As a
rule, I don't use the blog to wade in on political stuff. The
blogosphere is full of folks, much smarter and more qualified than me
to hash out the important and, not so important, issues of the day. But this is
one of those times when the real world and an institution I still have great
affection for have come into conflict and I feel compelled to run a little
interference for our local Grass Valley radio station, KNCO.
I took my headphones off for the last time there in 1999. But before that I spent maybe the 15 most creative years of my professional life within its cozy confines. Being there had been a little bit kismet, a little bit right place-right time, and an awful lot of fun. And it really is an local institution, a place well-woven into the fabric of the community. On a practical level, KNCO and life in western Nevada County kind of go hand in hand, like a long standing marriage. One's interests are the interests of the other.
KNCO is also one of over 600 radio stations nationwide that airs The Rush Limbaugh Show daily. The relationship between Rush's show, the radio station the home town advertisers has been mutually beneficial, too. Since KNCO began airing the show in 1989, the local inventory avails between 9 a.m. and noon have seldom gone un-sold. And the ones that are don't stay that way long. In fact, many advertisers pay top dollar to have their ads placed specifically during that time period; even though, rumor has it, this Rush Limbaugh guy is a controversial opinionated blowhard.
I took my headphones off for the last time there in 1999. But before that I spent maybe the 15 most creative years of my professional life within its cozy confines. Being there had been a little bit kismet, a little bit right place-right time, and an awful lot of fun. And it really is an local institution, a place well-woven into the fabric of the community. On a practical level, KNCO and life in western Nevada County kind of go hand in hand, like a long standing marriage. One's interests are the interests of the other.
KNCO is also one of over 600 radio stations nationwide that airs The Rush Limbaugh Show daily. The relationship between Rush's show, the radio station the home town advertisers has been mutually beneficial, too. Since KNCO began airing the show in 1989, the local inventory avails between 9 a.m. and noon have seldom gone un-sold. And the ones that are don't stay that way long. In fact, many advertisers pay top dollar to have their ads placed specifically during that time period; even though, rumor has it, this Rush Limbaugh guy is a controversial opinionated blowhard.
No way.
Get out of here! Really? Yeah, really.
And you
may have heard 'ol Rush really stepped in it again. Hard to fathom, isn't
it? Never one to shy away from stirring the pot, the loud-mouthed talk
show host couldn't resist weighing in on Georgetown law student Sandra
Fluke's birth control testimony on Capitol Hill, summarizing her support
of President Obama's policy requiring health care to cover the cost of
contraception in the only way Rush knows how- in your face and contentious:
"What does it say about the college coed Sandra Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
Geez Louise, Rush, don't hold back. How do you really feel? Give him credit, though. In one breath he managed to insult half the people in the country. And though I may lean a little to the right of center, there is no way I can defend Rush Limbaugh characterizing Ms. Fluke, or any woman as a prostitute and a whore. In fact, had he said those things about my wife, my sister, my mother or any other woman I care about, I’m pretty sure I, too, would be very inclined to slug the man in his rather ample midsection. Them's fightin' words!
However, the story anymore isn't so much about what Rush said, but the response to it- particularly from those who'd rather cross the street than share the sidewalk with a Republican. Sometimes it seems as if these same enlightened souls who preach 'tolerance' are the least tolerant among us, at least of those they disagree with. Particularly those who speak, or worse, dare think with a conservative slant. But this is nothing new. Even back when I was at KNCO these folks seemed to shrill the loudest.
"What does it say about the college coed Sandra Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
Geez Louise, Rush, don't hold back. How do you really feel? Give him credit, though. In one breath he managed to insult half the people in the country. And though I may lean a little to the right of center, there is no way I can defend Rush Limbaugh characterizing Ms. Fluke, or any woman as a prostitute and a whore. In fact, had he said those things about my wife, my sister, my mother or any other woman I care about, I’m pretty sure I, too, would be very inclined to slug the man in his rather ample midsection. Them's fightin' words!
However, the story anymore isn't so much about what Rush said, but the response to it- particularly from those who'd rather cross the street than share the sidewalk with a Republican. Sometimes it seems as if these same enlightened souls who preach 'tolerance' are the least tolerant among us, at least of those they disagree with. Particularly those who speak, or worse, dare think with a conservative slant. But this is nothing new. Even back when I was at KNCO these folks seemed to shrill the loudest.
As a
former staffer, though, I feel bad about the firestorm of criticism that's
engulfed the station since Rush's inappropriate comments. The reactions have
often been as insulting and low, or lower, than the original offense. I
still have warm feelings for the place and still have friends there, among
them, the man in the middle of this mess, KNCO Station Manager, Tom
Fitzsimmons. Tom's been the one who's had to field all the angry calls and
hateful emails. The debate has been so intense he's been unable at times to
freely move about town without being forced to fend off another, usually
unpleasant, “listener”.
Even before all this, Tom had
already lost most of his hair. But the way things are going now he
may be a Patrick Stewart clone before the rhubarb finally blows over. Of
course, Tom's been getting it from both sides of the argument. But it’s mostly been
the anti-Rush folks who've been the most vitriolic. Come on, people. Can't we
disagree with each other without being so freaking disagreeable?
But not
only are the flush-Rush crew bashing him for what he said (which
Limbaugh himself admitted was wrong and apologized for), they want him silenced. Censored. They want
KNCO to take him off the air and, if not, are threatening local
sponsors who run advertising during Rush's three hours with boycotts.
And if none of that happens, then just like spoiled kids that pitch a
fit when they don't get their own way, they promise to never listen to KNCO
again. Well, here's a suggestion: then DON'T!
That's what the on-off switch is for. If you don't like what you hear on the radio, then use the dial to find something else that you do. It's your right. As the consumer, you're in control and have the power to decide what you will and won't listen to. However, among our other unalienable rights, the right not to be offended by what some radio talker says isn't one of them. But the right of free speech- even really stupid speech - is. So while I don't agree with, and can't defend Rush Limbaugh's gross mis-characterization of Ms. Fluke, like Voltaire once said I will defend to the death his right to say it. Well, maybe not to the death. But I might risk a sprained finger or nicked nail on the keyboard as I type. Really, though, maybe everybody should just step back, take a chill pill and take a deep breath. Since most Americans have the attention span of a 3 year old on a sugar high, this fake-roversy will probably blow over before even the current news cycle ends.
That's what the on-off switch is for. If you don't like what you hear on the radio, then use the dial to find something else that you do. It's your right. As the consumer, you're in control and have the power to decide what you will and won't listen to. However, among our other unalienable rights, the right not to be offended by what some radio talker says isn't one of them. But the right of free speech- even really stupid speech - is. So while I don't agree with, and can't defend Rush Limbaugh's gross mis-characterization of Ms. Fluke, like Voltaire once said I will defend to the death his right to say it. Well, maybe not to the death. But I might risk a sprained finger or nicked nail on the keyboard as I type. Really, though, maybe everybody should just step back, take a chill pill and take a deep breath. Since most Americans have the attention span of a 3 year old on a sugar high, this fake-roversy will probably blow over before even the current news cycle ends.
And if
it doesn't and lower ratings or dwindling advertising revenue begin to out
weight the benefits of keeping Rush Limbaugh on the air, then Tom and KNCO will
stop airing his show. Simple as that. And
for those hoping that happens, rest assured the radio station gets your point-
you don't like Rush Limbaugh. But here's a news flash: a lot of
other people, and more of them, do. And even those that don't like him
listen if only to know what they need to be pissed off about. However
it'll be the marketplace that decides whether Rush stays or
goes; not mob rule fueled by knee-jerk emotion. As always, common business
sense and intuitive reasoning will win the day.
Yes, the man may indeed be a big fat jerk. He may even have dandruff and bad breath for all we know. But he's really good at what he does- fending off the sticks and stones of opponents and drawing a huge audience that brings in lots of money for his affiliates. And in radio, that's the name of the game. Heck, I don't much care for Rush Limbaugh either. Before he came along, I was minding my own business and merrily doing my 9 a.m. to noon radio show on KNCO. But once Rush came on board, I lost my time slot. I didn't like it much then. In hindsight, I'm not so crazy about it now.
So yes, the man's a loud mouth flamethrower, a horse's rear end and a conservative lightning rod. But he's not Beelzebub, either. He's an entertainer. As are Bill Maher and David Letterman, entertainers who routinely trash women (well, conservative women) and in language as offensive and vile as what Rush said once. Yet one of the get-rid-of-Rush proponents, in a recent letter-to-the editor published in the local paper offered this pithy, if simple minded point-of-view: "Cancel the Limbaugh show permanently. Crass commercialism cannot outweigh such unacceptable conduct." Well, sir, have you ever come down off your sanctimonious high horse long enough to complain to HBO about Bill Maher or to CBS about David Letterman? They make a lot of money and sometimes use demeaning sexist humor to make their points, too.
Yes, the man may indeed be a big fat jerk. He may even have dandruff and bad breath for all we know. But he's really good at what he does- fending off the sticks and stones of opponents and drawing a huge audience that brings in lots of money for his affiliates. And in radio, that's the name of the game. Heck, I don't much care for Rush Limbaugh either. Before he came along, I was minding my own business and merrily doing my 9 a.m. to noon radio show on KNCO. But once Rush came on board, I lost my time slot. I didn't like it much then. In hindsight, I'm not so crazy about it now.
So yes, the man's a loud mouth flamethrower, a horse's rear end and a conservative lightning rod. But he's not Beelzebub, either. He's an entertainer. As are Bill Maher and David Letterman, entertainers who routinely trash women (well, conservative women) and in language as offensive and vile as what Rush said once. Yet one of the get-rid-of-Rush proponents, in a recent letter-to-the editor published in the local paper offered this pithy, if simple minded point-of-view: "Cancel the Limbaugh show permanently. Crass commercialism cannot outweigh such unacceptable conduct." Well, sir, have you ever come down off your sanctimonious high horse long enough to complain to HBO about Bill Maher or to CBS about David Letterman? They make a lot of money and sometimes use demeaning sexist humor to make their points, too.
Well......
we're waiting. Have you cancelled HBO? Stopped watching 'Late
Night'?
I doubt it.
You see, letter writing whiner, nobody likes a hypocrite and the double standard really dilutes your credibility. Which is why KNCO probably isn't going to remove Rush from the air. But they might take you a lot more seriously if, when guys like Maher and Letterman drag somebody like Sarah Palin's name through the mud, you'd lather up the same lynch mob mindset as you do over a Limbaugh misspeak. I'm no Sarah Palin fan and I don't know everything. But I do know that calling her the 'c' and 'b' words on national TV is unfunny and wrong, on any level.
And without this so-called crass commercialism you speak of, KNCO wouldn't be able to pay its bills, pay its people, be there during local emergencies (like snow days and wildfires), wouldn't be there to offer up countless hours of free airtime to promote local charities and events, or provide coverage of Nevada Union and Bear River High School football and basketball games which, everybody agrees, they love. It's all brought to you by crass commercialism.
But again, if you don't want any of that, then stop listening. Except for listener supported networks, local radio is a free service that you can take or leave at your pleasure. Nobody's twisting your arm. But let’s try and keep things in perspective- KNCO exists to serve the community, but will cease to exist if it doesn't make a profit. And Rush Limbaugh is a means to that end. Period. So please, if his three hours aren't your cup of tea, then do my friend, Tom, and KNCO a favor, and don't listen between 9 and noon. And lighten up. There, I feel much better.
Oh. Before I end my rant and, overlooked by most, though Rush Limbaugh's analogy was flawed his point wasn't. Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for a coed's contraception. Though she didn't deserve to have her character attacked on over 600 radio stations, it shouldn't be forgotten that Sandra Fluke is a 30 year old graduate student working towards her law degree, and a Democratic Party activist. Neither which are bad things. But she's not some naive wide-eyed college kid fresh out of high school. And she's no Joan of Arc. Ms. Fluke knew exactly what she was doing when she went to Capitol Hill.
I doubt it.
You see, letter writing whiner, nobody likes a hypocrite and the double standard really dilutes your credibility. Which is why KNCO probably isn't going to remove Rush from the air. But they might take you a lot more seriously if, when guys like Maher and Letterman drag somebody like Sarah Palin's name through the mud, you'd lather up the same lynch mob mindset as you do over a Limbaugh misspeak. I'm no Sarah Palin fan and I don't know everything. But I do know that calling her the 'c' and 'b' words on national TV is unfunny and wrong, on any level.
And without this so-called crass commercialism you speak of, KNCO wouldn't be able to pay its bills, pay its people, be there during local emergencies (like snow days and wildfires), wouldn't be there to offer up countless hours of free airtime to promote local charities and events, or provide coverage of Nevada Union and Bear River High School football and basketball games which, everybody agrees, they love. It's all brought to you by crass commercialism.
But again, if you don't want any of that, then stop listening. Except for listener supported networks, local radio is a free service that you can take or leave at your pleasure. Nobody's twisting your arm. But let’s try and keep things in perspective- KNCO exists to serve the community, but will cease to exist if it doesn't make a profit. And Rush Limbaugh is a means to that end. Period. So please, if his three hours aren't your cup of tea, then do my friend, Tom, and KNCO a favor, and don't listen between 9 and noon. And lighten up. There, I feel much better.
Oh. Before I end my rant and, overlooked by most, though Rush Limbaugh's analogy was flawed his point wasn't. Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for a coed's contraception. Though she didn't deserve to have her character attacked on over 600 radio stations, it shouldn't be forgotten that Sandra Fluke is a 30 year old graduate student working towards her law degree, and a Democratic Party activist. Neither which are bad things. But she's not some naive wide-eyed college kid fresh out of high school. And she's no Joan of Arc. Ms. Fluke knew exactly what she was doing when she went to Capitol Hill.
But
being 30 and in law school, would I be mistaken to assume she's also bright
enough to figure out how to prevent a pregnancy? For example, at
Walmart or Target, she could buy the inexpensive oral contraceptive
Tri-Sprintec for just $4 for a 28-day supply. Total cost, assuming continuous
use for three full years (including summer break): about $150. Or she
could just tell her boyfriend to use a Trojan. Or perhaps the simplest solution
might be for Sandra to stop whining and take responsibility for her
own life and actions.
Ya know,
kinda like what grown-ups should do.
Right on.
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