CNN correspondent Carol Costello’s report on Thursday’s "The Situation Room" would have you believe that Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk radio have "lost influence," and the supposed proof is John McCain’s success up to this point in the Republican race for the presidential nomination. During the report, which aired at the bottom of the 5 pm Eastern hour, Costello proclaimed that Republican primary voters have "betrayed" conservative talk show hosts, and the evidence that this is the case is John McCain’s primary victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina. She used a sound bite from former Republican Congressman Bob Barr to reenforce her point. Barr opined that McCain’s success is "a sign that no one or two talk show hosts really wield the influence that they did two or three [election] cycles ago."
Costello then brought up the fracture in the Republican Party and gave two possible explanations for it. She first mentioned the supposed theory of the conservative "talkers," who blame McCain for the divide, due to his "covert liberalism." She then juxtaposed this with Bob Barr’s theory that it’s President Bush’s fault that there’s a divide in the GOP.
Another supposed sign of conservative talkers’ "diminishing power" is "John McCain himself," who, according to Costello, is "unfazed" by their criticisms. She also pointed to McCain’s recent appearance on the cover of "Time" magazine.
At the conclusion of her report, Costello repeated an alternate theory for McCain’s success, made by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "Hugh Hewitt believes McCain is doing so well because he's a darling of the liberal media, including CNN.... He believes we've put McCain on top, but thinks Mitt Romney will prevail in the end."
Costello did not mention several details involving McCain’s victories. Both New Hampshire and South Carolina were open primary states where McCain struggled with the Republican vote. In New Hampshire, McCain won less of the primary vote this time around than he did in the 2000 primary, and in South Carolina, much of the conservative vote was split between Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson, who has now dropped out of the race.
By ignoring the above and by pointing to "Time" magazine’s coverage of McCain, Costello is actually proving once again that McCain is truly the liberal media’s Republican darling.