Following the announcement of a new national emergency alert system that will alert the public to significant emergencies via mobile phone messages, right-wing media have attacked the plan, claiming that it will allow "Dear Leader Obama To Send You Text Messages." But the plan was implemented as a result of legislation introduced by GOP Sen. Jim DeMint that was overwhelmingly passed by Congress in 2006 and accompanied by an executive order signed by President Bush.
After more than five years of planning, a national emergency alert system that will send messages to cellphones during disasters is set to be launched in New York City and Washington by the end of year.The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, said the Commercial Mobile Alert System will direct messages to cellphones in case of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other serious emergency. The plan was approved by Congress in 2006.Genachowski and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's administrator, Craig Fugate, said the new system will be selective. "These are really focused on the highest levels of alerts, and those that require urgent action,'' he said.There will be at least three levels of messages, ranging from a critical national alert from the president to warnings about impending or occurring national disasters to alerts about missing or abducted children. People will be able to opt out of receiving all but the presidential alerts. [AP, 5/10/11]
this is an excellent example of the hypocrisy and misinformation manufactured by the elephant dung factory of the right wing. looks like the leaped again without reading what the story was, because it sure is not what they are trying to put out there.
Right-Wing Media Attack Alert System And "Dear Leader Obama"
Hoft: "Terrific...Dear Leader Obama To Send You Text Messages." In a May 10 post on the right-wing blog Gateway Pundit titled, "Terrific...Dear Leader Obama to Send You Text Messages," blogger Jim Hoft wrote, " 'Hello Gun-Toting, Bible Thumpers... This is Barry.' A new national plan being implemented in New York will allow Barack Obama will send you text message alerts." [Gateway Pundit, 5/10/11]Drudge: "Phones Required To Receive 'Homeland' Alerts." A top story on the Drudge Report on May 10 linked to a CBS New York article on the program under the headline, "Phones Required To Receive 'Homeland' Alerts." The Drudge Report also featured a link with the headline, "Cellphone warnings to include urgent texts from the president..." From the Drudge Report:
this beats all the stupid put forward during election cycle rolled into one, are they hiding in their attics, i would show my face with egg all over it.
[Drudge Report, 5/10/11]The Blaze: "Mandated Messages: The President And Homeland Security Coming To Your Cell Phone." In a May 10 post, The Blaze posted part of the CBS New York article under the headline, "Mandated Messages: The President And Homeland Security Coming To Your Cell Phone." [The Blaze, 5/10/11]Limbaugh: Alert System Is "Nightmare Material." On the May 10 edition of his radio show, Rush Limbaugh introduced stories he claimed were "qualified to be nightmare material." The first story he cited was the new national emergency alert system. Limbaugh asked, "Why stop at emergencies?" and suggested that the Obama administration might use the alerts to send messages about "whatever it is that they want to push." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 5/10/11]
