Unfortunately, now there is no one that I can think of at the three major networks who will provide an opposing point of view. Last week, I heard Mark Levin rant , "You'll never see a program on ABC or NBC about the wonders of the free market", and I said to myself, "That's not true, what about Stossel!" Well, now he is right.
With the incredible success of the Glenn Beck Show, the popularity of the on-line show Freedom Watch with Judge Andrew Napolitano, and now the addition of John Stossel, it is clear that Fox News Channel has been making an effort to provide programming that emphasizes a more libertarian point of view, while downplaying the Weekly Standard, "two cheers for capitalism", big government brand of conservatism that has dominated their "all star" panels. Why are they doing this? Ratings. There is clearly an audience out there for this type of programming.
The more important question is, is there a similar shift going on in the conservative movement?
[Update]
From Instapundit:
"A couple of readers wonder why I think the move is “too bad.” It’s because with Stossel at ABC, some viewers might be exposed to non-conventional (at ABC) views. I very much doubt that ABC will replace Stossel with someone of similar libertarian inclination, though I’d love to be proven wrong. Fox viewers, on the other hand, will appreciate the quality of his work, but it’s not likely to be the same kind of wake-up call it is to the Barbara Walters crowd . . ." .
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You ask "The more important question is, is there a similar shift going on in the conservative movement?"
ReplyDeleteOf course there is. Otherwise it wouldn't be successful programming.