Beyond Rush: Hannity, Beck, Levin Hit with Advertiser Bans

Newsmax.com ^ | March 11, 2012 | Newsmax Wires

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Efforts to silence Rush Limbaugh are apparently having a significant impact on the talk radio business as a whole, including syndicated radio shows hosted by Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Glenn Beck.

After provocative comments made about a female Georgetown law school student, Limbaugh's show has been targeted by liberal groups that have pressured more than two dozen advertisers to drop his program from their ad buys.

Now, Rush's syndicator, Premiere Networks, is losing advertisers for other conservative programs it airs.

According to an internal Premiere memorandum obtained by Radio-Info.com, the company says 98 advertisers no longer wanted to air ad spots on any "offensive or controversial" talk programs.

Radio-Info says the list of advertisers include "carmakers (Ford, GM, Toyota), insurance companies (Allstate, Geico, Prudential, State Farm) and restaurants (McDonald’s, Subway)."

[Mad Dawgg]

"Think thru this with me - if Levin was trying to use his government power to get Limbaugh removed from ALL radio stations, just because he doesn't like his opinions, that most certainly would be a first amendment issue, right? "

No and repeating such Ad infinitum Ad nauseam doesn't make it so.

Talking on the Radio has nothing to do with Free Speech.

Talking on the Radio IS REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT! The Very Rules of the FCC sez they can FINE STATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FCC CODE OF RULES.

Further the Armed Forces Radio network is RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Levin has a case to take Limbaugh off the Armed Forces Radio network if Rush engaged in Libel as PER THE FCC RULES! You are not allowed to Slander or Defame as per FCC RULES. (Such could cause the Armed Forces Radio Network to be sued for boatloads of cash not saying who would win but that has nothing to do with if such can be put before a judge.)

What you should understand is that IF Levin DOES get RUSH removed from Armed Forces Radio it will be the biggest dust up the Left has ever seen. They will lose BIGTIME!

Blowback can't begin to describe what will happen to the left!

[safeasthebanks]

Sorry, I just don't see it that way. Maybe I missed it, but Levin is not whining about Limbaugh not following FCC rules (nor is the MM boycott attempt related to that far as I can tell). This is about Levin just not liking an opinion, with a little name calling, that Limbaugh expressed.

You are absolutuely right that no one has a right to be on the radio, but one does have a right (yes, first amendment in my opinion) to expect a valid contract you have, and earn a living thru, not be tossed aside - and you lose money - by a politician (or group of politicians) just because they didn't like something you said.

Now, honestly, I haven't gone back and checked Levin's actual comments. If he just said something like, "I don't think this is the kind of talk that our serviceman should be hearing", as an opinion (albeit, a powerful one) expressed to those who determine the programming on Armed Forces Radio, which the programmers can then listen to, or ignore, as they decide what if anything they want to do (legally/contractually) with Rush's show on their station, then I don't see a problem. But it is a problem, if Levin used his power as an upper eshelon member of the government to get Limbaugh's show pulled. Yes, fortunately he PROBABLY doesn't have the power to that, but it is still telling if he seems to think he can.

No opinion on my Media Matters canundrum?

[cableguymn]

Not available in Minnesota :(

[Vendome]

21st Century?

[cableguymn]

available. They are already on my list to price quote. I like their commercials so they stuck in my head ;)

[cableguymn]

21st is no go. twice the rate of progressive. 1200 every 6.

[Albion Wilde]

... insurance companies (Allstate, Geico, Prudential, State Farm)

Aw, crap-- now we will be stuck with nothing but Progressive ads. The CEO, Peter Lewis, is a huge leftwing donor and Soros pal. Progressive is so brazen, they even advertise on Christian radio. It's not hard to see why the Demonrats call Republicans the stupid party.

[Vendome]

Wow.

[AndrewB]

Most talk stations have garden shows, real estate shows, health related shows, etc. Non-political stuff.

[Mad Dawgg]

"You are absolutuely right that no one has a right to be on the radio, but one does have a right (yes, first amendment in my opinion) to expect a valid contract you have, and earn a living thru, not be tossed aside - and you lose money - by a politician (or group of politicians) just because they didn't like something you said.

And there is your problem. The First Amendment does not cover Contracts.

And when you assert it does you immediately invalidate your whole argument. Use the proper argument and you give the left no cover, use the wrong one and they can dismiss your whole premise.

Why do you wish to give the left ammo to dismiss your assertions?

[berdie]

Absolutely. But unless things have changed, an advertiser could request what times of day and night their ads would run.

I would hazard to guess that the politcally slanted shows have the prime time slots and biggest audience.

So I guess advertisers pick their poison. Stay safe or pick what might (probably will) have some controversy involved.

[Tau Food]

I don’t think Rush needs advertisers. He has enough money to allow him to do his show without any advertising. He could simply buy stations and forget about advertisers.

[safeasthebanks]

The first amendment affirms the right to free speech, i.e, the government can't punish you for expressing an opinion it doesn't like. Do you actually think that the only "punishment" prohibited is throwing you in jail? In other words, do you actually think there's not a first amendment issue, if say, the Dems keep the Presidency and gain back control of the House, then pass a law that any radio station that broadcasts talk shows that have political discussions (not just pro-conservative opinions, ANY political opinions) have to pay higher taxes?

Just trying to get a better understanding here of what your view is on just what the 1st amendment is there for.

[Mad Dawgg]

"The first amendment affirms the right to free speech, i.e, the government can't punish you for expressing an opinion it doesn't like. Do you actually think that the only "punishment" prohibited is throwing you in jail? In other words, do you actually think there's not a first amendment issue, if say, the Dems keep the Presidency and gain back control of the House, then pass a law that any radio station that broadcasts talk shows that have political discussions (not just pro-conservative opinions, ANY political opinions) have to pay higher taxes?

"Just trying to get a better understanding here of what your view is on just what the 1st amendment is there for."

OK you yourself posted: "You are absolutuely right that no one has a right to be on the radio,"

So being such is true how would you have a First Amendment Right to be on the Radio being you just said you didn't?

Secondly Though you still wouldn't have an actionable case under the First Amendment in your above Tax Example YOU MAY have one under Article 1 Section 9 AND the 14th Amendment at least you can make a tenuous case with those.

But that is neither here nor there being we have established with your own words that no one has a RIGHT to speak on the radio so that would be QED...

[safeasthebanks]

So, yes or no, the only time the first amendment would be violated is if the fed. government throws you in jail for expressing an opinion? If no, give me an example where in your opinion, the first amendment is violated.

(And yes, no one has a right to be on the radio, but EVERYONE has the right, yes, via the first amendment, to be held to the same standards while broadcasting or be liable for the same financial obligations i.e. taxes no matter what political opinion they may express.)

[Gaffer]

Democrat lies and propaganda. None of them will miss one cent.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Here's a link and some of their statements.

[cableguymn]

Well... I didn’t realize the list is so long. Many of them are clients.. While I’d love to cut them off. I need them to feed my kids.

[Mad Dawgg]

"(And yes, no one has a right to be on the radio, but EVERYONE has the right, yes, via the first amendment, to be held to the same standards while broadcasting or be liable for the same financial obligations i.e. taxes no matter what political opinion they may express.)"

No the First Amendment covers SPECIFIC issues VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES Speech, Religion, the Press, Assembly, and Redress of Grievances

What you are talking about with Equal Treatment Under the Law falls under another part of the Constitution/Amendments (That being the 14th Amendment Section 1 "Equal Protection Under the Law" clause though its not a clear cut and dried case) which again means ITS NOT A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO MAKE IT ONE.

[safeasthebanks]

So, yes or no, you believe the only first amendment violation is when the federal government jails or fines someone for expressing an opinion, that's it?

Do you or don't you have free speech issues with campaign finance laws and, more specifically, agree or disagree with the majority decision in the Citizens United case, which used the 1st amnedment (free speech) almost exclusively as the justification for finding restictions on corp. and union political expenditures unconstitutional?