ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- An Alaskan radio talk show host was suspended for giving out phone numbers of two women who organized a protest against vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Eddie Burke will be off the air for a week after calling Charla Sterne and Ilona Bessenyey "socialist, baby-killing maggots" during his show on KBYR-AM last week, the Anchorage Daily News reported. He told listeners their cell phone numbers.
Sterne and Bessenyey said angry messages, most obscene or profane and some including threats, were left on their voice mail. They had organized an "Alaska Women Reject Palin" rally they said drew about 1,500 people Saturday, including Burke and about 100 counter-protesters who support the Republican governor.
Burke said he did not realize the numbers he put out on the air were the organizers' personal phones. He also apologized for using the word "maggots."
Justin McDonald, the radio station's manager, said Burke has a First Amendment right to promulgate his views. But broadcasting the cell phone numbers was a violation of station policy.
