Petition To Remove Limbaugh from American Forces Radio

[luvmetender]

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To: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
We request that Secretary Rumsfeld remove talk radio host Rush Limbaugh from the American Forces Radio and Television Service (formerly known as Armed Forces Radio). Mr. Limbaugh, whose program is broadcast for one hour per day to U.S. troops overseas, has spent the past four weeks condoning and trivializing the abuse, torture, rape and possible murder of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at the Abu Ghraib prison—gross misconduct that you have described as “fundamentally un-American.”

In recent weeks, Rush Limbaugh has: Compared the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib to a fraternity initiation; called the abuse “brilliant” and “effective”; said the guards were just “having a good time” and “blow[ing] some steam off”; likened the abuse to “a Britney Spears or Madonna concert … [or] the MTV music awards”; compared pictures of the abuse to “good old American pornography”; and said “the reaction to the stupid torture is an example of the feminization of this country.”

Limbaugh’s radio program is broadcast to American troops via the American Services Network, a taxpayer-funded radio and television broadcasting agency that reaches nearly 1 million US troops in more than 175 countries, including Iraq.

Both Secretary Rumsfeld and President Bush have rightly denounced the acts that took place at Abu Ghraib – but American service men and women abroad are getting the wrong message when the Department of Defense simultaneously broadcasts Limbaugh’s condoning of what Secretary Rumsfeld has called “fundamentally un-American” acts. Limbaugh’s comments directly contradict orders issued by the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq -- which, according to the Washington Post, bar “military interrogators from using the most coercive techniques available to them in the past” -- thus undermining the military’s chain of command. The comments may also inflame anti-American sentiment abroad, putting our service men and women at risk.

In addition, as Media Matters for America detailed in a May 2 report, Meet the New Rush, Same as the Old Rush, Mr. Limbaugh has recently made several racially-charged and sexist remarks on his broadcast. For example, Mr. Limbaugh said on April 26 that women who protest sexual harassment “actually wish” to be sexually harassed. And on March 26, Mr. Limbaugh said, “A Chavez is a Chavez. These people have always been a problem.” Given the extraordinary importance of troop morale and unity during this time of conflict, we ask Secretary Rumsfeld to review whether it is appropriate for the U.S. government to broadcast such messages, which may sow seeds of discord in the ranks.

We, the undersigned, ask Secretary Rumsfeld to order the American Services Network to cease broadcasting Rush Limbaugh’s radio program immediately, before he further undermines the military’s command structure and endangers our troops.

Anyone care to sign this? 28,501 names and counting...

[twonky]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

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Anyone care to sign this? 28,501 names and counting...

Good luck. He's explained every comment they are focusing on so it's just another example of someone taking something out of context and trying to use it to their advantage.

[bobbcat]

Armed Forces Radio also broadcasts NPR's "All Things Considered," "Morning Edition," and "Weekend Edition," as well as other NPR programs. I am sure someone could doubtless conjure up some output from these shows that some would find objectionable. Should these programs be removed from Armed Forces Radio as well?

Rush's show did not used to be on the Armed Forces Radio lineup. Surveys handed out to the armed forces stationed around the world did not include Rush's show. Due to write-in requests for his show, the decision was made during the Clinton administration to include the 1-hour-only arrangement to air his show. Obviously, this illustrates a strong demand on the part of the armed forces to be able to hear his show. Please note that other renowned, very popular conservative talk shows such as Sean Hannity and Neal Boortz get no air time on Armed Forces Radio to offer some modicum of balance to counter NPR's output.

And some want to cut Rush off altogether. This is nothing but censorship. These people on the other side of the aisle have a hard time coping with the popularity and high demand to hear conservative ideas and they just can't stand it. So they go about trying to violate basic First Amendment rights in order to try to shut these ideas up in a closet. Well guess what.... Closets are for clothes!

[luvmetender]

Originally Posted by bobbcat

.
And some want to cut Rush off altogether. This is nothing but censorship. These people on the other side of the aisle have a hard time coping with the popularity and high demand to hear conservative ideas and they just can't stand it. So they go about trying to violate basic First Amendment rights in order to try to shut these ideas up in a closet. Well guess what.... Closets are for clothes!

So would you then agree that the FCC is trying to censor Howard Stern?

[mayor]

FCC is trying to uphold "standards of decency" which have slipped into the gutter without any consequences. The envelope has been pushed too far.

Since the media gave up on censoring themselves, something must be done.

Stern is the scourge of the earth anyway. A bottom feeder who debases women on a regular basis. His contribution to our culture has been nothing but negative and he deserves all the repercussions that will come his way.

Mayor

[luvmetender]

Originally Posted by mayor

His contribution to our culture has been nothing but negative and he deserves all the repercussions that will come his way.

Mayor

Wow! Exactly how I feel about Limbaugh

[monkee]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

So would you then agree that the FCC is trying to censor Howard Stern?

Well, that's kind of the point, isn't it? The same people who scream "censorship" over Stern want to do the same to Rush. Seems a bit hypocritical to me.

[bobbcat]

So would you then agree that the FCC is trying to censor Howard Stern?

Absolutely. The best way to shut someone off is turn that dial. This does not include dictating to other people what they are allowed or not allowed to watch or listen to.

What you are implying in so many words, luv, is it is okay to watch the ox being gored, just as long as it is not your ox. Not fair. Not reasonable.

[mayor]

Originally Posted by luvmetender

Wow! Exactly how I feel about Limbaugh

We are having a discussion about the rightness or wrongness of behavior, not how you "feel" about it. But thank you for demonstrating a point that I have made often. Liberals live by their feelings instead of the truth.

So you approve of Stern's objectifying and debasing women as nothing more than sex objects?

Big difference between influencing minds to make sinful choices and influencing people to engage their minds by expressing a political opinion (which Stern does ocassionally), even if you disagree with the politics. If you don't see the difference, it explains much about you.

Mayor

[auryn]

I say let Limbaugh stay on the air. Sure, he's a hypocrite, aren't they all? Seriously, luvmetender, what fun would this board be if it were just you, me and CagedTroll making sense all the time? We need the others around so we can laugh and roll our eyes. And that is Limbaugh's purpose in the grand scheme of things.

[mayor]

Originally Posted by auryn

I say let Limbaugh stay on the air. Sure, he's a hypocrite, aren't they all? Seriously, luvmetender, what fun would this board be if it were just you, me and CagedTroll making sense all the time? We need the others around so we can laugh and roll our eyes. And that is Limbaugh's purpose in the grand scheme of things.

For those who actually believe this, I offer this wisdom from the Author of Wisdom...

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. - Proverbs 10:14

You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. - Proverbs 8:5

[auryn]

For those who actually believe this, I offer this wisdom from the Author of Wisdom...

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. - Proverbs 10:14

You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. - Proverbs 8:5

Exactly!

Except for that I don't believe 2000+ year old writings, I agree entirely. That's why I am saying let Limbaugh (ie, the mouth of a fool)stay on the air. I understand!

[mayor]

Originally Posted by auryn

Except for that I don't believe 2000+ year old writings, I agree entirely. That's why I am saying let Limbaugh (ie, the mouth of a fool)stay on the air. I understand!

A nice attempt to twist my words into an entirely different meaning. Liberalism 101. However, even so your reply indicates that you do not understand.

Those would be around 3000 year old writings. This is closer to 2000.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Truth needs no advocate to be true. It just is.

Or, as Morpheus said in one of the Matrix sequels when told by a dissenter, "I do not believe as you believe!", Morpheus replied, "My belief system does not require you to"

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. - Psalm 111:10

Mayor

[auryn]

Every quote you say, I can turn right back around. I am not twisting your words, as they aren't your words to begin with. Everything you believe about me being wrong, I believe about you being wrong.

And I know how old Proverbs is. I was basically saying that I don't believe any of the Bible (or any other holy books), new or old testament, and I especially don't use it to try and prove a point I made today.

[mayor]

Originally Posted by auryn

And I know how old Proverbs is. I was basically saying that I don't believe any of the Bible (or any other holy books), new or old testament, and I especially don't use it to try and prove a point I made today.

Then I pray God will open your eyes to His Truth, and His deep deep love for you. If you do, you'll never be the same (I mean that in a GOOD way...) :-)

Mayor