Posted on 06/26/2004 1:29:19 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com
The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly threatened to bar KFI reporters from DHS news conferences. KFI, at 640AM in Los Angeles, is one of the most listened-to news-talk stations in the country and can be heard throughout Southern California and on the Internet.
The DHS will reportedly deny KFI reporters access unless KFI hosts John & Ken stop their current campaign requesting that their listeners contact the DHS in support of the recent immigration sweeps in Southern California.
Bowing to pressure from a few Congressmen, the DHS has placed these sweeps under review ("Official says SoCal immigration sweeps violated federal policy")
John & Ken do not encourage their listeners to harass the DHS in any way. They have simply been asking their listeners to contact the DHS and let their voices be heard. So far, the DHS has received thousands of emails and phone calls in support of the sweeps.
The right to "petition the government for a redress of grievances" is a fundamental American right enshrined in the First Amendment. John & Ken are simply encouraging the public participation of their listeners. Any government attempt to stifle these attempts is contrary to our most fundamental principles.
Many news organizations might disagree with John & Ken's positions on the sweeps. However, all news organizations should feel threatened when the government attempts to restrict access simply because talk-show hosts upset government agencies by encouraging listeners to pursue their First Amendment rights.
I urge all news organizations to look into this matter and to hold accountable anyone who has been responsible for this threat against our most basic rights.
Addendum:
John & Ken discussed the threat from the DHS at approximately 6:45pm on Friday June 26, 2004. Other listeners have confirmed that they said this (link, link).
From John & Ken's web site:
Contact Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security and tell him that you want the Border Partol to do their job! Call at 202-282-8010 or e-mail him at asa.hutchinson@dhs.gov. Also, contact Robert Bonner, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection who sent out a memo for the Border Patrol to stop the sweeps at homeland@mail.house.gov or robert.bonner@dhs.gov
Contact your Congressman! Click here, and simply find your Congressman and let them know that if they don’t support the Border Patrol Sweeps, then they WILL NOT get your vote in November!If you want to thanks the San Diego Border Patrol for taking care of business, you can e-mail them at SDC.PIO@DHS.GOV
Maybe it's time to rename it the Dept of Fatherland Security.
!!!!!
Ridge had better get his head out of his A$$.
Since when do Republicans stifle dissent? This sounds more like something a demonrat would do.
A division of the Federal Officials Are Derelict (FOAD), no doubt.
What exactly was the threat, and what is the evidence of it? Do they have it on tape? Hardcopy? Email? Or is it he said she said? And if so, is DHS simply denying it?
John & Ken are on from 3pm to 7pm. They discussed this on Friday shortly before the end of their show. They will probably discuss it on Monday, where we'll get more information.
Others have confirmed that they said this. See the links right after "Other listeners have confirmed that they said this" in the post.
Also, I'd tend to think this is an important story that shouldn't be relegated to 'Bloggers & Personal'.
Gub, could you please ping people to this thread? It's stuck in 'Bloggers & Personal' where it won't get much notice. Thanks.
This is what you were looking for.....
The administration was exposed, and they don't like it.
This is from truthkeeper and we heard basically the same thing.
I listened to the entire show and you are exactly correct. According to J&K, the Dept of Homeland Security is so annoyed with KFI for giving out THEIR phone number and asking listeners to call and sound off, that they called KFI's news department and threatened to bar KFI reporters from news conferences. You know, news conferences in which information about homeland security is passed on to the American people?
Thank you my good sir.
Ping!
It is a real radio station, and many people heard what was said Friday, including myself. Is there another reason why this has been hidden away in the back pages of this web site?
And they did ask people over the air the following:
Contact Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security and tell him that you want the Border Partol to do their job! Call at 202-282-8010 or e-mail him at asa.hutchinson@dhs.gov. Also, contact Robert Bonner, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection who sent out a memo for the Border Patrol to stop the sweeps at homeland@mail.house.gov or robert.bonner@dhs.gov
Contact your Congressman! Click here, and simply find your Congressman and let them know that if they don’t support the Border Patrol Sweeps, then they WILL NOT get your vote in November!
http://www.johnandkenshow.com/
Think 14 will get a response?
Read my tagline. I'd say you have the same chances of getting a response as Mayor Clymer has of telling the truth.
Do you know if this was posted first in news, or something other than "personal".
I didn't notice what forum it was originally posted to. You'd have to ask lonewacko_dot_com how he posted it.
The former.
I heard John & Ken talking about this on my way home. They said they would have more info on Monday.
I am not surprised in the least. Anyone note the AM didn't even bother to respond. Censorship, regardless of who may be doing it, doesn't look good.
How can we in other parts of the counry hear this station Monday? Can you give us the website and time?
i have heard seeral of their onair sessions.
Something that needs doing!
The Congress criters are the ones that need calling.
The John & Ken show is on from 3 pm to 7 pm PDT weekdays.
Net broadcast is at:
http://www.kfi640.com/interactive/streaming.html
As JimRob said, illegal aliens are not an issue.
It's the same for DHS.
Thanks.
It's the same for DHS.
Yowza...That had a mean bite to it...
I can't believe they sent this thread to the corn field. All that does is establish the fact that whoever did this agrees with this action taken by this administraion.
This thread is sent to the corn field, yet on the news forum currently are article such as:
* MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home
* Mary Jo Kopechne
* And something about "Baboons being human like".
Ohhh boy. I'm going to have to hook up my portable radio and listen.
Did the math the other night. Arnold seems to respond to issues that shut down his fax machine. If you're mailing dept of homeland security, might as well cc a copy to your congressman, and arnold.
5% turned out for the last state election. population of about 35 million, that's 1,725,000 votes. KFI has a listenership of over a million.
Seems John and Ken are making them a bit nervous?
When they get one email, that's 23 people standing up and saying "enough!"
Did the math the other night. Arnold seems to respond to issues that shut down his fax machine. If you're mailing dept of homeland security, might as well cc a copy to your congressman, and arnold.
5% turned out for the last state election. population of about 35 million, that's 1,725,000 votes. KFI has a listenership of over a million.
Seems John and Ken are making them a bit nervous?
When they get one email, that's 23 people standing up and saying "enough!"
Bump - >
From what J&K stated on the air Friday, their station got a call from DHS later in the afternoon, after J&K had been discussing this matter at length for a couple of hours.
I believe they lurk on FR. If I get a chance later - I'm extremely busy today - I will forward this thread to them. I'll bet it will be the topic of discussion tomorrow.
pingo
For what it's worth.
Bump.
This thread has been here 2 days.
Bump
bump
Yeah, I've been keeping up. I'm trying to figure out what constitutes an issue and what doesn't.
Please, ping us again when you have more info on Monday.
Los Angeles area ping...
This is Big News. Please post this in the news threads.
Remember, KFI 64.0 AM, today from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Links to audio on this thread above.
Morning, all. Been out of the net for a coupla days...
So, what is this, an abridgement of Free Speech? A denial of the Public's Right to Know?
Hmmmm....works for the Left, don' it?!
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
BUMP!
Naaah. The Deptartment of Statist Security.
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