Jan 22 2008
The Fall Of Conservative Talk Radio
I have found it harder and harder to listen to the ranting and raving from conservative talk radio over the last two years. Their mindless purity wars and incessant insults against those who do not follow them without question has made it impossible to listen for more than 5 minutes before hunting for some music – any music, … even smooth jazz! They are truly bad when it gets to immigration, where they rant endlessly about how horrible it is, even though they are the ones who gave us the current period of status quo because of their inability to deal with fines and back taxes as punishment for misdemeanor crimes.
Micheal Medved, who is one of the few sane “conservative” radio voices (because he is more moderate I suppose), nails conservative talk radio’s huge failure in SC:
The big loser in South Carolina was, in fact, talk radio: a medium that has unmistakably collapsed in terms of impact, influence and credibility because of its hysterical and one-dimensional involvement in the GOP nomination fight.
For more than a month, the leading conservative talkers in the country have broadcast identical messages in an effort to demonize Mike Huckabee and John McCain. If you’ve tuned in at all to Rush, Sean, Savage, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Mark Levin, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, and two dozen others you’ve heard a consistent drum beat of hostility toward Mac and Huck.
Now I have to note I oppose either one of these as the GOP candidate, but for very different reasons than those given by the hyper-partisan talking heads. Be that as it may, here is the bad news for the talkies:
Well, the two alleged “liberals,†McCain and Huckabee just swept a total of 63% of the Republican vote in deeply conservative South Carolina. Meanwhile, the two darlings of talk radio — Mitt Romney and, to a lesser extent, Fred Thompson—combined for an anemic 31% of the vote.
How conservative was the electorate that cast ballots on Saturday (in a big, ehtusiastic turnout despite inclement weather)? Exit polls showed 69% of GOP voters described themselves as “conservative†(as opposed to “liberal†or “moderate.â€) Among those self-styled conservatives, an overwhelming 61% went for Mac and Huck; only 35% for Mitt and Fred).
Fed Thompson was on just about every day, and it gave him a boost. But the summary numbers are devastating. You can’t run or lead on lick-spittle hate outside the fevered swamps of the left. Just doesn’t play well in the down-home, respectful, religious, hard working conservative coalition. Just won’t fly and shouldn’t fly. Medved has a good point:
McCain and Huckabee are both decent and principled conservatives –and so, for that matter, are Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Duncan Hunter (who’s due to leave the race within twenty-four hours). Isn’t it about time for the nation’s other high profile talkers to join me in acknowledging that we’ve got a group of outstanding candidates
each of whom, in his own way, represents different aspects of the Reagan legacy?
My issues with McCain and Huckabee is that their strengths on one or two issues are also reflected in other candidates who don’t require giving up on other conservative issues (like tax cuts). If I can get the strong support for the Iraq war we see in McCain also in Rudy, then why not also get Rudy’s record (and proposed plans) on tax cuts as well? Why give up tax cuts for strong defense when Rudy gives us both? Anyway, the point is we don’t need more Michael Savage’s, we need more George Bush’s and Ronald Reagan’s.
I like Medved. I believe he is a sane voice out there. I used to like Hewitt too, before he became a Mitt Romney campaign commercial. Prager in the morning here is sort of a daily sermon but I listen to a portion of his stuff. I used to listen to Dennis Miller but can’t anymore because of work.
It is good to see that the public is waking up and questioning all “authority” (i.e. opinions) whether left or right focused. I have always felt the 2 political parties have their own self interests to look out for first and the ‘appearance’ of a competitive election process is all they provide. Can anyone believe these individuals are the best either party has to offer America? No, politics is all about inventing problems that only higher taxes can address (but never solve) and then keeping your beak wet at the public till until your successors are installed and keep the ball rolling.
I think Medved is inferring a little too much from the South Carolina results.
KauaiBoy: Do you not think that, generally speaking, Romney, Giuliani, McCain or Huckabee qualify as exceptional individuals
For me my person who I would love to draft for President isn’t even in the race and I could give lots of reasons for why he would be better than a long shot than any one running on either side.
But I know he could never deal with the government agencies and how they allegedly run.
But if I could pull a rabbit out of the hat that would be Jack Welch retired CEO of General Electric.
AJ, follow your own advise here. Guliani never voted for the Bush tax cuts, he talked about it. Good for him and I support him for it. McCain’s opposition was principled (reduce spending) but I think ultimately the good of the cuts outweighed the negative drag on revenues. (Even true supply-siders don’t say that tax cuts are self-financing. They need to also be accompanied by spending cuts as well). If McCain supports them now, he is no different than Guliani.
Guliani deserves great credit for leadership on 911 and for transforming NYC. But spending increased in NYC under his tenure and he didn’t cut taxes. NYC is in a terrible fiscal situation long-term which he did little fiscally (obviously creating a safer NYC helps the fiscal situation) to aid. (Read the Manhattan Institute website, City Journal and NY Post for details). I don’t blame him, given his options but facts are facts.
I’m totally happy with RG as the R candidate, worts and all (and believe me, there are alot of worts) but his rhetoric on taxes is not supported with the facts. There are issues where I disagree with JM, but on the principle issues of the war (Gitmo is a secondary issue), fiscal responsibility, entitlement reform, earmark reform, judges (again, address the end results) he is fine.
Michael Medved is absolutely right here. Only Ron Paul is a principled conservative’s disaster because racism and anti-semitism are not conservative values. MM’s criticisms apply well beyond conservative talk radio. By all means support your candidate but your rhetoric about McCain is ridiculous. The conservative movement right now should be fundementally embarrassed. It has managed to confirm virtually every stereotype which is thrown at it by the left.
Vinman—while each are decent men (as far as politicians go) I wouldn’t say any are exceptional—-what happened to the country that gave us Washington, Lincoln, Edison, Patton and Mickey Mantle? I ask again—is this the best we can get or have we become accustomed to second rate character actors? We deserve and should demand better—–especially when I pay their salaries!!!!
Rich,
You clearly missed Rudy’s tax proposals – now that is a tax plan any conservative would love! You won’t see anything like it out of McCain.
I think this is a red herring issue. When has anyone relied upon talk radio to figure out who to vote for? Talk radio never claimed to be a king maker, so there is no fall that it has taken .. it was never elevated.
The reason talk radio had influence in the immigration bill was because the American people were of similiar mind on that topic and talk radio served the purpose of galvanising a “movement” that was already there.
This is nonsense. Conservative talkers are stronger than ever, even gaining numbers. SC primary said nothing about talk radio influence other than it held McCain’s numbers down. Remember that indies (& I think dems) also voted. The field was too splintered; Fred got his groove too late and McCain was riding wave of promo after Iowa & especially NH. Now with Fred out, let’s see how conservatives vote in the Florida primary, which is closed. If McCain were to win – I don’t think he will – the sole reason is because they think he can beat HRC. It’s pretty much a dead heat, let’s hope Mitt or Rudy win it.
I’d vote for McCain over any dem, but if you really inspect his total record, he is a moderate who leans LEFT (not right).