A Modest Proposal

I propose that all Republican Party officials, office holders and candidates boycott the mainstream media at least through the 2012 elections. That is, they refrain from speaking with all members of the news media and they no longer advertise in the mainstream media. There was a time just a few years ago when adopting such a strategy would be political suicide. Now, failure to adopt such a strategy is political suicide.

Anyone who has read Bernard Goldberg's “A Slobbering Love Affair” or has viewed “Media Malpractice” or has just paid attention knows that media are stacking the deck for Obama. Even now, roughly 100 days into the Obama Administration, we know more about Joe the Plumber than we do Barack Hussein Obama.

We don't know what Obama wrote as an undergrad. We don't know the identity of hundreds of his donors. We don't know why a Chicago hospital would pay Mrs. Obama over $300k to fulfill the duties of a Diversity Director. We don't know much about Obama's relationship with Ayers and Dohrn and Rezko and Khalidi. We don't know much about ACORN but what we do know is pretty disturbing if you oppose voter fraud. We hear a lot about the collapse of this company or that but we don't hear much about Obama's close associates who played a significant role in the collapse of Fannie Mae.

Can anyone say with a straight face that Sarah Plain and Barack Obama were treated identically by the media? Even after the election they are trying to dig up dirt on Palin's family. Meanwhile, Obama's life is one long puff piece. His titanic budget is barely scrutinized.

To paraphrase Bernard Goldberg, if the referees of the Michigan-Ohio State football game decided that it would make for a better story if Michigan won and they called the game in such a way as to determine the outcome, there would be public outrage. But it would not just be the Ohio State fans who would be angry. The Michigan fans would be furious as well. People know full well that if referees determine the outcome of a football game, you no longer have football. If the referees of democracy determine elections, you no longer democracy.

So how would candidates receive exposure without appearing on “Larry King Live” or “Meet the Press?” Answer: Republicans need to form their own channels of communication on the Internet. Republicans need to move underground. Let the Democrats have the Associated Press fed newspapers. Let them have the alphabet networks, including Fox. If a member of the media elite wishes to speak to you, Mr. GOP candidate, about this or that, refer them to your website.

As an extension to the “no press” policy, GOP voters should boycott, banish or vote against any candidate who purchases newspaper ads or TV spots. Those candidates are cuddling up to the enemy. Worse, they are funding the enemy. Let the seal clubbers buy their own bats.

Of course the websites will have to sparkle. They have to look professional. They will have to be compelling. The mainstream media will not simply close up shop. They will dredge the websites in search of the smallest inaccuracy, the tiniest gaffe, the silliest blunder. They will need to contrast the ways of mere mortals with the ways or their messiah. When the mainstreamers lose their editing powers, they will work more diligently to find damaging material. They will still show images of Republicans on CNN so long as the image is a flattering portrait of a RINO—or an unflattering portrayal of a principled candidate.

To continue on the current course is to throw in the towel. Let us be reminded that the mainstream media did not just fix the presidential election, they fixed both presidential primaries as well. The biggest obstacle to change (Shhh. Obama has that word copyrighted but I want to use it just one time. Don't tell the White House.) would be the Idiot McCains who still think they can charm the news media. Note to all future Idiot McCains: These people are your enemies. They love John McCain now because he lost and lost graciously. He played by their rules even as they stacked the deck against him. They see a beautiful loser. We see a loser.

What would be the impact of a GOP media boycott? The first benefit would be a media event in and of itself. It might, maybe, possibly, force the media to confront their unfettered bias. It might open a dialog about the media coverage in the 2008 election. Maybe the sycophants would suspend their smooching long enough to participate in the dialog. We can dream, can't we?

Ultimately the impact would be financial. This would not be felt right away but by the November, 2010 it would get the accountants' attention. Even the suggestion of a media boycott would elicit tremors at newspapers and TV network affiliates. Station managers will not be heartened to learn that their favorite dupes have now invested in websites, dvd's and old fashioned mass mailings. Network affiliates count on GOP airtime purchases. If that money disappears they will spin excuses about the flat economy and Bush era economics that still hobble the industry. Newspapers are even more vulnerable. As well as the economic fallout from an advertisement boycott, the accompanying publicity will do nothing to upgrade newspaper credibility and might even hasten their timely demise.

The empire will strike back. They will conduct a divide and conquer strategy. “We like you, you Idiot McCain wannabe. Sit with us and we'll make sure you dust off your primary rivals. You are a regular guy and they are unwashed tea baggers. We love you.” But it will be a Faustian deal and Mephistopheles will take payment in November. Mephistopheles might be evil but he is not stupid.

Yes, there will be pitfalls in a media boycott but it must happen if the GOP is to regain any credibility. While the Republicans were farming players, the Democrats were farming referees. 2008 might be the high water mark of the elitist media but it is also the advent of a new style, form and structure of politics. The game will still be played, but it will be played without referees. We will be returning to the sandlots.

In the sandlot game everyone can play. Everyone except the referees.