Cenk fans, with respect, I have a question...

[Anser]

What am I missing with him?

I'm genuinely curious and not attempting to bash. He seems kinda like a blowhard. Cursing, yelling, ad hominim attacks, picking on fat people. How is this guy better then O'Reilly? (other than the fact that his attacks are on people we don't like instead of those that we do)

To put my question into perspective I was originally going to ask this in a Ed Schultz thread where I wrote of the new Ed show:

Subject: I like it...

For some context I'm generally classified as the east coast, ivy-league, elitist brand of liberal.

Idealogically, I can be found somewhere to the left of Ghandi and Raplh Nader.

That said, I think Ed Shultz was an inspired choice. Persoanlly I'll probably still prefer Rachel Maddow (or Better yet Amy Goodman), but, as others have said, Ed fills a gap. A pinch of populism mixed in with MSNBC's progressive potpourri can only be a good thing.

[Cant trust em]

1. I'm a Cenk fan. I don't think that some passion is a bad thing.

There are a few ad hominems, but I've never heard pick on fat people.

His show usually has more analysis than an O'Reilly.

[Anser]

5. clip from a few weeks ago...

One of the first clips I saw of his was "Is this family too overweight to work"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x287713

Where he rails against a UK family on public assistance due to their obesity.

While I generally agree witht the larger point (that they could work, and that through will-power, diet, and exercise they could easily become more than functional) it just seemed like an odd choice of punching bags.

[ihavenobias]

22. Well, he's overweight himself.

And he says it frequently, i.e. "I'm one to talk", etc. I will say this, he certainly not politically correct. In that respect he can offend those who might be sensitive (overly sensitive but that's just my opinion).

I for one love his no-bullshit approach over the scripted, robotic garbage we generally see.

[Richardo]

2. Cenk is GD:P made flesh

With the same ratio of insightful thought to tiresome blowhardosity.

[phantom power]

3. I don't think of his attacks as "ad hominem."

When he gets on his soapbox about somebody, my perception is that he's got specific reasons for it.

[Anser]

8. Maybe if I listened a bit more...

I keep hearing comparisons of Cenk to Olberman. So a part of me would like to like Cenk, but I just can't get there.

Passion and "in-your-facedness" is something I've bee thinking the left has needed for years. But... maybe he's just unpolished as of yet, how long has been around?

[sandnsea]

4. He uses facts

I don't listen to him, but while liberals don't get all the facts correct, they do at least try to make sure they have some facts flying around somewhere.

That's the difference between him and O'Reilly.

[mix]

6. he's an acquired taste, for sure

I like him, beneath his top heavy style though is a respect for research-based truths, he does not distort facts or make shit up...he also leans on the right authorities and specialists to make his points...he is nothing like O'Reilly

[Anser]

9. Thanks for the reply

I think I'll listen to some more and see if I acquire the taste.

[ihavenobias]

21. He has on AMAZING guests and covers interesting topics.

He's interviewed the following: Rachel Maddow, Michael Moore, Alan Greenspan, Jack Cafferty, Jimmy Carter, Katrina Vanden Huevel, Lou Dobbs, Naomi Klein, Naomi Wolf, Greg Palast, Paul Krugman, Kenneth Galbraith, William Black, Tommy Chong, Mel Brooks, John Cusack, Bill Press, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, Baratunde Thurston and a zillion members of Congress and far too many others to name.

Also, he goes after BOTH sides which can't be said for most progressive talk show hosts IMO. One day he'll praise Obama and the next day he'll strongly criticize him (yesterday it was both) which is how it should be. As for his 'lack of polish', I see excessive polish from some hosts as a lack of passion. Sure, it's possible to have both but that's incredibly rare, and sometimes people mistake monotone and boring for polished (no offense but that's why I generally don't listen to some NPR programs, although I do enjoy PBS).

Keep in mind the last hour of the show is entertainment/pop culture, etc. Sometimes people see a YouTube clip from the third hour when Cenk is relaxed and not taking things seriously and assume the whole show is like that.

I would add that his education is impressive (graduate of the University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School of Business and Columbia University Law School), and just because he doesn't constantly throw the most jargon and big words at his audience (which can be the obnoxious equivalent of flexing the brain just like flexing a bicep) it doesn't mean he doesn't get deep in the weeds on complicated issues. The great thing about him is that he distills complicated issues into something that's relatively easy to understand. Unfortunately some people think that the 2-6 minute YouTube clips (purposely edited to be concise) sum up Cenk. That's why his 21+ minute interview with William K Black has such a low view total compared to the entertainment clips done on the same day.

Finally, he's naturally very funny. Not in a scripted way obviously since he doesn't have any writers or teleprompter.

PS---I'm also a huge Thom Hartmann fan as most people know. The two couldn't be more different, but I love them both just the same. Oh, and he's been a guest on Countdown. Keith brought him on because he loved Cenk's idea of labeling Fox News "opinion media". That idea was embraced at the Netroots convention last summer.

[Anser]

31. Thank you

This was the kind of reply I was hoping for...

Some background and specifics on his substance and why he has a following here on DU.

I admit most of my exposure has been via short youtube clips, maybe that was the problem.

[rock]

7. Well, along with his opinions

he does state the facts.

[justinaforjustice]

10. Cenk is Bright, Passionate and Well-Informed.

Cenk is passionately political person who supports his opinion with facts and sincerely cares about our Constitution and the lives of every day Americans. It is absurdly inaccurate to compare him in any way to the right wing bloviators like O'Reilly.
Cenk's interviews with many interesting folks on "The Young Turks" are well worth watching.

[mix]

11. +1

glad he's on our side!

[movonne]

12. I agree with you...I find him very interesting....

[hlthe2b]

14. It is his willingness to inform himself that endears him to me...

Ed Shultz is quite weak on that score.


Plus, Cenk comes across as this big ole burly Turkish teddy bear...LOL

[hlthe2b]

13. I like Cenk. He was once a moderate Republican & can really

lay the intelligent smackdown on them, somewhat in the way that David Brock can. They know all the REPUG blowhard weaknesses.

That said, he occasionally used to drive me insane, especially when he had Jill on with him. She acted the stereotypical role of the bimbo and it infuriated me. Ceng has some deeply held sexist attitudes that come out, especially in that context. I think he is working on it, since he got married, but it does bubble over from time to time.

Cenk is a good guy though. Give him a chance... I desperately wish XM radio would dump everyone after Thom Hartman and until Mike Malloy and put TYT in that spot.

[PassingFair]

16. "Jill" used to drive me over the edge, too!

:hi:

She trivialized every important
issue and interrupted all the time.

I warmed up to the show after she
and Ben left.

I didn't know he was once a Republicon....

[hlthe2b]

18. Yup... Cenk voted for GHW Bush and still thinks somewhat fondly

of him... But, he's always been a social progressive. He bought into the REPUG "fiscal conservative" hype.

[bos1]

20. Yes, that is part of his appeal, too. The moderate Republican who had to

ditch the program when it got too odious and go whistle-blower.

[PassingFair]

15. I love Cenk.

SOMEBODY needs to express my anger, and Cenk
is always dead-on.

He GROWS in his knowledge and understanding,
too, since his opinions started out sounding
like those of an east coast, ivy-league elitist!

Now he speaks for ME.

He is the MOST PROGRESSIVE voice on the radio
today, IMO, followed closely by Thom Hartmann.

[OhioChick]

27. I completely agree with you! n/t

[PeaceNikki]

17. I fail to see the appeal, either.

:shrug:

And I have no desire to force myself into liking him.

[bos1]

19. you're missing that he's a regular guy but sharp as a tack

and I haven't seen him do anything that could be compared to O'Reilly, in terms of total dishonesty in pursuit of an agenda.

[Cali_Democrat]

23. Cenk is one of my favorite political commentators.

I think he probably appeals to a younger crowd.

I really like the guy.

[ihavenobias]

24. Good point.

I know A LOT of people in their 20's-30's who love him, myself included. Of course I also know some in their 40, 50's and older who enjoy him.

I think his detractors have generally never heard him do a good interview on the economy, etc. They probably saw a 4 minute YouTube clip where he was angry or joking around and based their entire opinion of him on it.

[Anser]

33. Younger crowd

I'm in my 20's but I'm not sure if I qualify as being in the younger crowd.

I've felt like on old man for almost 15 years now, which, oddly enough, is how long I've been politically aware/active.

[fascisthunter]

25. if you can't tell the difference between Cenk and O'Reilly, you may be fishing

in the wrong pond, with respect of course.

[Anser]

32. not quite what I said

I compared Cenk's tactics/demeanor to O'Reilly, not his substance.

I already know I don't want to listen to O'Reilly's loud mouth. The point of this thread was to figure out if I wanted to listen to Cenk's.

[Seldona]

26. I clicked on this op with an open mind, hoping to read something substansive.

Much to my disappointment I might add. I didn't bother reading beyond your silly comparison of Cenk to fucking O'Reilly?

Are you shitting me?

*Edited for clarification.

[Anser]

30. Lack of substance...

The lack of substance in my OP is due to my admitted limited exposure to him.

The point of my OP wasn't to pen a detailed critique.

Rather is was to say "I've had limited expoosure to him, he comes off as very brash in demeanor (like O'Reilly), a bunch of fellow DU'ers whom I respect really like him, so am I missing something?"

[KoKo]

28. He's too "Bronx, NY, YELLER" for my taste...but I think what I've been able to watch

seems to be his "heart" is the good place for us Progressives. He's just a bit much to take for those outside "Big Cities" who understand his bravado.

I wish him well, and do try to check out some of the posts his ardent fans put out here on DU. I think he's a good voice...but with a niche that seems more Bronx/Chicago and Urban than what would catch on "out there in the Heartland (wherever that is these days). :eyes:

Just saying...what I think from my views of him, since you asked...and I'm just giving my personal opinion in answer.

[genna]

29. Not sure what blowhard means in the context of Cenk. I get O'Reilly's status.

He's definitely opinionated. I don't like the gossipy parts of Young Turks. Similar to my general feelings about O'Reilly, I also don't want to know who makes him horny. Ugh.


I like the fire in the belly. Cenk is more libertarian than most on social issues. I think he would come down against what Chris Matthews calls a mommy state.


I should also reveal I kind of like the arsehole nature of these man against world types: Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, and others. It is not like I enjoy the sexism, perpetual machismo eruptions, and bully quality involved with each of them. I like the charging bulls part.


I get tired of listening to the right bltch and complain the way our country is not our country. The variety in these white males is they walk down the left side of the aisle.


When I want the substance seriously explored I read up on it and watch the Newshour.

[seabeyond]

34. i enjoy his political perspective. his behavior and attitude with females is less than childish

aND makes me think of the guy with the little penis syndrome. if he says "i'd do her" enough, maybe he will feel like a man

for the most part i enjoy his show. i like his wit and straight talk

[20score]

35. I agree with the people you like and think Amy Goodman or someone like her should be on every

station. But I'd have to disagree with your character assessment of Cenk. I'd say he's insightful and entertaining. But to compare him to O'Reilly is way over the top and touches on the delusional. Please, you seem like an intelligent and thoughtful person, don't screw that up with hyperbole not based in reality.

On edit: This is written in good humor, by the way.