It can be an interesting phenomenon when you come across a pundit or media figure whose politics are unknown. It strips away any preconceptions you may have before the person even opens his or her mouth.
For example, the first time I ran across Glenn Beck on TV. This was before he was "The Glenn Beck" - the Fox News host that some love and many love to hate. He was just some guy who was on HLN. I was on a cruise and HLN was basically the only channel available in my room. So I watched him for a little while and thought this guy is an idiot. I stand by that initial impression. And you can add to that my more recently formed impression that Mr. Beck is a total huckster.
It has been noted several times on this blog in the past that I am a loyal viewer of Fareed Zakaria GPS. They (almost) always have very intelligent guests with rational points of view on the topics of the day (the recent appearance of Ann Coulter notwithstanding). However, on Sunday's show, there was a discussion about the rioting in London (and other English cities) and Fareed welcomed a guest named David Goodhart. He was introduced as the founder and editor of Prospect magazine. I had not heard of it. I have no idea what it covers, any ideological slant it may or may not have, if it's any good, etc.
Anyway, Fareed asks the question to Mr. Goodheart:
FZ: Why is this (the riots in London) going on? Why is this happening right now?
The reply (mildly edited for space and clarity):
DG: We have a lot of problems in the our inner cities... there is a whole culture of nihilism amongst a hardcore people in the inner city. A lot of it comes from the black hip-hop and rap culture, which was picked up by the white kids as well. This idea that you cannot make it in straight society so violent transgression is really the only thing to do.
How about that?
White kids and young adults are rioting in London and it's the fault of black culture?!?!
And I don't think you have to have a PhD in Sociology to wonder why, when hip-hop and rap are also popular in the United States (not to mention other countries throughout the world), are the other countries not experiencing such rioting? If there is a cause and effect relationship, shouldn't there be rioting in Detroit?
It is also worth pointing out (hopefully without stepping on my previous point) that there has been rioting throughout history. There have been countless reasons to trigger flash riots (some "better" than others: think the travesty of justice of the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King compared to the Los Angeles Lakers winning an NBA Championship). So, in that sense, I would concede that a cultural phenomenon can play a role. Yet, it still begs the question, why there and not "here"? And why now?
I consider those to be interesting questions that merit intelligent conversation on a show like GPS. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Mr. Goodheart does not seem fit for such a role.
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