It was former president Harry S. Truman who said, "If you give the voters a choice between a Republican and a Republican, they will choose the Republican every time."
Truman's wise council illustrates the need for the electorate to be able to distinguish differences between the two major political parties. Perhaps still licking its post election wounds, the New York Times reports that the Democratic Party and the political left in general, have now intensified their search for a liberal answer to Rush Limbaugh and his jolly band of radio cohorts who aggressively entertain and influence millions of people daily with their conservative viewpoints. Mr. Limbaugh alone carries an estimated audience of nearly 20 million per week.
It certainly begs the question: Can the Democrats "Out Rush" Rush?
In addition to the popularity of conservative talk radio, the Fox News Channel, who many feel tilts its news coverage toward a right wing point of view, has surpassed CNN as the top rated cable news station.
It is not as though the political left has not attempted to put forth personalities in the past. Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who arguably is the most eloquent liberal voice of his time, failed miserably in talk radio. Television personality Phil Donahue is finding difficulty attracting a substantial audience for his liberal talk show.
Tom Athens, of Democracy Radio Inc., suggests that the liberal voice should be "more brazen and entertaining." Adding that, "Progressives have this problem; they sound too erudite, it's like eggheads talking at you."
So like the prince in Cinderella, the Democratic Party is searching the countryside for the one whose foot will fit neatly into the glass slipper of fire and brimstone that has become the trademark of conservative talk radio.
Somehow fire and brimstone as a mechanism to protect natural resources, save spotted owls, or to declare one's belief that a woman should have the right to choose what happens with her own body does not make for 20 million listeners per week.
Conservative talk radio personality, Sean Hannity does not mix words about the Democrats dilemma, "It's not a matter of packaging, it's a matter of ideas." Mr. Hannity is correct in his analysis. I dare say it will be difficult for anyone liberal or conservative to "Out Rush," Rush. He is good at what he does, and it is unlikely that there is carbon copy of him lurking in the bowels of left-wing ideological thought. But what can and should be challenged are the ideas.
Personally, I do not accept that tax cuts can do everything from jump-start the economy to provide a permanent cure to inflamed hemorrhoids. Yet, they seem to be the only thing that conservatives can offer as a solution to any problem.
When a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll asks: What is the most important issue(s) that President Bush should focus in the upcoming State of the Union Address, 48 percent said the economy, 13 percentage points higher than the next issue which was terrorism.
Are there no liberals who can effectively articulate that when one has already given the largest tax cuts in history followed by another tax cut is not a guarantee to economic vitality? Is there anyone on the left who can passionately articulate, short of Elmer Gantry, why 51 percent of those polled are currently dissatisfied with the direction the country is headed? Is there anyone left of center that can explain to Joe six-pack that by raising questions about the inconsistencies in policy between North Korea and Iraq is a profound example of patriotism and democracy simultaneously at work?
If so, you might be the one the Democratic Party seeks to compete on the media's public square of ideas. Just make sure you don't forget what ole Harry said.