Now This Is Censorship

Update: I should have known - Liberal Mike Stark who allegedly assaulted members of the George Allen campaign is leading the charge on Boortz. You may recall our exchange on CNN's Reliable Sources. As I said then, he is no defender of free speech, nor is he much of an authority on what's appropriate given his background. This below came just before he dissembled into a blubbering liberal stew:

STARK: I was on your competitor, FOX station. I stood behind Colmes during a viewing of "Hannity and Colmes" with a sign that said, "Hannity sucks ass." All I did was tell the truth. That's not a major...

The current campaign to get radio host Neal Boortz thrown off of four Virginia radio stations due to comments he made after the VA Tech mass murder qualifies as censorship because the effort is not coming from consumers, or a business enterprise responding to consumers - it's being driven by elected officials of government, despite the lack of a public outcry.

Managers of four Virginia radio stations that carry Neal Boortz's nationally syndicated talk radio show say they have heard few complaints from listeners about his comments about the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech.

So, why would the radio stations consider pulling what, I assume, is a popular program?

A letter from Dels. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg; Steve Shannon, D-Fairfax County; and Chuck Caputo, also D-Fairfax County, prompted him to look into what the libertarian radio host said.

"While we do support free speech ... this just went too far," Stevens said.

Apparently Boortz apologized somewhat but what was it he said?

In the wake of the slayings of 32 people by student Seung-Hui Cho, who also took his own life, Boortz began asking why Tech students didn't fight back. He called it part of the "wussification of America" and a symptom of a passive culture fostered by the political left.

Perhaps Boortz's comments were ill-timed, though listeners didn't much object - but this looks to me like a case where government officials are using their office to close down political speech with which they disagree. And that, as opposed to market driven demands on media, is censorship to me.

Comments

[imaginewhirledpeas]

Only the government can censor free speech. What goes for the ditzy chits also applies Imus also applies to Boortz. He has a right to say what he will and we have a right to choose whether or not to consume it. What Boortz said was insensitive, irregardless of truth given the timing.

[templar knight]

Insensitive, perhaps. Necessary, definitely. And it needs to be said over and over until someone gets it. And some people's lives will be saved in the future.

Tell your children to run. If they can't run, resist. And never go to an alternate crime scene. Make the criminal do what he will in the place with the most people around. People taken to an alternate crime scene are killed 90+% of the time. Then resist some more. Never give in, never ever give in!

[Leatherneck]

I agree Templar Knight. Death before dishonor!

[Phoenix]

Some public schools are teaching even the young kids to throw anything in case a 'bad' man comes in. Chaos, etc.

Imus is supposedly planning one hellatious lawsuit. Seems there was written into his contract a clause that said he would receive a warning about language. No warning, evidently. He was thrown to the Nappy-Headed Joes, Al and Jesse.

I hope he kicks their butt.

[imaginewhirledpeas]

Phoenix; "Some public schools are teaching even the young kids to throw anything in case a 'bad' man comes in"
So that's why I got pelted at the elementary school last week.

[Fred Beloit]

Well, the Libs are increasingly resorting to one of their tried and true techniques. Since they know they are mentally superior to the rednecks, fly-over folks, etc, anyone who doesn't see the world as they do and who points out their faults, excesses, moral equivalence, racial discrimination and so on must be silenced.

[Phoenix]

Silly Peas.

You're not a 'bad' man. It's just those horns on your head scared the kiddies. :)

[Fred Beloit]

Peas a cuckhold, I don't believe it.

[Dan Riehl]

"So that's why I got pelted at the elementary school last week"

Stop hanging suspiciously around the playground and they might cut you a break.

[mlong]

I posted on Stark's site about taking Boortz off the air...and he responded back by wining about not having his own radio show...what a scumbag.

[seekeronos]

"I agree Templar Knight. Death before dishonor!"

...

If I may offer a re-read of Patton:

Preferably, the death of the offending nutjob, over those of the targets he has in mind.