Talk Radio = Hate Speech?

I have been accused of promoting hate speech more than once as a talk radio programmer. In fact, I’ve been accused of it for over 25 years. Who defines hate speech? Many who accuse talk radio of promoting hate want the FCC to regulate it. To suggest regulation suggests censorship. As Voltaire said: “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

In researching my book “Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio,” to be published May 5th by Simon & Schuster, I used excerpts of what some groups claim is hate speech. So, I throw this out for discussion. Is the following excerpt taken from the “Michael Savage Show” hateful? In the general context of on-going terrorism, beheadings, car-bombings, and other atrocities by radical Islamists, Savage exploded on October 29, 2007. In challenging Muslims to demonstrate their religion is one of peace, Savage issued these words:

I’m not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I’m not gonna put my daugther in a burqa. And I’m not getting on my all-fours and braying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don’t like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don’t wanna hear any more about Islam. I don’t wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I’m sick of you.

Hate speech? The Council for American Islamic Relations thought so and worked to boycott Savage’s advertisers. CAIR posted his remarks on its website and stated, “Michael Savage obviously cares little about the safety or civil rights of American Muslims, but the stations that carry his hate – filled rants do care about listeners’ attitudes toward advertisers who pay to air commercials during the program.” Savage is one of the highest rated talk show hosts in America and his syndicator, Talk Radio Networks, stood by him. CEO Mark Masters told me, “They tried to intimidate us, but we didn’t take notice.” Masters also said Savage gets “many Muslim callers who thank him for speaking out against radicals.”

Hispanic groups are also targeting conservative talk radio. The National Hispanic Media Coalition is asking the FCC to probe hate speech and conservative talk radio. Alex Nogales, President and CEO of the NHMC told a news conference on January 28, 2009, “We are very respectful of the first amendment and free speech, but the hateful rhetoric, particularly against the immigrant minority communities, espoused by irresponsible TV and radio talk show hosts on American airwaves needs to be addressed and today we will present a three-prong strategy to do so.” Using the UCLA/Chicano Studies Research Center, the group claims to have isolated 334 instances of hate speech in eighty minutes of radio programming. They looked at John & Ken’s show at KFI, Los Angeles, the Michael Savage Show, and the Lou Dobbs show.

When I was programming radio stations across America, I witnessed hate speech charges first hand. Whenever a conservative host used the word “illegal” in talking about immigrants crossing our border, he was automatically labeled a “hate monger.” But who defines hate speech and can it be defined under the First Amendment? It seems groups like the NHMC and others want to redefine what is and what is not acceptable on our nation’s airwaves. The reality is clear – conservative talk radio and conservative values are under siege in America. The intent is to quash free speech by convincing everyone this is hate speech. Speech is only free on their terms. What do you think?

Many liberal Democrats who favor the Fairness Doctrine, or its new equivalent under consideration, agree that conservative talk radio is hateful. Speech isn’t always pretty, but it must remain free. To set aside protected classes free from criticism is the first step toward tyranny.

Take a look at Canada – and that nation’s many Human Rights Tribunals. In Canada, pastors have been fined and told to never criticize gays again. Best-selling author, Mark Steyn who wrote “America Alone,” and his magazine publisher Maclean’s were brought before many of these tribunals and charged with “Islamaphobia” for suggesting the Muslim world is overpowering the west by sheer numbers of reproduction. The cases were eventually dismissed, but it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend free speech. And, there are cases here in America. But, more on that later. Thank you.