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Do hosts always believe what they say?

D

dustintv

I was wondering how many talk radio hosts will say they have a political belief when in truth they actually believe in something opposite. , such as a Democrat selling out their principles to to become a right-wing radio host to make a fast buck and string along some suckers while at.
 
I can only think of one host whose sincerity has actually been challenged. His name is Ed Schultz.
 
You mean like Bob Barker introducing "the beautiful (300-lb) Irma LaTongue from Baton Rouge"?
 
Saw the talk hosts in Miami say outrageous things on the air just to get calls. It's really just entertainment folks! The trouble is a serious discussion of the issues would't get ratings and that's all it's about.
 
I still think it would be ironic if we found out that folks like Mike Gallagher and Sean Hannity were actual progressives and not rigid conservatives. Of course there are some fourth-tier hosts out there who say some unbelievable stuff sometimes...

Ed Schultz? I think what troubles many on the left is that he's more centrist than far leftist, still he's one of my favorite hosts along with Stephanie Miller and both seem to have a grasp on radio whereas some of the folks from my political persuasion are known to bore people to death (hello Amy Goodman!!)
 
In a word: No
Click to expand...

In two words, Hell No.

When Limbaugh hit bigtime, probably a third of all the "conservative" local talk hosts who suddenly popped up around the country were previous liberals posing to try to get or keep a job. Some claimed to have "saul-on-the-road-to-damascus" conversions, others just counted on changing locales or short memories.

Case in point, Mike Siegel.

Another case in point, Steve Kane in Miami -- not that it's helped him get a real talk radio gig as opposed to brokering time.
 
smedge2006 said:
In a word: No
Click to expand...

In two words, Hell No.

When Limbaugh hit bigtime, probably a third of all the "conservative" local talk hosts who suddenly popped up around the country were previous liberals posing to try to get or keep a job. Some claimed to have "saul-on-the-road-to-damascus" conversions, others just counted on changing locales or short memories.

Case in point, Mike Siegel.

Another case in point, Steve Kane in Miami -- not that it's helped him get a real talk radio gig as opposed to brokering time.
Click to expand...


No they do it for ratings. Even Savage has criticized his own beliefs on the air a few times not just the Liberal wing but also the right as well to see if its all bull.
 
Absolutely not.

Unfortunately, it's not easy to tell when hosts are being honest. Many hosts change their minds on issues, like the Iraq war. That's not a bad thing, since people change their minds about issues constantly. I just don't know if they're changing their minds because that's what they believe, or that's what they think the audience wants to hear. There's several liberals-turned-conservatives on the air, but I only know of one conservative-turned-liberal: Ed Schultz. There's probably more I haven't heard of.

8 years ago it felt like there was this contest between talk radio hosts to out-conservative each other. I've lived in 8 different cities on both coasts, befriended a lot of people, and never met anyone who is THAT conservative. It's so rich in moral values that anyone who claims to be a conservative or Republican will lean left on a couple issues like abortion or gay marriage or even be an atheist, since it's almost impossible to not be personally affected by something the conservatives stand against. Now I'm seeing more libertarian leaning hosts pop up. Not the "big L" liberatarians, but the ones who lean that way socially while still being registered Republican, or just independent. Is that the new trend? Maybe being too conservative was just exhausting.

There are things to look for in a talk show host to see whether or not he/she is genuine. When the host takes calls, does the host invite opposing points of view? If they do, does an actual conversation take place, as opposed to the host yelling at the caller and hanging up? Is the host willing to admit that they may not be right on an issue? Or that they were wrong on a previous issue? There are too many talk show hosts that try to be right, as opposed to being truthful. It's not the same thing.
 
Can't read their minds. Frankly in some cases I HOPE they don't mean what they say, because much of talk radio these days is beginning to sound more and more like a manic episode or a giant tantrum. :p

I think y'all know what hosts I'm talking about...
 
One of the most famous of the firebrand conservative talkers to come out of New York is in reality a moderate liberal. (Hint: he predates Rush by at least a decade)

A better question: does it really matter? It's all schtick anyway... ::)
 
I think most talk show hosts believe what they say. The shtick part of it comes in the presentation. They may overstate their outrage over something for dramatic effect.
 
The Ultimate Warrior said:
elchupacabras said:
I'm not national, but I have become a convert. I used to be a right wing nut, but seeing all the hate injected into talk radio, I made an abrupt turn left. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tobar3-2009nov03,0,1602661.column?page=2&track=rss I am proud of my political conversion, and would find it hard to go back and spew right wing hate.
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So you got laid and it changed your views... welcome to every average guy who out kicks his coverage.
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No. Actually started 10 years ago and gradually decided that I was on the wrong side, much before I got married.
 
jimwalsh2001 said:
One of the most famous of the firebrand conservative talkers to come out of New York is in reality a moderate liberal. (Hint: he predates Rush by at least a decade)

A better question: does it really matter? It's all schtick anyway... ::)
Click to expand...

It does start to matter when you notice people are starting to take these hosts words as gospel. Too many talk radio listeners treat their favorite hosts like a truth vending machine. Why would they read or research when they think the talk radio guy will just drop the facts in their lap? Then they go repeat it to their friends, as if they originally came up with the thought.
 
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