There is an unfortunate misconception that conservatives here on the vine, and in fact throughout this country have. They have this belief system that all of us on the left are trying to insure that Fox News and Right Wing Talk Radio should be taken off the air. They couldn't be more wrong. Those on the far right have become the best argument for a left of center America.
The more we hear Rush Limbaugh call Georgetown law students prostitutes, Sean Hannity calling the President the Annointed One, Glenn Beck calling for arming oneself for the coming tyranny of government, the more most Americans realize that these so called commentators and journalists have nothing constructive to add to the national dialogue. The more that Fox News hires consultants like Carl Rove, Sarah Palin {even they had to fire her}, Laura Ingraham, and Michelle Malkin as their fair and balanced consultants, the more the American people know that there is no balance in their opinions.
What we know is that both Fox News and right wing talk radio are speaking to the choir. They have long since stopped gaining audiences and are, in fact losing audiences, as even mildly conservative listeners are abandoning them. They are now consistently losing their most precious 25-54 prime time demographic. But that is not the purpose of this article.
One of the lessons that are taught in marketing classes is that whether the message is positive or negative, it has to be out there. In the case of the most insane parts of the republican right, the tea party members of congress who have attempted to destroy this country through their total inactivity, or the candidates who preach the impossibility of pregnancy in the event of rape, or the rally where there may be more firearms then attendees, they would become dangerous subversives if not for Fox and the other right wing media. By giving these fringe elements of congress and the populace at large 24/7 coverage, the rest of the nation begins to take them seriously and mobilizes. Thus, stealth results like 2010 turn into the sane results of 2012. The radical right media thus becomes an important marketing agent for the American progressive.
All we have to do is think of the positions that have been taken by Fox and the rest of the right wing media. Repeal Roe v. Wade {now with it's highest approval rating}, continue the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars {now polling at about 15%}, cut taxes on the rich while raising them on the working class, repeal Obamacare, invade Iran, deport all undocumented immigrants, keep no restrictions on any guns, etc. Thanks to the right wing media, every one of these issues will go down to defeat, primarily because they have overplayed their hands on each and every one of these issues rather then seek compromise legislation.
When we have a set of right wing media who insists on being an echo chamber for the most radical, out of the mainstream ideas, and then convinces their viewers and listeners that they are the vast majority, the progressive and moderate majority of this country wants them to continue. Keep sounding your alarms. Keep spewing your views that are being increasingly looked at as outrageous. You are doing our job for us. Your paranoia is this progressive's best friend. Keep up the good work.
