KSFO Radio: Lee Rogers and Brian Sussman -- The Crab Apple doesn't fall far from the Tree?

I sometimes wonder what level of offensiveness it takes on advertiser supported broadcast radio for the hosts to be reprimanded, fined or fired. History and the law have clearly shown that there are legal rules and limits on commercial broadcast speech. There are things you shouldn't say on broadcast radio. If you do, you get warned, fined and/or fired. There are other comments that might not break an FCC law, but go beyond the pale and the radio management steps in and says, "Okay that's too much. Apologize. If you don't apologize we don't want you representing us on the air."

When I play Brian Sussman's radio sound clips from his KSFO radio show (560 AM 6-8PM, San Francisco bay area) to people I usually get shocked, appalled and incredulous reactions. "He said that? And he calls himself a Christian?" (Actually he won't admit to being a Christian, I'll get to that in another post.)

Now on advertiser supported broadcast radio, companies have the right to respond to a host's comments, "We really don't want to be associated with those kind of comments. Please withdraw our ads." In addition, radio management reveals something about their own values when they say, "Yes, we agree with the advertiser's request, that was over the line. Apologize. Knock it off. Tone it down. If you don't apologize, you are fired." (link Washington Post, free registration required)

Radio management can also reveal their values by saying to the host something like, "Yes, keep it up. We agree with you, therefore, no need to apologize. We will keep backing your outrageous comments. Even if you are likely to incite 'imminent lawless action'. Even if we aren't serving our shareholders and costing everyone money. We'll make a stand in support of your statements."

I'm not sure what they have said, but clearly Sussman thinks his views are supported by management,"I've got great support from the staff and management of this great radio station". (Link. Audio clip 10 seconds)

People can look at that management support and say, "They are supporting offensive, hateful comments." Of course the host can position it as a "free speech" struggle even when it's NOT. Commercially supported broadcast radio has its own rules that apply. For example, a station policy could detail certain comments they consider over the line even if another station would allow it.

ABC Radio stations, such as KSFO, are currently owned by Disney and may have different rules of behavior than a Clear Channel station. Of course when Farid Suleman, Chairman of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, becomes the new owner maybe new rules about Muslims will apply. As always, management can acknowledge that the radio host is always welcome to make certain comments on a street corner in front of the federal building, just not while under their employ.

Now if station management DOESN'T do or say anything publicly about a host's comments, then we must conclude that Sussman's on-air statements do reflect the attitudes and opinions of station management. And according to Lee Rogers, KSFO management does support offensive, hateful comments about Muslims and Muslim groups. "Because we won't ass kiss every Muslim cause that comes along."

This is in contrast to what Rogers thought of the response of Chris Berry, president and general manager of WMAL, to Michael Graham's anti-Muslim statements at WMAL-AM in Washington. (Graham was asked to apologize and when he didn't he was fired.). "Yeah, because that station in Washington DC was run by a gutless nothing." (link. 3o seconds)

The management may position themselves as bravely standing up for free speech, but they are actually supporting the hate speech with the potential to incite violence.

Here is what they are supporting, and by extension companies that advertise on the show are also supporting:
A host (Brian Sussman) that says he:
- doesn't respect or tolerate another religion and sees them as the enemy (link. 23 seconds)
- believes in torture (link. 9 seconds) including cutting off fingers and genitals (link. 19 seconds)
- supports pre-empetive attacks on the enemy (link. 30 seconds)
- doesn't believe in due process (link 18 seconds)
- is armed and supports arming everyone with machine guns (link. 41 seconds)
- considers it a "global fight to the finish and only one side is going to win. It's good and evil!" (link. 20 seconds)
- screams about "the religion of peace" (link. 8 seconds)

So that finally he believes we have to kill 10 million members of the religion he doesn't respect before they kill us. Link. 25 seconds)

For those of you who are tempted to pass this all off sayin, "It's just talk radio, they are just radio hosts. What's the big deal?" I'd like to mention three names to you: Hassan Ngeze, Ferdinand Nahimana, and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza. Maybe you've never heard of them, but the three Rwandans were convicted of of genocide for media reports that fostered the killing of about 800,000 Rwandans, mostly of the Tutsi minority, over several months in 1994.

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(Note: If you are an advertiser on Sussman's show and no longer wish to be associated with the show, contact Michael Black, KSFO General Sales Manager at 415-954-7661. E-Mail Michael Black. [michael dot black at abc dot com]. If you have written letters to advertisers or management and received responses please send me a copy, I'm keeping a collection. E-Mail spockosemail at gmail dot com.)