LIBERADIO(!)

An astute commenter (and Nathan Moore) points out the similarities in Steve Gill’s most recent opinion piece in the Nashville City Paper and an article entitled, “Hillary Clinton’s Fix,” by Al Kamen of The Washington Post.

In light of Milwaukee Magazine’s recently published must read by an ex-conservative talk radio program director, which confirms that “Conservative talk show hosts would receive daily talking points e-mails from the Bush White House, the Republican National Committee and, during election years, GOP campaign operations,” is it any wonder that certain talk show hosts find it difficult to originate a thought?

What’s so chilling about the article, besides it’s decidedly confessional tone (it was their coverage of Katrina that finally made the author “see the light” and move on to a less soul-killing job), is that you can easily replace the name of the Milwaukee conservative talker that is its focus, “Charlie Sykes,” with local conservative talkers “Steve Gill” or “Phil Valentine.” Go ahead. Try it:

To begin with, talk show hosts such as [Charlie Sykes]…are popular and powerful because they appeal to a segment of the population that feels disenfranchised and even victimized by the media. These people believe the media are predominantly staffed by and consistently reflect the views of social liberals. This view is by now so long-held and deep-rooted, it has evolved into part of virtually every conservative’s DNA.

and

The second strategy, The Preemptive Strike, is used when a host knows that news reflecting poorly on conservative dogma is about to break or become more widespread. When news of the alleged massacre at Haditha first trickled out in the summer of 2006, not even Iraq War chest-thumper [Charlie Sykes] would defend the U.S. Marines accused of killing innocent civilians in the Iraqi village. So he spent lots of air time criticizing how the “mainstream media” was sure to sensationalize the story in the coming weeks. [Charlie] would kill the messengers before any message had even been delivered.

and

Then along came the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Journalists risked their lives to save others as the storm hit the Gulf Coast. Afterward, journalists endured the stench and the filth to chronicle the events for a stunned world. Then they documented the monumental government incompetence for an outraged nation. These journalists became voices for the voiceless victims, pressing government officials to get help to those who needed it.

Yet, while New Orleans residents were still screaming for help from the rooftops of their flooded homes, journalists were targeted by talk show hosts, [Charlie] and [Wagner] among them. Not the government, but journalists. Stories detailing the federal government’s obvious slowness and inefficiency were part of an “angry left” conspiracy, they said. Talk show hosts who used e-mailed talking points from the conservative spin machine proclaimed the Katrina stories were part of a liberal “media template.” The irony would have been laughable if the story wasn’t so serious.

and

But the key reason talk radio succeeds is because its hosts can exploit the fears and perceived victimization of a large swath of conservative-leaning listeners. And they feel victimized because many liberals and moderates have ignored or trivialized their concerns and have stereotyped these Americans as uncaring curmudgeons.

Because of that, there will always be listeners who believe that [Charlie Sykes], [Jeff Wagner] and their compatriots are the only members of the media who truly care about them.

Less plagarism than formula, I think.