WA State Supreme Court: Talk-radio hosts free to ... talk

The Seattle Times ^ | April 27, 2007 | Ralph Thomas

[hinckley buzzard]

since when do we need the courts to give us verifyed permission? This is still very troubling.

We shouldn't need the courts for this, it should never have reached the State SC level at all. But as long as there are domestic enemies seeking to take away rights, we have to rely on courts as a way to protect ourselves. They're weak sisters a lot of the time, but it's still too early for the Second Amendment to kick in.

[Bogtrotter52]

I know the DUmmies REALLY did not like this decision. They have been on a crusade since the Imus incident. They really believe it is unfair that liberal talk shows are not on the air......At least not for very long. LOL!

[Bogtrotter52]

I dunno....on the politics of the state makeup east and west of the cascades I certainly agree with you. But for scenery, outside of crowded King County, I will take the west of the cascades portion.

[EndWelfareToday]

Under the PDC's regulation, the media exemption applies to coverage of a candidate or ballot measure that occurs during the "content" period of a broadcast, as opposed to the commercial advertising period, when payment is normally required. Hence, if a radio station makes available to a campaign broadcast time for which it ordinarily receives a fee, i.e., commercial time, an in-kind contribution would result. However, the mere fact that a broadcast has value to a campaign, or includes solicitation of funds, votes, or other support, does not convert "commentary" into "advertising" when it occurs during the content portion of a broadcast for which payment is not normally required.

Times reporter Sharon Pian Chan spoke to Carlson, who said:

"It's a great day for freedom of speech in Washington and great day for freedom of speech in America. I am stunned that it was 9-nothing. I thought we would win but rarely do you see the court come down 9-nothing. "There was a lot at stake if this decision had been upheld. Basically radio commentary would have become de facto advertising and free speech would have been commercial speech."

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Sort of sums it all up eh?!

[Grunthor]

or the more rural parts of the west side

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As for me, you can’t beat the Rain Forest between Quinault and Port Angeles.

[Pride in the USA]

ping

[cricket]

He has predicted the liberals will destroy conservative radio under the guise of "equal time." . . .opefully, this ruling be used as "precedent" for other attempts by the liberals to silence the conservative hosts?

It is a huge relief that this this decision has been 'called' in favor of our Constitution and First Amendment. I would imagine, of course, that the Lib Establishmenet will take this as a 'set back'; rather than a defeat. . .they will not give up; and we cannot either; by any stretch; any means.

[Safetgiver]

I like that big hill y’all got out there.

[jonrick46]

King County takes up about 1/3 of the voting population of Washington State with 974,340 registered voters in the 2006 elections. Statewide there were 3,264,511 registered voters in 2006. In that election, King County voters favored liberal U.S Senator, Marie Cantwell over Republican Mike McGavick by almost 67%. This translated in Even though McGavick was a big loser in the rest of the state, it would have been difficult for him to overcome the 229,220 vote lead generated by King County for Cantwell. The rest of the state, with its 2290171 voters, would have to generate 55% for McGavick to overcome the 229,220 King County votes (1259695 vs 1030475).

[BOATSNM8]

And that doesn’t even count the “unregistered voters”! ;)

[soccermom]

I miss John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur. The local talk hosts in my new area leave a lot to be desired.

[soccermom]

I'll take anything over there compared to the Midwest! I'll take Tacoma! The people of out here in middle America are nice, but the scenery leaves A LOT to be desired! I wish I could afford to "summer" in Seattle.

[radiohead]

I miss John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur. The local talk hosts in my new area leave a lot to be desired.

You said it. I'm glad to be out of Seattle, but miss my talk radio. No offense to farmers, but I am surprised how often the talk is about farming issues, even in urban areas such as Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

[soccermom]

Justice Sanders is very conservative. When he was campaigning for a seat on the court, I met him at an event that Wilbur and Carlson attended. However, he is even more a champion of the 1st Amendment than even conservatism. As I recall, he ruled on some things that I wouldn’t think of as conservative — but very “constitutional.”

[soccermom]

I’m in the St. Louis area now. I thought that KMOX, as the home of Rush Limbaugh, would be great. But it is BORRRRRRRRIIIIING. Then there is “Younger, Smarter, Better” 97.1 FM Talk. It may indeed, be “younger” than the snoozers at KMOX, but that station doesn’t have much but Dave Glover. And he isn’t conservative — just funny and a good friend of Glenn Beck. Every now and then I try to stream KVI on the computer, but usually don’t have the time to be within earshot of a computer.

[Grunthor]

Look at a map of the state, find Seattle. Draw a line with your finger going west. When you get to the Western side of the Olympic Mountain Range, stop.

You’ve found the closest thing to heaven this earth currently has to offer.

[wintertime]

He has predicted the liberals will destroy conservative radio under the guise of “equal time.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hey,,liberals here on FR try to destroy and censor conservatives by whiny complaints of abuse to the moderators.

[soccermom]

I don’t doubt it. But, again, at this point I’d settle for the Everett shipyards!

[Grunthor]

“I don’t doubt it. But, again, at this point I’d settle for the Everett shipyards!”

LOL!