Another journey into the land of hypocrisy (on both sides of the issue) this morning on the Brad & Britt show on FM Talk 101.1. You see, some people have had enough of the hate-spewing rhetoric of Michael Savage and have decided to contact his advertisers to try and get them to yank support of his show. The plan seems to be working and Savage has lost at least 4 major sponsors to date.
Into the fold, once again, comes our local radio talk radio hosts, Brad Kranz & Britt Whitmire who did a segment on Savage this morning. Unsurprisingly both hosts take the position that while some of the things Savage broadcasts to millions of people each day are offensive, and even in some cases as Britt said “indefensible”, if people don’t like it, they can turn the dial and simply not listen.
It’s interesting because I actually do turn the dial as soon as Alan Handleman goes off the air. I’ve tried to listen to Savage several times, but find myself becoming nauseous very quickly. I agree he does make some interesting points from time to time on issues of the day. But then he goes and says stuff like this:
“90 percent of the people on the Nobel Committee are into child pornography and molestation.” - 12/12/07
Madeline Albright is “a traitor. In my opinion, she should be tried for treason, and when she’s found guilty, she should be hung.” - 10/9/06
“Liberalism is, in essence, the HIV virus, and it weakens the defense cells of a nation.” - 7/6/06
and the one that got him rightfully fired from MSNBC:
“Oh, you’re one of the sodomites,” Savage said. “You should only get AIDS and die, you pig. How’s that? Why don’t you see if you can sue me, you pig. You got nothing better than to put me down, you piece of garbage. You have got nothing to do today, go eat a sausage and choke on it.”
Being the “liberal” that I am, I fully support free speech and the First Amendment. I have a problem however when someone’s rhetoric goes from being simply one of opinion (no matter how difficult that opinion might be to take) to one of hate. Michael Savage is a purveyor of hate, pure and simple. Britt would tell you that’s all “part of his act”. As if that makes everything he says acceptable somehow. I find it interesting how they’ll spend 2 or 3 minutes berating Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, but Neal Boortz and Michael Savage, for some reason, get treated a little differently.
So my questions to Brad & Britt are these: Is there anything a radio talk show host (particularly one on your own station) could say that you think would merit them being either fired or boycotted? Why is it unacceptable for groups of citizens to try and get a person who fills our airwaves with hate, fear and intolerance, off the air? And finally, are we all just expected to let talk radio hosts say whatever they want, no matter how hurtful and offensive it is, all the time?
hugh
January 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I always turn the dial off when Clark Howard comes on 101.1 in the afternoon, or when Alan Colmes comes on in the evening.
Brad Krantz
January 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Answers:
1. Yes
2. It is not illegal for self-appointed groups of the offended to try to get guys like Savage fired or boycotted. This is the United States’ version of the worldwide Muslim explosion over those cartoons of Muhammad a few years ago. No rioting or actual deaths, just death threats to guys like Savage and economic threats to large companies, many of whom fold easily when the pressure’s on.
3. Yes. I’ve always thought the classic answer to offensive speech in this country was MORE speech, not an attempt to silence or shut down those who offend you or disagree with you. Apparently those days are long gone. That was what liberals USED to think. I learned outdated, liberal pap back at Ohio State in the 70’s like Voltaire’s famous “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
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You say you change the dial at 7pm each night. Good for you. That’s your freedom of choice But why should you be allowed to impose your personal tastes over the choice of thousands of others around here (or millions, nationwide)? Who made you the Arbiter of Taste and Suitability? I know…”EVERYBODY I know agrees with me.” Get out a little more and talk to some people who don’t agree with your every thought. Get a little diVER….sity in your life.
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If you really listen you will not hear us always defending Boortz and Savage. On occasion, we have taken each to task on various issues… Boortz on his insane hatred of the poor and his always predictable response after a mass shooting..”if everyone all the time just had
a gun these incidents wouldn’t ever happen….”
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To me, this is the lefty version of Focus On the Family’s attempted (and failed) boycott of Ford a few years back because Ford had the nerve to market to gays. Don’t buy a Ford if you’re dumb enough to be offended by an ad appealing to homosexuals. And don’t listen to Savage if he offends you. It should end there. But it won’t.
Ged
January 25th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Brad thanks for dropping by and responding. Here are some thoughts to your reply:
1) Like what? I’m not talking about obscenity here, I’m talking hate. Evidently there is stuff that you think crosses the line, but evidently Savage’s intolerance isn’t it. It also wasn’t Imus’ “nappy headed hoes” line. Would it be the “N” word? Is that the only thing these days that deserves the boot in your opinion?
2) I didn’t say “illegal”, I said “unacceptable. There is a big difference. You seem to take the position that it’s wrong for people who are disgusted by Savage to try and make their displeasure known to the radio station and their advertisers. Just how else is a radio listener supposed to voice his/her opinion on the matter? Turning the dial doesn’t mean anything because unless you guys are lo-jacked into my car stereo, you don’t know I’m not listening. I’d love to know how radio ratings are measured in terms *other* than advertising dollars.
3) So why are there no KKK radio stations in North Carolina then? Why don’t we hear white supremacist speech every night on the drive home? Why isn’t there a “fags go home!” station broadcasting to the masses if they can say whatever ever they want? The reason is simple, and you know it. Some speech doesn’t belong on public airwaves. Like gay bashing. Denigrating someone based on their race, religion or sexual orientation just doesn’t fly. You know this to be true, otherwise you wouldn’t be as successful as you are today.
Further, I’m not the one to dictate what I like and don’t like to everyone. That wouldn’t be American and wouldn’t be liberal. What you seem to be missing is that not every word out of someone’s mouth is protected. This is why there are laws against hate crimes. This is why you can’t stand in the public square and shout the “N” word hour on end and not expect to get dragged away.
Re: Bortz. Yep, you are right. From time to time you guys do criticize him on his stance, which is great. I’ve even said so here, so if that comment was unfair, I apologize.
Again, thanks for stopping by, it speaks a great deal about you and Britt. As a loyal listener, I appreciate it.
Vonster
January 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
When Savage says “Liberalism is, in essence, the HIV virus, and it weakens the defense cells of a nation.” - 7/6/06
This is his opinion. He’s using a metaphor to define a point. You and others may disagree or even take offense but it’s free speech and he has every right to say it. It’s easy to try to lump stuff under the banner of “Hate” and then call for it to be silenced.
Who determines where the line demarcation is when it comes to defining what classifies as hate?
You’re right about the advertising. It is the measure that determines success. So let the free market determine if he is truly being hateful and not the mind police on the left enforcing a nanny state. This process worked for Air America and if the majority don’t like Savages opinion then the advertising will suffer and he’ll go off the air.
Don’t get me wrong I think the guy acts like a nutter at times and says some very stupid things but I’d still defend his right to do so.
Ged
January 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Von,
You’re absolutely right about the quote regarding liberalism and that being his opinion. He can express it to high heaven all he wants. Perhaps that is a bad example.
As for what is “hate” and what is not, here is one possible definition:
Note the last section regarding harassment, verbal abuse or insults. I’m not saying that this covers what Savage does all the time, and yes, you can change the channel if you are offended, but if this is so, I’d challenge you and ask why MSNBC fired him for his AIDS comment if it wasn’t hateful.
Also, just because something is popular doesn’t make it right. Slavery was once so and we all know what happened regarding that. I suspect that the only reason why Savage gets away with his speech is because he attacks gays, Islamics, hispanics, etc. If he was yelling the same things each night about African Americans, you and I wouldn’t be having this discussion because he’d be off the air. Sadly, it’s still acceptable in this country to attack, defame and degrade many types of people.
ed
April 11th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
This week, Brad and Britt were blaming Bush for what Obama won’t be able to accomplish in the next administration. This is taking their Bush-bashing to a new level. I think they’re the ones leaving a stinking pile of s— when they sign off at 10:00 a.m.
Ambrose
April 26th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Love your show, keep up the good work. I wish more people could read the complete sermon given by Rev. Wright. I noticed how one caller refered to Rev Hagger as a Rev. but Rev Wright as Jeremia Wright.Racism and hate run very deep in this country even among liberals if it were not so exit polls in Pennsylvania would would have had a differant result. After calling in on Thursday I agree there are a lot of issues that our next President will face that will affect our country for decades to come, ie. court appointments and we will be better of with Sen Obama or Sen Clinton making those appointments.
Tom
July 21st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I knew Savage messed up with those remarks, however it is a total crock to try to get someone off the air just because you don’t like what they have to say. By the way, Brad and Britt have a great show. They don’t carry water for anyone, they did for Obama for a while.