Limbaugh letters
Friday, August 15th, 2008I got more email in response to my column about Rush Limbaugh’s commentary during KOA radio’s morning newscast than any other column I’ve written for the Rocky.
Weirdly, most letter writers thought I was arguing that KOA should hire a talk show host to balance Rush’s three hours on KOA. Actually, I was merely suggesting that KOA find a left-leaning pundit to deliver a one-minute commentary during the newcast, to uphold the basic journalistic value of fairness that KOA claims to strive for on its morning newscast.
I thought it was interesting the Clear Channel executive Kris Olinger said that Rush Limbaugh’s contract with KOA requires KOA to air a one-minute commentary by Rush during drive time, when most people (whether Rush fans or not) are tuned in.
Here’s a few of the letters I got.
From Laura
I agree with Sean Rima, you are a whiny little girl. I listen to KOA religiously. The only time we ever turn it over to progressive radio is when the Rockies are playing and KOA isn’t broadcasting over the internet. After all, it’s good to know what the enemy is up to. Also, trying to tell Mike Rosen how to conduct an interview is like trying to tell the Pope how to celebrate the Mass, or trying to give tech support to Bill Gates. Get a life.
From Ron Vander Kooi, Ph.D.
I can only agree with you that KOA is way overdue to provide a minimal amount of balance to its talk shows and commentary!
When I was a boy, and as a young adult, visiting relatives in Denver with my parents, I thought of KOA as a high quality station, “the Voice of the West.”
Now at 70 and after 14 years living here, I can barely manage to listen to limited news on that station.
And Limbaugh is the leading disgrace on that station (competing with others whose bias and lying approach is equally distorted if not outright lying). His arrogance is so flagrant that I wonder at anyone who thinks of him positively, even as an entertainer.
But he has done so much damage at a time when many citizens would seem to prefer distortions in order to protect their own status.
He has misled so many people that his behavior can only be regarded as secondary to war crimes, and he will, I believe, be called to accounting in his lifetime…or beyond. I’ve tried to address him asking, “Have you no shame?”
Certainly Hiightower, with his own biases, could not begin to approach Rush’s blowhard approach, even with spot promotions that lasted a half hour.
KOA uses airwaves that allegedly belong to you, me and the citizenry. It disregards its responsibility to be fair in its broadcasting, and I must believe that there will come a time of reckoning -if it does not begin at once to provide an increasing amount of balance. Or is it only money that controls this democracy?
From Genie Blume
I like Hightower but don’t agree he’s the one. Ed Schultz could do the job.
Wouldn’t it be fun to pit Randi Rhodes vs. Rush considering his obvious lack of success with the ladies. Even without the famous arm tied behind his brain.
What would be even more satisfying is a real debate between Rush or Hannity and Rhodes or Schultz. No notes, no screeners or producers feeding data to the contestants.
We need to put Rush and company on display. Perhaps include a new “Rush Room” at one of Jesse Morreale’s events at Mescal during the convention where Rush could consort with members of the Creative Coalition. He’s such a name dropper.
Yes, Denver could be the birthplace of fairness in broadcasting leading to real discourse.
We have more like the “arrogant self delusional” in our midst in the form of Rosen, Caldera, Gunnie Bob and, oh yes, sweet Dan (what ever happened to the righteous protector of human rights and law after O.J.?
I say to you Jason Salzman, you have a lot of work to do. We’re watching.
