The conventional wisdom is that numerous national and local conservative talk radio hosts are helping conservatives by singing the praises of conservatism, giving conservative Republican candidates some free air time, and drumming up support for conservative policies nationwide while also engaging in nonstop criticism of Democrats and liberalism. But is it true?
Ever since Rush Limbaugh opened up a PR firestorm when he criticized Sandra Fluke, conservative talk radio has been given a larger profile in the national consciousness. Also, fairly or unfairly, conservatives have also gotten a reputation in this election cycle for being extremists who are hostile to other groups (like immigrants, gays, poor people, and young students, for example).
Now, when one looks at the election results, a person can't help but ask if all that conservative rhetoric flying over the airwaves from coast to coast is hurting Republicans if and when swing voters and undecided voters tune in while driving down the street to hear some of the things that these talk show host say in an effort to stay controversial.
In fact, in the aftermath of the election, many talk radio hosts are not only angry, but they're defiant despite the loss. And furthermore, I've actually heard at least one conservative caller tell a talk show host (Bill Bennett) that he and over a hundred of his friends had no intention of voting for "RINO Romney." That's exactly what he said.
If my proposed theory is true, not only are conservative talk radio host quite possibly alienating people in the middle, they've managed to push some of their more conservative listeners away from seriously considering voting for a candidate if he (or she) doesn't measure up to their idea of what a conservative should be. After all, wasn't Dick Lugar's loss in the IN primary (an otherwise safe Republican seat) a result of a rightward shift in the people who voted in the Republican primary?
So, conservative talk radio hosts, in an effort to stay controversial COULD be scaring away moderates AND pushing conservative voters into rejecting Republican Party candidates at the same time, resulting in a higher turn out for Democrats at the same time that they're reducing the turnout for Republicans.
What does everyone think about this?
Ever since Rush Limbaugh opened up a PR firestorm when he criticized Sandra Fluke, conservative talk radio has been given a larger profile in the national consciousness. Also, fairly or unfairly, conservatives have also gotten a reputation in this election cycle for being extremists who are hostile to other groups (like immigrants, gays, poor people, and young students, for example).
Now, when one looks at the election results, a person can't help but ask if all that conservative rhetoric flying over the airwaves from coast to coast is hurting Republicans if and when swing voters and undecided voters tune in while driving down the street to hear some of the things that these talk show host say in an effort to stay controversial.
In fact, in the aftermath of the election, many talk radio hosts are not only angry, but they're defiant despite the loss. And furthermore, I've actually heard at least one conservative caller tell a talk show host (Bill Bennett) that he and over a hundred of his friends had no intention of voting for "RINO Romney." That's exactly what he said.
If my proposed theory is true, not only are conservative talk radio host quite possibly alienating people in the middle, they've managed to push some of their more conservative listeners away from seriously considering voting for a candidate if he (or she) doesn't measure up to their idea of what a conservative should be. After all, wasn't Dick Lugar's loss in the IN primary (an otherwise safe Republican seat) a result of a rightward shift in the people who voted in the Republican primary?
So, conservative talk radio hosts, in an effort to stay controversial COULD be scaring away moderates AND pushing conservative voters into rejecting Republican Party candidates at the same time, resulting in a higher turn out for Democrats at the same time that they're reducing the turnout for Republicans.
What does everyone think about this?
