My CAIR-Inspired Firing [Michael Graham]

Front Page Mag ^ | 8-23-05 | Michael Graham

[ctdonath2]

On a tangent, radio personality Bob Lonsberry (Rochester, NY) was fired for calling the black Democratic mayor a monkey (by implication only, at that) ... and at the same time the same radio station was running an ad calling Republicans monkeys.

[ConservativeStatement]

We have a local talk show host named Jay Severin who was the object of CAIR's wrath last year for words they found offensive but they failed in their attempt to get him fired. He was not on the air Monday (I am not sure if he is on vacation this week) but I am sure he will talk about this subject eventually. He is local only but the story made national news and Michelle Malkin, among others, defended Severin.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "I am talking about here is the 1st AmendmentRIGHT TO DELIVER A POLITICAL OPINION" v. a Fairness Doctrine.

I see the distinction you're are making. I still reject the idea. I don't want government to get its nose back under the tent. Perhaps if the threat is across the board and not just a single radio station.

My other reply to you gave me the chance to mention, Walter "North Viet Nam Communists' most trusted man in America" Cronkite. I welcome every chance to say, Walter "North Viet Nam Communists' most trusted man in America" Cronkite. I really like saying, Walter "North Viet Nam Communists' most trusted man in America" Cronkite.

[sandbar]

>>>This is not a First Amendment issue. As sympathetic as I am to him, his silly hyperbole doesn't help.>>>

I agree. He has no more first amendment right to not piss his employer off anymore than Whoopi had a first amendment right when Slimfast fired her. And she wasn't even on company time.

I DO think ABC is a crock of crap since they cater to terrorists groups (I firmly believe that), but this isn't a first amendment issue.

[BayouCoyote]

If we apply CAIR's standards to the Koran, that book would be banned.


Now there's an idea whose time has come!

[sageb1]

"That’s the real tragedy here. The people who most need free speech and open dialogue on the issues facing Islam today are America's moderate Muslims. These are people of good will who have the difficult job ahead of reforming and rescuing their religion. They need all the help they can get."

These people of "good will" need to reNOUNCE Islam. There is no "reform" possible and it cannor be "rescued."

[sageb1]

If I'm not mistaken, Move America Forward linked to an article by Graham on NRO in which he described his recent visit to Iraq. He is a contributing writer at NRO and I think he will soon enjoy that status elsewhere, as well.

[reagan_fanatic]

CAIR is a terrorist organisation abusing the freedoms of America to undermine its government and eventually install an islamic system of government in its place.

It needs to be shut down and its leadership arrested.

[sageb1]

Welcome to FR!

[sageb1]

Thank you for posting the info on CAIR's tax status. This was a question I asked a few weeks ago. Any organization affiliated with terrorists and their propaganda organizations should NOT be allowed tax-exempt status. Wasn't there a similar situation with one of the leftist organizations on the west coast where because they were on the government's list of domestic terrorist orgainizations, they lost their status? I may not be remembering correctly. I'm sure someone here knows.

[Gabz]

If this is a First Amendment issue, then the liberals can claim conspiracy to suppress their views.

How, pray tell, can liberals claim their views are being supressed?

The Fairness Doctrine has been scrapped. Broadcast radio companies have no obligation to air all political views.

I know the FD was scrapped, and that broadcast stations are under no obligation to broadcast all views, this has nothing to do with the FD. (although IIRC Graham has actually given both sides here, by having CAIR people on as guests) Broadcast stations are, however, under obligation to use the public airwaves in the public interest.......giving into the demands of a private group with KNOWN ties to organizations wishing to destroy this nation is NOT in the public interest and thus feasibily a violation of their licensing obligation.

Is this only my opinion, yes - however it is based upon personal experience in broadcast radio under and after the Fairness Doctrine.

[sageb1]

"If someone wants to do them damage (and i think we should) for what happened they should bring complaints of misuse of public airwaves, and accusations of a relationship with a special interest group that has definite ties to terrorists organizations. CAIR has had definite ties to those type organizations and that is without a doubt indisputable."

This is an excellent idea, however I disagree that this is not a war against Islam. That is precisely what it is.

[Stashiu]

Yup. The 'fragging' in my unit was several rocks with notes on them announcing "Next time it is a grenade". The Brigade HQ was checking into why morale was so low. They sent up an E-8 to battalion, turned out he was an 0-something. I was actually pleased to see the system work.

We got a new 'management' team headed by a West Pointer. No nonsense, no bull crap guy. Just wanted us to do our jobs. Duh! Go figure.

The staff before him were doing really stupid things and taking unnecessary risks with us. In just one particular incident, I had an NCO sending me to pickup some materials. Turns out, we were really stealing them. He never told us about that part. I ended up with a .45 pointed at my temple. I was not amused.

I could go on, but this is serious thread drift.

[isthisnickcool]

Tell ya what you do. Go on over to PBS and tell them that you have the first amendment right to walk in to their broadcast studios and say whatever you want because it's "the public airwaves". Please post back here when you get on the air....

[highball]

Broadcast stations are, however, under obligation to use the public airwaves in the public interest.......giving into the demands of a private group with KNOWN ties to organizations wishing to destroy this nation is NOT in the public interest and thus feasibily a violation of their licensing obligation.

Once CAIR as an organization has actually been shown to be engaged in illegal activities, then you would have a point. Until then, they're just another group we don't like. The Justice Department investigations are ongoing, and until it's been shut down the organization is perfectly legal.

Be wary of involving the government in private businesses just because we don't like them. Invoking "the public interest" is undoubtedly something the next Democrat president will do against conservative organizations, particularly the ones with ties to terrorists like Alan Rudolph.

[mhking]

How long before CAIR figures out that they can go after other radio talk show hosts, columnists or even bloggers?

I'd bet that CAIR is staking out places like FR and blogs all over the place now...

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[highball]

That interpretation of the First Amendment is the same that Congress uses in "interstate commerce" to stick their collective nose in where it doesn't belong. It's a reach.

I didn't think that conservatives believed in finding reasons to expand the reach of the federal government. But heck, I've been wrong before.