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Dear Clear Channel, What's Your Position on
Free Speech?
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Robert Millman
A letter to the station manager of WGY, the Albany, NY Clear Channel
station that won't
run Robert Millman's Radio Ads.
* * * My name is Robert Millman, and I would like
to place some issue ads on WGY in Albany New York. I tried to do
that on December
28 when
I
contacted WGY advertising representative Pennie Gonzalez.
Pennie wrote back to me that my ads had been rejected by programming
staff; I subsequently wrote to her on two occasions, asking for the
reason for this refusal. Having received no response over the last
three days, it seems logical that I contact you, the General Manager.
The issues raised in my ads concern the same social and governmental
issue that are prominently discussed on your station. It seems to
me that deficit spending is an issue that would interest your listeners.
And, I believe that dissent, Christianity, oil dependence and the
right
to vote are also relevant issues given the content of your all-talk
format.
As your station derives income from the use of public air waves,
I believe it is reasonable for a citizen to ask why issue ads on
current
topics would be refused. This is not a theoretical question--I am
trying to spend my money on your radio station.
So, for the third time, I am writing to ask, what is objectionable
about my radio ads? Is it one ad or all seven? Is it specific language?
Is it the sound effects, or any other specific aspects of the audio?
If you have specific objections to these audio spots, I want to know;
then I can consider changing my ads to suit your station.
The scripts for all seven issue ads are pasted in below for your
review.
Sincerely,
Robert Millman
7 “RADIO MOMENTS” [BuzzFlash Note: Click spot title to hear the ad.]
1. TAX CUTS/DEFICIT SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
The Federal deficit, is 400 billion dollars
this year,
the total National Debt is 7 trillion dollars.
I keep hearing it's our
money,
But it's gone and now it's our debt.
Not corporate debt, it’s citizen
debt
Every man woman and child in this country
owes the government 25,000 dollars.
(pause)
It would be fair to call this a “Birth Tax.”
2. INCUMBENCY/REDISTRICTING SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
We're all nervous about losing our jobs--
even politicians.
But, they can cut a deal to keep their jobs safe.
When politicians re-draw
voting districts, they choose where your vote goes--.
And they get elected
again and again.
And before they retire, they choose where your vote goes
next.
That's what re-districting is (pause)
A way to steal your vote
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR WAR SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
The President assured us Saddam had weapons
of mass destruction,
nuclear capability and ties to Al Qaeda,
Iraq could not be contained.
We declared victory, but we’re still there.
We’ve taken and re-taken the
same cities.
13 hundred American troops are dead, many more wounded,
with no end in
sight. (pause)
Half truths got us in. Can whole truths get us out?
4. RIGHT TO VOTE SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
You have a right to vote. It’s in your
State Constitution.
The right to vote along with a right to equal protection
under the law
It’s one of your civil rights.
So when some votes aren’t counted,
or some voters are harassed
you should be worried.
Vote suppression isn’t a strategy.
Call it what it is -- a crime
A crime against your right to vote
5. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
Oil--it fuels our cars, our jobs, and
our lives.
More than 50% of America’s oil is imported.
As long as we’re dependent
on foreign oil,
It’s likely we’ll have troops in the Middle East,
Because that’s where
the oil is.
Even if we'd like to, we can’t drill our way out at home,
We don’t have
that much oil. (pause)
We don’t need a marketing strategy, we need a real
solution
6. DISSENT SPOT
This is a paid radio moment--
Some of us disagree with the President.
We think the Iraq war is a mess.
We think vote suppression is a crime.
We think tax cuts for the rich are
a bad idea.
We think business doesn’t know best. (pause)
And we think dissent is an
American value. (pause)
This country was born because people questioned
authority
It’s as American as apple pie
7. CHRISTIANITY SPOT
This is a paid radio moment
During times of war, people like to feel
that God is on their side.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I have
to ask--
Which God is that?
Which God supports war?
If you’re a Christian and you support a war,
That’s your choice, as it
should be. You’re endowed with a free will.
Just leave Christ out of it,
all right?
He never supported a war.
A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
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