Progressive Democrat Issue 81: FIGHTING RIGHT WING HATRED IN THE MEDIA

(Updated and adapted from last week)

There are many right wing extremist windbags who haunt the airwaves of the mainstream media. But two in particular actually advocate violence and intolerance to a degree that is unacceptable. And I think we have to face the fact that in America today, their irresponsible advocacy of terrorism against Americans is inspiring actual violence and threats of violence.

It is now time to hold these two windbags accountable for their advocacy of terrorism against Americans.

Ann Coulter is possibly the nastiest the Conservative propagandists. As I plugged last week, Media Matters has a good round up of Ann Coulter’s stupid and un-American statements.

Included are suggesting Timothy McVeigh should bomb the NY Times building, suggesting people attack liberals with baseball bats, and suggesting that someone poison a Supreme Court Justice. She has expressed outright hatred for the 9/11 widows and has advocated the murder of Congressman Murtha. In one case, it is quite possible that someone took her advocacy of violence seriously. Soon after Coulter advocated "talking to liberals with a baseball bat" someone in Kansas physically attacked a professor who had spoken out against Christian fundamentalists. There is no clear link between her advocacy of violence and this incident, but the latter followed closely after the former and it is an action in line with what she advocates to her audience.

The threats of violence in Delaware are also right in line with what Ann Coulter routinely advocates. Ann Coulter is telling her listeners to use violence and to be intolerant and increasingly right wing extremists in America are using violence and intolerance as a weapon against Americans and American values.

Bill O'Reilly also advocates intolerance and terrorism. He advocated bombing Coit Tower in San Francisco. He also told a Jewish caller to "go to Israel" if he felt uncomfortable with government displays of Christianity. His advocacy of America as a Christian nation and his telling Jews to get out if they don't like it are exactly the kind of inspiration that drives the right wing extremists behind the Delaware pogrom.

Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly are in part responsible for this increase in violence and intolerance in America and we need to hold them accountable.

First off, when you write the media about the Delaware pogrom, MENTION that Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly's advocacy of violence against Americans and intolerance against non-Christians is a clear inspiration for the Delaware pogrom. Make the connection in every letter you write.

Republican politicians are close with Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly, despite their advocacy of violence and terrorism. So the question is, does the Republican party support the kind of terrorist actions that Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly advocate and which people in Kansas and Delaware have carried out. Essentially, does the Republican party support terrorist attacks on Americans, from regular citizens like you and me all the way up to Supreme Court Justices and Congressmen.

Write them and ask them. Hold the Republican Party accountable for terrorist advocacy by right wing windbags who they schmooze with. It is time to ask the question of Republican politicians if they agree with Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly’s advocating bombing American buildings, poisoning Supreme Court Justices and attacking Americans with baseball bats. Call on the Republican Party to REJECT Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly’s advocacy of violence and to demand that the mainstream media stops paying terrorist advocates. Tell them that Coulter and O'Reilly's rhetoric is the exact kind of rhetoric that will inspire more pogroms like the one in Delaware.

New Democratic Majority has initiated this campaign to hold the Republican Party accountable. You can see what they have to say here (scroll down)

If you are represented by a Republican on ANY level of government, go here, and look on the left column to contact your state, local and Federal politicians and contact them to demand they call for a stop to Ann Coulter’s advocacy of terrorism.

And by all means write to the media calling for Republicans to renounce Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly’s terrorist advocacy campaign and directly link it to the Delaware pogrom.