Michael Savage Freedom Of Speech Award, Brian Lamb, C-SPAN

SAVAGE ATTACKS C-SPAN

Says Network Censored Award Presentation Speech







Why did C-Span refuse to air Michael Savage's Freedom Of Speech Award presentation? As the talker lashes out against the network and head honcho Brian Lamb, that question has yet to be properly answered.

As this site reported several days ago, Savage failed to show up to receive his award, instead providing a DVD recording which included an acceptance speech.

At times amusing, though disjointed, the video was shown on-screen at the presentation inside a Lower Manhattan movie theatre during an annual gathering of talk radio hosts.

While C-Span cameras were there to record and air a number of events related to the New Media Seminar, for some reason, Savage's video was blocked. Sitting in the audience, we had no idea this would be the case.


Since then, a furious Savage has repeatedly pounded on Mr Lamb, both on the show and at his website, accusing him of censorship and encouraging listeners to bombard C-Span headquarters with complaints.

Now, an exasperated Lamb has fired back, according to Extreme Mortman, who created this transcript:

BRIAN LAMB: ON MY DESK HERE IS A MAGAZINE CALLED TALKERS MAGAZINE FROM MAY 2007 AND THE PICTURE ON THE COVER IS MICHAEL SAVAGE, WHO RECEIVED A FREEDOM OF SPEECH AWARD FROM THAT ORGANIZATION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

AND HE’S UPSET WITH US BECAUSE WE DIDN’T COVER HIS SPEECH.

AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HE’S PUT OUR TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ALL AND OUR E-MAIL NUMBERS ON THE WEBSITE.

WE’VE RECEIVED TONS THE LAST FEW DAYS AND CALLS WHERE HE SAYS THERE C-SPAN BLACKLISTS SAVAGE’S SPEECH.

I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU THIS HALF HOUR OR SO SOME OF THE E-MAILS AND WHAT SOME WHO LISTEN TO HIM HAD TO SAY TO US:


HERE’S ONE FROM COLONEL TOM HAGGERTY. HE SAYS: "THE LITTLE MAN LAMB, ME, HE IS TALKING ABOUT — THE DRY, STONE FACED LITTLE MAN. SIGNED COLONEL TOM HAGGERTY."

THIS ONE FROM, LET’S SEE ARGULARIO, IT SAYS, "DID YOU REALLY TURN OFF THE FREE SPEECH AWARD WHEN HE WAS TO TALK? HOW DARE YOU, ARE YOU A NAZI AND A STALINIST AND PROBABLY A HOMOSEXUAL AND I DON’T APPRECIATE YOUR AGENDA."

THIS IS FROM A FELLOW NAMED JIM LEWIS: "AS A TAXPAYER, I’M DEMANDING THAT YOU AIR THE FREEDOM SPEECH BY DR. SAVAGE.

I PAY YOUR SALARY AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHT CENSORING PROGRAMS BASED ON YOUR POLITICAL BELIEFS. WHEN CAN I SEE THE TIME SLOTS AND PROMOS FOR AIRING OF HIS SPEECH. I WILL AWAIT YOUR RESPONSING. I WOULD HATE TO LEAD THE EFFORT OF THE REMOVAL OF YOU PEOPLE WHO HAVE OFFENDED NOT ONLY ME BUT MANY OTHER AMERICANS."


COUPLE THINGS, WE ARE NOT A TAXPAYER ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE TOLD OUR AUDIENCE THAT MANY, MANY TIMES.

WE GET NO FEDERAL FUNDS, STATE FUNDS, LOCAL FUNDS. WE GET OUR MONEY FROM YOU. YOU GIVE US A NICKEL A MONTH WHEN YOU PAY YOUR BILLS AND THAT’S HOW WE OPERATE HERE.

AND THE DECISION TO NOT CARRY THE SPEECH WAS MADE BY OUR PROGRAMMING DEPARTMENT, OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING, TERRY MURPHY, AND THE REASON WAS THAT MR. SAVAGE DOES NOT APPEAR IN PERSON.

HE SENT A DVD OF AN 11-MINUTE SPEECH AND WE HAVE OFFERED HIM, IN LIEU OF THAT, AN OPPORTUNITY TO COVER A SPEECH HE MIGHT MAKE, THE SAME SPEECH, IF HE WANTS TO IF HE GIVES IT BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OUT THERE IN THE BAY AREA WHERE HIS PROGRAM OPERATES.

Given that Savage's video was aired as part of the award presentation, it's hard to understand C-Span's decision. Unless there was a technical issue, why not show it? It wasn't obscene and was relevant to the events taking place. Without it, viewers were left with an incomplete picture of why Savage was receiving the award and his reaction.

At the same time, Savage is busy hawking copies of his "banned" DVD on his website, leading one to wonder why he is so upset. Did Lamb and C-Span merely play into his hands?

SAVE Internet radio: it's almost too late! It's really, really almost too late!


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