Conyers on Bennett

Greg Anderson
President
Salem Radio Network
6400 N. Beltline Rd.
Suite 210
Irving, TX 75063

Dear Mr. Anderson:

We were shocked and outraged to learn that, on your radio network yesterday, Bill Bennett stated on his radio program, Bill Bennett’s Morning in America, “I do know that it’s true that if you wanted to reduce crime you could – if that were your sole purpose – you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.” This statement was made in response to a caller’s suggestion linking abortions to the solvency of the Social Security program.

It is difficult for us to understand how an individual granted a show on your network could utter such a statement in 21st century America. While we all support First Amendment Rights, we simply cannot countenance statements and shows that are replete with racism, stereotyping, and profiling. Mr. Bennett’s statement is insulting to all of us and has no place on the nation’s public air waves. The fact that Mr. Bennett later acknowledged that such abortions would be “morally reprehensible,” but added again that if it was done “the crime rate would go down,” is equally outrageous.

We ask that you immediately suspend this radio program. We also ask to meet with the executives of your network to understand how you could have permitted an individual with such views to broadcast such a program on your network, and learn what you intend to do to respond to this problem. We are planning to convey our views to your commercial sponsors as well and hereby request a list of all sponsors of the show within the last year.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.