First on CNN: Levin says Limbaugh should be dropped from Armed Forces Network

[cal04]

Source: CNN

Sen. Carl Levin, the powerful chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday he would like the Armed Forces Network to drop the controversial Rush Limbaugh program from its service that provides radio and television shows to U.S. service members around the world.

"I would hope the people that run it see just how offensive this is and drop it on their own volition," Levin told CNN in an exclusive interview in the Capitol.

(snip)
Levin, a generally liberal Democrat from Michigan whose top spot on Armed Services makes him very influential inside the Pentagon, said he would "love" to see the program dropped, but he doesn't think it should be up to Congress to pass a law to make it happen.

"I think that is probably an issue that should be left to the folks that run that network," he said. "In other words, I'd love to see them drop it but I don't think I'd legislate it."

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/07/first-on-cnn-levin-says-limbaugh-should-be-dropped-from-armed-forces-network/

[mercymechap]

1. It should definitely be dropped

but I'm not sure the folks that run that network will do it of their own volition. As controversial as Rush Limbaugh is and as nasty as he has gotten since Obama got elected, he's not kept on that network by accident.

[xtraxritical]

27. I sent emails to DoD

but the reply's were very noncommittal.

[csziggy]

49. Send requests to your Congressmen to have DOD's use of Limbaugh investigated

That will cause more waves than writing directly to DOD.

When a military office receives a question from a Congressman or a Senator, it triggers a special reaction... it's like the biggest, squeakiest wheel in the entire USA... it's called a Congressional Inquiry. Military folks don't like those. The more Congressman that call the DoD, the better!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/02/1070289/-The-American-Forces-Network-Are-Taxpayer-Dollars-Funding-Rush-Limbaugh-

[Iliyah]

2. Rush should have

never been on it in the first place.

[bluestateguy]

5. In 1993 they kicked up a shitstorm to get him on the air

And Clinton caved in, even though there was no evidence that his program was in demand.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. dammit, I didn't know that

good to learn the facts, even though I don't like this one.

disappointing

[bluestateguy]

3. Please tell me this can be done by unilateral executive order (please?)

nt

[HubertHeaver]

4. First you give them the chance to do the correct thing of their own volition.

[Dr. Matt]

6. Amen.

Drugbaugh spends 15 hours a day, 52 weeks a year smearing and defaming the Commander-in-Chief of this Country. He should not be allowed to spew his utter vile trash on the AFN via tax-payers dollars.

[kenfrequed]

37. Percisely.

Can you imagine a show on AFRT that is wildly liberal and spends every broadcast ripping on republicans? What if the host of that show had a drug problem? What if the host of that show had a track record of racism and sexism?

Really he never should have been allowed on and he should definitely have his ass knocked back off of it.

[kestrel91316]

7. They can't touch Limbaugh, yet they CAN defund NPR.

Yeah, right.

GROW A SPINE, you guys.

[shcrane71]

11. Things that make you go hmmmm... eh?

[Lost-in-FL]

22. !!!

[nolabear]

8. Thank YOU Senator Levin! Send thanks for his support!

He's gonna need it. If anyone has a friend or relative in the Armed Forces tell them to thank him too.

[duhneece]

9. Yay. HopeHupes posted links for them. I finally emailed american forces network today

I included several paragraphs of an article (something like): "US military encourages a culture of rape" and said I couldn't support my daughter or granddaughter's joining the military while Rush was aired on their radio.

[derby378]

10. Took Levin long enough...

But honestly, letting the Armed Forces Network program whatever the hell they want without any input from Capitol Hill? That sentiment would never have flown with the previous administration. Scrap Limbaugh from the AFN and be done with it.

[libinnyandia]

12. My first thought was: Mark Levin said that -- the world is coming to an end!

Then I saw is was Sen Levin.

[lovuian]

13. Yes he should

be dropped
Agree

[varelse]

14. I totallly agree (nt)

[Politicub]

15. Please let it be so

[Kingofalldems]

16. Kick this right to the top

[dfhtyjtyj]

17. Spam deleted by uppityperson (MIR Team)

[Horse with no Name]

18. He is listening to his email!

[Xipe Totec]

19. Limbaugh should be dropped from Air Forces Transport

Over whatever spot they dropped Bin Laden.

[alp227]

20. This should be AMERICAN not Armed forces,

otherwise the website for Armed Forces Network says: "PLEASE NOTE ** AFRN does NOT air Rush Limbaugh!!!. He is on AFN - EUROPE which is operated by AFRTS..."

http://naples.afneurope.net/Radio/PowerNetworkSchedule/tabid/423/Default.aspx

AFN Europe also has the Ed Schultz show on tape delay after Limbaugh and other programs.

Meanwhile here's the radio schedule for the AFN PowerTalk station in the US (damn, i wish this bipartisan format station were available NATIONWIDE)

http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/RadioStation.aspx?c=15

0100 Ed Schultz (2nd)
0400 Sean Hannity (2nd)
0700 Thom Hartman (2nd)
1000 Rush Limbaugh (1st)
1300 Ed Schultz (1st)
1600 Sean Hannity (1st)
1900 Thom Hartmann (1st)
2200 Rush Limbaugh (2nd)

[workinclasszero]

21. I can't believe an anti-american traitorous, perverted piece of trash like Rush Limpballs is

blasted 24/7 directly to our armed service members! The creep hates women, gays and minorities who make up a large part of our armed forces! And pig boy is very vocal about his hatred!

And we tax payers are FORCED to pay for Limpballs nazi propaganda??? BS!!!!

[harun]

23. Never should have been on there.

[Left Coast2020]

24. This is the same fat pig who trashed the service members themselves.......

...over some incident in Iraq. Remember? He made some totally disrepectful comment about the troops on AFN and was not yanked then.

So what do we do? Petition the Pentagon to drop his fat ass?

It will be a great day when he is off the air---permently.

[MADem]

25. When the Chair of the SASC speaks, he's like EF Hutton--DOD listens.

I think it would be a smart move for DOD to take the decision on their own to just find new programming--maybe more of that music and sports the enlisted personnel are asking for...

[MannyGoldstein]

26. "I don't think I'd legislate it"

Tough words indeed!

[JNelson6563]

36. I sure as hell wouldn't flatter that useless bastard

with legislation. Levin's got enough pull to make this happen without that ego massage for Pig-boy.

Julie

[BlancheSplanchnik]

41. yep....I wouldn't want it legislated,

not until after he gets dropped for the clear reason that EVERYBODY HATES HIM!

After that, legislation preventing bloviating, lying hate on the tax-payers' $$$$$ would be just fine.

[Tripod]

28. Kill the ads.

This guy should go to growing dandilions in his yard.

[Liberty Belle]

29. Yes it SHOULD be legislated.

It should state that programming on Armed Forces Radio must not be degrading to women. Given the problems of rape in the military and sexual harassment of women, any programming that encourages disrespect for women should not be allowed to spew hateful and harmful messages that foster a disdain for female soldiers. Similarly we should not be tolerating language that is abusive toward minorities or gays. There is no law that says we must allow all sorts of trash on Armed Forces Radio and common sense dictates that anything that undermines morale and order in the military is something we are better off without.

[randome]

38. Agree completely.

It's not a perfect world, which is why we have so many laws that allow for interpretations. What gets broadcast on AFN should be subject to interpretation. I would have no problem with Congress legislating that so long as they left final decisions to military command.

[Tumbulu]

45. agree!!!!!! (nt)

[davidthegnome]

30. Agreed

I'd love to see them drop if - but forcing them to drop it via legislation... that's a different barrel of monkeys.

[nxylas]

35. I agree

Sen. Levin made the right call. Legislating to have it dropped would be government censorship, pure and simple. That's a very dangerous line to cross.

[avaistheone1]

31. Rush should have been dropped from Armed Services Radio long, long ago.

[Brettongarcia]

32. How About "Clear Channel Communication" too? As a Military/Right Wing Propaganda organization?

The "Clear Channel" radio network was originally based on the AM "clear channels"; AM stations given license for especially powerful and unimpeded signals, for nighttime ... and natioanal emergencies.

The problem has been, that the emergency station designation, tied many stations, to the military, national emergency situations. And gave the whole thing at times a para-military, right-wing cast. Then, when one "Clear Channel" station in San Antonio - WOAI - began setting up? It set up as a conservative, military-oriented network.

And then of course? Ronald Reagan, a former military propaganist, and then Rush Limbaugh appeared. And the marriage made in hell began. As militaristic/patriotic right wing propagandists ... found their megaphone, their media base. In Clear Channel. Followed shortly thereafter, by Fox.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

33. Rush can't be good for the troops

He encourages misogynists.

He encourages homophobes.

He encourages anti-Muslim sentiment.

I can't help but think he contributes to high numbers of suicides, rapes, and mistreatment of prisoners (and corpses).

He is a plague.

[sandyj999]

34. Thank you Senator Levin, now PUSH for it nt!

[deacon_sephiroth]

39. here we are, women's heritage month... on international women's day...

if we can't make it happen now...

no, none of that, let's just make it happen.

time for me to send some more emails.

[itsrobert]

42. Now hold a hearing and call in AFRTS so they can answer questions

n/t

[patrice]

43. His "support" there could be really small set of dedicated AFN survey takers

[Major Hogwash]

44. "And our next caller is Senator Carl Levin. Good morning, Senator Levin."

"Get your fat, ignorant ass off of ARFN, Limbaugh. Or else I'm going to start cooking bacon in the Senate caucus room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Do you understand what I'm saying here? Do I need to spell it out for you? Either resign on your own, or I'll have you made into a thousand Jimmy Dean Pork Breakfast Patties."

"But, but Senator, that is not right. That is part and parcel of what is wrong in this country today. And I was merely pointing out . . ."

"You heard me, fatso. McConnell already has dibs on your Vienna sausage, but then he always was one who liked little wieners."

*click*

[Tx4obama]

46. K&R n/t

[yellowcanine]

47. Waiting for that moral vicar Holy Joe Lieberman to weigh in on this...........

We are waiting Joe......Cat got your tongue?

[CRK7376]

48. I whole heartedly support

DROPPING Rush's fat ass off AFN. The sooner the better. I hated it being on and turned off the radio everytime he was on the air.

[lonestarnot]

50. K & R!