NPR Station Censors 'God'

FamilyNews ^ | 2/19/03 | Terry Phillips

[ppaul]

A National Public Radio station in Colorado has touched off a controversy by deciding that God can't be mentioned in what are essentially commercials.

A dentist in the Four Corners area of the Southwestern United States uses the phrase, "Gently Restoring the Health God Created," as a theme in his practice. "It's on our stationary and our appointment cards, and things like that," said Dr. Glenn Rutherford, based in Pagosa Springs, Colo.

But when he used the phrase in sponsorship of programs on KSUT-FM, a taxpayer-funded National Public Radio station in the area, the staff wouldn't have it. A station representative broke the news to the doctor.

"He said, 'Well, we had a staff meeting and there was universal agreement that that couldn't go on," Rutherford said.

The "that" was the mention of God. But when Don Wildmon, president of the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association, got involved, the reason for editing "God" appeared to have changed. Wildmon said KSUT station manager, Beth Warren, wrote a letter that said, in part: "'The station is bound by (Federal Communications Commission) rules for public broadcasting, and works daily to comply with lots of regulations set forth by Congress.' "

Said Wildmon: "She's implying that it's illegal to do this, when it's not."

When Family News in Focus called Warren for clarification, she said the matter was between the station and Dr. Rutherford, and hung up. Subsequent calls to KSUT were not returned.

Said Rutherford: "I was a little incensed the station could run gay and lesbian coalition sponsorship spots — but I couldn't mention God in mine?"

TAKE ACTION

The KSUT Web site contains a contact form that you can use to send comments.

[AppyPappy]

No he's just a liar

[mollynme]

Yes - he is an ordained minister of the "United Church of Christ" who are known for their "open & affirming" views. They have publicly declared that:

"gay, lesbian, bisexual" (GLB) people (or those of all "sexual orientations")are welcome in its full life and ministry (e.g. membership, leadership,employment etc.)

[friendly]

Why are my stolen tax dollars being used to fund my sworn enemy at PBS? Time for the Republicans to actually defund the left, the traitors and enemy of the Republic!

[Redbob]

"Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho!
NPR has got to go!"

Isn't that how that Whining Classes would do it?

[Destro]

I never hear the name Jesus on those TV Christmas specials either (with the exception of that Charlie Brown special).

[holdmuhbeer]

Gee, big surprise here.

[Ides of March]

Here's another KSUT pop-up ad sponsor:
www.pagosahotsprings.com

And the two previously mentioned sponsors, for your convenience:
www.icehouselodge.com
www.camelsgarden.com

Be sure to tell them KSUT sent you!

[Carry_Okie]

Said Rutherford: "I was a little incensed the station could run gay and lesbian coalition sponsorship spots — but I couldn't mention God in mine?"

Wake up and smell the coffee, idiot.

[pgyanke]

You seem to be calling the protagonist of the article an idiot. If you are, please elaborate... your position is definitely in the minority here.

[VRWCmember]

But when he used the phrase in sponsorship of programs on KSUT-FM, a taxpayer-funded National Public Radio station in the area, the staff wouldn't have it.

Easy solution: He should spend his money sponsoring a program on another station more consistent with his philosophy. Giving any money to NPR in this case is simply poor stewardship.

[Puppage]

I hope God bans NPR! What with lightening being so cheap and all.

[Vic3O3]

ping! Letter sent to station to complain.

[Carry_Okie]

You seem to be calling the protagonist of the article an idiot. If you are, please elaborate... your position is definitely in the minority here.

That's because he is. He is expecting respect for the Constitution from a socialist radio network. He is expecting the staff of a "public radio" station to respect his financial support when the usual liberal mentality is to feel entitled to it. He is expecting respect for his unalienable right of free speech at the hands of NPR when his message is contrary to the staff agenda.

Liberals don't care a whit for such things and never have. The good doctor is irrationally projecting his sensibilities on a claque of fascists. He is probably a liberal RINO or "moderate" democrat who can't recognize the natrual progression of policies he has supported and is surprised when they are realized. He should know better and so should you.

[pgyanke]

Testy, aren't we?

I don't see anything to warrant your assessment of this dentist as a liberal RINO or democrat in the article or any other account I've read. In fact, he doesn't seem very supportive of a major democratic constituency (homosexuals) as evidenced by his disgust that they can get their message out while he can't. He is simply a dentist who tried to advertise on a local station and was censored. He didn't try to advertise to make a political point, he tried to help his business. NPR made it a political issue. I have a great distrust of people who can't see beyond politics, you find such ideologues predominantly in communist and fascist regimes. Although I agree with your opinion of the left, your criticism of a good American is completely off base.

[Carry_Okie]

Although I agree with your opinion of the left, your criticism of a good American is completely off base.

You aren't employing your critical thinking skills. This man clearly watches public television and listens to NPR. He finds them valuable and worthy of his financial support. That qualifies him as a liberal right there. That he could listen to that agenda for years, and NOT understand where it goes, is totally idiotic. He may be a humane individual, but that he supports socialism with his money, does not make him a good American.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"...we had a staff meeting and there was universal agreement..."

So much for "diversity."

[American in Israel]

About the only place you can never find diversity is in leftist circles. "Squares" are not allowed...

[pgyanke]

> "You aren't employing your critical thinking skills."

And you are? Read and learn...

> "This man clearly watches public television and listens to NPR. He finds them valuable and worthy of his financial support."

That isn't substantiated by the article. You don't seem to be the sort of person who has ever run a business. If you were, you would know that advertising isn't something you do based on political ideology. Your money isn't going to "support" an organization. You are spending your money to get the word out about your own goods and services. I would argue exactly the opposite to your own reasoning. In my business (financial planning), my best demographic is the Rush Limbaugh show and talk radio in general. I have advertised there. If I had more money to spend on advertising, there is a large population of my local neighbors who regularly listen to NPR. I'm not "supporting" them with advertising dollars, I'm reaching out to another segment of the population that may not listen to conservative talk radio and therefore haven't heard my ad. That's good marketing. Ignoring your customers simply because you disagree with their political philosophy is business suicide and patently unAmerican.

> "He may be a humane individual, but that he supports socialism with his money, does not make him a good American."

No, what makes him a good American is the fact that he is a dentist who seeks to expand his business, employ his neighbors and fosters a better community through a capitalist outreach and trickle-down economics. I'm sure he's very patriotic since he's obviously disgusted that his local PUBLIC station censors him and he is fighting back. You, on the other hand, are criticizing him for a background you do not know in market conditions you don't understand with insults that are more a product of image projection than reality.