- The obnoxious press; it's all about the money.
Please note: This column was originally written on April 26, 2016 for News Talk Radio. Some changes have occurred wince its publication, but the point of the article remains intact.
This has to be one of the most tumultuous electoral cycles in recent memory. The Democratic Party is split between an openly Socialist candidate and a classic politician few people trust. In the GOP, candidates smear the front runner and call each other names. Old nominees are coming out of the closet to take jabs at the candidates, and for the first time in forty years, there is talk of a contested convention, and political demonstrations threaten the safety of rallies. If you listen to the press, the Republican Party is imploding and a new party will likely emerge.
And that is just the point, it is the media stirring the pot more than anyone else, and it's all about money.
Traditionally, the bread and butter for the media is political advertising, and with 17 GOP candidates, the political year started out as a bonanza. Even the Republican debates generated record setting ratings and revenues, thanks in large part to a controversial candidate, businessman Donald Trump. Slowly but surely though, the gravy train dried up as the candidates, one-by-one, suspended their campaigns, particularly Governor Bush and Senator Rubio who spent approximately $150 million in campaign advertising. With these candidates gone, the media felt the pinch of a greatly reduced cash flow.
So, what to do? The Wisconsin primary was a flashpoint for the press. Senator Ted Cruz was dangerously close to being pushed out of the race, and if he went, Governor Kasich wouldn't be far behind, along with their advertising budgets. This would leave only one candidate remaining, Donald Trump, a notorious skinflint in terms of campaign advertising. This caused the media to come to the defense of Cruz by openly attacking Trump, thereby winning Wisconsin and allowing Cruz and Kasich to remain in the race.
Wisconsin though was followed by New York, Trump's home state, and today's Super Tuesday of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, which Trump should win handily. By doing so, Trump is building momentum which will carry him through the remaining primaries.
When you study the polls for the remaining contests, Trump already holds substantial leads, but the press doesn't want you to know this and will argue Cruz and Kasich may still pick up a few more primaries. File this under "wishful Thinking" as the press doesn't want to lose its audience until the party conventions, a few short months away. If Trump wraps it up early, and it is probable he will, the media will have nothing to sell to its audiences which would be catastrophic to their operations. The same is true if Hillary Clinton clinches the delegates for the Democrats next week.
So, what we are watching is a well scripted political soap opera intended to keep money flowing into the coffers of the media. As with all soap operas on television, it is a figment of someone's imagination, certainly not based on reality. For example, every television network and newspaper claims Trump will have difficulty making the 1,237 delegate count by the convention. In other words, they want you to believe it as a nail-biter so you will keep coming back to watch them. It is no longer about fair and accurate news reporting, as much as it is about "Days of Our Lives."
In short, it's all about the money.
The truth is, Donald Trump has this one in the bag. It won't even be close. And, Yes, the media will feel the pinch as a result.
Also published with News Talk Florida.
Keep the Faith!
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Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
For Tim's columns, see: timbryce.com
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Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
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