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
They won't do anything until they are flooded with enough emails, phone calls and fax's from irate constitutes that they snap out of their fear of the dims and start fearing for their reelection. We got their asses in gear on the immigration fiasco.
That would be considered as speaking up and showing some backbone. A concept that that has been absent from the Republican leadership in Washington during the last few years.
Thats what I’ve been saying to myself about this subject all day long. Clear Channel needs to tell them to GO POUND SAND.
A bill of attainder (also known as an act or writ of attainder) is an act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime, and punishing them, without benefit of a trial.
The letter calls for repudiation. Repudiation is not punishment. Secondly the letter is neither a Bill or Act of Congress, and can not even be construed to convey a sense of the Senate.
No part of that is hard to understand, mister. I meant it figuratively. Get off your high horse.
Good points, but the folks I was with are mostly conservative voters but think they are "in tune" because they read the paper and watch the "news". They are intelligent and good, God fearing people with their heads in the sand. My eyes used to be closed too until I was turned on to this website during 2000 re-re-re-re-count. I am wide awake now and see many sleeping. It scares me.
Ping to read later
A very half-hearted and weaselly defense of a man whom is the sine qua non of Clear Channel by a guy who clearly has egg shells between his toes. How can anyone be afraid of Harry Reid and call himself a man?
Excellent advice, sam_paine. I will take it myself.
He should have known that the floor of the Senate is immune to prosecution. He does now. Still, Harry would not be immune if he comes on Rush’s show.
This would not be for just Rush, this is to slap down the Dems. This whole event today is all a test of how far they can push and we will let them go at steering the cattle... and how far the repubs are going to let this go.
This event has created a critical pivot point that may not be obvious right now. Your idea is good. We need to act and besides the letters and calls we need to show up in person.
That would be an exclamation point they could not ignore.
bttt
The Honorable (?) Harry Reid???
Sorry, that piece of slime does NOT deserve that title.
I didn't do a Mother Theresa in the email, but I really don't care. We Florida conservatives will work our tushies off supporting a true conservative rival to Martinez in the next senatorial primary. He'll be a one-term senator, that's for sure.
Since Martinez does not have the cajones ( a little Mexican lingo there ) to stand up for his country on illegal immigration, I certainly don't expect him to stand up for Rush and the truth......and I told him so.
Leni
Henceforth known as “THE SHAMEFUL PHONEY 41”.
Don’t forget it, America!!! Come election time, don’t forget what these anti-Constitutional men and women tried to do to a private citizen!
Hold it just a minute. The Clear Channel CEO said nothing will change. He didn’t say anything else.
“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.”
The problem with this is that unlike professional protester democrats, I have a business to run and a family to take care of. So do most other hard-workin’ conservatives.
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” Ronald Reagan
Remember which choir you are preaching to. Do you think it resides here?
That was my take too. ...Thanks for writing, but all in all you and your cohorts are asses.
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