"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Bush Speechwriter David Frum Chides Rachel Maddow for Her Tone

Did you see the Rachel Maddow Show tonight?

Talk about gall - and poor logic. Former Bush speechwriter David Frum, invited on the show to talk about his criticism of the McCain campaign for stirring up "fury" in the populace, took Maddow to task for contributing to the problem with her own sarcasm and ridicule of Republicans and their policies.

Now, I have no problem with a guest blindsiding a host or a producer - comes with the territory. But equating the sarcasm of a TV host with the vile rhetoric of a Presidential campaign is absurd. Surely, Frum doesn't think that Americans pay as much attention to a TV host as to a Presidential campaign?

Indeed, I think it's good for commentators to be sarcastic. Not that I agree with them, all or even most of the time. I certainly don't agree with most of what I hear and see on Fox. And, as I've pointed out here, I think Keith Olbermann on MSNBC has on more than one occasion been over the top (though he's been right on key the past few weeks). But sarcasm, satire, and other kinds of political lampooning have been and always will be an important part of the political process - they help keep us focused, and, on occasion, awake.

Totally unlike the vicious attacks on Obama - not just by rank and file, but by party leaders, including and in particular their VP candidate - which do nothing but divide us.

2 comments:

james said...

Paul: Thanks for posting that instructional video on how to masterfully respond to someone who tries to blindside you. This just reinforces my view that Rachel Maddow is a very smart, quick thinking political analyst. This Frum guy was out of his league. It was like he came to a fight with a capgun and Rachel had the bazooka. The way Rachel dismantled this guy was artful. By the time Rachel was finished with David, that poor guy didn't know where he was "Frum".

Fox News claims it is "fair and balanced" and we all know that is just a lame and empty slogan. Rachel demonstrated what is truly Fair and Balanced.
/jimy_max

Paul Levinson said...

Well said, as always, Jimmy - Frum capgun vs. Maddow bazooka...

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