Armed Forces Radio will only let Limbaugh talk to the troops.

[techs]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co...cle/2005/10/17/AR2005101701666_pf.html
http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=248365
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=32031

A recent survey by Democracy Radio discovered that The Rush Limbaugh Show is the sole program of its kind on AFRTS that offers political commentary. AFRTS is a broadcast service funded by public tax dollars and reaches nearly 1 million U.S. troops every day

Liberal radio talker Ed Schultz was eagerly anticipating his debut yesterday on Armed Forces Radio, which agreed last month to carry his program to nearly a million soldiers around the world.
But at 7 a.m., Schultz's producer got a call from Allison Barber, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary for internal communications, who said without explanation that the deal was off.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to require political balance in talk radio programming on American Forces Radio (AFR). AFR, which is tax-payer funded, broadcasts to American troops and military families stationed in more than 177 countries around the globe. Though these broadcasts are intended to provide a cross-section of what is heard by stateside audiences, not one minute of progressive talk radio programming is currently scheduled on any of AFR?s 33 individually programmed radio stations. While the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) recently indicated that it plans to air some progressive talk radio, it has not provided any details on when these shows will begin airing.
?American Forces Radio is funded by taxpayers ? conservatives, liberals and moderates alike,? Harkin said. ?It is only fair that it provide a balanced representation of political viewpoints on its airwaves to American service members around the world.?

In case you are wondering what the Conservative response to asking for progressive talk radio to also be aired on Armed Forces Radio you can look at Rich Limbaugh who on his website claims this is an attempt to censure HIM and get HIM off AFR.

http://www.qctimes.com/print.php?story_id=1029710&doc=
Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk radio host, devoted a part of his program to it Thursday. ?This, my friends, is censorship,? he said. His Web site even has a poster of the host with an American flag over his mouth and the label, ?The Senate vs. Rush Limbaugh.?

 

[Todd33]

Good, get him off the air. They don't need talking heads, they need to read the news.

The only thing I want my tax money going towards anything for rush is his prison sentence.

 

[irwincur]

Like the troops want to hear from those that simply b*tch and moan about the job they are doing? Have you ever met a soldier - seriosuly, most could give a sh*t less about what the left has to say.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: irwincur
Like the troops want to hear from those that simply b*tch and moan about the job they are doing? Have you ever met a soldier - seriosuly, most could give a sh*t less about what the left has to say.

Maybe most but not all.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: irwincur
Like the troops want to hear from those that simply b*tch and moan about the job they are doing? Have you ever met a soldier - seriosuly, most could give a sh*t less about what the left has to say.

Rush is like a giant 1984 Propaganda Machine

 

[maluckey]

SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

 

[broon]

I'm not a Rush fan but he shouldn't be censored. What radio shows does the left have that could be presented? Alan Colmes (sp)?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

Show me a radio station that plays what 10% of thier listeners want to hear, and ill show you a radio station that is going out of business.

(Though to be fair, I doutbt 10% even want to hear Rush)

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

Show me a radio station that plays what 10% of thier listeners want to hear, and ill show you a radio station that is going out of business.

(Though to be fair, I doutbt 10% even want to hear Rush)

Train niether the Left nor the Right talk Shows would consider the Soldiers a large part of their audience. I'm just saying that in fairness to all should the soldiers be entitled to listen to what they want too and have the options open to them? Hey they are putting their lives on the line, that's the very least we can do for them!

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

Show me a radio station that plays what 10% of thier listeners want to hear, and ill show you a radio station that is going out of business.

(Though to be fair, I doutbt 10% even want to hear Rush)

That's all fine and dandy in the private sector. This is taxpayer funded. It shouldn't be deliberately discrimatory.

 

[dahunan]

They need to hire Robin Williams or in truth.. hire some nonbiased radio programs

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

Show me a radio station that plays what 10% of thier listeners want to hear, and ill show you a radio station that is going out of business.

(Though to be fair, I doutbt 10% even want to hear Rush)

Train niether the Left nor the Right talk Shows would consider the Soldiers a large part of their audience.

Armed Forces Radio considers troops a large portion of thier audience

I'm just saying that in fairness to all should the soldiers be entitled to listen to what they want too and have the options open to them?

Its a radio station, not exactly on demand, everyone who listens hears the same programming.

Hey they are putting their lives on the line, that's the very least we can do for them!

Your preaching to the choir here buddy, but its a radio station, aint exactly that flexible. If you want 100% options, send over cases of portable mp3 players. you can preload them with all the talk show clips you want.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Train - this is Armed Forces Radio, tailored by our military for hyping the troops.
It's not commercial and requestline stateside gruel.

 

[Train]

Yes I know what it is, thanks.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

Originally posted by: irwincur
Like the troops want to hear from those that simply b*tch and moan about the job they are doing? Have you ever met a soldier - seriosuly, most could give a sh*t less about what the left has to say.

I haven't seen any comment on what the troops are doing except in cases like Abu Grhaib that might be considered criticism for the job the troops are doing. In that case the criticism is well justified.

It wasn't the troops that botched Iraq from before the invasion. You can't blame the soldier for being sent to occupy a hostile country with too few soldiers and inadequate equipment.

It's the administration that receives the criticism that you attempt to translate into criticism of the soldiers that were sent to execute the fatally flawed plan and in some cases, no plan.

If soldiers are not allowed to hear opposing views on the state sponsored broadcasts, the definition of democracy has changed.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Train - this is Armed Forces Radio, tailored by our military for hyping the troops.
It's not commercial and requestline stateside gruel.

So draft dodgers are preferred listening by the troops? Interesting . . .

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: irwincur
Like the troops want to hear from those that simply b*tch and moan about the job they are doing? Have you ever met a soldier - seriosuly, most could give a sh*t less about what the left has to say.

I was one for 5 years, please don't sterotype!! Either provide balance or have Rush removed.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: broon
I'm not a Rush fan but he shouldn't be censored. What radio shows does the left have that could be presented? Alan Colmes (sp)?

I heard talk that the Al Franken Show was being considered. Personally I think either Franken, Springer, or even Rhandi Rhoades.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: maluckey
SO, then most of the radio should reflect their views, shouldn't it? As far as the trigger pullers are concerned (combat MOS) they are overwhelmingly Conservative, whethyer Democrat Conservative or Republican Conservative. Liberals are a very silent and jumpy minority in that group.

They (Combat MOS) are the ones doing the dirty work, and they are the ones that the rest of the military supports. Without them, no country has the ability to physically project force.

Shouldn't those who aren't conservative, even if they are a minority, be able to listen to radio programs they want ?

Show me a radio station that plays what 10% of thier listeners want to hear, and ill show you a radio station that is going out of business.

(Though to be fair, I doutbt 10% even want to hear Rush)

But since it is federally funded they should be required to be non biased.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
But since it is federally funded they should be required to be non biased.

Says Who?

 

[broon]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: broon
I'm not a Rush fan but he shouldn't be censored. What radio shows does the left have that could be presented? Alan Colmes (sp)?

I heard talk that the Al Franken Show was being considered. Personally I think either Franken, Springer, or even Rhandi Rhoades.

I can understand censoring Al Franken over there

Just a thought...is it more productive to a military to believe that they are 100% supported back home and not hear negative talk about them? Or would it be better to have them listen to people that constantly question the administration and Commander in Chief?

Although I don't believe in censorship for civilians, the more I think about, it's not necessarily a bad thing for soldiers fighting a war.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity
But since it is federally funded they should be required to be non biased.

Says Who?

Says any US citizen who believes in fairness and equality?? But then again I forgot who was in power, I'll crawl back in my corner now sir ....


Actually in this case the senate

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: broon
I'm not a Rush fan but he shouldn't be censored. What radio shows does the left have that could be presented? Alan Colmes (sp)?

I heard talk that the Al Franken Show was being considered. Personally I think either Franken, Springer, or even Rhandi Rhoades.

I can understand censoring Al Franken over there

Just a thought...is it more productive to a military to believe that they are 100% supported back home and not hear negative talk about them? Or would it be better to have them listen to people that constantly question the administration and Commander in Chief?

Although I don't believe in censorship for civilians, the more I think about, it's not necessarily a bad thing for soldiers fighting a war.

The truth is all that should matter. When I was in basic training the Gulf war was in progress, we were given no word on what was happening until after it was finished. I personally resented not knowing what was happening. Censorship in any form is bad.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: broon

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: broon
I'm not a Rush fan but he shouldn't be censored. What radio shows does the left have that could be presented? Alan Colmes (sp)?

I heard talk that the Al Franken Show was being considered. Personally I think either Franken, Springer, or even Rhandi Rhoades.

I can understand censoring Al Franken over there

Just a thought...is it more productive to a military to believe that they are 100% supported back home and not hear negative talk about them? Or would it be better to have them listen to people that constantly question the administration and Commander in Chief?

Although I don't believe in censorship for civilians, the more I think about, it's not necessarily a bad thing for soldiers fighting a war.

And if you or the military ever got to chance to listen to liberal radio, you would hear 100% support for the troops. You will not, however, hear 100% blind support for the administration though. I don't know how many times and in how many ways it can be said.....you can support a person without supporting or condoning what they are doing! I would argue that trying to get the troops brought home is supporting them more than trying to extend their deployment in a hostile country.

Do you think that the troops over there have 100% support for the administration and the war in Iraq? Does that mean that they don't support themselves?