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
BUT...Harry made this a public affair when he sent the letter to Drudge and it was posted on the internet—surely Rush could use that as grounds for suing the Phoney 41??
No love here for the old blowhard, but it IS happening, albeit in a different guise. Check it out
Interesting that the Dimwits would link Rush's 'drug addiction' scandal with this current scandal. Both scandals had smear campaigns associated with them. In fact Rush was forced to admit his drug addiction on October 10th 2003. Interesting. The October before the 2004 Presidential elections. Now here we are again in the October before the 2008 Presidential elections. As if on cue the rats attack.
The 2nd Episode of Bill O after the break. (Rush)
Tell me, tell me! Oh, do tell!
Which choir is here? What's my script? Do I not get my check if I speak my mind incorrectly?
When I lived north of San Francisco for 2.5 years, Michael Savage was my lifesaver amid all the liberalness there! I don’t agree with everything he says, but he is right on many, many occasions. I hope to see him battling this crap SF is throwing at him right now with as much fervor as he has on his radio show!!
Both parties are in nearly the perfect positions for their capabilities. The teachers are a bit more dangerous though because they spew trash at unknowing minds.
But at least we can teach our kids to think thereby blunting some of the socialism. We can’t do that to all the immature, unknowing citizens congress affects.
Didn’t we just go through this with “Path to 9/11”? The US Senate does NOT have the authority or the duty to censure ANYBODY except in their own ranks and that’s EXACTLY what they should do and IMMEDIATELY!!!
CENSURE HARRY REID!!! Demand his resignation!
Ah, what the heck. .500 batting ave ain't bad!
How about the big fat ass kiss: “I thank you for bringing this to my attention, blah blah blah”? Reid is a despicable liar and should have been nailed for it by someone who should have displayed more loyalty.
Hillary Clinton, is that you??
Rush isn’t going to sue anybody. Especially something born on the Senate floor.
True, and they aren't bound by rules, ethics, or laws.
one of my senators has sucked since before i was born, the other sucked since i was four.
im leaving this once great state and taking a house seat with me.
Same here. But I found it with altavista...serendipitously (sp?).
How'd you find FR?
I suspect that if someone started reading it to you at a dinner table you'd have run screaming into the night!
Obviously I don’t listen to his show. But it’s a shame we aren’t hearing about it to a fraction of the extent we’re hearing about Rush. I will be writing and emailing.
Call’em the Phoney 41—it rolls off the tongue and is perfectly descriptive, don’t you think? :-)
To summarize...he told the Dems to crawl into saddam’s vacated hole.
You honestly think the Phoney 41 can keep their mouths shut forever about this? Someone’s gonna slip up on one of the cable news channels, or online, and then Rush can have a field day with them, et al! :-)
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