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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy can Limbaugh speak, but not Costas?
Another good piece by David Sirota
One way to understand Bob Costas comments about gun violence during halftime of NBCs Sunday evening football game is to interpret them as yet another example of media self-absorption. And in fact, by turning a horrific story of domestic violence and suicide into a cheap story about the overwrought reaction to a professional commentator, the national press did proudly fulfill the timeless jeremiad of Broadcast News to never forget (that) were the real story, not them.
But as repulsive and predictable as that narcissism is, it did inadvertently spotlight a significant problem plaguing our civic discourse. Call it Shut Up and Sing Syndrome.
Named after a Laura Ingraham book and a 2006 documentary about the harsh reaction to the Dixie Chicks anti-Bush comments, this syndrome condemns many Americans to believe that actors, musicians and athletes really, anyone not deemed political experts have no right to use their platform to address issues considered political in nature. In this case, conservatives are insisting that Costas is not merely wrong on the substance of his gun-related comments, but also that, according to the New York Times, it was inappropriate to use the platform of an NFL telecast to make arguments concerning a hot-button issue like gun control.
The insinuation is that as a sportscaster, he has no standing to weigh in on a political issue. In other words, like critics of outspoken athletes who tell them to shut up and play, critics want Costas to simply shut up and talk only about sports.
For his part, Costas is refusing to be intimidated, pointing out that such whiners would have thought (my comment) was fine if they agreed with what I was saying. This is almost certainly true, once again reminding us that Shut Up and Sing Syndrome tends only to emerge on the right when a prominent figure says something that offends conservative sensibilities, but rarely emerges when a prominent figure says something that conservatives support.
http://www.salon.com/2012/12/04/why_can_limbaugh_speak_but_not_costas/
graham4anything
(11,464 posts)Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)for right wingers to monopolize the debate. They use the complex to silence their opponents.
AlexSatan
(535 posts)to hear political opinions. People tune into football for...football.
I assume that is why this is making headlines.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)Chicks have their albums burned like some Nazi book burning...and Ted Nugent gets no backlash when he TOTALLY INSULTS and EVEN THREATENS the president...then it is not even close...
AlexSatan
(535 posts)is irrelevant. From what I understand, since he got kicked off football (MNF, I think), all he has is his radio show which I assume is still just political crap. I don't listen to AM radio but I've not heard of him doing anything else recently. (i.e. in the past decade)
And you pretend anyone listens to Nugent.
Last time he has a hit was what, 1977? (yes, I Googled Cat Scratch Fever)
But for the record
http://www.facebook.com/events/215603395130428/?ref=nf
jeff47
(26,549 posts)Lightbulb_on
(315 posts)Folks cheer because they agree with the issue...
Swap it out with something you detest and it starts to annoy you.
Pro-life rant? Anti gay marriage spiel? Pro Romney speech a few months ago?
Let football just be football...
jeff47
(26,549 posts)Just like it can't be "just football" after the concussion issues were identified. Or the bounties on injuries.
If the sport is causing severe damage to the players, we can't just plug our ears and say "lalalalalalala" and happily cripple players.
The middle of a football broadcast is exactly the time to bring attention to issues affecting football players.
AlexSatan
(535 posts)or that anyone even suggested that he should be,
jeff47
(26,549 posts)AlexSatan
(535 posts)It's not a 1st Amendment issue so why bring it up?
It's a matter of the forum used. Political opinion is expected on a political opinion show, not on a football show.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)express his opinion.
AlexSatan
(535 posts)but that is why most people were irritated.
Wouldn't it be cool if Bruce Willis had conservative diatribes in all of his action movies? (No)
cyglet
(529 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)right up until he suggested that the Eagles' Donovan McNabb was starting in the NFL solely because he is black. (McNabb led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance.)
Brother Buzz
(36,434 posts)Simple, no?
malaise
(269,004 posts)Scumbaugh does not believe his audience is made up of low information voters.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)poor babies just cannot handle the gun culture being criticized
GoCubsGo
(32,084 posts)It's "My way or the highway" with those SOBs.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)hughee99
(16,113 posts)conversely, I suspect a number of people who support him now would be on the other side if he had taken a RKBA position.
JEB
(4,748 posts)because Costas had the audacity to insert a bit of reality into their football escapes. They are more upset by this than the fact a man murdered someone then killed himself.