Email Reply From KTTH 770 in Seattle on RUSH

[rsmith6621]

I sent a reply asking what line Rush would have to cross to have the station cancel his program.



Thank you for your email.



AM 770 The Truth is committed to providing its listeners with access to a broad range of opinion and commentary. The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue. Radio can be and has been a great platform for a lively exchange of ideas as we seek to provide understanding. In this case, we wish Mr. Limbaugh would have been more civil in his treatment of the topic and his characterization of those involved, but we respect his right, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions.



Over the weekend, Rush realized the words he used crossed a line and issued the following apology.



“For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke. I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if tax payers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level. My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.” – Rush Limbaugh



Best Regards,



Vanessa Szczachor

Programming Coordinator/Front Desk Manager

Bonneville Seattle Media Group
[e-mail]

[Enrique]

1. how thoughtful of Vanessa to cut and paste the Clear Channel corporate response

signing her name gave it a nice personal touch.

[rurallib]

3. almost like she gives a shit, ain't it?

[gratuitous]

15. Almost thoughtful, no?

You almost want to ask Vanessa directly how she feels, personally, about her meal ticket degrading Ms. Fluke for three straight days. Does that look like a fair fight, Vanessa? That vile human being using his national platform to hate on a third year law student? By the way, from that vile human being's point of view, are you yourself a slut? Is the money good enough that that vile human being can call you a prostitute?

Tell us, Vanessa; what's the going price for your soul?

[PSPS]

4. The Mormon Church owns KTTH through their wholly-owned Bonneville Broadcasting arm.

The Mormon Church owns a nationwide string of hate radio stations, this one among them.

[PSPS]

14. Since you seem to be closer to the inside, is it true that many stations carry his show via barter?

[Cleita]

5. Oh, puleeze!

Radio can be and has been a great platform for a lively exchange of ideas as we seek to provide understanding.

Really? There is no lively exchange of ideas on Mr. Limbaugh's show other than his. Those trying to voice another opinion usually are not allowed on the air and if they manage to get on will be rudely blown off.

[regnaD kciN]

6. "Broad range of opinion and commentary"...

Don't make me laugh. As others have joked, KTTH is "balanced" -- they have fat conservatives and skinny conservatives.

[ohheckyeah]

7. What he did wasn't stating

an opinion....calling her an idiot is an opinion. Lying about what she said and saying she is a prostitute and he is paying her to have sex is slander.

[mindwalker_i]

8. What really bothers me here...

Is the assumption that two words are what people were offended by. It's not the two words, it's saying that a person - a single person, making this a very personal attack - shouldn't be able to walk after having so much sex, that she wants others to pay her for her sex, etc. He didn't apologize for the content of his message, just for the two words (and it was an apology of the type, "I'm sorry you're too sensitive to what I'm saying&quot . He could have called her a lot worse in terms of words, like p****, c***, whatever. I don't care. What I do care about is the content of what he said, how badly misconstrued it was, how it was an attack on a person with assloads more courage than he's ever had or ever will (even Rush-sized assloads).

Read the Rude Pundit. He says the most nasty things - related to sex, gay sex, oral sex, and words that, if I were to post here, would drive people purple with rage. But he uses them well, to more accurately explain his thoughts.

Words aren't the issue.

[Lex]

9. A personal verbal attack against a female student isn't "opinion and commentary"

nor is it a part of any legitimate "debate" about contraception.

Idiots.

[pokerfan]

10. Stations won't care until it hurts their bottom line

As long as twenty million LimpBots tune in every day to hang on his every word, expect nothing to change.

Instead of writing the station, your efforts are probably better spent contacting the local businesses that advertise and let them know that, not only will you not be buying their products or services, you will be dedicated to convincing others to not do so.

[noblewoman]

12. Anyone else think men in general should shut up about female contraceptive choices?

I mean, really. All of these things are between women and their doctors. I will never understand why neoconservatives are going after women these days. We are 51% of the population! Do you have such intense mommy issues and problems with female authority that you can't handle a simple, level-headed conversation about contraception in which a woman is involved? Or are you just so naive as to think that people will stop having sex if you outlaw contraception? Are you proposing funding for welfare when a bunch of unplanned pregnancies come about? No? Then shut the front door and stop trying to make decisions for us!

[kestrel91316]

13. IMHO RW men feel completely emasculated by strong women and women

who control their own fertility.

[TBF]

16. My own take is that the economy has gotten better

(marginally anyway, given the mess we're in), so they have decided to attack on another front. I think it's going to backfire on them. I have probably an equal number of female friends on Facebook who are conservative and liberal - friends, family, and other folks I have met along the way. Not one woman is making excuses for Rush, and some of the unapologetic female repubs have denounced him. I have a feeling that after this dies down they will be on to something else because they've seen what has happened to Komen and Rush.

BTW, where is the IRS when you need them - I hope they are scrutinizing the filings of both.

[jillan]

18. This is the reason why I'm not bothering to email KFYI here in Phx.

They broadcast hate 24/7. If they took Rush off they would just replace him with someone just as disgusting.