Talk Radio acting like the Drive-Bys

Writing this post hurts me. I have been a fan of talk radio since my undergrad days. Whether it was Glenn Beck shouting "Get off my PHONE" or Rush beaming in on the EIB network, I would find myself hooked every time and soaking up every word. I loved talk radio to the point that after college I got an XM radio just so I could hear the talk machines every where I traveled. Up until this presidential election cycle, I had few reasons to ever criticize or complain about my daily feedings of conservative talk. However, with the recent attacks on Governor Mike Huckabee by Rush and the other talk giants, I have found myself needing to step back and take a real assessment of my love affair with talk radio.

"I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm a CONSERVATIVE." I have heard Glenn Beck say those words many times. However, I'm not so sure that Glenn or Rush or Hannity or Ingram or any of the other national talk show hosts are really that worried about being a conservative. More than that, they are worried about being Republicans. Don't get me wrong, I'm no democrat by any stretch of the imagination. But during this year's election cycle, at least thus far, the Talking Heads have been more worried about supporting a pretty face who is more Republican than Conservative, namely Mitt Romney. Romney is one of those candidates that I can only find to be tolerable. If I have to vote for him come general election time, I will... but it will be done begrudgingly. All I have to do is look at Romney's record to become sick to my stomach. Romney is a former gay rights, pro-choice LIBERAL Republican. Now, Romney claims that he has had a change of heart and is a true blue conservative. Honestly, I don't believe a word of it. All any sane person has to do is go back and watch the former Governor's debates with Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts. Guess what? They both say the same thing. It looked like the same candidate debating himself. Could Romney have had a change of heart? Sure. But he needs to prove it.

On the other hand, the Talking Heads have gone out of their way to beat up on Christian conservative candidate, Governor Mike Huckabee. I personally am an avid supporter of Huckabee and believe him to be the only REAL conservative in the race. Does Huck tow the Republican party line? Not always. Does that make me feel any different? No way. Huck is a Christian who supports our troops, seeks real tax reform, wants to correct the illegal immigration problem and shakeup how we handle foreign relations. That all sounds good to me. Now why do the Talking Heads dislike/fear Huck? The answer is simple... they are afraid he cannot win. I have to respectfully disagree. Governor Huckabee is a strikingly different figure who is seeking real reform in Washington. The Democrats can beat on him day in and day out, but there is no way they can put a dent in his credibility. Why? Look who is talking. Do you find Hillary, Johnny Boy or Saddam... I mean Barack to be trustworthy and credible? I'm listening...

Let me be clear... I am a conservative before anything else. If there is ever a conservative democrat who comes around and takes on the likes of a Rudy Guiliani in a national election, you can be damn sure that I'll vote for them. In the United States, the last thing we need is anyone who is liberal leaning. Whether Democrat or Republican, a liberal will do nothing but hurt us.

Although my old friends on the radio have hurt me, I'll keep listening. But as election time draws ever closer, I hope they take some time to sit back and really look at their base closely. If they don't, they'll get a clear "GET OFF MY RADIO" from me.