Published: August 24, 2007 10:59 am

Don’t let media seduce voters toward pre-selected candidates

Charlie Meadows
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Will Republicans allow liberals and establishment types to select their presidential candidate?

Years ago, I began to observe how the liberal mainstream media exerts influence upon whom the Republicans pick for their presidential candidate. Most registered Republicans, at least those who recognize the liberal bent of the mainstream media, would be repulsed at the thought of the media seducing them toward a particular candidate. However, the process is done with such skill and cleverness that most Republicans never know how they are being manipulated.

Here is the process. Shortly after the re-election of George W. Bush I noticed a few subtle references to Rudy Giuliani attending an event or speaking in Iowa or New Hampshire. This, of course, induces the on-site commentators masquerading as journalists to speculate on air to the news anchors about the possibility of a future candidacy. Following that, almost everything Giuliani does may generate a comment from the mainstream sources. If another Republican candidate suitable to the mainstream press makes noise about running, such as John McCain or a Mitt Romney, their names are then added to the process of public discussion.

If a candidate like Newt Genrich or Fred Thompson comes along and generates significant interest among Republican establishment types, such as a Sean Hannity, then they also receive attention from the press. However, if a true conservative, like Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo or Texas Congressman Ron Paul announce their intentions to become a candidate, they receive a short mention and are infrequently referred to as time goes on.
In the infrequent mentions, they are labeled by the press as “second tierâ€