the realpolitiks of blather

County Councilwoman Julia Patterson (D-SeaTac) braved being gang-banged by the washed masses by appearing on the John Carlson show (KVI m-f, 3-6p) Thurs.

She was there defending herself after her remarks charging "hot-talk radio" for stirring up the natives and undermining the "people's trust and confidence in our election system, [by]continuing to lie about fraud." Patterson, a nuts and bolts politician has been knee-deep in the County's investigation of what seems to be massive bungling in last Fall's election.

Carlson, who was polite enough, pressed her to agree that the squadrons of little old ladies of the polls were probably felonious. The listeners weren't so nice.

But Patterson doggedly stuck to her point, which is the same as ours at Blatherwatch--[see "Lies, lies, the musical fruit/UPDATE"] that there's no evidence of malfeasance and to demand proof of a negative (as Carlson, et al are) is a fallacious argument. She used the example of a hypothetical tabloid headlne claiming that "President Bush Eats Children." Her point was that since we've never seen Bush NOT eating children, the ridiculous possibility must be considered.

This morning, of course, Patterson was mugged in absentia by Kirby Wilbur (KVI m-f,6-9am) who played parts of Carlson's interview on his show, and teasing it with claims that Patterson had accused the President of eating children.

The burden of proof should have been on Carlson--he was making the charges, which, he admitted, was just a hunch.

I salute Julia Patterson for leaping into the talk radio breach. Seattle politicians avoid the right-wing talk shows like they were quarantined, preferring the gentler auspices of Dave Ross who will let you at least finish a sentence.

Politicians get beaten up, but they should gird their loins, suck it up and face the music. Avoiding conservative talk shows leaves them open to charges of wimpishness and having something to hide; besides, it makes the talk hosts look like David running off Goliath.

Ignoring talk radio is a political mistake. It has, with the help of blogs, led the debate in the unrest around the gubernatorial election and stoking the rural/exurban rage machine roaring out of control in the 3-county area.

Liberal denial of conservative talk-radio dates back to when it was considered insignificant and peripheral by local media and politicians. It was wishful thinking--I hope by now that myth is exploded--it's a powerful political tool of the Republican party.

Comments

[Fremont]

Okay, okay....I'm turning my bleeding-heart stained radio from NPR to the other side right now, lest I futher indulge that "political mistake!" "Know thy enemy...." is wise advice. Thanks for exposing the exploding myth! Maybe I'll convert.

[Fremont]

Hey, Michael, pusuant to Goldy's remarks on http://www.horsesass.org/index.php?p=516, why don't YOU do a talk show? YOU WOULD BE PERFECT!