General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWH responds to Armed Forces Radio 'Dump Rush' petition: No
By Bryan G. Whitman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs for Department of Defense
Thank you for your interest in American Forces Network (AFN) programming for our service members overseas. We appreciate your participation in the "We the People" platform on www.whitehouse.gov and your concerns about the programming available to our troops.
AFN is charged with providing current information and entertainment programming to our Department of Defense audiences overseas, similar to what they could see and hear via the media in the United States. AFN acquires top-rated radio programs, as measured by audience ratings in the United States, and delivers them via satellite to our soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen stationed worldwide in 177 countries. AFN does not advertise on, provide any funding for, offer products for sale, or sponsor any of the programs (including the Rush Limbaugh Show) it relays to its audiences.
AFN does not censor content, and we believe it is important that service members have access to a variety of viewpoints.
See the complete list of political talk shows offered on AFN.
Review all of our radio and television services/schedules.
Again, thank you for your interest in our service members and the programming services AFN extends to them.
Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)monmouth
(21,078 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Responses are not necessarily from the WH, but from the appropriate executive department. In this case, from DoD.
progressivebydesign
(19,458 posts)hack89
(39,171 posts)pissing off the president is not career enhancing.
frogmarch
(12,160 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)I think the White House is right in not getting involved. They shouldn't ever be in the business of censoring anyone or anything. We would be screaming if they were to censor one of ours.
Let the 'free market' decide.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,169 posts)Everyone else got one, too.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)I wasn't expecting that. Thought we'd just have to keep going back to the petition page to see if an answer had been posted.
hack89
(39,171 posts)when you have Romney on the ropes, don't let him escape by picking a senseless political fight.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)This goes back a few months, and the administration could have responded much earlier.
The result was predictable, as dropping Rush would be perceived by many as political--even though there's valid reason to drop his show because of its misogyny and racism.
hack89
(39,171 posts)Canuckistanian
(42,290 posts)By sponsoring the Pigboy ALONE, there are serious questions of fairness.
Why does he get such special treatment?
hack89
(39,171 posts)MineralMan
(146,345 posts)at the schedule. I'd like to see Rush gone, too, but AFN selects shows on a ratings basis, not on a political one. It's really the only thing they can do.