Title stolen from Media Matters. They listen to right-wing talk radio to keep an eye on what they are saying thank goodness. Today in the wake of the announcement that Sen. Teddy Kennedy has a brain tumor Michael Savage decided to play the Dead Kennedys "in some respect for" the Senator. Here is the Media Matter's summary. You can listen to it on their site and read the full transcript. digg it
On the day it was announced that Sen. Ted Kennedy had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, nationally syndicated radio host Michael Savage opened his show by interspersing audio of Kennedy singing "Ay Jalisco No Te Rajes" with clips of news reporters discussing Kennedy's diagnosis and audio from Kindergarten Cop in which Arnold Schwarzenegger's character says, "It's not a tumor." Later, Savage played the Dead Kennedys song "California Über Alles" after stating: "The poor guy's been suffering for years, you know? Unfairly he's been accused of alcoholism, but we see now that it was something much more deep-seated. And so, to cut this out in some respect for Ted Kennedy, here's a tune coming at you from the Dead Kennedys. Go ahead and play it, please."
This is absolutely despicable. Senator Kennedy is revered on both sides of the aisle as a "senator's senator" and is at least partially responsible for just about every major piece of positive legislation in the past 40 years. He will go into the history books as one of the greatest and most influencial Senators in United States history. While Savage may not like his politics, Sen. Kennedy is owed respect, especially this day of all days.
That wasn't all Savage had to say.
At one point in the program, he told a caller, "You know I'm playing the Dead Kennedys not to mock Ted Kennedy. It's just appropriate, that's all."
You know what is appropriate...for Savage's advertisers and the stations that cary him to hear from you. Savage is SF based and aired all over the state. According to this site, these stations carry Savage's radio show.
KNEW Oakland
KFMB San Diego
KERN Bakersfield
KSTE Rancho Cordova
KIXW Apple Valley
KTIE San Bernardino
KFMB San Diego
KFMB San Diego
If anyone listens in during his show tomorrow, please make a note of his advertisers and let us know. I have to assume that this is going to be a blogosphere wide project in the coming days.
There are, in short, very few things more significant to the outcome of next year's presidential election than this California ballot initiative. It is, then, vitally important that the media thoroughly, accurately, and fairly cover this fight -- and not just the California media -- the national media as well. The initiative may appear only on the California ballot, but it will impact the entire nation, and the campaigns for and against it will no doubt be waged with the help of national donors, activists, and operatives.
The initiative is beginning to draw significant media attention, but much of that coverage has been lacking.
I have to admit, I look forward to lazy Saturday mornings, a cup of coffee and following a link from Atrios to Jamison Foser's latest "Media Matters" column. Today's column goes after San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci. Goes after her hard.
