Anti-war boycott hurting Rush? (It causes Rush Limbaugh's listeners to tune in more)

worldnetdaily ^ | 2/3/2003 | WorldNetDaily

[TLBSHOW]

Anti-war boycott hurting Rush?

The leader of an anti-war activist media lobby and a report in CBS MarketWatch claim a boycott of Rush Limbaugh sponsors is working.

Kicked off just over a week ago by Take Back The Media, the effort seeks to intimidate sponsors of the No. 1 radio show in the country.

Micheal Stinson, a Vietnam-era veteran and co-founder of Take Back The Media, claimed on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News Channel show tonight that RadioShack, Bose and Amtrak have all dropped the Limbaugh program as a result of the boycott.

According to CBS MarketWatch, RadioShack spokesmen said any ads that aired on Limbaugh's show were a mistake to begin with. The company said it "strictly adheres to a policy of not intentionally buying advertising space on programs that might be political or socially controversial or that promote any one individual's agenda or point of view."

Amtrak told CBS MarketWatch that its ads were part of a complicated barter deal and that it normally does not sponsor political shows and "in the future ... will communicate [that] practice to" other partners.

All three companies told O'Reilly show staffers that the boycott had no impact on its advertising decisions.

Other advertisers targeted by Take Back the Media include Darden Restaurants' Red Lobster chain, Pfizer, AutoZone and online retailer Overstock.com – none of which would comment to CBS MarketWatch.

Limbaugh is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications. While not addressing whether the show had lost any advertisers as a result of the boycott, Premiere issued the following written statement:

"There have been many times in the 15-year history of 'The Rush Limbaugh Program' when national and world events have generated increased listening as well as increased communication with individuals who have opposing points of view," said company President Kraig Kitchin. "The kind of compelling radio that generates opposition also causes Rush Limbaugh's weekly 20 million listeners to tune in that much more and listen longer."

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I would have bought a Bose radio because Rush always praised it. My local luncheonette has one, and I sounds good. Why don't you like it? How is it cheap?

(I just wrote to Bose and informed them I'm not buying one because of Rush, and they sent me a form letter back, which was meaningless.)

[fuzzthatwuz]

"SM: No one’s taking money away from him. That’s freedom of speech."

This guy is really bright: Free speach equates to money?

[Tamzee]

What I do't understand is why the companies don't see the difference between this kind of boycott and the typical ones.... Boycotts are SUPPOSED to be designed to influence business activity that touches on a questionable or objectionable ISSUE (using child labor mills, carrying furs, etc...). In this case, the whole boycott revolves around suppressing free political speech! That one isn't a debatable issue, that one is the very first protection we are given in the Bill of Rights... this kind of boycott is idiotic no matter WHO is trying to suppress WHO.

I don't understand why these companies are caving, must have total morons making their business decisions.

I too caught Stinson on OReilly... a true mental incompetent.

[TLBSHOW]

BUMP

[Katya]

You're kidding....they must be waiting for pre-purchased media time to run out. I was pretty shocked they caved so openly....I even made the point to them that internet demographics point to a largely right wing audience. One must assume their owners or managers are politically left.

[Katya]

Bose sent me a reply claiming they don't advertise on Rush Limbaugh and won't advertise on political shows....I'm not using my regular browser so I'll reprint their reply tonight. Am I crazy or have I heard ads for Bose on Rush? In fact, didn't Rush himself do a Bose ad?

[Gopher Broke]

Heard these sponsors on Rush's show today....on WFIR in Roanoke, VA.... Please THANK THEM for advertising on Rush.....

General Steel

eharmony.com

[Calvin Locke]

My then-wife and I splurged and bought the Wave Radio back around 1990. It isn't bad sounding. Some mechanical piece broke in the cassette a few years later.

I'm more knowlegeable about radio reception nowadays, and the radio's reception wasn't the greatest, as I look back on it.

[Smedley]

I saw this greasy moron on H&C this evening. Doesn't the name "Take Back The Media" have a slightly intolerant ring to it?

I just took a look at Stinson's website. It's full of spelling and grammatical errors.

One should at least perform a spellcheck on an article entitled "Does Oreck Really Believe We're That Stupid?" -- at least to give people an impression that the writer isn't stupid.

[Cindy]

Re post No.32

All service to our country for our country is appreciated. For example, while my husband was not in Vietnam, he was in Germany, Turkey, etc. during the Vietnam war. He was in the 82nd Airborne.

I did read some of those Google searches and all I can say, PJ COMIX is trust your guts.

[mathluv]

They still have banners on Rush's web site.

[PJ-Comix]

All service to our country for our country is appreciated. For example, while my husband was not in Vietnam, he was in Germany, Turkey, etc. during the Vietnam war.

I'm not saying your husband's service isn't appreciated but I don't think he would describe himself as a Vietnam Vet.

[PJ-Comix]

I watched O'Reilly last night. The guy doesn't look old enough to be a Vietnam vet. I think we may have another imposter here.

BINGO!!! Can someone out there find out the exact age of that cretin?

[PJ-Comix]

I heard him say he's a veteran, but I didn't hear him say he was of the Vietnam era.

Do a Google search. He is frequently described as either a Vietnam Veteran or a Vietnam-era Veteran.

[PJ-Comix]

But I distinctly remember the "Current Events" flap as the beginning of the end for Lane Avenue.

Remember how fast the Snapple sales dropped when they quit advertising on Rush?

[Cindy]

re Post No.72: "I'm not saying your husband's service isn't appreciated but I don't think he would describe himself as a Vietnam Vet."

You're absolutely right. I was just clarifying that point for new readers coming on this thread or finding this thread through a search engine.

[MississippiMan]

Doesn't the name "Take Back The Media" have a slightly intolerant ring to it?

What's really laughable is that the liberals dominate every segment of the media in existence other than talk radio and cable news. I guess they can't be happy with controlling the incredible majority of what's spoon-fed to the masses--must shut down all voices of opposition. Take back the media? They never lost it.

MM

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I think I got the same response from Bose that you did. They're saying they don't advertise on Rush, but I remember Rush talking about Bose Radios for years.
*******

"Thank you for contacting Bose (R) Corporation.

Bose Corporation does not currently advertise on Rush Limbaugh and has no plans to in the foreseeable future.

We advertise in a fully diversified mix of media. However, our advertising placements are not an endorsement of the opinions or views expressed by the editorial content of the publication or program where our ads appear.

Bose Corporation makes advertising decisions based on whether or not an ad is returning investment in the medium where it's placed. We do not make advertising decisions based on political opinions or affiliations.

Thank you for choosing Bose Corporation"

Thomas Kersey Ext. 61033
Customer Support Team

---

Bose Corporation - Contact Information

US Telephone: (800)999-2673, ext. EM1
International Tel: (508)766-1099, ext. EM1
Fax: (508)820-3465
Email: http://www.bose.com/contact_us/

Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30AM-9:00PM, Sat 9:00AM-5:00PM (EST)
Visit our Website: www.bose.com

[Katya]

"Bose Corporation does not currently advertise on Rush Limbaugh and has no plans to in the foreseeable future.

Yup...that's what I got.
BTW love your screen name...I'm kind of ticked with Cornwell right now since I don't want to read about Jack the Ripper and Isle of Dogs didn't do much for me....waiting very impatiently for her to bring back the Doc.