Note to Fox News: America - Love It or Leave It! - Jackson Merritt - MediaBizBloggers - Jackson Merritt - Jackosn Merritt

Published: October 23, 2009 at 04:04 PM GMT
Last Updated: October 23, 2009 at 04:04 PM GMT

When I was protesting the Vietnam War in 1968 it was suggested more than once that if I didn't love America – and its policies – I should leave. Many young Americans did… not because they didn't love America, but because they didn't agree with its policies and mostly to avoid the draft and the war.

At the time, I couldn't comprehend the idea that Americans could not embrace debate and disagreement. It was just plain counterintuitive that a country founded on the principle of freedom of speech could reject debate on an issue as fundamental as the loss of ones own life.

Today I understand where the pro-war advocates were coming from in the 1960s. I simply can't accept the fundamentalist approach by the Republican Party to health care and the public option. Their refusal to listen, to understand, to discuss, to embrace the majority will is unacceptable. We live in a Democratic – with a capital D – nation today. I admire the administrations' symbolic attacks on Fox News as an extension of the Republican Party. If you watch Fox News, their argument implicitly suggests, you are watching mouthpieces for the Republican Party. And if Fox News cannot offer a balanced perspective, then they are part of the opposition and not deserving of the President's support in any way. Fox has proudly engaged in anti-administration lobbying, organized anti-administration rallies, raised funds for anti-administration initiatives, and even admitted to an agenda dedicated to bringing down the President. This strikes me as no less Anti-American (in fact more anti-American) than the anti-war protests of the 1960s. The difference is that Fox purports to be a news organization owned by a parent company that operates television stations licensed by the federal government. With those licenses comes a responsibility to act in the public interest. Fox is the voice of a minority and is acting against the interests of the majority and a duly elected President and Congress.

Fox News is attacking our nation's best interests from the inside like an insidious virus – one that serves only to reinforce the fear of our enemies, their hatred toward us, and their commitment to continue fighting against us. The voice of Fox News, I expect, is the propaganda tool that is most effective in recruiting new members to Taliban and Al Qaeda.

It must be a Sophie's Choice for the fundamentalist American right whether to focus now on health care or Afghanistan. The battle against Islam is core to the religious right in America. It is no accident that the President's decisions on Afghanistan are being made parallel to Congress' debate on health care. If we get a public option, President Obama expands the war. If we fail to get a public option, our soldiers will be brought home. One or the other, Republicans. If we fail to win the public option AND we expand the war, then Democrats can forget retaining a Congressional majority in the 2010 elections.

This is the time for Democrats to flex their muscles. Only 20% of Americans admit to being Republicans, and that percentage is steadily shrinking as the party continues to be the party of "no". There is no place in America today for a political policy that simply refuses to discuss, debate and ultimately compromise. If those who support these Republican policies refuse to accept the concept of majority rule, if they cannot love an America that embraces the needy, if they cannot live in a society that rejects their myopia and selfishness… then perhaps they should leave America.

Of course, there is no place they can go. At least in the 1960s, Canada, England, France and Australia seemed like reasonable options to the anti-war crowd. Where would a Republican go where they might find a more agreeable political environment? The only foreign countries that come immediately to mind are South Carolina, Texas and Alaska. This raises an interesting issue of states rights, which is ultimately where our socio-political debates are heading. In ten years, we're likely to have two countries in America. Every major social issue we face today will be defined by states – and those who cannot accept the rule of the state they live in will need to leave and move to states with laws that are more consistent with their parochial views. Red States, Blue States and neutral White States. If I lived in South Carolina right now, or in Michelle Bachman's district in Minnesota, I'd want to move. Fundamentalists who live in New York, California or Massachusetts should consider moving to South Carolina and stop insisting on imposing their rigid, minority rejectionary politics on the majority of their neighbors who favor a public health care option.

Jackson Merritt has been writing about culture and counter-culture for nearly four decades. Jackson has been an outspoken advocate in Washington for increased media commitment to children's educational programming and for an improved media content ratings system. Jackson can be contacted at jacksonmerritt@ymail.com

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You state "I simply can't accept the fundamentalist approach by the Republican Party to health care and the public option. Their refusal to listen, to understand, to discuss, to embrace the majority will is unacceptable."

CNN recently released the following... CNN Poll: Americans split on Obama proposals Posted: October 21st, 2009 12:30 PM ET Americans are split right down the middle over President Barack Obama's health care reform proposals.

Doesn't that loudly address the need for a public debate on what Americans really want?

Do you feel that winning an election means the people desire every single policy proposed by an administration?

The desire to shut down all dissent is scary in a Democracy with a capital "D." As a journalist, you should understand the necessity of a Free Press.

BTW... if I asked one of my kids if they want an X-box to play on all of the time, they'd say "yes" too! And homework... who cares!

Fox News' newscasts are fair and balanced. Their opinion programs like Beck and Hannity have on opposing points of view. Perhaps you will encourage President Obama's administration to appear on a network whose audience is 60% moderate liberals and "take their case to the people."

Posted at 10:07 AM on Oct 23, 2009 by Susie

Your hatred is palpable. Fox News is not the 'mouthpiece' you say it is. If you have facts, put them out there. State them clearly, but don't create a lie by refusing to acknowledge that opnion programming is news. EVERY channel that carries news, carries opinion programming. Oprah has an opionion, ABC News should not. Get Viet Nam out of your system. 40 Years ago you protested a war. Good for you. Health care isn't Viet Nam. Everyone should want a clear explanation of what they will experience with the health care plan and what it will cost and who will pay for it.

Here's an exercise, rewrite your column and use bullets to cite and reference FACTS not conjecture that support your remarks about Republicans and Fox. Lastly, 47% of the country didn't vote for the president. He doesn't get a free pass because he won. He is president of ALL the United States, even the folks you despise. Your ideas and policy's have to make sense and they just don't. Instead you prefer to insult and demean. Well I have news for you, I am an American and I don't want your plan because it isn't the right one. That's right, I disagree. So now what? Will you'll revoke my Internet access because my point of view is 'contrary' to what you view as public policy.

Posted at 10:07 AM on Oct 23, 2009 by JDEAM

Thank you Jackson. I have been trying to find the perfect way of articulating the intolerance and tyranny of the left, and you've helped tremendously. Debate is unacceptable, right? a funny thing happened on the way to the monarchy--the majority actually agree with the position of the minority party on a number of issues. More democrats watch Fox news than CNN or MSNBC. Now, why so you think that is?

Posted at 08:36 PM on Oct 24, 2009 by joel

CNN recently released the following... CNN Poll: Americans split on Obama proposals Posted: October 21st, 2009 12:30 PM ET Americans are split right down the middle over President Barack Obama's health care reform proposals.
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Posted at 06:25 PM on May 27, 2010 by john mish

Well, its great to see the healthcare bill pass through legislation, despite all the ludicrous reporting. A moderate democrat approach is great to have, as there will be no danger of conservative criminalizing of the birth control pill. I agree, Obama really needs to flex as much as possible before November, where the dems are in danger of losing the house / senate. Hopefully he won't have to deal with the same problems as Clinton in '92 and '94.

Posted at 11:42 AM on Jul 18, 2010 by jerryB