LIMBAUGH WARNS OF DANGER TO FREE SPEECH

Drudge ^ | 2/26/04 | Drudge/Limbaugh

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

LIMBAUGH WARNS OF DANGER TO FREE SPEECH THU FEB 26 2004 12:28:21 ET

THE NATION'S TOP RADIO HOST RUSH LIMBAUGH WARNED OF GROWING GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN BROADCASTING CONTENT.

LIMBAUGH MADE THE COMMENTS AFTER HIS PARENT COMPANY CLEAR CHANNEL DROPPED VIACOM'S HOWARD STERN FROM ITS STATIONS.

'SMUT ON TV GETS PRAISED. SMUT ON TV WINS EMMYS. ON RADIO, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT STANDARDS,' LIMBAUGH EXPLAINED.

'I'VE NEVER HEARD HOWARD STERN. BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN THIS, I GET A LITTLE FRIGHTENED.

'IF WE ARE GOING TO SIT BY AND LET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO 'CENSOR' WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG... WHAT HAPPENS IF A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOHN KERRYS, OR TERRY MCAULIFFES START RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. AND DECIDE CONSERVATIVE VIEWS ARE LEADING TO VIOLENCE?

'I AM IN THE FREE SPEECH BUSINESS. ITS ONE THING FOR A COMPANY TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE PARTY TO IT. ITS ANOTHER THING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IT.'

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[Arkinsaw]

Broadcast media has restrictions. Thats how it always has been and there is nothing shocking or new about it. The FCC is simply not ignoring violations like it has recently. Not ignoring violations is not a threat to free speech, its a return to the norm.

[dead]

You have no idea what you are talking about. The government threatened Clear Channel, so Clear Channel let Stern go.

The government is putting itself in a position to decide what we, the people are allowed to hear.

And if you think they'll stop at talk of boobs or lesbians and not next go after people who speak against things like abortion or affirmative action or gun control, then you are ignorant of history.

[dfwgator]

What makes Stern think the Rats would be any better? Here in Dallas years ago if was the leftist LULAC organization that tried to shut down Stern after his comments on Selena.

[CJ Wolf]

Ping, understand what is going on here.

[gdani]

Documentation please.

You know the phrase... "facts before you opine."

Hmmm. Let's see.

* Clear Channel is in business to make money.
* Howard Stern is #1 or #2 in the overwhelming majority of markets that his show airs.
* The FCC has previously issued well over $1 million in fines because of content on Stern's show yet Clear Channel continued to carry him.
* Now the FCC is saying they are going to revamp their standards, start issuing more fines & even possibly revist the issue of media consolidation - something Clear Channel obviously cares about.

I think you're smart enough to connect the dots.

[MizSterious]

Rant on. There used to be lots stricter rules for broadcasting, and the First Amendment seems to still stand.

Maybe you should fix that knee--seems to be jerking a bit.

[renosathug]

This is the danger of the slippery slope of censorship. Either side getting excited about their opponents being shut down should realize their turn will come soon enough.

[babbabooeyToYall]

Bump this to the top!

Glad to hear that Limbaugh is taking the truly conservative stance on this. It's been sad reading the couple of threads on FR this morning as so-called conservatives dogpiled on Stern and merrily stuck their heads in the sand vis a vis the role of the FCC and Congressional threats and extortion in this act of censorship. O'Reilly seems to be sort of on Stern's side which is nice since Howard's given O'Reilly the floor on his show a few times.

[camas]

the bill of rights is for the protection of the people and the states. freedom of speech is so i or you can say what the government is doing without fear of prison. if a state or the federal governments passes law against saying the f word or n word they can. it has nothing to do with the first amendment.

[headsonpikes]

Rant on.

Tell it, sister!

John Ashcroft would never allow any infringement of free speech in America.

[gdani]

There used to be lots stricter rules for broadcasting, and the First Amendment seems to still stand.

Maybe you should fix that knee--seems to be jerking a bit.

In case you're not aware, this is a conservative forum. One of the bedrock principles of conservatism is letting the marketplace decide.

Unfortunately, the FCC seems intent on deciding what speech is acceptable & what is not.

I'm sure you won't mind, though, if President Hillary and/or President Kerry are making those decisions.

[Bambino]

And Clear Channel dropped him because they were making too much money from his show? Right.

They dropped him because the nanny-state minions at the FCC are threatening them with huge fines. They were coerced by the feds.

[sheik yerbouty]

"You're not in Kansas anymore"!

[dead]

So, while standing by your absolutely asinine statement that the government had nothing to do with Stern's firing, you praise the government for having something to do with Stern's firing.

The government loves people with the stellar grasp on logic that you are displaying.

They get the leftists to cheer as they silence groups like the NRA or pro-life demonstrators, then they get the dingbats on the right to cheer when they silence Howard Stern.

They gradually seize control of the airways, deciding what you are allowed to hear or say, and you thank them for it. Unbelievable.

[Uncle Hal]

I think Rush is concerned about the SC upholding McCain Feingold Law. I read some where that this could restrict political talk show hosts like Rush and Sean during the last days of the Presidential campaign. Evidently the law is unclear and you know that since most talk shows favor the GOP, if there are restrictions, it would hurt our side the most.

[cyncooper]

Rush is right as usual.

Wrong.

He was wrong Tuesday, right yesterday, wrong today.

Not in everything, mind you, but he's being stupid on the Janet Jackson business, for example. He does not understand--evidently because he cannot discern subtle but very important implications of things, the difference between the Jackson exhibition and a plain old bare breast.

His shallow knee-jerk reactions and pontifications are becoming tiresome.

When he's right, I do applaud and appreciate him. But when he's off the mark I cannot abide him, as he goes on and on and on in his wrongheaded way.

[BykrBayb]

Doesn't he always?

[afz400]

"Free speech has got to be curbed with morality."
Couldn't agree with you more. The airwaves are not privately owned - they belong to the American people, who have a say in who uses it and what it is used for - that's why the government is involved, and rightly so. I for one would like to see the major networks' licences revoked and someone else take over - and only for 10 years at a time, not indefinitely as it is now.

[sheik yerbouty]

If Stern is kicked off, and with "Stuttering John" gone, maybe Hank could get his own show for the vertically challenged.

[Lurking in Kansas]

"You're not in Kansas anymore"!

Yeah, things are a little different here.

"Thelma what is that thing on that girl's chest...?"