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Edited on Tue Jul-27-04 08:20 PM by sybylla
I think you are right that some of the hosts do bend over backwards merely to shun the label of liberal. I've quit listening to Joy Cardin on a regular basis for that very reason.
But I've never thought Ben Merens was that kind of host. He has a technique that I sometimes find annoying and that is to play devil's advocate by taking the position of the friendly opposition with his guests. On a show with a guest taking a liberal stand, he will host from the conservative position. When he has a conservative guest on, he will host from the liberal perspective. I guess it is good because it gives the guest a chance to defend their positions publicly and they can usually get the "dirty laundry" out of the way early to focus on more interesting facets of the discussion.
Though I find it annoying, it is his attempt at being fair and balanced and it is still a far cry from Joy Cardin fawning all over her conservative guests like they are some kind of defenseless waif she found on the street.
In defense of Ben, give him another try. Listen to a show where he has a conservative guest and you'll likely hear him parroting the liberal talking points.
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