Free Speech Under Attack...Again.

[DawnCt1]

Its almost like a little army of "Brown shirts". The message is sent out and the calls come in. This does not make the Obama campaign look good by any stretch of the imagination. If callers just happened to be listening and disagreed, then that is one thing, but to organize an assault on a radio program is clearly another.

WGN-AM again target of Obama campaign
Posted September 15, 2008 9:42 PM
by John McCormick and Steven Schmadeke, updated

Chicago radio station WGN-AM is again coming under attack from the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for offering airtime to a controversial author.

It is the second time in recent weeks the station has been the target of an "Obama Action Wire" alert to supporters of the Illinois Democrat.

Monday night's target was David Freddoso, who the campaign said was scheduled to be on the station from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Chicago time.

"The author of the latest anti-Barack hit book is appearing on WGN Radio in the Chicagoland market tonight, and your help is urgently needed to make sure his baseless lies don't gain credibility," an e-mail sent Monday evening to Obama supporters reads.

"David Freddoso has made a career off dishonest, extreme hate mongering," the message said. "And WGN apparently thinks this card-carrying member of the right-wing smear machine needs a bigger platform for his lies and smears about Barack Obama -- on the public airwaves."

The Tribune-owned station was flooded with calls and e-mails about an hour before an Aug. 27 interview with Stanley Kurtz, a conservative writer who examined Obama's ties to former 1960s radical William Ayers.

A WGN producer said Monday night's response was about the same as when Kurtz was on the station.


r

 

[SeeVee]

Its almost like a little army of "Brown shirts". The message is sent out and the calls come in. This does not make the Obama campaign look good by any stretch of the imagination. If callers just happened to be listening and disagreed, then that is one thing, but to organize an assault on a radio program is clearly another.

WGN-AM again target of Obama campaign
Posted September 15, 2008 9:42 PM
by John McCormick and Steven Schmadeke, updated

Chicago radio station WGN-AM is again coming under attack from the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for offering airtime to a controversial author.

It is the second time in recent weeks the station has been the target of an "Obama Action Wire" alert to supporters of the Illinois Democrat.

Monday night's target was David Freddoso, who the campaign said was scheduled to be on the station from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Chicago time.

"The author of the latest anti-Barack hit book is appearing on WGN Radio in the Chicagoland market tonight, and your help is urgently needed to make sure his baseless lies don't gain credibility," an e-mail sent Monday evening to Obama supporters reads.

"David Freddoso has made a career off dishonest, extreme hate mongering," the message said. "And WGN apparently thinks this card-carrying member of the right-wing smear machine needs a bigger platform for his lies and smears about Barack Obama -- on the public airwaves."

The Tribune-owned station was flooded with calls and e-mails about an hour before an Aug. 27 interview with Stanley Kurtz, a conservative writer who examined Obama's ties to former 1960s radical William Ayers.

A WGN producer said Monday night's response was about the same as when Kurtz was on the station.


r

I didnt know the right wing smear machine was issuing cards! How can I get mine?

The irony is funny.

 

[SteveInBrooklyn]

The media is clearly anti-Obama, so his supporters jump in to fill the void. It's not ideal, but it wouldn't be necessary if we had a real press. There are so many lies about Obama out there, but the press never tries to set the record straight.

 

[Chicago526]

Seems like Obama and his supporters are exercising their right to free speech, not trying to surpress it in others. Obama used his free speech to let his supporters know that someone was going to be the radio, the supporters used their free speech to a) protest the guest and b) call in during the show to voice their opinion of the guest. WGN is free to either cancel the guest or move forward with the show, no one is forcing them to do anything they don't want to do.

 

[LuvDuke]

Seems like Obama and his supporters are exercising their right to free speech, not trying to surpress it in others. Obama used his free speech to let his supporters know that someone was going to be the radio, the supporters used their free speech to a) protest the guest and b) call in during the show to voice their opinion of the guest. WGN is free to either cancel the guest or move forward with the show, no one is forcing them to do anything they don't want to do.

The OP was using the Orwellian definition of "free speech". Makes all the difference in the world.

 

[DawnCt1]

Seems like Obama and his supporters are exercising their right to free speech, not trying to surpress it in others. Obama used his free speech to let his supporters know that someone was going to be the radio, the supporters used their free speech to a) protest the guest and b) call in during the show to voice their opinion of the guest. WGN is free to either cancel the guest or move forward with the show, no one is forcing them to do anything they don't want to do.

How is flooding a radio station with calls BEFFORE hearing what the guests have to say exercising their rights. Sounds like they would like to shut down the discourse.

 

[DawnCt1]

The media is clearly anti-Obama, so his supporters jump in to fill the void. It's not ideal, but it wouldn't be necessary if we had a real press. There are so many lies about Obama out there, but the press never tries to set the record straight.

The media is??? I haven't seen any evidence of that. Please point it out.

 

[yeartolate]

How is flooding a radio station with calls BEFFORE hearing what the guests have to say exercising their rights. Sounds like they would like to shut down the discourse.

The calls were exercising their free speech. No more no less. Faux outrage syndrome again?

 

[Patch'sD]

The media is clearly anti-Obama, so his supporters jump in to fill the void. It's not ideal, but it wouldn't be necessary if we had a real press. There are so many lies about Obama out there, but the press never tries to set the record straight.

This is the funniest thing I have seen here all week. Media Anti Obama, Wow That is the tallest tale told

 

[DawnCt1]

The calls were exercising their free speech. No more no less. Faux outrage syndrome again?

The calls were orchestrated by the "community organizer's" campaign that demonstrates his ability to rent a mob. He gives credence to his ability to live up to the Chicago thug politician that he says he isn't. None of the callers heard the guest. It was an hour before the program.

 

[Uncle Remus]

The calls were exercising their free speech. No more no less. Faux outrage syndrome again?

Playin' for the Pity Party vote again.

 

[Hoodie]

The media is clearly anti-Obama, so his supporters jump in to fill the void. It's not ideal, but it wouldn't be necessary if we had a real press. There are so many lies about Obama out there, but the press never tries to set the record straight.

I love sarcasm!

 

[Chicago526]

How is flooding a radio station with calls BEFFORE hearing what the guests have to say exercising their rights. Sounds like they would like to shut down the discourse.

They very easily could have heard or read the guests views in other interviews or articles, this isn't this particular person's first media gig. And even if they were basing their calls just from the Obama email, WGN is free to totally ignore them and air the program anyway. In fact they'd be crazy not to, they know in advance they'll get crazy rateings!

I still fail to see how this is a free speech thing.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Playin' for the Pity Party vote again.

Isn't there a song titled 'Runnin Scared'? I suggest that as the new theme by some of the right-wing players here.

 

[yeartolate]

The calls were orchestrated by the "community organizer's" campaign that demonstrates his ability to rent a mob. He gives credence to his ability to live up to the Chicago thug politician that he says he isn't. None of the callers heard the guest. It was an hour before the program.

So you are not ok with any groups organizing calls to protest or the like?

 

[DawnCt1]

So you are not ok with any groups organizing calls to protest or the like?

Actually I am because it tells us more and more about who Obama is. His tactics are from Chicago thug politics. The campaign that promised to address the issues has run 77% negative ads in the last week. His mission? Search and destroy.

 

[just4today]

This is the funniest thing I have seen here all week. Media Anti Obama, Wow That is the tallest tale told

It definitely made me chuckle. I don't even follow politics all that much and it's about as obvious as it gets.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Isn't there a song titled 'Runnin Scared'? I suggest that as the new theme by some of the right-wing players here.

LOL, just make sure McCain gets the artist's permission, ya know some folks think free speech means ya can use other people's work without compensatin' 'em.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Actually I am because it tells us more and more about who Obama is. His tactics are from Chicago thug politics. The campaign that promised to address the issues has run 77% negative ads in the last week. His mission? Search and destroy.

I don't see where it's a thug tactic. I see where it's free speech. The protestors have a right to call in and voice their own opinions. The station has the right to ignore those calls.

What's the big deal?

 

[Chicago526]

Actually I am because it tells us more and more about who Obama is. His tactics are from Chicago thug politics. The campaign that promised to address the issues has run 77% negative ads in the last week. His mission? Search and destroy.

So if a left wing nut job who has a history of lieing about McCain was going to be on the air, and McCain sent out an email to his supporters warning them of this, and those supporters then called the radio station to either protest before the fact or call during the interview to get on air with questions and opinions, you'd think less of Senator McCain and his campaign and complain about infringement of free speech?

Just curious.