Brian Lamb introduced a discussion referencing Talkers Magazine’s recipient of the “Freedom of Speech Award,” radio talk show host Michael Savage. Savage was featured on the cover of the May issue of Talkers magazine, a power-packed radio broadcasters trade publication. Savage “phoned in” his acceptance speech to an audience of talk-show radio giants with an eleven minute you-tube style video at Talkers’ annual New Media Seminar, held in N.Y. June 8-9.
C-SPAN covered the event but did not include Mr. Savage’s pre-recorded acceptance speech. Touted on the cover of Talkers’ May issue as the host who led the conservative dissent against President George W. Bush, Savage festooned his Website in retalliation with banners declaring that C-SPAN had black-listed his speech from their coverage.
It appears that Mr. Savage’s frenzied claims are merely the invention of some hyperbolic marketing strategy. A visit to his site to investigate the merit of his complaint by clicking through his anti-C-SPAN banners instantly directs visitors to an advertisement for his speech where it it can be purchased on DVD for $20.
In segment 1, after C-SPAN CALLER #7 Mr. Lamb mentions, and describes Talkers Magazine and calls attention to the “tons” of E-mails he’s received from Mr. Savage’s listeners perpetuating Mr. Savage’s fictional fued. With his usual grace and business-like demeanor, Mr. Lamb reads a few samples.
This one is by a gentleman named Colonel Tom Haggerty:
(Excerpted for Economy)
“Shame on C-span for censoring Dr. Michael Savage’s speech. We know without a doubt that C-SPAN is a leftist wing of their liberal puppet masters, the little man is correctly named, cowardly as a lamb.” (Etc. Etc. ) And then adds this:
P.S. Websters Dictionary defintion of a lamb or sheep: Regarded as a rather stupid animal.
Several misinformed E-mail soldiers demanded Mr. Lamb play Mr. Savage’s clip because he (Mr. Lamb) is on the public payroll and receives renumerations at the expense of taxpayers. Mr. Lamb graciously offered to air any live speeches Mr. Savage would be willing to give now, or in the future, and reiterated that C-SPAN is NOT funded by taxpayer’s money. If you don’t know how C-SPAN is funded, there are only 3 reasons:
- You never attended Broadcast Journalism classes in college.
- You DON’T watch C-SPAN
- You do, but you just don’t pay attention
And then there is this next one. It is a favorite of mine, and its reading tipifies Mr. Lamb’s style: Penetrating, to the point and unflinching. Both Mr. Lamb’s candor and humor are unparalleled as is evidenced by the following selection, which was read during segment 1, after CSPAN CALLER # 15, and sent by a Mr. Stu Lewis.
“C-SPAN sucks, but not as much as you. Have a nice day dickhead.”
Mr. Lamb continued to periodically drop in an E-mail or two throughout the program. C-SPAN CALLERS also came to the defense of Mr. Lamb, noting the harshness that accompanied the letters from some of Savage’s listeners. Mr. Lamb, in the span of less than an hour was called a homosexual, a Marxist-Leninist, and a bed-wetting commie!
Talkers Magazine ranks Mr. Savage #3 for his ability to attract millions of listeners, slightly lagging behind Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh.
CSPAN Callers 