Alex Jones' high volume display on CNN last Monday night has certainly further polarized many people's already polarized view of the Austin TX radio host, with many loyal listeners supportive of his outburst, and many others viewing his display as embarrassingly counterproductive, perhaps even intentionally so. There have been many accusations leveled at Jones regarding his intentions and motives, ranging from reasonable to utterly conjecturous. Skepticism toward Jones reached a height in 2012 after it became clear that he and his news outlet infowars.com were linked, albeit circumstantially, to the global intelligence company Stratfor.
Questions of motives aside, it's clear that Jones' performance on CNN will likely be a significant boost to his radio career while simultaneously being a step backward for the burgeoning independent media. The aspect of Jones' approach that many find particularly frustrating is that while his passion is often appreciated, his hamfisted and belligerent demeanor isn't necessary when the facts are on your side. For example, Jones could likely have stopped Morgan in his tracks, not by behaving in his usual visceral manner, but rather by pointing out incontrovertible facts, such as London having roughly the same murder rate as Atlanta, GA where guns are legal.
Even if such points were to have been raised by Jones, it's likely that his presentation would dampen his message's appeal to the vast majority of the audience. For many, Jones' choice to take the low road during this high profile interview has epitomized the danger he represents to the larger movement of liberty and unrestricted communication, should his overly masculine and bullying style take precedence.
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