The Blogosphere Manufactures a Liberal Talk Radio Host in Milwaukee

Interesting.

Mark Belling and, today, Charlie Sykes, and Conservative bloggers, have exposed the Liberal machinations to rig the 1130 WISN AM radio host contest. Turns out that the Daily Kos, probably THE most famous Liberal blog in the nation, is taking credit for flooding the online ballot box in favor of Nicole Devin, the Liberal talker who won the contest for a Milwaukee radio contract. The evidence is clear. Reads one posting on Daily Kos:

To all the Conservative bloggers from Wisconsin who have FINALLY stumbled onto this site (with Mark Belling's help): You have owned the Milwaukee airwaves for well over a decade. The result has been more racist, sexist, nationalistic, bullshit than I can personally stand anymore - and I am not alone.

You guys are always talking about "Personal Responsibility" and "Free Markets". Well, here's an example of both. I was raised a Republican, so I understand how to be greedy and opportunistic - I exhibited both those traits to win this contest for my side. There were no rules about who could vote. Besides, WISN goes over the Internet, making this contest open to the entire world. It's a loophole - you know, like "Iraqis were on the planes on 9/11" or "Poor people just don't know how to manage money." You know these types of arguments well.

So, enjoy your new morning host, the wonderful anti-war, pro-choice Nicole, who will talk circles around your bullshit empty language for the next two years. Have a nice day!

A couple thoughts:

• When is the Journal Sentinel's radio and TV critic going to get around to writing about this? The MSM needs to pay more attention to what's going on in the ever influential blogosphere. Here's the entertainment brief in JS announcing the choice - and missing the real story.
• The typical Conservative line for why there aren't more Liberal talkers across the country is as follows: Hardly anyone listens. The market dictates this and there is simply not a market for Liberal talkers. What's fascinating about this development is that it will test this idea. Will anyone listen to Nicole?
• One would think WISN would have figured out a way to prevent non-local folks from foisting a choice on the local audience. From a pure marketing standpoint that would have made more sense for WISN too. Now WISN is faced with having to hire a radio host who was the choice of national Liberals in the blogosphere and who will not necessarily resonate with its local audience. It could be a disaster for the station, which has a niche with Conservative talk. Clearly, WISN never anticipated the power of a motivated blogosphere either.
• It will be interesting to have a female and a Liberal talk radio host in town to stir things up.