The role of harsh language in politics

[nadinbrzezinski]

President Barack Obama will travel to Tucson for a memorial service on Wednesday. It will be an important moment in his presidency, and his words will be under scrutiny.
Few could criticise him so far for his reaction to the shooting. He stood alongside the First Lady on the White House lawn and led the nation in a minute's silence for those killed and wounded in Arizona. He can't afford to be accused of exploiting the tragedy for political gain and speaking afterwards instead attempted to be inspirational.

He said those in the crowd at the scene showed heroism: "Part of what I think that speaks to is the best of America, even in the face of such mindless violence."

He continued: "But I think it's going to be important, I think, for the country as a whole, as well as the people of Arizona, to feel as if we are speaking directly to our sense of loss, but also speaking to our hopes for the future and how out of this tragedy we can come together as a stronger nation."

Of course, whatever the president does is political, and remaining above the political fray and not entering the national debate about the role of harsh language in politics, is in itself a piece of positioning. He, as president, wants to been seen as a healer, and to recapture something he has lost since his election: the mantle of someone who can unify rather than divide.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2011/01/the_role_of_harsh_language_in.html

It is always fascinating to read Mardell's take on things. As BBC's senior correspondent he always has an interesting angle.

[dkf]

1. If we can't turn this into a unifying moment won't the rhetoric only get worse?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. BIL and I were having this talk

I spent an hour and a half listening to El Rushbo this morning. Pretty much his lead is what happens with the rest. My hope was that they'd tone it down... nope, not one iota.

So ahead, in my mind. lies civil war, hot civil war. They will not until they stop getting rewards for it (read power)... and if this goes down to a hot civil war... all bets are off. Oh and El Rushbo and the rest will NOT stay around to watch the results, unless their side wins. Problem is, once shooting starts... you cannot predict the end. Suffice it to say... Saturday was a foretaste of what a real shooting civil war looks like in a very minor way. That is... we all got to see what happens when a person shots into a crowd.

[dkf]

9. Unless people turn on him.

That is what needs to happen.

[pipoman]

3. Since there isn't a shred of evidence thus far this nut

was motivated by anything but his own mental illness, it seems the best tactic would be to call for better, more affordable mental health access. Maybe calling for an end to the war on drugs, legalization/taxation of pot, and applying all of the savings and the tax money to nationwide addiction and mental health access.

[leftstreet]

4. +1 It's sickening watching this get politicized

:puke:

Not to suggest the violence-themed rhetoric coming from the pundits isn't an issue, but give me a break already.

If the M$M rw talking heads want to deflect this from themselves they should start speaking out about lack of mental health services in the US

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Problem is that it is their projection that is doing this

i did listen to rush this morning, knowing he establishes the tenor. Things were said on the Sunday shows, that simply were NEVER SAID. That is according to Rush.

The meme also has been all day that this kid was not mentally ill, but was a pothead. (in fact stopping his use of pot might have exacerbated his mental health issues as he was self medicating)

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Problem is that even mental health is a political issue

you should listen to rush on the subject, and the vaunted safety net that does not exist. Of course Rush forgets to point out that we used to have much better access... that is until his hero destroyed it... a POLICY decision... and it's been a long 30 years to re-establish even a smidgen of access to it.

Then we could go into the cultural aspects of mental health in the US... and how it is still treated as not a problem... check your medical policy to see how many visits with the psychiatrist you can have... assuming you have insurance.

But serious, if you are going to ask those questions... they go back to the last 30 years of policies and a counter fight, since oh St. reagan.

And while this kid is sick... the ENVIRONMENT and the LANGUAGE does have an effect. if it did not, companies would not spend the money they spend on marketing, which is a form of propaganda. People really need to learn about Barnays and the origin of marketing... oh and what Rush does is very sophisticated insofar as propaganda is concerned.

[noise]

7. Part of the problem is the Obama administration's

hollow call for bipartisanship. Nobody should be asked to support the right wing agenda. Their agenda is garbage. Pretending they mean well is absurd. They don't mean well.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I don't blame anybody for trying to unify people

but... after so many attempts it should have been obvious.

You will see more of the national leader in the coming days. It is the role of the national leader in a rally event to lead... and so far he's done well.