REMOVE RUSH LIMBAUGH FROM ARMED FORCES RADIO!

[OneGrassRoot]

To quote Ed Schultz: "If you want to follow the Limbaugh and the Becks of the world, and you want to turn your back on firefighters, turn your back on police officers, turn your back on nurses, turn your back on brothers and sisters who have stood in solidarity to fight for the middle class in America? Is that wrapping yourself in the flag?"

It's imperative we get this insidious, demoralizing speech which is UNEQUOVICALLY UNPATRIOTIC removed from American Forces Radio and Television Service (formerly known as Armed Forces Radio). We, the taxpayers, demand that our taxes not fund unpatriotic hate speech any longer.

Please sign and share THIS PETITION to show that you stand with firefighters, police officers, teachers, nurses and other public sector workers -- indeed all hard-working Americans -- who do their jobs well, jobs which contribute to our society on a daily basis, and oppose media personalities with no moral integrity whose goal is to sow seeds of hatred between American citizens via lies and distortion.

IT'S TIME FOR THIS FALSE PATRIOT, WHO REGULARLY INSULTS and/or VERBALLY ATTACKS OTHER AMERICANS -- INCLUDING TROOPS AND NOW FIRST RESPONDERS -- BE REMOVED FROM ARMED FORCES TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCASTS!

Sign the petition letter to Congress, join our Facebook page, and pass it on!


:patriot:

[upi402]

1. Way past time n/t

[w8liftinglady]

2. Done deal!

[Qanisqineq]

3. hear, hear!

While my husband is no longer military, we still live overseas and he works on a military base. I get sick of hearing him on the radio. And why does it seem like the liberal talk shows air at the oddest times?

[corpseratemedia]

4. please support this petition! n/t

[nevergiveup]

5. Done with pleasure!

[barbtries]

6. when my son was in the navy

stationed in VA, his unit had fox on all day every day.

[blaze]

7. Done!!

:patriot:

[Mnemosyne]

8. Signed petition, OGR.

:hi:

[Howler]

9. Done n/t

n/t

[Exilednight]

10. Here's the real

hypocrisy: They want defund CPB, but want to be carried on a fully government funded radio network.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. I'd feel weird if I did.

Because the armed forces should be the ones to decide what they listen to.

Do they deserve a media blackout because I don't agree with what limpballs has to say?

I think he should be taken off the air altogether. That's a petition I'd sign.
This just feels weird

[lonestarnot]

12. Ugh when he's the only one on the waves, I'd say they don't have much of a choice now do they?

[Shagbark Hickory]

33. Is he?

I don't know. If he is, I'd tend to think the service men and women would have a problem with that.

[AlabamaLibrul]

13. He's being carried on government airwaves, if a member of the armed forces

wishes to listen to hate, they should not be officially supported by Limbaugh's broadcast over the AFN.

[Shagbark Hickory]

34. Fair point. That's why I say take him off the air altogether. But..

a selective blockout on the military doesn't seem like... well it's weird.

[OneGrassRoot]

39. Attempts to get him off airwaves here are attacked even more...

Again, it's because the military airwaves are funded by taxpayers which is why, I feel,, this is a good start. Boycotts of his show are also attacked (even here at DU) as censorship.

Many disagree about how to get him off the airwaves, but most of us agree we prefer he not have such easy access to spew misinformation, lies, hate and propaganda.

:hi:

[Shagbark Hickory]

41. He belongs on satellite radio or internet.

Maybe we agree on that?
Not on the FCC regulated airwaves.

Maybe we should question whether the armed services radio is a benefit that should be offered as a whole. Since we seem to agree that propaganda of any flavor is not necessary. I have more a problem with his hateful rhetoric than his political mumbo jumbo. But if you look at the armed services as a workplace, frankly none of it belongs. That's my opinion. But it's also my opinion that it feels weird making these decisions for the armed services, even as a tax payer.

[OneGrassRoot]

43. I agree with that, about FCC-regulated airwaves. :)

And I understand you don't agree with this approach as though it's making decisions for the armed services; I simply agree to disagree.

They have a voice which they can use as well to speak out if they, as a whole, prefer to have such broadcasts. I'm using my voice is all to express my very strong opinion.

:hi:

[Shagbark Hickory]

44. What is the purpose of armed services radio?

Entertainment? Information?
Good morning vietnam sort of thing?

[OneGrassRoot]

47. My understanding is that it used to be (pre-Limbaugh days) music and news

Limbaugh really pioneered talk radio in a big way and, of course, his brand of talk radio is (to me) hate radio.

[Shagbark Hickory]

50. Ok so then this is mostly for entertainment then.

It just feels weird because here on the "outside" we can listen to that stuff all we want and there is a movement to remove or alter what is essentially a benefit or perk to the armed services.

If you use the same logic really, you could say that we should not pay for internet access either because there is loads of hate speech on the internet.

[OneGrassRoot]

52. No, not the same logic...

There is very limited broadcasting on military radio; unless the sites they could visit online is restricted, it's not the same.

[Shagbark Hickory]

57. Why/how is it limited? nt

[OneGrassRoot]

58. Limited in that there are x number of hours to fill in the day with broadcasting. n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

59. Are you saying this is all happening on one channel or a very limited number of channels?

IF so, then I will probably have a much different opinion.

[OneGrassRoot]

60. Here is a site:

Here is a site I found with the programming: http://www.afneurope.net/Radio/AFNPowerNetworkSchedule/tabid/702/Default.aspx

As with any on-air radio channel (unlike Internet radio), there are only 24 hours in a day; that's what I mean by the broadcasting obviously being limited based on a 24-hour day. One channel, 24 hours, x number of shows to fill those slots.

You'll see Ed Schultz is on after Limbaugh. I personally don't want an opposing view (though that's better than nothing). I plain and simply don't want harmful propaganda that undermines the CiC on the military airwaves. I feel it's extraordinarily dangerous.

There are obviously many things dangerous to our troops, not the least of which is being in harm's way based on lies -- and propaganda.

This is just one small step, but it's a step I felt I needed to take, hoping that even our military personnel would take offense with Limbaugh calling first responders freeloaders. You don't need to sign. I can agree to disagree.

:hi:

[Shagbark Hickory]

67. It looks like there's only 5 channels and

... from what I can tell, there's only 2 politcal opinion shows.
That's not what I expected.
I assumed it was more like a serius/xm kind of thing with a lot of variety.
This almost looks like a programming director selected these specific shows to air.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Give me some time to think about it.
I may just sign that petition yet.

You know, they should know the kind of shite that we have to listen to back here at home.
If for no other reason, to better understand the opinions people may have of military actions.

[OneGrassRoot]

69. ...

:hi:

[JDPriestly]

82. Rush Limbaugh should be replaced with someone less abusive

less negative but someone from the right. It is fair to have both right and left represented on the program. But Limbaugh is really extreme. There are better representatives of the right.

[SaveAmerica]

112. "To support the troops by getting information to them and providing relaxation to them"

This is what my husband feels is the purpose of AFN (he's back from Iraq recently). It's the news source wherever the military serves overseas, they have different branches in different zones of the world (AFN-Europe, etc.). If there is no satellite available, this would be their only source of American news.

My husband said he heard him on the radio and saw him on AFN TV, here's a link to an article from AFN about why they keep him, what he spews is detrimental because he is compromising the credibility of the Commander in Chief of the troops. If anyone else had a show on there and said what he does but about W, they would have had his head spinning.


(2 of 21 callers complaining about Limbaugh seems to be at odds with this gentleman's idea of his ratings being so great on AFN)

http://www.stripes.com/news/programming-questions-flood-afn-call-session-1.95884

Two of the 21 callers to the show complained about Limbaugh.

“My problem is having Rush Limbaugh broadcast in the war zone,” said one caller. “When you have someone questioning the citizenship of the commander-in-chief … and calling him a racist, a liar and a joke, it can’t be good for our soldiers.”

“There are those in Iraq and Afghanistan who enjoy Rush Limbaugh,” Reilly said.

“If you want to talk about popular, he’s bulletproof as far as ratings and numbers of listeners are concerned,” he said, and it’s not AFN’s job to censor.

[JDPriestly]

80. Free Speech is a right under the First Amendment

Broadcasting on Armed Forces Radio or TV is a privilege. It is not a right to broadcast on a specific network. There is only so much air time on Armed Forces Radio and TV. No one person owns a slot.

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Taxpayer money funds the military broadcast....

So, it is within our right to protest, especially since he's so divisive and toxic, and has been proven to be that way for two decades.

:hi:

[Shagbark Hickory]

35. What if they want to listen to it?

What if they need to build up a rage each day? :shrug:

[OneGrassRoot]

38. Sorry, I thought I replied, but it was to another similar comment below. :)

They obviously have a right to voice their opinions and can start their own petition or do whatever they can to make their voices heard about this issue.

I don't want ANY type of propaganda on the public airwaves. I don't want a counter to Limbaugh, I want NO rhetoric of this sort on the air, ESPECIALLY not the sort which pits Americans against one another.

I have no doubt there are many in the military who enjoy Limbaugh; the military is a good representation of our citizenry as a whole.

But I feel his show and the rhetoric he has promoted for two decades is VERY harmful to our country. I truly do. And, I feel it's my right as a citizen to stand up about this issue.

:hi:

[Gaedel]

97. They did

There was a list of shows provided in questionnaires to the military. Limbaugh's show polled high enough that one hour of it is broadcast.

[Enthusiast]

28. The armed forces serve us.

They serve us and us only. There will be complete civilian control of the military on every single fucking issue. Or are you brain dead like the Limbaugh listeners?

[Cid_B]

31. Seriously...

That's just evil on several levels...

[Enthusiast]

54. It's evil to have civilian control

of the military? In what universe and under what constitution?

Either we live in a military junta or we live in a Democratic Republic. Unchecked military power is the single greatest threat to democracy.

The U.S. military serves at the pleasure of the American citizen. We can abolish the present day military in its entirety if we chose.

[Cid_B]

116. It's evil to think...

... that you as a civilian have control over every aspect of my life. Your words, not mine.

"There will be complete civilian control of the military on every single fucking issue."

[Enthusiast]

121. Every aspect of military life will

be determined by civilian government authority -right down to the color of your shoe laces and what you eat. The military has no actual authority outside that granted it by the civilian government. The military is not an equal branch of government.

[Shagbark Hickory]

36. Doesn't feel like it. I've thought this through pretty thoroughly actually. nt

[Wait Wut]

72. You have a point.

I can't do the search until I get home, but does anyone know if they have a choice of what to listen to? Are there Liberal radio shows (or Democratic) available?

I'm not a big fan of censorship. But, if the taxpayers are funding this it needs to be fair and balanced (semi-intentional snark).

[Lorien]

74. Taxpayers should not fund non fact based extremist propaganda, period. nt

[Lorien]

73. Limbaugh IS NOT "the media"; he's a propagandist for the extreme Right

our armed forces should not be subjected to such extremist political views- unless it's balanced out with four hours of Olbermann, Maddow and Michael Moore.

[JDPriestly]

78. Limbaugh encourages the troops to be disloyal to the Commander in Chief

Limbaugh does far more damage to the unity of our nation and our national defense that do the Wikileaks exposures. It isn't just that he criticizes the government, it is the disparaging tone and consistency with which he does it.

Limbaugh is not a patriot. He uses his program to sow seeds of discontent and rebellion.

Free speech is great. Limbaugh should be allowed to say what he says, but he should not be given the privilege of saying it on media especially intended for our troops. Should our troops here different opinions about current events? Yes. But that is not what Limbaugh offers. Limbaugh's show is abusive to about half of the country. That is not appropriate for Armed Forces media.

[OneGrassRoot]

79. Bam! +1000 :) n/t

[NuclearDem]

93. I tried that argument to get Fox News (or at least Beck) turned off official Offutt TVs

First Shirt didn't go for it though.

[Tsiyu]

14. K & R

Our Radio waves should reflect the best of America, not the basest.



:kick:

[madmax]

16. K&R

[Rhiannon12866]

17. Done!

Now where's the petition to get him removed from my mother's car radio? x(

[newtothegame]

18. What do the servicemembers want? What's their opinion? nt

[OneGrassRoot]

21. They can start their own petition if they disagree...

Because it's taxpayer money that funds it, and because by all definitions he specifically engages in hate speech, I want him removed from taxpayer-funded broadcasts. :)

:hi:

[Cid_B]

22. Shortsighted at best...

1) It is not hate speech by all definitions. Logic fail.

2) Let's say your "internet petition" is successful and you get Rush's program removed for content you find to be naughty. There is a slippery slope there and everything on TV is offensive to someone. Eventually they will get to something you like.

3) Soldiers should have the first, last and final say. If you feel strongly about this issue I encourage you to visit your local recruiter office and try for a post in USAREUR.

[OneGrassRoot]

23. I understand many at DU and elsewhere disagree with petitions and boycotts...

of all kinds. I hear your argument about this specific petition.

I respect your opinion but simply disagree.

As usual, when it comes to Limbaugh, who is essentially the titular head of the Republican Party, such an effort as this won't gain traction. Both liberals and conservatives are against such an action, by and large.

But it's my right to try, and as a taxpayer I feel entitled to speak up about this since I feel he, specifically, is very influential in a very harmful way to our country.

:hi:

[Enthusiast]

29. Your post is the very image of shortsided.

Soldiers should have no more say over who they listen to on the radio than where to aim their ordinance.

Limbaugh would probably be best characterized as pure misinformation rather than hate. We civilians will decide every word that goes into the ears of OUR military. The military decides NOTHING without the consent of the civilian government.

[Cid_B]

30. Wow....

In case you weren't up on current events the 13th Amendment is still in place.

I was thinking of having some egg whites and veggies for breakfast. Should I get your "consent" direct for that decision or is there a PO box or something where I can submit my request?

edit: still early

[Shagbark Hickory]

42. Only if..

the egg whites are cooked to at least 180 degrees.
Then you have my permission. :+

[totodeinhere]

62. Does Armed Forces Radio carry any progressive hosts such as Hartman or Shultz?

If not, they should. Removing Limbaugh would set us up for accusations of censorship. Wouldn't it be better to allow Limbaugh to continue but to counter him by also offering progressive hosts? Then the members of the armed forces could hear both sides and make their own decisions about who is right.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

64. I agree. If there's a venue that needs a "Fairness Doctrine", it's this one.

Then, after a while carrying both, they could switch to a "no partisan politics, period" policy. Or not.

[OneGrassRoot]

65. Ed Schultz is on after Limbaugh

Personally, I don't want political propaganda of any stripe on our supposedly apolitical military radio. I feel it's harmful.

Limbaugh is specifically dangerous because his sole intent is to divide the citizens of this country. Undermining the CiC is another aspect of his show that is patently dangerous, especially to be broadcast on military radio.

And the people who listen to Limbaugh are likely to never listen to Schultz, and vice versa, so I doubt many people are getting both sides.

I haven't listened to Ed's radio show, but I trust that he has never insulted the troops or first responders, unlike Limbaugh.

And, as another DUer is pointing out here, Limbaugh has been on there nearly two decades. Enough is enough.

:)

[totodeinhere]

70. Some may not want to hear both sides, but as long as they have the opportunity

to do so if they want to, that's good enough for me. If Limbaugh really is insulting the troops, and I don't doubt that he is, then let the troops hear it and see for themselves what Limbaugh is all about. I trust the troops to come to their own conclusions. As long as both sides are presented, I am not going to attempt to dictate to the troops what they can listen to and what they can't.

[OneGrassRoot]

71. I respect that position. :) n/t

[JDPriestly]

84. Limbaugh insults the President. He doesn't just question the President's

policies, he hurls personal insults at the President. That is bad for the morale of the troops and should not be broadcast to people who are in extremely stressful situations.

I remember how some Viet Nam veterans complained that war protestors were spitting on them when they came home.

Limbaugh's irrational diatribes against Obama are the equivalent of spitting on the troops and their leadership. It is inappropriate. It is mean. It is unpatriotic.

Limbaugh should have the right to criticize, and if people want to question Obama's policies on Armed Forces Radio, so be it. But Limbaugh takes it a step further.

In contrast, when Bush was president, Al Franken had a radio program that was critical of many of Bush's policies. But Franken was not abusive in his criticism, and when Franken visited the troops, he remembered that he was there for them and not to criticize the Bush.

Compare Limbaugh's show with some of the old Al Franken shows, and you will understand why Limbaugh should not be selected to dominate Armed Forces Radio as he does.

[totodeinhere]

90. Our troops are not little children who need to be led around on a leash.

If Limbaugh is hateful and disrespectful to the president (I don't listen to him but I will take your word that he is) then I am sure that the troops will see that and come to appropriate conclusions about it.

[OneGrassRoot]

94. Propaganda, by its nature, is very insidious...

Certainly we would hope that even conservatives would turn away from his blatant hatred (perhaps you're not nearly as familiar with his "brand" of entertainment as others here are?), but many feed off of it.

I know he has an audience and always will, but I also think there is a brainwashing element to his show. I've seen it in action. Fairly rational people who are agitated about something or other politically, tune in to have their position reinforced and they end up hating -- frothing at the mouth hating -- anything liberal/progressive/Democratic. All they need to hear are those three words and they are livid, without having any facts about what is being discussed.

For that to happen to impressionable youth within the military is frightening.

[JDPriestly]

96. Not if they hear Limbaugh every night only countered by Ed Schultz.

I like Schultz a lot, but it would take many hours of rational radio to heal the insult to the ears that Limbaugh inflicts on all who hear him.

Limbaugh's chatter has a mindnumbing effect on many Americans. He just stuns people into submission with his attack speech. He should not be broadcast to our troops. Our troops need encouragement to carry out their missions, not Limbaugh's distracting hate speech.

[JDPriestly]

83. Apparently, Schultz is on right after Limbaugh.

I think it is good to have a balance, but Limbaugh is too hateful. There are surely others on the right who can criticize Democrats and the president without so much hate.

[Enthusiast]

120. Limbaugh's case

is special. He has told his audience that the Commander in Chief is unfit in his duty as president. He has told the armed forces many things that would undermine the authority of the President during a time of war.

Why should soldiers under the command of the president 'decide' weather he is right or wrong based on arguments by Limbaugh. The president is 'correct' under war circumstances (even if he is actually wrong). So Limbaugh has no leg to stand on.

I believe banning Limbaugh from armed forces radio is completely warranted.

[Gaedel]

100. Right you are!!!!

"Soldiers should have no more say over who they listen to on the radio than where to aim their ordinance."


AFRT should have only classical music interspersed with readings from the great works of literature and discussions of art.

Replace those horrible GI clubs with tea parlors where elegant hostesses can show them how to lift their pinkies when drinking their tea.

As long as they are not mounting a military coup and knocking over the White house gates with tanks, how about leaving the soldiers alone.

[Vinnie From Indy]

51. LOL!

Please provide a link that shows soldiers prefer Limbaugh.

Limbaugh has no right to a lifelong slot on AFN. He was PLACED there by Newt Gingrich and Congress in the 1990s.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

101. I'm not surprised you'd rush to his defense. (Yeah, I make bad puns. Sue me.)

[Cid_B]

117. I'm not surprised you think I'm a jerk...

... for thinking Soldiers should decide what they want for entertainment instead of a bunch of anxious hand-wringing nervous Nellies. (That's right, I said nervous Nelly)

[liberation]

105. "Soldiers should have the first, last and final say."

No, they should not. Last I checked this is still a democratic republic, not a military dictatorship. Civilians are still in control of the military, not the other way around. Also since soldiers do not pay for that off their own pockets, the tax payer does get to have the final say. The people in the military get to do what they signed up to do: do as they are told by the civilian leadership.


Also, there is a big fuck all difference between the government telling Rush Limbaugh what he can say on the air, which it is indeed censorship, and tax payers deciding they do not want the government to pay for partisan programming on public radio stations. Rush Limbaugh is free to say all the stupid shit he wants, in fact he is entitled to his idiocy and I encourage him to keep opening his big filthy mouth. I, however, do not feel like having my tax dollars being used to broadcast a political program. If Rush Limbaugh wants to bring his message to the troops, then he is free to do so by paying off his own pocket for his own radio stations so that the troops get to hear his daily turd spewing.

The US Armed forces should be apolitical, and thus the same doctrine should be applied to the programming their entertainment stations carry. Period, end of story. But if the slippery slope of allowing political "entertainment" on military radio stations must be allowed for whatever demented and half assed reason, then there has to be a matching in duration, depth, and breath in opposite programming to Limbaugh's message and his allocated time.


Trying to twist some people expecting their taxation to be carried out with representation, as it somehow being a infraction on free speech is a rather disingenuous take. IMHO. Quite telling in fact. I don't think your condescending attitude is warranted given that you don't seem to grasp the basic tenets of how a military is supposed to operate in a democracy.


Last I listened to the Armed Forces radio was in the 80s, when their programming was still aiming at being "entertaining" and funny like the Dr. Demento Show. It has gone all down hill since then, apparently.

[Cid_B]

115. I don't think you understand...

Civilian control of the military does not extend to every aspect of my life.

I've got Soldiers who live in base housing with government provided internet. That's your tax dollars right? You want to screen what they can view there as well?

It is impossible for AFN tv/radio to be apolitical short of a total news/commentary blackout. What about a politically charged episode of West Wing? Satire of the POTUS on Saturday Night Live? Oh, those are ok because they're just joshing whereas Limbaugh is a super meanie. Our brains are tougher than most here seem to give us credit for. We are big boys and girls and can decide for ourselves. If members of the military really wanted him gone then he would be gone.

I love Dr. Demento as much as the next guy but Soldiers are still citizens with political voices and beliefs and it is wrong to try to curtail that unless it is through the restrictions laid out in Title 10, 2 and 18.

[fascisthunter]

55. political propaganda has no place in our apolitical military.... got it?

[Lorien]

75. Taxpayer money should not be used to fund extremist political propaganda

if right wing extremists in the military want to listen to such crap, their family members can FTP them a recording.

What would the Right say if Michael Moore had a show that was on armed forces radio for four hours a day?

[calimary]

19. Done.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vidar]

24. Done and recommended.

[era veteran]

25. Done, with comment

Liar needs to be off AFN.
Seems like it was just music and light news when I served. Why this propaganda crap now?

[OneGrassRoot]

27. Thank you, that's the word I neglected to use -- "propaganda"

While my opinion of Fox News is well known, I feel Limbaugh very specifically created a toxic atmosphere in this country; Fox just fed upon what he created.

Yes, it IS propaganda.

(If you'll permit me to rant for a bit ;))

He is the one who made politics very PERSONAL. It used to be progressives and conservatives could have rational political discussions, but he's the one who made the labels themselves prevent this from happening. Now it's just nasty all the way around on the airwaves.

Oh, don't get me wrong, the people who allowed him to influence and create this atmosphere are responsible as well. But for those who try to use his escape tactic of saying he's an entertainer, I couldn't disagree more. Even though they deny it, his listeners, by and large, listen to him to get their information. They quote him as though what he is saying is factual; they follow his political lead.

Shoot, the Republican Party now follows his political lead! While I condemn anyone on the left who may engage in similar nasty rhetoric and hate speech, they certainly aren't leading the Democratic Party in any way.

He's at the heart of the extreme nastiness that has festered like a boil for two decades around all things politics here in the States. Lancing this boil could allow the wound to start healing if it can get some light and air.

I believe this with all my heart. No one need agree, but I'm explaining my reasoning behind it. ;)

And I also realize many military members may disagree; I figure they can start their own petition to keep him if it came to that. I would never start such a petition if taxpayer money -- my money -- wasn't involved, which I feel gives me every right to speak up and take a stand.

:rant:

:hi:

[Joanne98]

26. Done with a smile

[Ganja Ninja]

32. Justified and long overdue. K & R n/t

[Octafish]

37. Flush Rush.

And don't spare the plumber's helper.

[Zax2me]

40. Not going to happen

He's wildly popular among many troops as his show on AFR.
I've 'signed' more of these petitions - since he first was broadcast on AFR - than I care to remember.
His show is a hit on AFR.
It stays.
Over the years I've come to see it as a good thing.
Can't see what you sweep under the rug and some things (rush) need to be exposed.
Plus there is the entire censorship thing which at times here is spun with excuses to find a way to censor.
Uh-uh.

[Vinnie From Indy]

56. How do you think Rush was originally selected for slot on AFN?

Do you know? I suspect you do not based on your post. In fact, Limbaugh was "selected" for AFN by the Newt Gingrich led Congress in the 1990s. Therefore, his very existence on AFN has its roots in a purely political, highly partisan act by Republicans. In addition, Limbaugh is not "entitled" to a lifelong gig on AFN. It is not his birthright to have the taxpayers pay him to broadcast on the AFN. He should simply be rotated out of the lineup and a new broadcaster should be given a chance on these publicly funded broadcasts. Also, you fail to provide a shred of evidence for your claim that Limbaugh is "wildly" popular among the soldiers.

To sum up, you have provided zero support that many of your claims are true and you seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of how and why Limbaugh is on AFN and a bizarre notion that it would be censorship to give his slot to some other broadcaster. Limbaugh had his run and now it should end.

[totodeinhere]

63. Why not keep Limbaugh on and counter him by giving equal time to a progressive broadcaster?

Then the armed forces could hear both sides and come to their own conclusions.

[OneGrassRoot]

66. Please see my reply #65 above. :) n/t

[Tsiyu]

91. Never give up

Yes, this battle to remove Rush has been waged before, from inside and outside the military, including a push by Wesley Clark a few years back.

Stars and Stripes did a poll and found more support for HipHop, Rap, Straight News and other music than for "The Blowhard Addict."

My friends who are in the miltary now are all liberals, and can't stand Rush....


Never Give Up...

[glinda]

45. Done. K & R

[warrior1]

46. done

[Vinnie From Indy]

48. Amen! I am simply astonished that this was not done over the last two years

Lest anyone forget, Limbaugh was "selected" for AFN by the Newt Gingrich led Congress in the 1990s. He has no "right" to a lifelong slot on AFN and his DAILY tsunami of disrespect, insults and false outrage directed at the CiC should be ended.

[OneGrassRoot]

49. I second that amen! Well said! :) n/t

[fascisthunter]

53. political propaganda has no place in the military

there is no fucking debate! Get that fascist fuck off the air!!!!

[upi402]

61. Propaganda works

People are easy to fool. They think any kind of lie is true if it's said loud enough, and often enough. Then, no amount of facts will change their minds. The RW knows that full well.

[JNelson6563]

68. K&R

:toast:

[JDPriestly]

76. What other shows are on Armed Forces Radio?

[OneGrassRoot]

77. Here is a website:

http://www.afneurope.net/Radio/AFNPowerNetworkSchedule/tabid/702/Default.aspx

You'll note Ed Schultz is on there.

My opinion about this is in reply #65 above.

I fully realize people disagree, just as they disagree about boycotts, feeling it's a slippery slope regarding censorship.

I personally don't. I see it as a way to raise our voices and express strong opinions, realizing there are pros and cons involved.

:hi:

[JDPriestly]

98. It's hard for people to choose love not fear with Limbaugh yelling

hate in their ears.

Our Armed Forces Radio should give our troops pride in their work and reason to continue to serve. It's OK to exercise free speech because that is part of what our troops are fighting for -- the right to free speech. But Limbaugh's speech is demoralizing, just demoralizing for people who are fighting for their country and trying to obey their Commander in Chief. Limbaugh is an American Tokyo Rose.

The troops deserve to be able to hear a balance of viewpoints on their radio. Fox News and other news media have newscasters who are right wing and don't spew the venom that Limbaugh spews. One of them could broadcast a right wing message to the troops to balance Ed Schultz.

Limbaugh is not a good choice.

[OneGrassRoot]

99. Indeed. ;) n/t

[Tumbulu]

81. done! (nt)

[jwirr]

85. Done.

[proud patriot]

86. glad to help

[onestepforward]

87. Done! n/t

[LawnKorn]

88. The sooner Rush is gone, the better

That fat, OxyContin addled coot needs to not only thrown of OFR, but the FCC needs to throw him off the public air waves all together.

[LawnKorn]

89. K&R

[spanone]

92. this gasbag's sale date is way past due

[proReality]

95. Done

And I'd do it again, if I could!

[judesedit]

102. Why should Lintball be the only voice our soldiers hear? He never served and spews lies and hatred

24/7. He should be locked up for inciting violence...not awarded with one of the most important positions in radio broadcasting. This country's representatives are so corrupt and selfish, it makes my skin crawl. We must change our election system NOW! Get rid of the electoral college. EVERY person's vote should count. The country wouldn't be in this shape if it did. And Rush Noballs certainly wouldn't be the voice of this country to our most patriotic and brave defenders. Racist rednecks do NOT make up the majority in America....although they DO have the biggest mouths.

[marybourg]

103. Done. nt

[James48]

104. FORMER AFN 'er here.

As someone who worked AFN radio for four years, I can tell you that this petition means nothing.

We never bent to any political ideology at all.

What the troops asked for in listener surveys, we tried to provide.

The Armed Forces is composed of people of all kinds of political views, and Rush Limbaugh, regardless of your desires, polled among a segment of that audience.

The Armed Forces are beyond influence of politics.

Save your signing- that will do absolutely nothing as far as Rush on AFN goes.

[OneGrassRoot]

106. What is your opinion of his type of talk radio discussion? (w/edit)

Specifically as it pertains to the troops and the CiC.

He has questioned Obama's citizenship and spouted all the birther nonsense, called him a "halfrican American," says he's an enemy of America, and so much more.

Are you telling me troops are not affected by speech specifically denigrating their CiC to that degree? Isn't it demoralizing to them?

I wonder if anyone aired such treasonous talk during Bush's presidency?


On edit: Your comment that the Armed Forces are beyond the influence of politics is interesting, considering that it was politics -- specifically Newt Gingrich -- that got Limbaugh on AFN to begin with. Let a conservative be on there, just not a hate-mongering one.

[TxVietVet]

107. I signed the petition.

Tell your friends about it and encourage them to sign and get this conservanazi idiot off Armed Forces Radio.

[SpiralHawk]

108. Why does a Republicon Chickenhawk get to spew propaganda

to real Americans who are in fact serving?

Whacky shit, Republicon Family Chickenhawk Values.

[pam4water]

109. K&R Last time someone of DU said take him off the air they got a lot of stupid responses like the

like the troops should be about to listen to who ever they want.

[OneGrassRoot]

110. ANOTHER REQUEST!!!

(sorry, don't mean to yell, just want you to see this :))

What triggered me doing this -- finally -- even though it's been done before, most notably by Gen. Wesley Clark back in 2007 when Limbaugh referred to soldiers against the Iraq Invasion as "phony soldiers," was Limbaugh's recent attack on all 70k protesters in Wisconsin. He called them "a bunch of people who feel entitled to be freeloaders."

It's bad enough that he disses hardworking Americans in general, but first responders are part of those he dissed.

Can we enlist the union members somehow to spread the word about this petition, based on this recent insult aimed at them?

If you have suggestions on how to spread the word amongst the union members, especially those in Wisconsin, let me know, please.

I honestly think National Guard members (props to Tsiyu for suggesting) and many in the military would take offense at him dissing first responders. Again, he pits Americans against Americans. Unpatriotic, no place on AFN.

Thanks to everyone who has signed!!! :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

119. Yoohooo........ :) n/t

[NorthCarolina]

111. Happy to sign this one. nt

[SaveAmerica]

113. They need to get rid of Fox on AFN

[OneGrassRoot]

114. Sorry, gonna have to keep kicking; the board is moving fast. :) n/t

[RedCloud]

118. He said he would go to Costa Rica, so go!