MSNBC Apologizes to Romney for Mentioning the Past

Yesterday AMERICAblog pointed out that the Romney campaign slogan “Keep America American” had been used in the past by the KKK. Today MSNBC referred to the AMERICAblog post and subsequently apologized in abjection for mentioning it.

The impact of MSNBC’s apology is twofold. Firstly, it makes clear that they serve at the beck and call of the powerful. Secondly, it adds to the usual media silence regarding the pattern of the Xenophobia and Nativism in this country’s past. Typically, if you refuse to notice the historical pattern, it does not disappear, but is allowed to grow.

On the other hand, to point out that a slogan and sentiment have been used before is not necessarily to conclude that the context or meaning is precisely the same this time around. MSNBC could have engaged in a thoughtful examination of any differences if they were so inclined, but Chris Matthews doesn’t do nuance.

AMERICAblog News: MSNBC apologizes to Romney campaign for mentioning our post about Romney using old KKK slogan