Government

Rhode Island Governor Bars State Employees From Talk Radio

State officials in Rhode Island are being silenced… on talk radio, that is.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee, an Independent, told the Providence Journal that talk radio is “ratings-driven, for-profit programming,” and his administration believes it’s inappropriate to use taxpayer resources to have state employees use work time to it.

Gov. Chafee says he intends to stay off the air, as well, reversing a trend set by his predecessor, Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri, who frequently spoke out on talk radio programs.

Buddy Cianci, a former mayor of Providence and a talk show host criticized Chaffee’s stance Tuesday. “Chafee is — I don’t want to be critical — but he’s not Demosthenes,” Cianci said. “The fact is that he‘s got some issues that he maybe doesn’t have the answer to [on the air].”

“I take it as a total slap in the face to the public of the state of Rhode Island,” Cianci continued. “There are thousands of people who listen to our radio shows. For him to ban all these people from coming on talk radio is certainly an affront to open government, and certainly is an affront to transparency.”

As a clarification, the governor’s office announced that the new talk radio ban will not apply in “emergency situations,” when it is imperative for state officials to reach out to the public. In addition, the new rule will not apply to interviews with news reporters or local NPR affiliate stations.

More than 90 years after broadcasters were first licensed to sell commercial air time, Chafee’s stance against “for-profit” broadcasters marks a significant change in conventional broadcasting and has some worried.

WHJJ’s program director, Bill George, told the Providence Journal that he was concerned about Chafee’s singling out talk shows since “most media outlets, whether news or opinion, are profit-making entities.”

“We believe that talk radio would be an ideal outlet for Governor Chafee because it’s a great way for him to speak directly to the people,” George said. “It’s also one of the few places where he can have a back-and-forth with the state’s citizens.”

Comments (193)

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  • Okieflyover
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:18pm

    Today marked the beginning of the end of this governorship. Apparently he doesn’t understand the demographics of the people who listen to talk radio.

    I can see a campaign ad in this guy’s future related to this issue.

    Report Post »  
  • S_Malc13
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:18pm

    Just say you don’t want them listening to Glen at 9 and Rush at noon.

    Report Post » S_Malc13  
  • CatB
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:17pm

    I wonder if it will be NPR … all day all the time …

    Report Post »  
  • urfree2b4now
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:17pm

    Ah….sounds like he’s trying to achieve his own little Venezuela.

    …I wonder how the people of Rhode Island feel about that?

    Report Post » urfree2b4now  
  • butler180
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:16pm

    Watch the other hand. The Prez Obama hand picked Czars are ready to follow. They have already reached for the Internet

    Report Post » butler180  
  • Mackerel
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:14pm

    Raise your hand if you need to go to the bathroom.

    Report Post » Mackerel  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:17pm

      Raise your hand if you need to go to the bathroom.

      —————

      Its :

      Raise your LEG if you need to go to the bathroom.
      ;-)

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:10pm

    He seemed to be saying that he didn‘t want state workers on talk radio during work hours which I don’t have a problem with. My question is, what about on their own time? Does the governor have the right to tell government workers that they can’t go on the radio while on their own time? If so, what else can he tell them that can’t do? Can he tell them that they can’t go to certain political rallies during their off time?

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • Bigbird1960
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:08pm

    Define Liberalism….Synonyms: balmy, barmy [chiefly British], bats, batty, bedlam, bonkers, brainsick, bughouse [slang], certifiable, crackbrained, cracked, crackers, crackpot, cranky [dialect], crazed, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, insane, deranged, fruity [slang], gaga, haywire, kooky (also kookie), loco [slang], loony (also looney), loony tunes (or looney tunes), lunatic, mad, maniacal (also maniac), mental, meshuga (or meshugge also meshugah or meshuggah), moonstruck, non compos mentis, nuts, nutty, psycho, psychotic, scatty [chiefly British], screwy, unbalanced, unhinged, unsound, wacko (also whac

    Report Post »  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:08pm

    the new rule will not apply to interviews with news reporters or local NPR affiliate stations.
    ————————–

    So they can appear on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and NPR .
    Just not FOX because ….FOX is NOT a news channel
    Gottit

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • SuperSuineg
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:08pm

    What a loon, all media is “ratings-driven, for-profit programming,”
    Gov. Lincoln Chafee take you head out of your zxx. What you are doing is against the first amendment.
    Free speech does not mean free broadcasting.

    Report Post » SuperSuineg  
    • firstlast
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:32pm

      I suppose they’re welcome to quit their public position to speak freely on any corporate-controlled talk show radio station they want

      Report Post »  
  • WhiteTeaParty
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:06pm

    Yes, God Bless

    WhiteTeaParty  
  • SnapTie
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:06pm

    This is a governor on his first day announced he ordered all agencies to stop reporting illegals to the feds. He has really fired up the people of R.I.

    Report Post » SnapTie  
  • pajamash
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:03pm

    All this hullaballoo for a situation in which not one stitch of information points to talk radio or any media having been a catalyst for this shooter!

    Report Post »  
    • TAXLORDCOMETH
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:07pm

      I agree — this seems very orchestrated. It’s like they were just waiting for a trigger to make their move.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:19pm

      They don’t need no STINKIN truth .. they have left wing rhetoric.

      Report Post »  
    • Tyr
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 8:10pm

      I tried to warn you! I got chided by the people on the only true free site on the net! It is coming down the tracks like a train now! BTW, what country is going to come and save us?

      Report Post » Tyr  
    • republitarian
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 10:01pm

      Obviously, it was canned and ready to go, but clumsily executed because the shooter doesn’t fit their template. And even if he did, are we to believe all these people suddenly realized that 1st and 2nd amendments need to be altered? No. What they want is for their opposition to silence themselves. To go back to being the silent majority. Listen to the calls for more civil discourse from the left. They know that if nothing changes they’re finished in 2012. They are scared and will try anything. Even politicize murder.

      Report Post » republitarian  
  • mountainb
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:02pm

    He is extremely afraid someone who has seen him in his private world might call in and spill the beans…. HUH Guv????

    Report Post »  
  • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:02pm

    The Press have always been “ratings-driven, for-profit programming”. They’d better be, or the other alternative is government run media.

    Report Post »  
  • diggyorange
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:02pm

    Is this the same gov who , removed immigration laws this week in his state?

    Go figure . huh these people are sick

    Report Post » diggyorange  
  • 912828Buckeye
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:01pm

    WOW……..And so it is

    Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
  • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:00pm

    “In addition, the new rule will not apply to interviews with news reporters or local NPR affiliate stations.”

    The new rule won’t apply to National Public Radio? You don’t say!

    Report Post »  
  • Fed-up1461
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:58pm

    Does he not plan to get re-elected? Placing an ad would seem hypocritical.

    Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:16pm

      He doesn’t care about being re-elected. Soros just paid him off. He’s now set for life!!

      Report Post »  
    • irburwick
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 9:58pm

      This guy is a nut!

      Report Post »  
  • kilo62a
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:58pm

    All outlets except National Pinko Radio. Figures.

    Report Post »  
  • oldfashionamerican
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:57pm

    Achtung!

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:57pm

    No, sir, you do not have the right to ban your citizens from freedom of speech, nor from freedom of hearing.

    Report Post »  
    • firstlast
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:27pm

      I think I missed that one in the Constitution; right to free listening?

      Report Post »  
  • Highland
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:57pm

    If only anyone listened to the liberal talk radio programs, then the governor would have no problem with them, but alas! They all seem to die a natural death. Liberal talk radio: stupid and boring. People don’t like being lied to, Gov.

    Report Post » Highland  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on January 12, 2011 at 9:14am

      Governor Chafee’s proclamation was followed by the “click”sound of three radios being being turned off statewide.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
  • sbenard
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:56pm

    Another progressive who believes that freedom of speech only applies to HIM!

    Chaffee, a former RINO Republican, was one of those who, ten years ago as a U.S. Senator, demanded that lower tax rates be TEMPORARY or he wouldn’t vote for them.

    Report Post » sbenard  
    • Helldogger
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:09pm

      Thanks for that remender. You are correct.

      Report Post » Helldogger  
    • citygirl56
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:44pm

      Liberals always think that they are the only ones allow to have any freedom. They think that they are smarter, therefore they think that they are the rulers of all the village idiots. The only problem is that they are the idiots.

      Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on January 11, 2011 at 6:56pm

    What about blogs?

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:00pm

      Can they blog the raidio show during air time?

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:40pm

      Senseless to impose restrictions on freedom of speech.

      During an election an incumbent would have a disadvantage being banned from radio airwaves while non-federal employee is welcomed to express their views. Unless there’s an exception for re-election? Then just campaign ever week.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Bubba74
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 7:47pm

      Government employees are too busy texting to mess around with blogs

      Report Post » Bubba74  
    • scout n ambush
      Posted on January 11, 2011 at 9:55pm

      Not yet but the Saudi‘s just cracked down on unlicensed blogger’s……… it’s coming.

      Report Post » scout n ambush  
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