There is a growing backlash of Republicans beginning to see the attack on “anything McCain” for what it is. You see, what we’ve learned over the years of listening to talk radio is to be critical, to dissect the issues, to be skeptical. And now we are of you Rush, Laura, Sean and friends.
Mencken also pointed out in his Atlantic Monthly article that the methods and motivations for attacks by newspapermen were several:
This was their method when they were performing for their own profit only, when their one motive was to make the public read their paper; but it was still their method when they were battling bravely and unselfishly for the public good, and so discharging the highest duty of their profession.
Whether the recent rants are purely for profit (Big Radio), or to increase listenership (Rush and Laura “high on their own supply”) or, ostensibly, for the conservative “cause,” the effect on a whole lot of listeners like me is the same: the sick feeling that our talk radio hosts are plain old newspaper men and women of the Mencken mold. A sad lesson indeed.
Today’s talk radio frenzy, including the recent contemptible attack on Bob Dole, remind me of Lincoln’s admonition that “little men” cannot become “big men” by tearing “big men” down.
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