Station pulls liberal show after threats

[Robbien]

Associated Press

SILVER CITY -- A Silver City radio station yanked a liberal talk show off the air because of pressure from advertisers, the station's owner says.

"It's a shame that, in America, we can't have someone with an opposing view," said Matt Runnels, owner of KNFT.

The one-hour daily show, "Radio Free Silver," hosted by Kyle Johnson, was canceled Monday after running for about six weeks on KNFT.

Runnels said 20 to 25 advertisers -- including car dealers, bankers, pizza stores and furniture stores -- threatened to pull their spots from KNFT if the show continued.

http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20040722-145668.shtml

[fdr_hst_fan]

1. Let 'rm pull-

there are other advertisers out there!

[lottie244]

104. Capitalism and democracy at work. Is it really any better than Communism?

It's only the lessor of two evils but evil nonetheless.

[dennis4868]

2. MORE PROOF....

that the liberal media dominates this country....

[Guaranteed]

3. We need to do something about this.

It's getting ridiculous.

[Mike Daniels]

14. Well, I've seen DU encouraging boycotts of advertisers of RW shows

like Rush and Michael Savage (sp?).

What's the difference?

[progressivebydesign]

17. The difference?

DU responds to a specific event on certain shows. We have NEVER called for the orchestrated boycott of a show, simply because we don't agree with it. When Savage, and Rush, et al, go way over the line then we respond to that. BUT, there has never been a push to ask local advertisers to boycott a show, simply because it's right wing. That's the difference.

This is just your good old fashioned GOP thuggery. People get so hyped up on listening to crackhead Rush that they think they're in the middle of some sort of crusade, when they try to shut down people with opposing views. It's like a groupie effect.. they feel famous and powerful by bullying those that dont' agree with them. Psychologically, it's a cry for attention... in their pitiful, disappointing lives.

[Mike Daniels]

21. Thanks for the clarification

I really didn't notice the distinction but with the explanation I do remember that the DU boycotts were over certain statements vs. the show as a whole.

Cheers.

[moez]

96. I think

"Dr." Laura would disagree...

[fr3]

106. We won against Doctor Laura

We got her show cancelled! That was a great day for grass-roots support!

She is sooo evil. Her antidiluvean ideas about "family" and what is good for kids is so clearly designed to make everything like the 1950's with Ward Cleaver. She wants to chain women into the kitchen and keep them barefoot and pregnant.

Her new attack on modern women is too much to stomache!

[Robbien]

18. The difference is

When freepers ask for a boycott, hundreds jump on the bandwagon.

When DUers ask for one, a half dozen DUers may respond.

[fr3]

77. "When DUers ask for one, a half dozen DUers may respond."

Why is that? We have the numbers -- every chance we have to show up in numbers, we have many.

The Freepers always look so silly, there are only a few whenever there is anything important going on, like our protests for the WTO and other Halliburton-controlled organizations.

Why can't we counter them in other areas like we do in person?

I have looked over "there". Some of their stuff runs into the thousands of posts. Why don't we do that? I joined because I am so tired of those Fascisits thinking they are right just because they say so. It makes me sick!

I am only one new voice -- maybe if we get some more voices like me we can show huw stupid they are.

But the numbers (becuase Americans like numbers) look so bad for us.

[Robbien]

80. Yes, One day they got 250 people to write HP to stop ads on AirAmerica

I put a notice here, and got only one response.

So they won and HP stopped their advertising on AirAmerica.

[Moloch]

101. I think the reason we don't boycott as often or try to

stifle free speech is because we are RIGHT and much more secure in our viewpoints than the right wing.

I tried once to boycott Florida orange juice because oxycontin boy was advertising for them, but I just couldn't..

[SammyBlue]

84. I don't usually respond here on the boards, but

I take everything the DU says seriously. Every advertiser on Limbaugh, Fox, Savage (especially Savage), Liddy, Hannity, et al, don't get ANY of my money.

Boycotts have lost their meaning because the RW screams boycott on EVERYTHING (Dixie Chicks, radio stations who don't kiss GOP ass, Canada).

DUers may not respond to the call of a boycott on the boards, but maybe they are like me, who look at the calls for a boycott and silently do it.

To this day, I:
Don't buy gas at Exxon because of the Valdez;
Will not drive a Ford because Henry Ford was a racist, anti-Semitic bigot;
Will never buy a Volkswagon or a BMW because they were started by Hitler;
Don't drink Coors because Pete Coors is a union-buster;
Don't eat Perdue Chicken for the same reason;
Don't eat at Red Lobster or restaurants owned by that chain because they advertise on Limbaugh;
Don't listen to Clear Channel, don't watch FNC and shop local over national chains;
And won't shop at Wal-mart unless I have absolutely no other choice.

Just because people don't respond to a call for a boycott doesn't
mean DUers don't boycott.

Freepers are the ones who said they organized a massive pro-war march at the LA Marathon, remember? Difference between Freepers and us: DUers are more rational in their calls for boycotts. We boycott because of a message or because of a we disagree with what is being said. Freepers and neo-cons will call for a boycott if their jingoistic prejudices aren't affirmed.

What's the difference between calling for a boycott of Limbaugh advertisers to try to get balance on the radio and calling for a boycott of the Dixie Chicks because they dared to criticize the "President?"

Difference is DUers call for boycotts to expand speech, Neo-cons do it to intimidate and restrict speech.

[primavera]

90. Add GE to the list

Last week the Post ran an article about how GE was one of the biggest lobbyists in DC and their current project - which was proceeding quite well in the absence of any organized opposition - is to get the government to offer them tax incentives for firing US workers and opening up sweatshops overseas. It evidently wasn't enough that we weren't penalizing corporations for doing this sort of thing, now we have to use tax payer dollars to reward corporations or laying off US workers. I did some digging and found out that GE's been a pretty sleazy company for a long time, going back as far as World War II when they collaborated with the Nazis and engaged in price fixing schemes to jack up the price of war materiel for the US.

[Robbien]

97. It is not that we ask for boycotts, but we ask for action

The email for For the Grant County/Silver City Chamber of Commerce
was posted in this thread. We should write them ask tell them what happened here and ask them to check to see if the show can be brought back because it was treated unfairly.

But will anyone here respond? Maybe a handful.

That low number will not help get the show back. Our inaction helps them restrict free speech.

link to the Grant County/Silver City Chamber of Commerce
mailto:[e-mail]

[cosmicone]

31. The REAL difference is...

We will boycott a given show but not the whole medium.

In other words, if Rush is on WXXX, we will campaign to pull ads from Rush's show but not from other shows on WXXX.

In this case, the advertisers threatened to boycott every show that the station has which potentially had a major impact on the station.

The former is protest, the latter is blackmail.

[Bandit]

23. It is a legal form of intimidation but one we must learn and copy

I personally do the exact same thing. I get sales call for my business to advertise on a local radio station but because this station airs Rush Limbaugh I refuse to use their station for any of my advertising dollars. I see nothing wrong with this. We just need to convince other business owners to step in or else we suffer the consequences. I sypathize with those businesses though I don't agree with their poitics. I don't want my money to go to a cause I don't agree with.

[TahitiNut]

25. The difference is in the kind of "market" one espouses.

It's one thing to spend one's advertising dollars at a choice of kiosks ... and quite another to attempt to tear down the other kiosks.

One does not achieve a "free market" when entry to that market as either a consumer or provider is inhibited. It's axiomatic. Those with either purchasing power or producer power should never be permitted to extort the marketplace.

[Bandit]

27. You and I almost never disagree but on this one we do

I think the only way change is affected is by flexing muscle in one form or another. The only muscle I possess is financial. I use my assets to my betterment. If enough people felt like me in my little town Rush Limbaugh would not be on the radio here.

[TahitiNut]

32. One doesn't stop hate by stopping hate speech.

Likewise, in a political market, one doesn't cause others to stop making poor choices by removing those choices. That's what fascists do. That's what totalitarians do. That's what oligarchs do.

Such approaches are merely the same ol' "ends justify the means" thinking. A choice between Communism and Fascism is no choice because they permit no choice. They're both a choice for no choice. I don't choose either Pepsi or Coke. I choose neither but I don't choose to wipe them off the shelves either. Any marketplace where they're either absent or exclusive is not a marketplace I support.

[primavera]

37. What about a fair playing field?

Please be assured that I agree with you in principle: in an ideal world, one would never resort to such draconian tactics. At the same time, a part of me can't help but wonder what chance one has if ones opponents aren't willing to exercise the same decency and restraint. If you and I meet in a ring and I open with assurances that I won't hit below the belt while you're pulling out your brass knuckles and your uzi, I'm going to get the crap kicked out of me, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I might as well never have stepped in the ring and saved myself a beating. I don't know, but it seems to me that playing fair only works if both parties agree to play fair. If only one party plays fair and the other is under no such constraint, it's going to be a very one-sided contest. At that point, ones only options are to either a) withdraw from the contest, b) lose spectacularly, or c) adapt to the lawless environment and strike back with anything that comes to hand.

I've been thinking a lot about this of late in that I not long ago took a course at George Washington University on lobbying. Coming from an academic background, I was initially taken aback by the lack of constraints in presenting ones positions: unlike in academia, you're under no obligation to address the substantive merits of every issue - if an issue is a loser for your side, you bury it and move on to something else that reinforces your position. At first, it seemed a little unethical, after all, aren't we trying to get at the Truth here? And it disappointed me to discover that liberal lobbyists were drawing from the same bag of tricks that conversative lobbyists were using. At the same time, I can tell you for a fact that, were it not for liberal lobbyists employing those same tricks, this country would be in much bleaker shape.

For instance, this year Repukes tried to quash funding for public broadcasting, using Bill Moyers as an example of the alleged liberal bias of PBS. Public broadcasting declined to defend itself on the charge - as they knew that no one would listen to them on that score anyway - instead they seized upon the whole Superbowl nipple exposure as evidence that network television didn't reflect family values while PBS was the home of Sesame Street. Personally, I couldn't care less about exposed nipples and Sesame Street,and I rather doubt that the lobbyists for PBS really cared all that mch about that either, but it very effectively put the Repukes in a very awkward position from which they could no longer go after PBS without it looking like they preferred exposed nipples to Sesame Street. It worked. You can still tune in to PBS and see decent programming as a result of that lobbying effort. Would you rather that the lobbyists had refrained from exploiting that weapon and the Repukes who head the committees overseeing public broadcasting had killed their funding?

I honestly don't know, I understand that there are two sides to this issue, but I'm inclined to look on this as analagous to a trial: it only works when the prosecution and the defense are both zealously advocating their side of the story. If you were on trial, would you really want your attorney to pass up opportunities to defend you because they might be misleading or confuse the jury?

This is why I think the whole DLC movement is so misguided. If you give Repukes an inch, they won't give an inch in return, they simply rejoice that you've abandoned your resistance and cheerfully take a mile. And so the entire political spectrum shifts and a new center is established, a mile to the right of where you started. And the process repeats itself, with DLCers now looking to accommodate an ever rightward shifting center. The only way to preserve a stable center is to pull just as hard to the left as Repukes pull to the right. Anything less is like conducting a trial in which only the prosecution is represented. How long does it take under such a system before jaywalking results in a death sentence?

[TahitiNut]

45. You'll pardon me if I don't even bother climbing into the ring ...

... or "playing" (where I don't agree to the rules) on a "field" (owned by someone inimical to my rights and freedoms).

The biggest problem "liberals" have is a total and abject failure to educate Pat Public about what "liberal" means so that (s)he knows what choice (s)he has. Most don't see a choice.

Yes, I agree that the DLC makes any "choice" even less apparent. Why? Because they're pretending that the "game" is about getting their opponent's fans to cheer for them, too. So, half the time they're not even opposing the other side ... but they're not getting a quid for their quisling-quo-pro.

Right now, even "honest" politicians are playing Prisoner's Dilemma, not with a goal of winning but of making the other side lose. Unless both sides agree to play "win-win," it's a "lose-lose." Under that circumstance, there's only one other choice: Don't "play."

Some think the strategy in Prisoner's Dilemma is tit-for-tat. It's not. That's the lose-lose strategy. The DLC is under some delusion that it's tit-for-two-tats. Stupid. Really stupid. Suicidal.


Let me be clear. To me, "liberal" means win-win. "Liberal" means justice - equity for all. The only opposition to "liberal" is 'privilege' - and the only vested constituency for 'privilege' are those who benefit inequitably: the wealthy and powerful. Everyone loses, even those suffering under the fatal delusion that any system of 'privilege' can survive. Playing the conservative game of 'privilege' means playing a lose-lose strategy. Hell, that doesn't even rise to being a Pyhrric victory.

Se, we're really not "playing a game" as much as we're fighting about the rules. "Liberal" means rules, not anarchy or 'might makes right.' Once we accept the 'rules' of privilege, we've all lost.

Systems of 'privilege' can only collapse in bloodshed and death. Anyone contemplating a 'win' under such circumstances is completely insane.

[primavera]

51. Great analogy!

I love your prisoners dilemma analysis, I think you're absolutely right. But the question remains: how do you escape the dilemma? For prisoner's dilemma to produce a win-win result, both parties have to concur on their respective courses of action. And, as you know, if one side plays win and the other plays lose, the losing side will lose even bigger than they would if they played the lose-lose scenario. You say the solution is to not play, but how do you really do that? I mean, if you decline to be a party, what then is there to prevent the other side from really walking all over you? Don't get me wrong, it sounds appealing and I often fantasize these days about emigrating to a civilized country, but how will anything change then?

[w4rma]

69. TahitiNut says:

You'll pardon me if I don't even bother climbing into the ring ...
... or "playing" (where I don't agree to the rules) on a "field" (owned by someone inimical to my rights and freedoms).

But you want politicians who support your positions and lobbyists who support your positions to climb in that ring for you and do exactly what you refuse to do, because they have to do that to survive.

[TahitiNut]

73. Perhaps you missed the point. I don't accept the paradigm of the 'ring.'

Too many people are letting others say what the rules are, and where the 'fight' must take place, and when, and who gets a cut, and that it's a "winner-take-all" fight in the first place.

Hell, even "Democrats" run from their own fundamentally just and equitable liberal ideologies and back fighters (in that 'ring') that take dives.

Reject the paradigm. Do something different. Take a stance on the sound and proven principles of liberalism. Hell ... the only choices people have these days is overtly fascist corporatism or liberal-flavored corporatism with fascist compromises - both of which serve the same 'privileged' people. "Not as bad" isn't the same as "good."

[primavera]

88. 'cmon TahitiNut, answer my question

I asked in post 51 what the alternative to the prisoner's dilemma was and would really like to hear your thoughts. You keep saying "reject the paradigm" and "do something different," but what specifically did you have in mind? Revolution? Withdrawal from the political process? Emigration to a civilized country? What? I mean, democracy, for all its faults, is pretty much the only game in town, yet, despite its superficial trappings, it has never been about truth and freedom and liberty for all, rather it's always been about the resolution of conflicting interests, creating the institutions which provide diverse constituencies with legitimate avenues for self expression. It is therefore naturally a conflictual environment, as diverse constituencies almost never agree on anything. If you're not interested in "playing the game," what do you propose as an alternative?

[TahitiNut]

93. I don't know. Vote Nader?

I think the scenario Nader paints is frighteningly probable: that we're doomed to get a LOT worse before we get better. We're being seduced by the siren song of fascism and corporatism, devaluing labor and worshiping the wealthy (plantation owners). If it actually takes the experience of a disaster for people to recognize it, then perhaps we're better off if we accelerate the disaster and get it over with.

The vast majority of Europeans (particularly France and Germany) seem to be able to detect the stench of fascism a helluva lot better than people in the US. They have the collective experience - up front and personal.

I'm not at all interested in getting into the defenses and personal attacks against individuals like Nader. The simple-minded knuckle-dragging kinds of discussion that take place on this board regarding Nader are disgusting to me.

Too many people fail to look at the larger dynamics of where this country is headed and what to do about it. Too many people think a win by Kerry is good enough. Back to the boob tube and video games and bread and circuses. But the corruption and inequities already embedded in our institutions and systems are far too pernicious to remove without a concerted and conscious effort backed by the people of this country. I just don't see it happening.

I personally think the best bet for an individual is to get the hell out. New Zealand, France, Norway, Denmark, or (brrr!) Canada (even though it's really too close for comfort) might be the best option for individuals. Clearly, England isn't a good option, nor is Italy (tragically). There doesn't seem to be much reason to be optimistic.

Lacking any reasonable ability to escape, I foresee LOTS of pain and strife. (I feel like a frog in a pot of water that's being heated too quickly - while too many of the other frogs are dozing warmly.)

[primavera]

100. At least you're in good company

New Zealand's at the top on my list as well! :)

I'm afraid I agree with you, I too see very little hope for us. The "solutions" being offered by "electable" Dems are an improvement, but they're still bailing out the boat with a teaspoon. I don't know, ever now and then I hear someone on NPR or some such place call into question this American Dream mythology that Americans are so fond of that they can all become millionaires within their own lifetimes, and I just hope and pray people listen and think about it.

Anyway, thanks for your insight! :hi:

[Bandit]

89. So I should not be allowed to express my desires through my spending

habits? I thought this was America. If I disapprove of something I have the right to withhold my financial support for such. I think the only real solution to this problem is to bring back the "Fairness Doctrine" Then all sides must be heard.

[TahitiNut]

94. The Fairness Doctrine, while necessary, isn't sufficient anymore.

Please don't strawman me. Please. I lose my patience with fallacious rhetoric very quickly. Once the populace is no longer interested in integrity, truthfulness, honesty, and intelligence - and prefers the visceral, animal, braindead cirucuses ... it's probably too late.

Only an educated and well-informed populace can keep a democracy. The ignorant are prey. The ill-informed are prey. Mobs. Droooling, slack-jawed, corrupted addicts of circuses and the boob-tube. Until values change and we stop celebrating the atrociously mundane and ordinary (Brittany Spears? Sheesh!!), we've sold our democracy for pretty plastic beads.

[Bandit]

103. I respectfully disagree

I will not advertise on a radio station that espouses hatred. Hatred is promulgated through discourse and by changing the tone you can change a nation.

[schultzee]

28. Yes we do need to do something; the Fascists are taking over our

country. We need to organize and protest. If we had a list of the f------- adveritzers who threatened to pull their ads we could write to them

[tom_paine]

4. Imperial Amerika is an ugly place, getting uglier

And Mr. Runnels is right, in the Old Republic of America, opposing viewpoints weren't feared.

But that country is gone gone GONE, maybe never to return.

Imperial Amerika is a Totalitarian Managed Democracy similar to Comrade Putin's New Russia, and thus none who defy the State shall be allowed unfettered access to a microphone, at least without every possible Corporate obstacle placed in their way.

A little different and more subtle than the Old Soviet Union, but Imperial Amerika gets closer to it's own version every day.

[fizzana]

5. Wow, Kyle is an old friend of mine who moved to New Mexico

Cool that he's doing this, not cool that the show got cancelled.

[Robbien]

13. He needs to get his listeners to start a counter campaign

His listeners should call and write the advertisers saying they want the show back on.

[havocmom]

6. Silver City was in the running for our retirement location

Guess I have to start a letter writing campaign to radio sponsers telling them they don't seem to want us spending money there to buy land, build our last home, furnish, landscape and run it.

[Robbien]

7. Freeper types went after the advertisers of this small station

They had an email campaign saying they would boycott the products.

The RW is organized.

[colonel odis]

8. the right is beginning to sound more and more desperate n/t

[Robbien]

11. No, they are determined.

Mike Malloy lost his advertisers and his show here in Chicago due to an organized RW campaign. We lost four or five liberal shows in the same fashion.

[colonel odis]

30. i agree. they are very determined to make sure only their pov

is on the air.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

53. WE ARE AT WAR!!!

Liberals are the Allies and Conservatives are the AXIS!!!

The left has to learn that they must be willing to crack balls and take names. I am all for boycotting my opponents and QUASHING their point of view. If this is how they want to play the game, we MUST meet the Axis at every corner. FDR and Churchill did it once, and we MUST do it again to save the world from Facsist Tyrany!

[kidrocks]

9. AMERIKA

Fascists

[AP]

10. You'd think this is why we have non-commercial PBS...

...but you'd be wrong.

Two things you just wont' find on the radio: (1) programming that gives the perspective of labor rather than the perspective of capital, regardless of its position on capitalism and commerce, and (2) programming that is the slightest bit criticial of commerce.

[Imalittleteapot]

12. Didn't sponsors put the same kind of pressure

on TV stations during the McCarthy hearings - demanding that questionable actors and writers not be allowed to be involved in shows?

[jdj]

15. I'm gonna be one ornery, 'in your face' bitch when we win in Nov.

Liberals are going to have a chip on our shoulder the size of Bush's farm.

Freeps, fascists, neo-cons and all the other nazis get ready to eat some shit.

[truthisfreedom]

16. why bother? i'm personally going to re-live the summer of love.

i'd rather bask in glory with a smile on my face than a sneer of hate... i've been dealing with that crap for 3.5 years already.

[jdj]

19. We'll have more to do than stand around and smile.

The battle will be just beginning if we win, because we won't be standing on the sidelines criticizing the ones in power, we will BE the ones in power, and lest you forget, the pukes own the media,and they will turn the full force of it on dems like a fire house when we are in the white house. I enjoyed the hell out of myself during the 90's and I'll never make the mistake again of being so apolitical and special interest oriented. If you think the last 3.5 years has been bad, just wait 'til a dem is president; remember what Clinton endured. It will only get worse this time, because the pukes will suffer even more of a dent in their veneer if we have two competent dem presidents in a row. They will beat the hell out of Kerry, and we have to be armed for battle instead of lying around contemplating our navels while they prepare the next fuhrer, which is what they WILL be doing. These people never sleep.

I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops how the media has misrepresented America for four years if not the last 25, and when Kerry is pres. it will be proof positive how Americans REALLY feel.

I'm not shutting up, now or then, but when Kerry is president I will make a special effort to gloat and say "I told you so"to these pro-censorship fascist twits who think they are the majority.

[w4rma]

70. Everyone does that and we'll be in worse shape than we are now. (nt)

[TahitiNut]

46. I think anyone who believes a "win" in November is even close ...

... to the end is totally delusional. The body politic is infested with fascist thinking. The 'cure' will be long and hard.

[Snellius]

20. Why do I assume this has to be in Texas?

???

[fizzana]

22. Actually it's New Mexico

n/t

[TahitiNut]

24. Notice that it has NOTHING to do with "ratings"

These aren't "advertisers" in a free market attempting to inform potential customers of their products and services, paying advertising rates based upon the number of viewers or listeners. These are people who derive their wealth from the labors of others using their privileged positions to quash political dissent - privileges derived solely from public consent.

The public, whose interests they oppose, should cancel their licenses to do business and abolish the privileges they abuse.

[mongo]

26. The advertisers are being used as pawns

That is how my store's ads were banned from the local multi-county advertising paper. I had been running for a while and a couple of churches started harassing other advertisers in the paper (especially the car dealers - the paper's bread and butter). The advertisers in turn started calling the paper and I was history. Too bad - it was affordable advertising.

At least our local news paper has some backbone - they still take my ads.

[skippysmom]

29. Here's the funny thing:

why is it that when freepers bitch, the stations do their bidding -- yet they never seem to listen to those of us on the left?

[LordActon]

38. why...

why is it that when freepers bitch, the stations do their bidding -- yet they never seem to listen to those of us on the left?

1. Freepers are much better organized and many more are willing to lower themselves to bully tactics. Progressives will typically not set aside principals and stoop to the level it requires to threaten innocent people for their constitutional right to express their views. So it's tougher to mobilize a large boycott of progressive thinkers.

2. Effective Use of Fear Tactics - Related to #1, when business owners are threatened with losing their business, income, means to support themselves, they will cave very quickly. The business community is conservative by nature and if word gets out that a business owner is supporting those that wish to tamper with free-trade in any way, they will be shunned by peers, customers, suppliers, financial institutions, etc. The business world is an extremely tight web of players. Play by the rules or be crushed.

[primavera]

41. Money talks...

It only takes one business owner to conclude that views being aired might encourage voters to vote against a pretender to the throne who gives him or her huge tax breaks and that individual can pull all of their advertising dollars from the station based purely on his or her personal preferences. The community then has to organize all of the hundreds, thousands, or millions of individuals who provide the business owner with his or her livelihood to deprive the business owner of that livelihood before their voices will be heard. It's a lot harder to organize large groups to demand accountability than it is for an individual business owner to act irresponsibly.

[fizzana]

33. Here's the shows website

Send them an email expressing your support.

http://www.gcpeacecoalition.org/rfs/index.shtml

[xchrom]

34. this shows the remarkable ability

of freepers to get their folks together and make action happen.
the advertisers have no business dictating content -- but in this current universe -- they have all power.
what i'm wondering is how many other outlets do these advertisers have in this town?
i'm guessing not that many. making their move all that much more disturbing.

[burrowowl]

35. Even when listeners

donated money to keep the show on. They pulled it.
Letter from Lisa:

1. Sent in by Lisa in Silver City:

"Today a daily one-hour liberal talk radio program called Radio Free Silver was abruptly shut off in mid-program because local advertisers threatened to cancel all advertising on the radio station. The program, produced by Kyle Johnson, began airing two months ago on radio outlet KNFT as a liberal alternative to conservative talk radio shows such as Rush Limbaugh, which also airs on the station.

Last week an attempt was made to shut down Radio Free Silver when advertisers on the program pulled their support. But local liberal activists temporarily saved the program by pledging enough money to cover its broadcast costs.

Then a Silver City resident convinced advertisers to pull all their ads on all KNFT programs unless Radio Free Silver was cancelled. Matt Runnels, owner of KNFT, was faced with the loss of up to $10,000 in monthly ad revenue if the show continued to air. Runnels informed Johnson during today's broadcast that the program could no longer "air."

A thought from Jerry in Silver City:

I was just informed that today, during the 9 - 10 Radio Free Silver time slot (KNFT - 950 AM), an incident occurred where the program was interrupted.

Several weeks ago, the sponsors that had normally been supporting that hour withdrew their support from KNFT. The host, Kyle Johnson, was informed that unless $600 could be guaranteed, per month, Radio Free Silver -- a truly liberal talk radio show -- would be dead. As Grant County and Silver City have a fairly hard core of liberal folks living here, the approach towards keeping RFS on the air was to go to a "listener supported radio broadcast." Kyle Johnson seemed satisfied to know that individual listeners were going to support the hour month by month, so that truly liberal ideas and thoughts could continue on KNFT. A commitment, supported by many pledges from the listeners, was made to provide the $600 to keep the show on the air.

As you all know, the radio waves have been the scene of some nasty, ugly "fights" between the Right Wing Ideologues such as Hannity, Limbaugh, Liddy, Cal Thomas, etc. Nationally, the Right Wing has basically taken over the radio waves. Al Franken, Jane Garofalo, and Amy Goodman are essentially "it" when it comes to national liberal radio. We all felt very good that the local owner of KNFT had supported some diversity. In fact, the Independence Day Parade just held here in Silver City, NM, had a theme of "Celebrating Our Diverse Heritage As One." So much for diversity.

Someone from the community apparently visited each and every sponsor for programming ON ALL OF RADIO KNFT and pressured them to withdraw their support for all of the radio programs on KNFT. This culminated today, during Radio Free Silver's hour program, with a statement that Radio Free Silver was "off the air." I ask all of you to stay tuned, as we gather the facts. I intend on sending this message to Air America and Amy Goodman's Democracy Now. I ask that those of you who know of any other radio stations, or TV stations, in El Paso, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, or Tucson, to notify them that a true story of Right Wing intimidation and intolerance has surfaced its ugly head here in Silver City, NM. If you have your own email listings, please pass the word. [e-mail] is Kyle's personal email and hopefully, he is already constructing the first line of responses to this coup d'etat.

Freedom in America has been seriously challenged by these folks. To say that Radio Free Silver is so onerous to local audiences - when they have several conservative talk shows aired locally, smacks of the most disgusting form of modern McCarthyism I've seen. The national media needs to come down on these right wingers with both feet. I urge you to contact CNN, MSNBC, or other major news organizations, to drop a dime on this.

Media from outside Silver City may have more incentive to pry open this can of worms than the local medias, and perhaps investigate the entire thing. We must be willing now to stand up for what is right in our beliefs. We are - I think - proud to be liberals. This is an attack on basic tolerance and freedom of speech. Perhaps we can even find some national sponsors for Radio Free Silver. I assume that the station owner is shocked by what has happened today.

These are the things Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Putin or some fascist dictator might do to silence the "opposition."

Silver City is in Democratic Senator Jeff Bingamen's district.

[BarbaRosa]

36. KNFT is pretty much

a right wing country station. They cater to the rancher/redneck/rush crowd. Not much chance of getting the Dixie Chicks.

Even though I can see their tower from here, I won't listen to them. Never have, never will.. well unless I can't help it, ie a store has it on or something like that.

Thank heavens for satellite radio.

[kwolf68]

39. This is a Good thing

Yea, I can empathize with those on this board totally at their wits end with the course of our nation.

But, this is a good thing…it means they are scared, they are doing everything they can to suppress an alternative viewpoint. Despite what the cooky-clowns on the right may think, this is antithetical to this nation and will, IN TIME, be exposed and will come back to bite these people in the ass.

Short of complete censorship, all this will do is make the left push harder, scream louder, open our pocket books and fight fire with fire.

In the end, this is a good day my friends. Think about this: For 20 years Liberal has been turned into a dirty word, the Republicans hold all branches of government, have a “man of God” running against a Massachusetts Liberal with a running mate “ranked #4” as most Liberal and what will they get?

In the very least an EXTREMELY CLOSE election. No one will predict a Bush sweep and many suggest Kerry is the front-runner. See what all that work has gotten the right? All those years of band-mouthing Democrats, all the politicians who they now own, all that money they’ve spent, all those books they wrote and all that media they now control…has gotten them NOT A DAMN THING.

If I had invested 25+ years of dedication to advancing an ideology, had the pulse of the nation, frustrated voters, “good” politicians, twice the amount of think tanks as my opponents, the government and the media I would be HIGHLY PISSED the nation wasn’t supporting me 70 percent to 30. The Mfers woke up one day and realized their stupid revolution is a sham and its dying.

I can’t wait till the effer is dead and the right has to go back to working with Democrats again.

[eagler]

40. We most certainly need a new improved FAIRNESS DOCTRINE!

And don't say it won't work. It worked for 40 years and tailored to today's media- it can work again. If in fact there was a strong LIBERAL media in this country - the neocons would be screaming for the return of the Fairness Doctrine. A well informed electorate depends on the free exchange of ideas! The Fairness Doctrine is the worst nightmare of those who would openly lie to the public and then hide behind the guise of having no competition.

[kwolf68]

43. Fairness Doctrine

Absolutely. It was brought up on this very forum by someone that if a "Liberal bias" really existed then the Cons would, in an effort to bring "fairness" (choking) to the debate promote the inactment of the fairness doctrine.

If I am not mistaken didn't we shut down that law sometime in the 1980s? At a time when the Cons were yammering the loudest about "Liberal bias" in the media? Hmmmmmmm....Methinks, the Republicans knew what they were doing:

1-Shut off Fairness Doctrine while screaming "media is Liberal"
2-All the while working a plan to take over media to advance propaganda
3-Continue to spew "Liberal media", but DO NOT advance Fairness Doctrine.
End Result = Any negative press can be "discounted" as Liberal bias...while positive press (even if it comes from right-wing hacks like Fox) is treated as Gospel.

I have seen these jackasses quote from the Washington Post on stories they like, then turn right around and "discredit" the Post when a story comes out they don't like.

These people are slick, powerful, ruthless and ARE GOING DOWN. Our nation is too great to be hoodwinked but for so long.

[jamesinca]

64. "Banana Republicans"

It is a good book by Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber.
ISBN # 1-58542-342-4.

Most of the arguments that are brought up on this thread are elaborated on in the book. The book goes beyond speculation or making an assertion to actually showing how the right wing is doing the things that are suspected by the readers here on this forum. I have always felt they were evil,now I have a referenced/researched source that supports this feeling.

[LordActon]

42. Air America

This will be Air America's biggest obstacle. Once they get hooked on advertising revenue they will be subserviant to their advertisers. "He who pays the piper, picks the tune."

Interesting that AAR is running Home Depot commercials. A well known contributor to the GOP.

I can envision board members chuckling amongst themselves what it's going to be like when they and the rest of their crony friends pull the rug out from under AAR.

[AmandaRuth]

44. i certainly hope

someone in the area will publish a list of those advertisers who threatened to pull their advertising so listeners can decide who gets their dollars.

[burrowowl]

47. This is an example

of how the airwaves that belong to the people are being monopolized by the RW.
Listeners to the program ponied up the money to broadcast it and then the whole station was threatened.
See the post with the e-mail from lisa.
Commoncause.org has a campaign to pressure the FCC and to take back the airwaves.

[SemperEadem]

48. maybe liberals should challenge that station's license

and contact those advertisers who pulled their advertising and tell them that you aren't going to do business with them for being complicit in discrimination and censorship by allowing a handful of people who don't even listen to or live in your area to intimidate you by not allowing differing viewpoints to be aired on a small radio station.

[Zorra]

49. If any of those advertisers are national companies, we can boycott

them nationally.

Local Democrats and other concerned citizens in the Silver City area should band together and determinedly boycott every advertiser that made these threats.

If anyone from the Silver City area can post a list of national products advertised on that station, and a list of national advertisers that made these threats, maybe some DUers would be willing to help hit these fascists where it hurts them the most - in their wallet.

[sandnsea]

50. We need to grow our own food

The list of places to boycott is just too large. Or, Boycott Friday, buy nothing from any corporation on Fridays.

[Zorra]

60. I almost never buy anything from a large corporation.

I filled my ten gallon gas tank up in my car two months ago and still have a half tank left. Most of my food is locally grown, and I'm pretty much a vegetarian except that I eat fresh caught fish given to me by local fishermen. I live in a place where it is easy to boycott corporate goods. The nearest Wal-Mart is over 300 miles away. The nearest McDonald's is over 100 miles away.

But I'll still definitely make it a point to never buy anything from a big corporation on Friday, and think that is a great idea. ;-)

[supperDem]

62. I must ask

Who made your computer? Your internet connection? It's really hard to discard those that wish to retard.

[Zorra]

66. In case you have not noticed, our government and media have been

hijacked by monopolistic corporations with nefarious right wing intentions. They have proven, by their actions, that they must be regulated and closely monitored. Supporting them and the present government while they are trying to subvert our democracy is contrary to our best interests right now.

Once corporations and the media are brought under control by the people, and de-monopolized, I will no longer have a problem with them so long as they do not attempt to damage my country.

I think capitalism is a good system as long as it is monitored and highly regulated to keep it from doing harm. It is doing social, political, and environmental harm at this time, and monopolistic corporations need to be brought under the control of the people, and be kept from influencing our government for their own self interests.

My computer and internet connection are a necessary evil. They are necessary because they are tools which I use with the intention of helping to liberate my country from the grip of a dictatorial totalitarian regime. Unfortunately, monopolistic corporations have gained control of the media, so I can no longer use them for learning truthful information. I did not own a computer or have an internet connection until after Bu$h was selected. I would prefer to not have a computer, and would not have one if given a reasonable choice. I would prefer to lie in the sun on the beach all day and eat mangos, and I could if I wanted to. But I feel that I owe it to my country, my family, and my people to make an effort to regain democracy and sanity in our nation.

Otherwise, I would not have a computer. Which I assume was invented and produced by people.

BTW, my computer is second hand, and my internet connection is "interesting".

"It's really hard to discard those that wish to retard."

WTH does that mean?

[supperDem]

52. Let's be real here

Any advertizer that wants to not advertize on a program they choose is up to THEM. Not us, not the feds, not anyone but them. Is this really that hard to see?

[West Coast Democrat]

54. Yes, but you may want to learn how to spell....

..."advertise."

[supperDem]

55. Yes but my dear XanthaS

You may want to re-spell 'Xanthus' too whence I do.

[West Coast Democrat]

57. Once again...

such "clever" comments from one who cannot spell!

[supperDem]

58. I recall way back in spelling school

the teacher nor studen ever browbeat any studen that made a mistake in their spelling. Perhaps you went to a more mean and agressive school that chose to make those with spelling problems feel guilty in hopes that they would become better. My more liberal teachers allowed for minor missteaks and we were better and more sensitive students for it.

[West Coast Democrat]

59. Boy...We Liberals gets blamed for everything!!

Now "liberal teachers" are to blame for your atrocious spelling?

[Piperay]

81. Spell check

'it's a good thing' and when you don't know how to spell you really should learn to use it! :think:

[sendero]

56. Maybe you should read more carefully....

.... they did not threaten to pull ads from that program only, they threatened to pull from ALL programs.

You think that is ok?

[supperDem]

61. What?

I don't understand your statement. I don't support any advert being told where they can advert. You have problem with that?

[sendero]

63. I have no problem...

... with an advertiser not wishing to advertise on a given program. I have a huge problem with advertisers saying they will boycott an entire station for running one program.

[sandnsea]

67. Not to stifle free speech

They aren't using their advertising dollars to express a loss of revenue because of speech, they're using their dollars purely to stifle opposing opinions. That is wrong and unAmerican. I cannot believe how cowardly this country has become. The whole entire country has been cowed by the almight dollar. It's disgusting.

[bobbyboucher]

78. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Picture Donald Sutherland, ragged, pointing at you hollering.

[Mixxster]

82. Did you actually read and understand the facts in this situation?

Any advertizer that wants to not advertize on a program they choose is up to THEM. Not us, not the feds, not anyone but them. Is this really that hard to see?

This is not about advertisers refusing to air ads on a certain program; they had already pulled their ads from this particular show. This is about extortion. It's about advertisers refusing to air ANY commercials on this ENTIRE radio station's programming list unless the advertisers get to censor content on the station.

Is it really that hard for you to see the difference?

[Mike Niendorff]

65. Hmmm.

True wingnut logic in action:

"There's just no market for left-wing radio! Which is why we had to resort to business-community threats to get it taken off the air! God bless the Glorious Free Market! Amen!"

:eyes:


MDN

[fumetti]

68. This makes censorship a "dinosaur" policy...

As America stands right now, there is the corporatocracy--a collusion between gov't and corporations--ruling the less powered populace. ( The "gov't" is the GOP, but is aided by the Dems due to too many corporate contributions. This makes the Dems foolish, because they don't get any return for their support.)

This corporatocracy has made censorship OBSOLETE now. Statutory limitation of speech is UNNECESSARY. The political arm cannot easily shut people up, so now it's left to the business arm.

Businesses are trying to kill any dissent by drying up the money. Whoopie Goldberg, Linda Rondstat, and this radio station are seeing the swift corporate retribution for speaking out against the political arm of the corporatocracy. This is only the beginning, people.

The only way to fight this is... save your money. Don't spend what you don't need to spend, and let them know what you're doing.

This might sound crazy, but the Dems need to start preaching personal savings. And tell people to put their money in savings accounts (not invest it in businesses), because all that discretionary spending is only fattening the coffers of the corporatocracy and easing their path to total control. If you do spend your money, spend it selectively at businesses that openly support free speech.

The stakes are getting higher and the bad guys getting more inventive. They don't need censorship to inhibit free speech anymore.

[w4rma]

71. Into savings accounts so that the banks can use the money as a loan? (nt)

[NYC]

72. Fear on Trial by John Henry Faulk.

A good book to read about threats of pulling advertising.

[Catt03]

74. Reading this thread makes me depressed....again

My day wasn't the best to begin with. Then I heard and read the WSJ/ABC polls and got that sinking feeling. Then, on the way home in Boca Raton, Fl, traveling on I 95, I see a mammoth banner strung across an office building that says "Bush/Cheney in 04" (Don King's office)and then I read this post about Silver City.

Today, at least, I don't understand or know this country anymore. How can people be so misguided and ignorant about George Bush?

As I said...depressing

[LordActon]

87. hang in there

Reading this thread makes me depressed....again... I don't understand or know this country anymore. How can people be so misguided and ignorant about George Bush?

Catt03, don't let it get you down. This really isn't anything new. It's been going on for a long time and though we progressive's will lose battles like this along the way, in the long term we always prevail to overturn bad policies, institutions, etc. History is on our side but the struggle will go on indefinitely.

[scarface2004]

75. turn dennis bernstein loose..

on their right wing hitler worshipping asses!!!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

76. I'm sending $50 to Pacifica Radio

instead of going to the mall this week-end. Listener sponsorhip isn't perfect, but it's better than nothing. Lighting a candle AND cursing the darkness.

[quaoar]

79. Here's an email address

For the Grant County/Silver City Chamber of Commerce:

[e-mail]

[Triana]

83. Until someone STANDS UP...

...to these advertiser/bullies and tells 'em to just pull their stinking ads, they will do this. ONLY when they LEARN that their threats are useless will they stop.

Of course they will lose money from the advertising, but they can get other advertisers - furthermore, I bet the threat of pulling ads is largely a bunch of hot air. Even if not, the stations have GOT to stand up to this shit and until they do, it's gonna happen.

Makes no sense to back down and bow to the Neo-Con bullies then whine about it. Get new advertisers.

[erpowers]

85. Owner Should have Stood up to Advertisers

The owner of the station should have stood up to the advertisers and told them that they could pull their spots. The owner of the station could have then asked the people who listen to the radio station to donate money to the station so that they would not have to rely on sponsors to support the station. That is what Kpft here in Houston does. Kpft is a listener supported radio station so they can put any person on their station without worrying about a sponsor threatening to withdraw their sponsorship.

This incident shows why we need more independent radio stations and why this country shoul end deregulation of the media. This shows what can happen when individuals use their money and power to control what people can hear. I think Kerry should use this incident in his campaign to push for regulation of the media.

I bet Repulicans are happy about this. And they said they love America and Freedom of Speech. This leads to the question of why are we in Iraq fighting to give them freedom when the freedoms of Americans are being taken away everyday?

[LordActon]

86. won't happen

The owner of the station should have stood up to the advertisers and told them that they could pull their spots.

That would be nice of the owner but rarely do business make decisions out of the goodness of their heart. The bottom line profit is the driving factor.

The owner of the station could have then asked the people who listen to the radio station to donate money to the station so that they would not have to rely on sponsors to support the station.

Again the business is there to make money. It's not there to simply put shows that appeal to a particular crowd. Running a campaign to solicit funds from listeners can be costly and reduce the bottom line. Remember, the thugs that were targetting this station were willing to destroy the entire business/radio station in order to get 1 program off the air. Are listeners going to make up all advertising revenue for 1 hour's worth of programming? Unlikely.

I think Kerry should use this incident in his campaign to push for regulation of the media.

Kerry knows better. He barely gets coverage now due to the corporate ownership of the media. If he even hints at introducing legislation that levels the playing field, all media outlets will look and sound exaclty like FOX does now. It's already heading in that direction now. It's eerie how CNN and MS-NBC look more and more like FOX every passing day.

[info being]

91. Give me a break

If Kyle Johnson was serious...if KNFT was serious about diversity of thought...they'd bully the SPONSORS. Why not open the show with a list of companies who pulled their ads or threatened the station? Why not call for a left-wing boycott of those businesses?

[confuddled]

92. Yep

That's what I'm pushing for. This is a beautiful area but full of virulent 'patriots" - pretty scary.

[confuddled]

105. Nope,"make lemonade"

Email from Kyle Johnson of Radio Free Silver suggests more positive/constructive action is being taken:

"...A number of things are in the works and the first of these that will
come about is the resurrection of Radio Free Silver! on CATS! /
Community Access Television of Silver. What was a radio show will now
become a television show on cable. It will be shot by a group of
videographers here in Silver City using our own equipment, thereby
allowing us to distribute the show without restriction - perhaps even
to Dixon, NM!

A 2nd item we're working on is a large public meeting to address the
issue of RFS and other issues that are of ongoing concern. It will
include a broad cross section of the community and we see it as an
opportunity to form new alliances for a better future.

If you'd like to help out, write a letter of support and email it
back. We are compiling these and they will be of great help to show
the broad based and wide ranging concern regarding our freedoms of
speech and press. Spread the word by forwarding this email to your
local press and whoever else you may choose among friends and media
outlets".
His email address is [e-mail] <[e-mail]>.
Two local newspapers:
Silver City Sun News http://www.scsun_news.com
Silver City Daily Press http://www.thedailypress.com

I am impressed with this response to a rancorous email I had sent.

[BeachBuckeye]

95. Our show may be on the chopping block very soon as well.

Local Republican callers are making it extremely difficult to stay on the air. Financial support has always been VERY slim but the intimidation by the Right is making it near impossible for local businessmen to advertise on our program. Without a miracle we'll soon be gone.

Guy

[Robbien]

98. You should tell your listeners this is happening

And tell them that if they enjoy the show, they should call the station's advertisers and thank the advertisers for sponsoring the station and your show.

Your advertisors need to know there are listeners who are happy with the show. Your advertisors right now are only hearing from the RW.

[fizzana]

99. Notice that the wingnuts do this under the guise of accusing these

shows for not respecting the office of the President but come January, when there will be a new President in office they will suddenly lose all respect for the office and be quite happy to listen to the Limbaughs of the world trash the President once again.

[Merlin]

102. There's only one way to beat this.

And that's with a conglomerate of national advertisers willing to back these programs at a local level. They can make it safe for these shows long enough to wilt the organized opposition. Eventually even local advertisers will step up to the plate to sponsor.

The problem is to find national advertisers willing to do this.

One place to look is those willing to sponsor shows like Prairie Home Companion on PBS, an unabashadly liberal show. Lands End and Sleep-Number Mattress are two that come to mind. Maybe Progressive Insurance would do it. Possibly Costco.

[confuddled]

107. The matter came up at a County Commission meeting

Forgot to mention in my reply #105 that this was addressed at the July 23 County Commission meeting.
http://www.thedailypress.com/artman/publish/article_1297.shtml

[confuddled]

108. KNFT to Air Liberal Show

http://www.scsun-news.com/artman/publish/article_2249.shtml

The Ed Shultz Show, not the local Radio Free Silver show that was recently dropped under "patriots'" pressure, will replace Michael Savage.
"When asked what the chances were for a return of the controversial Radio Free Silver!, Runnels was succinct. “Slim to none,” he said. “At least for now. Emotions are way too high and too raw. Everybody’s on edge, pointing fingers and calling names. The best thing that could happen is for all of us to get together and chat one day.”

Hum-m-m-m. Not sure what to make of this.