Posted by
The Patriot on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:49:04 PM
If you are a listener of conservative talk radio, as I am, you will by now have noticed that Laura Ingraham has been absent from her show for about three weeks now. After a bit of internet searching, I have discovered why she has been MIA (Ingraham friend David Frum posted about it
here.)
It's a good news/bad news thing, however. The good news is that it is not a resurgence of her cancer, or a problem with her new adopted daughter, or any other personal issue. The bad news is that her syndication agency, Talk Radio Network, has basically locked her out of her studio due to an ongoing contract dispute. I am speculating here, but it appears that this is obviously a heavy-handed attempt by Laura's syndicator to force her to accept some contractual scenario which she deems unacceptable.
Now I understand that business is business, and I don't begrudge a company the right to pay only as much as it thinks an individual's labor is worth. But I see no reason that TRN cannot allow Ingraham to continue her work while negotiations are in progress. It comes across as very juvenile, at the least...much as a child would stomp his foot and threaten to take his toys and go home if he doesn't get his way. At worst, the listening public is being denied a passionate, principled, and intelligent conservative voice during the height of the political season. I am no conspiracy theorist, but I find it curious that the 5th-rated host in talk radio nationwide is taken off the air during the ramp-up to the general election.
As such, I am standing with Laura Ingraham while TRN plays their games. I have drafted an email to
TRN management and to management of my local affiliate to inform them that my radio will be off any time a
TRN host is on air until Laura Ingraham is allowed to return to her show, and I intend to follow through. I encourage you to do the same.