The LuLac Edition #3455, March 25th, 2017

THE BROADCAST LEGACY OF STEVE CORBETT

Steve Corbett (Photo: Citizen's Voice)

The news came this week that 10 year WILK Radio Journalist Steve Corbett was let go. Corbett stormed back into this market in 2007 just in time for the Judicial Scandals that rocked Luzerne County. The timing was perfect for his debut years because there were many people not very happy with the status quo in this region. His style was brash, combative but always accurate in his presentation of the facts.
When he arrived Corbett had numbers that went through the WILK roof. However as time went on, inevitably the ratings declined. Not enough mind you to stop people from listening and hear what he had to say on various topics.
During his tenure there have been three Pennsylvania Governors, Four Pennsylvania Senators as well as various changes in positions in local government. Supporters and critics of Presidents Bush, Obama and now Trump were exposed to his thoughts on those individuals. The common denominator between Corbett and the aforementioned was that none of them were ever assured of his unwavering support. Like other hosts on WILK elected officials found no safe haven with him. Some like Senator Bob Casey and Representative Matt Cartwright called anyway knowing full well at some point they’d get a rebuke for something Corbett found was off with them. Others like Pat Toomey, Lou Barletta as well as Tom Marino chose other venues on the station to reach the public. That’s their right to pick and choose but also was Corbett’s to call them on it. Through the years he certainly did so.
Most Talk Radio stations and hosts have a shelf life. WILK’s lack of turnover of personnel has been remarkable. Most of that has to do with each show seeming to have its niche of supporters. Some we are all familiar with. You listen to Sue Henry and you know you’ll get Ray from Mountaintop, Bob from Wilkes Barre and other right leaning callers. With Tarone there will be Angela from Wilkes Barre, Luciano from Berwick, Dave from Nanticoke and Toby from Wilkes Barre. Some will have partially formed opinions of their own, but the rest they’ll get from somewhere else. The issue with these callers is that they operate in their own echo chamber where only they are right and everyone else is wrong. Or their opinion is superior to others. In most cases the hosts will even call them on their thoughts but it doesn’t matter. They will believe what they will believe.
Corbett’s approach to callers was to initially give them a chance to state their opinions. It was the conflict between those callers and the host that led to his departure. Here’s why:
1. CRITICAL THINKING: Very few of Corbett’s callers were prepared to make their case. They usually started out by trying to attack the host, spout off a falsehood and then whine when he either called them out or put them on hold. I learned long ago when Corbett was a guest on my little Sunday Morning Show on WBAX in the 80s that when you spoke to him, you had better be prepared. When they were not, Corbett, in their estimation hurt their feelings on his show. Then then tried to retreat to the other shows and whine about how rude he was.
2. THE TIMES CHANGED, THE CALLERS DIDN’T: When Corbett came to WILK, callers were outraged by the local scandals. Corbett’s tenacious following of those stories were just what his audience wanted. But then the National agenda changed. A woman ran against a black man for President. That man was elected President. Conservatives as well as the Tea Party came out of the woods and got more vocal. It was this wing of the Conservative movement that decided they were more American, more patriotic, more freedom loving than those who were more Liberal.
There was always an edge to the callers but between the Obama ascendancy as well as Immigration, the white, old, Christian values of WILK listeners came busting through. Predictably Corbett busted back. The audience of hard coal country listeners became offended when they were called out.
3. 2016 AND THE HATRED OF HILLARY: Corbett mentioned to a newspaper that his support of Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump might have been one of the reasons he lost his job. He was correct in that because anyone who supported Clinton was vilified. Corbett went full blown on Trump supporters who were encouraged to bully by their candidate. Callers did not call him to argue or persuade. They called to spout lies. They did so with arrogance and authority. Some even tried to trick Corbett into an admission of such untruths. It never worked. Then they were shocked when he dispatched their lunacy to the dial tone.
All three of these forces pretty much got Corbett canned. It was the perfect storm. These freedom and liberty lovers had no problem with opinion or truth, as long as it reflected their own ideals.
With all that said, Steve Corbett leaves a legacy for local Radio broadcasting. He never buckled to the pressure of the great unwashed. His principles stayed intact. He held the mirror of ignorance, racism and sexism that permeates this community and let the blowhards try to see themselves in that looking glass.
There are those who know full well that Corbett could be frustrating, irascible and at times a tad inhospitable. But this is an area that is supposed to pride itself on bare knuckles politics. For those callers, listeners who complained to the station personal and other hosts, where oh where was that toughness you portrayed? Where was your certainty?
Steve Corbett will be remembered as a talk show host who never took any crap from his audience when they chose to attack. His show will be remembered as factual, funny, ironic, satirical, entertaining and tough minded. That’s his legacy.
What is more problematic though is that by hurting the itty bitty feelings of those anti-government supporters in an area that has benefited mightily from those entities, Corbett’s dismissal tells us that we here in Wilkes Barre, Scranton and Hazleton have a long way to go.
To quote Harry Truman: “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.”
Corbett told the truth and by doing so offended those who had their own warped version of it. He might be gone from the airwaves but his true legacy is that he exposed just how much some local ingrates really feel about their local community. Me first and the hell with the rest! 

WHAT CONSERVATIVE LOWMAN HENRY REALLY THINKS OF YOU!

Lowman "I'm the only one who has a job and takes care of my family" Henry. (Photo: Patriot News)

L.A. Tarone interviewed Republican Lowman Henry who I used to think was pretty fair minded politico. Conservative but sensible and not given to rhetoric that diminishes people of different views. However, Thursday Henry was telling Tarone that the Right has to become more involved because the new administration will not get everything it wanted right away like the GOP thought. Henry then said, “The reason why conservatives aren’t protesting back with signs is because they have jobs and families to take care of anyway”. He then used the old saw that the protesters against Donald Trump and the REPUBLICAN party were paid.
First off, people who are against REPUBLICAN policies WORK!!!!
They also have FAMILIES THEY TAKE CARE OF!
To suggest otherwise is arrogant, divisive, wrong and really part of the REPUBLICAN playbook. . Here are a few names, Thornburgh, Heinz, Specter, Ridge. Those were just a few members of the GOP I voted for in my life. But I will never, ever vote for another one again. If Lowman Henry thinks only Conservatives have jobs and take care of families, he is badly mistaken. I urge any Democrat, Independent, Leftist, Green Party candidate to prove this guy wrong. VOTE to rid the state of any Republican who thinks like Lowman Henry that they are the only ones who work and take care of families. This guy will think what he will always think. He will blithely spout that line. But for God sake vote against a party that paints everyone with this broad of a brush.
One more thing Lowman, where is the proof that these protesters were paid? Who paid them? Where are the checks? Where did the cash comes? Who was the bag man?
Lowman, you aren’t the only true "Amur-ikhan “ in Pennsylvania who WORKS and RAISES A FAMILY!

THEN THERE'S THIS.....

BARLETTA STATEMENT ON CANCELLATION OF AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT VOTE

Congressman Lou Barletta released the following statement after the House cancelled a vote on the American Health Care Act, H.R. 1628:
“The president and House leadership decided that the best thing to do was to pull the bill. I am disappointed in today’s missed opportunity to provide much needed relief to millions of Americans suffering under Obamacare. This is why the American people are so frustrated with Washington. Obamacare is failing, and it’s only going to get worse. As we move forward, we need to keep in mind that the American people sent us to Congress to work for them.”
Now keep in mind the only reason why Barletta opposed it was not because it raised taxes on seniors, tried getting rid of Medicaid, almost forced baby boomers to foot the bill for their senior parents in Nursing Homes, practically ended counseling for people with emotional issues, hey, he was just fine with saying YES to that bill.
His main concern as stated was his worry that illegal aliens would get tax breaks for the Health Insurance credits.
THAT'S WHAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT!