New Air America Defense Strategy

Liberals Shift Strategy

Left: Time To Fight Back Over Air America


(**Update Below**)


Did we really think amateur hour could last forever?

Predictably, leftists have now begun to mount a more organized campaign to fight our Air America coverage.

Elements of it have been leaked to the Radio Equalizer.

In the earlier days of Air America's controversy over its apparent acquisition of $875,000 in taxpayer funds intended for the Bronx-based Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, nasty potshots and slurs from liberal bloggers were common.

That hasn't ceased, but evidence now points to a more sophisticated effort to undermine our credibility, led by political insiders, as well as the usual assortment of lefty bloggers and activists.

Will their media friends also sign up?

The plan looks like this:

--- Use political operatives, from Seattle and elsewhere, to work with Air America and its PR flaks on turning the tables.

Why Seattle? It turns out there are many connections between the Emerald City and Air America Radio, some of which play a role here.

Current AAR head honcho Rob Glaser, is well-known in the Northwest, for his key role in the founding and development of RealNetworks. He's a hardcore lefty of the Seattle stealth-Canadian variety and committed Democrat donor.

The Radio Equalizer has confirmed that Andrew Villeneuve of Permanent Defense, a Washington state-based group set up to fight ballot initiatives sponsored by antitax activist Tim Eyman, has been recruited for this new effort, to fight against those of us who have been reporting on Air America's scandal.

One component includes direct pressure on other bloggers, those of a more moderate variety, to cease writing about the Air America topic. This has begun.

--- Next, the plan is to push fixed talking points about Air America's troubles, that Evil Guam Republican Evan Cohen is entirely responsible for what happened (Republican In Name Only is more accurate, or "RINO").

That is, of course, without mentioning Air America's many recent missteps that have even Department Of Investigation officials frustrated and vocal. This site has documented them in detail.

--- Spin the scandal as nothing but right-wingers bringing down liberal talk radio. Sell negative notions about bloggers, while utilizing public relations people to tell "the truth".

--- Attack specific allegations, such as yesterday's payroll issue. The new, unofficial, claim: employees were paid on time. Then why the memo (which is authentic)? Where were they yesterday and will they furnish evidence?

Because they're watching this site very closely, I'd have expected an immediate response to the story, are they a day late and a dollar short?

If they'll mislead the New York City Department of Investigation, why should the Radio Equalizer believe Air America? At this point, if they were to tell me the sky is blue, I'd run outside to check.

Ready for battle? They are.

Evening Update: this needs to be clarified- there's been no communication from Air America, after two days, to contest any portion of my payroll story. After hearing secondhand, another person was being told an element of it was being challenged, or simply not confirmed by AAR's PR firm, I decided to mention it here.

My feeling is that AAR has had ample time to dispute my story if they'd seen fit, but didn't. However, I felt it was important to indicate this here, anyway.


Part Two is next: latest liberal blogospheric reaction. It will be on the main page when ready.

Welcome WJR/Detroit listeners! AAR Scandal/Franken graphic by Darleen Click, Rather by Pete at IHillary. City Kid$ by George Adair.

The Radio Equalizer still needs your support for the site upgrade project. Your Amazon orders that begin here, help to defray costs. Thanks again for your assistance!