One of the terrible legacy's of the Reagan administration is the decimation of the Federal Communications Commission.Before the Reagan years there was a limit on the number of radio and television stations one corporation could own. There was a "fairness" doctrine, which meant that broadcast stations had to give equal time for opposing points of view.
Clear Channel would not exist without Ronald Reagan, and there would be more than five corporations who owned the media in this country.
All the broadcast outlets that air programs featuring hate mongers like John Gibson, Rush Limbaugh, and the cast of FOX News would have to provide equal time for the Keith Olbermann's, Rachael Maddow's and the Air America gang.
The previous post revealed the hate filled speech of John Gibson. Bill Press is also calling out the bigotry of radio talk show host Bob Grant.
From Bill Press:
Who says racism is dead in America?I say let the assholes stay home!
It’s alive and well – on talk radio – WABC in New York – and talk show host Bob Grant.
Grant’s record of racist, hate-talk is as old as he is.
He once complained about New York: “Minorities are the Big Apple’s majority, you don’t need the papers to tell you that, walk around and you know it. To me, that’s a bad thing. I’m a white person.”
He hated the fact that Magic Johnson was still alive: “Why is it taking so long for the HIV to go into full-blown AIDS?”
And he was disappointed in Ron Brown’s plane crash: “I have a hunch Brown might be the lone survivor. But then, I’m a pessimist at heart.”
Radio & Records magazine announced plans to honor Bob Grant at their March meeting in Washington, but changed their mind after complaints about his hateful comments.
Get this. So now conservative talkers Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Neal Boortz are threatening to boycott the meeting because, they say, Grant’s First Amendment rights are being violated.
UPDATE: Speaking of the presidents we hate and their legacy, Dr. Zaius has a GREAT post up about George Bush. It's a must read.
6 comments:
I always laugh when I hear Limbaugh and Hannity screaming for First Amendment rights. They think those rights only apply to those who are of like mind as they are...racist.
I agree with you and ME,BAC.
Let that assholes stay home. The First Amendment may protect one's ability to say whatever one wants (gross oversimplification), but that doesn't mean the people have to pay you or honor you to say whatever scurrilous things you wish to utter.
Gibson loves the controversy, I think. And this Grant guy sounds like a total tool.
What on Earth are these people smoking? So now not receiving an honor from a radio magazine is a violation of one's First Amendment rights? Then my First Amendment rights are certainly being violated -- I've never recived one either!
Gah. You're right about Reagan, and that's not to mention the Reagan-worshipping press of that era... although the public shares the blame there. Walter Pincus of the WaPo said that they used to fact-check Reagan's many misstatements, but they got complaints about it. Oy.
In any case, since the First Amendment bans the government from restricting someone, this is hardly a First Amendment issue. Meanwhile, since they're the people's airwaves, and there's limited bandwidth, of course it's appropriate for the gov't to step in to ensure diversity. Grant can always blog.
I agree with all of you, and Batocchio, thanks for stopping by!
BAC
grant is still on the air??????
i thought he was fired years ago. i used to listen to him once in awhile and be amazed he could get away with what he said --- he was on talk radio WABC in New York, the same station as Hannity.
then Grant would say out of the blue that he was pro-choice and for gun laws!
he is a lunatic asshole
any organization that even considers honoring -- well there is something seriously wrong
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