CNN’s Carol Costello began a new series on political talk radio on Monday’s American Morning, suggesting it was unfairly dominated by conservatives, and brought on a liberal psychiatrist who theorized that Rush Limbaugh has an audience because he’s “operating like the bully, and if you’re on the playground...you want to be...under the bully’s wing and go along with him and get...some power by proxy.”
The correspondent’s report, which aired just before the bottom of the 7 am Eastern hour, was the first installment in a “special series on talk radio,” according to anchor John Roberts. Costello zeroed in on the listeners and why the format “can capture people for such long periods of time.” A graphic on the screen during her report heralded “anger on the air: what listeners don’t know about talk radio.” [MP3 audio available here]
Towards the end of her report, the CNN correspondent played a sound bite from radical left-wing host Randi Rhodes, who speculated that “the reason they don’t passionately listen to liberal talk radio is access” (Costello outrageously downplayed Rhodes’s political leanings by describing her as someone whom “many consider a liberal talker”). The “liberal talker” noted that apparently, “ninety-one percent of talk radio is conservative.” Costello continued that “according to Talkers magazine, liberal talkers fill just nine percent of the nation’s news talk radio on the commercial dial. Change that, Rhodes says, and liberal listeners would listen just as much.”
The 91 percent figure actually came from a 2007 report titled “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” written by two liberal organizations- Center for American Progress and Free Press. However, the report, which was co-authored by current FCC “chief diversity officer” Mark Lloyd, “suffers from a number of structural flaws,” as a 2008 special report by MRC’s Culture and Media Institute pointed out. The CMI report continued that “the CAP report’s greatest flaw is ignoring noncommercial talk radio,” such as NPR’s many public radio affiliates.
Costello’s statement that the 91 percent figure came from Talkers magazine is also dubious because Talkers publisher Michael Harrison voiced his own criticism of the CAP report when it was released in 2007. An article by Jesse Noyes of the Boston Herald from June 22 of that year (cited on Free Republic.com, and confirmed via Nexis) noted that “Harrison...said the report is flawed and narrow. It doesn’t consider the broader spectrum of talk radio, which would include public radio stations, he said. ‘There’s a lot more to talk radio than what they call talk radio,’ Harrison said.”
Roberts questioned the correspondent on the flawed statistic: “Carol, you talk about this issue of access- 91 percent of the airwaves being taken up by conservative talk radio, nine percent liberal, but are liberal listeners as loyal as conservative listeners are?” Costello replied, “Well, it depends on what you consider a liberal talk show or something that leans more liberal in what you listen to. Let’s say- of course, conservative talkers compromise most of the AM radio dial, but FM radio doesn’t. Some people consider NPR liberal. NPR gets 20 million listeners. That’s more than Rush Limbaugh. So, it’s all in how you look at.” So even Costello indirectly acknowledged that the CAP report didn’t look at the whole picture!
Earlier in her report, Costello featured one listener from conservative Lancaster County, Pennsylvania who tunes-in for more than eight hours a day, and noted how “ten of the top 11 radio talk shows are conservative. The king? Rush Limbaugh, with 15 million listeners.” As to the question of why talk radio has such “intense loyalty,” in her words, the correspondent hinted to what her answer to the question was in her clip from psychiatrist Gail Saltz, who gave her own psychoanalysis of the typical Limbaugh fan:
COSTELLO: Psychiatrist Gail Saltz says Limbaugh’s style appeals to those who feel they have no voice.
DR. GAIL SALTZ, PSYCHIATRIST: He’s essentially kind of operating like the bully, and if you’re on the playground, do you want to be the bully’s- you know, under the bully’s wing and go along with him and get, therefore, some power by proxy, too, or do you want to be like left out alone on the playground where- you know, who knows who’s going to take you out?
COSTELLO: Saltz says conservative talkers are more popular than liberal talkers because they attract the kind of person who likes strong, aggressive messages.
Costello previously used Saltz back in May 2008 during a report on Scott McClellan’s “tell-all” book, where she again issued some left-leaning analysis. This take is not at all surprising, given how, according to OpenSecrets.org, she has donated $3,750 to liberal candidates over the years.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Not this excrement
October 19, 2009 - 12:53 ET by NewsbusterbrownNot this excrement again...
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Disparate impact comes to talk radio
October 19, 2009 - 12:54 ET by CO2MakerDisparate impact is the legal theory that if a policy affects people disproportionately according to various protected statuses [stati?], then that result can be discarded, the policy redesigned, and then reapplied until the desired proportionate representation is accomplished. (This is the basis of the New Haven firefighter lawsuit.) Basically, disparate impact is a fancy name for achieving outcomes based on quotas.
And, oh, by the way, Carol "Who's on the air first?" Costello referred to Randy "I fell and hit my lips and can't say the F-word" Rhodes as a "liberal talker"? Can we all say "new-speak"?
Oct 19-25
October 19, 2009 - 12:58 ET by BKeyserBrought to you by "ObamaWorks Studios, Wash. DC"
Paging Dr. DUmmy
October 19, 2009 - 13:01 ET by CobraMan"He’s essentially kind of operating like the bully..."
How did this person get a College Degree? Doesn't a Degree require at least a minimal display of intelligence?
Rush isn't "like the bully" on the playground because Rush, unlike that bully, doesn't have a captive audience. His audience listens to him because that want to, not because they have to. One would expect an educated person to understand this.
Bullies gain authority and control through intimidation and coercion. There is absolutely no way Rush can intimidate a potential audience. Without intimidation, there is no coercion. Without coercion, there can be no "power," no means in which to compel someone to listen to you. How can Rush's audience feel the need to "share" power that doesn't exist?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
You beat me to it, CM.
October 19, 2009 - 13:30 ET by HockeyKidYou beat me to it, CM. The victim mentality of liberalism is never-ending. They can even find victimhood where it's impossible for it to exist, as in this "study".
The vast majority of people don't listen to liberal talk radio because it's just downright depressing. The liberal's idea of success is making the world a place where everyone else's life is as miserable as theirs.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Doesn't a Degree require at
October 19, 2009 - 14:02 ET by mattmDoesn't a Degree require at least a minimal display of intelligence?
I believe they will substitute PC Liberalism for intelligence, and having the right feelings for knowledge...
Always with the analogy of non-libs being children
October 19, 2009 - 18:33 ET by Jeff StoneWe, the non-liberals, are to be treated as if we are children. The "adults" need to protect us from another bully in the schoolyard.
Somebody should psychoanalyze Costello...
October 19, 2009 - 13:02 ET by R D Helm...because I was a conservative looooooooong before I had even heard of Rush Limbaugh.
Costello is a raging far-left loon.
BTW-Boortz debunked that BS "study" a long time ago.
-Dave
it was Reagan
October 19, 2009 - 14:12 ET by jon_torlinActually, it was Carter before it became Reagan that convinced me to be a conservative. Seeing how Carter screwed things up with the Iran hostage situation, and seeing what a leader Reagan was, that convinced me that I'll NEVER be a liberal, especially when it comes to those things that liberals love to hate: Capitalism and less(or no) taxes and less government interference and freedom of choice.
This was before I got out of high school.
I still remember Mondull's campaign with Ferraro as his VP candidate....*shudder*
-Jon
My radio has a little knob
October 19, 2009 - 13:16 ET by MikeBMy radio has a little knob that I can turn and select whatever radio station I listen to. Is my radio unique? If it is not unique, then Doc Dimbulb needs to ask why the attempts at commerical liberal talk radio fail miserably, while conservative talk radio shows are flourishing. The only liberal talk radio that is staying on the air (I was going to say "succeeding", but that would be inaccurate) are those that are tax subsidized like NPR. When going head to head with commercial conservative talk radio, commercial liberal talk radio fails each time, as they fail in the arena of ideas. Marxism/socialism/liberalism fails each and every time it is tried, and given a choice, the productive citizen doesn't want it.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
It's much simpler than that.
October 19, 2009 - 13:21 ET by Dad GummitEven a liberal should be able to understand why this is so. Several reasons, actually. Talk radio requires a cognitive ability to hear and process information with words only. One must be able to understand and follow the thread of logic presented. There are only so many ways to say "Bush Baaaaaaaaaaad" or "Democrats gooooood." No pictures. There are no jiggling cleavages to be seen on talk radio. No thump thump rhythms to grind with. Not hip. Nothing flashy or shiny can be seen either.
If liberals had the capacity to understand it, they most likely would already be conservative.
“I’ve never been a widow so fast in my life.” - Donna Lounton, who married convicted murderer James Moody Adams by proxy shortly before his scheduled execution.
here, here. +1
October 19, 2009 - 13:35 ET by BKeyserhere, here. +1
AAAARRRRGh!
October 19, 2009 - 16:22 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonNo links....
Bummer BK.
http://gjresult.com
Hey, Costello!
October 19, 2009 - 13:24 ET by HockeyKidWho's on first?
(Apologies to Bud and Lou)
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
He Costello it's very easy
October 19, 2009 - 13:30 ET by Radical1979He Costello it's very easy to find out why conservatives flock to talk radio, it's where we get the news. With the exception of Glen Beck I don't see a lot of investigation into the current administration done by the television networks. I get more information from Rush, Ingraham, and Andrew Wilkow from the "I love Obama" television journalists.
Get on the Bus
October 19, 2009 - 13:33 ET by wolfemanicI'm no fancy doodle head shrink....but the school Bully?
I recommend the Dr stop writing her own prescriptions.
Dear Doctor....Rush is just a School Bus driver, he's helping the ignorant get to where the knowledge is.
Get on the bus Dr.
In other words
October 19, 2009 - 16:24 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonRush is carrying them from the pubic indoctrination system into the real world?
http://gjresult.com
bully? BULLY????
October 19, 2009 - 13:59 ET by mattmSeem to me that race-pimps Jackson and Sharpton bullied the wimpy NFL into force Rush out - and why? Because they hate him.
The libs are the bullies...and the psychos.
Liberal are ill,Sez a doctor M.D.
October 19, 2009 - 13:48 ET by upcountrywaterhttp://www.libertymind.com
codes--the rules--that properly govern human conduct arise from, and
must be compatible with, the biological, psychological and social
nature of man.
liberal agenda is a transference neurosis of the modern liberal mind,
acted out in the world’s economic, social and political theaters.
I was forced to buy a new radio, so I could reveive AM signals from radio stations that do not play, ed the kook, Athiest Alan, and those liberal gals...
State controlled health care is Tort Reform.
"Talking Points"
October 19, 2009 - 13:59 ET by mad53PAWay too much coincidence that the White House, CNN, MSNBC, etc.. are taking on "Talk Radio" "Fox News" and"Rush".
It's clear that the conservative message is taking hold, the MSM has dropped all pretense of being objective and the ratings speak for themselves.
This is an all hands on deck attack to get rid of the competition and cut off access to the message and the messengers.
The beauty is that the more its done, the more the question begs, which is "Why".
The answer is simple, quoting our fearless leader "Sunlight Is The Best Disinfectant"!!
Good point. You can usually
October 19, 2009 - 14:22 ET by buddycGood point. You can usually tell what the message for the week is when you see tham all focusing on issues with the same talking points.
Imagine the arrogance
October 19, 2009 - 14:00 ET by KC MulvilleWho is CNN informing? Only two possibilities.
This is an unbelievingly (and hilariously) self-serving report.
Self serving isnt the half of it
October 19, 2009 - 15:04 ET by general companyThese "polls" and reports are going to be coming more and more common. These guys aint messing around.
Folks had better starting getting to know their Reps, and bending an ear. Better start getting involved in your State Gov as well.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Conservative talk radio
October 19, 2009 - 14:07 ET by buddycConservative talk radio exits for ONE reason. The liberal main stream media. Using CBS as an example. As Mika claims and anyone with a brain can see, CBS has virtually no conservative or republican representation in their news division. The same situaion exists at NBC and ABC. If they decided to go 33% republican, 33% democrat and 33% independent with staffing, reporters, producers, anchors and etc and the other stations like ABC, NBC and CNN did the same, within 3 years conservative talk radio would cease to exist.
Conservatives have no where to go to listent to news except for Fox and talk radio and FoxNews is no where new as far right as CBS/NBC/ABC/CNN are far left. I do admist that Fox/Friends and Beck are as far right as Mathews / Olberman / Maddow / Shuster / Shultz are left but Fox News is pretty good, maybe just a tad center right and certainly not as right leaning as the others are left leaning .
EL-RUSHBO...
October 19, 2009 - 14:11 ET by danybhoyI want to know how long it will take Carol Costello to figure out that the old saying Rush has about "...the MSM can't tear me down because they did'nt build me up..."is true? They have been trying forever, & it ain't gonna happen.
BTW, Obama can be torn down by the media, since they helped build him up & are covering for his lame @$$ screw-ups. It's only a matter of time before The White House of Cards comes down.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
Good Grief
October 19, 2009 - 14:09 ET by BondPlainBondJust when you think the fringe media couldn't get any more outrageous...
Will liberal hysteria ever end? Between Obama's paranoia and the desperate and deliberate lies of talking heads (and the Obama Administration), Conservatives should be the ones donning the white lab coats on the White House lawn and sporting butterfly nets!
The liberals with whom I "debate" are also using Bob Altemeyer's "theories", frequently, to dismiss Conservatives as angry, violent, and/or mentally disturbed.
Is a recent Homeland Security Report ringing any bells here?
Bob Altemeyer - The Authoritarians (A free docu-book download)
(No subject)
October 19, 2009 - 14:27 ET by AbraxosLiberals
October 19, 2009 - 14:30 ET by Six String SpiffLiberals really do fear individual thought don't they? This proves it. Here they
go trotting out the psychiatrist again to hopefully discourage people
from tuning in to the most successful radio show on the planet. The
attacks on conservative radio in general is very telling. Hey, isn't
there a WAR going on somewhere? Oh that's right, soldiers don't matter
anymore now that Teh Evil Boosh Rethugikkkan Nazis are out of office.
We need to focus on squashing free speech...
Hey Obama, Go to hell.
Cnn
October 19, 2009 - 14:31 ET by east tennessee johnLet's see CNN gets its nose tweaked when their boy, Mr. Hit and Run DUI Sanchez LIES about Rush and all of a sudden a discredited report about conservative talk radio and a half-wit Phd throws out psycho-babble about Rush and his listeners(who's numbers equal NPR's total). Hell, at 20 million per week, Rush out does the NYT's and msdnc's "primetime" monday to friday exposure, with of course, no counterbalancing argument. That alone proves our point of bias.
NB is making a big deal out
October 19, 2009 - 14:36 ET by ricklailNB is making a big deal out of this. At 7 AM this morning nobody was watching her.
Semper suprene nitens
OBAMACARE: If it ain't good enough for my Congressman then it ain't good enough for me.
So Rush coerces his
October 19, 2009 - 16:15 ET by TenebrousSo Rush coerces his audience? How? If you don't hear it, how can he be coercing you? Is he manipulating your brain waves to make you turn to a certain station at a certain time of the day? Just when you think liberals could not get any more STUPID, they come up with this.
-----
Random-jumbled-thoughts.blogspot.com
A Perfect Example
October 19, 2009 - 16:38 ET by justbob223This is a perfect example of why many people consider psychiatry to be a load of crap.
Sad
October 19, 2009 - 16:42 ET by Forbin001Well this is just sad....here we have an educated woman....a doctor spewing a bunch of drivel which will further drive CNNs ratings into the toilet.
Rush isnt perfect, he says and does things I dont always agree with, but his show is 10 times more interesting and informative than the nonsense CNN presents to us every day. Bleagh.
They got it backwards, as usual
October 19, 2009 - 16:53 ET by freecitizenPeople don't listen to conservative talkers because they are 91% of the dial, rather conservative radio is 91% of the dial because people listen to it. These people have no concept how markets work.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
Freudian Slop...
October 19, 2009 - 17:03 ET by acumenWasn't Dr. Gail Saltz Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist? Can't quite remember....Maybe they just graduated from different colleges together in Grenada.
What if Hillary's the
October 19, 2009 - 17:34 ET by the strugglerWhat if Hillary's the bully?
Do we get under her cankles?
Bully against the Thugs
October 19, 2009 - 20:28 ET by SkipperMLMPerhaps it takes her definition of a "Bully" to get rid of the thugs when no one is watching the asylum. She probably sees the military as a mob of bullies.
What about the thugs like:
Al Sharpton
Jessie Jackson
Lewis Faracan
The Pennsylvania voting thugs
that have been shaking down individuals, business, and even police departments of their civil liberties?
Liberals love
October 19, 2009 - 20:34 ET by Mike76"The 91 percent figure actually came from a 2007 report titled “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” written by two liberal organizations- Center for American Progress and Free Press."
Liberals love writing things like "The Structual Imbalance of Political Talk Radio." It gives the impression they're engaging in some sort of science, or dealing in facts. It seems what they ACTUALLY do is make up things as they go.
I keep trying to tell
October 19, 2009 - 23:00 ET by RR GOPI keep trying to tell people...be wary of these social scientists. It has long been a safe harbor for Communists as they can influence society to a great extent in these professions...and not really have to study anything hard to do it.
The main ones are history, anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, geography, and psychology.
Don't trust anything they come up with without seeking relatively moderate sources (good luck) to verify.
What bothers me is how they've managed to make inroads into the real (natural) sciences as well. It appears that the social scientists influenced them while rubbing shoulders in their ivory towers, because these are (generally) people well-grounded in reason and able to master tough math/science-based course work.
Bottom line is there is no room for conservative natural scientists unless their value is too great to ignore, but I'm pretty sure they know to keep their mouths shut.
Yeah, guys like Linus Pauling and Carl Sagan were libs but they contributed far more to Mankind than Socialists like Ward Churchill, Bill Ayers, Angela Davis, and so on.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
The
October 20, 2009 - 09:20 ET by jessieHThe woman is insane. No one tells me what to do or who to listen to, especially this idiot. I wonder how much the govt. paid her to mouth off on Rush? The govt. is crossing the line with this garbage. Just keep pushing us. See what happens.