Pittsfield radio station drops Limbaugh over remarks

Berkshire Eagle (MA) ^ | 3/5/12 | Staff

[ruralvoter]

A local radio station has yanked the Rush Limbaugh Show from its airwaves in response to remarks in which the controversial talk-show host called a female law student a "slut" and "prostitute" over her support of health insurance coverage of birth control.

On Monday, AM 1420 WBEC , along with KPUA in Hilo Hawaii, dropped the weekday syndicated program because of Limbaugh’s offensive remarks last week toward Sandra Fluke.

"Certainly his comments were outrageous," said WBEC General Manager Peter Barry. "There’s no reason to resort to derogatory comments."

WBEC and KPUA are the first of the 645 stations that air Limbaugh to cancel the show. In addition, nine national sponsors have stopped advertising on the program. Limbaugh apologized over the weekend for his comments.

WBEC first announced the show’s cancellation just prior to its regular airing from noon to 3 p.m. The announcements continued throughout the three-hour time slot, temporarily being filled by a national sports talk program, according to Barry.

"We’re covering with Fox Sports News until we can find an alternative for Limbaugh," he said.

Reaction to WBEC silencing Limbaugh has been mixed.

Barry said he’s received dozens of emails from people around the country praising the station’s action, while several loyal listeners of Limbaugh called WBEC Monday afternoon to criticize the move.

[exit82]

Wow—population of 45,000;western MA.

Big flagship station—not.

[funfan]

Yes

[ruralvoter]

Earlier in the day, the person answering the phone at the radio station said the decision was from “higher ups” which might mean the station owner and/or Barry. That has not been clarified.

The station owner does not appear to have an email or website. If you call their public number you can not leave a voice mail.

Station Owner:
Vox Communications, LLC owns and operates radio stations in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Texas. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in South Burlington, Vermont.

1233 Shelburne Road
Suite 190
South Burlington, VT 05403
United States

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Most lefty talk radio has the charisma and mass appeal of random static. I bet some stations will try to fill the three hours with an ersatz “conservative-lite”. But it wont be the same.

[Kickass Conservative]

>”Rush is calling women sluts for taking the pill”<
Really? Is that what he said?

Disingenuous much?

[Christie at the beach]

This is a signal that the radicals are moving to silence free speech while we

are divided. I think Rush needs Newt on his side since he can stand up to the media. Rush can't fight this alone.

[SnakeDoctor]

>> Do you think us freepers might be able to hit him with double that number?

I don’t see why. Let another station pick Rush up in the same market, and pummel this guy in the ratings. Sweet justice.

SnakeDoc

[ruralvoter]

This radio station serves a rural area near the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. There are a few colleges in the area. Guess how they vote?

Here is a link to the 2008 presidential election vote:

http://www.city-data.com/elec08/BERKSHIRE-MASSACHUSETTS.html

[SnakeDoctor]

>> Rush is calling women sluts for taking the pill

Heh. My wife took the pill for a good long time. If that’s what he said, pretty sure I’d be more offended.

He said this girl was a slut. He shouldn’t have said it. Stupid, thoughtless statement ... but, don’t get hysterical.

SnakeDoc

[Gene Eric]

>> Rush is calling women sluts for taking the pill

You’re omitting key aspects of his point. What are you, a journalist?

[ConservativeStatement]

I was in Boston the day after the Super Bowl. I heard two college-age females talking loudly. One said she was drunk by halftime and “woke up in some guy's bed...I didn't even know who he was....and he told me the next morning the Giants won.” Now, granted, that could mean more than one thing but is that something that should be stated out in the open in front of total strangers? Some decorum please.

[exit82]

This radio station serves a rural area near the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. There are a few colleges in the area. Guess how they vote?

Unexpected! ;)

[acapesket]

Northampton is the Lesbian capitol of the world.
Seriously doubt an AM station can carry anyone with equivalent ratings.

Ummm... Peter Barry....buh bye!

[Big Horn]

I will pay to listen to Rush.

[dfwgator]

When the left takes back all of the horrible things they’ve said about Sarah Palin, then maybe I’ll give a frog’s fat a@@ about what Rush Limbaugh says.

[peeps36]

I don't know why Fox has that goose egg buffoon Imus on in the morning. I wanted to knock his crooked eyes straight when he called Rush a fat loser this morning. You would think that loudmouth blowhard would keep his mouth shut since he knows what it's like being attacked by the self righteous hypocrites on the left. He's such a dirtbag.

[gunsequalfreedom]

Losing advertisers is one thing but when stations start to drop him that is a bit more serious.

[RC one]

but, don’t get hysterical.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the one acting hysterical about this.

[SnakeDoctor]

May want to take another look. Non-hysterical people don’t resort to false paraphrases to make their point.

SnakeDoc

[SgtBob]

I was gonna whack you, but 0430 is early morn, so I shall whack you tomorrow evening.