Ross Douthat’s ruminations are at New York Times, but Sis. Sharon points out this one paragraph, which is interesting to me, too. He’s quoting someone else, but:
I’m reminded of something that John Podhoretz said many years ago: The great advantage that conservatives have over liberals is that we are bilingual. We can speak our language and we also know theirs. They however even now still don’t know ours and cannot be bothered to learn.
Do you think that’s true? That liberals don’t tend to learn the conservative’s language, but conservatives do tend to learn the liberals’?
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No, I don’t think that’s true at all. However, what I do think is true is that the moderates (especially moderate conservatives) are underrepresented in the media. The Consiberals (I know I made that one up) have no voice at all. There is a vast gray area between right-wing conservative and far-left liberal. A lot of people are there and I think a lot of people who are in that position are unhappy with both “languages” because they are so divisive. I’ve heard a lot of people say they are fed up with politics and all politicians out of frustration.
I have a quasi-explanation for this, speaking for all Mainstream Media, everywhere. We tend to go for the fringe elements — the loudest, squeakiest wheels, the weirdest signs, the most outlandish claims (on both sides). What gets lost is the middle, where most of the real answers are.
I think your explanation is a good one.
Fringe may be fine for entertainment purposes, even if it does lead to situations like the octomom. However, I think there should be some sort of line drawn when lives are at stake through decisions made by politicians. It’s people like Limbaugh and Beck, who use the most outlandish claims to gain attention, who are causing the most trouble.
Yes, there should. We talk about that, we in the Mainstream Media. And then we go back to our rooting around in the fringes ways.
Because it brings in the $$? Or, because it’s more fun?
The former, I would think. The wackier, the better.
That’s a gross overstatment. OK. It’s just an overstatement, not a gross one.