Yet, do we want a counter-editorial to everything a Katie Couric chooses to
present as news at dinnertime? Or should we demand that Republicans match
Democratic numbers on college faculties, or as graduation speakers and grant
recipients? Should conservatives be provided an equal-time trailer at the
end of "Fahrenheit 9/11" or "Syriana"?
The truth is that savvy Americans navigate well enough on their own through
our various partisan genres. Liberals flip through The New York Times, tune
into NPR on the way to work, and rave about a movie or documentary damning
the Iraq war. Conservatives call into Rush or Hannity, check blogs for their
news and watch Bill O'Reilly on cable.
There is a sort of irony in the debate over talk radio. Of all our media, it
is perhaps the most populist. A radio host requires neither a journalism
degree nor political connections. He just needs sheer talent. The
unforgiving market - judged by how many turn the dial to your show or call
in with questions - alone adjudicates success. Liberals who profess affinity
for the little guy should welcome this prairie-fire revolt against the more
highbrow New York Times, CBS News or NPR.
Finally, is the new politicking on radio any different from what goes on, in
subtler fashion, elsewhere? Liberal media do not consider themselves biased,
since selecting what story appears on the front page or leads the evening
network news is far more nuanced partisanship than a Michael Savage
screaming about the latest liberal transgression.
Yet that does not mean that Walter Cronkite's famous on-air declaration that
the Vietnam War could not be won was any less political. Or how about Dan
Rather's pre-election assurances that a forged memo about George Bush's
National Guard service was authentic?
Rather than promoting government audit of our opinion media, liberals should
master talk radio and cable news. And conservatives should work harder at
providing counter-voices in Hollywood, on the campuses, and amid the major
networks and newspapers.
Then let the best men and women win in the free arena of ideas and
entertainment.