http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=3713 Bob Buzzanco fallout Thu May 23 23:15:57 2002 65.69.222.114 First, I do want to again thank Ted for moving to rescind the previous meeting's mistakes, and for those few LAB members who have been supportive thorought this whole episode. And I want to especially and most sincerely thank the community for their tremendous outpouring of support of for their repudiation of the politics of personal attack, for their repudiation of the campaign that Gieselman, Merriman, Jones, and Johnston, and of course Barnstone, waged against me. Too many people are making too much out of my decision to leave KPFT. This is a community radio station, and it's not dependent upon any individual. I've been involved in KPFT as part of my commitment to peace and justice. I've been involved with lots of groups and issues since arriving here in 1995, and I've always looked for ways to spread the gospel, as it were. I've spoken to church groups, labor groups, schools, appeared on commercial TV, taught televised courses, written articles for major dailies, organized and attended rallies, held and participated in teach-ins, lectured, debated, and so forth. I think I've done a lot, but, like most, wish I'd done more. One has to decide, when looking at all his or her activities, which are the most fruitful and rewarding both from a community and a personal standpoint. Which activities serve the community best? Which activities educate people, encourage them to be involved in political or social movements? And, what is the best way to use my time? I thought for some time that doing radio on KPFT was a good way to reach people, to give them information and insight, to provide them with a community of like-minded people, to rally them to the causes of progress and peace and equality. I don't feel that way anymore. The incessant attacks do in fact take a toll--it's no fun to wake up every day to a new smear. But I've been involved in progressive politics for a long time and I do realize that I can expect attacks. And, fortunately for me, Edi, Jones, Stan, and Greg have been repeatedly exposed in the community at large and lose credibility and influence by the day. In the final analysis, they are not really the reason for my departure. Far more troubling--and I think it should trouble the whole Pacifica community--was the way this was handled by the LAB and General Manager. The LAB sanctioned a witch hunt. At its April 24 meeting the LAB first voted to ban me, and then later in the meeting changed that decision to approve an investigation--an illegal investigation, the LAB admitted last night--chaired by George Barnstone, a PNB member and ACLU attorney. How much more Orwellian could this get? Even at last night's meeting, there were clearly LAB members who did not want me to speak. In fact, PNB member Theresa Allen [a first amendment award winner????] voted that I NOT be allowed to make a statement. Deb Shafto, the LAB chair, and other LAB members interrupted me repeatedly and Deb made me finish speaking before I could make many salient points. What a shameful performance by the LAB majority, by Barnstone. Indeed, I believe that it is imperative that Barnstone and many LAB member, especially Greg Geiselman, immediately resign so the reconstruction can begin. As for Duane Bradley, I cannot conceal my disappointment, my frustration, my sense of abandonment, my disillusion. I'm not naive, but I had hope for Duane. However, in this situation, which I believe was a litmus test, he did nothing. He stated that "the best thing to do is to do nothing." So, for five weeks, my reputation, my name, my character, became political currency for Duane to hoard or spend as he saw fit. Amid a flood of national emails detailing allegations against me, detailing things Duane allegedly said or did, and a witchhunt by the LAB, Duane remained silent. And, as I said last night, quoting King and Dante, those who remain silent in a time of moral crisis, are resigned to the lowest circles of hell. Duane could have made a powerful statement for fairness, for free expression, for due process, for the right to be judged innocent, against smears, and for the right to take unpopular positions, such as criticizing Israel. I would believe that any Pacifica GM would stand for such values. But Duane Bradley did nothing. I was left hanging. If not for the efforts of Scooter and Hep, I shudder to think what would have become of this episode. As it stands now, these allegations are part of my public legacy, even though they have been proven absolutely false and the smear campaign has been judged repugnant by the community. Duane has apologized to the Jewish Voices people? Why, Duane? What are you apologizing for? Have they apologized to you for violating the Pacifica mission on April 17th? Duane has decided that this is a "he said, she said" situation, despite overwhelming evidence by people he claims to respect, especially Janice Blue. Duane claims this situation is behind us? Well, Duane, you opened a Pandora's box, never spoke out against a national smear campaign, apologized to people who made false and defamatory charges against me, and the most forceful advice you gave was, "Bob, quit being a baby." And just this week you refused to turn over the record of Barnstone's sham investigation to me. Overall, not an impressive performance for a Pacifica GM, I'd say. Without the support of Pacifica, these politics of destruction by Edi, Dan, Greg, Stan and their allies like George and Theresa will continue. They have been doing this for some time. Duane has created a climate in which they feel free to conduct these kinds of scorched earth campaigns against people who have done great service to KPFT, especially Otis and Hep. The LAB and General Manager, I believe, have failed the community. They caved in to Israeli pressure, abandoned someone who spoke his mind, and let a smear campaign continue unabated for over a month. And that's the type of community I'm supposed to return to? Why, so every time I'm on the air and say something that the self-appointed arbiters of political correctness don't like another smear or another inquisition is launched? And, if not me, who will the go after next? Yes, I know Dennis Bernstein, FSRN, and Amy and others get this. But Pacifica is not my career; I'm a professor and author, a father, and an activist. I have to determine how to balance those responsibilities so I can get the most out of them. And I just don't see how being on KPFT, being slammed incessantly [including attacks at my workplace by Dan Jones], and, most importantly of all, having Pacifica abandon me, helps me or helps the activist community. I will continue to be as active as ever. Last summer I founded a group called HGAC, the Houston Global Awareness Collective, and we have sponsored a huge number of significant events, and we will continue to do so. I am helping form a statewide anti-globalization group. I have and will continue to speak out against Israeli terror, and, at home, the uses of anti-semitism charges to silence dissent. I am not going away. I will continue to be a loud and unwavering and unapologetic advocate for peace, justice, and progress. Just not on KPFT . . . peace out, Buzzanco