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HORIST: MEMO: To the left-wing media

HORIST:  MEMO: To the left-wing media

For more than half a century, I have been more than just a consumer of news.  I have been the subject of thousands of news articles and interviews.  At times in my life, I have been part of the Fourth Estate as a talk show host and columnist.  In my business, I have represented individuals, companies, associations and candidates in interfacing with the press.

I am also an older white man, and if that is not bad enough, I am a conservative Republican.  And even worse, I am a supporter of most of President Trump’s policies although not his personality.  You never seem to understand that – or maybe it does not serve your biased interests to accept the reality of millions who can see that distinction.

Despite your attempts to smear people like me, I am not a racist.  I have won awards for my work on promoting equality and black aspirations.  In many of my professional and civil positions, I have elevated minorities to positions of leadership – in many cases for the first time.  For more than 40 years, I have raised a black daughter.

I am not xenophobic.  I strongly believe in the importance and benefits of a legal immigration system.  Since you seem to have no other way to defend your acceptance of open borders and illegal entry, you wrongly state that my motivations are prejudicial against classes of foreign people.  The only thing I am prejudice against is illegal entry and the coddling of hardened criminals who enter America with ill intentions –and who cost the very lives of American citizens.  And NO, I do not think the majority of those here – even illegally – are hardened criminals, but I do believe that it is wise to have a system that weeds out those who are criminals before more families lose loved ones.  That does not seem unreasonable.

I am not homophobic.  I have had – and still have — a number of gay friends and employees.  As difficult as  you may find it to believe, I have not seen more homophobia and hatred than I have among numbers of Democrats I dealt with during my days in Chicago politics – that also applies to racism.

I am not misogynistic.  I have always enjoyed the company of strong women.  I have worked for them, and I have hired them.  I do not feel at all threatened by their achievements or growing power.  To see women as a less capable victim class … THAT is misogynistic.

I am not a hateful person.  I have long honestly stated – and can still do so — that I have never hated another human being or group of humans in my life.  I do not always respect what people do – not even my loved ones – but I never hate or wish ill on anyone.  Making people accountable for their actions is not hate.  It is justice.

In that regard, I am not a violent person – nor do I condone violence.  It is not something to be condemned or embraced depending on one’s political views.  I abhor political violence because it is not only wrong, but it is so unnecessary in a nation in which all our differences can be settled in the voting booths or through our legislative bodies.

I am not a blind partisan.  I do not always agree with positions taken by Republicans – nor disagree with everything Democrats say and do.  I have worked and voted for candidates of both parties.

I am a believer in honest and civil debate – and can disagree with friends, family and others without losing my temper or saying ugly things.  Some of my closest friends hold political positions far distant from my own.  In fact, I relish vigorous debate – often with humor — with those who are informed and intelligent – and those two things do not always go together.  Whatever can be said about my commentaries, they are my honest opinions offered up to give important perspective on critical issues.

I am not a religious zealot.  While I have my spiritual beliefs, I do not accept every belief of every religion.  My opinions may have a moral foundation, but they are not always consistent with religious dogma.

I am not a member of the National Rifle Association because I do not own guns.  However, I do respect the Second Amendment and the right of responsible gun ownership.  Were me or my family every in a situation where terrorists came with guns, I would hope and pray that a lot of the good folks in the crowd would be armed.

Most of all, I am not a unique person – some sort of outlier among the body politic.  I am not some sort of exceptional American.  I am very typical of the vast majority of our fellow citizens.  Yes, we may have differences of opinions about politics, sports, religion and what constitutes good food, but we are basically good people trying to get through life the best we can.  We are generous with our wealth – limited as it may be for many.  We are the best Good Samaritans in the world.  We sacrifice for the benefit of others – too often with our own lives.

So, dear members of the Fourth Estate … WILL YOU PLEASE STOP DEMONIZING US WITH YOUR CALLOUS LIES, YOUR FALSE NARRATIVES AND YOU MALIGNANT OPINIONS?  WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE UP YOUR ONE-SIDED SCREEDS IN FAVOR OF FAIR, HONEST AND OBJECTIVE REPORTING?  REPORT ABOUT THE ISSUES INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT DOES NOT COMPORT TO YOUR NARROW PHILOSOPHY AND DISTORTED VIEW OF REALITY.  IF YOU WANT TO BE RESPECTED, THEN YOU DAMN WELL BETTER GIVE RESPECT … PERIOD.

In the meantime … Happy Thanksgiving!!!

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

30 Comments

  1. dave

    Amen to all that you said. I too am an old white male conservative who is tired of being identified with every form of bigotry and hate that you mentioned. Like most people on the right I just want to be left alone to live my life free from crime, free from spiteful leftists and terrorists. I believe in the constitution and ALL of the rights guaranteed therein. Unlike you I do own gun, and I will use them to defend my rights and those oppressed by governments, political parties and bureaucracies foreign and domestic. So folks get off your knees, go to work, worship your personal god, stop persecuting your neighbors,and stand up for the rights of all men and women in this wonderful nation.

  2. Vicki Goble

    Well said! Well put! You should take this and post it every where possible. So millions can read it. Your one Hell of a MAN!!! Thank You!

  3. Paula Kellogg

    You nailed it, Larry. Sadly, it will probably fall on deaf ears.

  4. Bernie Casey

    I couldn’t have said it any better. That is why I enjoy your comments so much. I do not claim to be a saint and I agree with you 99% of the time.
    P.S. I am a 80 yr old WHITE MALE, who has proudly served 4 years in the US NAVY and 27 yrs with the FDNY.

  5. Joni Campbell

    I am a very proud liberal Democrat Huge supporter of President Obama and I ask you Sir…did you live in this country the eight years he was president? Fox news demonizing his every breath and well I could go on and on with many examples of what some on the right, not all but what some did, didn’t do, said, didn’t say, and still do or don’t do (report facts, one ex) etc. I have a wonderful dinner awaiting me so I will make this short and sweet….Dear members or the far right conservative fringe, Fox News, mind you not all conservatives but ya all know who you are.. anyway… Dear You Guys…. WILL YOU PLEASE STOP DEMONIZING US WITH YOUR CALLOUS LIES, YOUR FALSE NARRATIVES AND YOU MALIGNANT OPINIONS? WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE UP YOUR ONE-SIDED SCREEDS IN FAVOR OF FAIR, HONEST AND OBJECTIVE REPORTING? REPORT ABOUT THE ISSUES INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT DOES NOT COMPORT TO YOUR NARROW PHILOSOPHY AND DISTORTED VIEW OF REALITY. IF YOU WANT TO BE RESPECTED, THEN YOU DAMN WELL BETTER GIVE RESPECT … PERIOD.

    I couldn’t have said it better myself! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!!

    • funnyfarm

      i am a conservative.
      i did not like the obamantion.
      he was a muslim communist criminal. in my opinion he was not a good president.
      i worked at voting him out of office.
      i did not cover my face with ragges to hid my identity.
      i did not attack people in the streets.
      i am an MRA member.
      i have owned a shot gun since I was 10 years old. i have never pointed it at anyone. i have never killed anyone.
      i like to collect guns like some people like to collect cars or knit.
      they are my hobby.
      i have never said callous lies about you sosialist dems. you can make idiots of your selves without my help.
      you just did.

    • Larry Horist

      Thank you for offering yourself up as an example of the nasty and narrow minded left who consumer the media hatred as a political opiod. Always remember, that no one is worthless because they can always serve as a bad example.

    • LDC

      What channel do you respect CNN MSNBC? sounds like it!

  6. Lee Wisdom

    Very well stated, Mr. Horist, the DemSocCom agenda paints a dismal, disheartening, discouraging, negative, frightening picture of a nation and world most people don’t want to live in, promoting exactly the societal abuses they supposedly abhor–!!

  7. Conchita Masaoay

    Most of your views are similar to me, they are like coming from me.I too is a conservative republican but do not vote straight Republican,I vote for the better candidate most especially pro life .Happy Thanksgiving too.

  8. Pete Moreno

    Congratulations Larry I am happy to read I am not alone You have expressed well the feelings of many “Americans” many that are quiet but still contend America is now dead as I knew it, to think that presently my thinking is I wasted 6 years of my life in the Militray to see it wasted away and becoming a Naturalized Citizen of this Country for what??????? I truly regret it but this is about your article well thought out please keep it up thank you Sit

  9. Rick

    Excellent and awesome

  10. Steve i

    Larry: Extremely well written, and completely agree with your analysis. Sad the Left uses the same words over and over and over applied to anyone they disagree with….because it is much easier than coming up with REAL reasons and facts. So funny when you look back about 10 years and hear the “strong borders” statements from leading Democrats….but that is no longer something that suits their agenda. So they ignore it, even though the same issues exist and have gotten worse.
    I was a lifelong Democrat, even voted for Obama the first time….NO MORE…NO MORE! If I was, you could add the word IDIOT to my description..along with the same words they repeat and repeat and repeat….I believe it was called THE BIG LIE TECHNIQUE back in the day…repeat it long enough and people will believe it. Thank you Larry for your thoughts, and insight into reality. I applaud you.

  11. Annette Guerrero

    That devout liberal noting her/his comments can go straight to hell! Odummy is and always will be a hater of our America! He stands 4 everything most of us don’t!!

    • Joni Campbell

      I think you’re speaking about me the proud liberal and I just want to say I’m sorry you feel that way. You don’t know me at all and to have all the hateful feelings about me and President Obama is so sad. I wish that we could be more peaceful and respectful with each other but I don’t think everybody wants that. The anger and hate is so loud it kind of drowns out any kind of peaceful positive approach to things. my prayer is that someday we can be a United Country a tolerant country of people of different politics religion colors ethnic backgrounds gay or straight transgender I just pray for a better America when it’s not so angry and hateful especially toward people they don’t know so I’m sorry youl feel that way but I wish you all the best i best take care

      Get Outlook for Android

      • LDC

        What did Obama do that your so proud of? Just asking because I can’t think of much good I saw.

  12. ROBERT VOZEY

    DITTO AND A HAPPY THANKSGIVING

  13. Nelda Carinder

    Larry, I can’t add anything. You said what is in my heart and mind.
    I am very afraid for our wonderful America. Way too many uninformed and uncaring people.

  14. Lynette

    Thank you.
    Conservatives are the only ones who will read this.
    Liberals are unabke to climb out if the soup they stew in.

  15. Donna

    Larry Horist:. Excellent article! You made my day.

    Joni Campbell : If you don’t like Fox news, don’t watch it. You couldn’t pay me to watch the fake news media. I mute or change the channel when Fox has dems on their station. If they’re talking – they’re lying. And they are all nasty and snarky. Why don’t all of you try just listening and consider another point of view? Before Fox, all of the news was liberal.

    Paula Kellogg is right – this falls on deaf ears – obviously.

    • Joni Campbell

      Donna…I hear very welll and I’m sorry you seem to see all Democrats as liars. I happen to like a lot of Republicans. Thought the world of John McCain…an American hero! I feel as long as we continue to demonize each other because we have different ideas, opinions thoughts, etc… well that’s sad. I don’t like a lot of what I see on the right. I don’t always like what I see on the left. We can all have our own opinions but not our own facts. Mr Horist writes about feeling demonized by the left..well I could sooo relate to that because some on the right do the same exact thing! Left, right, right, left it’s not right for either side to do ever. I want to choose to see the good. If you want to be mad and think all democrats are lying well that’s sad. United we stand divided we fall. I choose to stand. If someone doesn’t like how I think, feel or what I say..sobeit…I will always try to respectfully agree to disagree. Respectfully..I like that word. So that’s it. Take care

  16. Stephen Jackson

    Good sir: yr view is truly as classical as Hippocrites, the Bible, Truth in general which has buttressed science 4 Truth is how God created all things, hence right n wrong, and a basic understanding of how to treat the only race with a face from womb to tomb, human! Like Stalin, marxist have no higher priority than he,when he stated he would fight the Korean War untilthe last korean died! Truth is empty words tothose who resist yr views. Their demands I pray will blind them until they repent or die. Its intellectual rabies

  17. Joni Campbell

    Well I just want to wish all you people a very Happy Thanksgiving I hope you all had a good day. I respectfully agree to disagree with you. You know we’re all in this together we can all try to do a little bit of a better job left and right but if the left thinks it’s just the right and the right thinks it’s just the left nothing is going to get solved. we’re all in This together like it or not. I think we can make it work. Be the change you wish to see in this world and a positive change is good.. left or right ..so that’s it.. take care of everybody.

  18. Phil in TX

    Very well said, Sir! If only the media were as enlightened as you are.

    Phil in TX

  19. George Blumel

    Larry Horist’s Memo to the Left Wing Media which dominates our culture today speaks for all patriotic, honest Americans who lovingly enjoyed Thanksgiving Day with their families and for those in uniform that couldn’t be at the turkey table with family. Who agrees with the constant hate spewing from the so-called Main Street Media? Sadly, nearly half of the country must as seen by ratings and vote totals.
    One commentator, above, disagrees with Mr. Horist and can’t stand a network that tries to be “fair and balanced” –apparently, it has to be all left-wing or not exist!

    • Joni Campbell

      No Mr. Blumel I don’t think it all has to be left or not exist but I get the feeling you’re not too thrilled with the left media and maybe you would prefer it doesn’t exist. Since I don’t know you that would be an unfair assumption. Maybe you’re the kind of person that feels it’s important to get news from all sides. That’s how I feel. There are some people on Fox that aren’t so good with the facts but then there are people like Chris Wallace and Shepard Smith who are fair and balanced. I don’t think it should be us against them. We are always right, we are the best, us us us!!! Whether you are right or left that’s a bad mantra to live by. We are all in this together and we should be able to respectfully agree to disagree. There is so much hate and anger out there. I don’t want to part of that. .Be the change you wish to see in this world. A positive change. Too Too much negativity. I don’t want to pass that kind of world onto my children. Take care Mr. Blumei.

      Sincerely,
      Your Liberal Commentator Who Thinks It’s time Right vs left left vs Right should be…. Hey.. Let’s Get Along..Let’s be inclusive, tolerant and caring to each other.

  20. stephen leonhard

    I am a 93 year old veteran of WW2 and i am astonished that the Democratic party wants to Socialize our country. They continue to try to buy votes by promising ” freebies” to all those able bodied citizens who chose not to work and are content to live on welfare!
    Socialism/communism has failed everywhere it has been implemented .Just look at pitiful Venezuela and Soviet Russia.

  21. John Bartlett

    This was a great TRUTH shared. Thank you for speaking for me too !

  22. David Lost

    I am not afraid of no man or thing i was molested as a child so guess who i hate not afraid