Letter to the editor blasts right-wing talk radio!

[NightTrain]

From Tuesday’s Journal Inquirer (Manchester, CT):

It is very disturbing to listen during the day to talk radio and be indoctrinated, unrelentingly, with conservative, right-wing Republican values. Stations WDRC and WTIC are the only stations that come in clearly on AM for me. Unless I wish to turn off the radio altogether, I am stuck with the stations’ line-ups.

At work or in my car, I choose to listen to talk shows to be informed. However, there is no opportunity for choice in this area. Not one program from early morning until at least 3:00 p.m. allows or respects opposing viewpoints. It’s almost like brainwashing, in a free society, and certainly gives Bush supporters an unopposed platform.

The worst part is that when you do offer up an opposing opinion, you’re labeled anti-American, unpatriotic, and not behind our troops.

On WDRC, Laura Ingraham likes to denigrate Democrats with her nasty remarks and when callers don’t agree with her Republican agenda, she is crude and debasing to them. Michael Savage is totally offensive. He uses foul language, curses Democrats, ridiculed Al Gore for his environmental statements calling them 1980 rhetoric, yet Whoopi Goldberg was supposed to apologize for her statements against Bush. Bill O’Reilly is at least fairly open-minded and willing to listen to opposition. In general, the entire line-up just beats away on any Democratic or liberal statements. If anything, there should be equal time given for rebuttals that will be respected.

On WTIC, Rush Limbaugh is probably the most biased, bigoted person I’ve heard. He is really not that well-informed, yet totally conceited, and rarely allows for opposing opinions. He criticizes everything that Democrats do or say and praises the same actions when done by Republicans. It’s laughable. Jim Vicevich has become more and more of a rabble-rouser for Bush than ever expected.

What happened to the Bill of Rights and freedom of speech? If you disagree with these conservatives, you are now not an American? Disgraceful.

The only breath of fresh air and liberal voice all day are Colin McEnroe and Bruce Stevens. They have an awesome battle against the entire day’s line-up of religious-right conservatives. In my opinion, Colin McEnroe is the brightest, most intelligent, well-versed individual on the radio.

Connecticut has consistently voted Democratic, including the 2000 election when Al Gore won the popular vote of this state and the country. So why are we subjected to this brainwashing from the conservative right all day on the radio? At a minimum, there should be a program that is open-minded and respects the opinions of all people.

People should not be made to feel less of a citizen because of their views and opposition to the war.

--Elaine Vinick

[Darth_Kitten]

1. hopefully, the tide is FINALLY turning......

I think the media is so saturated with negative, hostile types, that people are just getting a bit too overwhelmed. It's just TOO much........

[HarrietBrown]

2. Thanks for posting this--I agree with her about Colin and Bruce.

My mom listens to Brad Davis on DRC all the time because "you have to know what the enemy is thinking." Frankly, I don't know how she does it.

[NightTrain]

3. Sadly, there was a time when Brad Davis was a lot more liberal.

Shame he had to turn to the dark side. :(

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[NightTrain]

5. I see a tombstone in your future!

Welcome to DU, troll. Enjoy your short-lived stay.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[NightTrain]

10. Before you get banned, show me where in that woman's letter she...

...demands that conservative talk radio be taken off the air. All she asks is for some balance in Hartford's talk-radio airwaves.

In general, liberals don't want censorship; you conservatives do.

With any luck, your ass will be tombstoned very soon!

[Jackpine Radical]

7. While you're still here,

who the hell said anything about censorship? The point is that there is no alternative available to her, not because there is no market for progressive radio (AAR is proving that), but because commercial radio is an effective monopoly, and the corporations don't want any dissenting voices. It's the corporations that are essentially doing censorship.

[NightTrain]

9. When Air America began on March 31st, it had 6 stations.

Five months later, it has 29 affiliates from coast to coast. Not only that, but a lot of AAR's stations are beginning to show up in the Arbitrons, some for the first time in years. Its flagship station, WLIB, has even turned up in the ratings books for Fairfield County, Connecticut. That never happened before WLIB changed formats!

I only hope Air America will come to Hartford soon. We need liberal talk radio in that city something fierce!!!

[EstimatedProphet]

8. OK, you have a point, BUT

your point is only valid when the assumption it is based on, that there are alternatives in format available, is true. From what the letter was saying, the radio market where the writer is is heavily out of balance in one direction, so the "just turn it off" solution doesn't really address anything.

[Spiffarino]

11. The good news?

AAR is now on 28 stations nationwide. It just came up on one of our three ClearChannel stations Monday morning, and the response has been great.

There's also Ed Schultz on the Jones Network, a "regular guy" who loves football and golf, and who can't stand Bush.

As more and more people get to hear Air America, the tide will continue to swell. ClearChannel may be conservative, but it knows its business. They know that liberal audiences are underserved, and there's money in us lefties!

[NightTrain]

12. Actually, AAR just added its 29th station!

And I just heard Mike Malloy tell a caller the network is coming to Atlanta on Friday.

Air America: growing, growing, growing! :bounce: