Attack of the Concern Trolls

By Derek Hunter

Sunday, February 17, 2013

 

Turns out the New York Times is worried about the future of the Republican Party. So concerned, in fact, it has dedicated more than 6,000 words in this week’s magazine to explore, as the title puts it, “Can The Republicans Be Saved From Obsolescence?” Indeed, the folks at The Times seem extremely concerned that which they hate might not survive. And by “concerned” I mean they’re hoping.

 

That The Times would seek to harm Republicans, and more specifically conservatives, is about as shocking as Piers Morgan doing a special episode on the need for gun control. But that so many, or even any, conservatives would happily participate in perpetrating this harm for the benefit and profit of that company is something I simply don’t understand.

 

News stories and profiles I understand participating in; like it or not The Times still can drive a news cycle. But this was neither. This was an opportunity to make the ideology look adrift, rudderless in a sea of outdated gray flannel suits and bowties. This was the media creating a story, not news.

 

The media drools over conservative infighting and too many of the conservatives described favorably in those 6,000-plus words were all too happy to volunteer to feed that fetish. Attacks on Karl Rove, however justified, and Rush Limbaugh are not made to advance the conservative cause; they’re made to hurt it. They’ll get you ink, but what price notoriety?

 

Even if you disagree with everything Rush says, the question isn’t asked to get your opinion; it’s done to further a meme. “Conservatives in disarray” is a story most “journalists” already have in their saved file waiting for a money quote or two to plug in and print.

 

Why are Republicans always asked about things other Republicans have said? It’s the same reason Democrats are rarely asked about things other Democrats, and in many cases those Democrats themselves, say - bias. Republicans and conservatives are held to account for the words of anyone who has self-declared membership in that party or claims kinship with that ideology, Democrats aren’t held responsible for the things they themselves say.

 

When Todd Akin made his incredibly stupid comment about a woman’s body being able to magically avoid becoming pregnant as a result of rape, Akin was rightly called out by the media. But so was everyone with an (R) after their name. Candidates across the country, many of whom had never heard of, let alone met Todd Akin, were painted as women-hating monsters, foot soldiers in the made up “War on Women.”

 

Mitt Romney’s campaign was asked countless times to renounce Akin’s comments (which it did) and were smeared by the media as if the candidate himself had said it.

 

On the other hand, remember Louise Lucas? The name might ring a bell, and if you got your news from the Democrat Media Complex the odds are long you’ve ever heard of her. But Louise Lucas is a state senator in Virginia and was a member of President Obama’s campaign “Truth Team.” She’s also an incredible racist.

 

While acting as an official campaign representative on a local radio show, Sen. Lucas said, “What I am saying to you is Mitt Romney, he’s speaking to a segment of the population, who does not like to see people other than a white man in a White House or any other elected position.” And just to clarify her bigotry, she added, “He’s speaking to that fringe out there who do not want to see anybody other than a white person in a leadership position.”

 

Remember that on the nightly news? Splashed across the front page of The New York Times? If you do you’re on drugs because it didn’t happen. Nor did reporters pester the Obama campaign about it, demanding denunciation or even comment. It simply happened and was ignored, as all outrageous racist statements made by Democrats were, have been and will be in the future.

 

I have issues with the people who are leading the Republican Party and conservative movement, and I have no problem airing them (as I’ve done here several times and will again) but I wouldn’t take those issues to Huffington Post or the Daily Kos to elevate myself. The idea of a circular firing squad, especially one in the pages of the progressives’ flagship, to advance and promote yourself is an act beyond foolish and requires stronger language than selfish. (And I say this as someone who knows and likes many of those featured in that article.)

 

Newt Gingrich handles the media the way conservatives should, and it’s the main reason he was my preferred candidate in last year’s primary. When asked stupid, trap-setting questions or to explain, justify or denounce something someone other than him or his staff did or said he turned the question into an opportunity to attack the media and expose their bias. Not everyone has the skills of Newt, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize The New York Times isn’t your friend. If you want to be a leader in the future, starting now is as good a time as any to prove you should be.