Hugh Hewitt Show, originally uploaded by godblogcon06.

What’s most surprising about the recent assault on talk radio is that the criticism came first from a Republican. Sen. Trent Lott (Miss.), who had grown frustrated with the steady drumbeat of opposition to the immigration bill, lashed out at talk-radio hosts, suggesting they were ignorant and needed to be brought into line.

But for as bad as Lott‚Äôs comments were — for him personally and for their negative impact on the immigration bill — they were mild in comparison to the assault coming from the left.

Two liberal groups, the Center for American Progress and Free Press, last week issued a report claiming 91% of talk radio is conservative. Their recommendation: Get the politicians in Washington, D.C., to fix the problem.

My Heritage colleague James Gattuso, who writes for Technology Liberation Front, had this to say in response:

The conclusion is no doubt a comforting one to left-of-center radio programmers. No one, after all, likes to be told they are unpopular. Yet, it is as wrong as it is dangerous. None of the number-crunching in the CAP/Free Press study contradicts the essential fact that conservative talk radio is more successful because it is more popular. More people listen to it, so radio stations provide more of it. And that’s not a problem that Washington can – or should – “fix.”

Coming on the heels of renewed talk about restoring the Fairness Doctrine, the Center for American Progress and Free Press report should certainly have talkers on alert. Unfortunately for liberals, I think this is one issue many of their own supporters will have a hard time embracing.

One of them is David Waldman, a blogger for Daily Kos who goes by the name Kagro X. During my TV appearance this morning on C-SPAN, a caller asked about talk radio. I was heartened by David’s answer.

Addressing the talk-radio point, that’s something that’s been clear to a lot of people for a long time. It seems to be conservative dominated. It’s troubling in terms of political impact, from my perspective, but there is not too much, I would say, to do about it. The market is supporting it.

I was pleasantly surprised by David‚Äôs answer, but perhaps I shouldn‚Äôt have been. Liberals have come to dominate the online political world much the same way conservatives have taken over talk radio. I can only presume it‚Äôs given liberals a better appreciation for the power of the free market — and why it‚Äôs best not to get Washington involved.

Ultimately, I think even Democrats realize this is a losing battle. It might help them raise money with their liberal base, but testing the will of talk-radio hosts — and picking a fight with their active audience — isn’t a battle that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid want or need.