"Presenters imho - those entrusted with media power should be responsible in that they should try to open what are essentially variety programs to the widest possible range of political outlook."

That is correct, sort of.   The FCC, at the time, did have regulations called the Fairness Doctrine that were supposed to mandate that broadcasters present programs on controversial subjects and provide fair and balanced coverage.   The Smothers Brothers brothers WERE an alternate political outlook at the time. There is also evidence that CBS was pressured by the White House to censor the program.   There was programming that aimed toward the right, and no one was protesting that. I recall groups like Up With People and songs from Barry Sadler getting significant airplay and television exposure.


"Is the narrow view resulting in audience and genre branding good for folk music No."

Wrong. Folk music comes out of a community. The community creates it and adopts it. It is what it is. Whaling songs, mining songs, cowboy songs, AND protest songs are a reflection of the community from which it was spawned. The FACT that the left embraced folk music and the output was adopted by the community IS a sample of the times and the community. IF we were walking around singing pro-war songs, that would be a reflection of the times and community - but it was not.

Protest songs are what they are. If you do not care for the style, you are not required to listen. Sea chanties do not interest everyone either.