Posted on 10/29/2010 9:20:04 PM PDT by kristinn
Yesterday, Lisa Murkowski’s hired guns threatened radio host Dan Fagan, and more importantly, the station that airs Fagan’s show, with legal action for allegedly illegal “electioneering.” The station, unlike Murkowski, who is flush with millions of dollars from vested corporate interests, does not have a budget for a legal defense. So it did what any small market station would do when threatened by Beltway lawyers charging $500 to $1000 an hour – they pulled Dan Fagan off the air.
Does all this sound heavy handed? It is. It is an interference with Dan Fagan’s constitutional right to free speech. It is also a shocking indictment against Lisa Murkowski. How low will she go to hold onto power? First, she gets the Division of Elections to change its write-in process – a process that Judge Pfiffner correctly determined had been in place without change for 50 years. She is accepting financial support from federal contractors, an act that is highly questionable and now pending before the FEC. And today, she played her last card. She made it clear that if you disagree with her and encourage others to exercise their civic rights, she’ll take you off the air.
The concept of “electioneering” involves several issues, but typically refers to campaigning at the polls, which is appropriately banned. Under federal law, it can also mean paying for advertising on broadcast media during a federal election cycle, and it requires disclosures if done by groups and corporations. Fagan used satire to mock Murkowski’s write-in efforts and encouraged Alaskan’s to run as write-in candidates. That is not illegal. That is free speech.
Individuals like Dan Fagan have a fundamental right to speak their minds without threats from the incumbent Senator from Alaska. It is hard to find a constitutional right Americans cherish more than the right to free speech. This was a right Joe Miller, as a decorated combat veteran – a tank commander tested in battle, was willing to die to defend. Dan Fagan has not always agreed with me, but I will gladly defend his right to speak freely on his radio show, which he has often used to criticize me. In fact, Fagan has actually used his radio show to attack and insult me, my husband, my children, and my family in just about every way possible. He was especially insulting to my son, who left for a war zone to defend Fagan’s right to attack our family. But when I was his governor, I never would have dreamed of threatening his right to free speech. I support him in this fight because this D.C. Beltway thuggery, as exemplified by Lisa Murkowski’s latest threat, is ruining our country. The powers that be want ordinary Americans to sit down and shut up and let the ruling class ride us right off the debt cliff we’re heading towards with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid steering the nation’s car. We can’t let them. Now is the time to put aside our past differences and stand up to the establishment powers.
This whole episode confirms again why we need to elect Joe Miller. Lisa, you can sue me if you want (you won’t be the first). But I will not be intimidated from speaking my mind. Your intimidation just empowered us liberty-loving Alaskans. Are you really that out of touch?
- Sarah Palin
.
(crickets)
Murkowski reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live sketch: “The Thing That Wouldn’t Leave.”
You’re absolutely right, dear warm n fuzzy!
Sarah Barracuda gets that, too, but we’re just amazed by the political changes in the radio hosts...lol. Fagan came through for operation chaos and *that* had to have made LiZa furious!
You’re fired (again) Evil middle-aged Princess LiZa!
Prayers for Joe Miller!
Put this on that thing.
Prayers for Joe Miller!
Prayers for Alaska!
Prayers for the United States of America!
Amen.
AMEN!
Lord hear our prayers!
Joe Miller WILL win this race..he just has to!! I will continue to pray for his victory on Tuesday..he will be a wonderful Senator! Time for Alaska to throw Lisa MurCOWSki out on her ass
Feel free to spread it around. All for the cause!
86 comments in, and nobody has commented on this angle: Fagan is the second useless (”useful”) idiot jounalist the corrupt left has thrown under the bus. Juan Williams was the first.
Hey other useless idiot journolists (sp intentional), you paying attention?!
I so pray!
There are conservatively oriented legal defense groups. Levin is with one for example. One of them might have the interest and expertise to defend the station.
((((((presently no screen name))))))
Ever notice that the ACLU pretty much closed their doors once Obama took office?
Indeed, out of spite. I watched Rick Santorim on Fox talking about how the GOP is now supporting both R candidates, because its a win win for them, and if she wins, then she will vote R.
I used to sorta like Rick. Now I see he’s garbage as well.
Steel should be up in Alaska making her life hell, but the fact is, the dems that pretend to be R’s are probably tossing more money her way and offering all sorts of legal advice.
She lost, and the RNC should be doing its best to get her to go away, not encouraging her.
Next Tuesday we take out the trash and not the recycle bins!
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