08 February 2011

MEXICO: 10 Feb.UPDATE; Journalist Aristegui Fired For Discussing Whether President Calderon Is...An Alcoholic; Free Speech Debate Begins.

LINK CHANGE/ AP/ More Details/

   Radio journalist Carmen Aristegui is out of a job, fired by MVS Comunicaciones for violating ethics policy by commenting on a “rumor.”
   Last week on her popular radio program, Arisregui referred to an opposition placard she had seen that said: “Would you let a drunk drive your car? No, right? So why are you letting one run the country?”
  “Does Felipe Calderon have problems with alcoholism or not?” Aristegui said.
"This deserves, I insist, a serious, formal and official response from the presidency of the republic.”
    Meanwhile her firing has fired-up a debate over freedom of expression there and allegations that the government has too much influence over the media.
     After initially ignoring the issue, a Calderon spokesman finally stated that "During the four years of his administration, he (Calderon) has never missed any event because of health problems. This work pace is the best proof of his good health, physical strength and integrity."