Over the last week a hot topic many people are talking about is the inappropriate comments Rush Limbaugh made last week regarding a young female law student testifying before congress. As the Manhattan affiliate for the Limbaugh show, we find his comments both condescending and insulting. Last Saturday I e-mailed my concerns to the Premiere Radio Network, distributor of the Rush Limbaugh Show. As offensive as his comments were we find Limbaugh’s apology sorely lacking and less than genuine. It’s particularly disappointing that a national talk show host can’t differentiate politics from rude behavior by doing the right thing and make a sincere apology to Ms. Fluke, the public at large, as well as his affiliates throughout the country.
Limbaugh’s comments have generated e-mails and phone calls to our station in which a segment of the listening public have proposed that we drop the Rush Limbaugh show. We have carried the program close to twenty years now. There have also been other listeners who have contacted us hoping we continue to carry the Rush Limbaugh show. I
appreciate listeners letting us know their feelings and offering their honest opinion as to how they feel on this controversial issue. Politics aside, I am bothered by the lack of civility, which exists on both radio and television these days. As it specifically pertains to Limbaugh, if last weeks assault on a college student is a precursor to what we can expect from him in the future, I see his days on KMAN being numbered.
I am aware there is a group out there who are contacting advertising clients of Manhattan Broadcasting suggesting that they boycott advertising on KMAN until the Rush Limbaugh show is removed from the airwaves. Although, I can understand their anger and frustration, I hope these critics also realize the contribution KMAN makes to
the Manhattan community. There is no other broadcast outlet that covers local news, public affairs programming, local sports and severe weather more extensively than KMAN. The radio station has for years been involved in local philanthropic fundraisers which raise ten of thousands of dollars for local organizations. The station operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before passing judgment on KMAN or its advertisers we simply ask that you consider the entirety of KMAN’s programming and the contribution the station makes to the city of Manhattan.
Richard Wartell
President
Manhattan Broadcasting Company
