The morning and afternoon local hosts at WSPD appeared to have gotten peeved this week over emails they received from people who took issue with their "All Libertarian/All of the Time" programming (i.e. Ron Paulites Fred LeFebvre and Brian Wilson, Charlie Earl, Free Talk Live, and frequent interviews with Lew Rockwell). Fred read an email from someone who was objecting to having "Ron Paul shoved down our throats" (or something to that effect). You could tell that Fred got pretty steamed about the email because he kept saying the emailer's first name with an agitated tone. Strangely, he chastised the writer for sending an email and said that this was radio and he should call--then why does he make a point of giving out the email address?
In the first hour of Brian's February 23 show, he read an email from someone who was also complaining about the Ron Paul love fest. The emailer was going to make a list of WSPD advertisers and contact the companies to explain why he would be boycotting them. Brian proudly read his anger-filled reply and later talked about "the late" Mark Levin (apparently convinced that Levin committed suicide upon hearing that Wilson had taken him off WSPD)!
It seems to me that Fred and Brian are missing the point of both of these emailers--these listeners were objecting to the continuous Ron Paul references and the implication that you're clueless if you don't see things their way. Sure they would entertain a call (but god forbid, not an email!) from a Romney or Santorum supporter, but who wants to be grilled by someone who has the ability to end the call at his will?
I would suggest that calling the station to complain about the shows' content (or the cancelling of Mark Levin because he criticized Ron Paul) is a waste of time (apparently the station manager approves of this). I don't know how effective contacting advertisers would be. Instead, write: John Hogan President and CEO, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, 200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209 or email publicrelations@clearchannel.com.
So that Galt and others are aware, John Hogan does not own Clear Channel, and Robert Pittman is the CEO as of last year, he is actually John Hogan's superior. Good luck. Ask Paul how his complaint turned out last year.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
By "owner" I was referring to Clear Channel--but I changed that to make it more specific.
According to the Clear Channel site (as indicated in my blog), John Hogan is the President and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. I assumed he would oversee the radio stations. If it's like most corporations, communication to Mr Pittman about a radio station would just be passed along to the person overseeing that division.
http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=1...
Seems Herr Wilson is losing more and more in the Toledo market. The local Tea Party is now blogging their dislike.
Tea Party at Perrysburg
http://teapartyatperrysburg.blogspot.com/2012/02/wspds-brian-wilson-make...
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
The Ron Paul Confederates are now taking the heat of the public. Seems the local 'Hate Radio' station's plan of pure propaganda all the time is now being challenged. Fred is fielding E-mails (the ones he reads) of dissatisfied listeners who question the lack of diversity and monotone drone of daily repetitive indoctrination. I know smarmy Fred and Herr Wilson (program minister) do not read all their negative E-mails on air.
Yes Fred, I did contact CCMO headquarters in Texas. I registered my complain at the top because its evident that no one in Toledo is in control. My letter did finally filter back down to the lowly staffers at Speedy. The results were more of the same. I can tell you any other Corporation would NEVER let their employees operate in such an unprofessional way. Their personal vendetta to silence the Wolfman might be obvious to longtime readers of TT and SB.
I do think if they receive more than a few of the same complaint letters things may change!
P.S.- For what its worth, Galt is not Charlie Earl. I hope no one drew the wrong conclusion. And Galt thanks for keeping SB up-to-date of the goings on at WBSPD. I no longer listen to them but on occasion. I used to be a long time listener till it became nothing more than a propaganda outlet for the Koch Brothers..
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
Fred isn't a Paulite, he's just a sycophant.
There's a city full of walls you can post complaints at
Clear Channel WSPD Programmer/Host Brian Wilson’s Curious Programming Decisions
http://bigjournalism.com/driehl/2012/02/20/clear-channel-wspd-programmer...
One quote of many from article:
“Certainly, there’s a way to have a very brainiac discussion about all these things, but that’s not commercial radio,” he said. “As far as my analysis of the Toledo market is concerned, the two-by-four up alongside the head of the donkey to get his attention, that analogy is really quite apt when you look at that audience. I have never seen — and I’ve said this in public, on air, and in print — an accumulation of ignorance among a group of people centered in one geographical area until I came to Toledo. It’s astounding, absolutely astounding."
Page two!
http://bigjournalism.com/driehl/2012/02/20/clear-channel-wspd-programmer...
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
I am sure that it is commonplace for Clear Channel to receive complaints about its on-air personalities (e.g. political biases, things they say, etc.). What makes the WSPD situation different is that Brian Wilson, the program director, made the decision to stop carrying the Mark Levin show based on his grudge against Levin. This was a thumbing of his nose at WSPD listeners--"Since I don't like Levin's opinion of Ron Paul, listeners won't be allowed to hear Levin on WSPD." Wilson put his personal feelings above his professional responsibilities (not to mention violating the tenets of free speech that he so frequently avows). If a program director doing that doesn't upset Clear Channel executives, well then Wilson's working for the appropriate corporation.
Why do people continually get their collective panties in a wad over how WSPD operates? So what? a radio station doesn't operate the way they like. Big fucking deal. Certainly not blog worthy.
The internet provides the anonymity that radio does not so the posters feel emboldened to attack the station and it's employees in ways they wouldn't consider if being identified. Their ideas are not being heard on the station, and friends and neighbors often are tired of their rhetoric so rather than admit failure on their own part they blame a media outlet for propagandizing.
The facts would provide a simple solution, change or turn the offending station off and find one more suitable to your liking. The posters however hide behind the canard of "public interest" in providing opposing voices ignoring again the facts that when provided opposing voices those stations failed. They cut and paste opinion pieces, repeat those pieces believing that that alone creates a truth.
Most ironic are the posters who complain on one hand that the station is influencing people while at the same time claiming the station is losing listeners because of it's right wing stand. They need to have a common enemy to defeat even while keeping that enemy alive by promoting it through their posts.
Personally I enjoy poking them with a stick every so often, and appreciate the free advertising as we have no promotion budget. It kills a few minutes each day and gives them the false belief that someone out here really cares what an anonymous poster has to say. You have to love the internet.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Why do people continually get their collective panties in a wad over how SB bloggers blog?
If you don't like the forum then switch forums. Right? Easier said than done because there are only two major blogs in Toledo. Same thing goes for our controlled public air waves by CC and Cumulus. They set the agenda and the public must stomach the fact that our freedom of speech is controlled by corporate America.
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
I am just curious, as to whether or not, Wilson has ever been angry at Rush for some of the things he has said about Ron Paul. If he has been on the air complaining about Rush lying or purposely misrepresenting Ron Paul, should he not also cancel Rush's show?
Oh excelelnt question. They would never cancel a bread-and-butter program like Limbaugh. I still don't know what Levin said about Ron Paul, and have been listening to WJR 760 AM for a couple years now duirng the day anyway. An elderly gentleman suggested it to me when we were talking politics one day at Kroger's.
I should note that I have NEVER sent an e-mail to 1370, nor contacted ANY radio or TV program in any way (call/e-mail/letter). I like posting boards, because you get to say what you want to say, and then see the opposition to your own views from "regular" people. It's more democratic that way and includes more people in the discussions.
In 1994, I asked a "techie" at Owens-Illiniois: "What exactly is the internet?". He explained as well as he could to a non-techie, told me how he could post a technical question on-line, and then come back the next day or so, and somebody "out there" would have answered his question. He then added an interesting comment. He had read some article on Dan Rather, where Rather, also newly discovering the internet, asked something like this: "Do you mean that ordinary people can communicate with each other, and [post] information they want published?" Not an exact quote, because this was back in 1994 - but that was the gist of it. The OI techie was vastly amused that Dan Rather couldn't grasp the concept of ordinary people being able to BYPASS the media.
I don't think media types have ever been able to accept that in their heart of hearts.
Not sure about that, but he got mad as hell when Rush added comments to The Ones' inaugural speech, in 2009.
Who cares. Ron Paul has LITTLE TO NO CHANCE of winning the nomination and Mark Levin's voice is worse than listening to an obese man with explosive diarrhea.
MikeyA
Exactly!!! Ron Paul has no chance! Yet the blathering bloviating Herr Wilson wastes Toledo airtime with this nonsense. Tune into 1310 WDTW-AM or 760 WJR-AM for real radio!
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
"Tune into 1310 WDTW-AM or 760 WJR-AM for real radio!"
Apparently, you don't heed your own advice or you wouldn't constantly gripe about WSPD.
"We're all riding on the Hindenburg, no sense fighting over the window seats"-Richard Jenni
@jeepmaker- AMEN!
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
After 5 years or so of listening for 1/2 hour during the evening drive, his habit of using fillers while speaking is wearing on me.
For instance tonight, just one sentence went something like:
"So uhhh what uhhh do you uhhh thinkuhhh the uhhh RNC uhhhh should uhhh douhhh touhhh remedy theuhhh...
Don't blame me,
I didn't vote for a socialist.
Libs, I only recently began listening and I thought the same thing. He just doesn't sound very professional to me. At times he almost sounds like 0bama when his teleprompter goes on the fritz.
However, unlike some folks, if I find it bugs me too much, I'll simply change channels.
"We're all riding on the Hindenburg, no sense fighting over the window seats"-Richard Jenni
@jeepmaker- AMEN!
I've been a critic of Herr Wilson since his first appearance at WSPD. I share the disgust of those who were followers of Mark Levin. My politics maybe more centered then most WSPD listeners but I do share the outrage of this propagandists ruining our local airwaves!
Since I rarely listen to WSPD anymore, I would hope the E-mailer starting the boycott would post all of WSPD's advertisers here so we can call them and give our nonsupport.
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2012/02/clear-cha...
Please include phone numbers. Thanks!
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
Of couse, being an American that embraces Freedom Of Choice beyond aborting babies, I could easily change the channel.
However I do for the most part like what B Wilson says. At the least he brings up issues that I might not have thought about and forces me to think about them.
My issue is with the way he says it. I find myself no longer listening to the point of the conversation but counting how may times Brian says "uhhh".
And, since it is talk radio, I'll just give him a call next week and point it out. Maybe he is unaware how bothersome it is and how it distracts from the point he is trying to make.
Don't blame me,
I didn't vote for a socialist.
Well if you "rarely listen to WSPD anymore", I'll assume you won't continue to post crap about them?
"We're all riding on the Hindenburg, no sense fighting over the window seats"-Richard Jenni
He listens all the time, first to Rush, then to the others. He just cain"t help hisself.
Fred got really ticked again this morning when someone sent an email (didn't that listener get the word that they're supposed to call!) about how a WSPD staff member travelled to record Ron Paul at a rally in Michigan, but they never get in-person sound bites from the other candidates. They are alienating their listeners by insulting anyone who voices an objection to the Ron Paul overload (there was some sexist remark made about whether this morning's emailer--a female --was hot).
It occurred to me that Fred's and Brian's support for Ron Paul and all things Libertarian must be strong enough to risk their careers over. Possibly a noble gesture, but not a wise one.
Unortunately, the worst is yet to come on WSPD. What happens when Romney or Santorum gets the nomination? Will WSPD become the "Obama's not so bad after all," the "Everyone should vote for the Libertarian candidate," or the "What Presidential election?" station.
I am so appreciative of your concern for the future of my job, however I don't expect you will be supporting me should I lose that job so I will instead plan ahead on my own should that happen. I do not now support Obama nor will I in the future. Should the Republicans nominate someone who is Obama lite we will end up with 4 more years of Obama.
The e mailer in question made the supposition that we don't have audio from Santorum and Romney, which of course is totally wrong as I play some each morning from all four candidates. We have in person sound from all candidates who are near enough to cover which Dr. Paul was. Tomorrow I'll have Santorum audio from his Perrysburg appearance today and audio from Romney and Gingrich when they get close enough.
Thanks for listening by the way. Each listener goes toward the total audience tabulation which detemines my bonus. I've received one each quarter since starting the show 6 years ago thanks to people like you and Paul, and I didn't need the union to work that out in my contract.
I hope this puts your mind at ease over any risk to my career.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Thanks Galt for the updates. You have a strong constitution to subject yourself to that level of propaganda everyday! As a former full time listener who's seen the light http://youtu.be/lX5tfRdkoY0 I can only say how sad to be a CC employee that has to daily commit to spewing hatred and unbelievable psychopath nonsense has got to be a soul killer. I mean, damn, poor Fred can never turn the BS off, he has to play the yesum massa game everyday to keep his "at will" employment. Its tough to be Fred. I'm, glad the chains of slavery are not on my shoulders!
Statements made are the opinion of the writer who is exercising his first amendment right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and are generally permitted.
At the risk of sounding rude, my comments were a statement of opinion and not a concern for your job.
P.S. You're welcome about the bonus thing--very courteous of you to mention.
If that is what you wish us to believe, so be it.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.