Cumulus Media To Drop Rush Limbaugh (and Sean Hannity)

One of the loudest voices for bigotry and racism on the airwaves is Rush Limbaugh.  Another force for hate and division is Sean Hannity.  Now, both have been dropped by Cumulus, the second-largest operator of radio stations in the country.  It will be interesting to see how Limbaugh, a loud mouthed jerk in my view who talks about protecting the "sanctity of marriage" while on his own fourth marriage, tries to spin this obvious set back.  Here are details from Politico:

In a major shakeup for the radio industry, Cumulus Media, the second-biggest broadcaster in the country, is planning to drop both Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its stations at the end of the year, an industry source told POLITICO on Sunday.

Cumulus has decided that it will not renew its contracts with either host, the source said, a move that would remove the two most highly rated conservative talk personalities from more than 40 Cumulus channels in major markets.

The decision comes after negotiations between Cumulus and Premiere Networks, the division of Clear Channel that distributes Limbaugh and Hannity's shows, broke down due to disagreements over the cost of the distribution rights, the source said. Cumulus is known to drive a hard bargain on costs, and Clear Channel is known to seek top dollar for big names.

Premiere, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night, is expected to carry Limbaugh and Hannity on stations in many of the markets where they are currently signed with Cumulus, should the negotiations not go through. A spokesperson for Limbaugh was not immediately available for comment; Hannity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Back in May, a source close to Limbaugh told POLITICO that the host was considering ending his affiliation agreement with Cumulus because CEO Lew Dickey was blaming the company's advertising losses on Limbaugh's controversial remarks about Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown law student. On an earnings call two days later, Dickey reported a $2.4 million first-quarter decline in revenue related to talk programming, which he attributed, indirectly, to Limbaugh's remarks about Fluke. 

Read More

The Arrogance of the Self-Anointed "Gay Elite"

Recently in connection with the challenge to Virginia's anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment I noted in a post here and on the Bilerico Project the following observation:

This post would not be complete without acknowledging some of the blow back I have received from previous posts about the case.  It seems that some of what many of us living in "red states" view as the self-anointed "gay elite" are displeased that the plaintiffs proceeded to file their lawsuit rather than wait for permission, if you will, from Lambda Legal, the ACLU and others.  These the "gay elites" primarily sit safely in gay friendly jurisdictions like New York and Washington, D.C., and lecture those faced with no rights or legal protections, give them a pat on the head and then tell Virginians and others "be patient, we know best."   One must not forget that when the Hollingsworth v. Perry suit was filed, these same elites argued against the case being brought.  Ted Olsen and David Boies proved them wrong.

Well, the blow back has continued and I have received more slings and arrows for having dared criticize Lambda Legal and the ACLU.  I was even accused of harming the LGBT community by my comments.  These attacks come, of course, from non-elected individuals serving on self-perpetuating boards that purport to represent the LGBT community, yet they really want no input whatsoever  from the community other than (i) writing check after check to their organizations and/or (ii) showing up for events that they tell us to be at.  They expect servile obedience even when their organizations may have achieve little or nothing of substance to show for all of the funds they receive.

Some of the attacks I have ignored.  Others I have not held my tongue - I know readers don't find that a surprise - and have laid out my personal peeves with Lambda Legal and the ACLU.  For newer readers, I will set out why I am not always enamored with these organizations although they have indeed done a great deal of good work.   Much of my complaints track to the case of Moore v. The Virginia Museum of Natural History which involved an employee of a state operated museum who was fired for being gay.   Other posts on the case are here, and here and here.   The case went to argument before the Virginia Supreme Court where my former law school class mate and now Chief Justice, Cynthia Kinser seemed most unhappy - outraged might be a better term - that my client had not simply disappeared rather than fight the wrongful discharge.  Not surprisingly, the Supreme Court refused to take the appeal.

Throughout this case, I literally begged for help from Lambda Legal and the ACLU.  Sadly, viewing themselves as demi-gods who are arbiters of the fate of others, neither organization provided any assistance.  My client was just supposed to crawl away in defeat since the case wasn't in a ideal posture apparently to gain their interest.  In the end, the only help I received was from an attorney in the D.C. office of the ACLU who helped me on her own personal time.  I will always be grateful to her and her ability to see that every member of the LGBT community deserves to be represented and to have a fighting chance. Would that more individuals at Lambda Legal and the ACLU did not view most of us as disposable goods.

To my attackers, I invite them to compare what they have done with what I have done striving to make things better for our community here in Virginia and across America.  Sometimes holding one's tongue is not in the best long term interests of our community.  Sycophants are a dime a dozen.  It goes without saying that I will be seriously reconsidering my financial support for some organizations.

Read More

Italian Police Investigate Whether Catholic Priests Hired Rentboys for Sex in Churches

Yesterday porcine Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York was whining and spewing untruths in reaction to the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Windsor.  Here's a sampling of Dolan's batshitery via the New Civil Rights Movement:

“Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation,” Dolan, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and thus the head of the Roman Catholic Church in America.

“The Court got it wrong,” Dolan added, in a joint statement with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

In typical false-framing and fear-mongering, the pair continued: "The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth. These decisions are part of a public debate of great consequence. The future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang in the balance."

But just as always seems to be the case, as the Catholic hierarchy was loudly decrying gays as a threat to America and society in general, yet another scandal was breaking in Rome involving, yes, you guessed it, priests and underage boys.  As always, the bitter old queens in dresses cannot abide normal, well adjusted gays living their lives openly  and with legal recognition of their relationships even as members of the priesthood continue to engage in sex crimes against minors.  The hypocrisy is truly mind numbing.  The latest dirt comes via the International Business Times.  Here are excerpts:

Italian investigators have opened an inquiry into claims by a convicted paedophile priest that an underage prostitution ring has been operating inside the Holy Roman Church with clergymen hiring rentboys for sex inside churches.

Don Patrizio Poggi, 46, told Italian authorities that a former Carabinieri pimped boys for nine clergymen.

The boys were chosen because they were starving and desperate, he claimed, according to Il Messaggero newspaper.

The former policeman used to recruit the boys, mostly eastern European immigrants, outside a gay bar named Twink near Rome's Termini train station. He reportedly sat in his Fiat Panda - marked "Emergency Blood" to avoid parking fines - to make his selection.

He was helped in the recruitment process by a friend who ran a modelling agency. He lured underage boys into prostitution through "false work offers for modelling and acting roles", Poggi said.

The agent also looked for rentboys at gay discos, saunas and gyms across Rome. An accountant was also said to be involved.  The boys were paid €150-€500 (£130-£425) to perform sex acts in church premises across the capital.

Poggi reportedly presented documentary and photographic evidence to police in the company of two senior Vatican clergymen who vouched for his credibility.

Poggi identified the nine clergymen, including two senior church officials and a religion lecturer. Three people have been placed under formal investigation.

And meanwhile, there is this headline out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dolan's former archdiocese "Capuchins Protected Sex Abusers for Years."  Here are some highlights from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

It's been 44 years since Father Mel Hermanns sexually abused a boy at St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary in Fond du Lac County.

It's been 23 years since a separate case of suspicious conduct "involving physical activities with minor males" was reported.

And 20 years since the Capuchin priest's order paid for the seminary victim's counseling, and sent Hermanns to a treatment center known for its programs for sex offenders.  But Hermanns was not removed from ministry until just last fall, and even then there was little public notification.

Hermanns' name appears on a list of 23 current and former Capuchin friars removed for sexually abusing minors. It was released last week as part of an unprecedented audit commissioned by the Detroit-based Capuchin Province of St. Joseph, which operates parishes and other ministries in Milwaukee, to assess its sexual abuse policies and come to terms with its history.

The audit echoes the broader church's handling of the global sex abuse crisis, and provides insight into how one religious order systematically protected abusers and put the concerns of friars and their organization ahead of their responsibility to victims.

I'm sorry, but I would argue that the Catholic hierarchy and priesthood are a far greater threat to society and certainly the welfare of children than gay marriage.  One has to wonder why individuals like Dolan - who is rumored to have hidden millions in Church assets rather than pay compensation to abuse victims - are not behind bars at this very moment. 

Read More