The Loyal Opposition

Shocking many of its listeners, the left-leaning National Public Radio recently ran a commentary pointing out that Fox News Channel, which NPR considers to be very conservative, is amassing record ratings in the wake of the Democratic takeover in Washington.

All things considered, that was not great news for some NPR folks.

The reason that FNC is doing so well while some committed-left media operations are failing is what I call the remorse factor.

Almost 62 million Americans voted against Barack Obama last November, many of them convinced that his vision for America was, well, kind of dangerous. Also, exit polling showed that some who supported the president did so out of disgust with the Bush administration, which lost control during its last two years in power.

When financial chaos intruded on Obama's honeymoon period, millions of news consumers flocked to agencies that have been a bit skeptical of the young president. Obviously, news organizations considered to be in the tank for Obama are of little use to people worried about their financial well-being.

In politics, there is always an element of hatred, even in a noble country like the United States. If you are an Obama-hater, you are likely to go where your opinion is reinforced. If you are neutral on the president but worried he may be in over his head, you might seek a more skeptical view of his policies. Thus, the rough bumps the president is experiencing have been deadly for the liberal media that just a few months ago cheerled him into office.

Truth be told, I have been a beneficiary of the president's early troubles because my television ratings are through the roof.

However, I do not want Obama to fail. I want him to see the light. This is a great country because most of its citizens are responsible, hardworking people who realize that cradle-to-grave entitlements will ultimately bankrupt the nation. Call me crazy, but I want to persuade the ultra-intelligent president that his Swedish-entitlements vision for 300 million Americans is an opium-fueled pipe dream. Self-reliance has made this country great, not federal foot massages.

I will consistently deliver that message to the president, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid and the rest of the gang who couldn't spend straight. I'll do that hoping the Democrats will wise up and impose some discipline in the fiscal area. If they do not control federal spending, they will suffer big losses in the congressional races just a year and a half from now.

Until then, here's looking at you, good ratings.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com.

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