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Portland Alliance book review

By Brian A. Pace

Republicans currently control every branch of the Federal Government for the first time since 1932. Huh, you say, how the hell did that happen? Banana Republicans is a damning account of the Machiavellian tactics that Republican Party strategists have utilized to hijack public debate on nearly every subject and turn it into warfare. Title and content of this book hearken to Garrison Keillor’s satirical song from A Prairie Home Companion entitled “We’re All Republicans Now.”

Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber are the authors of Weapons of Mass Deception and have a laser-like focus on developing propaganda campaigns. They post Spin of the Day updates on the Web site www.prwatch.org, a project of the Center for Media and Democracy. Stauber and Rampton’s extensive knowledge of the machinations of well-financed conservative think-tanks allows them to show just how they exert influence in the mass media and the many branches of state and federal government. Coupled with a clear presentation style, which takes you behind the curtain of current events, Banana Republicans is essential reading for anyone looking for a road map of the last four years.

Rampton and Stauber’s latest book provides solid ammunition to bolster the view of certain prevailing Republicans as craven, cynical opportunists. The authors quote conservative leader Grover Norquist as saying we are trying to change the tones in the state capitols and turn them toward partisanship and nastiness. It’s the Neo-Conservative Revolution, and a lot of people are not invited. As recounted in Banana Republicans, since black people have traditionally voted Democratic, the last presidential election showed that they are definitely not on the guest list. The chapter “Block the Vote” explains an essential right wing tool for winning elections: voter suppression.

Banana Republicans details how some seemingly independent journalists are actually paid by interests not publicly undisclosed for slanted, pandering columns and opinion pieces. In fact, a guest columnist from the Austin American-Statesman recently admitted to using his byline on a piece actually written by a nuclear industry public relations consultant in a letter to the same paper. The nuke industry used Sheldon Landsberger, a professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Texas as an expert mouthpiece to hype canned arguments for the proposed nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Fox News Channel may seem to have single-handedly tilted the scales in mass media to the right, but the actual process has been much longer in the making. The careers of conservatives in the media and how they are nurtured is a major concept in Banana Republicans. While the subject was covered somewhat in Al Franken’s Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, mad-as-hell conservatives in the media and how they got there is still something that most people seem to think of as kind of an accident or a reactionary phase America is going through. Banana Republicans illustrates how right-wingers have, over a span of decades, formed truly effective communities for fostering piss-and-vinegar soaked neophytes and promoting them both in and outside of the mainstream media.

Without mincing words, Banana Republicans kicks ass and names names. Ever wonder how California got saddled with the Governator? It’s all laid out in the chapter “Pumping Irony.” Those who have read Rampton and Stauber’s previous books such, as Toxic Sludge is Good For You! and Trust Us, We’re Experts! will not be disappointed by this unflinching exposé on the latest doings of the right-wing conspiracy

If you want to review a book and influence thousands with your opinion, send an email to The Alliance book editor, jackdanger2002@yahoo.com.