I was curious as to how Neal Gabler would opine. Surely, there was no way the resident aggressive lefty at Fox News Watch would defend the odious statements of William Arkin, who in this column libeled the US military as "mercenaries" and claimed we treat them to "obscene amenities." As it turns out, Gabler didn't, even going so far as to call Arkin's statements "idiotic." However . . . that doesn't mean that Gabler didn't find something to complain about in the way conservatives reacted to the column. Kvetched Neal:
"There are literally tens of millions of bloggers out there. Singling out this particular blogger is an instance of cherry-picking by Fox News, who've been on this story, by Rush Limbaugh. And what's worse, in my estimation, as idiotic as these words are, is then to ascribe these to ascribe these attitudes to the entire left, which O'Reilly has done, and which Rush Limbaugh has done, and that is idiotic."View video here.
Jim Pinkerton pointed out that "singling out" is what media criticism is about, rightly adding that "if he had used the 'n-word,' people would have singled him out for treatment on this."
There's a larger point here. Arkin wasn't some UC Berkeley sophomore pounding out this libel at his "IHatetheMilitary.blogspot.com" for the delectation of himself and his fellow sociology-major roommate. This was a column at the Washington Post by someone to whom the Post has regularly accorded space to write on "National and Homeland Security."
Gabler chose to ignore that.
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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And what's worse, in my est
February 10, 2007 - 22:10 ET by Chicago RepublicanOn the same show, Hall pohed
February 11, 2007 - 06:07 ET by Andrew H.On the same show, Hall poohed poohed the claim by some on the irght that the left is invested in our defeat. If that's not what they are, what are they doing, Jane? Yes, the left wants us to lose. We lose by giving up. The terrorists win and will claim a victory and I predict you won't argue the point should that happen.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Mark, if Neal Gabler addressed 'defeat' in this show, its a firs
February 11, 2007 - 08:32 ET by acaiguanaMark, if Neal Gabler addressed 'defeat' in this show, its a first as far as I know any Leftist has addressed this issue as stated by Rush and others.
I do believe the Left is invested in defeat. All one has to do is look at their political capital and how it has been stockpiled into the idea that we cannot win in Iraq, we must 're-deploy' (cut and run) and there is just one big Civil War which ignores the influence of Iran and Al Qaeda.
This is a pretty big issue.
ACA...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
Good point!I'd also add tha
February 11, 2007 - 09:04 ET by VirindiscreenwriterGood point Chicago!
I'd also add that whenever some righty says something (whether they say it or the media says they said it) the Left doesn't like, the Left demands the Entire Right denounce that one person or "that kind of talk"--and then they jump on any righty who doesn't.
Now a lefty says it's unfair to hold the Left to that same standard? pffft... PLEASE.
"...And you yourself are a killer of children! Well, of course it's not true. But the world only believes what the media tells them to believe, and I tell the media what to believe. It's really quite simple." -Kane, 'Command and Conquer'
What Neal Gabler fails to address here is the Left's response.
February 10, 2007 - 22:40 ET by acaiguanaWhat Neal Gabler fails to address here is the Lefts' response. Their response to Arkin was limp at best and non-existent at the worst.
"...is then to ascribe these to ascribe these attitudes to the entire left,..."
See, Neal Gabler, what we would like to see is a few Democrats (that would pretty much cover all the Left, now wouldn't it?) come out in public on TV and in the print media and denounce the garbage that Arkin wrote. We'd like to see the Democrat leadership distance themselves totally from people like the Edward's bloggers; the Arkins and the Joel Stein’s column in the LA Times, hey, I don't support the troops.
That's sorta what we'd like to see.
But Global Warming is making snow in Hell a lot less likely, I suppose.
ACA
...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
aca...there has been 11
February 11, 2007 - 02:37 ET by ww thumperaca...there has been 110inches of SNOW in the middle of new york state in the last 5 days.....what do ya think boyz and girlz , we need a little more global warming ..don't we?? :-^} :-) ww v I AM PRO AMERICAN !=
PRO LIFE!= & PRO VICTORY ! v ww
Rush has not been on the ai
February 10, 2007 - 23:08 ET by Gordon SchumwayRush has not been on the air since Tuesday. Gabler is full of crap.
Gordo
Melmac
He is a Liberal, it is wh
February 10, 2007 - 23:43 ET by we are not amusedHe is a Liberal, it is what he feels, not what the facts are. If he feels that Rush would have said such a thing, the the small details don't matter, Rush would have said them, (in his world), therefor Rush is guilty.
"And what's worse, in my esti
February 11, 2007 - 01:25 ET by TexasOptimist"And what's worse, in my estimation, as idiotic as these words are, is then to ascribe these to ascribe these attitudes to the entire left..."
Perhaps the ENTIRE left-wing doesn't share Arkin's sentiments, but an ENORMOUS number of leftists are in absolute agreement with Arkin. Furthermore, many of those on the left who would disagree with Arkin would do so because they would feel Arkin didn't go far enough in his condemnation of U.S. servicemen and women.
Don't believe me, Neal? Just go to your nearest college or university campus to see for yourself.
Merry Christmas 2007.
"This was a column at
February 11, 2007 - 02:36 ET by ckc1227"This was a column at the Washington Post by someone to whom the Post has regularly accorded space to write on "National and Homeland Security.""
Not only that, he is a regular "military expert" contributor to NBC, which is owned by GE, the same GE that happens to earn billions each year from contracts with the DoD.
Liberalism is the philosophy of the stupid.
I don't call US soldiers me
February 11, 2007 - 02:41 ET by sarcasmoI don't call US soldiers mercenaries, because they're not. OTOH, I DO tend to call US "contractors" who carry guns (see "Blackwater," "Triple Canopy," etc.) mercenaries, because they're better described as mercenaries than "contractors." This truthful terminology I use apparently annoys some people who'd rather that I stick with their PC NewSpeak. Tough luck, I'll use the truthful terminology that's politically-incorrect instead, as usual...
JMR
The fact that one carries a g
February 11, 2007 - 09:29 ET by ThisnThatThe fact that one carries a gun automatically makes him a mercenary?! Come on, now! What a stupid, illogical argument that is.
Not that fact, solely, but
February 11, 2007 - 10:47 ET by sarcasmoNot that fact, solely, but the fact that many people seem to want to call obvious mercenaries "contractors" strikes me as NewSpeak. And pretty stupid NewSpeak, come to think of it. When a person's primary job involves a firearm in a war zone and he's not a government-employee soldier, that makes him a mercenary. Period. Not "a contractor," even though all mercenaries throughout history have been "contractors" in a sense. Just because some people don't like the sound of it doesn't change the truth.
JMR
Mercenary connotes one who fi
February 12, 2007 - 13:56 ET by BDMercenary connotes one who fights for pay. In fact none of the contractors wo operate PSD's in country as of this time specifically do that as discribed.
A good parallel would be claiming that the current all security guards at the Mall of America are mercenaries.
Unless the Mall of America'
February 12, 2007 - 19:52 ET by sarcasmoUnless the Mall of America's a hell of a lot more dangerous than I've heard, I think your analogy is more than a bit of a stretch... Face it, some "contractors" look a lot like mercenaries -- I don't blame them for going private, either, they make quite a bit more money than, say, Mall of America security guards for a reason.
JMR
I listened to the Fox News Wa
February 11, 2007 - 04:07 ET by GalvanicI listened to the Fox News Watch segment on Arkin, and I was disappointed that they didn't include what I feel is the more despicable portion of his quote --- the part where he stated that our troops are lucky that the public isn't spiiting on them, or words to that effect. I'd like to hear Gabler defend that part of Arkin's article.
Spit on our troops?! Of course, this malignant invertabrate wouldn't have the guts to attempt such an act of treason himself. He merely suggests it.
We see so much of it--we read
February 11, 2007 - 05:30 ET by Andrew H.We see so much of it--we read, hear and view so much of it, Neal, it is not idiotic to ascribe such anti-American sentiments to the left, it is sadly a real response to real statements and beliefs of the left--assuming you haven't visited blogs at kos or du--you might find the experience illuminating.
Certainly you will find that kind of derge repeated much. The left, Neal, are mostly made up of haters.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Hmm...moderate Democrat(ic)s
February 11, 2007 - 09:00 ET by BradyHmm...moderate Democrat(ic)s fail to denounce the actions/words of ultra-left liberals and we are assured by the Neal Gablers of the world that the moderates don't support the hate-filled words or actions. Seems to me that I've heard that line before. Perhaps we're witnessing a new protest technique that moves us beyond non-violent to non-verbal. Dr. King would be proud.
The problem with modern environmental science is that many who practice it are environmentalists.
Since when is calling atten
February 11, 2007 - 09:04 ET by motherbeltSince when is calling attention to a column in the Washington Post "singling out" anybody? No one can cite a newspaper article now, without a supporting cast of a dozen other columns?
Mr. Gabler mentioned Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. There are lots of news channels and conservative commentators. Is he "singling out" one of each, by citing them for calling attention to this story?
Oh, Neal, you left wing mouth
February 11, 2007 - 09:55 ET by rimskyOh, Neal, you left wing mouthpiece whore, you.
As predictable as Neal is, it is still stunning to see him defend the likes of Arkin.
Arkin made his soiled bed.. he should be made to sleep in it, and that's what Fox, Rush and all right thinking bloggers are doing.