The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from ExtinctionA compelling indictment of the Bush Administration's cynical, anti-democratic manipulation of the media In this devastating analysis of American politics today, a former Democratic campaign advisor pulls back the curtain on the pervasive political manipulation of the media-and reveals just how fragile our democracy is. From political ads and talk shows to mainstream media reporting, Glenn Smith shows how American political discourse is now dominated by carefully scripted images and rhetoric-most of which benefit the Republicans and their corporate allies. The result is public apathy toward politics-and a real threat to American freedom. To reclaim our nation, Smith argues, we must revitalize politics at the grassroots level-and liberals must realize that religion and spirituality are not antithetical to a progressive agenda. For anyone troubled by manipulative political advertising, self-aggrandizing celebrity pundits, and the undiminished role of money in politics, this necessary book lays out the full scope of the problem-and points the way toward solutions. Glenn Smith (Austin, TX), a former journalist and political consultant, managed MoveOn.org's Defending Democracy Campaign. He is currently managing DriveDemocracy.org, a spin-off of MoveOn, and a consultant to the Rockridge Institute, a progressive think tank. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Madness of King George III and Our Contemporary Political Dilemma | 13 |
Freedom | 33 |
Shaking Bugs Bunnys Hand at Disneyland Democracy Will Not Be Televised | 61 |
Dead Pope Music The Press and American Politics | 87 |
The Threatened Habitats of Democracy | 117 |
Lantern Bearing and the American Covenant Tradition | 149 |
The Other Superpower The Internets New Interactivists and the Public Sphere | 173 |
Shooting Elephants The Language of Politics | 193 |
Freedom and Religion The Visions of Jacob and Orestes | 209 |
In America | 221 |
Other editions - View all
The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction Glenn W. Smith Limited preview - 2004 |
The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction Glenn Smith Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
action activists African-American American Ann Richards audience authoritarian authority become believe broadcast Bush's campaign candidates choices citizens civic Civil Rights movement Clear Channel conservative contemporary political conversation covenant tradition covenantal cultural democracy Democratic dominant economic efforts election elite engagement focus group freedom and democracy freedom-to-experience freedom-to-will Havel Howard Dean human freedom ical increase individual interests Internet involved Jan Patočka journalists Karl Rove kind language leaders less liberty living manipulative marketing moral MoveOn MoveOn.org organization participation policies political advertising political communications political information political practices politics of deceit polls positive freedom Posner possible post-totalitarian President Bush public sphere pursuit radio reform religion religious Republican responsibility ritual Roger Ailes role Samuel Wardwell shared Sinclair spiritual television advertising Texas Thomas Paine tion Tony Sanchez trust truth turnout understanding viewers voices vote voter suppression voters words wrote