The case for platforming crazy people
When prominent politicians are conspiracy lunatics, the people should know about it.
I think it was Jim Treacher who used to say a major difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals want conservatives to shut up, while conservatives want liberals to keep talking.
He had a point. I’ve long believed that instead of arguing with your most unhinged opponents, sometimes the most effective thing you can do is to just let them rant and rave and let everyone else draw their own conclusions.
There’s no critique of White Fragility that could be more compelling than seeing Robin DiAngelo’s most devoted disciples do their thing, for example:
That’ll teach him not to play with a baby whose skin color differs from his own, that’s for sure.
And so we come to the firestorm over 60 Minutes’ Leslie Stahl interviewing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Cloudcuckooland) this last week.
TV’s Frank, for one, makes a compelling and detailed argument against giving her a platform:
That is indeed a tough argument to refute. But Joe Walsh (presumably the MAGA-turned-NeverTrump former Congressman and not the “Life’s Been Good” guy, though it would be awesome if the latter was writing for The Bulwark now) effectively counters that we should want as many people as possible to see just how freaking unhinged MTG, and by her extension her political party/cult, really are:
There was no follow-up. Marjorie Taylor Greene believes that Democrats are “pedophiles.” Including Joe Biden. She said it. Right there on 60 Minutes on Sunday night for the whole country to hear. And when she said it, the interviewer, Leslie Stahl, responded only with “Wow,” and “Okay.”
For that response—but really for sitting down with Marjorie Taylor Greene to begin with—Leslie Stahl and 60 Minutes are getting pounded by what seems like every commentator outside of the MAGA right.
Look, let’s establish reality. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a member of Congress. Moreover, she’s a very influential member. Kevin McCarthy owes his speakership to her probably more than any other House Republican. And he knows it: “I will never leave that woman,” he has said.
Yes, she’s a crazy, proudly ignorant, cruel, conspiracy-embracing, authoritarian-leaning pathological liar. But Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of the most powerful Republicans in the House—arguably the most powerful. What she wants is what Republicans will deliver this Congress. You may not like it; I don’t like it; but that doesn’t matter. She matters.
So of course the media must pay attention to her, conduct interviews with her, and yes, do profiles of her. So of course Leslie Stahl ought to interview her. Donald Trump is also a crazy, proudly ignorant, cruel, conspiracy-embracing, authoritarian-leaning pathological liar. And of course damn near any journalist on any network would sit down with Donald Trump. Or Vladimir Putin if he offered himself up to Western media. Or Kim Jong-un if he had things to say to CNN or CBS.
They are newsmakers. Period.
[…]
…The more she’s out there spewing her ugliness, the better our chances are of defeating her. Putting her on 60 Minutes isn’t “normalizing” her. It’s exposing her. Letting Marjorie Taylor Greene speak is all the “gotcha” you need.
All that said, when you are interviewing Greene and she says out loud that Joe Biden and the Democrats are pedophiles, there is a follow up. A pretty simple one. Simply put the definition of pedophile in front of her—“A pedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to children. Do you really believe Democrats are pedophiles?” And when she says “Yes,” don’t say “Wow” or “Okay.” Tell her forcefully that’s not true; tell her that’s a despicable lie; tell her that she ought to be ashamed of herself.
I don’t even know if I’d go that far. Of course the MAGA cult would whine about Stahl being “biased” if she openly scolded MTG - they’ll say she’s biased and unfair in any event - but even I find myself put off when journalists and interviewers make themselves the story and start grandstanding. (It’s what makes Morning Joe and pretty much every late-night talk show completely unwatchable.)
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