Why Liberal Talk Radio Doesn't Work

October 13, 2006

 

Despite their continued denials in over the past year, liberal talk radio network Air America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in mid-October. Among its multi-million dollar debts, the company owes its star talk show host, comedian Al Franken, over $360,000 in back wages. This bankruptcy filing was just the latest in a series of troubles plaguing the liberal network including a scandal in which the network was accused of siphoning money from the Boys and Girls Club of New York to stay afloat.

 

Is this just a problem with Air America or is it a systemic problem with liberal talk radio? Conservatives have long dominated the format ever since the Reagan administration rescinded the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Since the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC regulation and not a law, Congress passed its own version of the Fairness Doctrine but saw that measure vetoed by Reagan. Proponents lacked enough votes to override the veto and the Fairness Doctrine went the way of the dinosaur. Prior to the annulment of the Fairness Doctrine, talk radio was a boring exchange of ideas from milk-toast moderators who were prohibited from voicing their opinions without having an opposing opinion as a counter. That all changed in late 1987 and the following year a conservative juggernaut by the name of Rush Limbaugh burst onto the national stage with talk radio that was bombastic, opinionated, and, at long last, entertaining.

 

So, why have conservatives flourished when so many big name liberals – Mario Cuomo among them – have been relegated to the ratings ash heap? What liberals haven't seemed to figure out is their problem is not in the messenger but in the message. Liberalism simply cannot endure day-to-day exposure to the light of truth. They have the exact same opportunity to make their mark on the format but have continued to fail.

 

Talk radio, like any radio format, is driven by ratings and revenue. Air America had neither. That's not because of some vast right-wing conspiracy, rather it's the result of reality. Listeners, by and large, just don't like liberal talk radio. Sure, there are pockets of success but they're few and far between. Conservatives dominate talk radio because of conservative ideas. Injecting humor into their discussions only serves to solidify their hold on the format while, at the same time, it infuriates the liberals. Left-leaning talk radio seems devoid of humor, even when practiced by professional comedians like Franken. When their arguments collapse they descend into name calling and cheap shots – the verbal equivalent of running out of bullets and throwing your gun at the other guy.

 

As philosophies go, liberalism is all about the quick fix while conservatism concentrates on long-term solutions. One is driven by emotion while the other is driven by intellect. The emotional response to someone standing at an exit ramp holding a sign “Will work for food” is to give the man some money. Practical experience has shown us that he'll most likely use that money for booze or drugs instead of food, so the emotional response is actually more detrimental than doing nothing. The conservative approach to the same situation is forcing this person to stand on his own instead of relying on handouts. It's a much more difficult road but, in the long run, will enable this person to re-enter mainstream society as a responsible citizen.

 

There's an old Chinese proverb that says, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.” Air America and the liberals are handing out fish. Conservatives are handing out fishing poles.