More proof that the American media has no idea what "socialism" is.

[Terminator X]

In a Tuesday night segment on The Last Word, Lawrence O’Donnell took Bill O’Reilly to task for his attack on Bill Maher’s definition of socialism, explaining, “socialism doesn’t mean that we’re against making a profit; it just means that government takes over certain things like hospitals, the prisons and the military and schools that shouldn’t be run for profit.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/20...litary-pinhea/


And also proof that liberals are more of a threat to leftists than conservatives. This idiot Lawrence O'Donnell is a capitalist through and through, but tries to align himself with the left and proclaim what socialism is and isn't, while thoroughly butchering and eviscerating the term of all actual meaning.

Fuck liberals and what passes for the "left" in the American media.

[GPDP]

Weren't a couple of people here defending this guy not too long ago?

[Rusty Shackleford]

oh god. Bill Oreily is a socialist too? what the fuck is odonnel on?

[Tablo]

Even if they did know what socialism is they aren't payed to defend it. Don't ever expect any nice treatment for real socialists.

[Rakhmetov]

They know what socialism is about; they just lie and mislead the masses for their own aggrandizement and the advancement of their friends in politics. In a certain narrow sense the bourgeoisie are more Marxist than we are. I'm sure they have read up in all of Marxist theories and Leninist doctrines. Don't believe they are foolish for one minute.

[robbo203]

They know what socialism is about; they just lie and mislead the masses for their own aggrandizement and the advancement of their friends in politics.

I question that. Few seem to grasp that what is being proposed is a fundamentally different kind of society in which there is neither a state nor a market. I think their ignorance is genuine and not helped by that fact that a large swathe of the left share the illusion that socialism is something to do with the state

[NoOneIsIllegal]

O'Donnell frequently addresses socialism as that. This wasn't one occurrence. He probably does it weekly or monthly, defending socialism as "public universities, public healthcare." He thinks "we are all socialists."

[Rakhmetov]

O'Donnell frequently addresses socialism as that. This wasn't one occurrence. He probably does it weekly or monthly, defending socialism as "public universities, public healthcare." He thinks "we are all socialists."

From Lenin's State & Revolution

"What is now happening to Marx's theory has, in the course of history, happened repeatedly to the theories of revolutionary thinkers and leaders of oppressed classes fighting for emancipation. During the lifetime of great revolutionaries, the oppressing classes constantly hounded them, received their theories with the most savage malice, the most furious hatred and the most unscrupulous campaigns of lies and slander. After their death, attempts are made to convert them into harmless icons, to canonize them, so to say, and to hallow their names to a certain extent for the “consolation” of the oppressed classes and with the object of duping the latter, while at the same time robbing the revolutionary theory of its substance, blunting its revolutionary edge and vulgarizing it. Today, the bourgeoisie and the opportunists within the labor movement concur in this doctoring of Marxism. They omit, obscure, or distort the revolutionary side of this theory, its revolutionary soul. They push to the foreground and extol what is or seems acceptable to the bourgeoisie. All the social-chauvinists are now “Marxists” (don't laugh!). And more and more frequently German bourgeois scholars, only yesterday specialists in the annihilation of Marxism, are speaking of the “national-German” Marx, who, they claim, educated the labor unions which are so splendidly organized for the purpose of waging a predatory war!"

[Pretty Flaco]

O'Donnell frequently addresses socialism as that. This wasn't one occurrence. He probably does it weekly or monthly, defending socialism as "public universities, public healthcare." He thinks "we are all socialists."

Is he a social dem? I've never heard of him.
But I think even the increase in support for social democrats is an improvement for american politics. better them than the hardcore libertarians, republicans, and false prophet democrats.

[Rafiq]

Don't jump on him.

Who cares about names?

In the U.S. socialism is defined as the same as social democracy, which is what this guy adheres to.

Never the less, we need a name change.

Like slevoj zizek has said, communism is something that has been ressurecting since ancient times.

Communism always re invents itself.

[Rafiq]

Is he a social dem? I've never heard of him.
But I think even the increase in support for social democrats is an improvement for american politics. better them than the hardcore libertarians, republicans, and false prophet democrats.

Is increase of rightist Libertarianism good because It's "better" than hardcore neo nazis, and fascists?

[Rusty Shackleford]

What pop culture recognizes as socialism and what socialism is actually defined as are two very different things.



Its still socialism we advocate, not this heap of baby diapers they advocate.

[~Spectre]

Weren't a couple of people here defending this guy not too long ago?

That guy was restricted to OI.

[Koba1917]

I've heard this be the common thought of what Socialism is from many people where I live. It's sad really. I use to think that's what it was until I took my time to see the true theory behind it. America honestly needs to be educated on this subject. If they were I think a lot more people would accept it.

[Rakhmetov]

Post Script:

These are all unMarxist socialist. We, on the other hand, are radical socialists of Marxist persuasion, who are bent on nationalizing not only the healthcare system, schools, prisons, and military but also the hotels, banks, tele-communication companies, the press, the major industries, the oil sector, etc.

[Ocean Seal]

I question that. Few seem to grasp that what is being proposed is a fundamentally different kind of society in which there is neither a state nor a market. I think their ignorance is genuine and not helped by that fact that a large swathe of the left share the illusion that socialism is something to do with the state

I likewise question whether these people actually know what socialism is. Or whether they think that the socialism is referring to is welfare and social services. As much as I hate doing this I really think that having a letter writing campaign to Lawrence O'Donell could help. I mean its not revolutionary or anything, but it could at least help us reclaim the word.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

Is he a social dem? I've never heard of him.

Lawrence O'Donnell is one of the morons among MSNBC's nightly commentator block. Wikipedia: "He began his career as an aide to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and was Staff Director for the Senate Finance Committee."

Also wiki:
O'Donnell calls himself a "practical European socialist" in a Newsmaker Interview dated November 11, 2005.[22] On November 6, 2010, O'Donnell re-declared himself a socialist on the "Morning Joe" show. The MSNBC host stated, "Unlike you, I am not a progressive. I am not a liberal who is so afraid of the word that I had to change my name to progressive. Liberals amuse me. I am a socialist. I live to the extreme left, the extreme left of you mere liberals ..."


Wow, talk about an elitist douche...

complete idiocy:

+ YouTube Video

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

everyone knows the media runs everything, and this is the reason we have such intolerance's for everyone they don't like

[not a leftist]

Well, socialism means a subversion of private industry, transaction and property to the state, so isn't far off. It's pretty broad and everyone seems to have their own specific definition of what it is to fit their worldview, like a "no true scotsman"

[dernier combat]

Well, socialism means a subversion of private industry, transaction and property to the state, so isn't far off.

But that's wrong you fucking pillock.

It's pretty broad and everyone seems to have their own specific definition of what it is to fit their worldview, like a "no true scotsman"

Marx differed from many of the utopian socialists in this way. However, they don't actually exist anymore, and the left today always refers to Marx's socialism (or Bakunin's, or Kropotkin's, which are essentially the same).