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Air America is the only network in this country that as a matter of official policy airs only views acceptable to a given political party. In that way, it is just like radio stations in countries that are dictatorships, that air only the party line. Air America has given up, as a matter of official policy, the right to free speech that this country is founded on. It’s just odd. And it certainly doesn’t say much for the liberal positions, that the only way they can air them is on a network that refuses to air opposing views.
Missing was the tension that comes from honest debate. Only Franken had guests voicing even slight distance from the party line, which is that John Kerry is perfect except he should attack Bush more.
When you listen to the network, it becomes apparent why they don’t want to hear contrasting views. They’re advocating assassination:
Two attempts at humor were offensive. In his “oy, oy show,” set to Israeli music, a sidekick reads news reports – in this case, the murder of the Russian-backed president of Chechnya. Franken’s role is to pipe up with a lighthearted “oy, oy, oy.” Yep, nothing tickles the ribs like assassination.
...Rock bottom came when [Randi Rhodes] compared Bush and his family to the Corleones in the “Godfather” saga. “Like Fredo, somebody ought to take him out fishing and phuw,” she said, imitating the sound of gunfire.
Ha ha. Wait, was that a joke? It doesn’t sound too funny to me.
They’re so offensive that at least one major advertiser is refusing to buy time on their air:
During a day of torture by radio, I heard ads for Hewlett-Packard, Greyhound and, especially, General Motors. I asked GM why it appeared in such shows.
Ryndee Carney, GM’s manager of marketing communications, said the ads were wrongly picked up from an earlier deal with WLIB. She said the station was ordered to “cease and desist” yesterday, and added: *“GM will not advertise on any Air America affiliates.”*
You have to be very far out of line for a corporation to make a statement like that.
Update 5-13-04: Blog From the Core posts:
Did Randi Rhodes Really Encourage the Assassination of the President of the United States of America?
That’s what this looks like to me…
