Friday, April 2, 2010

Conservative Propaganda Could Be A Curse For The GOP

From an article by Brent Budowsky from The Hill:
Let me suggest here that Drudge's power may turn out to be more of a curse than a blessing for Republicans and conservatives because in my view, it fosters delusions that can lead to defeat. Recently a Gallup poll, of course highlighted on Drudge, found that Obama's numbers had (then) turned more unfavorable than favorable. This has (now) dramatically changed, unreported by Drudge, with Obama's favorables now well above his unfavorables. The generic Democratic vote is leading the generic Republican vote in the last Gallup congressional election survey.The healthcare bill has passed and the president's polls have moved up. Democratic numbers have crept up. Media focus on right-wing death threats is alienating political independents and motivating the Democratic base. But readers of Matt Drudge, listeners to Rush Limbaugh and viewers of Glenn Beck are being fed a false dose of Republican triumphalism and a megaphone for what a majority of voters might see as extremism that is both delusional and politically damaging to Republicans.

Drudge only reports the polls he likes, which gives a warped view of the state of the nation...

But my point today is, delusions lead to defeat and Republicans are falling into the trap. Matt Drudge could be an albatross for Republicans who believe their own propaganda, in the same way that Limbaugh and Beck could be true geniuses about promoting themselves for profitability but major dangers to conservatives and Republicans.

Drudge may not report it, but the healthcare bill passing has put the president on the upswing, Democrats lead Republicans in the Gallup poll, the negatives of the healthcare bill are starting to recede, independents are alienated by right-wing extremism, the jobs picture I predict will soon brighten, and the Democratic base is finally being motivated.

Matt Drudge may be the most important and influential figure in American media and journalism, but this may well be a curse for conservatives, not a blessing. Dreams die hard and delusions lose elections.
I think this article is dead on. While the conservatives are constantly spreading misinformation, they will inadvertently turn off independents, whom they claim to be courting yet their actions prove otherwise. It's easy to believe you are going to win when you choose what information to look at, but the larger picture suggests that may not be the case. From what I have remember during school, midterm elections typically show the opposition party gain seats in Congress, and I am almost certain that the Republican party will be picking up some seats in the fall - primarily from traditionally conservative districts, but I doubt it will be the referendum against Obama the right is hoping for, although they would probably see even the slightest victory as winning the war.

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