My Letter to Mr. Sheffer

Submitted by Dennis Murphy (United States), Dec 26, 2003 at 15:31

Dear Mr. Pipes,

Here is a copy of the letter I sent to Mr. Sheffer. I was outraged by this obviously inane decision by GE. Please keep up the good work. I am always learning something new when I read your articles.


Dear Mr. Sheffer,

It is my understanding that GE has pulled its advertising from the Paul Harvey Radio Program because of a comment he made on December 4th about Muslims having a religion "which encourages killing." I understand that he apologized for the mistaken use of that phrase on December 9th. This is an apology that I would expect from a person as dignified and level headed as Mr. Harvey. I am appalled at the decision of GE, however, to pull its advertising from his program on December 22nd, a full two weeks after Mr. Harvey's apology.

I have been a viewer of the McLaughlin Group on PBS for over a decade now, and I am well aware of the "GE, we bring good things to life" campaign that your corporation ran on his show. Did GE watch the debates between the commentators to make sure that nobody wrongly defamed any person or group on that program? Are you to have me believe that John McLaughlin, Fred Barnes, Morton Kondracke, Tony Blankley and Eleanor Clift have never uttered a disparaging word about any person or group in their careers (regardless if they apologized for it or not)? Why does GE take a stand now on Mr. Harvey, but never took a stand on anything said on the McLaughlin Group?

It is of my belief that a double standard is being applied because of a single special interest that wishes to impart its will on corporations, such as GE, for the explicit reason to censure any and all criticism of the Islamic religion.

If one phrase (which was apologized for) is going to throw away corporate support of a nationally treasured radio program, what is to become of free speech in this country? I am saddened that Mr. Harvey has been censured by GE. I expected more respect and understanding from an outstanding corporation such as GE. It is my hope that GE will reconsider its decision, and put its trust and advertising dollars behind Mr. Harvey's program again.

Sincerely,

Dennis Murphy

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