WWJB demonstrates lack of fair play

Kyle Martin's article in the Aug. 13 Hernando Today, "Haa Brouhaha draws more listeners," regarding local radio WWJB talk show host Bob Haa's recent problems with the Secret Service over alleged threats to President Barack Obama, casts more doubt on the radio host's credibility and the integrity of the station as well.

Reporter Martin wrote that Mr. Haa said liberal talk shows struggle to survive ... "because progressives don't let listeners argue." The implication, of course, is that Mr. Haa is more democratic and open to all callers - that he may not agree with you, but at least he lets you speak your mind. In fact, he labels some of his show days as" Moaning and Groaning Mondays" and "Get it off your chest and unload that resentment Fridays."

Mr. Haa ought to practice what he preaches. He refused to take my telephone call a recent Wednesday morning and had his station assistant tell me that he would call me after the program to explain why. The call has not come, and it has been days since my being blocked to speak on Haa's program.

Adding insult to injury, reporter Martin's same article on Thursday quoted WWJB Station Manager Steve Manuel saying "... even though Mr. Haa has the right to present his opinions and control over who he lets call in ... to his credit, Haa invites everyone on the air."

Sorry, Mr. Manuel. Not everyone. He should listen more often to Mr. Haa's program. Not only will he discover that host Haa blocks his critics, or those of other political persuasions, but now he is muzzling this caller (and regular listener) who had the audacity to question Mr. Haa's contradictory statements as reported in the newspaper versus two television reports. The TV reports contradicted Mr. Haa's denials concerning the alleged caller who spoke of guns and the use of live ammunition against the president. And, apparently, the accusation is Mr. Haa egged on the caller.

It is difficult to believe that Mr. Manuel does not make audio copies of the radio station programs, if for no other reason than for liability purposes to protect the radio station's owners. The fact that Mr. Manuel was quoted in Hernando Today on Aug. 4 - "Alleged radio threats attract Secret Service's attention" - right after the initial reports of the Secret Service involvement, that his station would now begin to make audio copies of all future Bob Haa shows. Mr. Manuel was quoted, "From this point forward, that will change and every show will be recorded."

That raises serious questions as to Manuel's own veracity and that of the station itself. It is hard to imagine that most readers of the story would believe that Mr. Manuel or Mr. Haa did not make audio copies of their daily shows beforehand. Perhaps the station chose to not audio copy shows previously so that its hosts could make scandalous or criminal statements and get away with it.

It would sure sell in Peoria, and, by the way, as staff writer Martin reported, the "brouhaha is drawing more listeners." That should help the station's business, but not its sense of fair play.

Brian P. Moore

Spring Hill