Stern expecting boot, urges anti-Bush vote [Stern's Crybaby Rant]

Newsday via Ogden Standard Examiner ^ | 3/6/2004 | unknown

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Newsday

Howard Stern, sounding grim and depressed, said Friday on his top-rated morning show that he expected to be forced off the radio within three months, the victim of a political and financial campaign driven by right-wing religious conservatives.

He urged listeners to vote against President Bush in revenge.

"The plug is about to be pulled on me," he told his audience, which he estimated at about 16 million listeners nationwide. "I'm saying my goodbyes now. There's nothing you can do about it . . . Vote George Bush out of office. That's all I ask. Remember me when you go to the voting booth."

Until recently, Stern has stayed away from politics. "I just want to do fart jokes and have stripper chicks in here," he said Friday. He has talked about going off the air before, but usually around the time of contract negotiations. His current contract has two years to run.

Stern's show, carried on more than 40 stations around the country and broadcast from WXRK/92.3 FM in New York, was suspended Feb. 24 from six stations owned by radio giant Clear Channel Communications, a Texas company whose owners are major backers of Bush.

Stern is syndicated by Infinity Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc., that also owns more than 100 stations.

When announcing the suspension, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan said that Stern was being punished for an incident in which a caller used a racial slur while referring to African-American women.

On Tuesday, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, wrote to Viacom president Mel Karmazin about Infinity's lack of action. "In light of Infinity's reported new indecency policy, and the supposed use of a substantial time delay, I do not understand how such a broadcast could be aired using an Infinity broadcast license," he wrote.

"Clear Channel set me up," Stern said. "They used me. They threw me to the wolves."

He said he expected Infinity to be forced to drop him by the threat of huge fines (Congress is considering raising fines for broadcast indecency to $500,000, up from the current maximum of $27,500) and possible loss of broadcast licenses.

"Mel will not be able to do business . . . The company will try to fight back, but it won't be able to. I'm heartbroken about this," Stern said.

A Stern campaign against Bush is no idle threat, in the opinion of one industry expert. "George W. Bush should lie awake at night having lost Howard Stern's support and having Stern as a political enemy," said Michael Harrison, founder and editor of the industry journal Talkers magazine.

Although it is independent, Talkers has links to the conservative Heritage Foundation, which sponsors its twice-yearly talk-radio seminars.

"Stern's clout, his influence over adults who vote, professionals, 30-something and 40-something professionals, is enormous," Harrison said.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

"Stern's clout, his influence over adults who vote, professionals, 30-something and 40-something professionals, is enormous," Harrison said.

Yeah, I'm going to go vote for Kerry because Howard Stern told me to. You better lay off whatever you're smoking/drinking/snorting, Harrison.

[KantianBurke]

Stern's popularity has been dropping for quite some time. The divorce with his wife changed the show much for the negative. Who wants to hear about his latest date with a supermodel?

[swarthyguy]

Vote for stupidity and juvenile idiocy on the radio.

[AQGeiger]

Howard Stern needs to get over himself. Like President Bush isn't so busy leading the war on terror that he actually cares what a past-his-peak "shock jock" says about him in between his interviews of strippers and Playboy playmates.....give me a break.

[mtbopfuyn]

I wouldn't sully my boot on the likes of that slime.

[EggsAckley]

"George W. Bush should lie awake at night having lost Howard Stern's support and having Stern as a political enemy,"

Talk about arrogance!! I'm sure there must be millions of Stern fans who now won't vote for Bush! < /sarcasm>

[kenth]

"George W. Bush should lie awake at night having lost Howard Stern's support and having Stern as a political enemy,"

hehehe.... haaaahahahahahahaaaaaa

[Fenris6]

I've channel surfed into his show - stupid bimbos getting undressed on nation TV while Stern tries out his latest pick up line. It was about as entertaining as getting a first hand acount of his bathroom habits - and here he is acting like his program is some kinda anti-establishment Drudge report enlightening the ignorant masses. Stern's rating were already heading south, he's a has-been trying to cash in one last time. What a joke.

Maybe he and Micheal Moore can commiserate together at teh local gay bath house.

[codyjacksmom]

Somebody better call the waaaaaaaaaambulance. Cart his sorry butt outta there!

[cherry]

there's been plenty of Freepers who will defend Stern no matter what....

so here he is , in all his glory, sticking it to the Pubs again....

when will people learn that we are in a cultural war....

If one believes in families, in civilized living, in God, in freedom, than you can not be indulging yourself with this modern day pornagraphy......

[tkathy]

These are serious times for serious people. Only fools would vote as a fool would tell them.

[admiralsn]

Even though Kerry said that he supported the actions against Stern.

(Although I am sure he probably contradicted himself the next day and blasted the move.)

[AUH2OY2K]

You may be celebrating now, but wait until the Democrats take control of the White House. Rush, Bob Grant, and Savage will be forced off the air for their perceived anti Semitic, racist, sexist, and homophobic comments. When this occurs, us conservatives will lose our strongest media outlet. While some believe Stern is vile, others believe that the aforesaid radio show hosts are much more dangerous. In the words of Roger Miller, "a pendulum swings like a pendulum do."

[paul51]

Stern's clout, his influence over adults who vote, professionals, 30-something and 40-something professionals, is enormous

Yeah I'm sure it is. This is the guy who walks around with his ass hanging out of the back of his pants...or maybe I have him confused with another freak.

[FITZ]

Stern's rating were already heading south, he's a has-been trying to cash in one last time. What a joke.

I was completely bored by Stern's "humor" after the first 20 minutes of listening to him and I never tuned back in. I guess I'm in that over 30 bracket he's talking about --- but I know absolutely no one who listens to him. I have a feeling his ratings weren't nearly as high as he believes --- he's not bringing in the money to those stations who are dropping him.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I don't know. It's hard to keep all the media freaks straight these days. They're so many of them.

[FITZ]

In the words of Roger Miller, "a pendulum swings like a pendulum do."

That may be what we're seeing --- we've had the "anything at all goes" for some time now --- we've got aging pop stars flashing an audience that consists of families and kids at NFL games --- the pendulum is swinging back to some kind of values at least on the public airwaves ---- there will be plenty of porn still available on subscription channels --- you won't have to fear any shortage.

[CWOJackson]

LOL!

I always expected Stern was a regular Freeper. Now just which one of the unappeaseables is he?

[BeerSwillr]

Stern's show ceased to be funny years ago.

Having said that, this Harrison person is fairly accurate in what he is saying. There are legions of Stern fans out there that are of voting age and have jobs that can't think for themselves. Those people, and I'm sure there are millions of them, will blindly do what he has asked.

[FITZ]

He's not me.