Respectful Disagreement
Last night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made it official…he’s running for president. Many folks who were previously supporters of President Trump are backing DeSantis in the 2024 race. Others are backing other candidates. And the President’s core strength remains strong…with polling showing he still has more support than all the others you can think of combined.
Not long ago, noted commentator Cal Thomas called for Trump to drop out of the race. Mr. Thomas to my mind was never a strong Trump backer, and that’s totally fine…he’s entitled to his opinion, as you are to yours.
After that commentary aired, a couple of you reached out to ask if we would be dropping the Cal Thomas commentary since he was against Mr. Trump. The response is a strong no, and here’s why.
At this point, I think a majority of the national hosts on this station are backing Trump…but not all, and some may switch allegiance depending on a variety of factors. But instead of stifling their voices, I want you to hear them—even if they differ from your views—for a host of reasons.
Chief among them is the fact that radio stations don’t wear labels like “Republican” or “conservative”…the station is a place for many voices to be heard. Hosts state views, and it’s your job to hear them and determine what makes sense to you, what needs better explanation, and what you flatly disagree with.
So as the GOP nomination process moves along…with Iowa again solidly in the spotlight…I expect you may not agree with everything said by a host or commentator on this station, especially when it comes to endorsing a candidate. The fact of who they do, or do not, endorse publicly won’t play a role in whether we share their voices…because it’s your job to listen to a variety of views and make up your own mind. At the very least, you need to know what your opposition is saying so you can rebut the argument.
I sincerely thank those of you who weighed in by email and text on the Cal Thomas situation, and encourage you all to continue the conversation any time, on any topic…by text at 319-235-1540, or email at jeff@kxel.com. That’s another part of our job, to stimulate thought and discussion.
