Posted on 05/27/2004 2:40:14 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A liberal group that monitors conservative media wants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to remove radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh from the American Forces Radio and Television Services, formerly known as Armed Forces Radio.
According to Media Matters for America, which describes itself as the first organization to systematically monitor the media for conservative "misinformation," Limbaugh has spent the past four weeks trivializing and condoning the U.S. mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.
"It is abhorrent that the American taxpayer is paying to broadcast what is in effect pro-torture propaganda to American troops," the group's president and CEO David Brock wrote to Rumsfeld. "I ask you to consider removing Mr. Limbaugh from the radio network to protect our troops from these reckless and dangerous messages."
Limbaugh's hour-long show on the American Forces Network is taxpayer-funded and broadcast to almost one million U.S. troops stationed in more than 175 countries and U.S. territories, including Iraq, Brock said.
On his May 4 radio show -- in response to a caller who suggested that what happened at Abu Ghraib was like a "college fraternity prank" -- Limbaugh agreed.
"This is no different than what happens at [Yale University's] Skull and Bones initiation, and we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them (the culprits) because they had a good time," Limbaugh said.
"You know, these people are being fired at every day. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You of heard of need to blow some steam off? These people (prisoners) are the enemy. Our people are being fired at, shot at, these are young people that have volunteered to go over there and they're having bullets fired in their way, bombs and mortar fire aimed at 'em by the people that they are guarding and charged to get information from. Everybody has a breaking point. Now, I'm not suggesting that it's common, normal in disciplined military structures for people to lose control. I'm suggesting that it might be understandable. "
In the same broadcast, Limbaugh remarked that what happened at Abu Ghraib, in his opinion, should not be standard operating procedure. "But I don't think that it is," he said, "and I think everybody is overreacting."
He also said the U.S. is "investigating itself to the point of paralysis" and the U.S. is going to "end up with people afraid to pull the trigger."
Watching every word
The "Skull and Bones" remarks have become a big deal in liberal "get Limbaugh" circles. In fact, Media Matters for America recently ran television ads discrediting Limbaugh on the basis of his Skull and Bones remark.
On his May 14 broadcast, Limbaugh said he believes "the prison photos are a way to damage our war effort and damage Bush, and perhaps lead the way to his defeat at the polls in November, which is what this whole prison abuse thing is all about for these people wringing their hands and acting like it's the worst thing they've ever seen."
Brock's letter of complaint to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also mentioned "recent racially charged and sexist remarks made by Limbaugh on his broadcast" and it complained about Limbaugh's "irresponsible commentary" on May 21, when Limbaugh suggested that the media "out to start making money" off the Abu Ghraib prison photos and videos.
"We need some prison torture, you know, bubble gum cards," Limbaugh said, making the point that the "abuse" scandal was getting more media attention than the beheading of American civilian Nicholas Berg.
Noting the "importance of troop morale and unity during this time of conflict," Brock asked Secretary Rumsfeld to "review whether it is appropriate for the U.S. government to broadcast such messages, which may sow seeds of discord in the ranks."
"As we approach Memorial Day, and as Americans honor our soldiers, the men and women of our military deserve better than to be subjected to a radio host who excuses the worst among their ranks rather than celebrating the best, and who continually uses prejudiced rhetoric that divides rather than unites Americans," Brock concluded.
Media Matters for America also has launched a petition to give the American people "an opportunity to express their disapproval of the broadcast of Limbaugh's irresponsible and divisive comments on American Forces radio."
Al Gore, too
In a speech on Wednesday, former Vice President Al Gore also went after Limbaugh, saying that President Bush ought to condemn the conservative broadcaster:
"This president episodically poses as a uniter and healer," Gore said. "If he really has any desire to play that role, then I call upon him to condemn Rush Limbaugh, perhaps his strongest political supporter, who said publicly that the torture in Abu Ghraib was 'a brilliant maneuver' and that the photos were 'good old American pornography,' and that the actions portrayed were simply those of people 'having a good time' and 'needing to blow off steam.'"
"There's something going on," Limbaugh said on his radio show Wednesday. "I mean, every day now somebody is out there trashing me and mentioning my name from someplace…These comments (about Iraqi prisoner mistreatment) are two weeks old. Now they've even got Gore mouthing these comments.
(Morning Editor Susan Jones contributed to this report.)
See Earlier Story:
Radio Ad Seeks to Undermine Rush Limbaugh (14 May 2004)
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Liberals are stepping up their divide and conquer strategy. The want rummsfeld out. They want condi out. The want rumsfeld to kick rush out. Talk about desperate.
They want the military to have no source of good news. No source of non-commie propaganda, only news from the alphabet soup commies.
Air Amerika fails so now nobody should be allowed to play. I bet they were hoping for their commie USA bashing radio on the Armed forces radio. If they keep this up, they will become so shrill as to only merrit execution.
I believe in pot shots to the gut when we catch un-uniformed combatants not willing to talk. That's torture. That's not Rush.
As for public funding, sure thing, so long as we aren't talking about morale boosters for our troops. If Rush is raising troop morale as a free service, then to heck with these guys. Other than that, I'm all for a complete privatization of all media. We ban ALL paid propaganda. Let's ban Pee-BS while we're at it. And NPR-BS.
They are drunk on the perceived power they believe they have from the liberal media. They started making these demands when Bush started falling in the polls.
No, you sniveling little RAT, what's abhorrent is that the American taxpayer has to pay for the anti-American drivel that PBS and NPR provide. Until the day they are defunded by the guvmint, if the troops want Rush, they should get Rush.
Brock...another x42-hole.
I second everything you've said here. At best it was humiliation of enemy prisoners, at worst a display of wretched excess. Either way, what was depicted in the infamous photos wasn't torture. Rush is guilty of nothing more than putting this into context and pointing out what it was NOT at Abu Garaib prison. And the liberals have lost all sense of proportion. I mean these are the same folks who don't want the American people to learn about what happened to Nick Berg. Yet they want Rush booted off Armed Forces Radio for trying to restore sanity to the discussion about Iraq. One would think our troops would want to hear both sides of the picture. The media has had an agenda the last couple of weeks and it isn't one which has in mind ensuring our victory on a battlefield far from home. The liberals share that agenda and the fact Rush exposed it is part of the reason they want to have him muzzled on Armed Forces Radio. If we're going to prevail in Iraq, political correctness cannot now and ever be part and parcel of our strategery there.
Wonder what Viet Nam would have been like if there had been a Rush on the radio?
Amazing how liberals have plotted and planned to recreate that syndrome 40 years later.
I think they still deliver NPR to the troops.
That's why Neal Boortz said he wanted Air America to succeed, because if it didn't, the next step for the liberals would be to shut down talk radio.
Carolyn
They are like junkies in search of another fix.
If I recall correctly, one of our bases in the Balkans was named 'Rumbaugh'. Seemed to be a shortening of Rush Limbaugh's name. Anyone else remember this, and if so, is my assumption right and the troops were making a statement?
Semper Fi,
Hmm. So now they've set up organizations to monitor us. Looks like we may be starting to make inroads in the media war, folks.
The Dems have been overplaying their hands for years, but THIS should be fun!
From what I understand from the milpers that listen to Rush and call him, his show is only on for a hour. I think Rummy should rub salt by authorizing an extension whereas the troops can listen to all three hours.
They really didn't want to give in but the e-mails and phone calls were to much for them to ignore. They finally compromised and allowed 1 hour of the 3 hour program to be broadcast.
And you'd be surprised how many times the Rush broadcast was never aired because of technical problems State side.
Armed Forces Radio is run by an bunch of libs if you want to know the truth.
"I can remember when personal in the military were complaining to Armed Forces Radio that we wanted Rush to be part of the programing."
Wasn't Les Aspen Defense Secretary during this time?
Wouldn't that be censorship?
Amazing how liberals have plotted and planned to recreate that syndrome 40 years later.
The left hangs on to the illusion of their one "successful" era that in their minds lead ultimately to bringing down the Nixon presidency. The late 60's/early 70's is their golden age where many in the left made their bones. I would argue that in the collective subconcious of leftists a longing for war existed so they could promenade self-righteously against it. Childish acts cause us all to suffer.
No. Censorship is defined as not allowing leftists to speak freely. Such is not the case here.
GOOOOOD MORNING ABU GRAAAAAIB!!!
Seems these dem watchdogs don't like Armed Forces radio actually supporting our troops. The same humorless @ssh*les got Kronhaur dumped in Viet Nam. When the PC crowd wants to control what the troops listen to...it's time to fight!
dududududuh* I feel good! Just like I knew that I would!
If they boot Rush who gets 5 hours a week of air time, then they better reciprocate by booting NPR off Armed Forces Radio. NPR gets 42+ hours a week of liberal play time to bend peoples ears.
NPR is on AFN radio all the time. Morning Edition and All Things Considered, Car Talk, Prairie Home Companion, Justice Talking, Talk of the Nation and Weekend Edition are all on AFN radio every day and week. Rush and Dr. Laura are the only balance.
I was in Germany 9-11 and I remember having to listen to NPR. Some of their coverage was good but I turned it off when they started on the sympathetic stories about how muslims were being looked at cross-eyed in the U.S. Sorry, but I'd used up all my sympathy.
I'd never heard of Rush until all the big stink arouse about putting him on AFN. So I tuned in at...what was it 10 pm?...to hear him and have been hooked ever since.
Or do you mean Les Nessman?
(sorry)
LOL! Very true.
With the impending explosion of S**T that is going to happen when scAir Amerika goes belly up, we may want to buy some cheap, full-length raincoats.
BTW, I'd LOVE to see NPR get the axe on AFN! I used to listen to them on Okinawa until their pablum-puking started to make me nauseated and I had to slap a tape in. RETCHHH!
"Just about everyone in America has been laughing at this"
Hyperbole aside, 40% of Americans are outraged at what happened at the prison and will use it as a supplemental excuse to vote Democrat in November.
Limbaugh ought to just say "Screw you" and offer his show to AFR/TV for free. That way the liberals can't say that we're paying to support him, and Rush can say that he is doing it to support the troops.
And contrary to how the Dems want to portray it...that pic is of our "First Responders"...not police or firefighters. In no way detracting from their heroism, but the WoT does not allow the luxury of reacting AFTER the event..
Didn't the commies and the nazi's use the tactic of making people condem their friends? Why doesnt algore demand a loyalty oath to the deomcrat party?
Is there ANY way we can get the media, at least fox, to stop the gramatically incorect "-ic" at the end of democrat? The republican party is also democratIC but it is not the democrat party. Journalists of all people should be gramatically correct.
Poor old Less, that is the only positive thing I remember about his life, he folded to the pressure of putting Rush on the radio. I am sure he really ticked off the liberals and probably the reason why the Clintons picked the want-a-be "hollywood" star struck Bill Cohen to be the dog they could wag in the Pentagon.
If that is the case, they were not going to vote for Bush under no circumstance. If all was going perfect and a perfect recovery, the democrats would complain about the color of the sky and blame Bush.
The prison scandal is irrelevant to US voters. Only moslems in the middle east may care but they don't vote so who cares, they are never going to like us anyways.
Yes, I agree with you. I was taking issue with the statement "just about everyone in America has been laughing at this".
Democrats remind me of a little child who has clearly lost a board game and are now trying to cheat their way to winning.
This is not a game and they are not wanted. Rush is wanted, rush has information of value to offer the public and in particular the troops. If anything Rush should start a segment during that 1 hour which takes a call from a military person. Make it specific to be a call slot reserved ONLY for a military person. I bet that would go over well here and there.
If the leftists in America win, all al Queda has to do is wait around and we will rapidly disintegrate from within because they want to censor any ideas not their own, any way of life not their own and they want to silence and persecute anyone who is not a strongly committed member of their organizations..DNC, NAMBLA, NOW, ACLU, etc., etc. Anyone interested in how we got from "The Greatest Generation" to the likes of what we see on the left today should watch "The Boomer Generation" which, I understand will be aired on A & E on June 13. I do not know the time. According to the author of the book on the "Boomers" the polarization which we have was formed between the 60s hippies who got all the media coverage and the the youth who did not identify themselves with that revolution. It looks like they want President Bush, Rumsfield, Condi Rice, Rush and other distinguished American leaders out of their way. The question is..Will we allow them to destroy our Democracy which is based on freedom of speech and ideas. I think not!
AFN to keep Limbaugh show in lineup
By Ward Sanderson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, October 24, 2003
Despite radio commentator Rush Limbaugh’s admission into drug rehab, his program will remain part of the American Forces Network lineup aired at bases from Brussels to Baghdad.
Limbaugh, a 15-year radio veteran whose conservative punditry ushered in a revival of talk radio and raised hackles of the left across the United States, checked himself into a rehabilitation program after admitting an addiction to prescription painkillers.
“[The radio show is] a popular program,” said Larry Sichter, affiliate relations director for the Defense Media Center in Riverside, Calif., which oversees AFN.
“There’s no judgment made against Mr. Limbaugh, so we’re not in a position to drop his show based on allegations.”
Following reports of a police investigation into whether Limbaugh bought the painkillers illegally, the talk-show host stunned listeners on Oct. 10 with news that he would enter rehab for 30 days.
Limbaugh told listeners the addiction followed an unsuccessful spinal surgery. “I chose to treat the pain with prescribed medication,” he said. “This medication turned out to be highly addictive.”
Authorities in Limbaugh’s home of Palm Beach, Fla., are conducting a probe, but Limbaugh admitted no illegal activities.
AFN’s decision not to drop Limbaugh is consistent with what is happening in the States.
“AFN’s response is absolutely typical. Every single one of the 600-some affiliates that carry the ‘Rush Limbaugh Show’ continues to carry it,” said Alan Mayer, Limbaugh’s spokesman.
Critics have pointed out Limbaugh’s past comments on dealing harshly with drug offenders. In Limbaugh’s radio admission, however, he made no excuses.
“I am no victim and do not portray myself as such,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my problem.”
Limbaugh’s spokesman said he has received “tens of thousands” of supportive e-mails.
At a military base in Darmstadt, Germany, some troops didn’t seem passionate about Limbaugh’s continued AFN stint. Some said they had been serving in Iraq and hadn’t heard the news. One was apathetic.
“I don’t care either way,” said Sgt. Scott Capazola. The sergeant said he was surprised Limbaugh was on drugs, “but he’s a person and he makes mistakes.”
Others aren’t happy.
A recent edition of F.A.Z. Weekly, an English-language newspaper published in Frankfurt, Germany, ran a story on Limbaugh and quoted a critic who thinks the host wrongly dominates public airwaves, drug addiction or no.
“Our objection to AFN airing the show has always been the lack of a partisan balance in their lineup,” said Ronald Schlundt, [UMUC history professor] chairman of the German chapter of Democrats Abroad, in the F.A.Z. article. “No other show receives five hours of air time weekly to tout Democratic candidates and causes.”
The story also raised the question of whether airing a commentator with a drug addiction is contrary to military values.
Sichter, the Defense Media official, said the network simply gives the public what it wants.
“We have to let the marketplace be the judge,” he said. “We reflect America.”
Awesome picture!!!!!! May I use it?
Member - 82ND Airborne 1978-1981 Co. C 2/504 (ABN)(INF)
"Go to strange lands, meet interesting people, and kill them."
If captives are able to smuggle bullets, bombs, and mortars into a military prison, the people in charge ought to be in a lot more trouble than they are.
Er.... maybe that isn't the best metaphor to use in this connection.... ;-)
Stars and Stripes
Letters to the editor for Saturday, May 15, 2004 .
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Radio fix? You can call me Al
I noticed that Sam Donaldson’s show, “Live in America,” has ended. American Forces Network has filled this slot (1700-1800 on Okinawa) with a sports program. I have nothing against sports talk, but there needs to be a show that can give some relief after listening to Rush Limbaugh. The RL Show commentary is typically negative, nasty and disparaging to anyone and everything Rush doesn’t agree with. There should be a counterbalance.
I would recommend Air America Radio’s “The O’Frankin Factor” with Al Franken. A little light-hearted fun poked at the previous commentator would work great, especially in this political season.
John Van Patten
Camp Lester, Okinawa
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=22222
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