Michael Savage Loses Major Sponsor, CAIR Pushes Boycott

NOT A CONSPIRACY

Firms Avoid Controversy, Not Liberal Views







One year ago, the liberal blogosphere and their mainstream media fellow- travellers were in an uproar over a supposedly "leaked" ABC Radio memo revealing a list of companies that had blocked themselves from advertising on Air America Radio.

And even when some of us tried to cut through the partisan hysteria and reason with our "progressive" friends, they wouldn't listen.

Instead, they cooked up additional ways to rationalize their conspiracy theory, rather than face the fact that these very firms also avoid conservative programming.

From the Huffington Post in November 2006, here's a great example:

This week we learned that some 90 major corporations demanded that their ads be pulled from radio stations that run Air America programming, demonstrating the fundamental challenge facing everyone working to promote critical journalism and a vibrant free press.

First off, let's clarify why this is taking place: The crime isn't that Air America is partisan. All or most of these firms advertise on politically conservative talk radio programs and/or stations. And the crime isn't even being "liberal." Some of these advertisers have moderate or liberal executives who donate to Democratic candidates and are far from rabid conservatives.

So what is the problem? While "liberal" Air America clearly favors big D Democrats, unlike virtually all other programming on commercial radio and television, it gives airtime to reports that are critical of corporations and the powerful politicians they keep in Washington.

This is the heart of the problem: Air America commits a crime called journalism. Almost none of the so-called conservative radio shows or networks do any semblance of actual reporting. They merely pontificate -- repeating talking points that seem to be emailed straight from Karl Rove's laptop.

Air America does its share of pontificating as well, and we leave it to others to compare its integrity to that of Limbaugh and Hannity. But we can say that Air America journalism occasionally focuses on corporate malfeasance. It examines closely the deeply corrupt relationship between corporate power and government officials.

Eventually, the flap died down, but "progressives" milked it for months to show how the deck was supposedly stacked against them. And yet, they had never been more off- base.


Now, the shoe is on the other foot, but don't expect our lefty friends to cry foul this time. Citing the host's inflammatory rhetoric, a major Michael Savage Show sponsor has pulled its support. The real story here is that a boycott effort led by CAIR's Islamic extremists is beginning to pay off.

From AdWeek:

Citrix Pulls Spots From 'Savage Nation'

November 13, 2007
By Steve McClellan

NEW YORK Software maker Citrix Systems has pulled its ad support for syndicated radio talk show Savage Nation, the advertiser has confirmed.

The decision was implemented on Nov. 5 and came within a week of inflammatory comments that the show's host Michael Savage made about the Islamic religion. On his Oct. 29 broadcast, Savage said that he didn't "wanna hear anymore 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."

[...]

The comments prompted the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations to reach out to sponsors of the Savage broadcast and urge them to boycott the show.

In addition, CAIR's fringe activists believe they have convinced at least three other advertisers to dump his program:

A representative for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said that three other sponsors had agreed to pull ads, although he could not immediately supply their identities. "We call on all the other companies running ads on [Savage's] program nationwide to withdraw," the group said in a statement.

Funny enough, these particular comments are on the tame side for Savage, who regularly roasts Islamic extremists on his show.

For Citrix and other talk radio sponsors, however, the bigger question ought to be this: even if Savage is too extreme, is it any more appropriate to play into CAIR's censorship campaign? Does Citrix support its brand of fringe Islamofascism?

Beyond that, your Radio Equalizer suspects that very few advertisers directly support Savage's program to any great extent.

So how does he survive? Simple: he generates big ratings for stations at night, which boosts their overall standings, leading to higher ad rates in other dayparts. Nobody picks up his show expecting sponsors lined up to buy spots.


In the end, the main point is this: advertiser blacklists cut both ways in talk radio. There never was a conspiracy to kill off Air America and the motives behind the Savage boycott campaign are also clear.

Most companies avoid sponsoring controversial programming. That means it's up to the sales department to educate sponsors on the benefits of embracing talk radio's loyal audience.

Just ask those who have taken the plunge and joined Rush Limbaugh's show. Could they possibly be happier with the results?


FOR New England regional talk radio updates, see our other site.

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