It’s not just advertisers dropping Rush over the Sandra Fluke flap. Now, Hilo, Hawaii talker KPUA-AM (New West Broadcasting) announced 3/5 it is discontinuing the Rush Limbaugh program effective immediately. Vox Communications Group’s WBEC-AM Pittsfield, MA has also dropped the show.
Chris Leonard, President and General Manager of New West, issued the following statement:
“We have always encouraged spirited discussion about national and local issues on KPUA and from time to time those discussions may be deemed by some to be objectionable. We are strong believers in the first amendment and have recognized Mr. Limbaugh’s right to express opinions that often times differ from our own, but it has never been our goal to allow our station to be used for personal attacks and intolerance. The most recent incident has crossed a line of decency and a standard that we expect of programming on KPUA whether it is locally produced or a syndicated program like the Rush Limbaugh show.
While much of the national debate regarding this issue is now being framed in political terms, the decision for us is one of decency and responsibility. Regardless of one’s political views on the issue being discussed, we feel the delivery was degrading and the continued comments over several days to be egregious. As a result, we are discontinuing the Rush Limbaugh program on KPUA effective immediately.”
Additional advertisers dropping the show include John Deere, Heart and Body Extract, AOL, Sears, Bonobos, Tax Resolution Services and Allstate.
RBR-TVBR observation: We saw Sandra Fluke’s guest appearance on The View via YouTube and she carried herself very professionally. The View hosts were sympathetic to what had happened to her and Joy Behar took a shot at Rush’s own sexuality which we will not repeat here. Fluke is no flake–she presented her thoughts/case well and will likely keep this story rolling for quite some time.
