Talkback king did the right thing by his country [Orbituary: Australian Stan Zemanek]

The Austrealian ^ | July 13, 2007 | John Ruddick

[Oztrich Boy]

IN the past two decades, talkback radio has become such a powerful political force in the US that conservative giant Rush Limbaugh is a household name in middle America. Ironically, the person to whom Rush most owes his success is Bill Clinton. Although the former Democratic president is widely remembered as a centrist, he governed as a liberal during his first two years in the White House. His arrival in Washington, DC, in 1993 coincided with Rush's skyrocketing ratings.
...
Meanwhile, in Australia, Stan Zemanek burst on to the scene. Just as Limbaugh's success was attributed to Clinton and the widespread conservative hostility towards him, Zemanek's success was largely due to Paul Keating and the conservative hostility he attracted. Zemanek, who died yesterday at the age of 60, proudly declared himself the most pro-Liberal Party broadcaster in Australia. But it was the Labor Party heartland of western Sydney that tuned in: again, as in the case of Limbaugh, in droves.
...
He was also instrumental in the nation's cultural realignment. Think about it. It is now possible to debunk many myths central to our view of society, once popular among enlightened Australians: that is to say, people who accept the assumptions of The Sydney Morning Herald and ABC world view. These include the following long-held beliefs: that welfarism and the perpetuation of tribal beliefs are the best way of achieving Aboriginal dignity; that separation and divorce do not harm children; that there is no downside to an excess of multiculturalism;
...
Zemanek may have been crude and perhaps even rude at times, but he nonetheless helped to dramatically change the public culture of the country for the better.

[Oztrich Boy]

And he reminded us forget about tofu and bean sprouts and stick to eating good old Aussie lamb chops.

[Aussie Dasher]

God rest his soul. RIP Stan.

[cousair]

I don’t know anything about the Aussie, Zemanek, but I do know Limbaugh, and his radio career which started long before 1993. In 1988 he was on the air and I determined I would listen until or if I heard him putting out garbage and/or unthuths about the political world in which we live. Rush has built a huge audience and would have done so with or without Bill Clinton.

[kittymyrib]

Another liar heard from. I’m sure Rush will set the record straight about owing his fame to Billy Jeff, whom this imbecile writer calls “a centrist.” Rush was pulling in millions of listeners since 1988, long before the US suffered the Curse of the Clintons.

[thulldud]

Ironically, the person to whom Rush most owes his success is Bill Clinton. Although the former Democratic president is widely remembered as a centrist, he governed as a liberal during his first two years in the White House. His arrival in Washington, DC, in 1993 coincided with Rush's skyrocketing ratings.

Correlation, not causation. Slick Willie certainly provided Rush with a lot of usable material, but DC has always been a fertile soil for that sort of thing. The real change was in the marketplace, which had been stifled for decades by the dead hand of government coercion (can we say "Fairness Doctrine"). That credit goes to Ronaldus Magnus, right up there alongside the end of the Soviet empire.

[all_mighty_dollar]

>>>.....Limbaugh, and his radio career which started long before 1993....<<<

Agree, Rush was so well established by the time President Clinton was elected that the Dims(Dems) were actually hoping they would be able to curb his ratings with White House ‘help’ by 1993.

[cousair]

I am always amazed at the power of talk radio...indeed, it has become a real booster of the first ammendment! I do believe Rush had everything to do with downing this insane illegal immigration bill!