PrintJune 6, 2008
India expresses a vote of confidence in American Thinker
Tuesday, as the Democratic nominating process finally came to an end, American Thinker was contacted by the Times Global Broadcasting Company of Mumbai, India, asking if I would agree to an interview for their TV news programs.
After a few telephone conversations and emails to set up the interview, I wound up as a guest on two separate news programs about an hour apart. What was remarkable about the interviewers on both programs was their quest for information, and the time they gave me to answer their questions. These interviewers were clearly not part of the Keith Olbermann/Katie Couric School of Broadcast Journalism.
The American Presidential race is attracting enormous interest overseas, particularly so this year in India, the world's largest democracy. The English speaking world and beyond seems to be looking to the new media for expertise on American politics. I have been interviewed a few times by the BBC during this election season, and for the most part, their interviewers seemed to be going through the motions of attempting to achieve a modicum of balance in their programming. However, the BBC's deep-seated cynicism about America, conservatives and Republicans was always fairly apparent in the questions and responses to my answers.The interviews for Times Now could not have been more different. In particular, there was great interest in how Indian Americans are viewing the Presidential contest, and Indian Americans tend to vote Republican. This is not surprising, since they are a recent immigrant community that has been extraordinarily successful in the professions (especially medicine), and the high tech field. A political party that favors lower taxes and less regulation is a natural fit for many in the community. In addition, India has experienced more than its fair share of Islamic terrorism, and the Republican Party, especially this year, offers a much more sober and grounded candidate in John McCain in terms of recognizing and responding to Islamic radicalism.
Finally, there is the wildcard: Bobby Jindal, the Indian American Governor of Louisiana, and a potential Vice Presidential pick for John McCain. Jindal, at age 36, has already accomplished far more in government, than 46 year old Barack Obama, a Presidential candidate with the thinnest record of achievement of any nominee from a major political party in American history.
It is refreshing to see some foreign news companies looking to American Thinker and other new media sources in America for information on the race. We just learned yesterday that Italy's leading newspaper Corriere dell Sera cited Ed Lasky in an article on May 29th with the words, "Ed Lasky, editore dell' influente rivista online American Thinker " ("editor of the influential online magazine American Thinker"). We couldn't be prouder.
As for the practice of conducting interviews with an interest in information and room for substantive answers, we can only hope that the example spreads.
As for the practice of conducting interviews with an interest in information and room for substantive answers, we can only hope that the example spreads.
