Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right Poisons American Democracy (Paperback)

by Jeffrey Feldman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

“Outright Barbarous turns the spotlight on the rhetorical thuggery of the Right, exposing how the verbal excesses are being perpetrated not just by media blowhards like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh but by conservative thought leaders. But Feldman does more than point fingers; he offers practical steps for cleaning up our too-often-toxic political discourse.”—Arianna Huffington

“Since 9/11, America has been contaminated by the violence of right-wing language, in the speeches of Republican politicians and the rantings of the talking heads on Fox News and on conservative talk radio. Jeffrey Feldman’s insightful and important book cuts through the violence, and shows how we can restore the democratic ideals that America was founded upon.”—Thom Hartmann

 “Jeffrey Feldman warns us to ignore the right wing noise machine at our own peril. Backed by right-wing think tanks, foundations and millionaire families, conservative standard bearers will continue to enrich themselves at the cost of a more civil, equitable society. Read Outright Barbarous to find out what they're really saying, and how we can stop it!"—Sam Seder

Since September 11, 2001, most attempts at reasoned political debate in America have been severely limited by the violent language of the Right. In books and on television, it has become a regular ritual for conservative pundits and intellectuals to infuse violence—particularly against Democrats or liberals—into discussions of the major issues of the day, such as terrorism, immigration and gun violence. The result is the creation of a shrill discourse that silences opposition and destroys any chance for serious, civil debate.

In Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right Poisons American Democracy, political language expert Jeffrey Feldman analyzes the words of leading conservative figures Ann Coulter, Dinesh D’Souza, James Dobson, Wayne LaPierre, Pat Buchanan and Bill O’Reilly to show how the Right’s language of violence is polluting our public discourse and limiting the free exchange of ideas. In addition to exposing the conservative obsession with violence, Feldman also shows how the civic discussion in America can be reshaped without the use of violent language, creating a healthier political climate.

An expert on language and political messaging, Jeffrey Feldman is the author of Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections.) He is also editor of the influential blog, Frameshop(http://frameshopisopen.com), and teaches at New York University.

About the Author
An expert on political rhetoric, Jeffrey Feldman is author of Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections, and the Editor-in-Chief of the influential blog Frameshop(www.frameshopisopen.com).

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ig Publishing (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978843150
• ISBN-13: 978-0978843151
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #625,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Would Be "Outright Barbarous" Not to Read This Book, May 3, 2008

By	L. Feld "lowkell" (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished reading a review copy of "Outright Barbarous: How the Violent Language of the Right Poisons American Democracy." The author is Jeffrey Feldman, a teacher at NYU who is probably best known as the editor of Frameshop.

I've read Feldman for years on Daily Kos and elsewhere, and am always fascinated by the precise logic, crisp writing, and powerful "framing" that he brings to bear on just about any political subject.

Now, Feldman devotes a book to taking on leading "conservatives" like Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, James Dobson, Wayne LaPierre, Pat Buchanan, and Bill O'Reilly. Honestly, it's hard to know which of these characters is the worst, as Feldman lays out a strong case for why each is particularly heinous in their own unique and wondrous way.

Thus, LaPierre frames everything in terms of violence, the ever-present threat of violence, and the utter inability of law, government, or collective institutions of any kind to protect us from that (essentially inevitable) violence. Flowing from that bizarre worldview comes the only possible conclusion: you're on your own, they're coming to harm you, and you'd better be armed to the teeth when they do. As Feldman explains, "What LaPierre suggests is...a full-scale military escalation of civil society." Just as bad, LaPierre boils everything down to a false dichotomy -- a common strategy of right-wing political language - in which the only two choices are either "(A) we allow individuals the "right to carry" guns or (B) we allow criminals to make victims of more and more Americans." That's it, end of discussion. Which, come to think of it, is exactly what the Wayne LaPierres of the world wanted in the first place. How convenient.

And on and on it goes, from Pat Buchanan's "constant narrative on the death of American civilization at the hands of a new Barbarian invasion" (from Mexico, that is) to Ann Coulter's bizarre claim that "the American left had been fighting and concealing its designs to destroy America for over half a century," to - perhaps most disturbingly of all - James Dobson's violent, sex-obsessed and pain-laden "fear and punishment rhetoric" aimed at undermining any possibility of a "common good" in American society.

At this point, you might be thinking, "how depressing, why would I want to read this?" For starters, despite the disturbing subject matter, Feldman's skills as a writer make this is actually a highly enjoyable book to read - almost a "page turner," if you can believe it. Second, Feldman doesn't just lay out the evils of the right-wing pundits he discusses in his book, he also lays out "six suggestions to resolve the problem of violent language in the American political media." Finally, as Feldman writes at the end of his book, "[w]e cannot, as Orwell warned, 'change this all in a moment'" but "we can change one political debate at a time with the simple act of making new choices about how to write and speak." This book will help us do so.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, August 20, 2008

By	N. Gonzalez - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It was hard to put down this book because it is written so well. The pages just flow. Feldman does an amazing job articulating what's going on with the far-right's assault on dialogue. It was about time someone provided such a clear framework for understanding what the right wing is doing through its extremist spokespeople. Even stories that you might already know about become interesting because of the fresh and clear perspective of Feldman's analysis. If you care about our democracy you HAVE to read this book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why violent language hurts the political process, December 2, 2008

By	Laurie Holden (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just because Barack Obama was elected President does not mean the pugnacious pundits will pass for the next few years; no, in their parlance they will "be reloading for the next phase of the war," and "firing" before the last words of the inaugural address have been spoken.

That's why concerned citizens should read Outrageous Barbarous by Jeffrey Feldman: to know the extent of the right wing's reckless hyperbole, to understand why using language that "takes no prisoners" bullies the rest of us from thoughtful dialogue on paramount problems, and gives us insight on how to counter those efforts without resorting to the same tactics, or abridging anyone's speech.

Feldman's book is an excellent and clear essay on violent rhetoric as carefully documented on seven or eight key issues - rhetoric so extravagant and voluminous that it sweeps against the public like recurring tsunamis, and, like them, washes away collected reasoning and dry wit.

There are several key thoughts like `community', `pragmatism' and `common good' that Feldman develops to great advantage, but none so clarifying and poignant to describe that which is lacking in the right wing barrage as the word, 'deliberative'.

Recapturing the process of putting one foot ahead of another is this wonderful concept of deliberating, and the author shares some of his reasoned ideas in returning us to a deliberative process. A must read for those still reeling from Rambo rhetoric and for those who want to take steps for a "kinder, gentler America."