Rush Limbaughâs opponents are starting a radio campaign against him Thursday, seizing upon the radio starâs attack of a Georgetown law student as a âslutâ to make a long-term effort aimed at weakening his business.
The liberal Media Matters for America is using a past campaign against Glenn Beck as a template. In Limbaugh, however, theyâre going after bigger game. Heâs already fighting back and the groupâs stance has provoked concerns that an effort to silence someone for objectionable talk is in itself objectionable.
Media Matters is spending at least $100,000 for two advertisements that will run in eight cities.
The ads use Limbaughâs own words about student Sandra Fluke, who testified at a congressional hearing that contraception should be paid for in health plans. Limbaugh, on his radio programs, suggested Fluke wanted to be paid to have sex, which made her a âslutâ and a âprostitute.â In return for the money, he said Fluke should post videos of herself having sex. Under sharp criticism, Limbaugh later apologized.
In one of the anti-Limbaugh ads, listeners are urged to call the local station that carries Limbaugh to say âwe donât talk to women like thatâ in our city.
Ad time was purchased in Boston; Chicago; Detroit; Seattle; Milwaukee; St. Louis; Macon, Ga.; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The cities were selected to support active local campaigns against Limbaugh or because of perceptions Limbaugh may be vulnerable in that market, said Angelo Carusone of Media Matters.
âWhat weâre really looking for is a way to demonstrate the persistence of the effort and the fact that it is on a wide scale,â Carusone said.
A spokeswoman for Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates Limbaughâs show to more than 600 radio stations nationally, said Media Matters has gone beyond criticism of Limbaughâs words to an attempt to silence him and intimidate advertisers.
âThis is not about women,â said Rachel Nelson, Premiere spokeswoman. âItâs not about ethics and itâs not about the nature of our public discourse. Itâs a direct attack on Americaâs guaranteed First Amendment right to free speech. Itâs essentially a call for censorship masquerading as high-minded indignation.â
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/22/radio-campaign-next-step-against-rush-limbaugh/
The liberal Media Matters for America is using a past campaign against Glenn Beck as a template. In Limbaugh, however, theyâre going after bigger game. Heâs already fighting back and the groupâs stance has provoked concerns that an effort to silence someone for objectionable talk is in itself objectionable.
Media Matters is spending at least $100,000 for two advertisements that will run in eight cities.
The ads use Limbaughâs own words about student Sandra Fluke, who testified at a congressional hearing that contraception should be paid for in health plans. Limbaugh, on his radio programs, suggested Fluke wanted to be paid to have sex, which made her a âslutâ and a âprostitute.â In return for the money, he said Fluke should post videos of herself having sex. Under sharp criticism, Limbaugh later apologized.
In one of the anti-Limbaugh ads, listeners are urged to call the local station that carries Limbaugh to say âwe donât talk to women like thatâ in our city.
Ad time was purchased in Boston; Chicago; Detroit; Seattle; Milwaukee; St. Louis; Macon, Ga.; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The cities were selected to support active local campaigns against Limbaugh or because of perceptions Limbaugh may be vulnerable in that market, said Angelo Carusone of Media Matters.
âWhat weâre really looking for is a way to demonstrate the persistence of the effort and the fact that it is on a wide scale,â Carusone said.
A spokeswoman for Premiere Radio Networks, which syndicates Limbaughâs show to more than 600 radio stations nationally, said Media Matters has gone beyond criticism of Limbaughâs words to an attempt to silence him and intimidate advertisers.
âThis is not about women,â said Rachel Nelson, Premiere spokeswoman. âItâs not about ethics and itâs not about the nature of our public discourse. Itâs a direct attack on Americaâs guaranteed First Amendment right to free speech. Itâs essentially a call for censorship masquerading as high-minded indignation.â
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/22/radio-campaign-next-step-against-rush-limbaugh/
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