Hitler wrote that "effective propaganda must be confined to a few bare necessities and then must be expressed in a few stereotyped formulas" which should be repeated, for “only constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea upon the memory of a crowd.” It would appear that Fox has adapted this strategy in its use of basic right wing memes that are repeated through several shows. Usually, the propaganda cycle lasts one or two days at most. But not for Fox & Friends which, when it gets some real juicy stuff, latches onto it like white on Fox News hosts. Several years ago, it ran a series, over the course of several months, which featured a right wing college professor who excoriated "liberal bias" in school texts. Their newest meme is the "bracket" system, created by a GOP Senate candidate, which purports to show constitutional violations by the "lawless" Obama administration. Today marks the 6th day of morning mirth.
The weekend crew introduced the brackets on Saturday. Viewers got to see that one of the categories was "death panels" which don't exist; but it was presented as Fox Fact. Sunday, the message was that the brackets are sweeping college campuses when, in reality, a right wing comedian took them to George Mason U. where he presented them to a small sample of students.
Monday, Steve Doocy informed us that these "brackets" are getting "a lot of buzz." (Much of it created by Fox) He asserted, as a Fox Fact, that the categories are "constitutional violations." He also claimed that "Americans are voting in droves," an assertion not supported by any empirical evidence but then this is Fox & Friends...An exuberant Doocy then tossed to none other than the creator of the madness, GOP Nebraska senate candidate Ben Sasse who then discussed how this fun game "depicts the lawlessness" of the Obama administration. He discussed the usual tropes such as the IRS "targeting of the Tea Party" - an assertion not established despite hours of expensive testimony. Doocy encouraged viewers to go on Sasse's website where they can vote and contribute to his campaign. The chyron reinforced the agitprop as Fox Fact: "Mock Bracket Highlights WH Lawlessness."
Tuesday, an ecstatic Doocy repeated that this is "getting a lot of buzz." Again, he described the categories as actual "constitutional violations." Winners of the bracket round were announced and not surprisingly the IRS "targeting" of the Tea Party won. As "sports music" played in the background, Roger Ailes' consigliore Peter Johnson Jr. spoke about right wing efforts to fight the power. He also explained why all the other winners were violations which people are "outraged" about . The chyron asked which "Constitutional Violation Ranks #1?" Johnson said, "This is a lollapalooza of constitutional violations...and outright ignoring the Constitution." Viewers were directed to the Fox & Friends version of the brackets.
Wednesday, an excited Doocy, in describing the "brackets," cited the President's "many constitutional violations." He and Johnson informed us that "abortion" won over "Obamacare subsidies" which weren't explained. Johnson reported that the abortion cateogory relates to the Hobby Lobby case WHICH ISN'T ABOUT ABORTION. He claimed that Hobby Lobby is objecting to drugs that cause "the death of embryo's" which is a crock of crap. (Plan B prevent ovulation and the IUD prevents implantation which is the official start of a pregnancy) Johnson obviously doesn't know that the first product of conception is a zygote which doesn't become an embryo until after implantation. The dynamic duo explained other "winners." Doocy, again, spluttered about the original "64 violations." Johnson spluttered about "redistribution of wealth" and how, basically, Obama is a vile dictator. Viewers were told to check out the Fox & Friends version of the brackets.
Today it was more of the same old, same old hilarity and outright lies which will be repeated tomorrow when the chuckleheads present their last installment of this fun stuff. The beat goes on, the beat goes on; Fox & Friends keeps pounding propaganda to the brain.....