A few weeks ago, I did an article about the tense-to-nonexistant relationship between conservatives and the media. Any media. Even media that strives in its own way for detachment.
Conservatives just don’t trust the media.
The context, of course, was a conversation I had with Melody Ng, who works for the “Public Insight Network” at American Public Media, the national/syndicated programming arm of Minnesota Public Radio. She’s found the attempt to engage conservatives – one of her job goals – for feedback and as sources is frustrating.
My theory – conservatives distrust the media on a level that’s become ingrained in core conservative thought. And that distrust, as a rule, is utterly warranted; with many in the media the perspective on events, politics and life in general is so different, it makes basic communication difficult. Here was a recent example that points to the statement “they don’t get us, and we don’t get them”.
Now, for the entire life of this blog one of my theses has been that conservatives need to engage in the larger culture; everything from sports to art to the media. There can be as many reasons for this as there are conservatives; to promote better communication, to learn more, to teach the rest of society that conservatives are not the stunted caricatures that so much of the media describes to the rest of society today, or to co-opt and neutralize the media.
Which isn’t making Melody Ng’s job any easier.
So I offered Melody something I rarely offer anyone – a shot at reaching the SITD audience directly by posting something here on Shot In The Dark.
As it happens, Ms. Ng is curious about the same thing I am; what is everyone’s “Plan B”, should “your” candidate not get the nomination. (For a variety of reasons, it came in just a tad late for pre-caucus discussion; I figured it was still plenty timely).
Is the (primary) party over? Or is the Republican Party just getting started?
It’s barely February. Super Tuesday is still to come, and it’s a long way to August in Tampa. Yet some seem ready to call the race for Republican presidential nomination. This after a month of fairly unprecedented and brutal finger pointing among GOP hopefuls over who best represents conservative values in America.
What’s a non-Romney Republican to do?
This blog’s host, Mitch Berg, suggested that I find answers by going directly to you, his readers, and asking: “What’ll you do if your candidate doesn’t win the nomination?”
So where do you stand?
Fill us in on your Plan B here.
This question was inspired by lively conversation here on Shot in the Dark, and Hot Air around Mitch’s post advising “‘Anybody But Mitt’ Republicans” to vote Romney should he get the party nod. But discussions about this are happening in all kinds of venues, physical and virtual.
I decided also to check in with our sources at the “Public Insight Network (PIN), 140,000 people like you who share their expertise to help reporters across the country cover the news. In recent months, many have been telling us how their life experience influences their preference to presidential candidates.
I tapped PIN sources whose candidates of choice have dropped out or refused to run. Among them, supporters who favored Bachmann, Rubio, Perry, Cain, Palin, Pawlenty, Christie, Ryan and Huntsman.
Their responses varied, but there was a strong current of Republican over Democrat, even if it wasn’t their favorite Republican.
This from Jay Maynard, of Fairmont, Minn., who backed Herman Cain, but now says he’ll vote from Romney: “The duty of the Republican Party is to nominate and work to elect the most conservative electable candidate. … The goal is to limit Barack Obama to one term in office.”
James Murphy, a Libertarian from Austin, Texas, and Rick Perry fan, will strive to get the GOP nominee, whoever he is, into office: “Of the candidates who remain, not a one of them is worse than Obama.”
Another Texan, Jackie Thompson of Longview, agrees. Perry was her favorite as well – she’s “as conservative as a person can be about wanting a small government and in all fiscal matters.” But now that Perry is out, she says, “I’ve known all along that I will vote for whoever is the Republican nominee. I am not going to vote for a Democrat for president, period.”
As strong as that sentiment is, it doesn’t seem to be universal. Two respondents – both Huntsman supporters – declared they now might vote for Obama. Said Chris Eriksen, a self-described “Federal Libertarian-State Socialist” from Arden Hills, Minn., it’s about deft foreign policy, the skill he values most in a president. He finds Obama the most “statesmanly” candidate now that Huntsman’s gone.
A third Plan B is to shift efforts away from the presidential campaign and to other power positions in support of one’s beliefs. Example: Richard Mulholland, a Perry guy. Well before his state’s presidential primary, he had already moved on.
“The Congressional races are more important,” Mulholland said. “At this point I am indifferent about the remaining presidential candidates. Would I have preferred someone else? Sure. But all of my preferred candidates have withdrawn. … In the fall, I will be happy with anyone my neighbors will have chosen from the remaining field.”
How about you? Is your first choice for president still in the race? If not, how will you remain involved? Is there a line between getting a Republican in the White House and your own values?
Please share your story here. Reporters across the nation want to know what’s driving your vote.
By responding, you’ll help them tell the story of this election, voter by voter, and you’ll become one of our expert sources in the PIN. Then we’ll contact you from time to time about topics you know and care about – all for news coverage.
By the way, if you haven’t decided yet who you’re supporting for president, give Minnesota Public Radio News’ “Select A Candidate a whirl.
The interactive, GOP primary/caucus tool doesn’t tell you whom to vote for – Would you follow advice from public radio? – but after asking you a series of questions about issues from abortion and immigration policy to the tax code, it tells you which GOP candidate your views most closely align with. I got Newt Gingrich.
Happy caucusing tonight, Minnesotans and Coloradans! And a good rest of your primary to you, Missourians! I hope to hear from you soon.
Many thanks to Melody.
So -discuss!
I must be all alone in the world. I really don’t care which of the four remaining GOP challengers wins the nomination. I despise Obama so much that literally ANYTHING would be better than what we currently have in the White House. The current occupant in The White House is so insufferably arrogant, corrupt, and mad with power, I’d happily settle for a moderate.
Last night, I put a checkmark next to Rick Santorum’s name, but any of the GOP candidates would be absolutely fine with me.
When Obama loses in November, the only thing I might miss will be mocking him relentlessly on my blog.
Plan A – vote for the most conservative candidate in the primary. Even if he doesn’t win, he’ll pull the other candidates to the right, where I want them (e.g. Pawlenty forced to take the No New Taxes pledge to burnish his conservative credentials). Plan B – vote my principles. Since I live in Ramsey County, Minnesota where my one conservative vote in an endless ocean of liberals won’t make any difference, I can do so without bothering my conscience.
Do you really expect us to be honest with someone from the liberal media??? How far out of context or distorted might my comments be when reported? It has happened and more than once. The mistrust has been EARNED.
But, what the heck, any Republican is better than any Democrat, and I can prove it. So the Presidential race, while already disappointing, doesn’t affect my November decision at all.
Plan A – vote for the most conservative candidate in the primary. Even if he doesn’t win, he’ll pull the other candidates to the right, where I want them (e.g. Pawlenty forced to take the No New Taxes pledge to burnish his conservative credentials).
In what way, other than social issues, is Rick Santorum the “most conservative candidate”? Specifics please.
Even the most liberal of the Republican candidates will be marginally better than the current President. I will hold my nose and fill in the bar for that candidate.
I had a discussion with Melody Ng about this article. I found her to be thoroughly professional and even though I’m not quoted, I found her to be genuinely interested in what I had to say. If they want to earn trust that’s a good way to start.
As for last night’s results: the most conservative candidate left won and that’s a good thing.
Joe Deal – you are not alone. Could not possibly agree more with everything you said/wrote except I do not have a blog from which to ridicule ex-President Obama in the future. My biggest frustration remains how easily so many of our fellow citizens were fooled into believing his tripe …….
I filled out Melody’s questionnaire. For me, the biggest issue in this election is that we are headed for default. I’m less concerned about who is responsible than who is going to change the trajectory of things. Unfortunately, the answer to that seems to be None of the Above.
Thank for sharing the link Mitch, I took the survey and responded to the question. My first choice was Tim Pawlenty with the response that I would vote for campaign for the Republican nominee. Here is my response as to why Mitt Romney was my second choice:
“Romney was my first choice in 2008 and while I preferred Pawlenty in 2012, I still think Romney would make a fine President for several reasons. First, he has executive experience both in government (governor) and business (Bain) and while I can appreciate the ability to rouse the base with a stirring speech as much as the next person, there’s an entirely different skillset involved with being a successful executive and I think Romney has proven he has it. Second, I like that his focus is on fiscal issues, particularly improving the economy and controlling federal spending. I also think that he is the candidate most likely to find a workable solution for the entitlement mess that every President and Congress in my parents’ lifetime has kicked down the road for future generations to deal with. Third, I like that he’s very pragmatic and results oriented. We’ve had conservative rhetoric for decades now with very little to show for it (I’m sure a lot of Obama supporters are starting to have similar thoughts about their guy) and I’ll take someone who can actually deliver twice a day and three times on Sunday. Finally, it’s pretty common to say that people vote for the candidate they’d most like to have a beer with but I’d rather vote for the guy that I think can be trusted to do a good job when I’m not in the room. Mitt Romney is that person.”
ANY Republican is going to get my vote over Barry, it’s that plain and simple. I think that the primary process is working just fine. Super Tuesday might narrow the field some, but it’s a long road to the convention in August. Santorum has shaken things up a little and it’ll be interesting how the next few weeks shape up.
I understand your concerns, J. Ewing. And I’m sorry that news people have misquoted you or muddled up the meaning of what you were trying to say in the past. I would like to think it wasn’t purposeful. If you are willing to talk with us here at the Public Insight Network, or me, specifically, I can promise that I/we would treat you and whatever you say with the respect and honesty you deserve. And I believe that’s true of all my colleagues at MPR News and American Public Media.
I can’t prove any of this to you in a day or a week or even a year. But this effort is legit. I truly want to be hearing from more conservatives in our news coverage, and well beyond any campaign season, too. Would you please give us the chance to earn your trust?
I filled out the Plan B survey, too. If Ms. Ng’s comments to J. Ewing are any indication of how she will treat us and our comments, we’re going to be fine. I want to thank her for reaching out and Mitch for acting as an intermediary.
Thanks, Colonel_Flagg.
Thanks, Mr. D and bosshoss429, for giving us a chance. You’ll be hearing from us via email soon.
Ms. Ng, I’m having trouble getting passed the illegitimate use of tax dollars to fund the lavish operations of MPR News and American Public Media. Why would we want to help something like that succeed, let alone burnish its public relations image?
This isn’t just about making MPR or APM successful, SaintPaul — though I believe that our news would be so much the better if we had more conservatives involved in our news process. This is also about getting your voice and your perspective into the news. You are an essential part of this country; you contribute to this country — through your work, your charity and volunteerism, your relationships with your neighbors, your taxes…in so many ways. And you have a right to speak out and be heard. That’s what we’re trying to do. I’m not arrogant enough to think that we are the best or only outlet through which you can express your views, or tell important stories. We’ve got great bloggers and blogs in Minnesota (and around the world); there are lots of other news outlets as well, probably a bunch that you prefer to us. But MPR/APM is one of many places through which you can influence other people and share what you know. And we’re asking you to talk with us. And we’re listening.
Asking you and other conservatives to be sources is not a PR stunt. It’s about doing good journalism.
One other thing to keep in mind: Although we created the Public Insight Network at APM, it’s no longer just for our newsrooms. Fifty plus other media organizations, including commercial ones, around the U.S. (plus one in South Africa) also use PIN and would like to learn from you.
Here’s my plan B: Why the fuck would I tell you you prying little liberal, go the fuck away!
Hey Ben;
I exchanged messages with Melody last evening and I believe that she is sincere. Give her the benefit of the doubt. If she proves us wrong, then we know better next time.
Thank you, bosshoss429, but it’s okay.
Ben, I get it. You don’t want any part of this trying to find out what you know and care about for news coverage business. And that’s fine. I’m not at all trying to force people to participate — though, of course, I’d be thrilled to have you as a source should you change your mind. I wish you well either way.
Those of you who don’t want to talk to Melody, no problem: you can explain the Conservative perspective to all the other reporters reaching out from the Strib, the WaPo, the NYT, CBS . . . oh, wait, there ARE no others reaching out.
Give credit where due – at least SOMEBODY is trying to crack open the door.