donations to hate groups...
and you're def right - the left and right blogos is afire with the battle... i just hope it keeps up and discussion goes on... i for one am keeping it going as much as i can.... :D
"the liberals who got so wrapped up over the whole thing?"
ummm, yeah, Chick-fil-h8 has donated at least $5M (that we know of)...that's the company, NOT mr. cathy... of that, a portion has gone to both FRC and Exodus, Intl... BOTH organizations support uganda's "kill the gay's" bill.
if we don't get wrapped up in this, what the sam hill DO we get wrapped up in?
yeah, it's a big issue... there are so many people
who still don't understand the consequences of all the talk they're doing (i mean the fundy crowd...)
what hate groups do and where they get their money is a big issue... if the media really wanted to spotlight a story, that'd be a great one. it needs more public discussion....
I've talked with a few conservative...
.... people on other sites about this recently. Most of them don't seem to know about the Uganda stuff. They just think this is an argument between people who support same-sex marriage, and those who don't. So I think that if I keep talking with them, and explaining it's way more than that, they'll start to understand. At least I HOPE so. Being against same-sex marriage (as wrong as that opinion is) is a FAR CRY from supporting the scumbag from Uganda.
Freedom of religion? pfft.
Exchange Christian owner with Muslim owner and let's just see what happens.
Oh, wait, we already know what would happen.
yeah, i almost choked when i read Santorum's statement
about that... good gawd...
good point
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"Damn OWS."
"Journalists" at work
OMG. vomiticious that is... figures it was Faux....
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There is actually an interesting split on this on the left
Glenn Greenwald takes a position I don't necessarily agree with(I take the stand that corporations are not people until my state executes one), but he does reveal something scary. All 9 Justices, including the "liberal" ones agree with him that corporations are people and have 1st amendment rights. He has the basis for Citizen's United right as it just expanded on that and Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific Railroad and then Bukcley vs Valeo both horrible decisions. What Glenn doesn't get is during Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific Railroad the personhood decision wasn't even written down correctly as the court reporter mentioned the perosnhood thing and then it was instantly mistakenly part of the decision.
As far as his questions, I don't think money equals speech(neither did the founders) and we would have less problems if all corporations got their money out of it and only people had that right. It would also help to distinguish between unions and profit making corporations because they are not the same. IF only the ACLU could own our government. Also corporations have to be chartered to exist and people don't.
There will never be a level playing field between multinational corporations, many who just operate in the US, and any non profit here. NO, that is monopolization of free speech if one interprets it that way.
It's a tricky question whether Chick Fil A as horrendous as their views are(I actually do like thier sandwiches but had no idea back then and never again) should be banned in Chicago or Boston since they are not violating the commerce clause and the CEO personally can think and speak how he wants, but the organization is certainly responsible for where their money goes.
money, at least in politics, is definitely...
the root of all evil... and that's what it boils down to. the people boycotting and calling for a boycott are voting with their wallets, no tramping on some sort of free speech or freedom of religion rights...
i mean come on, Huckabee actually said that it was actually disenfranchising Cathy's citizenship... WTF?
a scary country when people that ignorant come as close to the presidency as he did...
Indeed. Huckabee is a clown
Good segment, poligirl!
"Money equals speech"
That made me think of something. We KNOW that the more money a person or a company or organization gives to a politician, the more influence they wind up having if that politician gets elected, right? Which is one reason there's always a debate about "disclosure".... about whether or not the sources of all large contributions should be made public. But what if, instead, we went the opposite direction: ALL campaign contributions are confidential, but not JUST confidential. They must also be ANONYMOUS. Set up some huge national trust fund that ALL political contributions from EVERYONE must be sent to. You (or your company) declares which politician or cause you want that money to go to, but then before the money is passed on, your name and all other identifying info is deleted. So say Obama (or Romney) gets a nice $100,000 contribution, but they have no way of knowing where it came from. Therefore they won't know who to "thank" (i.e., do "favors" for later).
(Yeah I know.... crazy idea.)
They'll still know. *wink* *wink* *nod* *nod*
It will come up at the many DC parties people like me and you are not allowed in via the big club and we ain't in it
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The disclose act was supposed to let the average people know what is funding these ads specifically, but it's really just a band aid to the whole problem and even that failed..
I submit that they're
not just doing it wrong, they're not "doing it" at all.
pretty much. if there ever was a shiny object...
distracter, this is it...
The media is also letting the
homophobes dictate the reason for LGBT outrage. The issue is not that the owners of the company oppose gay marriage. Lots of people oppose gay marriage. Some of them are facebook friends with me. Chick-Fil-A gives money to anti-gay hate groups! HATE GROUPS! That is the issue. The media is letting the Huckabee, et al. make this about the owners views on marriage equality. And its not!
exactly. not only are they allowing false memes to be born...
but they really missed the actual story completely... sad thing, this media is nowadays... sigh...
ding ding ding...
we have a winner.
Yes, absolutely.
But pardon me if I stick my head in the lion's mouth ;)....
There was another issue existing before Cathy's homophobic comments and the reporting of profits from chikfila being used to fund homophobic hate groups, and that issue is religious-litmus-test public companies, which leads to funding hate groups.
When a company only hires people who are married, who proclaim christian values (yes, I lower-cased it), and who require their employees to attend religious retreats, well, that's wrong from the get-go.
Imagine a Jew or a Muslim or a Budda trying to buy a franchise or trying to get a managerial job at chickfila? Will they get it? Nope, no way.
Or... let's say they lie to get their foot in the door. If they don't worship jesus like the rest of the employees, just how ostracized are they. And that's EVEN before people equality is raised as an issue.
Chik Fil A should have to post warnings on their food
Eating at Chik Fil A is bad for your heart and spirit.
Or... If you're not like us, that's okay, just give us your
money and get the hell out.
indeed! :D
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Huh?
[blockquote]the liberals who got so very wrapped over the whole thing,[/blockquote]
I guess liberals should just ignore the fact that corporate dollars are being used to finance hate. Yeah, let's be nice, sit down,and shut up. That's worked so well.
FYI, I don't give a flying fuck what Chick-fil-a sold on their "appreciation day". The next, their profits plummeted. That's reality.
I know a potful of people who will never again spend a dime at Chick-fil-a. Mission accomplished.
Along those lines, I wonder how many new customers flocked to Chick-fil-a during their "appreciation day"? Or was it just the same old-same old all heading there at the same time. Hmmm.
yep - that's what the story should've been...
the why behind the boycott rather than the catchy soundbites from know nothings... sigh...
Exactly. Jon Stewart sort of tried to make this point,
but then he jumped on his pompous ass horse and feebly tried to scold others.
"I just keep wishing that Americans would get one-half this worked up over the Citizens United decision"
When is the last time you saw that many people around the country stand for hours in a line for something they purportedly "believed"in? Only this time, they believed in hate.