Fox’s Alan Colmes Defends Limbaugh And Hannity: ‘Without Them, I’d Have Much Smaller Platform’

In light of news that Cumulus radio networks may drop Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its syndication, Fox News’ most prominent liberal commentator Alan Colmes has spoken out in defense of the two conservative talkers, pushing back on the gleeful reaction to the news from his liberal colleagues.

“[T]hese two broadcasters, with whom I vehemently, vocally, and publicly disagree politically, have done more to keep the talk radio industry alive than anyone else,” he wrote on his blog. “It’s because of the success of these two shows that many stations have stayed in the talk format in the first place, allowing other shows to be heard.”

Colmes was responding to what he saw as “victory” declarations from fellow liberal writers. He cautioned his friends to realize that the conservative talk behemoths play a crucial role in maintaining a platform for liberal hosts: “Much as liberals don’t have nearly as many outlets as conservatives […] it would be even worse for the left if these shows weren’t making it, because the industry would be closer to collapse at a time when terrestrial radio is struggling.”

Ultimately, he concluded, “I will continue to speak out against the views of both Limbaugh and Hannity when I feel it’s warranted, meeting their free speech with my own. But I will never forget that, without them, I’d have a much smaller platform on which to do it.”

[h/t TheBlaze]

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