Skip to content

Liberals dominate most of the leading opinion-making areas…

“Liberals dominate most of the leading opinion-making areas of American life-- journalism, the movie and television industries, academia, the publishing industry, the legal profession, the mainline churches, and the arts. Conservatives dominate talk radio, evangelical churches, and have Fox News…” quote by David E. Bernstein
Download Open image
““Liberals dominate most of the leading opinion-making areas of American life-- journalism, the movie and television industries, academia, the publishing industry, the legal profession, the mainline churches, and the arts. Conservatives dominate talk radio, evangelical churches, and have Fox News, but that hardly evens things out. By contrast with liberal dominance in the opinion-making elite, the playing field is more or less level with regard to spending on political campaigns-- on average, Democrats and Republicans spend approximately the same amount. Nether party has the massive, structural advantages when it comes to campaign spending that the Democrats have in the broader political and ideological arena. Without the relatively level playing field of campaign spending, left-leaning opinion-makers would be able to virtually monopolize American political discourse. So the Obama administration's and leading Democratic politicians' over-the-top reaction to Citizens United was not because they suddenly became Boy Scouts interested in improving the American political system by reducing the relevance of money-- indeed, in 2008 Obama, breaking a campaign promise, became the first major-party candidate to decline federal campaign funds and the spending limits that come with those funds. His campaign wound up outspending McCain's by the largest margin in history. Rather, the Democrats understand that reducing the funds available to all candidates will disproportionately harm the Republicans, because Republicans have fewer "free" ways to get their message out.””

David E. Bernstein

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage argues that liberal dominance in media and cultural institutions gives them disproportionate influence over public opinion, while campaign spending is relatively balanced, so limiting money would hurt Republicans more.

In simple terms: Liberals control many opinion‑shaping sectors; campaign money is roughly equal.

Key Takeaway

Recognize structural media bias when evaluating political arguments.

Themes

political influence media bias campaign finance partisan strategy

Mood

critical analytical skeptical

Type

political analytical critical

When to use this quote

  • media analysis
  • political campaigning
  • policy advocacy
  • public education

Key Concepts

elite opinion public discourse financial regulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does media ownership shape political narratives?
  • Can campaign finance reform alone ensure fair discourse?
A Different Perspective

Limiting spending may not level the playing field if media control remains unchanged.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by David E. Bernstein

Explore all 7 David E. Bernstein quotes

More American life quotes

Browse all 344 American life quotes