How the media covered Rep. Allen West's (R-FL) "slavery" remarks shows why politicians use such overheated rhetoric in the first place, Melissa Harris-Perry argued on Sunday's Melissa Harris-Perry. During a campaign speech last week, West said that President Obama would "rather you be his slave and be economically dependent upon him.”
West's remarks, Harris Perry said, were an example of how "politicians use words that are supposed to kind of go over the boundary a little bit, in part to get free media coverage or to dog whistle to other communities."
"Whose fault is that?" replied former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell. "It's ours," meaning the news media. "We give these stupid statements all this coverage."
MSNBC contributor Ari Melber argued that the coverage of West's comments was in part a function of his position. Certain right-wing ideologues in the public sphere should be ignored, he said, but with elected officials like West the issue becomes more complicated. "If it's someone who really doesn't matter much—the right-wing radio hosts who get entirely too much attention and are in the business of generation attention for themselves—the saying online is, 'Don't feed the trolls,'" Melber said.
He went on: "The other side is Congressman Allen West, who is not a right-wing radio host, and is not selling a media product, and should not be," said Melber. "So he speaks with the authority of the voters who have chosen him and may choose him again, right? But in the media we do have an obligation to deal with that, because he's not just making a business."
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I believe insults against the President and his cabinet should not be tolerated on the air waves. It only incites the American People to anger, particularly if untrue. At the rate we keep going this rhetoric could incite another war. The poor against the rich. We do not need to know about Romney and his vacation and his where his wealth is spent. Alot of things you think are news worthy from the Congress and the Senate are not. Even our young people are beginning to feel they can act just like these politicians, full of hatred and insults and lies.
Sharon Wickwar
Outstanding segment with valid points on both sides of the issue. The people, that elect these irrespondible types of politicians, need to be aware of the cost to civility, valid conversation and good governing. Those who support these political idiots should be made aware that they supported a mindset that can cause the downfall of our civilization, and, gamesmanship has zero positive value to our survival as a great nation. Next time that these people vote, they should pay attention to the character of the candidates.
Allen West reminds me of the before and after ads I often encounter. He is an advertisement for the guillotine, both before and after.
At last! A politician that is honest at frank about the damage entitlement oriented liberals are doing to his people!
allen west got elected with only 115k votes. 2 years earlier he got 25k more votes but lost by 29k. does that tell you anything?
what it tells me is that he won because a lot of dems didn't vote in 2010.
that kind of pattern got repeated all over the country. in 2009 and 2010 dems lost 22 governor and US senate elections in 17 states obama had won, and in all but 2 cases the winner got fewer votes than mccain got in losing the same state, and even in those 2 elections obama in 2008 outpolled the winners by big margins.
if dems get out the vote, dems will win.
What SPECIFICALLY is wrong with Alan West on any specific issue ? Suspicion I have with liberals is that he is Republican, conservative and black. Therefore, any remark he makes can not be legitimate for progressives. Tow the line or get slammed ! His stand on issues have not been cleared with the white progressive elite, therefore, no credability with them. Not worthy.