LIMBAUGH WARNS OF DANGER TO FREE SPEECH

Drudge ^ | 2/26/04 | Drudge/Limbaugh

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

LIMBAUGH WARNS OF DANGER TO FREE SPEECH THU FEB 26 2004 12:28:21 ET

THE NATION'S TOP RADIO HOST RUSH LIMBAUGH WARNED OF GROWING GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN BROADCASTING CONTENT.

LIMBAUGH MADE THE COMMENTS AFTER HIS PARENT COMPANY CLEAR CHANNEL DROPPED VIACOM'S HOWARD STERN FROM ITS STATIONS.

'SMUT ON TV GETS PRAISED. SMUT ON TV WINS EMMYS. ON RADIO, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS,' LIMBAUGH EXPLAINED.

'I'VE NEVER HEARD HOWARD STERN. BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN THIS, I GET A LITTLE FRIGHTENED.

'IF WE ARE GOING TO SIT BY AND LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO 'CENSOR' WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG... WHAT HAPPENS IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOHN KERRYS, OR TERRY MCAULIFFES START RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. AND DECIDE CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE LEADING TO VIOLENCE?

'I AM IN THE FREE SPEECH BUSINESS. ITS ONE THING FOR A COMPANY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARTY TO IT. ITS ANOTHER THING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.'

MORE

[Happy2BMe]

"'IF WE ARE GOING TO SIT BY AND LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO 'CENSOR' WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG... WHAT HAPPENS IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOHN KERRYS, OR TERRY MCAULIFFES START RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. AND DECIDE CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE LEADING TO VIOLENCE?"

Matrix ALERT?

[ambrose]

bump

[cyncooper]

Rush uses a time delay to prevent certain words from callers making it to the air. Your hypothetical falls.

[GretchenEE]

Rush needs to backpedal on this one because what he's peddling isn't even remotely helpful.

So what if radio has been largely spared the filth that is shoved at Americans on TV and in the movies? It's good that someone has been holding a line, and the way things are going in the country, the line is going to be drawn even more largely for decency vs. indecency, and if Rush doesn't like THAT, he's got a problem with his own morals, not a free speech issue.

This injunction against Stern is far too long in coming. Being upset with this is like being mad at the garbage man for taking out the smelly, insect-drawing trash. It's not the same as xblubba42 having someone arrested and thrown in the slammer along a rope line for telling x42 the truth about himself.

[contessa machiaveli]

i think he was referring to beetlejuice.

[gdani]

Well, at a minimum, we certainly don't want people making their own decisions what to listen to/watch, right?

Not sure I follow this question... is this how you meant to write it?

It's sarcasm.

......Because thousands complained, and execs were hauled before Congress.

You're free to file complaints otherwise.

I file my complaint my changing the channel & letting others watch whatever they prefer. But that's just me -- ya see, I'm a small Govt type.

In any event, I don't want to see you complaining when Prez Hillary or Kerry gain control of the FCC.

[gdani]

Rush uses a time delay to prevent certain words from callers making it to the air

And Howard Stern uses 4 different broadcast delays that total 1.5 minutes

[cyncooper]

Exactly.

[cyncooper]

So what?

Do you have a point?

Rush uses his to prevent offensive material from reaching the air.

[Spaminator]

Thanks for yout two cents... "This injunction against Stern is far too long in coming."

Can you tell me what I'm alowed to eat for dinner tonight as well? I mean some people find meat to be vulgur right?

[reademnweep]

One persons child rearing recipe - Make every effort to provide: moral clarity, good judgement, education and advise strongly to never compromise your values. Mix in a little of your own rant, and sit back and watch your child Grow. No FCC regulators allowed in recipe. You'll be surprised how close they replicate the cook.

[Wolfie]

Hey, it takes a village!

[steve-b]

we recognize a value in not having a few megabuck oligarchs

Great Ghu, the place is morphing into a clone of DU before my very eyes....

[Sabertooth]

I file my complaint my changing the channel & letting others watch whatever they prefer. But that's just me -- ya see, I'm a small Govt type.

So am I, but that doesn't mean that government has no legitimate functions.

The regulation of the public resource of the broadcast airwaves by the FCC is a legitimate function of government, which would withstand scrutiny even under the narrowest interpretation of the Commerce Clause.

In any event, I don't want to see you complaining when Prez Hillary or Kerry gain control of the FCC.

Bill Clinton already did for eight years. He's one reason the FCC has gotten so lax. Reagan is another, actually. FCC standards were loosened during his Administration.

All you're seeing now is the swinging back of the pendulum.

[birbear]

Exactly right. It is a stretch to believe he has never wandered into a broadcast.

I listen to a lot of radio, and change stations frequently, I've never "wandered" into Howard Stern -- that I know of.

Rush has mentioned a number of times that he doesn't listen to other radio hosts, of any genre, because he doesn't ever want to be accused of doing something similar to somebody else..

Besides, Rush is too busy playing golf to listen to Stern.

[GigaDittos]

You obviously don't listen to Rush very often. Go back to Dirty Underwear (DU) stooge.

[gdani]

The regulation of the public resource of the broadcast airwaves by the FCC is a legitimate function of government, which would withstand scrutiny even under the narrowest interpretation of the Commerce Clause.

Yes - but that regulation need not include speech content.

That should be left to the individual.

[autoresponder]

[Sabertooth]

*we recognize a value in not having a few megabuck oligarchs

**Great Ghu, the place is morphing into a clone of DU before my very eyes....

The full quote:

"we we recognize a value in not having a few megabuck oligarchs
squatting over the entire broadcast spectrum."

Given that the broadcast spectrum is a public resource, how would it be conservative to hand control of it over to a monopoly or an oligarchy?