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The Forum > Article Comments > Moralisers on a PC witch-hunt > Comments

Moralisers on a PC witch-hunt : Comments

By Frank Furedi, published 11/9/2008

When lifestyles like Sarah Palin's become politicised, the new breed of PC moral crusaders embrace the language and outlook of the witch-hunt.

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Oh the irony!

I wonder if Frank is a fan of James Dobson and Focus on the Family and other (similar) outfits of totally irrational (and inherently totalitarian in its motives) political & cultural propaganda.

Frank recently attended a CIS babble-fest celebrating enlightenment reason---not much of that to be found at Focus on the Family, or the "religious" right.

Hilary Clinton was vilified as a witch and far worse for years---from the moment Bill became President. But that was acceptable "right"-wing practice---harmless good fun!

I wonder if Frank or the Australian ever commented on or criticised the toxic mind-set that informed that endeavour. On the contary Ruperts friends in the USA were very much involved in that exercise.

Meanwhile the reason that Sara Palin was chosen to be the VP is because she appeals to the ultra-"moralists" on the "religious" right---James Dobson. Or rather the hippocritical double minded sex paranoid psychotic EMOTION-sexual mindset that they represent.

Make war not love.

Meanwhile you also check out some of the stuff being said about Barack Obama on the toxic-right websites and blogs. The psychotic nature of "right"-wing politics revealed in its unabashed double-minded nastiness.

One of the scariest books I have ever read was/is Betweemn Jesus and the Market by Linda Kintz (the Amazon reviews are good). To me it provides an excellent explanation of what Sarah Palin is appealling too.

Plus Gotterdamerung (on the agenda(s) of the "religious" right etc) at:

1. http://www.richardheinberg.com/museletter/144
Posted by Ho Hum, Thursday, 11 September 2008 11:03:29 AM
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Irony indeed! This author slips into the worst kind of sexism. By trying to jump onto his high horse and protect poor little Sarah from the big bad media. She would be receiving the exact same level of criticism if she was a man, except we wouldn't have these small minded moral crusaders bouncing on the spot crying with-hunt.

Like it or not, but most people feel more secure with an educated, temperate person in control of nuclear warheads. Not a gun-totin', loud mouthed control freak.
Posted by Bathos, Thursday, 11 September 2008 12:16:21 PM
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When you realise feminism has become a religion, equally divisive, corrupt and manipulative as traditional religions, then you will see the need to have it ended as a movement and replaced by a non-sexist, superior body.
Posted by Steel, Thursday, 11 September 2008 2:36:23 PM
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I don't care about whether Palin is a man a woman or a callathumpian,it the fact that McCain and her represent no change from the discredited Bush.
Why in gawds name would the US want another 4 yrs of being run if thats the correct word,but that bunch of crooks and liars
Posted by j5o6hn, Thursday, 11 September 2008 4:05:39 PM
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WARNING: This post has a GOOD GOD! CLASSIFICATION and should only read by people who give a damn

I hope Frank was wearing his safety goggles when ha wrote this one all those sparks from personal axe grinding can be injurious to ones eyesight. Somehow I think the warning is too late.

Every time I hear too much PC mentioned as a defence my “incoming BS alarm" goes off. Often this means someone’s pet idea has got a pasting and their only defence is ad hominem attack on the basis of Too Much PC.

Frank, it’s what she’s saying that is fearful and where those hateful ideas might end up that causes my disquiet.

Let me be clear she can believe in guns, eating wildlife or butchering the rest for sport, anti-abortion et al that’s her right. But the idea that she her views towards WAR is stultifyingly troglodytical.

I can see how some people could see war as being forced on them, justifiable under some circumstances, even necessary but from God?

Consider for a moment where in history have we heard that before?
Saddam Hussein,
Hitler claimed that God was on their side in WW2
A panoply few dictators with messianic desires.
May be she gets her reasoning from The Crusades.

God has nothing to do with to do with wars more specifically wanton killing and mayhem because some LEADER defiles the precepts of Christianity. So much for John 3.16.

The problem in WW2 was that good people did nothing when this sort of vile nonsense was let loose.

I don’t intend that SHE should Vilified personally but those sorts of obscenities should NOT be allowed or those who harbour them be in the echelons of such power
Posted by examinator, Thursday, 11 September 2008 4:44:50 PM
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Palin was just the person the left here in Australia were looking to hate. There has been a void for them since they can't blame Mr Howard for every woe that comes their way. The hate and violence will be brewing in them. The ABC/SBS has been short of ammunition and needs a whipping boy/girl in order to canvas their atrocious socialist bent. Watching McCain/Palin get elected would more than make up for the Howard loss. I for one would be thrilled to see someone not afraid of pc and smart enough to declare what a load of crap evolution is. On top of that she actually cares about the unborn. Go Sarah!
Posted by runner, Thursday, 11 September 2008 5:18:40 PM
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examinator, what do you mean, "these sorts of obscenities should NOT be allowed"?

Do you believe in free speech or not? You really do sound like a communist/fascist here.

This is why populist politics is so dangerous and destructive politics. Because a sector of the voting population are absolute @!#$ing retards and their vote is equal to yours, no matter how knowledgable or experienced you are, their ignorance is not questioned or impugned by our media or politicians.
Posted by Steel, Thursday, 11 September 2008 5:22:52 PM
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More dark ironies.

His dreadfully sane grey eminence Greg Sheridan wrote an article in todays OZ titled Character versus Celebrity----MCCain supposedly having "character".

By contrast the impeccably conservative, balanced, sane and Christian, Andrew Sullivan wrote an essay on the conservative Atlantic website re the integrity of the MCCain.

1. http://www.truthout.org/article/mccains-integrity

It is obvious to me which opinion is more accurate.

And isnt Sarah Palin pure celebrity.

I much prefer Michael Palin from Monty Python.
Posted by Ho Hum, Thursday, 11 September 2008 6:42:03 PM
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Steel,
Clearly I do believe in freedom of speech. It's not at issue here. What is at stake is do we really want someone THAT far out of the statistical two standard deviations (SD) straddling the mean of the of public opinion in a position of such immense power?

The issue is PARTICIPATION (with good intent).Theoretically in any mass opinion the 'mean' will determine balance (the average).

The ‘flaw’ in the US system is "voter apathy" consistently less than 60% of the franchised actually vote. Coupled with this is the observation that the most motivated tend to be those at the extremes (I suspect the most paranoid) hence battles are between the extremes.

They tend to be out side the two immediate standard deviations of opinion around the mean. It is also these people in the SD either side of the mean that are the hardest to get motivated. Hence political parties’ obsession with the middle ground.

Therefore in the US elections those furtherest from the centre tend to outweigh the middle voters skewing the vote towards the right.

It is only through participation that the statistical middle can even up the race giving the result somewhere acceptable to a MAJORITY of both sides.
Posted by examinator, Thursday, 11 September 2008 7:22:10 PM
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EXAMINATOR SAYS

Frank, it’s what she’s saying that is fearful and where those hateful ideas might end up that causes my disquiet.

woooo :) so.. err.. Exy.. you mean you care about 'ideas' and ...where they might lead?

ummm... so.. 'kill the jews/curse the Christians' is an 'idea' you might have some disquiet about? I hope so.

BRAAAVO!
finally you are on my side :)

You better watch it matey.. or the 'Klan' (Celivia Spikey CJ Pericles,Foxy and others) will be 'after you' :)

We'll have NONE of this 'ideas can lead to bad things happening" rubbish around here..no no no... that will never do :)

cheers cobber.
Posted by Polycarp, Friday, 12 September 2008 8:39:27 AM
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I don't think Palin referring to eskimos as "Arctic Arabs" or saying " so sambo beat the bitch" when Obama beat Clinton is particularly Politically Correct but it seems that it's what some people love to hear.

Meanwhile when she suggested that her local Church should be getting ready to receive and minister to all those refugees who will "flee to Alaska during the End Days" I realised that at least she's got a plan for the Apocalypse and must know sometime that we all don't.
Posted by rache, Friday, 12 September 2008 1:34:47 PM
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Exterminator

Your view of US politics is a biased left wistful wing view. It is simply wrong.

Participants in the political system are not from extremes. The vast majority of US voters are middle class or rich. It's never a classic battle between Rich and Poor nor Advantaged or Disadvantaged... it's a contest between rich individuals who both champion the rights of individuals over government interference but differ only in their claims to represent different sections of the US community.

'...consistently less than 60% of the franchised actually vote...'

True however

'the most motivated tend to be those at the extremes ... hence battles are between the extremes.' is completely wrong and shows scant understanding of how the US works.

The vast majority of the 40% who don't vote are poor and disadvantaged, because neither the Republicans nor the Democrats represent nor reflect them or their circumstance.

Both parties and all candidates tailor their campaigns to appeal to middle America as represented by the mid western states. People in those states are mostly not poor nor disadvantaged. With a little research you'd find them to be middle class, white, working people who are not committed to either party.

Sarah Palin of all the candidates is closest to them ... and for that fact they will elect her and McCain.

In the last three democrat candidates the Dems have made a fatal mistake. None of them sufficiently appeal to mid Western people but have pandered to the left wing extremists. This element has infiltrated the Democrat Party after the election of Bill Clinton... who was a great President in many ways. Especially in his bi-partisanship and economic management. The Democrat Party in pandering to the left is much the poorer for that action and will continue to reject candidates of the calibre of Hillary and choose candidates who are acceptable to the lefties ... but not to the US electorate.

The US system is worse off for the Dems deviation from their original aims and intent.
Posted by keith, Friday, 12 September 2008 2:33:05 PM
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Sarah Palin is obviously Elaine from "Seinfeld" but with a new job. And who can blame her? Her last sitcom bombed out so getting into US presidential politics may help her flagging career. It might be too late to help the Republicans now with a change of leader but if they can find a bloke who looks like Kramer for President they may have a snowball's chance (Jerry or George would be too boring).
Posted by DavidJS, Friday, 12 September 2008 5:17:50 PM
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Polycarp,
You shouldn’t say things like that to a man of my age do you want me to have a heart attack!:-(
I spent all day trying to phone hell because of the apparent blizzard they’re having.

You do give me cause for thought though.
• Either I don’t express myself clearly
• You are cherry picking your quotes to suit your view ignoring others that don't.
• Warning: if you continue with your current mental practices you’ll go blind. :-)

Seriously old son you really do
• Pick and chose your quotes and take them out of context/misrepresent them.
• You certainly disregard my previously made statements.

I have said multiple times I JUDGE ISSUE BY ISSUE BASED ON THE EVIDENCE BEFORE ME.

You are entitled to your views I respect that. But I DON'T agree with your predetermined views or myopic approach.

KEITH
Thank you for your comment

You label my piece as “a biased left wistful wing view” when what you mean is you disagree. That's fine I accept that (goodness knows I verbally joust with Polycarp) but to ad hominem pigeon hole me…

You apparently don’t believe in the principle of statistical distribution (bell curve). The principle that is generally considered as base of all statistical analysis.

I argue that it is the levelling effect of the distribution/mean that makes democracy work better than any other form of government.

In some sthn states where poor blacks are significant Republicans manipulate the vote by various methods including bureaucratic franchise exclusions etc. The poor black demographic generally votes Dems. Rules for voting exclusions vary greatly from state to state.
In ‘battle ground’ states often smaller populations the rural poor are generally Republican.

The problem is that franchise is state determined and tends to favours the poor white rather than poor black. This is fact look it up.

BTW Left/right wing is an artificial political expedience, and has no real meaning in real world. It’s all about the gaining and exercise of power.

FYI I hold views of both “perspectives”
Posted by examinator, Friday, 12 September 2008 7:11:41 PM
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Palin's admirers naively assume she will do in office what she says on the campaign trail. First of all, if the Republicans get in she will be Vice-President not President. Secondly, if McCain dies and she actually does get to be President she has to deal with Congress and make compromises (regardless of the make up of Congress). She is likely to be as unprincipled as Bush and Reagan were. For instance, her view that creationism should be taught in schools as scientific theory will be put to one side (what next? Alchemy taught in chemistry classes? Astrology alongside astronomy?).

It's so easy for people like Palin to be a rabble-rouser and say she wants to put a broom through Congress or invade Russia. And if she is such a rebel why did she join the establishment Republican party?

Btw, to call criticism of Palin "PC witch-hunting" is one of the most ancient cliches around and people who use it should be burnt at the stake as far as I'm concerned - for crimes against journalism.
Posted by DavidJS, Saturday, 13 September 2008 11:59:54 AM
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DavidJS,
Before you blindly accept the leftie media claims about Palin you should first check to see if your whineing denigration in fact reflects what Palin said.

Nowhere has she said the US should invade Russia.

The only crime here is the dishonesty of the leftie media as it tries so hard to trip up Sarah.

And the dopey interview got his description of Bush's policy on defence wrong. He explained his belief to Palin and suggested as he talked down to her that she was confused. Subsequently Palin was proved right so you won't hear about how up to date she was on Bush's foreign policy on defence...or how wrong a supposed expert leftie interviewer was confused.

Somee thing's are for sure. Sarah is sure not to smoke cigars like Bill Eh? Or waffle like Jimmy. Or bomb innocents in Asia like Kennedy and LBJ.
Posted by keith, Saturday, 13 September 2008 2:10:43 PM
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keith would you mind shutting up?..."leftie this leftie that leftie media this". It totally destroys any credibility you would otherwise have. For your own good you should be less partisan and biased
Posted by Steel, Saturday, 13 September 2008 2:59:34 PM
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Keith. You cannot grow or develop,if you live an insulated life. look at the broader church OOPS
Posted by Kipp, Saturday, 13 September 2008 4:56:35 PM
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What ever happened to free speech in your world Steel?

So heap personal criticism, name call and make snide references on someone who's views you disagree with ... oh so leftist ... Kipp.
Posted by keith, Sunday, 14 September 2008 11:26:22 AM
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it was a figure of speech. unnecessary bias doesn't come across too well, unless it has a purpose...in my estimation, your comment didn't. don't worry there are thousands of partisans out there who don't know why they are ideologically pigeonholed
Posted by Steel, Monday, 15 September 2008 12:46:36 AM
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