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Liberal Radio Is Planned by Rich Group of Democrats
The New York Times ^ | 02/17/03 | JIM RUTENBERG

Posted on 02/17/2003 6:53:01 AM PST by nypokerface

A group of wealthy Democratic donors is planning to start a liberal radio network to counterbalance the conservative tenor of radio programs like "The Rush Limbaugh Show."

The group, led by Sheldon and Anita Drobny, venture capitalists from Chicago who have been major campaign donors for Bill Clinton and Al Gore, is in talks with Al Franken, the comedian and author of "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot." It hopes to enlist other well-known entertainers with a liberal point of view for a 14-hour, daily slate of commercial programs that would heavily rely on comedy and political satire.

The plan faces several business and content challenges, from finding a network of radio stations to buy the program to overcoming the poor track record of liberal radio shows. But it is the most ambitious undertaking yet to come from liberal Democrats who believe they are overshadowed in the political propaganda wars by conservative radio and television personalities.

The concern has been around for years: Hillary Rodham Clinton first mentioned a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" in 1998. But the sentiment has taken on new urgency with the rise to the top of the cable news ratings of the Fox News Channel, considered by many to have a conservative slant, and the Republicans' gaining control of the Senate in November. Such events have spurred many wealthy Democrats to explore investments in possible, liberal-skewing media ventures. New campaign finance rules that restrict giving opportunities also gave them further incentive.

The new liberal radio network is initially being financed by the Paradigm Group, of which the Drobnys are the principal partners. Ms. Drobny is the chairwoman of the venture, which is being called AnShell Media L.L.C. Jon Sinton, a longtime, Atlanta-based radio executive, will be its chief executive. He helped start the nationally syndicated radio program of Jim Hightower, the former Texas agriculture commissioner. Liberals had hoped that would be their answer to Mr. Limbaugh, but it was canceled shortly after its start in the mid-1990's.

The failure of Mr. Hightower's show supported the notion of many in radio that liberal hosts do not have what it takes to become successful and entertaining hosts: the fire-and-brimstone manner and a ready-made audience alienated by the mainstream news media it perceives to be full of liberal bias.

Mr. Sinton said the new venture would seek to disprove not only those who doubt liberal hosts can make it in radio, but also those who believe that success in radio depends on an alliance with one of the handful of major distributors or station groups.

The group said it was prepared to go it alone, selling its programming to the individual radio stations rather than go through a middleman. It has an initial investment of $10 million, which radio analysts said was enough to start up. Ms. Drobny said the cash would be placed in a fund that she hopes to grow to at least $200 million within the next year, which she hopes to use to finance other media ventures like the acquisition of radio stations and television production.

"The object of the programming is to be progressive and make a statement that counters this din from the right," Mr. Sinton said. "But we have a solid business plan that shows a hole in the market."

Many conservatives who assert the news media in general is infused with liberal bias say the premise of a liberal radio network is silly to begin with. But liberal Democrats say even if a liberal bias does exist, the mainstream news media strives for balance and fair play. They say their concern is that there are far fewer successful, outright partisan voices on the left than there are on the right.

"I feel like there's a monologue out there," Ms. Drobny said. "I just had this tremendous feeling with great passion that we had to make sure we're heard and make sure having a dialogue in this country of ours."

The list of successful conservative radio hosts is, in fact, fairly long Rush Limbaugh; Sean Hannity; Michael Savage; Michael Reagan. And there is no equivalent list of liberals. Past attempts, such as the programs of Mr. Hightower and Mario Cuomo, have failed.

Some radio executives said they simply did not believe liberal radio could become good business. Among them was Kraig T. Kitchen, chief executive of Premiere Radio Networks, one of the nation's largest radio syndication arms with the programs of Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Reagan and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, among others. Though Mr. Kitchin said he was a conservative, he also said he would have pursued liberal programs had he thought there was money in them. He ascribes to the popular view in the industry that liberal hosts present issues in too much complexity to be very entertaining — while addressing a diffuse audience that has varying views.

"Individuals who are liberal in their viewpoints can be all-encompassing," he said. "It's very hard to define liberalism, unlike how easy it is to define conservatism. So, as a result, it doesn't evoke the same kind of passion as conservative ideologies do."

Mr. Sinton said he thought past attempts failed because they were not properly executed. He said he believed a big problem for Mr. Hightower was that his program was sandwiched into a schedule crammed with conservatives. "It is very hard to succeed when you throw liberal programming between bookends of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity," he said. "That violates expectations of the listener."

This is why he said he was proposing a full slate of liberally skewing programming with morning, afternoon and early evening shows featuring hosts with as many big names in entertainment as possible.

"This side has failed by going at Rush, and trying to be Rush — you're not going to beat him at his game," Mr. Sinton said. "What really makes this work is tapping into Hollywood and New York and having a huge entertainment component, where political sarcasm is every bit as effective as Rush Limbaugh is at bashing you over the head."

Mr. Sinton acknowledged that his biggest challenge was in getting national distribution for the network. He said he would seek to strike deals with underperforming radio stations in major markets.

Analysts said that while the plan might seem difficult to achieve, it is not impossible. "It is going to be trickier in the top-10 markets, easier in the middle markets, but it will be possible," said Jonathan Jacoby, a radio industry analyst for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. "There is a case that if they have the right product, they will be able to find distribution."

Talent, of course, will be key, Mr. Sinton acknowledged. A deal with Mr. Franken, the comedian, would help greatly in luring other big names, as well as in gaining distribution. He said he envisioned a daily program featuring Mr. Franken perhaps in the early afternoons (around the same time as "The Rush Limbaugh Show").

A representative for Mr. Franken, Henry Reisch of the William Morris Agency, said Mr. Franken was seriously considering the offer, and was mostly focusing on whether he could handle the commitment of a daily radio program. Judging from his comments as a guest last month on Phil Donahue's program on MSNBC, Mr. Franken would probably take a far different approach from that of Mr. Limbaugh. "I think the audience isn't there for a liberal Rush," he said. "Because I think liberals don't want to hear that kind of demagoguery."


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To: nypokerface
"What really makes this work is tapping into Hollywood and New York and having a huge entertainment component"

I hope the D'rats believe this. It is a the fastest road to oblivion for a liberal radio network.

Afterall one of the most astute political minds of our time was recently quoted: "He's just an actor"
Ex-pres. and slimeball B.J. Clinton referring to comments of Richard Gere.

Put the H'wood idiots on the air. They will be exposed for the fools and Anti-Americans they are and this $20,000,000 liberal wet dream will be washed down the sink.
41 posted on 02/17/2003 7:18:03 AM PST by Newshound857
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To: nypokerface
It will probably be as successful as Rosie's magazine was and Salon has been.

I hope that they drop hundreds of millions into this losing cause.

Most liberals today are so dysfunctional, they can't read nor can they listen to any discussions on the radio. All they can handle are the DNC mantras of hate. A buzz word, or a simple sentence with a few simple words is all they can understand. Like: Racist, Tax the poor, on the backs of the poor, no war for oil, give peace a chance, he's not my president, save the whales, Bushie, America sucks and pro choice.

So if they invest hundreds of millions, this too will fail with their room IQ voters dumbed down by a decades of NEA union members.
42 posted on 02/17/2003 7:18:24 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Stamp out Freepathons! Stop being a Freep Loader! Become a monthly donor!)
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To: MinuteGal
The anchor on 1000 here in OKC this morning said that conservative talk radio became so popular along with Fox News because conservative viewpoints are shut out of the mainstream media and thus made Rush, Hannity, Savage and others so popular.

He said 14 hours of liberal political sattire will turn off most of the people who tune into radio. Said he would listen all of about 5 minutes to get a laugh for the day.
43 posted on 02/17/2003 7:20:02 AM PST by PhiKapMom (Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: c0rbin
"Couldn't one be libral about an issue and still be a Republican?"

I'm not being flippant when I say one can be liberal on most issues and remain a Republican. Indeed; more & more it is becoming a qualifier.

44 posted on 02/17/2003 7:21:08 AM PST by laotzu
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To: nypokerface
Let's encourage thes folks to fund this and stick with it.

Every dollar they dump into this is a dollar they cannot spend on election politics. If we get really lucky they will get obsessed with making this work, and bankrupt themselves.

Julius Caesar, during the Civil War, never prevented his political opponents from spending their own money to raise armies against him. In fact, he facilitated their efforts to get their wealth out of Rome (controlled by Gauis Julius) to wherever they were. He knew he could defeat their armies in the field, and felt that, impoverished by their efforts to defeat him, these opponents would be less able to oppose him politically after the Civil War was over. (Caesar really wanted to reestablish the Republic.)

He also felt that impoverishing them by having them spend their own money was less likely to embitter them to him than if he impoverished them through fines. That part of it worked pretty well. It was his opponents who were unwilling to face him in the field (and therefore had money left) that orchestrated his assassination.
45 posted on 02/17/2003 7:22:45 AM PST by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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To: jpl
I can't wait to tune in and find out who is stupid enough to advertise on Mr. Smalley's radio pogram.

These sponsors will learn to their own sorrow (and quickly) the error of their ways.

46 posted on 02/17/2003 7:22:52 AM PST by battlegearboat (Three hots and a boycott!)
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To: mewzilla
Who/what would advertise on this?!


47 posted on 02/17/2003 7:23:10 AM PST by Denver Ditdat
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To: basil
Every dollar spent on a liberal talk show venture is a dollar not going to the coffers of the DNC. The thought of this fact is scaring Terry the terrible so bad, he can't sleep nights.

The biggest hurdle facing the venture is assigning blame to who when the venture fails. You can be assured that they are not investing their own money. If you noticed, these are people who use other peoples money.

When I see Al Franken and Susan Sarandon emptying their portfolio's to fund this type of stuff, I'll put it on the radar.

Every dollar spent on these idiots will also be one less dollar going to NPR.

48 posted on 02/17/2003 7:23:29 AM PST by blackdog (Fresh American Lamb.....Buy Some Today)
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To: nypokerface
yawn...

When will they ever learn?

49 posted on 02/17/2003 7:23:33 AM PST by Skeet
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To: c0rbin
"Couldn't one be libral about an issue and still be a Republican?"

Barry Goldwater described himself as a "19th century liberal". Historically, liberalism is concerned with individual liberty. And that is what conservatism is all about today.

Today, it is liberals (or "progressives", as they prefer to call themselves) who are defenders of the status quo.

Conservativism has never been about the status quo -- except as defined by the Constitution.

50 posted on 02/17/2003 7:23:47 AM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE.)
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To: nypokerface
That might work.

They could buy listeners!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

51 posted on 02/17/2003 7:25:10 AM PST by Publius6961 (p>)
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To: xzins
(Their base clientele....the young, minorities, and the elderly...do NOT sit for hours and listen to political talk.)

You are exactly correct. Conservative talk shows succeed because conservatives actually think with their brains. It is far too confusing for liberals to listen to talk radio because they *think* with their hearts.

52 posted on 02/17/2003 7:26:36 AM PST by eat it, gore
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To: nypokerface
This is great. Every dollar they toss down this rathole is another that won't be available for campaign cash. This is right in keeping with the Democrat philosophy of trying to replace markets with command-and-control. The truth is, if anyone wanted to hear their bilge, there'd already be liberal hosts on the air. As usual, they interpret this as market failure, not a deficiency in their positions.
53 posted on 02/17/2003 7:27:00 AM PST by John Jorsett
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To: nypokerface
1. The article seems more a trial baloon to get publicity. Drum up support?

2. What about the callers? Will they screen out conservatives? Will they allow differeing opinions. What will they do when liberal hypocracy is exposed by a caller. Scream "nazi" and hang up?

3. Radio requires advertisers. Who will be the financial demographic? Do peaceniks have money? What will they advertise?

4. could this be because they realize campaign finance reform will silence them until it is overturned? This is about process over message. Its not that Rush has a show, its that rush has a MESSAGE!
54 posted on 02/17/2003 7:27:24 AM PST by longtermmemmory
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To: nypokerface
Hillary Rodham Clinton first mentioned a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" in 1998.

They fail to report her off mike remark immediately after she launched the VRWC, the then first woman said...”that will teach ‘em to f*** with us!”

Rush teaches/preaches truth in government; truth in the Constitution; truth in media and above all lays open the utter lies from the liberal/socialist left. He explains the complicated economics of politics and country; the mendacious lies and spin dished out daily by media and socialist politicians; the truth in foreign policy as much as he can. Rush is honest and he is smart. He loves his country and up-holds the US Constitution. Show me one Democrat who is truly candid with the public for which they serve. Show me one Democrat in the spot light who truly now and in the past who has followed the Constitution and the rule of law. Show me more than several Democrats who publicly put Principal before Party in the recent past.

Most – 75% - of the once Democratic party is pretty much Socialistic, not at all what the Republic was supposed to be and one of their most devastating bases belongs to the tenured professors and teachers who teach Socialism/Marxism to our young people. They never put Americans first, just take their money and spend it on despots around the world and like Bill Clinton, put America and Americans last.

Accusing Rush of demagoguery shows just how out of touch these elitists are as they head one more time into that brick wall of truth. Hopefully there will be no survivors after this crash...................

55 posted on 02/17/2003 7:28:37 AM PST by yoe
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To: eat it, gore
Exactly.

That's why radio isn't really their medium.

Music is, video is, and sitcom is. They should just admit the truth that they already have these areas sown up.....and work to improve on them.

I hate the give the evil-doers advice, though.
56 posted on 02/17/2003 7:29:12 AM PST by xzins (Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee!)
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To: All
The real question is who would listen to this?? Demorats lie and demogog everything. They have NO agenda, no plans for the future, and work with the old Democrat templet...one says something and every other spin doctor sent out says EXACTLY the same thing. Look at the liberal shows on cable....terrible. THey last a few months then bomb!!WHen the RATS come the end end of their diatribe quickly, they attack the sender...No one with any ability to think wants to listen to this. Hope they spend LOTS of money on this.
57 posted on 02/17/2003 7:29:25 AM PST by cousair
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To: nypokerface; Peacerose
The phrase "pouring money down a Rat Hole" comes to mind
58 posted on 02/17/2003 7:29:51 AM PST by bert
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To: Conservative4Ever
This will be serious competition. For NPR's audience.
59 posted on 02/17/2003 7:30:54 AM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult ("Read Hillary's hips. I never had sex with that woman.")
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To: Spook86
Using a big fat idiot as the benchmark for obtaining success sure doesn't say much for anyone who wants to compete with said idiot, for failure will be an awful mirror to look in.

But hey, failure having tried and such is noble right?

60 posted on 02/17/2003 7:31:12 AM PST by blackdog (Fresh American Lamb.....Buy Some Today)
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