To the Editor:
As editor of Counterattack, which published Red Channels and is in the center of the controversy over “blacklisting” in radio and TV, I want to congratulate COMMENTARY for publishing Louis Berg’s article, “How End the Panic in Radio-TV?” (October 1952).
In contrast with most articles written on the subject to date, Mr. Berg’s account was, on the whole, eminently fair and well-balanced. It was refreshing in that it took sensible recognition of Communist infiltration of the broadcasting industry and made a reasonable analysis of the solution of the problem.
There was, however, one note that disturbed me in Mr. Berg’s article. It began with the subtitle: “The Demagogic Half-Truth vs. the ‘ Liberal ’ Half-Lie.” (Emphasis in this and following quotations is my own.) It occurred again in the racketeer allegory of the situation (page 319) in which Merle Miller is compared to the newspaper editor who “will inquire only into the irresponsibility of the hotheads” And, again, on page 323 Mr. Berg wrote:
Small wonder, then, that the effective fight against Communist influence has been conducted by people too far to the right, by unscrupulous demagogues whose methods we rightly deplore and whose weapons may prove to be double-edged.
Although editor of Counterattack, I had nothing to do with the preparation of Red Channels, being busy with other duties at the time it was compiled. But I do know that the book was prepared honestly and not in a demagogic way. I believe Mr. Berg’s accusations of demagoguery are unjust as applied to the publishers of Red Channels and Counterattack and to many others who have been active in the campaign to expose and eliminate Communist influence in broadcasting and other fields.
Mr. Berg cited no facts in his article to justify his charges of demagoguery and reaction (“too far to the right”). I think it is only fair that he should be asked to do so.
Francis J. McNamara
Editor
Counterattack
New York City
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