Posted on 10/20/2001 5:27:51 PM PDT by RonDog
In recent weeks, some here have expressed concern about the large number of posts on this forum aggressively promoting nationally syndicated talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, asking:
1 - Who **IS** this guy?
2 - Why is he getting so much attention here?
3 - Is this a good thing? (or proper, ethical, in our best interest, etc.?)
Since I have started (and contributed to) MANY of these threads, I now intend to address these concerns, and encourage vigorous debate among all who care to join in. ALL opinions are welcome, but INFORMED opinions are preferred.
If you do not yet know about Hugh Hewitt and his enormous positive, dynamic, long-term relationship with Free Republic, you are ignorant. This is not an insult; it is a definition:
"Everybody is ignorant. Only on different subjects." Will Rogers
Fortunately, that ignorance is 100% curable. If in the past you did NOT know about Hugh Hewitt and his relationship to Free Republic, after reading this thread you WILL. At least enough to make a constuctive contribution to the question:
Here are the areas about which I propose to encourage SERIOUS discussion:
1 - Documented HISTORY of the relationship which has developed between Hugh Hewitt and Free Republic:My intention is to start this discussion with "testimonials" about Hugh that have been posted here by OTHER FReepers, then provide links to other threads about Hugh, and finally, add biographical information and personal commentary.
a - Hugh lurks here. He OFTEN promotes FR on his radio program, in VERY positive terms - sometimes referring to us as the "Coast-watchers over at Free Republic." Doug from Upland, ALOHA RONNIE, DLfromthedesert, PatiPie and many other FReepers are regular callers.2 - Short-term TACTICS to promote maximum exposure of "Hugh Hewitt" threads on Free Republic:
Hugh responds to suggestions that we make, and credits this forum as the source for MUCH of his news. He has promoted FReeper causes on MULTIPLE occasions, cited the screen names of MANY FReepers on the air, and OFTEN includes links from his "Message of the Day" page to specific threads here, in addition to maintaining a PERMANENT link to FR on his homepage.b - He is a kindred spirit. He champions many of our core values, and wants to share the magic of Free Republic with his radio listeners and editorial readers across the USA. He is reaching out to help us achieve many of our common goals. He is a California-based (south of Los Angeles) evangelical Christian (elder in the Presbyterian church) who still teaches Constitutional Law (at Chapman College). He aggressively supports the military, vigorously defends people of faith, regularly attacks incompetance in government, and frequently exposes bias in the media.
c - He is an activist. Hugh has been a believer in the power of FReeping - even before he knew what it was! When the television networks tried to throw the Presidential election in 2000 by calling a winner before the polls closed, he set up a website (www.TheFloridaEffect.com) to document lost Republican votes. He understands the tremendous value of early financial support (even in very small amounts) for such worthy causes as the taking back the Senate in 2002.
a - Search for "Hugh Hewitt": Since newbies that Hugh sends to Free Republic for the first time (and even a few old-timers here!) do not know very much about finding articles on this forum, JohnHuang2, Doug from Upland and I have been adding the name "Hugh Hewitt" to the title of articles about him that we post here, to make them easier to find. We also post his editorials in the "Editorial" sidebar, and other important information as "Extended News" for maximum exposure.b - Search for Articles+Replies to:"Hugh Hewitt" - John Robinson's new "Bump List" Register provides an excellent PASSIVE mechanism for marking threads for easy retrieval at a later date. This new tool allows each of us to contribute to a "Hugh Hewitt clipping service" - by posting a reply to "Hugh Hewitt" on any thread which may be of interest to Hugh and his listeners. (Hugh is NOT registered to post here, but his NAME is on the "Free Republic Bump List Register".) The best part about THIS tool is that it can be used to mark MANY threads - even those which may be of only peripheral interst to Hugh and his listeners - since only those FReepers who actually search for these threads will find them. (They will NOT appear in a "Self-Search.")
c - "Hugh Hewitt PING list" - One of John Robinson's OTHER great new recent improvements to this forum is the virtually "unlimited PING list" feature which allows any registered FReeper to ACTIVELY summon all members of an certain "interest group" to a particular thread. This tool should be used sparingly - only for articles written by Hugh or specifically about Hugh - as it will force the "flagged" thread to show up in a "Self-Search" of everyone on the PING list. (In the next few days, I intend to post a RonDog's "Hugh Hewitt PING list" thread, with a complete list of all the screen names that I have gathered from the many previous Hugh Hewitt threads. After it is posted, please let me know if you want to get ON - or OFF - MY list. Thanks.)
3 - Long-term STRATEGY to plan and direct the benefits for Free Republic from this relationship:
a - Hugh is an EDITOR. In his "first anniversary" editorial for WorldNetDaily, Hugh identified "news judgment" as his primary strength. This is probably our MOST important area for influence: target selection. Assuming that we DO promote Hugh on this forum, what is our objective? What do we do with the power that we have to influence his opinions, his programming and his priorities? Personally, I like the idea of moving Hugh out of his "center-right" comfort zone - as far to the right as he can reasonably be enticed to go without losing market share. We can do this by appealling to his "Voice of Reason" - with logic, documentation, and well-reasoned argument.He has expressed interest in the "big picture" of environmental law issues represented by the Federal government in the Klamath Basin Crisis. He has spoken on his radio show about the Second Amendment aspects of the recent Emerson decision in the Fifth District court. Other areas of possible influence are reforming immigration policy, limiting the power of the UN, protecting individual rights, restraining the growth of the federal government. What else?
b - Hugh likes "JOINT VENTURES" with Free Republic. One of the classic "combined projects" is The word 'rapist' censored from George Will's column, where Hugh found the original story on Free Republic, reported it on the air, and then asked FReepers to post side-by-side versions. Other such examples of radio-Internet synergy are HUGH HEWITT ASKS FREEPERS FOR FEINSTEIN TRANSCRIPT and Hugh Hewitt asks for Free Republic help to pressure Gore to concede. What OTHER "joint ventures" could we (or SHOULD we) attempt to do with this "good FRiend" who happens to broadcast into 40+ radio markets across the USA? Any ideas?
c - Hugh likes to INTERVIEW authorities. Like Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force, Hugh believes that "a man's got to know his limitations." He often defers to the specialized expertise of regular guests like "Fred Barnes and Morton Kondracke... ...Terry Eastland, Erwin Chemerinsky and John Eastman..." There is no good reason that MANY more FReepers could not join the team of "experts" that contribute by calling his show on a regular basis. (800) 520-1234
I intend to continue promoting Hugh's weekly WorldNetDaily column. In addition, I feel that we should expand upon Doug from Upland's HUGH HEWITT SHOW threads, and that we should maintain an active "running commentary" thread for Hugh's radio show - EVERY day.
If your words are quoted, please feel free to modify, enhance, clarify, retract, recant or disavow anything attributed to you.
All others, chime in whenever the spirit moves you. (Regular listeners to Hugh are particularly encouraged to contribute.)
My REAL "Hugh Hewitt PING list" is still "under construction." ;o)
Can anyone tell me what the connection between Hugh and FR is?Is there some history here?
- anniegetyourgun
He never fails to mention FR on his program.
I'm just curious.
From:
LURKER HUGH HEWITT SHOW -- Jan. 30
Posted on 01/30/2001 06:08:22 PST by doug from upland
.....
To: doug from upland5 Posted on 01/30/2001 06:25:24 PST by anniegetyourgunCan anyone tell me what the connection between Hugh and FR is? Is there some history here? He never fails to mention FR on his program. I'm just curious.
To: anniegetyourgun6 Posted on 01/30/2001 06:51:12 PST by doug from uplandI used to call Hugh years ago when he was on KFI. When he came back to the area on KIEV, I began calling again and citing FreeRepublic. Now, he recognizes it as a great source.
Virginia Postrel has a high opinion of him, so unless you're a paleo or isolationist or more radically religious you'll probably like him.
Hi, xm177e2 - Hugh thinks highly of her, too, but I am not yet certain that I like her. Perhaps she is an acquired taste. ;)
WUNNERFUL! WUNNERFUL! (Tune him in and find out for yourself.)
He mentions Free Republic often
and urges the audience to go there.Doug from Upland often calls.
- Azbushgal
From:
THE MOST VALUABLE NEW VOICE IN RADIO
Posted on 01/15/2001 12:10:06 PST by General Maximus
To: General Maximus2 Posted on 01/15/2001 12:20:49 PST by Azbushgal (carol84263@aol.com)I am one of those "Dimaggiatti" listeners, and I love Hugh Hewitt. When I contributed the the NRSC, I printed my receipt and faxed it to all the democratic senator's offices! Hugh called me a "great American." It was a thrill for me. He mentions Free Republic often and urges the audience to go there. Doug from Upland often calls. He is the "Great American." Fellow Freepers, support Hugh Hewitt.
To: Azbushgal3 Posted on 01/15/2001 12:23:05 PST by General MaximusYou're right. I don't think a day goes by that Hugh doesn't mention Free Republic.
To: General Maximus6 Posted on 01/15/2001 12:37:59 PST by Chili GirlHugh is worthy of a BUMP!
I am very glad to have him on KRLA every morning. It's nice to have such a knowledgeable conservative in California. Especially now that he's discovered FR! Go Hugh!!!
To: General Maximus7 Posted on 01/15/2001 12:40:16 PST by eureka!Nicely done, this post. Hugh is great and lurks here and plugs FR in a wonderful way. I also like his activism...
To: General Maximus20 Posted on 01/15/2001 18:03:48 PST by abnerHugh Hewitt is awesome! I try to listen to him every morning. He mentions FreeRepublic almost every day too.
22 Posted on 01/15/2001 20:51:56 PST by doug from upland
To: SlickWillardI was a frequent caller to Hugh even back in those KFI days.
To: doug from upland44 Posted on 01/17/2001 10:14:00 PST by KateUTWSHeard you on Hewitt's show this morning Mr. Upland, can you repeat that great limerick you wrote?
To: KateUTWS46 Posted on 01/17/2001 18:33:54 PST by doug from uplandYou can see that he's very well fed
Some suspect that he's really a Red
But his own legacy
Is a clear as can be
He forever will be Lifeguard Ted
Hugh's show is for the enlightened, who wish to become more enlightened. Hugh never talks down to his audience. He's always up-lifting, humorous and at times, stark raving mad. Hugh suffers no fools.
If you like O'Reilly, you'll love Hugh, especially when Hugh regularly interviews Mr. Bill O'Reilly!
The best of the best (and a few of the rest) appear weekly on his show.
To use Lawrence Welk's term, allow me to characterize HH:WUNNERFUL! WUNNERFUL! (Tune him in and find out for yourself.)
LOL! Not sure that LW is exactly in HH's target demographic, but Duane might enjoy THAT music for a change!
Wonderful job RD! Hugh is fortunate to have you just like we are fortunate to have Hugh!
(Don't forget to ping SMEDLEY :)
Thanks, onyx - I am sure that YOU know, but for the others, I forgot to include a DISCLAIMER in my original article:
I am not now, nor have I ever been, employed by Hugh Hewitt, or by Salem Communications, or by any of the radio stations that carry Hugh. I have absolutely NO financial interest in his success. Zero. Zilch. Nada.Hugh Hewitt does not now, and never has, paid me a DIME.
I just like the guy, and what he is doing for Free Republic - and for America.
In the interest of full disclosure, I WAS interviewed (BRIEFLY) on his radio program last year, when I called in "LIVE from the Cow Palace" at our "Success at ANY Cost?" FReep of Bill Clinton there. (And, I guess that he mentions my screen name a lot on the air, since I bump his threads here.)
Yep, hugh is one of the best on radio. His best guest is defense expert Frank Gafney. He uses FR as a source for news. I really wish they had not moved him from the morning. It is so much easier for me to listen and to call him at that time.
Hi, dfu - As nearly as I can determine, YOU were the one who really intriduced Hugh to Free Republic, and vice versa.
Can you talk a little bit about that?
1 - I understand that you called him quite a bit at KFI in Los Angeles a long time ago. WHEN was that?
2 - Hugh's producer, "Generalissimo" Duane (newly registered as a FReeper: generalissimoduane) says that he has been a "lurker" here since the days when FR was on Prodigy (!) - but Hugh never seemed to really promote Free Republic on the OLD station, did he?
3 - What do you think about the idea of posting a "HUGH HEWITT SHOW" thread EVERY DAY?
Can you do it? (I am not certain that I can either.)
Who ELSE could post such a thread - every day, from 3pm to 6 pm California time?
Is there a list of all the radio stations HH broadcasts that can be posted here? I have never heard his show and would like to. (Or did I totally miss it?)
From Lynne (the WebXena) at http://www.hughhewitt.com/stations.html:
Stations |
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The Hugh Hewitt Show is heard on more than 40 radio stations nationwide. The following Salem Radio Network affiliates carry The Hugh Hewitt Show. You may obtain information about additional affiliates by e-mailing: Generalissimo@hughhewitt.com
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If every time HH mentions FR, someone gets interested and looks at FR, it's fine for all of us.
The more Coast-watchers, the better. Plus you can't possibly buy that much good publicity
(HH for FR, and FR for HH!) that each provides the other!
Hugh makes it clear on his show that FR's not "his" site, but his appreciation of it is obvious.
Thanks, Hugh, Generalissimo, web Xena and all!
Precisely. It is called reciprocity.
See, for example:
The following FReepers mention Hugh - BY NAME - on their individual profile pages as the reason that they found FR.
"I've lurked on Free Republic ever since I heard it mentioned on the Hugh Hewitt Show."
"Don't know where I'd been, but I only found this amazing site in March of this year, thanks to Hugh Hewitt's numerous plugs on his morning radio program."
Who knows how many OTHER new members (and LURKERS) have discovered Free Republic because of Hugh?
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