Playboy magazine has a product, McDonalds has a product. Both are gratuitous and in much demand. The slick and fast product at 1420 WMAR is outrage and anti intellectualism. Let's face it, everyone likes to be outraged. That's what so called Republican radio peddles: outrage. Like a toxic sludge factory in a kid's movie, they don't care what the side effects are or who they hurt.
Spend a week on a teacher in Indiana who said something bad about Israel. Cut Wesley Clark's recent statement in half to reverse its very meaning. Claim Rachel Ray supports terrorists( see this wonderful letter on Rachel Ray ). Claim someone, somewhere is attacking God, slam a college newspaper for slandering Pat Tillman ( ignore Pentagon cover up of Tillman's death), fight the noble defense in a war on Xmas and the Easter bunny.
Right wing outrage is the new political correctness. Pathetic premises and pitiful targets are the key. Locally, you can beat up on illegals (as diseased deadbeat dads) and even the local symphony orchestra - based on your own misunderstandings.
Of course , it's all about the money.
WMAR 1420 hosts sell restaurant menus ( after the 8 minute commercials) and retirement homes. Bill O'Reilly sells mattresses, and Rush Limbaugh admits that his "first goal is to attract the largest possible audience so I can charge confiscatory ad rates. I happen to have great entertainment skills, but that enables me to sell airtime." The New York Times also reports that "at a much higher rate he will weave a product into his monologue."
Push the hate, consolidate the market, and press squeeze for profit.
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