Statement from Kim Komando regarding Rush Limbaugh comments

[mrclose]

Not only is the Lady a 'looker' she's a 'Patriot' and Knows how to deal with the Communists/Liberals!
(Did I say Communists?) 

For those who don't know .. Kim is a 'Tech Genius' with her own radio show and .. Did I mention 'Looker'? 

Beginning Thursday, March 1st, I began receiving a series of complaints from both listeners to The Kim Komando Show and other non-listeners, concerning on-air comments made by Rush Limbaugh about Georgetown University Law Student Sandra Fluke and Ms. Fluke’s comments.

News stories of these comments and the ensuing fallout are readily available. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a synopsis within this Statement.

The majority of the comments directed toward me were critical that:

Certain sponsors of The Kim Komando Show were also sponsors of the Rush Limbaugh Show.
 To that end, I had not brought pressure on those sponsors to discontinue their advertising schedules with The Rush Limbaugh Show.
 Therefore, I must, in some way agree with Mr. Limbaugh’s positions.
 Further, as a woman, I should be especially sensitive to his comments and should have been among the first to denounce him.
 Over the years, it has been my decision and policy to refrain from the insertion of general politics, candidate endorsements and criticisms of public officials in my program. This has not always been possible for me because, from time to time, our government will set about passing laws and policies which have a direct impact on your lives and my program’s focus: Consumer Electronics, the Internet, privacy issues, and the economy as it relates to all of the foregoing. To that end, I have made no secret of the fact that I am a free market capitalist.

It is also within my sole discretion whether I will endorse any particular advertising client or not. If and when I do provide a personal endorsement, it is because I believe in the product or service on a number of levels, which includes the advertisers overall conduct from a public relations standpoint.

Should a spokesman for a product or service violate various laws, and/or the public conscious so as to bring himself or his broadcast partners into public ridicule, it falls to the judgment of the advertiser as how they wish to proceed.

All of this brings me back to Rush Limbaugh.

The old saying that, “Hindsight is 20/20,” is especially true for those of us in media who speak extemporaneously and perform our work without a script. And yes, I believe that Mr. Limbaugh could have phrased his opinions in this matter differently and should have acted much soon to diffuse the entire situation (if that is possible at all).

However, I also firmly believe in the First Amendment.

Rush Limbaugh has the right to say whatever he wants.

The public has the right to champion those comments or reject them.

The public also has the right to bring any of the comments that we, as radio talk show hosts make either on or off the air, to the attention of advertisers.

Advertisers have a right to spend or not spend their advertising dollars as they see fit.

Finally, you have the right to patronize those advertisers or not.

A good number of Rush Limbaugh advertisers have already withdrawn their business from the program with more to come.

As I mentioned previously, in this case, everyone is clearly within his or her Constitutional rights.

It’s all a part of the First Amendment and sometimes, it’s not pretty.

What all this said, I know that some of the comments directed at me have come from long time listeners to my program. I appreciate them all.

But many others are not my listeners. Rather, they are individuals who have been motivated by commentators, bloggers and others with a particular political agenda. It is therefore clear that there is an on-going attempt to use me and my program as leverage to bring further pressure upon Rush Limbaugh.

I also do not believe that, “as a woman,” I should be particularly offended at Mr. Limbaugh’s comments. If you perceive a situation as tasteless or offensive, it matters not who or what you are.

It is regrettable that this situation has occurred. Nevertheless, above all else, The Kim Komando Show values its advertisers, its listeners and the loyalty and trust they have shown to me over the years.

We are not a part of the Rush Limbaugh controversy and we will continue to make the best decisions for our program and for whom we advertise regardless of the politics involved.

[Chris_]

Can't stand her show, but good for her for telling the truth.

[obumazombie]

Can't stand her show, but good for her for telling the truth.

I'm not a big fan either, but it would be nice to hear her say that El Rushbo audiences spill over into hers, and most probably, not vice versa.

[Delmar]

I'm not a big fan either, but it would be nice to hear her say that El Rushbo audiences spill over into hers, and most probably, not vice versa.

She probably figures that it goes without saying since El Rushbo's audience spills over into every AM radio show because Rush made AM into what it is today.

I have been listening to Kim Komando's show off and on for years even though I'm not all that interested in the tech kind of stuff that she covers.  It is nice to have a face to go with the voice.  Thanks to mrclose for the picture.  She is cute.

[mrclose]

She probably figures that it goes without saying since El Rushbo's audience spills over into every AM radio show because Rush made AM into what it is today.

I have been listening to Kim Komando's show off and on for years even though I'm not all that interested in the tech kind of stuff that she covers.  It is nice to have a face to go with the voice.  Thanks to mrclose for the picture.  She is cute.

Being a male, sexist, 'pig' .. I have to admit that I know nothing about pc's and I only listen to Kim because .. There is NOTHING more alluring than a Beautiful and Intelligent woman!

[DefiantSix]

I've had a man crush on her husband - Barry Young since the early '90s.  He's a powerful conservative radio host.

[mrclose]

I've had a man crush on her husband - Barry Young since the early '90s.  He's a powerful conservative radio host.

I picked this little tid bit up on another site:

Ken Komando's husband is Barry Young, morning show host on KFYI-AM, Phoenix. Mr. Young is a libertarian-leaning Republican who believes that Libertarians are often unreasonable nuts. Mr. Young has a keen understanding of, and is an uncompromising supporter of. the U.S. Constitution, though he is not an attorney. He is also the owner of the corporation that syndicates Ms Komando's show.

[obumazombie]

Good job Mackelrose.