Posted on 10/02/2007 6:43:31 PM PDT by kristinn
Edited on 10/02/2007 7:29:10 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Clear Channel CEO Mark P. Mays responded to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in a letter hand-delivered to his office this evening.
Take a look at the letter here.
Full text:
October 2, 2007
The Honorable Harry Reid
S-221 United States Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20501
Dear Majority Leader Reid:
I want to thank you and your Senate Democratic colleagues for sharing your concern over recent comments made by Rush Limbaugh on his daily radio program. First, let me say that the men and women who wear the uniform in defense of our country deserve the utmost respect and gratitude from each and every one of us whom they serve to protect. I assure you that I fully agree with your statement that “not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a phony soldier.” As a grateful American citizen, I would reject anyone’s contention to the contrary.
Mr. Limbaugh’s comments last week have stirred a lot of emotion, and I have carefully read the transcript from the episode in question. I hope you will appreciate that I cannot speak with authority as to whom exactly Mr. Limbaugh’s comments were directed, or what was his intent. Only Mr. Limbaugh can speak to those issues, which he has done.
I can say, however, that over the years Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly praised the dedication and valor of our brave men and women in uniform. Given Mr. Limbaugh’s history of support for our soldiers, it would be unfair for me to assume his statements were intended to personally indict combat soldiers simply because they didn’t share his own beliefs regarding the war in Iraq. However, if Mr. Limbaugh’s intention was to classify any soldier opposed to the war in Iraq as a “phony soldier,” which he denies, then I, along with most Americans, would be deeply offended by such a statement.
While I do not agree with everything Mr. Limbaugh says on every topic, I do believe that he, along with every American, has the right to voice his or her opinion in the manner they choose. The First Amendment gives every American the right to voice his or her opinion, no matter how unpopular. That right is one that I am sure you agree must be cherished and protected.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel, I support each of our on-air talent’s right to express his or herself freely, as long as they do it within the confines of the laws set forth by Congress. For this reason, I have not and will not impose my own views upon any of our on-air talent. Doing so would, quite frankly, undermine the integrity of the broadcast, undercut the trust with our listeners that they are receiving the true and honest opinions of the radio host, and more importantly fly directly in the face the right to free speech that we hold so dear.
Each and every day, Clear Channel airs a broad diversity of viewpoints from Rush Limbaugh on the right to Air America on the left of the political spectrum. It is inevitable, with so many different perspectives, than an on-air personality will challenge or even offend another segment of the public. I too am sometimes offended by words that are directed at me or a particular belief I hold. However, as a broadcaster and leader of this company, I will always defend the right of our employees and contracted talent to voice their opinions under the protections provided by the First Amendment.
I want to thank you and your colleagues for writing me regarding this matter. Again, I regret that you were offended by Mr. Limbaugh’s statement, regardless of what its intended meaning may have been. I hope that you understand and support my position that while I certainly do not agree with all views that are voiced on our stations, I will not condemn our talent for exercising their right to voice them.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Mays
Chief Executive Officer
What Reid actually does claim is that Rush unpatriotically slandered the troops. And Mr. ClearChannel's letter is contemptibly weak in pushing back against it. The tone is so weak. He does raise the point that Rush has supported the troops in the past in various ways, but he prefaces this with the disclaimer that he doesn't have the authority to determine whether Rush really was unpatriotically slandering the troops or not -- even though anyone with a brain cell and an ounce of discernment and who has any familiarity with Rush over the years can make this determination easily. The fact that the president of ClearChannel, who knows Rush forwards and backwards, claims not to know Rush's intent is just pathetic.
Perhaps Freepers should organize a massive march on Washington to demand that the infamous 41 Senators led by Reid, Harkin and especially Clinton resign immediately. The country needs to see the determined support and anger that these phoney American senators have unleashed.
Sounds like a plan to me! :^)
Not tied to a big rock?
;-)
TS
It was a freakin' joke, Harry. Call off the damn goon squad. They're trampling my flower bed.
Bears repeating - they'd like nothing better than to shut up any voice that doesn't tow the liberal/socialist line. They already tried to discredit FR, using O'Reilly as their tool. They'll try again unless stopped. Repeatedly.
These schmucks have already proved themselves spineless enough to put anything in the congressional record. I still can’t believe they can’t be held accountable, especially for the “high on drugs” accusation on a private citizen.
I dislike Savage immensely. That said, if this were happening to him, I’d be busy calling, faxing and emailing just as I’m doing for Rush. This transcends many boundaries.
Fred is electable, McCain isn’t — too many potshots at conservatives. McCain is no conservative
SOP for them. I've come to expect it.
We really do live in a Bizarro world.
yes we do, and getting more so everyday.
The President of Clear Channel is treating this as a non-issue. That will completely un-hinge Reid.
Really? Cuz, it didn't seem that way. :P
It's an ugly technique - dangerous for the country.
Dems know well the politics of class warfare, resentment hyping , and union/management conflict. They stir the pot - not caring the damage done.
The only upside of filling Congress with teachers is that our children would be directly exposed to 535 fewer imbeciles.
Where are the Senate REPUBLICANs????????????????????
I would have preferred he voice his support in stronger language. He knows Rush was talking about one specific LIAR.
and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.
What part of that is difficult to understand?
Why do you think Rush is calling Reid out to repeat what he said outside of the senate?
oh, sure he did .... got in a few digs if you read it a certain way.
Ultimately this whole embarassing episode, showing what a fool Reid is, is about ‘moral equivalency” .. that Rush’s commend was just as bad as, if not worse than, the moveon ad.
Exactly!
I wish he would have been more specific in his explanation. He made no mention of that truly fake soldier, the one who was enlisted for 40 some days who pretended to be a Ranger(I forget his name).
jessie macbeth
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