A few years ago, it occurred to me that some right-leaning talk show hosts do more damage than good for our cause. As a conservative, I find it frustrating that people who are supposedly on our side can do so much damage, and negatively impact the very causes they claim to support.
I think there are several tiers of talk show hosts that are right-leaning. The classiest of all talk show hosts has to be Dennis Prager. He does not personally attack guests or subjects of discussion, and treats callers with considerable respect and dignity. Callers, though they may be corrected, return to his show day after day because they were not abused or called names. Thus, Prager is able to continually teach and persuade, which he does very successfully.
Tier two contains, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh. They are only on a different tier than Prager because they often hit back harder, and can sometimes go after callers and guests who display egregious idiocy. They are far more classy than tier five, however, and they dialog and not attack their guests, and treat callers respectfully.
Tier five includes Mark Levin and Michael Savage. There are no tiers three or four, indicating just how bad is tier five. Though Levin isn't quite as bad as Savage, he attacks callers and attempts to make them feel stupid. He calls them names and attacks them personally. Savage's show is just disgusting on all levels. There is simply nothing redeeming about it, and it is nothing short of an embarrassment to Republican and conservative ideals. It is my belief that the hosts in this tier do far more harm to our causes than good. And though I agree with them on many issues, I simply can't listen to their shows. Most good people I know can't either.
In Phoenix, we have two talk show hosts that are also in tier five. Those are JD Hayworth and Bruce Jacobs. Jacobs, a vehemently anti-Catholic bigot, has nothing to offer people besides personal attacks. Accidentally catching his show this morning, I heard him say Barack Obama "hates" this country. Then he went on to attack Michelle Obama personally. I was disgusted. No honest person believes Obama "hates" America. JD Hayworth has great stuff to say, but is still on the same attack-dog track that cost him his last election. He comes off as angry and belligerent, and it's a big turnoff to listeners.
I think Republican and conservative causes would be much better served if certain talk show hosts would learn to display class and decency. Disagree with people on issues all you want, but be honest, respectful, and polite. It is those qualities - those exemplified by the hosts in the first two tiers - that draw people into our causes. Education, persuasion and example succeed, not attacks and anger - two tools usually attributed to the left.
If we want to continue to win elections and help Americans learn about the correctness of our causes, the rest of us - the listeners, need to rebel against the jackals who embarrass us all.
Recent Comments