“Garen will finish what Hitler/Pol Pot/Milosevic started,” right? See, it’s only a friend kidding around. It’s all for ratings advertising money through shock-jockery. It’s OK, at least that’s gotta be Bill Handel’s (of Clear Channel-owned KFI 640 AM radio in the “LA Market”) approach to life.
This Burbank-based show is another of the right-wing, loud, unsubstantiated, crass, yet immensely popular noise machines that is epitomized by Rush (the Druggie) Limbaugh. In this case, believe it or not, a discussion of healthcare led to the statement “What the Turks started, Bill will finish.”
While talking about the costs, Handel suggested reducing the U.S. population to save the government money. Then came a wisecrack about starting with the Armenians and selling Glendale. So far, it’s just tacky, and par for the shock-radio course. One person who heard this called and emailed to complain. The upshot? The email was read and mocked, again no surprises. But then came: “What the Turks started, Bill will finish.”
Now it’s time to let the rage flow free. Call, write, and just plain flood KFI and its owner, Clear Channel, with your disgust. These people (and here I use the term loosely) have to learn what boundaries not to cross. Handel’s parents being Holocaust survivors doesn’t excuse or sanction such abuse. Quite the contrary, it makes things all the worse.
When you call, tell them you want a serious apology, one not fraught with further mockery. Even more, Handel should issue a call to his listeners to write Obama the Betrayer and contact their Congressional reps to support the current resolution.
You’ll certainly want to hear the two clips. Unfortunately, you can’t hear the real offender off KFI’s website. Why? They’ve taken down that show from their website. Hmm, wonder why that is. Fortunately, they were downloaded ahead of time and are now available at www.burbankanc.org/KFI.mp3.
To contact these people, here are some options:
Snail mail address: 3400 W Olive Ave Ste 550, Burbank, CA 91505
Email: RobinBertolucci@clearchannel.com (for Robin Bertolucci, program director, KFI AM640)
KFI station numbers: (818) 559-2252 (main); (818) 566-6476 (programming)
Corporate headquarters: Clear Channel, 200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209, (210) 822-2828, webmaster@clearchannel.com
Let’s flood these people. Especially since it’s a holiday weekend, let’s fill up their voicemail system. You can find some other numbers for them online, too. If you’re feeling up to it, flood those as well.
Garen Yegparian
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I am not going to send an email to Clearchannel.
At UC Santa Barbara, the Anti-Defamation League is on the rampage against a Professor Robinson who sent a strong email out to his students criticizing Israel.
Yet, I do not see any Armenian out there in California telling UCSB that the ADL, because of its denial of the Armenian genocide, has no moral right to come onto campus to criticize Robinson.
This is especially the case because a year ago the Armenians at UCSB campaigned against the ADL and its “No Place For Denial” program on campus.
Armenians should join in and defend Robinson against the ADL. That is a lot more important than sending emails to Clearchannel over some silly comment.
you can NOT in any way classify Bill’s show as ‘right wing’…that’s so far from the truth it’s laughable…Bill’s FOR a woman’s right to choose, FOR gay marriage, FOR universal health care and a host of other issues that some would consider ‘left wing’…then once you try classifying him as ‘left wing’ consider his stand FOR the death penalty, AGAINST higher taxes and again, a host of other issues that would probably classify him as ‘right wing’.. truth is, he’s a little of both, but mostly down the middle.
Can we classify it as stupid?
One approach is to contact all the programs advertisers, let them know you won’t buy their products and why…if you listen to that program you know who its sponsors are…see how fast that gets results!
The particular clip was probably removed from the website because it could create negative attention towards Turkey. There’s lots of eyes and ears out there.
The Jews used to say an expression, ‘the friend of my enemy is my enemy,” the Armenians can and should say it too. There are Jews in strong positions who threaten Armenian interests, Abe Foxman (for one) and I’d guess Bill Handel too…who happens to have the benefit of the radio to quickly spread thought, be it his or perhaps others.
You guys don’t get it. These idot radio channels and their moron hosts are counting on you getting upset. More upset you get, more emails you send, more phone calls you make happier they are. Like Bill didn’t know what kind of cord he is touching. The best way to hurt these guys is turn the dial and never go back again.
Making a complaint to the FCC so the station gets fined is a better idea.
Here is the link.
https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/formE!input.action?form_page=2000E
Yes let’s do nothing…great idea Zohrab.
Fred’s causes are more important than anyone elses yet he takes the time to write that he won’t write….very intelligent.
The calls and emails are already working, KFI has taken down the podcasts of the shows because of a few phone calls and emails. Imagine what would would happen when large amounts of calls and emails go in. Haikaz your idea is right on.
“If you don’t fight for your rights somebody will come take them away
It’s very simple; your rights are those things that you fight for.
If you don’t believe them to be worth fighting for, don’t be surprised when somebody takes them away.”
Salman Rushdie
Okay, first of all, this guy Handel sounds like a libertarian from the blog comments made of him. That doesn’t excuse the just-as-hateful comments by Garen Yegparian. I really resent that the “right” is always associated with “loud, unsubstantiated, crass, yet immensely popular noise machines that is epitomized by Rush (the Druggie) Limbaugh.” This statement in itself is very offensive. Why does the left feel so empowered that it’s okay for them to make offensive comments while others should not. The author should take a lesson in being tactful. He would garner a lot more supporters from both sides if he didn’t offend some of his readers….like ME.
As for Handel, the son of Holocaust survivors himself, it sounds like he’s tightening his own noose. What an EVIL comment he made. It will come back and bite him in the a**. Sounds like he’s going to be out of a job if he continues like this. As he should be.
Flooding the channels is not what the network wants. If you flood the networks with outrage then the channel will feel the pressure and be forced to apologize and possibly make some work ethical decisions by removing or reviewing persons who need to be under control. Ignoring the issue certainly will not help anyone and will send the wrong message to the growing racist authority in Burbank. I am very glad this person spoke on KFI because it highlights the reality of the situation: this chain of thinking permeates the police department, news casts, and even lawmakers who have openly been prejudice towards minorities but especially the Armenian minorities. Continue to flood the networks, it will help raise awareness. As far as Freds comment i agree, Armenians at UCSB have a moral authority, as does anyone who advocates free (unbiassed) speech, to support Mr Robinson. But saying that somehow one overcastes the other is outlandish.
Don Imus lost his job for his hateful speech and deservedly so. And he never called for anyone’s death. This guy has to be fired. Turning the other cheek is not an option. Threatening to boycott and boycotting the sponsors is an option if he is not fired. ((does anyone know who the sponsors are?))
What about legal action? Can you call for the death of a people even in this country? It’s my understanding that yelling fire in a crowded movie theater when there’s no fire, is not covered by free speech. Maybe Mark Geragos can get involved.