Tucker Carlson Firing Upsets Russia and Don Lemon Fires Back
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Why Are Trump, DeSantis, and Carlson Doing Russia’s Dirty Work?
When I was growing up, America was high on anti-Communism. Authorities warned us that the Red Menace could drop nukes on us at any minute. If we wanted to survive a massive nuclear strike, we’d need to hide under our school desks.
To distinguish the US from the atheistic Soviet Union bent on world domination, in 1954 President Eisenhower convinced Congress to add “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance. “Take that, godless commies,” we taunted from under our school desks.
The U.S.’s real problem wasn’t Soviet nukes; it was public relations. We were telling the world how great democracy was—“with liberty and justice for all” (wink, wink)—but the world was seeing Black people banned from eating at White restaurants or drinking from White fountains. Black children were blocked from entering schools. The Soviets, meanwhile, were welcoming Blacks and guaranteeing them freedom. It made for complicated international relations when we were desperately courting allies, many of whom didn’t look like White Americans, at the same time the Soviets were.
The anti-Soviet hysteria resulted in congressional hearings that ruined many innocent lives. Although there were politicians like Sen. Joseph McCarthy who used the Red Scare to promote their own careers, they weren’t wrong that the Soviet Union was not acting in our best interests any more than we acted in theirs.
I’m not sure why some of today’s Republicans are suddenly romanticizing Russia. They did a lot of horrific things, and they continue to do so. Putin has invaded a sovereign country for economic gain, resulting in more than 350,000 casualties. Putin’s critics have a habit of falling out of high windows or getting poisoned. He’s also financed troll factories that spread lies on the internet in order to encourage divisiveness among Americans. Worse, they hacked into the Democratic National Committee to spread disinformation to influence the 2016 election. One major lie they focused on afterward was that the election was rigged. All those deniers were doing Putin’s bidding like good little “useful idiots,” as they are referred to by the Russians.
Now, here’s what I can’t get my head around: Russia is attacking democracy everywhere, especially right here, by enflaming discontent and pushing candidates that they think they can more easily manipulate, like GOP candidates Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, both of whom have cowered under the disapproving Russian stare the same way the world cowered when Hitler invaded Poland. They rationalized that it’s not our problem.
Republicans are divided about whether to support the dictatorship of Putin or the democracy of Ukraine. These are the same Republicans who are constantly shaking their fists at domestic socialism and communism, wanting to ban books, TV shows, and songs that they label as socialist or communist. But when it comes to actual real-life, real-time communists—thumbs up, comrade!
Russian media has even celebrated disgraced Tucker Carlson as one of their own, wailing and rending their clothing over Carlson being fired by Fox. Russian state TV has lamented, “Our beloved Tucker Carlson has been fired, it’s a disgrace!” and “It’s a total outrage!” and “Tucker, come work with us! Solovyov Live is waiting for you, Tucker!” The BFF of communist Russia has been influencing US elections and social policy for years. Who needs a Cold War when you’ve got Tucker, Taylor Greene, Trump, and DeSantis acting as celebrity spokespersons pimping the Russia brand like Steph Curry endorsing Subway. Come to Russia for the ballet, stay for the political assassinations and human rights violations. Selfies optional.
As Russia ramps up its cyber attacks and election meddling in the U.S., remember who loves ya, baby. Because it sure isn’t these American moles praising their Russian masters.
This Week in Media Firings: Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon
Tucker Carlson Was Blindsided by Fox News Firing (Vanity Fair)
SUMMARY: “The media world was blindsided by the news that Tucker Carlson and Fox News would be parting ways. So was Carlson.
“On Monday morning, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott called Carlson and informed him he was being taken off the air, and his Fox News email account was shut off. According to a source briefed on the conversation, Carlson was stunned by his sudden ouster from his 8 p.m. show, the most watched program in cable news last month. Carlson was in the midst of negotiating the renewal of his Fox News contract through 2029, the source said. As of last week, Carlson had told people he expected the contract to be renewed.”
MY TAKE: There might be some premature e-jubilation among liberals and anyone who cares about journalistic integrity over Carlson’s firing. But Fox’s widely reported culture of misogyny, racism, antisemitism, and general boorishness will undoubtedly continue without the whiny Carlson scrambling the brains of Fox’s audience with his admitted lies and illogical ramblings. In other words, Fox still knows that their massive income depends on spoon-feeding pre-chewed news pablum to their customers. Their mantra: “Don’t confuse them with facts.” Another talking head bubbling with faux outrage will soon be sitting in Carlson’s chair twisting the truth like a clown twisting balloons into animal shapes.
Still, let’s take some satisfaction that, even though this wealthy entertainer (not journalist) will remain wealthy, he can join ex-Fox employee and serial sexual predator Bill O’Reilly on the sidelines for a while. We have to take our small victories where we find them.