Hitting Em Where it Hurts

That progressive organizations are going after the finances of public figures who criticize Obama shouldn't surprise anyone.  It started with pressuring advertisers to pull out of Glenn Beck's program, and now three people have lost their jobs after groups suggested there was a conflict of interest given their comments.  Philosophically it makes sense, there has been a concerted effort at misinformation and scare tactics from the right and the left learned bitter lessons from the way Bill Clinton was treated.

However, the practice lends itself to the talking point of left taking away freedoms - no matter that the First Amendment doesn't guarantee freedom from the consequences of saying stupid things - and it heightens the vicious tribalism of both the left and right.  In the long run, actions like these are counterproductive, because it only prompts a heightened response from the other side.  I'm not naive enough to say that everyone should just start playing fair, but it is possible to be tough, honest, and honorable.  On the other hand, it isn't progressive politicians engaging in tough tactics, progressive movement groups do what they will. 

Comments

[Christopher Carr]

I feel this propaganda arms race is a perfect example of the prisoners's dilemma in action. The left did indeed learn during the Clinton years the price of trying to take the moral high road. It makes sense for them to fight fire with fire. But this is also the reason why, as you pointed out in an earlier post, the public has record low trust in the media. Both parties will ultimately lose from the polarization that will certainly occur from continued finger pointing and name calling. America is ripe for a third party to call shenanigans in 2012.