Toxic Talk: How the Radical Right Has Poisoned Americas Airwaves
by By Press, Bill
Category: Political Science , Political Ideologies , Conservatism & Liberalism

"For far too long, conservatives were the only voices heard on talk radio. But no longer. Now there's a whole community of strong and dynamic progressive voices on the airwaves. As Bill Press shows, progressive radio is alive, well, and growing!"---Congressman James E. Clyburn, House Majority Whip"Good for Bill Press! Finally somebody exposes that gang of right-wing talk-show hosts for the hate-mongers they are. If you want to know how much damage Rush Limbaugh and his clones have done to free speech, read this book!"---E D Schultz, host of The Ed Schultz Show"I Poke fun at the `right-wing world' on my own radio show every day. But Bill Press shows us that the world of right-wing talk is not only stupid, it's dangerous. I dare Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity to read this book. If they ever did, they would immediately resign in shame!"---Stephanie Miller, host of The Stephanie Miller Show"Finally, a bare-knuckled challenge to those bullies on talk radio who invent their own truths. Bill Press is a progressive breath of fresh air."---Senator Byron Dorgan, New York Times bestselling author"For too long, talk radio was the exclusive playhouse of right-wing extremists. No longer. Now we see them exposed for what Bill Press rightly calls them, toxic talkers. We also see the promise, from a progressive perspective, of more and more strong truth-tellers."---U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders"Impassioned, entertaining, and sure to please...thoughtfully reminds readers how and why religion and government need to be protected from each other in order to flourish."---Publishers Weekly"This thoughtful look at religion and politics in America will interest even those who may not agree with its premises."---BooklistThe American Airwaves have become a toxic arena. With 91 percent of weekday talk radio programs dedicated to conservative opinions---including in liberal cities such as New York, Boston, and San Francisco---the right-wing has done an end run around the principles of democratic representation. Rush Limbaugh is now the unofficial leader of the Republican Party, and the most vocal leaders of the radical right-wing revolution have reached new heights---or sunk to new depths---in polluting political radio and television and ruining any chance for constructive public debate.The time is long overdue to take a hard look at the hard-right domination of talk radio. Syndicated talk-show host Bill Press takes off the gloves and goes after the biggest offenders. Speaking as a voice crying out in the radio wilderness, he takes on the bully pulpit of "Rushbo" Limbaugh and reveals Sean Hannity's series of distortions; the savageness of Michael Savage; Bill O'Reilly and his nothing but spin zone; Lou Dobbs's curious legitimizing of the "birther" movement; Mark Levin's personal attacks against Sonia Sotomayor and Nancy Pelosi; Laura Ingraham's "death camp" rhetoric; Jay Severin's diatribes against Mexico; and much, much more.Perhaps more important, Press exposes the reason such a disproportionate roster of fear-mongering conservatives is on the air. The Big Five radio syndicates that control the industry, such as Clear Channel and Citadel, have transformed democratic media into a plutocratic propaganda machine. With this timely canon blast at the radical right, Press delivers an entertaining and incisive condemnation of the blustering and hypocritical pundits who have poisoned the airwaves for too long.