For Frum, it's obvious. The pundits do believe what they're saying. But he wonders at what point, given a financial incentive, Limbaugh, Beck and the rest would crack and switch sides. Consider this "thought experiment" he provides:
Suppose an agent arrived in the offices of
Limbaugh/Beck/Hannity/O'Reilly etc. with an offer. "I can guarantee you
a deal that will pay you twice as much - bring you twice as much fame -
and extend your career twice as long - if you'd say the exact opposite
of what you are saying now." Which of them would sign?
Welcoming a week's worth of talk radio vitriol, he ventures a guess:My nominations: O'Reilly accepts for sure. Beck likewise almost
certainly says yes. Limbaugh would want to think it over, but would
ultimately say no. Mark Levin: certainly not. Sean Hannity would need
the offer explained a few times. Ann Coulter - that one puzzles me -
but probably no. Roger Ailes? Do you even need to ask?
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John Hudson
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