HUGH HEWITT and Free Republic: How should we help him help us? [Who **IS** this guy?]

Hugh Hewitt confirms his NEW radio station list: NEW times, cities, call letters ^ | 10/20/2001 | RonDog

[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:

What should Free Republic DO about Hugh Hewitt?

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:

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.
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.

2 - Short-term TACTICS to promote maximum exposure of "Hugh Hewitt" threads on Free Republic:

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.

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.

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.)

Good Morning Glory, and Evening Grace!

[RonDog]

I am wondering who screwed him out of the morning time slot? Moving to the afternoon/evening is going to be murder on his ratings. Who the hell listens to talk radio at night?

On the WEST coast, 3pm to 6pm is called "evening drive time" - generally a GOOD time slot. Not sure about 6pm to 9pm on the EAST coast, but that time slot is also fairly popular out here.

Hugh considers his function at the NEW time slot as being the "clean-up hitter" - "driving the agenda" of that day's news.

In any event, it seems that the move has allowed him to move from "tape-delay" to "live" in MANY new markets, and has SUBSTANTIALLY improved his potential audience numbers.

We shall see, but it LOOKS good - for now!

[Ron C.]

Thanks for the ping to your GREAT work here, RonDog!

Hugh is probably THE top promoter of FreeRepublic in the LA radio area - and with his national syndication, probably the top NATIONAL radio supporter of FreeRepublic as a source of news and commentary.

But, FReepers can tell you, there are literally dozens and dozens of other great conservative radio talk-show hosts nation-wide that commonly lurk and post here, as well as frequently promoting this site. I have personally communicated with several of them.

Because of this, FreeRepublic has become one of the major influences on topics of discussion that takes place on literally hundreds of radio shows. I have personally heard the names of many different FReepers mentioned as major contributors to show-host topics, most often in thanks.

[RonDog]

More pings for the soon to be formalized "Hugh Hewitt" PING list...

PS - Click on "Old Style" at the top of this thread, and then come back here to THIS post to see MANY screen names.
(The NEW format only lists the first 97 characters of a virtually UNLIMITED ping list.)

From Salem Radio Network TALK:

The Hugh Hewitt Show
Monday-Friday
(Live) 6pm-9pm, Eastern

THE HUGH HEWITT WEBSITE
Today's Hot Issues…from Today's Hottest New Talk Show

Hugh Hewitt is a broadcast pro who has informed and entertained on radio and television for over a decade. Hewitt is co-host of the weeknight television Life & Times Tonight, a three-time Emmy award winner on KCET-TV, Los Angeles.

Author of three books, Hewitt continues to write widely on diverse topics from politics to religion to culture for magazines and newspapers across the United States. He is a frequent contributor on television's most watched programs including CNN, Fox News, Nightline, The Today Show, and Larry King Live.

A 1978 honors graduate of Harvard University and a 1983 honors graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Hugh Hewitt served for nearly six years in the Reagan Administration in a variety of posts, including Assistant Counsel in the White House. He is also a member of the California Arts Council and the Orange County Children and Families First Commission.

The Hugh Hewitt Show-opinion and information with a unique twist- heard in daily syndication on leading talk stations across the United States including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Denver, Sacramento, and Louisville). Available on a market-exclusive, barter basis.

(Live) Monday-Friday 6pm-9pm, Eastern; 3pm-6pm Pacific
Available on a market-exclusive, barter basis

GE-8 Satellite, Starguide III Receiver
GE-3 Satellite, Unity 4000 Receiver
5 minutes national barter
17 minutes available for local insertion
Weekend "best of" shows available

For more details and demo information...
Call SRN General Market Affiliate Relations at 972-831-1920 x142

[Valin]

(All others, please do NOT be offended if I miss pinging you early in this thread.)

Oh ya, well I'll be offended if I choose! After all be offended is one of my best things. :-)

Seriously I wish he was back on in the morning, I work 2nd shift and can't really listen to him anymore. It's a great well rounded show.

[Sabertooth]

Dunno about which brand (dunno the brands, lol), but one interesting thing about Hugh is that he attended parochial schools in Ohio, so he's Protestant and Catholic friendly.

[Sabertooth]

The problem I have with Hugh's new L.A. slot is that he's now up against Larry Elder during drive time. I'll take Hugh over the Sage, but what it really means is that I've given up Larry in the afternoon for Mike Gallagher in the morning.

Gallagher's a bore. I am no longer a regular morning listener on KRLA.

That being said, Hewitt rocks!

[Pelham]

I like how Hugh has helped us explain how immigration, especially illegal immigration, has been a serious problem in southern California.

Oh, that's right, he never mentions it. And when the subject is forced on him he's been for amnesty and open borders.

I don't understand your hyper enthusiasm for this ambitious, self-promoting yuppie carpetbagger. Cleveland needs to take him back.

[Sabertooth]

Hewitt definitely has been slow on the learning curve on the colonistas. Even though he's now SoCal local, both he and Limbaugh suffer from an East of the Mississippi blindness about it. I really don't get it.

Medved's even worse. "Spot on" on just about everything but the colonistas. And he's from La Jolla!

[Irma]

This is absolutely AWESOME work, Ron! I am so impressed! Thank you!

[RonDog]

Thanks for the ping to your GREAT work here, RonDog!

Hugh is probably THE top promoter of FreeRepublic in the LA radio area - and with his national syndication, probably the top NATIONAL radio supporter of FreeRepublic as a source of news and commentary. But, FReepers can tell you, there are literally dozens and dozens of other great conservative radio talk-show hosts nation-wide that commonly lurk and post here, as well as frequently promoting this site. I have personally communicated with several of them.

Thanks for the kind words!
Perhaps there are others who LURK here, but I can find NONE with the proven track record for promoting this forum as aggressively and consistently as I have just documented here for Hugh Hewitt.

I have an ulterior motive for loading this thread with so much documentation: In the future, when I get grief from the ignorant (as I have at times in the past) for promoting Hugh so aggressively here, I intend to SEND THE WHINERS HERE!

If anyone else can establish similar bona fides for supporting this place, I will promote THEM aggressively as well.

First, however, I would like to see their record. Posted here.

[RonDog]

I don't understand your hyper enthusiasm for this ambitious, self-promoting yuppie carpetbagger...

Thanks, Pelham - YOU are just about the only critic of Hugh's that actually has constructive advice for Hugh!

I also wish that he attacked the illegal immigration problem more directly.
Perhaps you can suggest a way to turn him around.

As for the basis my "enthusiasm" for promoting Hugh start with post #1, and TRY READING THE WHOLE THREAD. ;)

I would like to think that I would be equally as enthusiatic (almost!) in promoting Jerry Springer, or Geraldo, or Oprah here - if they did HALF as much for Free Republic as Hugh does.

[RaceBannon]

huh?

[onyx]

Medved's from La Jolla? Gee, I remember a little brief-case carrying dweeb by his same name who lived in Point Loma.

[socal_parrot]

Hugh Hewitt is the thinking man's conservative talk show host. A lot of hosts tend to rant, while Hugh is more thought provoking. I hope he makes it in afternoon drive in LA.

[Pelham]

I agree with you, except that Hughie isn't, and never will be, a SoCal Local. He has a surface understanding of SoCal, but that's it. He never bothered to learn the territory when he came here- he just planted himself in the yuppie Fantasyland of Irvine, and used his Nixon Library connection to ensconce himself as the housepet "conservative" on KCET.

His interests were national and global, which is fine, but the twit has no understanding of the region he lives in. Those of us who have lived here since the 60s know the seismic demographic changes that have hit SoCal, and role that mass immigration has played in this. Any "local" knows this. What we have in Hugh is an ambitious politician who panders to the ethnic lobbies with an eye to his future political viability. Bill Clinton would approve.

As for Medved, you're "spot on". He also lived for many years in Santa Monica, and has no excuse. If it's all so great, why did he flee to the Pacific Northwest? Someone skewered him good last week on his "just give up, you can't change it" attitude on immigration. The caller wanted to know if Michael was still going to sing that tired song now that we know that many of the terrorists had overstayed, or otherwise violated the terms of their visas. Medved's attempt to weasel out of this predicament was pathetic. Apparently the words "I was wrong" aren't in his vocabulary.

[Snow Bunny]

BIG HUGE BUMP to you, this thread and HUGH HEWITT !!!!!!

[Pelham]

I also wish that he attacked the illegal immigration problem more directly. Perhaps you can suggest a way to turn him around.

Yeah, I do, and it's real simple: make him move his parents and his family into one of the neighborhoods that is being heavily impacted by immigration. Let them have to deal with the impact of the policies he is so complacent about. This is what has happened to me and my friends. I resent twits like Hughie who have let our cities deteriorate and become increasingly dangerous places. We never used to have "drive-bys"- this year there was a killing one block from my sister's house. We never had grafitti. Now my elderly parents have to paint over the crap on a weekly basis. Let Hewitt put his own family into the equation, then let's see this selfish yuppie spout his complacent do-nothing drivel.

[Sabertooth]

Yeah, I just glaze over when I hear these guys on the colonistas.

My top four guys on AM talk (in no particular order) are Hewitt, Limbaugh, Medved, and Elder... and they're ALL WRONG on the reconquista.

Weird.

I'm liking Hannity now that he's down here, but haven't nailed his position on the colonistas. He's east of the Mississippi, so he's probably wrong, too.

BTW, I gotta fess, I've only been SoCal myself since '87, but before that I was San Jose born and raised. Many of the same problems there, five years behind the L.A. curve.

[Sabertooth]

"I also wish that (Hugh) attacked the illegal immigration problem more directly. Perhaps you can suggest a way to turn him around. "

How about this...

When the bloody terrorist attack comes that's traced to the Hezbollah cell in Mexico that comes and goes as it pleases over our Southern Border, we demand that Hugh write an apology to every one of the families that loses loved ones in part because of the conservative talk show hosts that couldn't figure out that Clinton was wrong on the colonistas too.

They're letting us down on this one. Big time.

[Pelham]

Hannity's as brainless as the rest about reconquista. We may get the last laugh, as the last LA talk station goes espanol. Or korean. Or mandarin, or tagalog, or hindi. I can remember when the only "Mexican" station here was XERB, and it featured Wolfman Jack. Now the dial sounds like the frigging UN General Assembly.

I've been here since the mid 60's, and like many of my friends I'm looking for Somewhere Else. Then Hughie and his cosmopolitan pals can try to out-pander the Democrats to their hearts' content. And people wonder where the moniker The Stupid Party came from...