Posted on 06/17/2004 4:20:00 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Liberal groups that want to bounce Rush Limbaugh's radio show off Armed Forces Radio have found a Senate ally.
Sen. Tom Harkins (D-Iowa) announced on Wednesday that he has successfully amended the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization bill, adding a provision that calls on American Forces Radio and Television Service to provide political balance in its public affairs programming.
Harkin was quoted as saying that American Forces Radio and Television Service is funded by taxpayers of all political persuasions, and therefore it should "make a greater effort to provide balanced representation of political viewpoints on its airwaves to American service members around the world."
Media Matters for America -- a liberal group that monitors conservative media for "misinformation"-- praised Harkin for introducing the amendment -- and the entire Senate for going along with it.
For the past seven weeks, Media Matters for America has been monitoring The Rush Limbaugh Show - transcribing and publishing Limbaugh's "offensive statements" regarding the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
Media Matters for America has written two letters to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, asking him to remove Limbaugh's radio show from the taxpayer-funded American Forces radio network.
Among other things, Media Matters for America accuses Limbaugh of undermining the military's command structure and endangering U.S. troops.
According to an online petition on Media Matters' website, "In recent weeks, Rush Limbaugh has: Compared the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib to a fraternity initiation; called the abuse "brilliant" and "effective"; said the guards were just "having a good time" and "blow[ing] some steam off"; likened the abuse to "a Britney Spears or Madonna concert ... [or] the MTV music awards"; compared pictures of the abuse to "good old American pornography"; and said "the reaction to the stupid torture is an example of the feminization of this country."
Media Matters says its online petition has generated more than 25,000 signatures to date.
On his radio program, Limbaugh has made the point that the mistreatment of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison does not meet the definition of torture; that President Bush's critics are overreacting to the prison scandal just to hurt him politically; that the abuse at Abu Ghraib garnered more "mainstream" media coverage than the beheading of an American civilian in Iraq; and that the U.S. is "investigating itself to the point of paralysis," and may "end up with people afraid to pull the trigger."
'Destructive propaganda'
In a press release issued Wednesday, Media Matters essentially accused Limbaugh of brainwashing U.S. troops:
"Not only is it unacceptable that our troops are being conditioned with this destructive propaganda, it is abhorrent that the American taxpayer is now paying for the broadcast of a reckless radio host who called the torture of Iraqi prisoners 'brilliant' and 'effective'," said David Brock, president and CEO of Media Matters for America.
"The Senate action is a step in the right direction to ensure that Limbaugh's messaging can be countered with more credible voices reaching out troops," Brock added.
The Senate amendment passed on Wednesday calls on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to develop appropriate methods of oversight to make sure the news service presents balanced political programming. The measure passed in the Senate by unanimous consent, Media Matters said.
The defense authorization bill must be reconciled by a conference committee, and it's unclear if Harkin's amendment will survive that process.
Media Matters isn't the only group gunning for Rush Limbaugh.
Democracy Radio, a group "dedicated to ending the political imbalance that exists on America's radio airwaves," says the Rush Limbaugh Show is the only program of its kind on AFRTS that offers political commentary. Democracy Radio notes that AFRTS is funded by public tax dollars and reaches nearly 1 million U.S. troops every day.
Media Matters for America describes itself as a "progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media."
Both groups are part of a larger liberal agenda to counter the influence of conservative talk radio on the American electorate.
See Earlier Story:
Liberals Want Limbaugh Booted Off Armed Forces Radio (27 May 2004)
Yes, let's have balance by all means! And on NPR, too!
I a hoping that is exactly what will happen. I don't think the libs realize what a can of worms they are opening -- giving equal time to the opposite point of view to NPR. I would love to see it!
..for 6 months, then ask the Armed Service Members..Whom they prefer!....then make the schedules on AFRN.....
BTW..Why do NPR and PBS Exist, RUSH isn't taxpayer supported...Why should NPR and PBS "ride for free " ?
Harkin was quoted as saying that American Forces Radio and Television Service is funded by taxpayers of all political persuasions, and therefore it should "make a greater effort to provide balanced representation of political viewpoints on its airwaves to American service members around the world."
Harkin needs a Neuro-Proctologist big time! My taxes also fund NPR! The troops LIKE Rush! The libs DON'T. AFR is SUPPOSED to be for the troops. Harkin and his ilk don't give a damn about the troops. "Balanced representation" my you-know-what!
On his radio program, Limbaugh has made the point that the mistreatment of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison does not meet the definition of torture; that President Bush's critics are overreacting to the prison scandal just to hurt him politically; that the abuse at Abu Ghraib garnered more "mainstream" media coverage than the beheading of an American civilian in Iraq; and that the U.S. is "investigating itself to the point of paralysis," and may "end up with people afraid to pull the trigger."
What the hell is the PROBLEM? Liberals just hate the truth! Did we cut anybody's head off in Abu Ghraib? Cut off ANYTHING? Genitals? Cut out eyeballs or tongues? Put anybody thru a shredder? Hello?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.