Obama Lost My Vote By Going on Fox

I have been quiet on the presidential campaign.  I'm not much of a political writer in the first place and am firmly of the opinion that you should only write to your strengths.  However, Obama's appearance on Fox news was a tactical mistake of massive proportions.  In addition, it legitimized the greatest threat to our country -- fact free debate.  As such, Obama has lost my vote.

Let me provide some background.  A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece titled Economics and Life in a Post Fact World.  The central point of the article is facts aren't important anymore.  Whenever a fact is presented that does not jibe with conservative thought or theory, the conservatives either ignore the fact or claim the person collecting the data of the fact are partisans whose political agenda makes the fact unimportant or misleading.

For example, the facts of this expansion is it is statistically the worst on record.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total establishment job creation is the lowest of any expansion since WWII.  According to the Census Bureau, real (inflation adjusted) median household income has dropped for the duration of this expansion (there are links to the right to these agencies.  Check for yourself).  According to the Bureau of Public Debt, the Federal government is issuing $500 billion dollars of net new debt per year for the last 5-6 years.  Yet, conservative "economists" (and I use that word very liberally) are continually telling us the economy is the greatest thing since sliced bread -- job growth is great and the budget is balanced.

Here's what makes that last sentence even possible: there is now an entire network of right wing "press" that echoes itself, promoting certain ideas and talking points until they become part of conventional wisdom.  For example, I live in Houston, Texas and all we have on the AM radio dial is conservative talk radio from 8 AM until 11 PM and beyond.  When you tune in to these people, you hear the same talking points over and over again until they become common parts in conversation.  No one holds these talkers accountable in any way, shape or form.  They lie with impunity.  And lie they do -- on a regular basis.  I can use economics as an example because it's my area of expertise.  Just watch 15 minutes of "Neil Cavuto" on Fox Business "News" and I guarantee you that you won't hear one piece of economic news that is worth listening too.  I have yet to hear him make a salient point about the economy.

By going on Fox news, Obama made the right wing press legitimate.  This is a mistake not only for the election , but for out country as a whole.  Misinformation/disinformation/outright lies from the right wing noise machine are killing our country.  By participating in this medium in any way, Obama has legitimized it.  

The Democrats boycotted Fox news for this election cycle and what happened?  Voter turnout is at records and enthusiasm is high.  This boycott of Fox news obviously did not hurt the Democrats in any way.  Yet now Obama is going on Fox.  

Simply put, I cannot vote or support anyone who participates in this medium.  As such, Obama has lost my vote.  I will most likely vote for a marginal third party candidate -- or write in Frank Zappa.  Even from the grave, he's a better damn choice.