John McLaughlin was Always Right

I did not always agree with John McLaughlin, but I always knew that he was right.

Today we lost a legend. John McLaughlin was the host and moderator of the "McLaughlin Group" that would air on PBS every week. I never knew the day it would premier, I used to watch it on Tuesday nights, but it never mattered. The McLaughlin group was the only political gab fest worth watching. Eleanor Clift, Bob Novak (also RIP), Pat Buchanan, Mort Zuckerman, Clarence Page, and John McLaughin, these are the people who enhanced my political education through the 1980's, 1990's, and the early 21st century. I studied politics in college, and "The McLaughlin Group" was must watch tv. I worked in politics after college, "The McLaughlin Group" was required weekly viewing.  My wife is very politically aware, and she makes "The McLaughlin Group" appointment television. As our country was becoming more and more partisan, "The McLaughlin Group" was the intellectual oasis in the sea of political ignorance. John McLaughlin was the center of this great and influential political education.

John McLaughlin's politics were not my own, but I knew he was looking for the right answers. Eleanor Clift and Pat Buchanan would argue about something, and John McLaughlin would put them both in their place. His politics may have been conservative, but is ideals were American. John McLaughlin wanted to know what would be the best solution for everyone. During the George W Bush administration, "The McLaughlin Group" was the first place I saw discussion about the wrongness of the Iraq war. During the debate for the Affordable Care Act, "The McLaughlin Group" was the first place to question the actual problems with the law (the fact that the law is a transfer of tax dollars to private insurance corporations). Before Fox News, or MSNBC, or "The Daily Show", John McLaughlin and his panel were exposing the problems with the Washington D.C. machine. John McLaughlin invented the idea of being disappointing with the federal government.

The modern incarnation of political television debate started with "The McLaughlin Group". Bill Maher would have no blueprint for "Politically Incorrect" or "Real Time with Bill Maher" without John McLaughlin. Fox News idiotic panels are nothing more than the conservative side of John McLaughlin's PBS show. Pointing out the folly of Washington DC did not start with John Stewart or Stephen Colbert, it started with "The McLaughlin Group". His influence was so great, that one of the most famous Saturday Night Live Sketches lampooned his new take on tv political commentary. John McLaughlin may be gone, but his legacy is bigger than any of us really know.

I watched the last weeks episode of "The McLaughlin Group" because I heard that John was absent. My heart sank when I heard he passed away. I did not share John McLaughlin's politics, but I shared his excitement for the American experience. The world of political dialogue is better for John's involvement, we need to honor that. RIP great moderator.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Be the next great political voice by writing for SeedSing.