Waves of Rancor: Tuning into the Radical Right (Media, Communication, and Culture in America) 1st Edition

This book provides an incredibly accurate and detailed account of the modern American right's ugly association with racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism, disinformation, and Christian fanaticism born from the propogation of foul hate speech on then-new mediums such as radio and the internet - hate speech which garnered enormous audiences and has had a devastating on American politics and American media (I recently stayed at a cabin with a TV that only tuned in Fox News, which I found myself watching several hours of. It was obvious from this experience that the right still uses some of the tactics from this era to subtly spread hate and disinformation). Although the book can only offer a small glimpse of how the right has partaken in the retardation of American society, it is still incredibly relevant to this day and offers an adequate start for someone trying to understand the right. It is written clearly and supported by a constant stream of detailed evidence (government reports, statistical reports, reports from respected research organizations, opinons from experts, etc) on practically every page of the book. It's an absolutely astounding book which I would recommend to anyone on both sides.

RANCOR: "...bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will..." (American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition). In their survey of the use of communications media by the Right, the professors round up the usual suspects (David Duke; Skinheads), but readers may be startled to also find in the roster of villains such figures as Rush Limbaugh, Bill Buckley, the Gun Owners of America, the Libertarians (!), and the Promise Keepers. The defamation is often accomplished by weaselly circumlocutions such as "some critics have suggested" and "some critics make a direct correlation" between mainstream conservatives and hatemongers. The authors' hand is further tipped by their assertion of "the right of other people - especially those of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other non-white areas - to avail themselves of democratic opportunities in the United States". How many Americans would recognize any such "right"? For further study, internet addresses are provided for "hate groups" but, oddly, not for the organizations which the authors quote with approval Right wing short-wave radio stations are listed, but no frequency guides are given for those who might wish to sample their activities firsthand. A Democratic fundraising letter from James Carville is reproduced IN LARGE PRINT. Perhaps its prominent inclusion clarifies the intentions of the authors.

Waves of Rancor is an excellent 5-star book because it is a revealing example of intellectual irresponsibility, extreme left-wing propaganda, and dangerous hate-mongering. The authors appear as bitterly resentful and ill-willed in broadly condemning all conservative talk-show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh in attempting to indict truly extremist and dangerous right-wing voices. I heard Michael Keith on the Michael Medved talk-show add Dr. Laura Schlesinger to the conservatives he does not like. I doubt the authors even listen enough to Dr. Laura, much less to Limbaugh or Medved, to be experts on conservative talk-show programs. They have gone too far with their broad-brush "paint job" and have made the same mistake that Hillary Rodham Clinton made in her infamous comment about the "vast right-wing conspiracy". I strongly recommend the book as an example of the "fascism" of the current anti-democratic left-wing intellectuals.

Couldn't buy this book, checked it out from the library.A few questions you should ask yourself before reading this book are:1.) If members of street gangs including the Bloods and the New Black Panthers voted for Obama, would that make the "Left" Racist as well?2.) What is the true unbiased definition of racism, or is there one?3.) Is racism an act of choosing by oneself?4.) What's up with the Nazi flag on the cover, isn't socialism and marxism embraced by the left?This book should be treated as fiction due to the complete lack of references, makes me wonder if they really talked to anyone?