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Clear Channel CEO Responds to Reid (Letter Hand Delivered to Senate)
The Politico ^ | Tuesday, October 2, 2007 | Carrie Budoff Brown

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


TOPICS: Cuba; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clearchannel; mediamatters; reid; rushlimbaugh
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To: eyedigress
I left e-mails...

Not that I'm knocking this -- not at all -- but don't you think emails are pretty ineffective? A low-level staffer puts one finger on the delete button and they're gone. Even if they're not deleted, they're just, well, emails. No substance. I think we should let them hear our voice.

281 posted on 10/02/2007 9:38:55 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: kristinn

Thanks for posting. Lyin’ Harry POS Reid BUMP!


282 posted on 10/02/2007 9:41:58 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: doug from upland
It should have been a stronger statement.

I agree. That guy is a pussy.

283 posted on 10/02/2007 9:43:44 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("A person's a person no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss)
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To: Glenmerle
I think we should let them hear our voice

OK! I agree.

Sometimes these numbers take time to find.


Have you got them handy?

284 posted on 10/02/2007 9:44:30 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: kristinn

Clear Channel is a piece of crap anyway.


285 posted on 10/02/2007 9:46:44 PM PDT by wastedyears (George Orwell was a clairvoyant.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

they are replaying H&C now on Rush!


286 posted on 10/02/2007 9:46:44 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: eyedigress
Have you got them handy?

No, sorry. I'm looking online for my senator's Washington number (don't want to call the state office).

287 posted on 10/02/2007 9:46:45 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: eyedigress
Wouldn't it be fun to shut down the switchboard again?
288 posted on 10/02/2007 9:48:10 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: Glenmerle

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


289 posted on 10/02/2007 9:48:36 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: Glenmerle

At least if they know why. :^)


290 posted on 10/02/2007 9:49:32 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: eyedigress
You're fast. Thank you!
291 posted on 10/02/2007 9:49:33 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: Glenmerle

Ditto!


292 posted on 10/02/2007 9:50:24 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: MarkeyD

This is why they are hiding behind their constitutionally protected right to say anything they wish on the Senate floor.


293 posted on 10/02/2007 9:50:36 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: eyedigress
E-mail the following links to everyone on your e-mail addy list:

ABC NEWS program on phony soldiers prior to Rush Limbaugh’s comments which have been lied about and changed by the democrat operatives and elected representatives: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3645227

Rush’s morning update prior to his comments which have been lied about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Il0TJflq0&mode=related&search=

Rush Limbaugh show following Reid’s threat to attack him on the floor of the senate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm84gOXkZaY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Erushlimbaugh%2Ecom%2Fhome%2Ftoday%2Eguest%2Ehtml

Harry Reid lying about Rush Limbaugh on the floor of the Senate! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5atU-TeDR0&mode=related&search=

294 posted on 10/02/2007 9:53:34 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support. Defend life support for others in the womb.)
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To: MHGinTN

BTTT


295 posted on 10/02/2007 9:55:22 PM PDT by eyedigress
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To: Libloather
Didn’t the impeached *Crinton declare that the ‘politics of personal destruction’ should end? Looks like the RATS have perfected it - eh?

Of course they (Both Clintons, and all their cronies and henchmen) decry it, all the while participating in it. In fact, they've mastered it.

Mark

296 posted on 10/02/2007 9:56:01 PM PDT by MarkL (Listen, Strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government)
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To: MHGinTN

Lucky!!!!!! I wanna be quoted by Rush!


297 posted on 10/02/2007 9:56:20 PM PDT by Mygirlsmom (You Know Who knew there was poo on her Hsu but she wore it with a smile anyhoo)
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To: Dan(9698)
[How is the Reid letter not a de facto Bill of Attainder?]

It is, and is forbidden by the constitution.

An ethics complaint should be filed and acted upon.


Mega dittos.
298 posted on 10/02/2007 9:59:18 PM PDT by khnyny (It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it..Aristotle)
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To: kristinn
Aloha Kristin!

I read Mr. Mays' letter and totally agree with his stance on the issue of Rush's off hand remark which was taken out of context, edited for political oneupmanship and defamation of Rush and his voice which irritates the left daily.

I also enjoyed greatly a well crafted KMA response.
299 posted on 10/02/2007 10:03:00 PM PDT by BIGLOOK (Keelhauling is a sensible solution to mutiny.)
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To: YaYa123

I agree.

From Hillary’s lips at the Daily Kos convention:

“We are certainly better prepared and more focused on, you know, taking our arguments, and making them effective, and disseminating them widely, and really putting together a network, uh, in the blogosphere, in a lot of the new progressive infrastructure, institutions that I helped to start and support like Media Matters and Center for American Progress.”

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/10/01/hillary-clinton-told-yearlykos-convention-she-helped-start-media-matt


300 posted on 10/02/2007 10:06:12 PM PDT by khnyny (It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it..Aristotle)
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