Interview with John Hawkins from Right Wing News
Spurned on by the terrible media coverage of the 2000 election, John Hawking launched Right Wing News in early 2001. Since then, he has become a full-time political blogger, acting as a watchdog on the Mainstream Media and updating regularly on every weekday.
Simon Owens: What are some of the biggest problems that Republicans are going to have in the upcoming elections?
John Hawkins: The McCain/Reid/Kennedy Immigration Bill in the Senate, out-of-control spending, Iraqi War weariness, and George Bush’s low approval ratings — in that order.
Simon Owens: Do you think that political blogs are much more open to dialog and responding to criticism than other forms of media?
John Hawkins: Sure, but that’s not saying much. The mainstream media tends to be unresponsive to their audience, ignore almost all criticism they receive, and they’re slow to correct their mistakes if they ever correct them at all. That’s why they’ve been slowly but surely losing audience share: they don’t respond to the needs and desires of their audience.
Simon Owens: Do political blogs act as a checks-and-balance system on the Mainstream Media? Are there any good examples of this checks-and-balance other than Rathergate?
John Hawkins: Countering the drive-by media isn’t really about scandals like Rathergate; it’s about getting the other side of the story out there. The MSM talks up a big “scandal” that leaves out a lot of key details that are favorable to conservatives. The blogosphere and talk radio fill in the gaps. Then, a day or two later, the stories turn up on Fox, in the Washington Times and on Drudge — and the slanted story the MSM was trying to tell comes unraveled. That’s a regular occurrence in these days and times and it’s because of the blogosphere, talk radio, and the other members of the new media.
Simon Owens: Are there any liberal blogs that you read that you’re able to tolerate and respect?
John Hawkins: Political Wire, Wonkette, and Kausfiles are my favorite left-of-center blogs.
Simon Owens: What are some of the most misguided liberal blogs that you know of?
John Hawkins: All of them! If they weren’t misguided, they’d be conservatives!
Simon Owens: What are the five blogs you’d recommend to supplement the reading of your own?
John Hawkins: Michelle Malkin, Instapundit, The Corner, Betsy’s Page, and Ace of Spades HQ.
(Related posts: Interview with Liberal Oasis, War still raging over book that casts Cuba in a favoring light, Interview with Jim Henley from Unqualified Offerings)
