Air America’s Sam Seder has a chance to take over the time slot created by Randi Rhodes’s departure. It was just about a year ago that Air America made the foolish decision to move Seder from a daily show to Sundays; he a vital progressive voice on the radio, one that should be heard daily. No one fuses humor with political insight quite like Sam.
Sam has the right mix of serious politics, great interviewing skills, intelligence, humor and rightful indignation about his subjects. I know that Sam has been a great champion of both exposing important issues to the light of day and inspiring activism. He, of all the hosts who started on Air America, really came into his own and flourished. He has truly built a community (even though everything was stacked against him, as his various shows kept getting moved around, cancelled, diminished). Isn’t this part of what the network should be striving for? Loyal, devoted listeners who will listen to the network all day? I believe that the network takes him for granted, and us (the listeners) for granted. Please help give Sam the real chance he deserves, with real support from the network! Sign the petition and send them email:
You may not know that talkshow host Randi Rhodes was suspended indefinitely for making off-color remarks at a private event (in a nightclub – NOT on the air) at an affiliate event in SF at Green960 AM.
As of now, there are 2 petitions up, so please sign both:
STATEMENT OF AIR AMERICA RADIO, FROM CHAIR CHARLIE KIREKER
By air america
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008
New York – Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for making inappropriate statements about prominent figures, including Senator Hillary Clinton, at a recent public appearance on behalf of Air America in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station.
“Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our Hosts,” said chair Charlie Kireker.
for more information, see these links:
Huffington Post has more on this as well as the youtube video of Randi’s appearance in SF.
No reports yet as to how long the suspension will be.
“It is not yet clear if the popular host will be back to work for Air America by then — or ever. At a critical moment in its evolution, the network has put itself in an untenable position. Ultimately, does Air America, or does it not, stand for free speech? At this moment, it clearly does not. That’s not very progressive.”
Updates and more article links, plus the full video of Randi’s performance are at
Here is my own letter to Air America, as a sample:
I am writing in support of Randi Rhodes! She is one of the bright lights on your network! (BTW, Sam Seder is another bright light and I cannot fathom, still, why you diminished his role to a once a week show).
I have been a passionately committed listener to Air America since the beginning and have continued to stand up for the network even after many mistaken decisions that in my mind have diminished the stature AND the programming (among them, firing Marc Maron, Mike Malloy, Kent Jones, reducing Sam Seder & Laura Flanders to weekend hours). I may not always agree with everything Randi says, but she has the right to speak her own opinions, especially when she’s not on the air – she is a talk show host, not a newscaster! As a matter of fact, I write this, even though I have not been in total agreement with her “bashing” Clinton. I know she can sometimes be a little “over the top” but it is because she is so passionate about her views. It is her toughness and passion that I admire.
As she was not on the air at the time of her remarks, I do NOT think it appropriate to fire her, or keep her off the air. Whether or not you think her remarks were inappropriate, I would think that an apology or a disclaimer would be sufficient! People also know that her opinions are her own and not necessarily the opinions of “management.”
I did see part of her routine on youtube, and frankly, I thought it was funny. And believe me, whatever your view of the language used, it is nothing new to most people… in a good way, these words have lost some of their power to offend, are in the general every day lexicon and are certainly frequent in comedic acts.
Please uphold the progressive values that the network claims to represent! Fight to retain Freedom of Speech and the Constitution! Reinstate Randi ASAP!
Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that Money cannot be eaten.
- Cree Indian Prophecy
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