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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWoodward accused of 'false equivalency' after claiming that left has antii-democratic impulses
Woodward was wrong when he claimed that anti-democratic impulses are a problem among both the right and left. Morning Joe and Eugene Robinson called Woodward out on this bullshit.
Link to tweet
https://www.rawstory.com/bob-woodward-both-sides/
Woodward was discussing the texts between right-wing activist Ginni Thomas and Donald Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows. The Washington Post reporter and his co-author Robert Costa obtained the texts discussing plans to overturn Trump's election loss, but Woodward met fierce pushback when he argued that left-wing activists were engaged in similar efforts to gain political power.
"You're getting a skeptical look because, yes, there are extreme voices on the left, [but] I don't think this is an equal balance," Robinson said. "What you saw was the Republican Party writ large basically losing its mind but going, becoming a Trumpist party and adopting positions that establishment Republicans were horrified by, very conservative establishment Republicans were horrified by it. I don't see something equivalent happening on the left."
Woodward agreed that was a fair point, and he conceded that Thomas -- the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas -- and Meadows were hardly fringe figures, but he continued to insist that the left also harbored an anti-democratic impulse, which Scarborough then batted down.
llashram
(6,265 posts)and Putin has the anti-fascist impulse, right?? tell that to the Ukrainians...
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Can you unpack that steaming pile of dog poop you have there in that paper bag, Bob? What "anti-democratic impulses" are you ascribing to the left? We want everyone registered to vote and we want everyone voting? That seems to be sticking in the craw of a lot of reactionaries right now, the notion that "majority rules" is somehow un-American or unreasonable. It's not, but is that what you're talking about when you say the left has "anti-democratic impulses"? We want a government that serves not just the wealthiest and well-off in our society, but also the meanest, lowliest, poorest, too. Is that an "anti-democratic impulse" in your mind, Bob?
Tell us what you mean.
Mike Nelson
(9,903 posts)... he always does this to show his "fair and balanced" reporting. He was called on it, and conceded immediately. I thought the real story was how he wondered about why the Trumpsters didn't "learn the lessons of Watergate." Yes, they learned well, Bob... think that over.
Me.
(35,454 posts)The others were being diplomatic but he deserved even Joe pushing back at him.
Duncan Grant
(8,257 posts)I wont even bother to insult Bob Woodward beyond saying, he used to be a barn cat, now hes a palace cat. And Joe was righteous.
JustAnotherGen
(31,681 posts)And Woodward is full of shit.
To be clear -
Not Elected Official in the Democratic Party has conspired to overthrow the government. Mr. Robinson was clear in his challenge to that stupidity.
Woodward also held information back for this 'book' that the American people needed to know. He's already on my list.
LetMyPeopleVote
(143,999 posts)I was glad that Eugune Robinson and Morning Joe called Woodward out
Yoyoyo77
(267 posts)JHB
(37,128 posts)Reality: "That may be true in a very technical sense, but is that really the thing to focus on when the ball is on the 5 yard line?"
Caliman73
(11,692 posts)What we have to do is look at what those world views are and determine which is "anti-democratic".
Conservatives view the world as fundamentally unequal. Some people are better than others. Those people (typically wealth, White, Christian men) deserve to be the leaders and others need to learn their place within the hierarchy. Any intervention by government to equalize the benefits of society goes against the natural order of things and must not be allowed. For conservatives, it appears that a person's value is based on what material wealth and power they hold, and treatment in society is according to that status.
Liberals view the world as unequal, partly based on attributes of people (some are stronger, smarter, etc...) but also on factors such as privilege, wealth inequality, racism, sexism, etc... They ascribe to a system of "meritocracy" but tempered with the understanding that past injustices and need to be addressed and corrected. The government is the entity that partners with people to address those situations and attempts to "equalize" the playing field. For Liberals, there is a fundamental dignity that people possess that must be respected. Talent and expertise are respected but should be put to service of humanity.
Any worldview whether Conservative, Liberal, Leftist, Fascist, etc... can display or become authoritarian and anti-democratic. Bolshevism was a leftist ideology that strove for democracy through the Soviet system, but Stalin captured the system and turned it into a totalitarian state. Same with Mao and Chinese Communism. It is my contention however, that right wing ideologies are uniquely susceptible to anti-democracy because it is actually built into their worldview. Any worldview that subscribes to a "natural order" and hierarchy, will move away from democracy in preference to the make up of that hierarchy. Wealthy White Christian men are a minority in this country, yet hold much of the power. As their numbers decrease, how is it democratic for them to retain such an unequal hold on power. That would fly in the face of democracy. Fascism is Conservatism on steroids, you switch out the wealthy white.... for whatever the fascist power structure decides should be the "natural order" (likely still White, male, and Christian) and add in violence as a method of taking and maintaining control.
Woodward does not appear to understand how things work, or he is being deliberately dishonest.
moondust
(19,917 posts)And attract more viewers?
Fighting fascism does not mean one is a communist.