dagblog - Comments for "An Open Letter to Thom Hartmann - entrepreneur, author, radio host, et al."

Is this really the Thom

AmericanDreamer — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Is this really *the* Thom Hartmann? Awesome. Thom, if you're of a mind to do so and the proprietors of this fine establishment are amenable, would you be willing to write a fresh post in which you share your thoughts on a couple of matters much discussed here lately?:

1. What should liberals/progressives/right-thinking Americans of any political label take away from last week's elections? What are the right conclusions to draw for action going forward?

2. I think pretty much all of us here, from what I've seen, are quite persuaded of the severe problems created for our country by the influence of massive amounts of corporate cash on political campaigns. I've plugged your updated version of Unequal Protection (post Citizens United) to folks interested in reading up on this issue, which you've been all over for years now. What are some specific actions you would recommend to concerned citizens to try to deal with this problem? Are there particular advocacy groups whose work on this you can enthusiastically recommend as being well thought out, promising, and worth supporting or getting involved in?

Thanks for listening. From an admirer. You rock!

Hal, Thanks for your note

Thom Hartmann — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:16:08 +0000

In reply to An Open Letter to Thom Hartmann - entrepreneur, author, radio host, et al.

Hal,

Thanks for your note and your kind words. I'm honored that I had some small role to play in a person of your talent and integrity getting into this business!

And I agree totally with you that people of means should be doing what you did and buying radio stations to run progressive programming. There are only a handful of such independently-owned stations in the country, and they're (you're) a vital and essential part of our body politic and media.

Louise and I have recently moved to Washington, DC, and our radio show is now also simulcast live as TV into over 30 million homes on DirectTV and DishNetwork via Free Speech TV (we follow Amy Goodman's show); we've expanded our radio distribution with Pacifica network to stations all across the US, the UK, Sweden, and Africa; and we're now also doing a daily evening hour-long TV show for the RT TV network, which is carried all across the US and internationally. ( www.rt.com and www.youtube.com/thebigpictureRT )

All of this is our investment, much like your station is ours. We own all three shows ourselves, and the business end as well as the production end has us working some pretty long days (although we love the work, and really think we're making a difference!).

So for now, our media work is to grow our show and do everything we can to build the success of our affiliates, as we're continuing to do. And our clearance on your station is a valued part of it!

Thanks for the great work you do, and the great station you've birthed. I look forward to the next time we can break bread together...

Thom

Thanks for your thoughtful

Valerie Shaw — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:15:32 +0000

In reply to An Open Letter to Thom Hartmann - entrepreneur, author, radio host, et al.

Thanks for your thoughtful letter to Thom, Hal. Glad I found it! My prayer is that he does too. Your KRXA can-do story is inspirational and the idea of Thom in an ownership position would be wonderful. But let's take the idea a step further. There are a lot of liberal voices who could easily purchase a station. Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Beyonce, Russell Simmons and on and on. They could turn their billions over to the powerful voices of Thom Hartman, Amy Goodman, Rachel Maddow (Glenn & Rush do both media), and our other progressive heroes. Just as you took the deep plunge, for so many others with vast fortunes, it would be just a wade in the water.

Hal, this is great. I'm

Ramona — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:32:45 +0000

In reply to An Open Letter to Thom Hartmann - entrepreneur, author, radio host, et al.

Hal, this is great. I'm proud to be writing to someone who put his money where his mouth was when it came to liberal radio. If I had a million dollars I probably wouldn't buy a radio station, but this story of yours? Inspiring.

I hope Thom Hartmann takes your advice. How about pressing Michael Moore to do the same? You said yourself that you started one without knowing a thing about running a station and now you're in the black and living to tell about it. Tell him that. He already knows about the need so he might just listen.

I think you're on to something. Anything I can do that doesn't involve money or public speaking--I'm in.

Hal, thanks for sharing the

DF — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:23:59 +0000

In reply to An Open Letter to Thom Hartmann - entrepreneur, author, radio host, et al.

Hal, thanks for sharing the story of building your station. I am glad for your success.