Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pornography
1857, "description of prostitutes," from Fr. pornographie, from Gk. pornographos "(one) writing of prostitutes," from porne "prostitute," originally "bought, purchased" (with an original notion, probably of "female slave sold for prostitution;" related to pernanai "to sell," from PIE root per- "to traffic in, to sell," cf. L. pretium "price") + graphein "to write." Originally used of classical art and writing; application to modern examples began 1880s. Main modern meaning "salacious writing or pictures" represents a slight shift from the etymology, though classical depictions of prostitution usually had this quality. Pornographer is earliest form of the word, attested from 1850. Pornocracy (1860) is "the dominating influence of harlots," used specifically of the government of Rome during the first half of the 10th century by Theodora and her daughters.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Although I can admit to being a subscriber and daily reader of the New York Times, I consider myself fortunate to have avoided an addiction to political pornography. Just as sexual pornographers use the underbelly of human sexuality with all of its innuendoes to flame the basest instincts that dwell within us for arousal and profit, so do the political pornographers reach for our phobias, prejudices and low self esteem for partisan aggrandizement and profit.
The workplace or playground for America's political pornographers is talk radio and cable news networks. Political pornographers have legal and widespread access to every nook and cranny of our country. They travel in our cars, talk to us while we eat our dinners, and they can reach us at work or school on our computers. They are the celebrities of the new millennium. Some earn over $40,000,000 per year and have been on the cover of the New York Time Magazine. The most noted political pornographers include: Bill O'Reilly, Al Franken, Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, Jack Cafferty, Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, and Chris Matthews. They are liberals, conservatives, Democrats, and Republicans.
They command similar recognition and loyalty as did faith healers like 
AA Allen and Peter Popoff or snake oil salesmen. They tell their listeners and viewers what they want to hear. They are not bound by editorial review and story enhancement is fair game and part of the appeal in their message. Unverified stories are immediately aired and, if later found to be not true, a clarification may or may not follow at a later date. Some of their stories or diatribes make political attack ads seem as tame as Dr. Seuss stories.
Why isn't there a twelve step program targeted to help those who cannot stop listening or watching political pornography? Having talked to people about these shows I hear comments like:
"I can stop anytime."
"I only listen in my car when I cannot find any good music on the radio."
"I find it entertaining."
"I don't let these shows influence my political views."
"They are no different than the [New York Times] [The Post]."
These sound like cries for help to me.
Let me paraphrase the leading etymology quote for "pornography" and modify it for "political pornography".
Pondit Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
political pornography
1857, "description of political prostitutes," from Fr. pornographie, from Gk. pornographos "(one) writing of prostitutes," from porne "prostitute," originally "bought, purchased" (with an original notion, probably of "partisan political opinions sold for prostitution;" related to pernanai "to sell," from PIE root per- "to traffic in, to sell," cf. L. pretium "price") + graphein "to write." Originally used of classical art and writing; application to modern broadcasting examples began 1980s. Main modern meaning "salacious writing or pictures" represents a slight shift from the etymology, though classical depictions of political prostitution usually had this quality. Pornographer is earliest form of the word, attested from 1850. Political pornocracy (1860) is "the dominating influence of political harlots," used specifically of the government of Rome during the first half of the 10th century by Theodora and her daughters. Modern examples are found on 77 Talk Radio and MSNBC.
Pondit Etymology Dictionary (apologies to Online Etymology Dictionary)
2 comments:
I know some someone who cannot get enough of conservative radio. When she defends it and tells me it is better than liberal radio shows, I cannot disagree but just correct her that they are equally bad.
I find the liberal shows off putting because they think they are smarter than their conservative counterparts but are just as good at alienating liberals.
When did the liberals steal the title "free thinking"? That to me is the issue, since liberals have taken free thinking, conservatives make them out to be people who have no religion
I recently read a story:
A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist and a member of the ACLU.
One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you exactly 15 minutes.” The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, “Here I am God. I’m still waiting.” It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform.
The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, “What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?”
The Marine calmly replied, “God was too busy today protecting America ’s soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid stuff and act like an a$$. So, He sent me.”
See, conservatives buy the idea that liberals are smarter to. Since the story teller is trying to show you that the professor (implying smart, free thinking) was evil, because he was an atheist AND a member of the ACLU - well that just proves that he is a liberal, he is a member of the ACLU.
So, think carefully before you admit to being a member of the ACLU, a college professor or a liberal - this will mean you have no family families because only religious people have family values...
Perhaps if the McCain/Palin ticket is not victorious, Sarah can get a talk show and give Rush a run for his money? She is much more appealing than he is.
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