Thursday, January 13, 2011

Westboro Church Gets Radio Program

 Westboro Baptist Church changes picket plans  and get radio program time:
Read the explantion, weak as it is, and decide:   Is he right or wrong? 


Westboro Baptist Church has dropped plans to picket the funerals of six victims gunned down Jan. 8 in Tucson, Ariz., in exchange for air time on a nationally syndicated radio show. The small, family church from Topeka, Kan., widely known for anti-gay protests at funerals of dead soldiers and celebrities, announced  Jan. 12 that church members would appear Monday, Jan. 17, on The Mike Gallagher Radio Show "in lieu of picketing the funerals of those killed in the Tucson shooting spree."  


Gallagher  a radio host and conservative political commentator with an audience of about 10 million listeners, said it was a "no-brainer" for him to allow members of the controversial church clan to air their views on his program instead of bothering families grieving in Arizona.

Gallagher said he did the same thing in 2006, after the church announced plans to protest the funerals of five Amish girls murdered in Lancaster County, Pa., and following the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.

"Make no mistake about it," Gallagher said in a video  explaining the decision. "The only reason I am doing this, the only reason I am giving the Westboro Baptist Church -- which by the way I believe is neither Baptist nor a church; it's largely the Phelps family, the extended grandkids and all of that -- the reason I'm doing this is singular. I have only one goal, and that is to keep the Phelpses from protesting and picketing outside these six funerals, including that of the little 9-year-old girl who was slain last week. I'm not particularly interested in what they have to say, but I'm willing to give them this platform."

Gallagher said he knows the decision "doesn't sit well with a lot of people" but it didn't come "lightly or casually."

"Even though you may be unhappy with this decision, it's my goal to stick to my values every day, do what I believe in, and I believe with all of my heart that giving them air time is the right thing to do," he said.

Gallagher said his Salem Radio Network bosses "were very uncomfortable with the idea" but eventually agreed to it on the condition that the church's views were balanced with those of a respected theologian. He said Dinesh D'Souza, a best-selling author and apologist recently  named president of King's College in New York City, would join the one-hour discussion. 

"We have managed to do what the courts have been unable to do, and that is to stop the Westboro Baptist Church from going to hurt these particular families," Gallagher said. "Frankly, we're very proud of that, especially in the light of this discourse that we've heard all week, this horrendous accusation that talk radio somehow led to the events of last Saturday in Tucson with our so-called inflammatory rhetoric. Well, I'm pretty proud of the fact that talk radio, in this case my show, has been the tool, has been the vehicle, to stop Westboro Baptist Church from protesting outside these funerals all of this week."

12 comments:

TexasFred said...

I had the distinct honor of doing some work with Mike Gallagher a while back right here in the Dallas area. I think he's doing the right thing, and may well be keeping some moonbats from Kansas from getting shot and making things even worse...

Ticker said...

Fred, No one has shot at these jackasses before so what makes you think they would have now?

Is Gallaher just posturing for more listeners, aka $$$$ or is it just BS. I call it BS and say you don't give attention to folks like this. They are like spoiled brats who get attention , they will only demand more. My vote, He's wrong!

Anonymous said...

Ticker, those individuals might not have been shot at, yet, but if they push the wrong crowd, don't be surprised if there isn't a riot, or shooting. Real people are growing tired of them and their antics. Can't stop 'em, Amendment One, but I think those around them should be allowed to use the same Amendment One, giving them the right to self expression, and give good use to a rack of baseball bats!!

Just my opinion.

Old Rose

Ticker said...

But Rose, the PC law enforcement ,especially in Tucson will not allow bustin of heads, nor will they allow anyone to get close enough to do so. As to Amendment One, those who commit treason aren't protected.

I submit that giving aide and comfort to the enemy is treason. Example: protest at military funerals claiming they deserved to die.

Always On Watch said...

IMO, any publicity that WBB garners in this radio interview with Gallagher will not help the vile purposes of WBB. Decent people give WBB no credence.

That said, there are indeed a lot of people who are not decent, and they are reveling in this WBB's grabbing of air time.

Always On Watch said...

Forgot to say....

It's wonderful that WBB will not be picketing the funerals. However, WBB will learn one lesson from the interview opportunity: how to blackmail the media into giving WBB the attention the group craves. **sigh**

GM Roper said...

I applaud Gallagher's reasoning and his willingness, but I'm not sure this is the right idea - giving them a 10 million person audience... of course, we could all engage in a "don't listen" campaign.

Great soul, wrong choice.

Chuck said...

I think they're all full of it.

Gallagher is doing this for the ratings and Westboro is doing it to keep from getting their asses kicked.

Several groups of biker groups have said they will not let them protest, whatever they have to do. There is even a rumor that the Hell's Angels may have shown up.

Gallagher just gave them what they wanted, publicity. He should have left things alone and let these POS' go to the funeral and finally get what they deserve.

Anonymous said...

Would rather have them on the radio, where I and other can turn the off. Thanks to Gallagher, for his offer to this nut group that is outside the "grcae" of God and in need of repentance.

Ticker said...

AOW, blackmail I believe is the correct choice of words. What next from these incestuous zealots?

GM, Great soul, wrong choice. I agree!

Chuck, First line in your post sums it up pretty well of course an attack is exactly what Westboro has been trying to provoke for years but so far has failed. They may not wish to continue to push the envelope.

Right Truth said...

At first I was upset that anyone would give the Westboro folks airtime. It is like paying off a blackmailer, they will be back for more.

But then I heard Gallagher's explanation last night on TV. He talked about his wife dying a couple of years ago, and how he would have felt if the Westboro folks attended. He also said that even though the Angels, the motorcycle clubs, and other organizations had volunteered to stand between the Westboro folks and the funeral, it was all a big distraction that the poor family of the little girl should not have to endure.

After hearing him, I agreed that he had in fact done the right thing.

The radio station management only agreed to the deal if someone was on and given equal time to debate the Westboro folks.

Debbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

Ticker said...

Thanks Debbie for the update.