Posted on 10/02/2007 6:43:31 PM PDT by kristinn
Edited on 10/02/2007 7:29:10 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Clear Channel CEO Mark P. Mays responded to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in a letter hand-delivered to his office this evening.
Take a look at the letter here.
Full text:
October 2, 2007
The Honorable Harry Reid
S-221 United States Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20501
Dear Majority Leader Reid:
I want to thank you and your Senate Democratic colleagues for sharing your concern over recent comments made by Rush Limbaugh on his daily radio program. First, let me say that the men and women who wear the uniform in defense of our country deserve the utmost respect and gratitude from each and every one of us whom they serve to protect. I assure you that I fully agree with your statement that “not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a phony soldier.” As a grateful American citizen, I would reject anyone’s contention to the contrary.
Mr. Limbaugh’s comments last week have stirred a lot of emotion, and I have carefully read the transcript from the episode in question. I hope you will appreciate that I cannot speak with authority as to whom exactly Mr. Limbaugh’s comments were directed, or what was his intent. Only Mr. Limbaugh can speak to those issues, which he has done.
I can say, however, that over the years Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly praised the dedication and valor of our brave men and women in uniform. Given Mr. Limbaugh’s history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn’t share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq. However, if Mr. Limbaugh’s intention was to classify any soldier opposed to the war in Iraq as a “phony soldier,” which he denies, then I, along with most Americans, would be deeply offended by such a statement.
While I do not agree with everything Mr. Limbaugh says on every topic, I do believe that he, along with every American, has the right to voice his or her opinion in the manner they choose. The First Amendment gives every American the right to voice his or her opinion, no matter how unpopular. That right is one that I am sure you agree must be cherished and protected.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel, I support each of our on-air talent’s right to express his or herself freely, as long as they do it within the confines of the laws set forth by Congress. For this reason, I have not and will not impose my own views upon any of our on-air talent. Doing so would, quite frankly, undermine the integrity of the broadcast, undercut the trust with our listeners that they are receiving the true and honest opinions of the radio host, and more importantly fly directly in the face the right to free speech that we hold so dear.
Each and every day, Clear Channel airs a broad diversity of viewpoints from Rush Limbaugh on the right to Air America on the left of the political spectrum. It is inevitable, with so many different perspectives, than an on-air personality will challenge or even offend another segment of the public. I too am sometimes offended by words that are directed at me or a particular belief I hold. However, as a broadcaster and leader of this company, I will always defend the right of our employees and contracted talent to voice their opinions under the protections provided by the First Amendment.
I want to thank you and your colleagues for writing me regarding this matter. Again, I regret that you were offended by Mr. Limbaugh’s statement, regardless of what its intended meaning may have been. I hope that you understand and support my position that while I certainly do not agree with all views that are voiced on our stations, I will not condemn our talent for exercising their right to voice them.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Mays
Chief Executive Officer
It will take a lot of hard work and effort to defeat this smear machine, which is in high gear.
How is the Reid letter not a de facto Bill of Attainder?
PING!
It should have been a stronger statement.
I guess I’m just not dipolmatic enough - I would have penned a letter telling Reid & Co. to shove their condemnation request right up their collective asses.
He respectfully requested that they go pound sand. That’s my take.
Rush is up to it.
In the end, they are going to regret taking on Rush.
I wish it had been stronger also. Hate to see anyone catering to the Dims in any way.
I finally heard what Limbaugh said on the Glenn Beck show today. It seems like this is something where Limbaugh could sue and win easily.
It is, and is forbidden by the constitution.
An ethics complaint should be filed and acted upon.
Why haven’t the Republicans made out a commendation letter outlining the good Rush has done for the troops?
It treads a fine line, but I think it puts a foot down in the right place. Screw you would not have been diplomatic, however pleasing :)
Every sentient person on this planet knows this smear was taken out of context. This guy should have said so.
The letter came from the Senate. But the letter in no way represented the majority of the Senate.
Big headline, same 40 Rats who take turns on a daily basis smearing some conservative.
I like the clear channel response. But I bet it don’t get any coverage as a polite rejection of those who criticize freedom of speech when it don’t fit their agenda.
I’ve heard that 41 Democrat Senators signed the letter to Clear Channel. Any idea who the 41 are?
I don't disagree with you about it being a smear machine, but I have got to wonder how effective it could be. This whole thing with Rush, who the hell are they trying to sell it to? No one who listens to Rush is going to buy it, even people in the middle are never going to believe that Rush would ever say anything bad about the military or anyone who has served, so why bother? The only people who will buy it are the same people who repeat it and even they know it's BS.
We keep saying give the left enough rope...it's starting to look like we're being to witness the hanging we've been waiting for.
It is, laws don’t apply to Democrats.
I think one of the Republicans did put forth a commendation resolution for Rush, for all he has done for the troops. Today or yesterday. It was in one of the recent threads, perhaps someone can link it.
"Nuts!"
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