Many of you reading this know that for years I was a radio talk show host. I worked on stations that carried syndicated programming like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage, as well as other conservative hosts. 

I considered myself conservative, but never as conservative as most of those guys.  I rarely thought a person was bad or the enemy just because they had a different opinion than mine.  I thought of them as a fellow American with a different point of view. I still do.

I’ve always considered myself to be fiscally conservative while socially more liberal. I wanted a strong military to protect ourselves and our allies. I’ve always supported any religion as long as they weren’t trying to force their beliefs on me or using their God to justify hurting others.  

Like our Founding Fathers, I know there is plenty of room in America for every religious belief. Or none at all.

But I’ve come to realize that in the AM talk radio world, a world where I used to belong, those ideals are a thing of the past. 

Because I was beaten up last weekend on KFAB’s social media. 

You see, KFAB’s afternoon host has left the airwaves and for every person who suggested that I come back to replace him, there were ten others aggressively saying don’t bring me back. 

A constant comment was that they used to like me but that I’ve changed. That I’ve become some sort of left wing liberal. According to a large portion of the KFAB audience, I’m some sort of a left-wing radical for not accepting blowing up the budget, blowing up the healthcare system, and blowing up the East Wing. 

I point out that I haven’t changed but the definition of conservative sure has. 

Because when I was on the air, I promoted legalizing the dreamers. I criticized Obama’s executive order, but I supported those who were brought in as children. I just thought it needed to be codified into law. 

I always promoted a balanced budget and fiscal responsibility.  I’ve always believed in the rule of law and that no man is above it.

Not even the President.

But I also made the argument that allowing many social issues like gay marriage or legalizing marijuana were conservative values because it gave freedom to the individual as long as they weren’t hurting anyone else. 

But trying to have a rational approach to issues like our immigration problem or other social values isn’t possible these days for the AM talk radio audience and social media crowd.

Yes, I used to be a Republican, but now I guess I’m a Republican in name only.   Today’s definition of conservative is whatever Donald Trump says it is.  And that definition can change in a matter of hours. 

I’ve always been for free trade and against oppressive tariffs.  I’ve always supported our friends like Canada and NATO. But now when I criticize Donald Trump for being against those things, strangers attack me on Facebook. 

Too many people don’t want to sensibly discuss issues, they just want red meat against the Democrats. Or as Governor Pillen calls them, “libtards.”

This isn’t an entirely new phenonium. I remember when George W. Bush was in office and I criticized his deficit spending. I had some callers call me a liberal for wanting to be fiscally conservative. When Obama got elected and I criticized his deficit spending, those same callers said that it was about time I started seeing things their way. 

I’m still the same old guy. A person that believes in democracy, and compromise. A guy who will point out something I think is wrong or right regardless of their party. 

But in the age of Trump I guess there isn’t a place for a guy like me in the medium I used to love. If you don’t bow down to the man who wants to be king, the talk radio audience has no need for you.

So I’ll express my opinions in this column and online. I appreciate you supporting it.  

It’s sad to see what talk radio has become, but I’m not going to change who I am just to please an audience. 

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.