There is no official public list of Rush Limbaugh advertisers. The Atlantic listened and posted on Monday. As did AmericaBlog. And here’s an online form you can use to listen and report.
Here are the biggies:
ADT Security || Capitol One || Geico (continues to say it’s an accident) || JC Penny || John Deere || O’Reilly Auto Parts || Winning Our Future [Gingrich SuperPAC]
And three that really should not be advertising here: Goodwill, New York Lottery Powerball and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
There is a common refrain among some of the smaller organizations: it wasn’t a direct buy. They bought a package to meet x-demographic and had no idea that the Rush Limbaugh Show would be part of that buy. Radio ads as Google keyword ads. Welcome to the world of mass homogenization, where profits trump values.
Is it “fair” to point out what organizations and firms are advertising on the Rush Limbaugh Show?
Yes, because they are voting with their dollars.
By running an ad, they are implicitly endorsing the content of the show. Ditto the AM radio stations that air the show. That said, this is not the only show that needs the bright light of transparency, but expect pushback. Media — the channel and the content producers — have benefited from decentralized and not-easily shared information for decades; that day is long gone. And good riddance.
One more word on “fair” : read former George W. Bush advisor and NewMajority.com (now FrumForum) founder @DavidFrum on whether Limbaugh is being treated unfairly and one string from Twitter:
As for those suggesting that a woman who expresses an opinion about sex that you dont like thereby becomes a slut & prostitute …… or rather can be fairly called a slut and prostitute by a major national broadcaster …… and I’m hearing from a number of them in my Twitter feed right now …… all I can say is: talk this one over with your wife/daughter/mother/sister/grandmother first. What they say may surprise you
Tweet1, Tweet2, Tweet3, Tweet4.
- @APlaceForMom
- @AccuQuote
- Ackerman
- ADT Security @ADTstaysafe
- AkinMears, G.P.
- Amberen’s
- American Credit Card Solutions
- Ameristar Tax Centers @AmeriStarTax
- @BareEscentuals [has announced it will pull ad]
- Becoming China’s Bitch @PeterKierman3
- Bell Hardware, WAEB PA [local buy]
- Bethesda Denistry [probably local ad]
- @Bonobos [has announced it will pull ad]
- Capitol One (dropped ads)
- @Carbonite [has announced it will pull ads]
- Cascades Dental [probably local ad]
- Child Booster Seat PSA, Ad Council and DOT
- @ConcentraHealth
- @ConstantContact
- @CRN
- @EosSleep
- Exergen
- Freedom Debt Relief @FreedomFamily
- @Geico [has told readers it wasn’t supposed to happen]
- Goodwill
- Heritage for the Blind @HeritageBlind
- Hillsdale College
- HotProps
- HydraCare
- Imaging Center of Plymouth, KTCN MN [local buy]
- IncomeAtHome.com
- Insperity
- @InventHelp
- @JCPenny
- John Deere
- Lear Capital
- @MatrixDirect
- MediaPattern Corp
- @MeritFinancial
- @Netflix
Network Capital: 6 March 2012: the company says it purchased an ad flight on WMAL and has no “freedom to choose when the spots are run”- New York Lottery Powerball
- Nova Armament
- @OReillyAuto Parts
- @PeerlessBoilers
- Polycom Federal
- RealGoldCoins.com
- @ReputationRhino
- @RightSize Health & Nutrition
- Robert Steinberg [lawyer]
- @Sears [has announced it will pull ads]
- Sensa [has announced it will pull ads]
- @ServiceMagic
- Small Business Authority/Corporate Tax Network
- Snell Heating & Air Conditioning [propably local ad]
- @StVincentsMC [probably local ad]
- Stamps.com
- @TurboTax
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- @USTaxShield
- United Health Care
- Vitacost.com
- @WaveHome Solutions
- Winning Our Future [Gingrich SuperPAC]
Google Forms And Docs
First, the list of radio stations that run the Rush Limbaugh Show, sortable by state.
Second, a form to collect sponsorship information. Third, the results of the form. Warning: unedited; adult only (hold your nose or cover your eyes).
Other stories: Limbaugh Fallout : 15 Advertisers, Two Stations || Irony: Thursday Is International Women’s Day || Seven Advertisers Have Dropped Limbaugh || Breaking: Rush’s Non-Apology Apology (UPDATE III) || Advertisers Begin Dropping Limbaugh || Is There No Line To Be Crossed That Would Turn Limbaugh’s Sponsors Against Him?
If you do contact your local radio stations, please be polite. Here are some suggestions from a former advertising guy.
And if you think Limbaugh’s comments are obscene or a violation of the public airwaves, check out this White House petition modeled on the FCC complaint form.
Credits: Screen capture of Bloomburg video links to the full video story.
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Known for gnawing at complex questions like a terrier with a bone. Digital evangelist, writer, teacher. Transplanted Southerner; teach newbies to ride motorcycles! @kegill, wiredpen.com