Toxic Talk: How the Radical Right Has Poisoned America's Airwaves

by Bill Press

Book Overview

A timely cannon blast at the right-wing media machine and how it subverts the principles of democratic representation Talk radio has done an end run around the voting populace. With Rush Limbaugh now the unofficial leader of the Republican Party and the far right controlling the five major syndicates, conservatives have a disproportionate voice in the medium-even in liberal cities such as New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Writing with his characteristic...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031260629X
• ISBN13: 9780312606299
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A top pick for any library strong in civil liberties

TOXIC TALK: HOW THE RADICAL RIGHT HAS POISONED AMERICA'S AIRWAVES answers media bullies who have contributed to a divided nation. From Conservative backlashes to health care reform processes to how Right-Wing Conservatives control radio debates, this offers an eye-opening survey of radio's right-wing extremists and how they are influencing the direction of the nation, making this a top pick for any library strong in civil liberties and debates over freedom of expression and radio programming.

Toxic Review

Great book, very well written and oh so true. Bill Press has been around a long time, always been fair, prefers debate to trash talk. I remember the debates he used to have on his TV show, wonderful. He shows in this book where things went wrong and why we can no longer have an honest debate about anything in this country any more. A must read for both sides of the political world, probably better liked by the left, but the truth is told, and told well.

a continuing disease !

I read the book 71 Days: The Media Assault On Obama and it seems this toxic talk began even before Obama was elected. That book shows how the the airwaves were poisoned back on the day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Bill Press has done a great job of detailing how the Right is treading on thin ice and in danger of destroying themselves from within. The Whig Party should be a lesson to them. THe book is highly entertaining with some insider tidbits that make for an enjoyable read. It leaves Limbaugh and the like resembling a disease of some sort. Bill Press gets an A+ here. Get it!

A must-read...

A must-read for everyone concerned about the accelerating decline of legitimate political discourse and commentary in this country.

IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY, NOTHING PERSONAL

Everyone believes in democracy should read Bill Press's "Toxic Talk" to understand how the greatest democracy in the world alarmingly is being minimized to a nation with a significant minority (thanks goodness it is still a minority) of brainwashed who could be incited by command and repeated slogans. Bill Press illustrates how effective the rightwing media has been in propaganda even in the land of the freest people on earth. This should send shockwaves since it shows that nobody is immune to effective propaganda. Most of us who live in the USA come across people considered to be sophisticated, extremely friendly, and seemingly good, repeat slogans (that is totally against their self-interest) that they hear in the radical US media as if they have lost the power to think and question what they hear but only capable of repeating them. They even take pleasure in telling you that they watch only "Fox News" (and also perhaps listen only to the rightwing radio), a sad symbol of twenty-four-seven propaganda media. In other words people are willing to vote for an organization whose main purpose is to deprive the people of the very freedom of press (facts and truth) that they seek out. As Bill Press points out, rightwing media terrifies me not because of hot air and hatred the handful of highly-paid propagandists for business interest (in direct conflict with the interest of the people, although it does not have to be that way) spew out but because of the innocent way the average man and woman believe (or are they pretending to believe--since no one can be that gullible?) and repeat their slogans. Not only they repeat those slogans (and circulate their convictions via email), but they also want you to agree with them and/or confirm to their way of thinking. This often makes me wonder as to how many of them actually have given to peer pressure and thus have persuaded themselves to agree with such propaganda, as a way of surviving in the society, out of fear, where almost every aspect of life is being controlled by a handful of ultra powerful people (are these people capable of distinguishing right from wrong and thus know the truth but believe that someone else will fight against injustice while they keep a low key and pretend to agree with hate-mongers since they instinctively know that fighting injustice could be harmful to your life?) that could intimidate most conservatives who do not care to have any trouble in life but look only to live peacefully. The behavior of lynch mobs always have puzzled me because some people who commit unspeakable crime, later seem like normal people but at the height of the moment, perhaps due to peer pressure (or fear?), have followed a charismatic and equally ruthless leader who made the decision to lynch an innocent man, or slaughter a whole group of people, for whatever his personal reason. Some people who agree without any disagreement (or pretend to agree) with the rightwing media personalities (charismatic but