First it canned its highest-rated show (Donahue's). Then it picked up well-known spewer of hate and intolerance Michael Savage. I could generally care less that yet another purveyor of filth is on the air, but his reaction to a general boycott of MSNBC advertisers is really over the top:
"I'm going to find out where you get your money from. You live by handouts, all of you. You live off grants, all of you. You're a bunch of beggars, but you don't know how lucky you are. If you continue this, we're going to go after your funding sources. And we will do everything we can within the legal realm to cut off that funding! We are also going to go to the U.S. Justice Department under John Ashcroft! What you are doing is illegal!
"You think it's 1965 and I'm South Africa? I've got news for you: it's not 1965 and it ain't South Africa! I'll cut your funding off, and if you break the law any further, I'll put you in jail!"
Commenting on the difference between the campaign that succeeded in getting Dr. Laura's television show off the air and any attempt to oust him, Savage said "When they successfully drove Dr. Laura off the air because she didn't kowtow or cater to them, it was under the regime of Janet Reno and Bill Clinton." He pointed out that "They had protection under the Attorney General's Office. That was then, this is now.
"We have a Republican president. We have a Republican attorney general. But more importantly we have a new climate in America. These days of economic terrorism are over," Mr. Savage said.
(from Alternet)
Help, help, he's bein' oppressed!
Savage is free to say stuff like this, of course, but you really have to wonder about the continued support of his network and advertisers. I'm happy to be a customer of one of MSNBC's advertisers, so I present my letter to MSNBC advertiser GEICO:
(salutations)
My partner and I have held GEICO insurance on our vehicles and apartment for almost four years, and have been happy with the rates and service. However, it has come to our attention that GEICO advertising dollars are helping fund MSNBC and its talk show hosted by Michael Savage. We are disgusted with Savage's intolerant attacks on women, gays, and immigrants, and are very upset that some of the money we pay for insurance is being used to support such un-American hate speech.
While we understand the need for GEICO to get the word out about its services, we cannot in good conscience allow our money to continue to support this particular venue. If GEICO has not pulled all advertising from MSNBC in the next month, we will be forced to look for another insurance company.
Sincerely, etc.
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