Posted on 11/25/2002 1:53:19 AM PST by goldstategop
Michael Ackley
Senator Continues Discourse On Evils Of Talk Radio
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 25, 2002 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
The Senator: … and so, you see, we Democrats were so fair and ethical in the conduct of our campaigns in past elections we were at a disadvantage. We lacked the edge enjoyed by our opponents – their backing by the shrill, mean-spirited hosts of right-wing, ultraconservative, fundamentalist, entertaining talk radio – not to indulge in name calling.
Reporter: There's that word again: entertaining. Why does the entertainment side of talk radio bother you so much?
The Senator: There is no doubt that they are entertaining – even funny in a perverse way – which is doubly unfair, and makes them all the more threatening. For example, look what they did to my good friend and fellow statesman Bob Torricelli.
Reporter: But didn't you help run Torricelli out of the New Jersey Senate race?
The Senator: Well, maybe I did and maybe I didn't. Maybe I helped persuade him to do the statesmanlike thing, but you didn't see me laughing about it. What talk radio did was just, just … mean-spirited.
Reporter: Can you define "mean-spirited"?
The Senator: Well, when somebody points out an uncomfortable fact, and you have no argument or answer for it, it's mean-spirited of them to do so.
Reporter: Can you give us another example?
The Senator: Certainly. It was mean-spirited of you to point out my role in the Torricelli thing. But let's get back to entertainment. As I pointed out, talk radio uses shrill rhetoric, and it becomes more and more shrill as time goes by and people become emotional and want to do something besides just listen and …
Reporter: Like vote?
The Senator: … and it becomes a foment – not just a verbal foment but a physical foment and …
Reporter: Don't you mean "ferment"?
The Senator (becoming agitated): … and – whatever! – and the media plays a role in the foment and …
Reporter: Don't you mean "media PLAY"? It's plural, you know.
The Senator (still more exercised): … and …and … This is just what I mean. Mean-spirited questions like these show what the media can does … medias does … do …
The senator paused, chest heaving, face twisted as he collected himself, then began again.
The Senator: This sort of thing can lead to other – other actions that are outside the control of anybody in the media or anybody in politics.
Reporter: So, you're afraid?
The Senator: You bet I am. There's a lot to be afraid of when the media and the people get beyond the control of anybody in politics.
Reporter: So, you feel physically threatened because people in talk radio are entertaining and funny?
The Senator: Well, it would be inappropriate for me to dwell on that in any more detail, and I don't want to promote hysteria, but I hope you can get across to the public the horror that could be visited upon us. People being motivated to do something by these talk-radio clowns (as my good friend and colleague Tom McCain characterizes them, though I personally would never stoop to name calling) – why, there's no telling what they might do. Just look at Nov. 5. If this keeps up, if more and more people – and I'm not calling them ignorant boobs, certainly not; nor am I calling them ovine dolts – are led by increasingly shrill rhetoric to get involved in the political process, there's no telling what sort of reaction might ensue. This unbridled "entertainment" is bound to engender a reaction, and the implications for freedom of expression are fearful.
Reporter: You mean, you're afraid for the First Amendment?
The Senator: No, I'm afraid of it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael P. Ackley has worked more than three decades as a journalist, the majority of that time at the Sacramento Union. His experience includes reporting, editing and writing commentary. Currently, he teaches journalism for California State University.
The Senator: You bet I am. There's a lot to be afraid of when the media and the people get beyond the control of anybody in politics.
Yes, talk radio tends to expose irrational, unethical and dishonesty politicians.
It's different with the mainstream media. The way it works in the media is that if you're a reporter, journalist, or publisher you want as many doors open as possible. One does not open doors to a reporter or publisher that intends to objectively report on the crimes of the person holding the door open. Doors are only opened for media that tow the line. When a reporter or publisher steps too deep into honesty and integrity by objectively reporting their crimes the doors slam shut. Those inside hiding government crime -- there's a leviathan's worth -- then make great fanfare of boogiemen that will cause great harm to people and society. And the media parrots it to their audiences adding their own spin for good measure. It's a colossal hoax.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.