'South Park Conservatives': Bullying Liberals Back

NY Times ^ | 26 June 2005 | LIESL SCHILLINGER

[Lorianne]

IN a well-known spoof of a typical talk-radio exchange, two callers debate a fatuous point. The first says: ''Right-thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary, decent people are fed up with this country being sick and tired. I'm certainly not and I'm sick and tired of being told that I am.'' The second caller retorts, ''Well, I meet a lot of people, and I'm convinced that the vast majority of wrong-thinking people are right.'' A conservative housewife, listening to the blather, snaps, ''Liberal rubbish!'' and turns the dial. It's a shining example of what, in a country with a less sophisticated sense of humor, might be called Monty Python Toryism.

In ''South Park Conservatives: The Revolt Against Liberal Media Bias,'' Brian C. Anderson, charts the rise in respectability -- or, at least, of visibility and audibility -- of ''proudly anti-elitist'' right-wing thought in America's public dialogue over the last two decades, a development that was spearheaded by Rush Limbaugh in the late 1980's on talk radio and has since spread to other media in a process Anderson calls ''FOXification.'' To him, the popularity of the stingingly anti-P.C. cartoon series ''South Park'' signals the advent of a new generation of Americans who refuse to accept public censure for their scornful attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, Native Americans, environmentalism and abortion rights. In an effort not to gloat, he cloaks his descriptions of this triumph in the humble fleece of the common man (Limbaugh is, for example ''a college dropout'' who ''had put himself through a rigorous self-education, mastering an array of issues'') and champions talk radio as ''the first media forum in which ordinary Joes can actually get a hearing for their complaints about what liberals have wrought in America since the 1960's.''

[Reactionary]

After 20 years they're still yammering about Limbaugh.

It's an amazing thing, really.

[Jewelsetter]

And they will be at it for 20 more years.

[wildwood]

"south park conservatives" is an excellent book....i am reading it now.

[MNnice]

To him, the popularity of the stingingly anti-P.C. cartoon series ''South Park'' signals the advent of a new generation of Americans who refuse to accept public censure for their scornful attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, Native Americans, environmentalism and abortion rights.

In other words, when they tell people to shut up, we thumb our noses at them which makes them furious.  And how did "Native Americans" get thrown into the mix?  I'm an Indian (see, I don't subscribe to the N/A moniker that they've imposed on us) and I'm known around these parts as the most anti-PC guy there is.

 

[randog]

Anderson quotes an interview that Howard Kurtz, the Washington Post's media critic, conducted with Lawrence O'Donnell, a political analyst and screenwriter for ''The West Wing,'' in which O'Donnell said, ''You'll never, ever get the Republican TV show.'' Anderson and O'Donnell imply that this has something to do with politics, but isn't it more likely a question of ratings? Would anybody, even a conservative fan of ''South Park'' -- especially a conservative fan of ''South Park'' -- want to watch a sitcom about churchgoing parents with two children who lead an uneventful life and make regular donations to the Fraternal Order of Police?

I guess that's why The Brady Bunch, Star Trek, et.al. are dismal failures.

</sarcasm>

[Paul Atreides]

It's because he is still around, after twenty years, that they still yammer. They just knew that he was a fluke, that no considerable number of people would like what he has to say.

When was the last time any of us heard anything about Air America (other than a host calling for W to be gunned down)?

[RedRover]

I couldn't stand to watch "The South Park" show for more than 5 minutes because, yes, I am a humorless prude but I could recognize what the show was doing. This is all enormously cheering. Political Correctness must die (and take Hate Crimes, Affirmative Action, and the ACLU into the grave with it).

[RaceBannon]

It's about how we are supposed to believe that your ancestors lived at one with nature and ate blossoms or someting...instead of believe they were humans who lived, loved, fought, died like everyone else.

[Paul Atreides]

Which brings us to the subject of content. A recent report by the Dove Foundation found that G-rated movies are more profitable than any other category--and particularly when compared with R-rated movies, which average a profit of about $7 million, compared with about $79 million in profit for the average G. These figures do not mean that mature-themed movies will disappear. Indeed, of the 3,000 films Dove counted between 1989 and 2003, 1,533 were R-rated, compared with 123 G's. According to Dove Foundation chairman Dick Rolfe, this ratio is partly explained by the fact that studios no longer depend on satisfied audiences for their bread and butter. He says that movies now tend to be financed like shopping centers are, with the studios functioning like building contractors. They'll get paid something no matter what; it's the investors/financiers who are taking the biggest risk. (Dove sent copies of its report to 200 top mutual-fund and pension-fund managers.)

http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110006864

[MNnice]

What a condescending creep.

O'Donnell said, ''You'll never, ever get the Republican TV show.''   Would anybody, even a conservative fan of ''South Park'' -- especially a conservative fan of ''South Park'' -- want to watch a sitcom about churchgoing parents with two children who lead an uneventful life and make regular donations to the Fraternal Order of Police?  (Sniff)

Obviously, Anderson knows his audience: this book isn't intended for readers of The Times and The Economist and watchers of CNN.  (double Sniff)

Translation:  "Oh, we are soooo much more sophisticated than these conservative boobs.  Here, let me show you how quaint their thinking is.  Aren't you glad you're not one of those people?"

 

 

[Paul Atreides]

who lead an uneventful life

I wonder what they consider an uneventful life: having one spouse? not strung out on drugs? not having multiple abortions?

[Paul Atreides]

All one needs to do is see O'Donnell on a tirade to know he is not one to emulate. In fact, all O'Donnell has to do is open his mouth.

[Wage Slave]

I'm a Native American, too. And fish-belly white to boot. ;D

[Libertina]

the advent of a new generation of Americans who refuse to accept public censure for their scornful attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, Native Americans, environmentalism and abortion rights...blah blah blah

The leftie "journalists" still trying to get some licks in I see. LOL Morons.

[Mears]

The ADA should go also------one of the most abused pieces of legislation ever.

[Paul Atreides]

No. I mean like the Kennedy Clan.

[EveningStar]

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