NPR did everything they could think of for them. Long story on All Things Considered, segment on one of the weekend shows (On The Media, maybe), and also IIRC a segment on one of the "independent" American Public Radio shows that are carried on a lot of public-radio stations. To The Best Of Our Knowledge or one of those. They may have gotten a spot on A Prarie Home Companion too.
Lefty media really pulled out all the stops for them. Of course the only reason they paid them the slightest heed was because it was a way to poke a stick in Bush's eye. They played up the political angle, not the musical value of the group.
Problem is, lefty radio has a miniscule audience of total true believers. You're not going to win over anyone to your point of view there. Plus the whole lefty media system is so rife with careerism, nepotism, political correctness and wierd (that is, non-talent-based) hiring criteria that it has become practically unlistenable unless you are in need psychological support from like-minded bitter-enders.
Yup. You are right. They tried everything to keep their careers afloat. I bet SEIU or ACORN or Fem women group (Rush calls em NAGS) probably distributed free tickets to their shows for a while.
They also got Grammy Awards and tons of lib publicity including NPR.
I think the only thing a C&W star could have done to hurt themselves more if they said they hated Jesus or maybe Elvis.