Posted on 03/13/2009 3:11:55 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Commentary: He's a bigger Internet star than Rush Limbaugh
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Christopher Ruddy admires Rush Limbaugh's popularity and Matt Drudge's influence. But Ruddy isn't exactly awed by his conservative-media brethren -- and for good reason.
Ruddy, the CEO and editor of Newsmax, is emerging as the most prominent online voice of the conservative movement. Newsmax has flourished because Ruddy has exhibited a stronger commitment to the bottom line than to presenting himself as an ideologue.
"I'm not looking for a cult of personality of Chris Ruddy," he said. "Running a business takes 24/7." The hard work is paying off. As Forbes.com recently noted, "It has taken a decade but Newsmax is now a news powerhouse and a must-read on the conservative media circuit."
Last year, Newsmax racked up total revenue of $24 million, up from 2007's $19 million -- an impressive outcome during an industry-wide recession.
Based in West Palm Beach, Fla., Newsmax shrewdly targets its news to a broad base of Republicans. Ruddy, 44, is a devout Republican, yet he excoriated George W. Bush's failures and the spend-happy Republican Congress. His Newsmax holdings, which include a magazine and newsletters, have strived to stay true to the ideals of Ronald Reagan, the most beloved Republican of his time. But he doesn't mind praising the Democrats, either.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
I got hear Mr. Ruddy speak on the Vince Foster “suicide”.
Very good talk on how it could not have been done at the park, if it was a suicide at all.
They should also interview you, Jim! Yay for Jim and FR, and I seriously do hope that both live on for quite some time!
I remember the great investigative reporting Chris Ruddy did on the Vincent Foster and Ron Brown murders during the 1990s. But when Ruddy went into business he muted his conservative voice, and steered his publication away from any further serious controversy. When he wrote his column praising Bill Clinton’s book on philanthropy, and became a personal friend of the Clintons, I lost any trust I used to have for Chris Ruddy. Now The Wall Street Journal is promoting Chris Ruddy as the #1 conservative voice, but I’m not buying it. I wonder what the WSJ agenda is?
Ruddy is no conservative!
Neither is his boss, Richard Mellon Scaife. - They are both closet globalists. Ruddy rode the wave of the 90s for profit, but NewsMax has always been weak, and kooky.
I also got to hear Ruddy. His "if it was suicide" was just a way he thought he could endear himself to the media. It didn't work. The same night I heard Ruddy speak, I also heard the late Reed Irvine speak. Reed didn't feel the need to soft pedal anything. A bunch of us including including Pat Knowlton stood around talking with Reed until no one had anything more to say or ask, This was after AEP's column about Knowlton, but still he was unknown to most of the people attending; and unfortunately he is still inknown to most people. I don't remember Ruddy hanging around, and I don't remember Ruddy ever writing about Knowlton. Maybe he did and I don't remember; or maybe he just thought it was "not a career enhancing move." (The words in quotes were ones the supposedly great, and then still local, Sean Hannity said to me when we talked face to face about why he didn't speak about Foster on his show.)
ML/NJ
The talk I was at, Mr. Ruddy demonstrated with a pistol how it could not have happened the way it was portrayed. (well, except for actually firing the pistol!)
Ruddy's initial articles about Foster for the NY Post were great. But he dropped the ball along the way.
ML/NJ
Small meeting in Colorado. Militia sponsored I think. He did lose his way later it seems.
ML/NJ
Yeah. I hadn’t really heard musch about him lately (for years, actually)
(Sorry Carl)
ML/NJ
Newsmax “hearts” themselves alright!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.