I got into a drawing mood. I wouldn't put this past him.
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
Thanks for the ping to this. I am praying for Rush, he is doing great. God bless him.
I haven’t done the legal research, but on first glance, it would seem not to be a bill of attainder, because it is not a law. A law cannot be directed at a specific person; a proclamation, resolution or similar, non-legislative statement can. It is not binding, and does not proscribe or prescribe any particular conduct.
I keep it short and sweet:
Dear “Senator” Reid,
You are a simpering, drooling, treasonous sack of donkey feces. No real Americans care what you have to say about anything. Sincerely,
A Real American
The “dishonor roll” of the US Senate, a list of contemptible weasels and scumbags.....
The Clear Channel guy probably said about all he could under the circumstances since Congress passes the laws that give the FCC authority and guidance to regulate radio and television. CC doesn’t need to make enemies in the Senate, but they still clearly did not agree with Reid’s letter.
Your story illustrates why I’m grateful we have a Republic and not a Democracy. Think James Madison “Federalist Papers”.
I got into a drawing mood. I wouldn't put this past him.
Grins...thats too nice
Well I didn’t really send it..... :^)
Fun to write what I really think here, but it would not not have any useful effect on such a demented scumbag as Harry Reid.
Bite me!
Having listened to Rush Limbaugh since 1992 I have no doubt whatsoever that if he meant that soldiers who disagree with him are phonies he would say so in no uncertain terms and if challenged he would repeat it even more directly. Rush Limbaugh is a man who stands squarely on his principles not some castrated little mewling puke like you, Harry Reid. You are a toady for the Las Vegas mafia and a butt boy for Moveon.org. If Hillary Clinton's Media Matters told you to pull down your pants and crap on the Senate floor you would voluntarily eat an extra helping of Metamucil for breakfast. Lemmings look at you and wonder what you use for brains. Dung beetles look at you and hope for seconds. Angry horses look at their hind parts and say "kiss my Harry Reid." Crapweasels thank you for elevating their status in the world. And I thank you for illustrating to the world what modern Democrat leftists have become. Whining, lying failures whose only desire is to suck the life out of everything honest, decent, good and productive in our country. Get bent, Harry!
TigersEye
ping to #310
Perhaps the stronger statement could have been delivered in a follow-up phone call or private letter?
Creating more greenhouse gas than all the cattle in the Nation!
Big surprise that both of my Senators from Calif put their names on this POS letter to Clear Channel. Not.
Only the stupid ones. You need new friends!
Mr. Clear Channel walked the line pretty well, didn’t he.
IMHO, it should have said something more, shall we say politely, direct?
Please explain briefly what a Bill of Attainder is?
I CANNOT believe the American people, some of them anyways, want 8 more years of the Klintons....its just to hard to understand, and my only question is WHY??????
I thought the head of Clear Channel handled this quite nicely, he put his point across in a ‘businesslike’ manner:
“Go pound sand in a RAT HOLE’ bro......
Well lets just pray and pray hard that we don’t have Klinton for 8 years AGAIN!!!
I think it’s time for some enterprising Republican Senator (if those species exist) to introduce a motion on Censure of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada for degrading the office and Congressional “poll numbers”, particularly among the members of the military, that the letter said they care so much about.
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