Clear Channel: "We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh...to express those opinions."

[jefferson_dem]

[Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks Inc. hosts Limbaugh's program, one of the country's most popular talk radio shows. The company is supporting Limbaugh, whose on-air contract with Premiere runs through 2016.

"The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue," Premiere Networks said in a statement emailed Sunday by spokeswoman Rachel Nelson. "We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions."

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/04/2675108/a-7th-advertiser-pulls-out-of.html]

Contact these fuckers and let them know how insulting, and downright shameful, their "defense" of Rush really is ...

https://twitter.com/ClearChannel

200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209

[phone]

[e-mail]

[mzmolly]

1. We need to boycott clear channel.

That is also a demonstration of free speech.

[kentauros]

25. That's easy for me

as I haven't listened to commercial radio since 1977. However, for the rest of you, anything below 92mhz is designated as "public radio" and is usually worth a listen.

If your car stereo has the capability, bluetooth-link your iphone/droid, or whatever kind of smartphone, to your stereo and listen to online radio. Or use satellite radio if you have it.

I tend to only stream online radio at home (don't have a smartphone) and that's usually just for music. Houston has one of the Pacifica stations (KPFT) and all five of their stations are available for streaming, too.

[Vincardog]

37. Boycotting Clear channel hurts BAIN Capitol since they own it, And MITTens owns Bain Capital

[mzmolly]

42. Good point.

This must mean that Dems can tie Romney to Limbaugh's vile self?

[Vincardog]

44. If the steaming pile fits. They SHOULD tie it like a cow bell to Mitt's neck.

[rainy]

2. How about the Dixie Chix

Did Clear Chanel respect their rights?

[pokerfan]

10. Well, that's different

"Out of respect for our troops, our city and our listeners, we have taken the Dixie Chicks off our playlists."
-Clear Channel director of programming

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2003/03/17/daily14.html

Obviously it's different when it's women being disrespected.

[Dawson Leery]

13. It's different when it comes to the rights of non-conservatives.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

27. You beat me to it.

.

[madokie]

3. I don't do twitter or facebook or any of that

so I'd like to have an email addy for them. So far I've come up empty handed when I do a search

[snappyturtle]

8. I just sent the following to the public relations email link in the OP:

Dear Whoever It May Concern:

I believe in free speech.

Rush has every right to freely express his opinion about insurance coverage

for birth control (and conditions calling for such). However, I would consider his naming calling and

suggestion of posting porn videos to probably be illegal and most certainly inflammatory. From his

remarks I know he can't be included as a reliable source as he obviously didn't listen to Ms. Fluke's

testimony at the forum. Clear Channel has certainly de-graded itself in supporting Rush Limbaugh's

tirade as free speech. Personally, I found his 'method' disgusting.

[madokie]

31. Very good

[csziggy]

24. It's in the OP

[e-mail]

[madokie]

30. Sorry I didn't catch that, thank you very much

[siligut]

4. Clear Channel is being true to form

Right-wing radio with right-wing tactics, nothing new.

[iverglas]

5. if "respect their right to express their opinions"

means "pay them big bucks to express their opinions", then somebody among those "those who disagree with him" must be about to sign a fat contract for a regular gig on Clear Channel to express them.

Voltaire (or whomever he was quoting) almighty.

Respecting someone's right to do something does NOT mean providing them with a stage to do it on and paying them to do it.

[newspeak]

45. well, they certainly don't respect everyone's opinions

just try getting on limpballs show when you attempt to correct one of his many fallacies. Only those who agree need phone in or those he can slam down immediately.

Dear clear channel-what would be even more entertaining is to have a very informed intelligent individual on the opposite side of rush. Big mouth sparring with someone with more brains. Of course, it's got to be brains with attitude. Yes, that's more entertaining than a blowhard listening to his own spew with no correction or debate.

[ProSense]

6. Clear Channel:

"We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh..." to call a Fluke a "slut" and launch a vile three-day attack on her: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002382940

[muntrv]

7. Translation: GO RUSH! GO RUSH! GO RUSH!

[alp227]

26. yeah, this wording is just PR euphemism.

remember what happened with the Dixie Chicks? and how Clear Channel had been shutting down progressive radio stations even if they returned good ratings (like WXXM Madison and WINZ Miami). At least the WXXM audience raised a huge ruckus and CC backed down.

[HeiressofBickworth]

9. Clear Chanel needs their lawyer to explain

the difference between expressing an opinion and defamation of character and slander.

An opinion would be to say that birth control pills are bad for one reason or another

Slander and defamation of character is to call a college student a slut and a prostitute.

It is my OPINION that Mr. Limbaugh should be taught that valuable lesson by a lawsuit being filed against him and Clear Chanel.

[hayrow1]

16. There must be a defamation of character and/or slander law suit here.

It would seem to be good training for a future lawyer and her third year classmates.

[JBoy]

11. Ah yes, the "two sides" of the issue

One side considers oral contraceptives to be useful and important medication prescribed to women by their doctors;

the other side thinks such women are sluts and should send in videos of themselves having sex.

Is that how you see the debate, Clear Channel?

[ellisonz]

12. Here's my email:

"The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue," Premiere Networks said in a statement emailed Sunday by spokeswoman Rachel Nelson. "We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/04/2675108/a-7th-advertiser-pulls-out-of.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/04/2675108/a-7th-advertiser-pulls-out-of.html

Rush makes you money, and that's why you won't get rid of him. But here's the thing, this time he went after the wrong demographic, it's one thing to relentlessly attack the LGBT community, African-Americans or Latinos, but it's quite another to use such derogatory language toward any woman. Face it: you're keeping a misogynist on the radio because he makes you bank. Let's see how long that lasts.

[jwirr]

14. That was not an opinion it was a personal attack.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Exactly - a mere politial opinion against use of contraception would have been one thing

But singling out a woman who merely wished to express her own opinion and subjecting her and her parents to public humiliation by calling her a slut and a prostitute is no longer a political opinion. It's slander; defamation of character and something that is not protected by the First Amendment.

[jwirr]

34. Exactly.

[JDPriestly]

15. Limbaugh has the right to express his opinion.

He does not have the right to misrepresent what Sandra Fluke said or did not say about her personal sex life (assuming she has one).

Sandra Fluke did not say that she was having frequent sex. Limbaugh may now claim that he was joking when he said that, but he did not sound like he was joking. Maybe a jury will get the chance to decide whether Limbaugh has the right to lie about Sandra Fluke's statements.

[Faryn Balyncd]

18. Correct. Both Limbaugh & Clear Channel should be held finacially accountable for malicious libel.

(meanwhile, he's free to express his strong conservative moral convictions to his heart's content (Where the heck did the satire button go?)

[Faryn Balyncd]

17. Who objected to "Viagra Stag Party" Rush's right to express his "strong emotions" Re: contraception?

Is this the best spin these pitiful low-lifes can attempt?

[lpbk2713]

20. Hate is not an opinion. It's a mindset.

Good luck with your damage control Rachel.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

21. At what point do "opinions" become BULLYING?

Ohhhh NO. He does not have a "right" to insult every woman in this country by calling them derogatory names on the air!

[cherish44]

22. Well good because I'm sure you'll be included in the slander suit

Way to stand by your liability

[KharmaTrain]

23. No Surprise Here...Move Along...

I find the timing interesting...firstly Rushbo makes his non-denial denial on Saturday night, Cheap Channel bucks him up on a Sunday while the chattering class is sleeping and hope that on Monday the shitstorm will die down and rushbo will be on his way to his next outrage. This is the standard drill. The advertisers who suspend will return and rushbo will once again bleet to his ilk how he's vanquished the "drive by media"...and he'll be right.

A couple of side factors at play here. One is the millions of dollars Cheap Channel has invested in rushbo...he's one of the few marquees that failing and bankrupt company has left. Just like how CBS suffered when Howard Stern left and they could find a replacement, Cheap Channel fears losing the "franchise" to hundreds of his floundering AM stations. He's all that left in holding up billions squandered in antequated properties...and they're trying to milk whatever they can while they can. If Rushbo goes down, so does the deck of cards corporate radio is built on.

It's time for John Hogan...Cheap Channel CEO to step forward and explain why he can't or won't suspend rushbo. Put a face on those who not just sign rushbo's paycheck but also benefit in billions of advertising dollars that will flow into their pockets this year due to the heated and protracted election season.

[Puzzler]

28. These are the same people that fired most of the KGO hosts last december

[Rex]

29. Everyone spread the news far and wide

Clear Channel supports sexist pigs!!!! They also are sexist assholes themselves and just proved it!!! I hope they so go out of business.

[Spider Jerusalem]

32. Sure, he has the right to express his opinion...

he doesn't have the right to do so on national radio, though; this isn't really a free speech issue, it's a business issue. Clear Channel and other radio networks can choose to broadcast Limbaugh; people who find his opinions offensive and stupid can boycott any station that carries him and any company that advertises on his show. Let ratings and ad revenues decline far enough, and then see what they say.

[madokie]

33. Add my name to the list of people who has sent them an email voicing my disdain for rush

and my promise to them that I will no longer listen to another clear channel station.

Yup it makes me feel good in having done that
Peace all

[me b zola]

35. I've already written to my local clear channel

But I will continue to contact them. I let them know that if they keep him on the air I will join others in boycotting all who advertise on their station.

[cliffordu]

36. "To the men at Clear Channel:

Do the women in your life use birth control?

What did Rushbo just call them?

To the women at Clear Channel:

What did Rusho just call you"??

Class dismissed.

[cbdo2007]

38. If it was Howard Stern they would have fined him Millions $$$$

They fined him for much tamer stuff than this.

[librechik]

39. you have the right to an opinion, do you have the right to slander someone personally?

I don't think so.

[DefenseLawyer]

40. Since Bain Capital is majority owner of Clear Channel

the more Clear Channel wades into this, the more Romney will have to deal with it. It's wonderful to see the once "always on message" Republican machine flailing about like a drunk on stilts.

[lapislzi]

41. WHEN did it become a debate?

It's like saying there's a "debate" about evolution. No, there isn't! Evolution happens, whether you like it or not.

You can't turn the crazy normal by proclaiming that there's a "debate."

[Major Hogwash]

43. Boycott the entire network then.

No Clear Channel until they can Rush.

Boycott those bastards into the ground!!!