Ed Schultz/Armed Forces Radio makes The Washington Post

[DancingBear]

Granted, it's in the Style section, but it is a good article - pictures, even.

Here's the best part:

"Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) won approval last year for a nonbinding resolution urging Armed Forces Radio to offer more political balance in programming. Limbaugh strongly objected, noting that the network carries National Public Radio and declaring, 'I am the political balalnce.' "

Bet he had nothin' to with Ed being pulled, yes????

(sorry, no link - can't find it on the WaPo page)



edit: found it

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701666.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. Where can we write to the Armed Forces Radio?

to let them know we are sick of one-sided BushCo propaganda, and want some semblance of balance?

Anyone have an e-mail addy?

[DancingBear]

4. Go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5085107

[charlie]

2. Article link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701666_pf.html

[CottonBear]

3. NPR is news. Limbaugh is opinion. That is the meme we should discuss.

We should ask the Pentagon and Limbaugh "how can partisan opinion balance a traditional news broadcast?"

Limbaugh is entirely unbalanced both politically and personally. :grr:

[charlie]

6. They used that sorry excuse for over a decade

Last year they shifted tack, though. Now they say Rush is "controversial" programming. And they already have another "controversial" character to balance him. His name is...... get ready for it..... Tom Joyner. No fooling, they claim a roomful of morning drive cutups is the anti-Rush in their lineup.

[CottonBear]

7. I've never heard of Joyner. Is he a "morning zoo" type of host? n/t

[charlie]

8. Yeah, sort of

That is, he's more genial and good-natured than most of the morning zoo shock jocks I can think of. Also, in his crew he's the straight man, the adult who's amused by the others. And the humor isn't "edgy" or crass.

I think the "between the lines" reasoning in AFN's excuse, is that it's a black show, targetted for black audiences. So whenever Bush comes up in the news, there's a lot of funning and guffawing. So, ipso facto e pluribus unum alakazzam, Joyner balances Limbaugh.

[wndycty]

9. Not all, Joyner is a radio host who is also an activist. . .

. . .alongside Tavis Smiley he hosts an annual Summit for Black America, he is very tough on Bush. Sure his show has a lot of humor, it plays on the morning drive on urban stations throughout the country, but it speaks more truth to power than most of you ever hear on radio. Besides he is a lot more entertaining than others. Obviously because its urban (meaning targeted at African Americans) it might not appeal to the masses.

[charlie]

11. What makes AFN's lame excuse even lamer

is that Joyner isn't on daily, like Limbaugh. He alternates his slot with a pair of idiots called "Jonathan and Mary."

[CottonBear]

12. I know and like Tavis Smiley. Thanks for the info on Joyner. n/t

[jean]

5. here's the link to article, excerpts and blog links

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701666.html

Armed Forces Radio Tunes Out Liberal Show Host


By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 18, 2005; Page C01


Ed Schultz thought he had a deal to broadcast to U.S. soldiers, but the Pentagon now says otherwise.


Photo Credit: Democracy Radio


Liberal radio talker Ed Schultz was eagerly anticipating his debut yesterday on Armed Forces Radio, which agreed last month to carry his program to nearly a million soldiers around the world.

But at 7 a.m., Schultz's producer got a call from Allison Barber, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary for internal communications, who said without explanation that the deal was off.

snip

Perhaps, Schultz said in an interview, it was just a coincidence that he spent the end of last week chastising Barber for coaching a group of U.S. soldiers in Iraq before a teleconference with President Bush.

"It kind of floored us," Schultz said from his studio in North Dakota. "The fact is, they don't want dissenting voices or any other kind of speech unless it's going to be promotional for them. Obviously, these people are making sure they're not going to have any opinion other than the Rush Limbaughs of the world."

Blogs discussing this article:

Armed Forces Radio decides not to air liberal talker Schultz
http://davenetics.com/newsmonger/2005/10/18/armed-forces-radio-decides-not-to-air-liberal-talker-schultz/

Ed Schultz Stonewalled by Pentagon
http://www.everythingbetween.com/

[cynatnite]

10. He knows he'd get outed as a lying blowhard...among other things

:evilgrin: