The Air Is Let Out Of America

Word that Air America is going dark.  They never really were a viable operation, although you wouldn’t know it from the news release on their website.  They have struggled from the very start and yes these are tough times to be in the radio business, but when you combine poor economics will programming almost no one wants to listen to, the combination spells disaster.   Although I’m a Conservative radio talk show host, I do enjoy a good debate and listening to opposing points of view.  I like to hear what others (even those with whom I disagree) believe.  But the plain truth is that Air America was anything but clever or cutting edge talk and as the rating showed across the country, a failure. So, good bye Air America.  Don’t look for a wing in the museum of broadcasting anytime soon.

Brit Hume & The Case Of The Double Standard

When Fox News’s Brit Hume says that Tiger Woods might be best served by turning to the Christian faith instead of Buddhism, the fire storm erupted from the left.  How dare he?  Who does he think he is? He has no business.  Why is it that when someone invokes Christianity into a conversation, the loons go batty?   Well, clue number one, the man who started it all said it best when he told his followers that if they hate me, they’ll hate you.  By the way, those are the words of Jesus.  So it really should be no wonder that it goes on.

But when I read comments like that one at  TheHill.com , I really have to question the logic.  In the column, author Terence Kane quotes Ingrid Creppell, a political theorist who he says writes on what religious toleration means in a modern republic.  Apparently Creppel, who is a professor at George Washington University, argues that members of the media have a special responsibility to refrain from what Kane and Creppel call proselytizing: “of course the public sphere ought to tolerate a vigorous debate about the distinct merits or offerings of religious beliefs. The issue is not about what ought or ought not to be floating about in public discourse, but what this particular person’s perch enables him to do.”  King says that because Hume is a former news anchor, he should have thought twice before expressing his religious views with regards to Woods.

First of all, Humes comments were in the context of opinion and clearly stated as such and second of all there is clearly a double standard here.  News anchors, reporters and other “journalists” pepper their copy or comments with personal views, ideologies and beliefs all the time.  The difference is they don’t tell you ahead of time and try to mask what they interject as fact or “just part of the story”.

There is no danger at all in what Brit Hume did on Fox News Sunday, the real danger are those on the left who interject their personal opinion and ideology into a news story day in and day out and it’s so subtle, you never catch it.

Good Bye America As We Know It?

If President Obama signs this United Nations Climate Change Treaty  in Copenhagen this month, we might be witnessing in our generation, on our watch, the beginning of the end of this country as we know it.  Please take a look at this video. Does it trouble you as much as it does me?  We’ll talk about it on The Jeff Whitaker Show on WOND 1400 AM today at 3.  Join in and let me know your thoughts.

The Last Lecture Interview

“Tonight on The Jeff Whitaker Show my guest will be Jeffrey Zaslow, co-author of the national bestseller, “The Last Lecture”. Jeffrey, who is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal spent time with Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch who just passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Pausch is best known for his speech, The Last Lecture which has been viewed by millions on You Tube, a chronicle of his battle and his advice for his children with the knowledge he was dying and would not be around for them. Great book. Looking forward to a great interview. You can listen live on WOND 1400 AM out of Atlantic City from 6- 7 pm eastern or streaming live on the web at jeffwhitaker.com

A Giant Has Left Us

I got a lump in my throat this afternoon when I heard of the passing of NBC’s Tim Russert.  The political junkie that I am, I looked forward each weekend to listening to Meet The Press downloaded to my ipod as I drove to anchor the 11 p.m. news.  Although his routes were deep in Democrat politics, I felt that Russert was by far the most objective, hard-hitting interviewer in Washington.  I always learned more about candidates, issues and controversies each week.  No matter what their persuasion, Tim hit them all hard and equally. My favorite shows were always the ones featuring his political roundtable of James Carville, Mary Matalin and Doris Kearns Goodwin.   I remember Russert saying once that even with all he had achieved, each time he walked up the driveway at the White House, he pinched himself.  He still never got over that a blue collar boy from Buffalo could sit down and interview the President of the United States. He would always say, “What a country!”  I think it was that grounded sense of never forgetting his heritage and roots that kept Tim Russert in touch with the issues that face this nation. We are all the richer for having had his insight and analysis all these years.  We will all miss him tremendously in the weeks and months ahead.  Election night just won’t be the same without Tim and his dry erase board.    Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim’s family and his colleagues during this difficult time.

Evolution – So Many Questions

Looking forward to Monday nights Jeff Whitaker Show over.  The Associate Producer of the documentary a  will be my guest.  Mark Mathis will join me to talk about this controversial film starring Ben Stein.  Horrors… of all things Stein dares to ask the question of Darwinists worldwide… “So, where did whatever caused life, actually begin?”  The answer he got was consistent and angry, “We don’t know!”, they shout back.  But could there be such a thing as intelligent design?  NO, is the answer.   Whether you believe in the possibility of a higher power or not, you’re going to want to tune in.  I encourage your questions for my guest.  This is going to be great discussion.  Join me Monday night at 6 eastern.  Listen locally in the Atlantic City, NJ area over WOND or to a www.wond1400am.com streaming audio on the internet.