Image from EncyclopediaDramatica
I've written a few posts in the past about the misconception that right-wing partisanship and left-wing partisanship are just two sides of the same coin. Carrying that metaphor further are those who'll say "there ain't a dime's worth of difference between 'em." Horse pucky.
For one thing, the far-right has a very vocal, and very listened to forum in right-wing radio, and on FOX "News." What is called "far-left" is actual just left, with the far-lefters like Noam Chomsky mostly relegated to the fringes. And even the moderately left views that get expressed are not given even near as big a megaphone (or golden microphone, if you prefer). If you don't believe me, do a comparison. Check out Countdown with Keith Olbermann or The Rachel Maddow Show, and then compare them to Hannity or Glenn Beck. See if you don't see a difference in tone. But if you happened to catch Keith on a slightly strident night, and don't see a difference, check out The Thom Hartmann Program or The Ron Reagan Show on left-wing radio, and then listen to The Savage Weiner or The Glenn Beck Show on the radio.
The point I'm trying to make, is while you'll find snarkiness on left-wing radio, you will usually not find emotionally unstable, frothing, drooling rants. Maybe Randi Rhodes, but it's even rare for her. On the other hand, you can find evidence of rampant paranoia, and high-pitched, ear-splitting rants from Beck, Savage, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Reagan. . .well, you get the idea. Listen to this amazing, scary recording from Beck which should prove my point.
Beck "lose[s]" his "mind;" screams at caller: "Get off my phone you little pinhead!"
Source: Media Matters
For one thing, the far-right has a very vocal, and very listened to forum in right-wing radio, and on FOX "News." What is called "far-left" is actual just left, with the far-lefters like Noam Chomsky mostly relegated to the fringes. And even the moderately left views that get expressed are not given even near as big a megaphone (or golden microphone, if you prefer). If you don't believe me, do a comparison. Check out Countdown with Keith Olbermann or The Rachel Maddow Show, and then compare them to Hannity or Glenn Beck. See if you don't see a difference in tone. But if you happened to catch Keith on a slightly strident night, and don't see a difference, check out The Thom Hartmann Program or The Ron Reagan Show on left-wing radio, and then listen to The Savage Weiner or The Glenn Beck Show on the radio.
The point I'm trying to make, is while you'll find snarkiness on left-wing radio, you will usually not find emotionally unstable, frothing, drooling rants. Maybe Randi Rhodes, but it's even rare for her. On the other hand, you can find evidence of rampant paranoia, and high-pitched, ear-splitting rants from Beck, Savage, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Reagan. . .well, you get the idea. Listen to this amazing, scary recording from Beck which should prove my point.
Beck "lose[s]" his "mind;" screams at caller: "Get off my phone you little pinhead!"
Source: Media Matters
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