Has a Radio Talk Show host ever changed your mind regarding any issue?

Question

Hannity, Limbaugh, et al seem to be preaching to the choir. Do these radio talk show hosts ever have any real impact on the results of an election? Have you ever been influenced or changed an opionion based upon something advocated by a radio talk show host?

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

Never, not even once, has a radio/tv talk show changed my mind about an issue.

It takes training & experience to see through the fallacious arguments they present, but that's not the main reason why they fail to persuade me. The main reason is that I won't be fooled into believing that their programs constitute any contribution to public discourse -- their shows are entertainment, pure and simple.

However, that's just me. Radio/TV commentators are just the frontmen in a propaganda machine that has an overwhelming influence on voters. One example: Remember how, after Bush was appointed president, the conservative pundits enjoined us all to "just get over it?" The whole media were afraid that calling the stolen election the coup d'etat that it was would make the US look bad internationally. So they jumped on the idea that, "for the good of the country," we should unite behind our pretender-president.

Well, the commentators didn't come up with this idea themselves. There's a powerful propaganda machine that plants seeds like these, and guys like Limbaugh and Hannity unwittingly serve as the "trial balloons" that stir up sentiment. And guess what? It works great, because it presses emotional buttons. And pressing emotion buttons ALWAYS works better than making logical appeals.

In short, radio&TV talk show hosts suck in audiences by keeping them angry & pushing other emotion buttons. Once they're in, fans are loyal, and they don't tend to challange what their heros say. The hosts themselves have a somewhat limited appeal, but they're part of a much greater propaganda machine that, yes, has a hell of a political impact.

Answer 3

Yes, but not in the way you may be thinking. I make it a habit to listen to points of view that differ from my own. To that end, I often listen to Air America & NPR.

For a while I believed they honstly cared about solving problems. Now its clear to me that they only want to complain.

For example, before the troop surge, most commentators on Air America were saying that there were not enough troops in Iraq. As soon as the President announced more troops were being sent there, they all of a sudden changed their opinion.

So, talk radio changed my opinion of Liberals for the worse.

Answer 4

Yes it has, but not by these talking heads. Ed Schultz, who goes head to head with R. Limbaugh in many radio markets consistently gets better ratings than the "drug addled gas bag", and the show is only a couple years old. You should listen.

Answer 5

Yes, absolutely. I used to believe that all talk show people were highly intelligent. Then I heard Al Franken on Air America and I changed my mind almost immediately.

Answer 6

They make some good points at times, but the only people who listen to them are people who already support their views.

Answer 7

I learned a lot more about embryonic stem cell research from listening to them. The mainstream media did a very good job of hiding why conservatives opposed it.

Answer 8

You forgot Air America. Oh wait,is that still on the air? And why do so many on the left go on about Rush ,Hannity,etc,unless,they listen more then anyone else. Bingo!

Answer 9

they're there for entertainment purposes only! I have my own believes and values.

Answer 10

They are not supposed to.

Talk Shows are just that, shows. They are for entertainment.

Answer 11

I can be inluenced by new facts.

However, liberals seem to be highly influenced/zombified by NPR.