Posted by Bud on January 24, 2010 at 08:14:59:
Orkin Says He Won't Share HOF Honors With Limbaugh
January 21, 2010: Radio Ranch founder and Creative Director Dick Orkin is asking the NAB to remove his plaque from the Broadcast Hall of Fame because the hall also honors Premiere Radio Networks personality Rush Limbaugh.
In an open letter to the NAB, Orkin says he was "enormously proud" to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 in "such distinguished company as Edward R. Murrow, Robert Trout, Paul Harvey, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, William S. Paley, Ronald Reagan, just to name a few." He continues, "Apart from 'leadership' recognition, it seemed to me that at the core of the selection criteria was also the essential 'humanitarian' character of the chosen inductee."
Orkin notes that Limbaugh has been a member of the NAB Broadcast Hall of Fame since 1998 and says, "Although my political views were not in line with his, I agreed with many in broadcasting, including my longtime friend Eric Rhoads of Radio Ink, that the uniqueness of his controversial radio style and performance made Limbaugh an appropriate choice."
But, Orkin continues, "that initial opinion has been gradually eroding over the last few years and has dramatically changed for me recently with the capper coming during the disaster that struck Haiti last week."
Orkin says Limbaugh has in recent broadcasts "blasted the giving of aid to Haiti" and has characterized President Obama's endorsement of $100 million in relief as "a cheap political effort with the U.S. black community." Orkin says he agrees with those who say Limbaugh "still fits the leadership and performance criteria of the NAB award," but adds,"I am also fully aware that he reveals a reckless insensitivity to one of the most horrific human tragedies of our time." He calls on "caring radio broadcast leaders" to censure Limbaugh or "remove this dangerous hatemonger from the airwaves."
Orkin concludes, "Therefore, if there will be neither censure or removal, then I respectfully ask the NAB to remove my plaque from the Hall of Fame. I am embarrassed that my award, as well as those of others I so highly respect, is in the company of this perfidious human being."
Premiere declined to comment, and the NAB did not respond to a request for comment.
The Letter
Orkin's letter in its entirety:
I was enormously proud to receive the 2002 NAB Broadcast Hall Of Fame award, an annual award honoring individuals who have shown leadership in radio and television. I was especially pleased to be inducted into such distinguished company as Edward R. Murrow, Robert Trout, Paul Harvey, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, William S. Paley, Ronald Reagan, just to name a few. Apart from "leadership" recognition, it seemed to me that at the core of the selection criteria was also the essential "humanitarian" character of the chosen inductee.
Rush Limbaugh was inducted into the NAB Broadcast Hall Of Fame in 1998. Although my political views were not in line with his, I agreed with many in broadcasting, including my longtime friend Eric Rhoads of Radio Ink, that the uniqueness of his controversial radio style and performance made Limbaugh an appropriate choice. However, that initial opinion has been gradually eroding over the last few years and has dramatically changed for me recently, with the capper coming during the disaster that struck Haiti last week.
In a series of recent broadcasts, Limbaugh has blasted the giving of aid to Haiti, using the tragedy to further exploit his negative political position with regard to President Obama. Limbaugh's basic position is that the President's endorsement of 100 Million U.S. dollars in relief to the island nation is simply a cheap political effort to curry favor with the US black community. He later added that the filtering of humanitarian dollars through the White House was, in part, a scam since the White House would be keeping 28% of these charitable contributions as a "handling fee" surcharge -- an assertion the White House has denied.
While I agree with a number of bloggers who maintain that Limbaugh still fits the leadership and performance criteria of the NAB award, I am also fully aware that he reveals a reckless insensitivity to one of the most horrific human tragedies of our time. The effect of this most recent Limbaugh calumny is, in my opinion, a clear SOS to mature and caring radio broadcast leaders to finally censure the man or, better yet, remove this dangerous hate-monger from the airwaves where he is increasingly and irresponsibly spreading his demagogic poison to the radical right and the emotionally vulnerable. I am talking about the kind of action taken by the Catholic church in terminating the racist and anti-Semitic message pedaled by Fr. Coughlin in an earlier shameful era of radio.
Rush Limbaugh isn't simply exercising his right of free speech, but blatantly appealing to the very worst impulses in his ditto head listeners.
Therefore, if there will be neither censure or removal, then I respectfully ask the NAB to remove my plaque from the Hall of Fame. I am embarrassed that my award, as well as those of others I so highly respect, is in the company of this perfidious human being.