Leaked GOP memo reveals the propaganda power of right-wing talk radio

[sharedvalues]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/27/us/politics/document-Read-the-Memo-on-the-Implications-of-Alabama.html

The New York Times obtained a confidential memo on Wednesday about the Alabama Senate race, circulated to Republican donors by allies of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader. In it, an adviser to Mr. McConnell warns that conservative voters have turned against congressional Republicans.

Excerpt from the memo:

The power of talk radio. In Alabama, we found that conservative primary voters receive a lot of political information from talk radio, far more than from online blogs like Breitbart. In focus groups, voters were keenly aware of the Freedom Caucus but had never heard of the Senate Conservatives Fund or other entities and personalities that are promoted online. Local radio hosts wield almost as much influence as national names like Hannity and Ingraham, and they are more receptive to cultivation. We worked hard to build relationships with a handful of local talk radio hosts who were open to our perspective and deployed some of our research. Rep. Brooks was ubiquitous on talk radio throughout the primary (he had once been a talk radio host himself), whereas both Moore and Strange seemed more wary of the medium. In an environment where Republican incumbents could be challenged from the right, talk radio must be a top priority for earned media outreach.

WHY DONT DEMOCRATS DO THIS???
@certainot

[UCmeNdc]

1. K&R

[AJT]

2. By talk radio they mean hate radio.....lies and fear.

That kind of thing just isn't the way democrats roll.

[RKP5637]

3. What is sad, they are so information limited. I doubt they would even listen to a dem type station.

In essence, many are too far gone.

[diva77]

9. Having been stuck with no choice but to listen to hate radio at times when commuting

I truly believe that if there were other choices on the dial, people would be willing to listen to something decent, including liberal talk radio. It just needs to be entertaining and compelling. With the only choices in vast swaths of America currently being country music, religious hate-talk, or full frontal hate-talk radio, if you're not into country music or religion, then your only option is the hate-talk.

[RKP5637]

11. Yep, I've lived in some areas like this. AM was horrible, of course, and FM was invaded too. It

would certainly be worth a try. The format would have to be carefully developed to hold attention, of course.

[whathehell]

14. Yes..

The Dems have been piss poor on messaging.

[SHRED]

4. Hate and fear

Dems wouldn't do that so those type of listeners would be "bored".

[ffr]

5. Liberals and progressives don't like to be told how to think. Republiturds do.

Democrats cannot maintain a stable listening audience, because...

1) liberals and progressives think on their own. They don't need propaganda. In fact, when they hear it, they get turned off by it. Whereas, when republiturds hear propaganda, they eat it up and repeat it, like it was food to them. They need it.

2) liberal and progressives have lives. We don't want to focus all our resources on politics. We want to enjoy our families, better out communities and country. Whereas, republiturds are all bout politics and being vindictive towards anyone who doesn't agree with them. Fuck community and fuck the country. Take what you can get before it's all gone.

[JonLP24]

16. I agree with everyone especially #2

Describes me to a T. I have no issues having friendly discussions and able to talk politics without getting defensive or angry but I can't say the same for them.

[cstanleytech]

6. The only way the Democrats could do it now would be to sink billions into buying and building new

stations and I do not see that happening and even if they had that money I am not sure if it would be worth spending since broadcast radio is in decline and revenue is down rather the Democrats should focus on building up their online broadcasting presence as online streaming is where the future lies.

[thbobby]

7. From Nazi Playbook

Look up Goebbel's quotes. Tell a lie often enough, it will be believed. Finding targets of hatred. Rank and File much more primitive than we imagine.

[link:http://www.azquotes.com/author/5626-Joseph_Goebbels|

Read his quotes. It defines the tactics of talk radio and conservative propaganda. Simple hatred is so easily preached. Even to Christians. Or maybe especially to Christians.

[RKP5637]

12. It's exactly the script they're following. n/t

[Willie Pep]

8. I have an uncle who went from a moderate to a raging right-winger.

Not surprisingly his transformation occurred when he started to listen to right-wing talk radio and watch Fox News. Now he calls me at least once a week to spout the latest conservative talking points. The transformation has been amazing since he was never very political before and had fairly moderate views when politics did come up but now he is extremely conservative, is perpetually angry and always talks politics even in mixed company when it is embarrassing. He actually seems to enjoy upsetting people and getting them mad, which is typical troll behavior except he does his trolling in real life and not online. Needless to say I no longer enjoy visiting him or talking to him these days. I blame right-wing media for helping to make my uncle an unpleasant person to be around.

[american_ideals]

15. We all need to do our part to get our relatives and friends away from Fox News

and right wing hate radio.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. AM radio is the bane of Baby Boomers

Feeling repulsed by what they hear on FM music stations these days, and weary of classic rock, aging Boomers seek relevance amid the squealing static of the AM band.

Unfortunately this is infested with voices ranging from conservative to off the scale right wing. Many of the hosts have a gift where they relate to grumbling listeners with sound bites that seem to make sense at first blush. This is why these promoters of hate shun guests who counter their propaganda.

[RKP5637]

13. Especially the call-in programs wherein listeners call in to air their rants. Phew, some are damn

scary and unhinged.