Posted on 02/13/2011 2:13:18 PM PST by John Semmens
A study of political “vitriol” conducted by Tufts University Assistant Professor of Sociology Sarah Sobieraj and Professor of Political Science Jeffrey Berry found that political talk has become nastier over the years on both ends of the political spectrum. However, in the judgment of the researchers, those on the right have gone further over the line of civil discourse than those on the left.
“Using mainstream thinking as our baseline, it is clear that conservative commentators go beyond the accepted norms both more frequently and to a greater distance than liberal commentators,” Sobieraj said. “Take, for example, the assertion by many conservative commentators that President Obama is a socialist. None of the mainstream media have described him in such a way. Further, the president himself has denied he is a socialist.”
“In contrast, former President Bush never directly contradicted accusations that he is a Nazi,” Sobieraj observed. “And, truth be told, many of us in academia find this very telling. When you add in his approval of water board torture, the charge has an element of truth that must be seen as an offset to the inflammatory tone of the charge.”
Coming at the issue from a slightly different angle, Professor Berry emphasized the perspective of the victim of the nasty talk. “More flat out ‘outrage’ has been expressed by the targets of right wing hate talk,” Berry contended. “If we count the number of times people say they are outraged by a comment, the overwhelming majority of the time it will be a comment from the right side of the spectrum. So, if conservatives are outraging more people more often then it stands to reason their commentary is more outrageous.”
read more...
http://azconserv1.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/dems-oppose-blocking-federal-funding-of-abortion/
What a load of cr@p!
As though there’s nothing to be negative about.
It’s satire.
Ed Schultz
Keith Olbermann
Lawrence O’Donnell
vs
Charles Kurthammer
George Will
Phyllis Schlafley
And the Left represents civility?
Oh good grief. Pouring water on some terrorists face is somehow compatible to Hitler? No bias there... not..
...oops, never mind, I once again fell for Satire..
This site is too good.. so close to reality yet satire..
Good satire, but again too close to the mark to be satire.
I have noticed this too, for a long time. Dems don’t see hate speech from their side of the aisle, because they agree with it, or think its funny. Its true, in their view, and therefor can’t be outrageous. What we say, in their view, is outrageous because it can’t be true; even if it is true, its outrageous and should not be said. Because its about them.
Which is why I don’t waste my breath calling for “civility”. If your opponent sees everything you say as uncivil, and can say the most outrageous things without batting an eye because, well, in their view its true, then forget civility. Lets just have the debate, let the chips fall. And if debate is impossible, then lets just get it on, and defeat them. Some people you just can’t talk to so you just have to defeat them.
Even though this is satire, that pretty much nails the left's mindset. Left=mainstream
I think I missed that at first then went back. unfortunatly i know many liberals and this is exactly the sort of thing I hear..alot.
There joking right?
“Using mainstream thinking as our baseline....” means using University-approved mainstream thinking. No matter how emphatically they might like to pretend, such a baseline is skewed against mainstream America.
To quote that famous American, Homer Simpson...”D’oh!”
Mere verbal opposition from conservatives qualifies as “hate speech.”
That says it all.
Thanks. I aim to please.
Ya got me for the first two paragraphs, John. From the comments, ya got several Freepers entirely.
Well done.
Tufts is a mediocre school, with both teachers and students of mediocre intelligence. It is where the New England elite send their village idiots.
Apparently not satire, unfortunately: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-left-meaner-political-discourse.html
and
http://ase.tufts.edu/polsci/prospective/OutrageIndustry.pdf
Sad what passes for academia now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.