The Eugene Register Guard had my letter in their print and internet editions on Tuesday the 20th. The original was too long and so I cut 50-some words, and then they changed my title and made some other small changes which included turning 4 paragraphs into 7. As such, I'm not sure that fair usage allows me, ironically, to copy the entire revised version to this diary. Here are the first 4 paragraphs ...
Limbaugh encourages hate speech
Suppose your daughter felt strongly about an issue, so strongly that she testified before Congress. Even if you disagreed, I bet you’d be proud of her for standing up and speaking out.
Now suppose that as her price for speaking out, she was dragged through the mud for three days by a radio talker, called a slut and a prostitute and attacked in 52 separate instances. Suppose further that the radio talker fabricated and reported a false version of her testimony.
That’s why Rush Limbaugh is losing advertisers.
In calling his advertisers, I never mention a boycott. I simply ask if they are comfortable having their company’s image associated with Limbaugh’s hate speech. And make no mistake, that is exactly what it is — hate speech.
Register Guard Editor's Mailbag, Tuesday, March 20.
And yes, this link has my name and hometown, not the first time my real world identity has been revealed here, not a concern. The local station knows who I am. Their advertisers have heard from me. I've made no attempt to hide who I am. One of the marketing VPs with whom I've spoken a few times had already linked my name to this blog, probably because I had mentioned his name in one of my diaries and his company in several. The Google is an amazing thing ... He also mentioned that those of us opposing Rush have done well to sustain things this long. I don't think he yet understands something.
The other day I heard Limbaugh say something, and found myself nodding in agreement. OMG!!! No, not like that, I swear. What he said was that conventional wisdom is often wrong. Actually he may have said always wrong, which makes him wrong regardless because sometimes the conventional wisdom is correct. Confused yet?
Anyway, I do agree that conventional wisdom can often be wrong and that it is most certainly wrong in the current incident involving Limbaugh. Based on past experiences, the conventional wisdom is that this will all blow over, the advertisers will be back, and that Limbaugh's audience will grow because the controversy will attract more people to gawk at the freak show, regardless of their political persuasion.
This time, however, is different. The entire political zeitgeist of this moment in America is symbolized by his attacks on Sandra Fluke. Large numbers of people of both genders have been alarmed at the actions taken over the past year by Republicans in State Houses across the country, attacking women's rights and freedom. It is now more clear than ever that not fighting back is no longer acceptable.
And taking down Rush Limbaugh is part of that fight. It will take time, it will take ongoing efforts, but it can be done. If you haven't yet joined in making calls or sending emails please consider doing so. The more people we have actively contacting advertisers, especially local advertisers, the greater the economic impact we can have on the stations that carry his show. As ipsos has made clear in their wonderful series of insider diaries, Limbaugh's show is expensive for stations to carry, and they need to make significant ad revenue just to cover that cost. How long can they absorb the loss when they are forced to run several free Public Service Announcements (PSAs) every hour?
We are in a protracted battle with the local station in Eugene. They have added several new sponsors this week after being down to just one local sponsor a week or so ago. As I mentioned in my current action diary, a recent poll found that a majority of Americans, 56%, think Limbaugh should be fired for his remarks. We are simply asking his employers - his advertisers - to follow through and fire him.