Posted on 08/07/2007 4:10:39 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Depending on what side of the debate you're on, conservative talk radio shows are either to thank or to blame for the collapse of the Senate's most recent attempt at immigration reform.
The backlash against the Rush Limbaughs, Laura Ingrahams and the Sean Hannitys of the broadcast world came just weeks before last Saturday's 20th anniversary of the FCC decision to abolish the Fairness Doctrine, which had required broadcasters to balance conservative and liberal views in their daily broadcasts.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and other legislators maneuvered to bring the issue back to the fore, with little result, but they are vowing to keep fighting for changes. Meanwhile, Chicago broadcasters are digging in -- and speaking out about how they will use their air-time to shape the immigration debate in the months to come.
"I started out going after corrupt politicians, then the Minuteman Project and the immigration issue took on a life of its own," said Rick Biesada, a truck driver and director of the Chicago Minuteman Project who hosts a weekly one-hour show on Elmhurst-based WJJG-AM (1530). "Talk radio is a conservative medium. People listening are people like me -- people who drive a truck for a living listen to the news."
Hounding politicians Others working within earshot of a radio are listening in Spanish, and while the reach and influence of Spanish language radio has been credited with mobilizing the immigrant rights movement, its impact on the national debate has been minimal. "We need to find a way for this community to talk back," said Jorge Mujica, the leader of the March 10 Movement, which is credited with organizing thousands of people in various marches over the last year. He's a frequent Spanish language radio guest but says, "I don't feel comfortable calling [an English language talk radio show] if I know someone's going to mock me."
"It's a serious thing and I'm not up-to-date in the English media," he said. "It's like a separate reality."
Mujica pointed to the difference between the loosely connected Spanish language media and the high level of organization most conservative talk show hosts bring to the table. "They provide their listeners with names, phone numbers and e-mails to call politicians. Then it becomes a reality for the politicians," Mujica said.
Rather than relying on national radio shows to reach local people, Pilsen's RadioArte sends original bilingual programming to about 430,000 people in a 14-mile radius. "We are a response to some of the rhetoric both in conservative talk radio and some Spanish language shows," said general manager Silvia Rivera. "There is some responsibility that comes when you're talking about mobilizations and how issues are covered."
Effect on elections Her response to the ire and -- some say -- racism toward illegal immigrants is that it's just the newest hot topic. "It's immigration now, but before it was gay/lesbian rights and before that abortion," said Rivera. "It's sort of a David and Goliath battle." Responding to oft-hurled accusations of racism, conservative WLS morning host Jerry Agar, himself a Canadian immigrant, says people complaining about such shows just didn't like them to begin with. "In a debate, [critics] should be pointing out what is wrong with my position instead of talking about racism," said Agar. "If you've reduced yourself to just calling me a racist, then I've already won."
With the Senate bill behind them, conservative talk show hosts, unfazed by lingering talk about revival of the Fairness Doctrine, are turning their focus to supporting local anti-immigration ordinances and shaping the upcoming elections. "Next we want to vote the pro-open-border Republicans out of office," said Biesada.
ecepeda@suntimes.com
Push and press and shape the news all you want, because this issue of immigration will really be settled by Americans who vote legally, between Americans and liberals, between Americans and criminal hogs feeding at the trough.
Typical response from moderate and rino repubs. We have to clean our own house first before we go clean someone elses. Get real, what do you think the '06 election result were about?
Let's try to make the repub party rinoless!
...don't factor out ALL the undocumented workers/illegal aliens who will be voting illegally...
...the 'powers that be' are counting on it!!!
Typical comment from pseudo-cons, still proud of “punishing” GOP Senators Santorum, Allen, Burns, and Talent in ‘06. Enjoy your rats!
We get Jerry Agar in NYC. He is very well informed and listening to him is like being in a well run classroom. With the talent we have on our side in this fight we won’t lose in the future either.
bttt.....and they’ll vote as many times as they can
....”because this issue of immigration will really be settled by Americans who vote legally”...
As far as voting goes, Americans must first see the bigger picture and understand that amnesty and open borders are but ‘next steps’ in the Council on Foreign Relations/Open Border Lobby’s agenda to create a North American Union. ‘08 is a critical election year for the sovereignty and security of our country.
JUST SAY NO TO THE CFR CANDIDATES - VOTE Duncan Hunter ‘08
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
Talk radio runs this country
Rush Limbaugh is talk radio.
:D
ping
Here’s the real headline for this article:
“Mainstream media smears, distorts arguments concerning illegal immigration”
Does that make sense?
Well, if the Rinos are not voting any different than the dem’s, why bother distinguishing them? Get rid of them all at the same time.
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