Brian Williams gatekeeper of democracy

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1/25/12, "Brian Williams v. Crowd: Who Is More Intelligent?," American Thinker, C. Edmund Wright

"When you compare the substance of the so-called rowdy mob debates in South Carolina with the serious Brian Williams exercise in Florida, there is simply no contest.

Yes, it is true. The substance of the supposed cockfights in Carolina was actually far more intellectually important and informative than anything that was accomplished in Tampa. Frankly, what these debates must have are intelligent, concerned, and rowdy crowds to keep the feckless and clueless liberal moderators on the subject of anything important. Moreover, their reaction to the passionate and articulate defense of conservatism is a good way to motivate the candidates to keep articulating conservatism with passion too. It's a win-win.

• And for the media and other liberals, it's a lose-lose.

Without the crowd as a governor, so to speak, Monday night in Tampa, what we saw was a tortuous exercise where supposedly valuable time was wasted discussing the difference between sugar cane and sugar beets, Terry Schiavo and "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders, Elian Gonzales, and something about the Everglades that I'm sure is important to Floridians -- but should be none of the federal government's business in all likelihood. (Thank you, Ron Paul.)...

All of which tells me that the so-called rowdies -- the "pom pom gals and guys," according to Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post -- are actually way ahead of Ms. Rubin. They are also ahead the rest of the establishment media on the right along with all of the other pundits and reporters who are missing this whole story.

They are all narrowly and shallowly focused on what Newt did that got the crowd reaction. What they are all missing is

• why Newt got the crowd reaction.

And why Newt got the reaction he did is because he put his finger on exactly what is wrong with this country. It is the destruction by liberals at all levels of the very values and very people and institutions that made this country great -- and that includes the media's very important role in that destruction. To folks like the conservative base, the destruction of the country is both a very weighty and very emotional issue. The roar of the crowd was simply a way of saying finally someone gets it...and it is important!

In fact, it is the only issue. Every other issue is merely a sub-issue of that issue -- or it is a non-issue. If Newt is the only one who gets it, then he should get the ovations and the votes. If Santorum and Romney and Paul start to understand it and articulate it, then they will be successful too. As it should be.

But apparently the self-appointed intellects like Rubin and Williams and others in the media are not smart enough to figure it out. So be it. Let the intelligent roar of the crowd continue, indeed. Sometimes the loud crowd is the only thing keeping these debates on track. Turn up the volume."

(Ed. note: Please excuse bright white background behind parts of this post. Hackers.)