Hilo, Hawaii March 5, 2012: New West Broadcasting announced today that it is discontinuing the Rush Limbaugh program on KPUA AM 670 in Hilo, Hawaii effective immediately. Chris Leonard, President and General Manager of New West released the following statement this morning:
“We have always encouraged spirited discussion about national and local issues on KPUA and from time to time those discussions may be deemed by some to be objectionable. We are strong believers in the first amendment and have recognized Mr. Limbaugh's right to express opinions that often times differ from our own, but it has never been our goal to allow our station to be used for personal attacks and intolerance. The most recent incident has crossed a line of decency and a standard that we expect of programming on KPUA whether it is locally produced or a syndicated program like the Rush Limbaugh show.
While much of the national debate regarding this issue is now being framed in political terms, the decision for us is one of decency and responsibility. Regardless of one's political views on the issue being discussed, we feel the delivery was degrading and the continued comments over several days to be egregious. As a result, we are discontinuing the Rush Limbaugh program on KPUA effective immediately.”
What this all means for radio is, the fact that the progressive movement will slowly get a little more piece of the radio action, instead of the 10% that they now have.The conservatives still own over 90% of the airwaves, but that is slowly changing!
Eugenie, Seattle
3/5/2012 6:18:19 PM
Linda-Houston, you are totally right about Ed, and the Laura Ingraham thing!
See , that is the difference between most Liberals, and most conservatives, right there!
For one thing most Liberals don't spout all the hate stuff, that the right does. All the righties like to go after Bill Maher all the time! Bill Maher is nothing like Limbaugh. Maher is a comedian, and an Indepentdant, who has a TV Show, Real Time", which is composed of a panel of folks from all sides of politics, and all else, there to discuss the issues of the day! Maher has nothing to do with the Democratic Party!
Limbaugh is a Conservative, but also a Republican, who built up a following of 20 million followers, and found a way to make the rest of the Republican Party bow down to him. None of them will ever go against him, or speak out because they are afraid of him, and his power, and of what he could do to all of them! Big difference, right there between him, and Liberals!
Stephen, N.E. Tn.
3/5/2012 5:51:51 PM
I'm a big listener of Progressive radio and television and have never, ever heard anything even close to the vile hateful lies that come from the rightwing media! When the Republicans in this Country,both the leaders and the public, can get a message out on the airwaves without the hate, lies and eliteist snobbery, then maybe, just maybe, these clowns can have a chance at governing this Country. I don't think it's ever gonna happen! I'm extremely proud of the sponsers that have pulled their ads from Limbaughs so called entertainment show and extra proud of the radio stations that have dropped his "show" altogether! After watching what's going on in "today's" Republican party, I'm ashamed that we have citizens of this Country that there are in line with the Right, and if I were them I would be extremely ashamed to call myself a Republican. Every day it becomes clearer why I am a "Mad Dog Democrat" like my Daddy, and Grandaddy before me!
Mad Dog Sez... Today if you're "Right" you're Wrong!! They prove it daily!!
Linda S Houston
3/5/2012 5:35:06 PM
Muziker,
Thank you for bringing up ratings because that is an important factor. Arbitron radio ratings are what determines the cost of the ads and the rate per second or minute or whatever.
Even if advertisers stay with him, if his ratings are down, they lose money.
linda, virginia
3/5/2012 5:05:11 PM
off topic...Today John McCain said he wants us to start air stricks on Syria....He said he wants us to bomb Syria....he is a crazy old man
Muziker
3/5/2012 4:40:03 PM
We here in Hilo are very proud of our local station for dropping the Rush show. Many people I talked with over the weekend were disgusted with his show and the local ratings were down in the last few months as people just tuned him out. I salute the station for its good judgement and maintaining the wonderful aloha spirit on our Big Island.
Rush crossed the line - for three days running - without let up and now must suffer the consequences of his hate, lies, and mean spirited commentary.
Rex, Moorhead
3/5/2012 4:30:47 PM
Freedom of speech does have some limits in this country. Like I said in other blogs many times before, Rush could have voiced his opposition to a policy WITHOUT having to defame the character of a private citizen like Sandra Fluke. Intolerance and venomous personal attacks are not protected speech. Will there be future private citizens that will suffer character assassination the next time they testify against a policy of the conservatives or any party or political special interest group? Where will something like this stop? Could valuable testimony that could save money or lives not be heard because private citizens will not wish to go through the hassle of public testimony? What does this mean for our democracy?
The problem is that Rush Limbaugh is privately supported by many people for every person who loudly complains like me. I have signed numerous petitions that were sent to GOP leaders asking them to denounce Rush Limbaugh including pressuring his advertisers to drop his show. We can all expect this moron to be on the public waves. Because, he will probably survive this latest "scandal" making ever more money from it. Then he will rebound stronger than ever. Sort of like one of those punching bags that just comes back to haunt all of us again later on.
Linda S Houston
3/5/2012 4:30:42 PM
***** 9 advertisers now gone. Tax Resolution Services have now pulled their ads*****
Linda S Houston
3/5/2012 4:27:19 PM
Rex,
Exactly. RL got all the facts wrong. He didn't even listen to Sandra Fluke's testimony before the Democratic house committee. It's about women's health issues, not birth control.
But the right keeps using diversion tactics and the blame game instead of recognizing that this vile man is not really sorry for what he said. "Poor choice of words" doesn't even begin to cut it.
They (pundits and bloggers) keep bringing up the incident with Ed Schultz and Laura Ingraham. Huge difference. Ed manned up and issued his apology to Ms. Ingraham personally by phone and didn't try to blame others or divert attention from what was said. She accepted and that was it. He handled it like a man and he didn't try to make himself out to be the victim.
The GOP wants to distance themselves from this issue yet they are the very reason this whole thing got started, them and their war on women's health care. Now they want to change the subject. You'd have thought that the firestorm after Komen would have been enough but I guess not.
Rex, Moorhead
3/5/2012 4:14:40 PM
Linda S: The wider issue should be that while Democrats are not perfect, the Republicans are waging a war on women's health. Younger women need to wake up to the threat that these right winged radicals will pose to their healthcare. Access to family planning and birth control is a basic health care issue and a right that should never be denied any woman in America. Wouldn't it be nice if young college age women took notice of this and turned out to support Democrats in 2012?
