The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Good News! Allahpundit Now Employed by ‘Christian and Family-Themed’ Media Conglomerate!

Posted on | February 17, 2010 | 25 Comments

This certainly should be interesting:

Mediaite has learned that leading center-right web site Hot Air has been acquired by Salem Communications for an undisclosed sum. . . .
Salem Communication defines itself as a leading U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values.

Ed Morrissey: “Neither Allahpundit nor I will have any official comment on this until tomorrow.” Anybody guess that Allah’s unofficial comment about being sold to a Christian conservative outfit wasn’t exactly “family-themed,” eh?

Congratulations to Michelle Malkin on divesting herself of the atheist Eeyore — at a handsome profit, we certainly hope.

UPDATE: The announcement was time to coincide with CPAC. It was at CPAC 2006 that Hot Air made its big rollout (and I scored some swag, a coffee mug and refrigerator magnet). Hot Air initially specialized in original video production — remember “Vent”? remember those cute Mary Katharine Ham videos? remember Robert Spencer’s Jihad Watch videos? – but that emphasis changed after 2007, without explanation.

Ace of Spades speculates:

Although Michelle Malkin is the owner and got most of the money, presumably Allah and Captain Ed have also got a nice chunk of change in the deal and contracts, too.

This presumes more than we actually know, and contradicts my own educated guesswork. In 2008, Salem purchased my friend Nathan Tabor’s site, The Conservative Voice, and shut it down. No notice, no archives, nothing — the URL just became a re-direct to Townhall.

Like Michael Corleone said, it’s just business.

UPDATE II: James Joyner:

And hearty congrats to Michelle Malkin on what one presumes was a lucrative buy-out. While her politics are harder right than mine and her writing style more polemical, she’s a sweet lady and an incredibly hard worker.

That’s certainly true. If you’ve ever seen Malkin at work, she works. Blogging, syndicated column, Fox News appearances, books, speeches — a real dynamo. Were I asked to hazard a guess, I’d guess that we’ll soon hear that Malkin has signed a deal for her own talk-radio show. Perhaps with . . . er, Salem Communications.

Guy Benson, a kid I never heard of until five minutes ago:

Unlike many, I happen to work for Salem. I’ve spoken to a number of the people involved on both sides of the reported deal, and I’m unable to confirm or deny any details of the story at this point.

Considering that there were only three people (Ed, Allah and Michelle) on one side of the deal, which ones did you talk to, Guy?

Max Fisher of the Atlantic Monthly is spectacularly clueless, from his headline — Sale of ‘Hot Air’ Shakes Up Conservative Blogosphere — to his observation, “Hot Air is known for the blogging team Ed Morrissey and the pseudonymous ‘Allahpundit.’ They’ve earned wide readership for their sharp analysis and tendency to break from conservative orthodoxy.”

First, there’s no “shake up” — unless you count Little Miss Attila threatening to “stomp [her] little feet” –  and second, where does Fisher get this breaking-from-orthodoxy meme? Would he care to cite examples of the aforesaid heterodoxy? Because, yeah, we all remember how Allahpundit advocated immediate withdrawal from Iraq in 2006. And then there was the time Ed Morrissey endorsed Chuck Baldwin for president . . .

For the benefit of Max Fisher and any other leftoid commentators: HotAir.com is a property, a commodity of value. Its proprietor sold it to another company. Think in terms like profit, assets, entreprenuership, business — you know, capitalism.

Instapundit may soon go on the auction block. While I’m always for rent, no one has yet tried to buy me. On the other hand, I’ve had several lucrative offers for Smitty . . .

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Comments

  • I.B. Wright

    Christian and family-themed content rocks, baby!

    Right on!

  • Joe

    Allah must be tweeting someone about this.

    Apparently not. Perhaps he was busy watching the Westminster Dog Show?

  • I.B. Wright

    Christian and family-themed content rocks, baby!

    Right on!

  • Joe

    Allah must be tweeting someone about this.

    Apparently not. Perhaps he was busy watching the Westminster Dog Show?

  • Joe

    Dan Collins is tweeting. As is RSM.

    No Allah. He must be getting ashes at Church.

  • Joe

    Dan Collins is tweeting. As is RSM.

    No Allah. He must be getting ashes at Church.

  • Joe

    Glenn Reynolds could stop working and just scubadive in Caymen Islands. Sweet. It might get old after a while, but it would be fun to try out.

  • Joe

    Glenn Reynolds could stop working and just scubadive in Caymen Islands. Sweet. It might get old after a while, but it would be fun to try out.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Alas, nobody’s trying to headhunt me away from RedState.

    On the other hand, I don’t actually want to leave RedState.

    On the gripping hand, my readers bought me a Wii, so what the hell am I complaining about?

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Alas, nobody’s trying to headhunt me away from RedState.

    On the other hand, I don’t actually want to leave RedState.

    On the gripping hand, my readers bought me a Wii, so what the hell am I complaining about?

  • Pingback: Hot Air’s Future Up In The Air [Update at 1901] « The Camp Of The Saints [New Main Site]

  • Pingback: Hot Air sold to Salem Communications « The Daley Gator

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  • ThomasD

    On the other hand, I’ve had several lucrative offers for Smitty . . .

    You can’t sell Smitty. How many other blogs can say they have their very own Uncle Fester impersonator?

  • ThomasD

    On the other hand, I’ve had several lucrative offers for Smitty . . .

    You can’t sell Smitty. How many other blogs can say they have their very own Uncle Fester impersonator?

  • William

    If it disappears, I’ll miss it, in a way. Allah’s complete inability to learn about reality while running one of the largest Conservative resources ever was a fascinating view into the heart of human “I don’t care what you say, I’m not changing.”

    What’s that Allah? Mike Huckabee is loved by everyone in the country ever? Wow! That must be true, there’s a poll on it!

  • William

    If it disappears, I’ll miss it, in a way. Allah’s complete inability to learn about reality while running one of the largest Conservative resources ever was a fascinating view into the heart of human “I don’t care what you say, I’m not changing.”

    What’s that Allah? Mike Huckabee is loved by everyone in the country ever? Wow! That must be true, there’s a poll on it!

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    I’d be just as happy to see Captain Ed go back to CQ. That was an outstanding site…

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    I’d be just as happy to see Captain Ed go back to CQ. That was an outstanding site…

  • http://www.jumpinginpools.blogspot.com Mr.K

    Blogging is a business in as much as it is passion….

  • http://www.jumpinginpools.blogspot.com Mr.K

    Blogging is a business in as much as it is passion….

  • Rich Fader

    I think Allah would put it best:

    “Oh, my.”

    And personally, I don’t see Smitty resembling Uncle Fester so much as a combination of Elmer Fudd and Mr. Six from the Six Flags commercials.

  • Rich Fader

    I think Allah would put it best:

    “Oh, my.”

    And personally, I don’t see Smitty resembling Uncle Fester so much as a combination of Elmer Fudd and Mr. Six from the Six Flags commercials.

  • http://www.ledspots.net Louie Holmes

    our local shop is giving away some free coffe mugs that are also of high quality,”.”

  • http://www.ledspots.net Louie Holmes

    our local shop is giving away some free coffe mugs that are also of high quality,”.”

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