Clear Channel Rejects VoteVets Ad Because It ‘Conflicts’ With Listeners Who Tune Into Rush

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/04/votevets-censored/

Clear Channel Rejects VoteVets Ad Because It ‘Conflicts’ With Listeners Who Tune Into Rush

Rush Limbaugh’s hometown radio station that broadcasts his show — WJNO AM in Palm Beach, Florida — has refused to air a VoteVets ad by Brian McGough, the Iraq war veteran who was compared by Limbaugh to a suicide bomber.

John Hunt, the vice president/market manager for Clear Channel in Palm Beach, wrote a letter yesterday explaining his station’s decision not air McGough’s ad. Hunt’s rationale was not that the ad was inaccurate or that it posed legal issues, but rather, the ad presented information that “would conflict with the listeners who have chosen to listen to Rush Limbaugh.”



Last night on Countdown, McGough issued this challenge to Limbaugh: “Ask me or any other members of VoteVets.org to come on your program and talk to you and tell you how we feel.” But Limbaugh is desperately trying to hide behind his microphone where he can launch verbal assaults without having to defend them.

Here’s the radio ad that Clear Channel doesn’t want you to hear (at link)...

In the ad, McGough says, “Rush Limbaugh called vets like me ‘phony soldiers’ for telling the truth.” He continues:

Rush, the shrapnel I took to my head, was real. … My belief that we are on the wrong course in Iraq, is real. Until you have the guts to call me a phony soldier to my face, stop telling lies about my service.

UPDATE: Call Clear Channel in Palm Beach at 561-616-6600 and tell them to air the VoteVets ad.

[AX10]

1. K & R!

The first thing I want in 2009, is the break-up of all the media conglomerates.

[spanone]

2. clearchannel has single handedly destroyed the radio business

few are listening

[babylonsister]

3. Except my DH; he has a 'rethug' truck, only gets two channels.

And guess who I get to listen to weekly? Rush or Hannity. I offered to 'fix' that for X-mas; I don't want him brainwashed. :P

[LittleClarkie]

15. Sinclair was worse to me

at least with Clear Channel, the buck comes before ideology.

[Bitwit1234]

4. The problem is

Democrats don't organize like the republicans do. IF we collectively, all over the United States boycotted these sponsors, we could make a difference. But the core of Democrats don't stand a chance because most won't stand with us. This makes the radio stations THINK people want to listen to rush, because they don't have enough boycotts. Look at scared these media outlets get when a republican speaks...cause more of them follow thru.

[momster]

5. Don't Offer A New Viewpoint

our listeners are too dumb to handle it...that's what Clear Channel is saying loud and clear...

[Bandit]

6. They did not say they wouldn't air the ad, only during the Rush Limbaugh Show

I can sort of see their viewpoint on this. As long as they do indeed run the ads that is...If they just out and out refuse to air the ads then they should be hammered on this.

[Maat]

17. I certainly don't see their point ..

I'm forced to listen to rightwing ads during my progressive talk on KLSD in San Diego. We've had to complain about them to get them off.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[InternalDialogue]

7. That falls right in line with the line I heard from Rush 15 years ago.

I was fresh from college, politically naive, and unaware of who Rush Limbaugh even was. But when I heard his program for the first time, this line he spoke stuck out to me: "Folks, you don't need to read the papers -- I'll read them for you. Just listen to me."

From an intellectual point of view, that's about the stupidest thing I'd ever heard. I never listened to him again.

It's probably also when I became a Democrat, though I wouldn't realize it for a few more years.

[monmouth]

8. I received an e-mail from WJNO as it's my local station. I sent a

reply and asked why on their "News Page" there was no mention of the disgusting rhetoric spewed by Mr. Limbaugh on their airwaves. Did they not think this was "news?" I then told them to take me off their e-mail list as I would no longer be listening. (Sometimes I used to listen to Randi on that station but she's off my radar these days also...lol).

[ljm2002]

9. It is hardly fair to expect them...

...to run ads that might neutralize their carefully crafted brainwashing campaign!

Geez people, let's be a little fair-minded here.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. K&R

[Karenina]

11. Organic computer computing...

:freak:

[Kurovski]

12. The "beautiful minds" must be left undisturbed.

Aren't they disturbed enough already?

Yes Virginia...it's sarcasm.

[Supersedeas]

18. kind of the theme of the Free Speech Zone administration

you can speak -- just not in my neighborhood

[LSK]

13. K&R - just heard about this on Randi Rhodes

[PATRICK]

14. The real problem people

The corporate moguls installing propaganda media down the throats of anxious advertisers and the populace.

The pols who conspire to frame the message and bestow licensing favors and laws to let their propaganda thrive.

The actual richly paid star stooges who do the dirt.

The establishment of each of these groups who value this lawless dark element as professional compatriots.

Now who should taken to task and shaken down by proper law and social accountability? Who has the real power to change all these things? The establishment pols who can slap some sense into the naturally avaricious corporate world. The occasional popular slapdowns of extreme stooges are just the signs of moral and political life among the people. Life being opposed, repressed, distracted and crushed.

The scandal that such people can keep their jobs with total support could be the sign that awakes and propels reform. The story is not about the occasional slip into public outrage but that there are no consequences, lawful or commercial, to protect the public. It is unimaginable to Americans buying into any of the myths to accept how these hateful liars keep their jobs on the public airwaves supposedly representing the networks and the advertisers(no matter the now inaudible weak disclaimers).

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. Just called and left a message

WJNO is my home station--it's Randi's original station. I told him that they should not be prohibiting the airing of this commerical for the stated reasons of "out of respect" for Mr. Limbaugh, as Mr. Limbaugh has never demonstrated any sort of respect for the American people.