Right-Wing Radio Hosts Hewitt, Boortz Advising Senators On Immigration Bill

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/25/hewitt-boortz-immigration/

Right-Wing Radio Hosts Hewitt, Boortz Advising Senators On Immigration Bill

“Talk radio is running America,” Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) recently told the New York Times. “We have to deal with that problem.”

Since Lott uttered his comment about right-wing talk radio’s disproportionate influence on the Senate immigration debate, he has become a pariah on talk radio and in the conservative blogosphere.

Unfortunately, the radio talkers have become more influential as well, with some even helping to craft legislation:

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., the key conservative negotiator behind the compromise bill, told reporters Friday that California-based radio host Hugh Hewitt “had several ideas” that “we are trying to include” in amendments to be offered in an upcoming series of crucial votes.

Hewitt, a conservative who has criticized many aspects of the bill, had Kyl as a guest on Thursday and asked: “Does the bill provide for any separate treatment of aliens, illegal aliens from countries of special concern?”

Kyl replied: “It’s going to, as a result of your lobbying efforts to me.”

Hewitt isn’t the only right-wing talker to directly influence a senator. After Atlanta-based host Neal Boortz “popped” Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) over his “qualified support” of the immigration bill, Boortz was brought in to consult with Chambliss, “even though the senator was not an on-air guest during the debate.” Chambliss now opposes the bill.

Both Hewitt and Boortz hold positions that are well out of the mainstream. On his blog, Hewitt has suggested that former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) would be an ideal Supreme Court justice. Regarding immigrants, Boortz has said, “Give ‘em all a little nuclear waste and let ‘em take it on down there to Mexico.”

Though conservatives may take up 91% of the talk radio airwaves, talk radio is not representative of the American people, who broadly support the key components of the legislation.

[Solo_in_MD]

1. In all fairness, Hugh Hewitt is not your typical RW Talk Jock

Lawyer, Law professor, PBS host...While I may not agree with him often, he is one of the more rationale and civil RW hosts out there.

[babylonsister]

2. So a politician is supposed to get his talking points from a talk jock, no matter

how respectful you think he might be? I just don't happen to see it that way.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. That is clearly not what I said

That Hewitt is impacting content of legislation is some what surprising, but if he is, its better than many other RW talkers. He has a fair amount of DC experience and is a law prof while Rush etc have little to no relevant experience.

That pols get influenced by Talk Radio is not news...

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Oh good grief

I spent last Thursday with Tina Richards in the Longworth Building in DC. That's the building that houses offices for many of our elected congress critters. I watched her talk to several congress critters. And I watched her go in many offices and go back and back again while the staff put her off or politely explained that the congressman was out of the office. She has her best results when she runs into congress reps in the hall or in the cafeteria.

Then I talked to Ann Wright this weekend and she told about HER efforts to lobby Congress.

I now understand why Code Pink does what they do in the way that they do it.

These people work for US and yet they are as hard to talk to as a Hollywood movie star would be.

Now I read this and see they are giving time to right wing hacks instead of the people who elected them. Damn bastards.