Radical homosexuals and rigid homophobes make for strange bedfellows over Dr. Laura. Her TV show has been canceled. Militant gay groups say they’re responsible for her fading to black. Adamant conservative ones swear it’s true. Both have missed the mark. And that may explain why the Republicans’ biggest problem isn’t U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a successful nationally syndicated radio host. The good doctor dispenses tough-love to the weak-willed. She’s conservative, politically incorrect and doesn’t suffer liberal fools well. Well, any fool, actually. Television is more than just radio with pictures and hair spray. And radio is more than just television with a burned-out picture tube. How you communicate in each is paramount. Television and radio are two media divided by a common language. Ask the scores of TV celebrities who over the decades tried hosting radio shows – and failed miserably. And double dittos for most radio celebrities who attempt TV. Almost without fail, something gets lost in the translation. (And who could’ve predicted Larry King would be the exception to that rule?) A few months ago, Dr. Laura aired some of her views about gay people – something to the effect that the alternative lifestyle is WAY not normal. Her views upset the gay lobby, which called for a boycott of her show and sponsors. And now her show is canceled. Don’t blame gays. Blame Dr. Laura. Almost anyone who tried to watch her show should have noticed one glaring problem: It was boring. The radio Dr. Laura wasn’t translating well on TV. And the problem wasn’t the hair spray. The cancellation was inevitable. The only thing more shameful than gays taking the credit is conservatives allowing it. Ironically, the right is enabling Dr. Laura in her victimhood while giving undeserved power and prestige to the same pressure groups conservatives loathe. Many of the region’s taxpayers rightly are upset with Specter. He doesn’t support President Bush’s tax-cut plan. Many blame him for Bush failing to get Senate approval. That blame has missed the mark. If you’re a Republican, you probably voted for George W. Bush. In fact, nationwide, the vast majority of Republican primary voters supported him as he proceeded to bury Sen. John McCain. However, you wouldn’t know it by the way McCain is getting the job done inside the Beltway. While McCain’s campaign finance reform scheme is odious to the remaining supporters of the First Amendment, the bottom line is he’s forcing it to happen. Even Bush has hinted he may sign on, even though he opposed it during the campaign. There is a power vacuum at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Bush should be the one using the power of the presidency – and his sheer force of will – to push through his very modest tax cut. And, once again, to crush McCain. However, Bush seems incapable of persuading Specter, a fellow Republican, to support the most important piece of presidential legislation. Conservative defenders of Dr. Laura and President Bush should be reminded that Commodore Perry’s quote – ‘We have met the enemy, and they are ours’ – has more than one meaning. Dimitri Vassilaros is the morning radio talk host on News Radio 1170 WWVA. His e-mail address is dimitriv@stargate.net .

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