A bit dated and regional but something that still sticks in my craw

[Montauk6]

By regional, I'm referring to both the NYC and the Detroit radio markets (I'm a native Michigander living in Manhattan for the past 9 years).

While googling for info on when Rev. Al's talkshow "Sharp Talk" airs on WLIB ("the flagship station for Air America"), I came across a NY Daily News article by fellow native Detroiter Zev Chafets who wrote a column lambasting the then-recent switchover of WLIB's format from local Caribbean culture to Air America. His huge gripe was how an important outlet for the black community was being silenced for the benefit of white progressives. Now, he wasn't alone in this view as many local community activists also decried the move, even accusing the owners of selling out and lying about the harsh reality of the sheer dollars and cents of running a radio station. Many further elaborated their anticipation of the ambitious project falling flat on its face (and serving it right, instant karma, all that)

Of course, the consoviet machine took up the banner, so to speak, playing up the old "librulllls are the REAL racists" canard: the colonization of black radio, whatever.

Funny that the would-be protest would have brought pro-Israel Chafets and the pro-PLO Nation of Islam together as bedfellows. Oh well.

I just wonder what kind of outcry emanated from Mr. Chavets and other neoconvicts when WWRL made a dollars-and-cents decision to scrap ITS local afrocentric talk format (featuring nationally syndicated, highly controversial "Night Talk with Bob Law") in favor of dance music. Or will we see said folk express their outrage at said station's decision to go back to talk last month with a lineup featuring Doug Stephen and Alan Colmes? Probably not, since they're also running Armstrong Williams's nonsense. See, he's one of "the good ones."

But I also got to thinking about the total lack of silence over WBQH in Detroit (a community institution that had been run by a community legend Martha Jean "The Queen" Steinberg) being "sold out" to Salem Witchburning Communications and bringing on tired consoviet whorelords like Elder, Prager, Casino Billy, Savage Wiener, Meds-ved, and Ing-rat. Did anyone get on their high horse about radio colonization then?

I guess it all comes together full circle as we're seeing the first (against all odds) anniversary of a highly (again, against all odds) successful, growing Air America.

Maybe this points out another Repunklican pattern: the preemptive strike. We saw it with Iraq and Falafel Bill's early lawsuit against his harassment vic.

DID I mention yet how much I hate these people?

[nashville_brook]

1. if you want to talk about radio colonaization, Salem is a prime culprit.

you are right -- they only squeak when it's politique. and doesn't it feel crappy being the people in the position to always have to point this out.

in this case, with Air America, success is the best revenge. BUT i would still love to see some real reporting on Salem and their wacked-out xtian/dominionist culture. (i used to work for them in publishing -- REAL scary people!).