Enough right-wing propaganda

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

Washington Post

Monday, July 26, 2010; A13

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072502756.html

The smearing of Shirley Sherrod ought to be a turning point
in American politics. This is not, as the now-trivialized
phrase has it, a "teachable moment." It is a time for
action.

The mainstream media and the Obama administration must stop
cowering before a right wing that has persistently forced
its propaganda to be accepted as news by convincing
traditional journalists that "fairness" requires treating
extremist rants as "one side of the story." And there can be
no more shilly-shallying about the fact that racial backlash
politics is becoming an important component of the campaign
against President Obama and against progressives in this
year's election.

The administration's response to the doctored video pushed
by right-wing hit man Andrew Breitbart was shameful. The
obsession with "protecting" the president turned out to be
the least protective approach of all.

The Obama team did not question, let alone challenge, the
video. ...

The Sherrod case should be the end of the line. If Obama
hates the current media climate, he should stop overreacting
to it. And the mainstream media should stop being afraid of
insisting on the difference between news and propaganda.

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full story at:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/25/AR2010072502756.html

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