The Barbarians Who Pay the BIlls

http://www.counterpunch.org/rosenberg11052009.html

Of "Envenoned Nutballs" and "Camel-Albatross Hybrids"

Pacifica and the Barbarians Who Pay the Bills by Tracy Rosenberg

Far be it from me to add to a tsunami of abuse, but I think its more than time to inject a little reality check into Iain Boal’s overheated Pacifica rhetoric. Apologies in advance from this “envenomed nutball”, since that is the label you must wear if you disagree with Boal’s melodramatic and self-serving lament.

No gag reflex is present here. Christopher Condon’s motion was plain and simple. It just said disclose where the programming money comes from. Is that some kind of wild anarchist request? Has Mr. Boal never heard of “The Revolution Will Not Be Funded,” a well-regarded volume by people not usually considered “envenomed nutballs” who have some pretty sobering things to say about the risks of dependence on foundation funding for politically radical nonprofit organizations?

The recent Fox News political hack job on Van Jones should have convinced the left of the stupidity of trying to rout out 9-11 skeptics in a progressive version of red-baiting. Boal’s Eugene McCarthy impersonation wears somewhat thin in talking about a network that cut its teeth standing up to the ugliness of the American red scare. “McCarthyism – the term is used generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.” And that’s what we have here. Boal’s obvious unwillingness to engage in debate on political differences with his adversaries. It’s easier just to rout them out with half-baked rhetoric.