Deygirl and I decided very spontaneously to take on this subject. One poster had mentioned that someone should write an article about the manipulation at Huffington Post. First it was suggested that the poster him- or herself should take on the job – until deygirl brought up the idea that several people could join in the endeavor.  This idea instantly hit home and got us, thanks to AdLib showing up in the right moment, going. I have to admit, I had NO clue how fast deygirl would get the ball rolling! Having had the idea of such a project on my mind for some time, I was nowhere near getting it started. But she immediately published Part 1 of the “Invite For Collaboration” and so: here we are! Processing the reactions on deygirl’s thread and piecing them together with my ideas, the project soon burst its boundaries of one single article. The sheer amount of material pointed towards an ongoing series named

Secrets From Beyond The Emerald Curtain

– An investigation into the Huffington Post and its founder –

The goal of this endeavor is to bring out the truth on this subject AND make it known to a wider public later on, either as a synopsis of all the articles or in a somewhat abbreviated version of the entire series. This will depend on our findings and what makes sense at that point. (Possible earnings out of this endeavor go solely to the administrators of Planet POV and are meant to be donated to projects to their liking that help America as well as to Planet POV.)

Moreover, by reading and working on this ongoing series many of us may become aware for the first time of the sheer magnitude of the betrayal as well as of the fierce manipulation that took place behind the scenes.Therefore the process is also meant to purge and induce healing.

A wide range of themes will be covered: how we innocently came to Huff, how we found out that the founder may never be criticized, how our opinions increasingly were muzzled and meaningful dialogue amongst each other was hindered, to connecting the dots what the misleading headlines were for, how manipulation was used on purpose and how this in the end worked so very well to establish another billion dollar empire which does neither report the news nor serve the American people. Turns out, Huffington is not the progressive she had claimed to be, her outlet with AOL as the owner is fiercely neocon and her lifestyle doesn’t even remotely match her claim that she’s someone who “fights 3rd world America” and stands for the middle class. I’m sorry, but I have to throw up, really!  Oh, never mind that she’s flying first class all the time. After all, this is the norm for every middle class champion with 6000 slaves, aka citizen journalists.

All the while the President was working extremely hard to improve the lives of everybody. Painted by the right-wing media as either a Do-Nothing-And-Ever-So-Weak-President or a totalitarian Dictator in turns or even simultaneously, Mr. Obama is silently doing the needful, step by step. According to his promise he has highest respect for the democratic process. That means, he respects the role of House and Senate. Nevertheless he is blamed for everything that is not instantly fixed, no matter how dire the situation really has been. And curiously, left-wingers, who during the Bush years were screaming for more democracy, now accused him of being a spineless wimp. Ah, the irony!

But then this tendency is VERY much to the liking of Arianna Huffington. After seeing the revenue going down once the elections 2008 were over, she started bashing the President almost before he even sat down in the Oval Office for the first time. Her concerted and relentless effort to paint the President as a two-faced, weak liar and sell-out soon bore its foul fruit. Bill Maher, another so called progressive, chimed in. The floodgates were opened. The left weakened itself by ranting against their own people while the tea-partiers got undue media attention to make it look as if they alone speak for “the American people”. After some time I realized there is nearly no mention of any protests from the left on Huffington Post.

Unruffled and calm as usual, the President continues his work, trying to do the best under the given circumstances. Many of his own people don’t have his back, accusing him not to have theirs. Moreover, by pitting President Obama and half term ex-governor Palin into a highly imaginary fight against each other (- the President has barely acknowledged the latter’s existence-) Huffington increases revenue. At the same time she abuses the two of them masterfully to deflect from her own countless shortcomings. Secretly admiring both and knowing she’ll never come anywhere close to President Obama – neither in excellency of character nor in intelligence or skills – she emulates her secret idol Palin, who has very much the same problem with the President as Huffington and by nature is very close to her own narcissistic, if not megalomaniac,  personality.

As much as I dislike Palin, I almost feel sorry for her playing a useful idiot to Huffington (and other media, for that matter). At least Palin  has something that remotely resembles core values, whereas Arianna follows what is fashionable and profitable for her at any given time. The AOL sellout and the ensuing final decay of the HP proves beyond doubt who in reality is the two-faced and inconsistent person she was painting the President to be. Sad enough, countless liberal and progressive people are still buying into her narrative, in spite of the fact that her betrayal and falseness are as obvious as Palin’s and that she is on record stating Huffington Post is NOT a progressive outlet. To drive home this point succinctly is one more important goal of this project.

So far several posters indicated that they would like to participate in the project. They and everyone else who is interested to join please contact this email: 2emeraldcurtain@gmail.com

Whoever wants, can also participate under a different name. I’m quite sure the HP accounts of those who dare to speak out – even on another outlet – are prone to be deleted if the person is easily recognizable. (Should this happen, thanks for the additional material, Arianna.)

In any case, if you choose to take part please state what you would like to write about and why, or what else you would like to do. Besides writers we need one person to create the ongoing theme/title for the series of about 15 episodes, a cartoonist to brighten up the affair and to cut right to the chase of the matter, as well as an illustrator who can bring a fairy tale atmosphere, including wicked witch and all, to the story.

The writer’s subjects range from innocently showing up at HP to the increasing censoring, the zero tolerance of criticizing the founder even mildly, disappearance of well thought out posts, stifling and muzzling of dialogue, experience of being threatened and/or banned, rude put-downs when confronting HP for anything, misleading headlines including the ensuing riling users up against the right and then ourselves on a daily basis, comparison of Palin’s and Huffington’s personalities, the influence of Huffington’s cult, the constant put-down of President Obama: political reasons or only for the money? etc.

A sales manager could prepare him- or herself in the background… Wouldn’t it be NICE to make a good buck on Huffington for a change?!? Ha! This however is only going to happen, if some of you excellent writers and artists join into the effort. A simple rookie like me won’t cut it… My dear Planeteers, you inspired me. Thank you, and sure enough more ideas are most welcome.

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JackRusselTerrier
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JackRusselTerrier

I sent this to their tip section…

My comment at the bottom of this “tip” was made on a thread which was NOT fully moderated, titled – “Pro-Union Website ‘Defend Wisconsin’ Blocked In Capitol”

It is a waste of time to comment on HP. I rarely come to your site anymore. There is no rhyme or reason in your moderation policy. You have zero consistency. I’ve seen comments which violated no policy whatsoever get scrubbed. I’ve seen disruptive and abusive posters achieve pundit status. People use extra socks to game the system. They make a rude comment and flag it with the other sock. Eventually they achieve moderation status for flagging their own comments. They use this power to delete dissenting opinions. Word filters have no discerning ability. You have them set high to censure the majority of the English language. Your articles are designed to create controversy not foster solutions. It’s all about the clicks. How sad. This website had so much potential. Now it’s just one more MSM propaganda machine. You are not helping. You are dividing the nation which allows the plutocrats to continue their version of the status quo.

“This comment is pending approval and won’t be displayed until it is approved.

Do you think Homeland Security will be used to protect you or to protect those in power from you?

Welcome to the New World Order”

JRT

intotheabyss
Member
intotheabyss

One of the angles I was hoping to use in this collaboration is Arianna’s membership in that strange cult. I spent a fair amount of time doing a Google search on the subject. I found I had to wade through a ton of right wing allegations of her “communist upbringing”. Her parents were apparently opposed to the US backed fascist dictatorship that was ruling Greece at the time. Horrors! The right, for the most part is still buying the meme that Ms. H. is a lefty. The reason I wanted to bring up the cult involvement is because I think a lot of her devotes aren’t aware of it and would find it disconcerting. After finding it difficult to gather much information on the subject, I think it merits a mention, but the larger story is more likely her chameleon like political persona. She obviously changes her stripes when ever it suits her monetary needs, not to mention her insatiable thirst for attention. I’ll work on putting something together from that angle instead.

jkkFL
Guest

I did a bit of digging on that angle and found this somewhat lengthy expose from CultHelp.. a source that I have occasionally used for info on other news..I can’t totally vouch for their info, but they seem to be fairly straightforward.

http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=828&Itemid=10&limit=1&limitstart=7
If anyone wants to use this reference as part of their article, they are welcome to it..
Cults creep me out, and I don’t really want to study this info in detail, having been on the fringes of cults in an earlier life.

Chernynkaya
Member

This is a perfect example of HP’s slant:

Daley, Chief Of Staff, Earned $8.7 Million From JPMorgan Last Year

What a shock– a guy who worked for Wall St made too much money. We already know that Daley worked on Wall St–HP blasted that from the rooftops. We get it. But to mention his salary again–why? No other reason than to solidify the narrative that Obama is a corporate tool.

But here’s an odd thing: I saw this story and was going to comment about it, but I was gone for an hour. Came back, and the story was removed from HP–I had to Google it. What’s up with that??

And these stories? I don’t believe that they are published to show what asshats the Repubs are; I believe they are published to MAKE THE SAME POINT AND REPEAT THE MEMES!

“Bachmann: Obama Makes Jimmy Carter Look Like Rambo”

“Donald Rumsfeld: Obama Didn’t Deserve The Nobel Peace Prize”

And get a load of THIS:
“RNC Chips Away At Massive Debt” Really? What a great Party, huh?

And what are we to make of this:
“Bachmann On How ‘Inner Assurance,’ Prayer Will Impact 2012 Plans” IMO, that headline is way too supportive.

Oh, and how about this from Sam {{SPIT}}} Stein:

“Texas Dems To Fleeing Wisconsin Lawmakers: ‘Call Your Spouses For Conjugal Visits’ ”

Really, Sam?? THAT”S the important message about Wisconsin, you asswipe?

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

This is an interesting opportunity to hoist the Empress on her own petard. But don’t confuse the issue of demonizing Her with lauding the President. Sooner or later, you will find that Pres. Obama has been just as neocon and duplicitous as Arianna has been, and you’ll find this article is naught but a fan letter to Obama.

choicelady
Member

Evidence please? I have yet to have anyone show me a single fact – oh, sure, lots of allegations – about his actually doing something that is in sync with the neo-conservatives.

KQµårk 死神
Member

Most people don’t even know what neo-cons are when they say that. The biggest tenant of neo-cons is spreading democracy through force and propaganda. President Obama has done just the opposite especially when dealing with situations like Egypt, Iran and Libya. He’s shown the utmost restraint and pragmatic foreign policy in matters that originated in his presidency.

HelenWheels
Member

THere is much, much, MUCH more to the neocon agenda. Most of it doesn’t even have to do with world-domination. Most of it has to do with dominating every single person in this country. Right now their agenda is busting the unions, for example. Corporatizing schoools….etc. They already spent 30 years dummying us down. I can’t even think of an aspect in our lives in which they aren’t in charge and are making worse…. whether it’s climate change, attempts at new energy sources, poisoning the environment, etc. They are dominating it all.

HelenWheels
Member

If you read Glenn Greenwald, you will see the whole gamut. It is true, but I realize it’s very hard for people to support Obama to believe.

In any case, you’ll see it in time, sadly. Believe me, I’m not happy about all I know.

🙁

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Arianna Huffington, in all her glory, is a public figure and is, therefore, wide open to public comment. For those writing an article on her, “Comment away”!! (It’s the least anyone could do. :))

biznesschic
Member
biznesschic

Ha. I too was puzzled by HP lack of support for the president. The misleading headlines and the unflattering pictures of our president left me wondering “whats going on here”, until Ms H posted a holiday staff picture. The lack of diversity in the racial and age makeup of her staff rivaled a young republican convention. Clearly, it did not represent the Democratic party.

Funny thing is, when some of us posters called her out, an article,(with pictures) of her work with the Harlem school for girls miraculously appeared, and a month later, we “colored” folks got our own black section. Laughable isn’t it?

choicelady
Member

Arianna was a supporter of Hillary’s. Hillary is deeply tied to the Dominionist right pseudo Christians in having Doug Coe, leader of C Street and The Family as her pastor and mentor. AH supported that crowd for YEARS during her halcyon days with Newt, her own husband, et al., so I think she and Hillary were and are in sync. I do not trust Hillary. I do not trust Arianna – I think the march of the Dominionists is the most dangerous phenomenon in America, and these two lead the pack. Obama specifically distances himself from the core corporatists surrounding the C Street folks and he ascribes to very different principles of morality. His victory then was a disaster for C Street and their web of CIA, Cold War neo-cons, and those who believe American Exceptionalism means we wade in, guns blazing, into every hiccup in every nation in the world. His refusal to do that – to ratify Honduran RW coup leaders, his willingness to stay OUT of Egypt and now other MidEast upheaveals – is the first time since before WW II, maybe since the War of 1898, that we’ve ceased to impose US imperial goals on every other nation.

So not only is Hillary far more embedded in the traditional imperial mind set of C Street and their allies but Obama is a direct threat to them. Arianna, as part of the former network of RW imperialists, needs to bring Obama down. She is the most duplicitous person using progressive memes to undermind progressive actions and thus secure the RW forever and a day. It’s her real people. It’s he real home.

KB723
Guest
KB723

choicelady, I find your comments astounding. BRAVO!!!

escribacat
Member

Choicelady, I actually wasn’t reading HuffnPuff much during the primaries in 2008 but I understood from other posters that the site was viciously bashing Hillary throughout the primaries.

mairs
Member
mairs

I remember her from California when her husband spent what at the time was a record-breaking amount of money in his Senate race. She was a tireless supporter of her husband’s campaign, Gingrich’s contract on America, and the Religious Right. I saw it as opportunism when they were divorced and she seemingly took up for the other side. How does one, as a very intelligent adult with a seemingly sophisticated and fully developed world view, flip like that. I couldn’t get a grasp of what mattered to HER. Was she simply doing everything she could to maker her husband a success, including becoming a Republican’s Republican, regardless of her personal views? What.

You can observe seemingly inexplicable human behavior which starts to makes sense as you gather the puzzle pieces together.

Artist50
Member
Artist50

I am Ariana’s age and I don’t believe you just “flip” like that in your forties. By that age you have certain core values that aren’t going to change – oh you may change your mind about a particular issue but you either believe the government has a role in helping society or you don’t. That core value of helping poor people or supporting higher education for everyone and putting people before corporations is not something you change your mind about. I think AH blows with the wind.

jkkFL
Guest

The Ultimate Opportunist??

Abbyrose86
Member

Okie dokie, reading the above somehow reminded me of reading “wicked” is there a correlation?

SO Arianna is actually Glenda! Makes sense!

I’m really seeing the parallels…of course please understand…(DISCLAIMER) I’m the only person in my group of friends who HAS NOT SEEN THE PLAY even though I WAS the FIRST ONE TO READ THE BOOK YEARS AGO, WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT and WAS THE ONE TO suggest EVERYONE else read it…and SINCE tickets for the play have JUST gone on sale last WEEK, and WHEN I SAW the prices I got ill…MY MIND is on the play!

Ok…back to the subject at hand….This is really a good topic and quite honestly does parallel the story of “Wicked” and the idea that there are those who we think are our friends, but really aren’t and they use us for their own gain…not to mention the political issues brought up in the story as well.

Arianna= Glenda.

Fictional stories have such a great way of helping us see the truth in real life, don’t they?

Glenda in “Wicked” was ALL about enriching herself even if it meant throwing others under the bus, even her ‘friend’ or those who helped her get where she was…(I’m not talking about the play here, but the book! ).

And Arianna is the EXACT same way…she has no scruples .not really…her only concern is ARIANNA. SHE”S actually not that opaque about HER real agenda…actions speak louder than words!

jkkFL
Guest

As a novice I don’t have anything substantial I could contribute, but I would be very curious to hear about the cult-type religion, and it’s influence at HP, having heard that here for the first time..
I would be happy to help also, I am pretty good at proofing, so if you find a need for additional eyes- mine are available!

chasethis
Member
chasethis

jkkFL–PROOFERS UNITE! There can never be too many eyes on the written word.