Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Talk Radio Takes No Blame For Tucson Tragedy...

In response to Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik's description of Arizona as "the mecca for prejudice and bigotry" and his call for local radio hosts to do some "soul searching", talk radio takes no blame for the tragedy in Tucson. The New York Times interviewed several talk radio hosts and the reaction was unanimous, talk radio was not to blame. "There isn't any correlation. It's like blaming Jodie Foster for the individual who shot Ronald Reagan" says Jon Justice of KQTH. Garret Lewis, KNST claims the Sherriff's comments have "incited stupidity around the world." Get the idea? Talk radio is not to blame. Or is it???

It should be noted that many Tucson callers defended talk radio but there was also dissent. Some callers made it clear that they believe that the state's conservative-leaning radio hosts bore some responsibility. One caller said Justice "should be ashamed. You are part of the problem." A caller told host Mike Gallagher of KKNT in Phoenix that "individuals like yourself instill fear" in people. In defense of talk radio, "Wake Up Tucson" (KVOI) hosts say their political conversations are more reasoned than inflammatory. "When we take an issue on, we really, really understand where we're going" says Joe Higgins, one of the show's hosts. "Ninety-nine percent of the stuff that we've ever talked about, we're dead on," says his partner Chris DeSimone. "We're constantly doing our homework." Back and forth it goes, so is talk radio to blame for Tucson???

While you can't place all of the blame on talk radio, I believe that everyone in talk radio should take some responsibility. What's wrong with saying, in one way or another we were all to blame? Six people, including a nine-year old are dead, 14 wounded. If we played any part in inciting an unbalanced person to slaughter innocent people, shame on us. And Rush - stay out of it...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1935] Getting her wings: Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly solo from Hawaii to California. In 1937 Earhart will disappear...
2.1949] It never rains in California, it just snows: The first recorded case of snowfall in Los Angeles. It may have been the first but not the last snowfall…
3.1964] You’ve been warned: U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issues the first government report saying smoking may be hazardous to your health…
4.1970] Super Sunday: Hank Stram’s Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl IV with a 23-7 victory over Minnesota…
5.1973] DH rules: Owners of Amercian League baseball teams vote to adopt the designated-hitter rule. Ron Blomberg of the Yankees will become the first DH in the season opener at Fenway Park...
6.2000] Going to Hall: Carlton Fisk who caught for the Red Sox for 11 seasons and the White Sox for 13, is elected to the Hall of Fame with Tony Perez of the Reds…
7.2007] Bend it like Beckham: English soccer star David Beckham signs a five-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy…
8.2007] Wild about Harry: JK Rowling completes the 7th Harry Potter novel: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’…
9.2008] No Jones for Marion: Former Olympic track gold medalist Marion Jones is sentenced to 6 months in prison for lying about taking performance-enhancing drugs and her role in a check-fraud scam…
10.2008] Conqueror conquered: Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to conquer Mount Everest passes away at 88…

Music Memories:

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Amanda Peet (39), Mary J. Blige (40), Vicki Peterson (Bangles) (53), Golfer Ben Crenshaw (59), Naomi Judd (65), Clarence Clemons (69), Rod Taylor (81), Grant Tinker (86) and Don Cherry (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until NFL Division Championships in NFL, 7 days until MLK Day, 12 days until Conference Championships, 26 days until Super Bowl XLV and 33 days until pitchers and catchers report...

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