Limbaugh Has No Place on the Front Line [Commentary by Mike Farrell]

LAT ^ | June 25, 2004 | Mike Farrell

[LurkedLongEnough]

--snip--

Limbaugh, of course, is entitled to express his views, however bizarre, ill considered and offensive. I would never dream of telling him what he should or shouldn't say. But that doesn't mean that radio stations have to pick him up. Just as he can speak his mind, they can choose to air his show or not.

--snip--

In general, I believe all reasonable views should be aired. Quite aside from the Abu Ghraib controversy, I'd like to see AFRTS broadcast a fuller range of political views to our troops rather than giving Limbaugh a monopoly at the microphone — and I applaud the Senate for approving an amendment to the defense authorization bill offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) that calls on AFRTS to provide political balance in its news and public affairs programming. But in this case, nothing short of removing Limbaugh will suffice. The issue goes beyond ideological balance — this is an issue of national security and national unity.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Must excerpt according to FR rules.

[marty60]

i don't have to read the rest> He probably was an investor of air America. Mad he lost his investment. Now they think that they can attack Rush. Money talks and BS walks. Rush is secure.

[martin_fierro]

But that doesn't mean that radio stations have to pick him up. Just as he can speak his mind, they can choose to air his show or not.

Spoken like a true NPR listener.

[KJacob]

"But that doesn't mean that radio stations have to pick him up. Just as he can speak his mind, they can choose to air his show or not"

"But in this case, nothing short of removing Limbaugh will suffice."

Please shut-up Honeycutt. First you talk about choice then you advocate that Rush should be removed. Why not let the troops vote on the issue?

[darkwing104]

Geez. Does this mean we have to listen to 24 hrs of pure liberal crap instead of 23!

[BlueLancer]

"The woman has a right to speak ...
...however, the rest of you will not listen!"

The Alcalde, "Zorro, the Gay Blade"

[NateLannister]

I agree whole-heartedly! Let the troops decide what they want to listen to! I bet if they were given the choice, Rush would be on for 3 hours, not just 1.

[RandallFlagg]

I'm sure *snicker* Rush is sitting in a lawn chair *chortle* reading this and *giggle* just shaking in his sandals,

BWAAAHAHAHHAAAA!!!

[mass55th]

Isn't it interesting how these morons who have never been on the front line find it necessary to try to undermine the entertainment of our troops who put themselves in harm's way every day. Why don't they ask the troops who they want to hear. That should settle the question once and for all.

[BluH2o]

Actually, the "libs" shouldn't overly concern themselves with Rush. Between his recent divorce, pain killer addiction and recovery, cochlear(sp?)implant, his numerous days off (not including this weeks vacation), Rush isn't around as much, or when he is, doesn't seem as focused.

[BenLurkin]

IS this kind of thing the origin of the old saying: "Scratch a liberal and you'll find a facist underneath."?

[Sunshine Sister]

It's okay to excerpt this garbage. No one wants to read the whole screed anyway!

[pghkevin]

If Mike Farrel had his way, this would be censorship pure and simple...

[Gefreiter]

"But that doesn't mean that radio stations have to pick him up. Just as he can speak his mind, they can choose to air his show or not."

Note to Farrell: Radio is a business, like any other. In general terms it breaks down like this:

-If stations didn't make $$ running Rush, they wouldn't.

-They make $$ because zillions of people listen, which means stations can charge more for ad revenues.

-So many people listen because they want to hear what he has to say. Even the people who detest him.

In the case of AFN, Rush is on because programmers think that's what servicemembers care to hear, as opposed to the liberal proselytizing Farrell and his f--kwit pals want to do.

[anoldafvet]

"Why don't they ask the troops who they want to hear. That should settle the question once and for all."

Because, being typical Lieberals, they think the troops are too stupid to decide for themselves. Besides we wouldn't want them to hear both sides of an issue now would we?

[we_will_prevail]

Poor, sad Mike. He's probably ticked that "Providence" was canceled a few years back and now has nothing to do.

BTW, whenever Farrell's name comes up, I think PHOTOS! (just like any post having to do with Coulter)

Photos, that is, of the beautiful and talented Melina Kanakaredes, who was the star of Providence.

[Sunshine Sister]

Welcome to FR!

[cubreporter]

Mr. farrell is right...they don't have to pick Rush up. They do it cause they CHOOSE to. Free country...remember Mr. farrell???

[randog]

Isn't it interesting how these morons who have never been on the front line...

"B.J. Honeycutt" has been there and knows what it's like. He's a veteran of the Korean War, remember?

Not buying it? Perhaps he should have started his essay with, "I'm not a soldier, but I played one on TV....".

[TigersEye]

Just as he can speak his mind, they can choose to air his show or not.

And since more than 20 million Americans want to hear him each week they do air his show.

I'd like to see AFRTS broadcast a fuller range of political views to our troops rather than giving Limbaugh a monopoly at the microphone.

One hour out of 24, one show out of 112 including NPR. Isn't NPR enough anti-American balance?

I applaud the Senate for approving an amendment to the defense authorization bill ... that calls on AFRTS to provide political balance in its news ... But in this case, nothing short of removing Limbaugh will suffice ...

Forget the fact that servicemen and women overwhelmingly asked for Rush's show (which was not offered in a survey/questionaire of their preferences). No program choices for you and by the way we plan to lose your absentee ballots or disqualify them too. Shut up and serve. Right, Mike?