MRC Press Release: Newsday Should Apologize to Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly

August 14th, 2008 12:57 PM
NewsBusters.org | Media Research Center
Spreading the Word

NewsBusters.org's parent company, the Media Research Center, today released the following statement (related to this NewsBusters post) from President L. Brent Bozell, III.

BOZELL: NEWSDAY SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO
LIMBAUGH, HANNITY AND O'REILLY

Columnist suggested radio hosts responsible for Tennessee church murders

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Media Research Center President L. Brent Bozell today sent a letter to Newsday Publisher Tim Knight demanding an apology for the August 13 column by Jenna Kern-Rugile entitled "Does shock jock hate speech lead to violence?" in which she inexplicably and noxiously links the contemptible July 27 murders committed in the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly.

Bozell also insisted that Ms. Rugile never again appear on the pages of Newsday.

MRC President L. Brent Bozell:

"Yesterday's Newsday column was absolutely despicable, and they should be ashamed and embarrassed for having printed it.

"Jenna Kern-Rugile's wretched words were nothing more than an in-print character assassination of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, a foray into absurd Leftist delusions of links between them and the vile murderer in a Tennessee church this past July 27.

"This is not a freedom of speech issue. This is Newsday giving this woman a license to assault these fine men in print, accusing them of complicity in murder.

"Newsday should immediately publish a full retraction, and an abject and absolute apology to those defamed by this woman's wretched words. And Ms. Rugile should never again appear in their pages."