January 05, 2005
Engadget Heckles XM Satellite Radio CEO
A reporter from Engadget heckled the CEO of XM Satellite Radio at CES. He accused the company of having racists and bigots on their network for broadcasting Dr. Laura who believes homosexuality is wrong. The video is here. The reporter goes on and blasts the CEO, "any plans to have other racists like KKK on the network" over and over again. I thought this was in poor taste and the CEO handled it as best he could. He said they broadcast a variety of viewpoints from liberal and conservative sides, which is the way it should be. As the leading tech news blog, it is sad to see them waste a chance to ask the CEO of most successful satellite radio company a substantive question.
Frankly the reporter could of heckled any executive in media using his standard litmus test of any company broadcasting a hard right conservative view point. It's not fair to bash the XM CEO specifically. Free speech is free speech. That is why the ACLU supports a wide range of unappetizing folks. I love Engadget, I love Peter Rojas, but I think this reporter went over the line. [DISCUSS]
