For the past 3 hours, not one story on Fox News has mentioned one good thing about Obama. It's been 95% negative to Obama, literally ( The 5% came from a few words of protest from Colmes). Not even a pretense of Fair and Balanced.
At this moment the stories are about Charles Barkley's claim that racism was the "cancer of his life." The Fox commentators are challenging the argument that racism is a part of American politics. By showing over and over, African Americans who have felt racism and by playing the provocative quotes, Fox is making is a manipulative play to subtly appeal to those who fear minorities. It's an utterly appalling strategy but has a great chance of being effective as it plays against one of the basest part of our nation--racial fear and prejudice.
Inciting fear in the ignorant is a very potent tool. But it is the informed and educated who should feel fear today.
Voters should fear the lack of compassion in a country that has a greater gap between the rich and the poor than it has every had in its history. Fear the possibility that our country will engage in a continuation of a brutal and useless war opposed by the majority of people. Fear that military solutions will be used for every challenge. Fear the persecution of anyone outside of the right mainstream. Fear continued erosion of the constitution in the name of security. Fear the destruction of our social security system, needed by millions of the lower middle class to live during retirement. Fear the billion dollar entitlements given to mega corporations while the homeless, feeble and mentally ill live under bridges. Fear more government programs such as No Child Left Behind that misdirect education into beauracy. Fear a government that will outlaw abortion but at the same time cut health care and financial support for poor children , and birth control information for women. Fear those who do not understand science. Fear for our environment if our policy is to "drill, drill, drill" without conservation when companies make record profits. Fear for those who forget to "give their coats" to those who have none.
Fear as I do for our future and for a people who fail to learn from their country's past.
But work in these next few days that our dreams may be answered -- for all Americans.
That's an email she sent out to everyone she knows. My dad is the one who watches Fox. He is sadly a Republican but we love him anyway.
I hope all of you will be voting on Tuesday. I will be.
You can vote however you like. But I implore you to vote for Obama! Really, I think it's crucial.
