John Lofton
Encyclopedia
John Lofton is an American conservative political commentator and editor of The American View radio program run by Michael Peroutka
. Lofton has also been a newspaper editor, a journalist, a columnist, and a political advisor. Describing himself as a "recovering Republican
," Lofton is most closely allied with the Constitution Party
.
Lofton edited Monday, the weekly publication of the Republican National Committee
, from 1970–1973. He later became a syndicated columnist for United Features Syndicate whose columns appeared in 100 newspapers from 1973–1980. He became a columnist for the Washington Times in 1982. During his seven years at the Washington Times, Lofton became nationally known in print and on the nascent cable news
circuit.
Lofton advised Pat Buchanan
's Presidential campaign and was the Communications Director for the 2004 Michael Peroutka
Presidential campaign.
Lofton has made numerous appearances on political talk shows, including The Political Cesspool
, Politically Incorrect
, Scarborough Country
, and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. He is well-known for a 1986 appearance on Crossfire
in which he debated musician Frank Zappa
about the Parents Music Resource Center
's campaign to identify music albums inappropriate for children. The Crossfire video went viral
after freeform radio station WFMU
posted about it on its widely-read blog in early 2006.
Lofton also interviewed Allen Ginsberg
in 1990 for Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture
. The interview was subsequently reprinted in Harper's Magazine
.
Michael Peroutka
Michael Anthony Peroutka is a Maryland lawyer, the founder of the Institute on the Constitution. He once held a position in the United States Department of Health and Human Services and was the Constitution Party candidate for president in 2004. He is co-host of The American View radio...
. Lofton has also been a newspaper editor, a journalist, a columnist, and a political advisor. Describing himself as a "recovering Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
," Lofton is most closely allied with the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
.
Lofton edited Monday, the weekly publication of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, from 1970–1973. He later became a syndicated columnist for United Features Syndicate whose columns appeared in 100 newspapers from 1973–1980. He became a columnist for the Washington Times in 1982. During his seven years at the Washington Times, Lofton became nationally known in print and on the nascent cable news
United States cable news
Cable news refers to television channels devoted to television news broadcasts, with the name deriving from the proliferation of such networks during the 1980s with the advent of cable television. In the United States, early networks included CNN in 1980, Financial News Network in 1981, and CNN2 ...
circuit.
Lofton advised Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
's Presidential campaign and was the Communications Director for the 2004 Michael Peroutka
Michael Peroutka
Michael Anthony Peroutka is a Maryland lawyer, the founder of the Institute on the Constitution. He once held a position in the United States Department of Health and Human Services and was the Constitution Party candidate for president in 2004. He is co-host of The American View radio...
Presidential campaign.
Lofton has made numerous appearances on political talk shows, including The Political Cesspool
The Political Cesspool
The Political Cesspool is a weekly talk radio show founded by James Edwards, and syndicated by Liberty News Radio Network and Accent Radio Network in the United States...
, Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect
Politically Incorrect is a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997, and later on ABC in 1997, which cancelled it in 2002....
, Scarborough Country
Scarborough Country
Scarborough Country was an opinion/analysis show broadcast on MSNBC Monday - Thursday at 9 P.M. ET. It was hosted by former congressman Joe Scarborough....
, and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. He is well-known for a 1986 appearance on Crossfire
Crossfire (TV series)
Crossfire was a current events debate television program that aired from 1982 to 2005 on CNN. Its format was designed to present and challenge the opinions of a politically liberal pundit and a conservative pundit.-Format:...
in which he debated musician Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
about the Parents Music Resource Center
Parents Music Resource Center
The Parents Music Resource Center was an American committee formed in 1985 with the goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to be violent, have drug use or be sexual.The committee was founded by four women: Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice...
's campaign to identify music albums inappropriate for children. The Crossfire video went viral
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
after freeform radio station WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
posted about it on its widely-read blog in early 2006.
Lofton also interviewed Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
in 1990 for Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture
Chronicles (magazine)
Chronicles is a U.S. monthly magazine published by the Rockford Institute. Its full current name is Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture. The magazine is known for promoting anti-globalism, anti-intervention and anti-immigration stances within conservative politics, and is considered one of...
. The interview was subsequently reprinted in Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
.
External links
- John Lofton's blog on The American View