Liberals dominate mainstream media, three major news networks, and academia, among other things. And take a look at the public policy institute results in Yahoo!. No doubt there are many more than Yahoo! lists, but among these 40 or so, about nine would be described as conservative, a few libertarian, and the rest liberal.
Apparently liberals don’t think those are doing the job. Democrats have been losing elections for some time now, and several rich liberals want to throw millions into developing an organization called the The Democracy Alliance to fund more liberal “think” tanks. “Its staff members and board of directors will develop a lineup of established and proposed groups that they believe will develop and promote ideas on the left,” intones the Washington Post.
It’s comically yet divinely fitting that liberals think pouring large amounts of cash into organizations is the appropriate (and only) way to compete with conservatives. Ever heard of ideas? Nevermind.
The Air America debacle has taught them nothing. The conservative think tank community was built up over 30 years (long time). Those institutes were formed to fill a void. In a culture saturated with leftism, such places were a refuge from a storm of cultural decay, and they still are. And yes, conservative think tanks receive government funds [Maybe not! See Update below.], but their private donor base is rock solid, built up over years.
As expected, cash-infused, sprung-up-overnight liberal entities fail. According to liberals’ own Washington Post, George Soros’s new think tank is “floundering.” I predict that groups funded by The Democracy Alliance will fail, too.
Take a memo, libs. Air America is floundering because bored rich people came up with a similar scheme to “compete” with well-established, profitable, and popular conservative radio instead of building up a following, offering something liberals weren’t getting elsewhere, and developing a market. Rich liberals, who presumably earned their money by selling people want they want, forgot all about the principles of common sense capitalism and tried to bypass it by propping up a bunch of vapid liberals squawking on the radio all day. The people reacted as expected. They haven’t tuned in.
As a result, Air America’s advertising revenue is non-existent. They’re reduced to allegedly stealing money from poor black kids in New York. Read about the latest news.
Air America is failing in part because liberal “talk” is everywhere, all around us. You can’t pick up a newspaper or magazine, flip the channel or surf to a news site without seeing or hearing it. Why would anyone tune in to listen to bunch of vapid (and forgettable) liberals on the radio all day long when they have National Public Radio, which is done much better? I’m no fan of NPR, either, so don’t get it twisted. I’m just saying.
The ubiquitous NPR, propped up by taxpayers, only “works” because it’s propped up by taxpayers. If it had to compete with other talk radio shows, it would fall flat.
To change the subject a bit, in my brief time on planet earth, I’ve learned that most liberals don’t like to be called liberals. “Progressive” is the term of choice, and “centrist” and “moderate” pop up every now and then. But the most hilarious thing I’ve heard a raving liberal say is that they’re “independent.” Can you believe it?
It gets funnier. Some black liberals have the nerve to preach to me about the virtue of maintaining an “independent” ideology, that we should think about and vote for what is good for our people without regard to political parties. It’s a shame, they tell me, that black Republicans are seen as shills for white folks, but that’s just the way people perceive you.
“I see,” I say. “Well, I don’t belong to a political party. Never have. I’m an independent conservative. In fact, I’m more conservative than most Republicans.”
“Oh yeah?” the liberal asks sheepishly. “I thought you were one of those black Republicans.”
“Well, I’m not,” I say, “Although I tend to vote for Republicans, I find it symbolically satisfying to be an ‘Undeclared’ voter. I feel more independent. How about you? Do you belong to a party?”
“Well, yes.”
“Which one?” I ask rhetorically.
“The Democratic party,” says the liberal, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t think independently!”
“So the same can be said for black Republicans, right?”
“Right.”
Unfortunately, the case is never closed.
Update: Commenter Mark Tapscott writes: “I can’t speak for other think tanks, but The Heritage Foundation has never accepted a penny from government and does no contract work for government agencies. Frankly, I’m not aware of any Right think tank that does accept government funding, though there may be some of which I’m just not aware.”
News to my grateful ears!
Don’t miss the link love post!
Update II: Impacted Wisdom has an organizational chart you should see.
{ 5 trackbacks }
{ 25 comments }
I agree with you wholeheartedly when it comes to thinking independently. As a biblical Christian, my chief loyalty is to the Kingdom of God, where I am a citizen, along with the glorious church (Hebrews 12:22-24). That “party” always gets my “vote.” Thus I can claim loyalty to neither American political party or any other, considering the ideology of these mere human parties are always changing. If a party has a platform that lines up with God’s platform (justice, true help for the poor, and so on), then I will vote for them. If a party has a platform in direct odds to God’s platform (murder unborn children, homosexual agenda, and so on) then no matter what else I might agree with them on, they do not have my vote.
To me it is a matter of greater loyalty.
Jason, I love the web site and blog. I’ve linked them among “Christian Resources” and “Christian” blogs.
Excellent post, La Shawn.
It always amazes me that, even with the obvious liberal domination of the news nets, MSM, etc, that the success of conservative talk radio and Fox News makes the liberal establishment feel ‘threatened’ in some way. Everytime I get into a discussion with liberals about liberal media bias, they are always so quick to exclaim “but what about talk radio and Fox?!” rather indignantly. I try to explain to them that Fox is *one network* that tilts conservative out of the numerious nets that tilt to the left. And I also remind them that talk radio is *supposed* to be biased. But that bit of logic doesn’t really matter to those who feel that liberals are losing ground due to the success of conservative talk radio and Fox.
Apparently any perceived threat to their domination of the media has to be answered with silly networks like “GoreTV” etc. They don’t seem to like competition very much - probably because competition (from conservative outlets) might make a few people think differently about what happens in the news.
La Shawn:
“Leftist think tank” is an oxymoron.
Think tanks require two-way and multi-way dialogue.
In contrast, Leftists excel ad one way communication - “my way or the highway”.
For the same reason, “Leftist Talk Radio” is a failure - Leftists can’t carry on an intelligent two-way conversation - they can only preach - just listen to Air America for 5 minutes
The liberals will never understand that they have done an excellent job of getting their message across. They have done such a good job that we have been living in their version of the world for half a century. It just doesn’t occur to them that it is their very well understood message that people are rejecting. I despise when they use the line about “Jesusland” and “fly over country” not voting in their “economic interest.” They truly believe that handouts and social engineering should compensate for the degredation of our nation. Newsflash to liberals: We know what you are about and more people are just saying “NO” everyday.
Harry Belafonte, in scathing scorn of blacks in high positions in the Bush administration,recently reminded his listeners that even Hitler had Jews in high places in his administration….for show. Astonishing…and disgusting! As Frank says (#4), leftists don’t carry on intelligent conversation, because as soon as an opposing view is presented, the leftist, nurtured on a mind-numbing diet of group-think pablum, thus lacking substantive empirical responsiveness, can only react vituperatively. Ergo, they either throw food, demonize, patronize, obfuscate, and worse. Recently, I was at a gathering in downtown Austin, and said that I was a conservative…out loud. Someone in the group,rather shocked at meeting such a self-proclaimed creature, asked if I wasn’t terrified to publicly make such a pronouncement. I smiled and asked if I should be afraid because I was in such a tolerant group that so highly prized intellectual discourse……..What is so amazing about the black political sphere is this rigid insistence on a singular ideological framework, while at the same time proclaiming DIVERSITY! What a Faustian knot and what a twisted type of diversity to value! Thinking individuals are such a threat to the paternalistic leftie, whose power base crumbles every time an individual leaves the fold, and becomes his/her own person. To a leftie,if you’re a black conservative, you’re an Uncle Tom, and if you’re a white conservative, you’re an ignorant bigot…So much for intelligent discourse. Thank God they don’t control the conversational venues anymore! Here’s to truth and dialogue!
I’m a “liberal” and I dont believe that “handouts and social engineering should compensate for the degredation of our nation.”
What say you?
La Shawn, the Libs have not had a new idea in so long that they can’t even wake me up, let alone shock me! I’ll end this post with the risk of giving them apoplexy,”God Bless Us All, Everyone”
The Democrat Liberal, where Dean is so mean,little Belafonte attacks the big Elephante,Harry Reid must be high on crack or weed,and unfunny Franken has trouble getting his brain crankin.
Hey Hipstreet;
There is a difference between a liberal and a leftist. I for one have been guilty of mixing them up carelessly, mostly for ease of conversation (though I used the word leftist in my #6) . By now, I’m not even sure what the words mean in the common vernacular. What do they mean to you?
“Ever heard of ideas?” You nailed it, La Shawn. Why can’t grown people understand that being against everything gets old after a while? They don’t need more money; they need inspirational, positive, energizing ideas. A few fresh faces wouldn’t hurt either.
When I clicked on the “Air America” link in your post, I got a mostly blank page. Did anyone else have this problem?
Hipstreet, like Jan I’m muddled about the distinctions of “liberal”, “leftist”, “moderate”, “centerist”, etc. It’s as if some people actually believe if they change their label, then it will make their philosophy more palatable. Irregardless of the name brand, there is a philosophy of thought that believes that it takes a “village to raise a child.” The practical evidence of this philosophy involves policy that many ;including myself, feel is destroying our society. For example, forced government wealth redistribution is symptomatic of such a philosophy. Such policies weaken the ecomomy, community relationships and individual/family self-reliance. This is a philosophy that preaches that all moral, cultural, and religious practices are equally valid and deserving of not only government protections, but government endorsment. They expect government to take money from group A and give it to groups B, C and D. Often those that receive the spoils of this government theft are promoting a lifestyle that is harmful to society.
On the other hand, “conservative” philosophy is more about it takes a family to raise a child. Conservatives tend to protect and endorse policies that encourage self-reliance of the individual/family with emphasis on strong community sturctures. In this world view the traditional family should be protected and revered above all social structures. The family’s local community should provide the moral support for that family. The community is also the “saftey net” during hard times.
A conservative government asks, “What is best for America as a whole?” A “liberal” government asks, “What is best for certain demographics and special interest groups?” We really don’t have a “conservative” government right now. We have a “Republican” government majority that only gives lip service to “conservative” philosophy while continuing to expand “liberal” government.
In response Hipstreet, if you don’t fall into my understanding of “liberal” philosophy, then I stand corrected.
I can’t speak for other think tanks, but The Heritage Foundation has never accepted a penny from government and does no contract work for government agencies. Frankly, I’m not aware of any Right think tank that does accept government funding, though there may be some of which I’m just not aware.
Why do liberals need think-tanks at all? I mean, “We want to raise your taxes” sounds like a pretty simple program to me. Perhaps they need expert guidance on how to spend all the money?
The distinction between “conservative” think-tanks and “liberal” think-tanks is simple. Conservatives have spend thirty years thinking of IDEAS for the good of all Americans. “Liberals” spend their time (and tax-payer money) trying to re-package an old bill of goods. America once bought this “new and improved” agenda; however, we found out it didn’t work. In fact, it caused unimaginable damage. Now Americans are demanding a government recall of a faulty product: liberalism. Was there a money back guarantee?
La Shawn,
Thanks for the links!
“It’s comically yet divinely fitting that liberals think pouring large amounts of cash into organizations is the appropriate (and only) way to compete with conservatives. Ever heard of ideas? Nevermind.”
sure. There’s CATO, Heritage, AEI and CEI. Against what? Brookings? Ideas take money to manufacture and turn into opinion. Marketing.
I love your weblog. A friend just referred me. Thanks so much for writing something actually stimulating and for the other people who leave such pertinent and informative comments. How refreshing!
Megan
http://www.arcapologetics.org
This is a response to what La Shawn said: “Some black liberals have the nerve to preach to me about the virtue of maintaining an “independent†ideology, that we should think about and vote for what is good for our people without regard to political parties.”
One thing I’ve noticed is that when someone from a non-Christian group becomes a Christian, they have to learn to think for themself, away from “their group” (ethic or religious) because they’re not considered as a part of the group anymore.
But because the black community doesn’t tend to shun born-again Christians (generally speaking), unlike Jews or Muslims or Japanese, etc., there’s an expectation that you’re still supposed to vote and think like the group. (And in case anyone wants to accuse me of not knowing what I’m talking about, I’m a Jew–I’ve experienced it firsthand, big time.)
So that’s one of the reasons I’m impressed when I encounter an independent thinker like you, La Shawn, because you’ve chosen ideas over your “group.”
Asserting both that liberals need to come up with ideas to compete with conservatives and that liberals putting money into thinktanks is silly is, well, silly. Think tanks generate ideas. They also cost money.
Ptm, as far as I’m concerned Democrats can create as many think-tanks as they can support through private financing. However, Democrats have a tendency to fund programs by raiding the tax-payer’s wallet. Although, it does seem rather silly to waste money to come up with ideas, when America has made it clear what it really wants. That goes for both parties.
Actually, NPR could survive just fine without government funding - their audience is growing, and so is their list of donors - but they dare not suggest so, as it flies in the face of everything they believe.
Liberals probably need a think tank to help them figure out why they always deny that they’re liberals. It’s a fascinating thing to watch them try to invent new words like “progressive” to describe themselves so they can avoid the liberal tag. Apparently they’re ashamed of the very philosophy they espouse. Odd, very odd.
On the other hand, if conservatives are accused of being conservatives, they just smile and says “thank you.”
Why doesn’t at least one of those 80 people with a million dollars to donate to a Democratic think tank, donate it, instead, to the charity that had nearly a million dollars siphoned off, supposedly to benefit Air America? Much of that money came from taxpayers. This is why I’m less inclined to be moved when I’m told that I need to pay more taxes to benefit the “poor.” Many Dems only concern is that money is directed to some place where they can get their hands on it.
Comments on this entry are closed.