Columnist McIlheran: Keep those truth-tellers off the radio before the First Amendment is harmed!

An interesting world-view is held by those whose paychecks are tied to their ideology. Take, for instance, the following "Quick Hit" by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel right wing columnist Patrick McIlheran:

You’ve heard of Chicago radio legend Milt Rosenberg, interviewer of passing authors? Alas, he ran afoul lately of Barack Obama by talking to David Freddoso, who wrote an unflattering book. The Obamanation was alerted via campaign Web site, whereupon disciples flooded WGN-AM with talking-points calls. They did the same a month earlier when Rosenberg interviewed a journalist who irritated Obama. How touchy for a guy wanting to protect and defend the First Amendment.

It's a breathtaking display of cognitive gymnastics to somehow position voicing one's beliefs and sharing facts on the public airwaves via a call-in format as threatening the First Amendment.

Let's be clear about something: The average member of the Republican Noise Machine (and McIlheran certainly qualifies) is not interested in the introduction of pesky facts into a perfectly entertaining radio call-in spin session. Their model call-in contains the following preamble: "Hi, this is Steve from Ozaukee. Couldn't. Agree. With. You. More. You hit the nail right on the head. And, may I say, you're a great American."

Now that's a great call-in guest!

But when someone gets by the call screener armed with facts to correct the stream of misstatements billowing from a guest or the host, they are referred to as "seminar callers" (a term popularized by Rush Limbaugh). Facts are not entertaining on right wing radio.

Evidently, host Milt Rosenberg and his call-screener do not play by the rules of squawk radio and let call-in facts on the air.

Noise Machine operative McIlheran picks up the thread here: "disciples" dare to make "talking point calls" when an author promoting an opportunistic book full of half-truths and innuendo uses the public airwaves to move more units. Not cool when that author gets his hindquarters handed to him by informed listeners.

Another way to put it - a more accurate way to put it - would be that persons concerned with the truth were made aware of a public spin session and cared to call in with the the facts. I'm at a loss as to where the First Amendment is pinched anywhere in that equation.

You know those "talking point calls" you fear, Mr. McIlheran? The less dogmatic among us tend to view them as examples of intelligent debate and conversation. Something we hear precious little of on the local squawk radio you champion.

Comments

[J. Strupp]

You forgot the most brain-draining phrase of all John:

"mega-dittos"

Also, when you call into Republican talk radio (these people aren't conservatives for the most part so I call it GOP radio) and you actually present a factual argument against the opinions of the host, you are labeled as "elitist". That is, of course, IF you can get on the air.

Nevermind that the guy calling you "elitist" has a golden microphone.

[john]

I haven't yet succumbed to the fatal temptation of calling in to one of the "GOP talk shows." It's a losing game.

Who else but a member of the "elite" can get popped for illegally procuring Oxycontin and avoid jail time?

[J.Strupp]

Who else?

Well....guys playing in the NFL for one.

Actually, you can kill someone and not see jail time if you play in the NFL.

[john]

Good point.

However, when Brett Favre gets a radio show and says all drug arrests and offenses should mean hard time, I'll hold him accountable to the same level as the hypocrite clown Rush Limbaugh.