Fix News star Bill O’Reilly recently said: “Once President Obama removed all American forces from Iraq, ISIS moved in and chaos broke out…It is simply stunning that the American press has said so little about the disastrous foreign policy of the Obama administration.”
Why is this important? Because it is a perfect example of the American version of propaganda Josef Goebbels used so effectively to promote Hitler.
Propagandists hide the lies they tell by couching them in what appear to be facts.
In O’Reilly’s case, it is true that when U.S. troops left Iraq, the government there was itself too corrupt and weak to win public support and that helped ISIS to gain power.
What is not true is that President Obama’s policies had anything to do with that, and it is disgustingly scandalous that O’Reilly would even suggest it.
Our troops were withdrawn because of the deal President Bush signed with then Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, a deal President Obama tried desperately to revise so some troops could remain, but Maliki refused.
O’Reilly surely knew this, but he chose to twist the truth to promote a falsehood about the President’s policies.
This is one example among literally hundreds of documented lies Fix News hosts and commentators tell day after day.
Here are a few more reported by FactCheck.com and Politifact.com:
Sean Hannity: “During the (Benghazi) attack, a stand-down order was given, and our troops were told to change their clothes four times.” FALSE: No such order was ever given.
Judge Jeanine Pirro: “ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi was “released by Obama in 2009.” FALSE: He was released in 2004 while Bush was president.
Michael Needham: “In 2013, the United States “accepted 67 percent of the world’s refugees.” FALSE: We accepted 67% of 1 percent of the world’s refugees. BIG difference.
These are not exceptions on Fix News, they are the rule. They routinely make up stuff, which is why I call them by the name that accurately describes what they do. They “Fix” the news.
In other words, they are a propaganda arm for all things conservative, and most Donald Trump supporters get their “news” only from Fix.
That should worry the rest of us. It certainly worries Bruce Bartlett, a Republican conservative economist, Treasury Department official under President George H.W. Bush and former adviser on domestic policy to President Ronald Reagan.
He conducted a study of Fix Viewers and came to this conclusion:
“Like someone dying of thirst in the desert, conservatives drank heavily from the Fox waters. Soon, it became the dominant -and in many cases, virtually the only – major news source for millions of Americans. This has had profound political implications that are only starting to be appreciated. Indeed, it can almost be called self-brainwashing – many conservatives now refuse to even listen to any news or opinion not vetted through Fox, and to believe whatever appears on it as the gospel truth.”
But the master of propaganda is Trump himself. He actually took “credit” for “ending” the “birther” lie about President Obama he promoted for five years, followed that by telling another lie about Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign being the source of the “birther” story in the first place. He told both lies with a straight face.
Then Fix News immediately started spinning what Trump said by twisting facts and using innuendos to support the lie about Hillary’s campaign. They are still at it, in fact, if you want to tune in.
What Trump and Fix News prove over and again is that propagandists have no shame. They lie to your face and never wince. Their lack of conscience is what makes them effective, which is why they follow Goebbels’ advice and keep repeating lies they know people will eventually believe.
Truth, on the other hand, has a much harder time because it doesn’t appeal to people’s prejudices or play on their fears.
Propaganda thrives because it does both.
This is why propaganda is the primary reason this election makes no sense.
It is the foundation on which the entire Trump campaign is based, with support from a “news” source that has more viewers than anyone else.
No wonder he is popular. No wonder he may win. No wonder our nation is in peril.
linnposts.com 
The really maddening aspect of this presidential election is the unwillingness of Trump supporters to consider facts. They simply (!) buy into what he’s selling. Yes, our nation is in peril, due mainly from anti-intellectualism. It’s worrisome beyond the election; Climate change deniers readily come to mind.
Rollie, the biggest lie is that Hillary is not to be trusted, but Trump is. That is the power of propaganda in spades.
Are where are all those voices of the 90’s who were so outraged by Bill Clinton’s lies in the Monica Lewinsky affair? Donald Trump lies shamelessly and with impunity. It seems that the values so deeply cherished by many republican voices back then aren’t so important after all. And how can people like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell continue to stand by so quietly?
Those questions are ones we all would like answered, Wilbur. Don’t think they will be.
Thanks, Jan Linn!!!!
So glad you found it worthwhile, Mercia.
When I did economics, one concept I came across was that of diminishing marginal utility or returns. Put at its simplest, it states that If you eat chocolate cakes, the first two or three are just great, but any more, and you begin to tire, and after about 10 or more, you’ll never want to set your eyes on a chocolate cake as long as you live!
With propaganda, the same rules apply, where the powers that be plug slogans for the credulous to believe in, which may work for a while. Then,as things begin to go wrong, new scapegoats will have to be invented so that believing people go on believing…the Catholics…native Americans…the Jews…the little green men from Co. Cork…
…and yet all the while, people become less and less gullible. Given that Donald Trump is going down the path you’ve mentioned, Jan, the only person still believing in his own lies will be…Donald Trump himself, as in the end, too many people will have seen the deficit between percieved reality and the official ‘truth’.
Nigel, many of us hope you are right about that, but at this point more seem to be falling under the spell of propaganda than not. I personally do not understand why anyone would or could vote for such a man to be president of the United States, but so many are ready to do so that we may be in the abyss before people wake up.
SPOT ON! Thank You!. I think propaganda is alive, well, and flourishing in America today. And I think its results will be to the detriment of us all. And I see people here gobbling this stuff up like chocolate cake every day. I wonder when they will lose their taste for chocolate cake I hope it is very soon. Before Nov 8 would suit me fine, but I’m getting very nervous. DT’s latest birther bit is a Classic, yet I see people accepting it. I think Rollie’s comment about anti intellectualism is right on.
Not sure how to combat anti-intellectualism, but it is a serious problem, Wally. Thanks.
Jan, I am “late to the table” again, your post being 2 days old. Happily, other readers have already commended your fine well-documented piece. Pointing out the direct lies from Trump and his Fix News allies is a service to anyone who will listen. I despair that most of the brainwashed will not. Bill
Thanks, Bill. I am hoping to win over a few “undecideds,” as enigmatic as that category seems in this election.
Bill,
I share your despair and struggle with what to do about it.
Thanks Jan. You are so right on and it is so frightening to be right. However, I do have hope that enough people will wake up before it is too late.
Kaye, I’m clinging to hope, but the insanity of it all makes that harder every day.