Soft-Pedaling

Robert Stacy McCain is a god.

That being said, Stacy’s recent post on Media Matters is disquieting.

The masthead of his blog (The Other McCain) states, “One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up.” It is a quote from Arthur Koestler, known for his book “Darkness at Noon” and for a life that ricocheted against the edges of human torment.

Koestler’s quote comes to mind as Stacy takes on the Media Matters’ coverage of Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs. Ms. Geller is critical of Islamic extremism, and comes under fire for her viewpoints.

Stacy characterizes the Media Matters’ criticism of Ms. Geller in this fashion (emphasis mine):

--“Media Matters is trying to suppress dissent.”
--“Endeavoring to dismiss the story as insignificant…”
--“Eric Boehlert wants to rule such questions as out of bounds…”
--“Media Matters is attempting to discredit the messenger.”
--“Media Matters is attempting to exercise the power of an arbiter…

I don’t believe that Media Matters and similar voices within our culture are upstarts having a fling at influencing opinion. They do it with a calculated plan of action, using repetitive themes and a coordinated choice of language. Stacy’s wording makes Media Matters seem tentative.

It might be fun to think of our anti-Republican culture as something without substance and force, but Pamela Geller has a better approach.

She sees a threat and responds accordingly. I’ll bet Arthur Koestler would approve.

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