Scare America
By James Ruhland
web posted April 19, 2004
The Liberal radio network, Air America, launched with such
fanfare and lavish funding, and free-media promotional support,
is already floundering. It has experienced trouble with two
flagship stations, KBLA Los Angeles and WNTD in Chicago,
and indifference from potential audiences. Reasons are obvious.
High-handedly arrogant management, a hallmark of modern
Liberalism, alienates potential carriers of the network. They went
so far as to refuse two stations in Florida that wanted to air Al
Franken's program, because they also carry Limbaugh's
program. So much for Liberal tolerance and regard for diversity.
This behavior makes their frequent claims that they're being "shut
out of access" to stations ring all the more hollow. They shut
themselves out. The other obvious reason for lack of audience
interest in the new Liberal network is that radio audiences who
want to hear Liberal programming have NPR and see no reason
to switch.
But the biggest problem undercutting Liberal talk radio's
audience appeal is deeply seated in modern Liberalism itself: an
ideology that once led the country with optimism has aged into a
sour disposition, telling Americans they've never had it so bad.
Their "scare America" tone goes far beyond one radio network
or the election year talking points of the party out of power.
Even during the eight years of Clinton, much of Liberalism's tone
was negative. It emphasized what people could lose if the
policies of the Right were adopted, rather than how people
would benefit from theirs. The partial exception to this, which
goes a long way to explaining his success, was Clinton himself.
Though not reluctant to speak ill of the policies of the other side,
"The Man From Hope" was the closest thing to a "happy
warrior" that the Democrats have produced in some time. He
spoke optimistically about such things as the benefits of trade.
But the Liberal community as a whole seemed to absorb only the
worst and most cynical attributes of their leader. Where Clinton
exuded optimism, Democrats in general come off as whiners. Al
Gore's campaign was especially guilty of this. After eight years
with a Democrat in the White House, Gore ran a campaign
focused not on how he would improve things but rather a
"people vs. the powerful" campaign, trying to tell us that only his
election stood between us and a harsh fate. Tom Dashle's brow
is furrowed with deep concerns, and Kerry is on the same road.
He became the Democratic nominee not because he offered an
inspiring vision of the future, but because he was seen as the
candidate best able to beat Bush. Liberal writers and pundits
continually emphasize the negative. NPR, the reigning Liberal
radio network, and PBS, its television cousin, offer shows like
Bill Moyers' Now, infused with unrelieved
pessimism, distrust, and gloom about the economy, trade,
government, society, the environment, freedom, and anything
else you can think of.
That isn't necessarily the nature of being out of power. Sure,
when a party is out of power it is critical of the policies and
direction the party in power is taking. But one doesn't win power
on criticism alone. If we look at winning candidates and
ascending political movements over history, they won not
primarily on a platform of negativism, but by offering an
optimistic alternative. This was true of the Gingrich revolution, of
Reagan, and even of Democratic candidates in the past.
The inability of today's Democrats to appeal to the better angels
of our nature is a sign of their intellectual impoverishment. Air
America embodies it. They whisper the concept of a positive,
progressive alternative but shout only criticism. Their arguments
are aimed at scaring people about the nature of their opponents.
The dominating message is "support us, or the Republicans and
their corrupt backers will do you ill . . . . Support us or what little
you have in the way of freedom and even your livelihood will be
taken away . . . . Our opponents policies are really aimed at
destroying your most cherished government programs; support
us or you'll be eating cat food. You can't accomplish anything
against the powerful forces arrayed against you, but we can
protect you." It's a generalized message of fear rather than of
hopeful expectations, aimed at scaring voters rather than inspiring
them.
Such messages have often worked on Continental Europe,
whose politics Democrats admire and often try to emulate. But
this has rarely, if ever, been a winning message in America,
which has always been a nation of optimists.
James Ruhland writes Porphyrogenitus.net.
Enter Stage Right -- http://www.enterstageright.com