Stern fans prefer Kerry 59% over Bush 37%

[Mandate My Ass]

Interesting article in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/9179431.htm

America Votes | Shock jock veers into fray of election

Howard Stern leaves little to the imagination about whom he supports. It's not Bush.

By Dick Polman
Inquirer Staff Writer

<snip>


Naturally, Stern's attacks have drawn the attention of Democrats - who decided last month to commission a poll about Stern. So they hired President Clinton's former pollster, Mark Penn. And they were pleasantly surprised to learn that - contrary to the stereotype - Stern's acolytes are not just kids who party hard and wear their baseball caps backward.

The first surprise, according to Penn: nationwide, 17 percent of all likely voters polled listen to Stern. The second: Stern fans are just as likely as non-fans to attend religious services daily or weekly; just as likely to be highly educated; more likely than non-fans to have young children at home; and more likely than non-fans to own a gun. In other words, average Americans. And Stern fans in 18 battleground states said that they now prefer Kerry over Bush by 59 percent to 37 percent.

Simon Rosenberg, who directs the New Democratic Network, the group that sponsored the poll, says: "Democrats have been hammered on conservative talk radio for years, and now we have a glimmer of hope. I've seen this guy's impact, first-hand. It's incredible. I went on his show to talk about the poll, and right after that, 25,000 people downloaded the poll from our Web site."

And Tom Lindenfeld, a Democratic strategist, says: "What's compelling here is that Stern is not a political person. That makes him more genuine. His audience may not accept a political message from a normal political source, but they'll take it from him. He can open the door for us, and then maybe we can reinforce that message."

[against all enemies]

1. Howard will be an important voice during Repub Convention.

Having Howard in NY during the Republican convention will be great. Every time the pukes try to pull a fast one on NY, stern will be there to blast them. hopefully his usually good communication with NYPD will help them from getting over zealous with the protesters. Howard can help, during the convention and on election day. Strange isn't it, Howard helps, ralph hurts.

[clydefrand]

2. I hope the holier than thou

get their due. They with their religious zeal, tried to do him in. Wouldn't it be wonderful that he could influence so many to vote for Kerry??? :bounce:

[Cha]

4. It is Wonderful! I heard Stern interview Michael Moore

on his show via the internet and this guy was offering a free stripper show to whomever sent in a ticket stub from F/911 and Moore was going to come and shake their hands...never learned the follow up on that one.}(

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. It wasn't due to puritanism/censorship issues that they tried to clamp

down. I've been listening to the show through this time. His content hasn't really changed in the last 15-20 years. It was literally days after he actually came out openly calling for people to vote Bush out that Clear Channel dropped him from their 6 stations, citing remarks that a CALLER had made on his show. So it was purely a POLITICAL censorship of the type Clear Channel also inflicted on the Dixie Chicks when they removed them from their playlists during the runup to Iraq invasion, citing demands from their listeners.

A lot of media coverage has obscured this issue and claimed it was due to the puritan furor/tempest in a teapot after the Janet Jackson Super Bowl Nipple Thing. Howard has helped clear this up more recently by indicating the political nature of the clampdown.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/30/stern.bush/index.html

It's weird because the FCC recently finally fined Clear Channel for theses alleged offenses, but I don't believe CBS/Viacom (which carries the rest of Howard's stations) was fined when they were broadcasting the same things.

So I see this as just an instance of the FCC giving "cover" for Clear Channel's political action.

This really shows the dangers of allowing media monopolies like CC. They are so large that they can afford to take losses by making purely political censorship plays like this, giving up a number one show in major markets to curry favor with their political benefactors, with the hope and expectation of receiving favorable legislation and breaks that will more than compensate for their losses.

Interestingly, Howard will now be back on the air in the areas he was booted off by CC, on competitor stations. I hope he kicks the ass of the stations that he used to be on and punishes their pocketbook severely.

[Cha]

13. And after seeing "Private Parts" ..I know how Howard

Stern fights censorship...he's got the ratings and the fans to keep him going for a long time.

[Cha]

3. This is what I'm talkin' about...I've been saying this ever

since I first found out that Stern was on our side and he wants bush out as much as we do.

When I was in Richmond, Virginia over the Fourth of July..my son and I watched the old movie "Private Parts" on cable. I never would have wanted to see that before I knew about Stern's conversion but I was interested in how he got started and it was on the tube ..so I started watching with him..and it was really Funny..I was cracking up at Paul Giamatti and Stern(did a great job as himself)..my son said he didn't remember it being so funny before. :D

[NightOwwl]

6. I was 45 minutes late to work...

a couple weeks ago because I sat in my car listening to his press conference. He was going off on Bush and it was great!

[Cha]

11. Ohhh! I would have been late for work for that

one, too. It's just such a miracle to have someone as popular and articulated as Stern to be on National air waves rightfully bashing the chimp!~

[liberalmuse]

5. What was Stern's secret?

How is it possible that almost have of the American population still supports Bush, while only 37% of Stern listeners support him? Because Stern is one of the few media voices out there critical of Bush, and he has the facts to back up pretty much everything he says (posted on his web site).

Imagine if the mainstream media started broadcasting/printing the facts about Bush and his administration instead of whitewashing or omitting the important truth? We wouldn't be on needles and pins until November, that's for sure!

[Cha]

7. That's right...it's always been the media...

The propogandist, corporate whore, reich wing, media.

[rumguy]

8. No one bashes the shrub better than Stern

He's also talking up F911...

His website has turned very political - with links to anti-bush articles..

www.howardstern.com

[against all enemies]

9. Howard Stern and Jon Stewart, - America's best newscasters.

Sad but true. At least many younger voters are getting the truth.

[Cha]

12. It's all good with those two!

I think Letterman is trying to do his part, too, which can't be easy working for a media corporation like cbs.