GE Turns Out the Light on Paul Harvey

CNSNews.com ^ | 12/23/2003 | Susan Jones

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

(CNSNews.com) - General Electric, in response to Muslim complaints, has decided to pull its lighting advertisements from Paul Harvey's syndicated radio show, at least for the time being.

On Dec. 4, the 84-year-old Harvey was describing cockfighting in Iraq when he made the following comment on-air: "Add to the thirst for blood a religion which encourages killing, and it is entirely understandable if Americans came to this bloody party unprepared."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, objected to the phrase "a religion which encourages killing," and it demanded an apology.

About a week later, Harvey issued a statement through a fill-in host. He didn't apologize, but he did say that Islam is a "religion of peace."

On Monday, CAIR distributed an e-mail that General Electric's Corporate Feedback Team sent to a Muslim who complained about Harvey's remark.

"Thank you for your recent inquiry on ge.com," the email read.

"We have received your E-mail about the comments of Paul Harvey on December 4, 2003. GE certainly doesn't endorse the comment and regrets any offense that it may have caused. While we look into the matter further, we have pulled GE's advertisements from Mr. Harvey's show. We appreciate voicing your concerns to us."

A GE spokesman was quoted as saying that the company hasn't yet decided whether to resume its advertising on Harvey's syndicated radio show.

[leadpenny]

Good one.

[FixitGuy]

GE will have a hard time with the concept of LIGHT after this foray into the darkness!

[FixitGuy]

Paul Harvey has always been known as a commentator!

Does GE think that he no longer has a right to "commentate"?

Surprised as the PC crowd may be, I betcha most Americans believe this about the Muslim religion. Certainly the suicide bombers, hijackers, Al qaeda, Ansar Al Islam and all terriorists believe their religion is an excuse to kill innocent people!

Again, the clerics need to reducate their flock, if they have any GUTS!

Won't hold my breath.

[FixitGuy]

'scuse...reducate = re-educate ??

[EDINVA]

oh, that's a loss !

[yoe]

I wonder how many Muslims are stock holders.........

If there were a Paul Harvey stock, I would buy it in a heart beat. Apparently freedom of speech is just for a few....

[montag813]

Instead of boycotting GE products, which they will never notice...why not do as CAIR did...a massive letter-writing campaign telling them how you feel? GE must be made aware of the links to radical groups that CAIR has, and that a number of Congressmen have accused them of such, and have called for hearings on the subject. They obviously think that CAIR is just a Muslim NAACP, which couldnt be farther from the truth. They are an apologist group for terrorist, and GE should be made aware of this, and reminded that non-Muslims still comprise the majority of consumers in this nations, and that the majority LOVES PAUL HARVEY and is MAD that GE would even consider such an action.

[jragan2001]

Looks like I will be buying Philips Light Bulbs for now on.