Air America’s Randi Rhodes Suspended ….. by a bunch of hypocrites!
By Michael Lang on Apr 3, 2008 in I'M MAD AS HELL....
has always been a personal favorite and a great source of truthful, no bullshit content for The Lang Report. I have been a listener of her radio shows since her early days in Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida on WIOD and WJNO, where she evolved into the higly intelligent commentator she is today. She still has a house in WPB and recently stated that she was moving back into at the end of this month.
Could her decision to move back to Florida contribute to her suspension? Time will tell!
Air America Radio, which already has enough problems, suspended afternoon host Randi Rhodes Thursday for remarks she made during an off-the-air public event in San Francisco.
Rhodes called Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton a "fucking whore," several times, in the course of a standup comedy routine built on political bits.
Her specific problem with Clinton, said Rhodes in the routine, is that she’s disingenuous: "Her deal is, ‘Read the fine print, asshole.’ "
Rhodes has long been critical of Clinton on her Air America radio show, which is heard 3-6 p.m. daily on WWRL (1600 AM).
This routine, performed for a private audience at a club in San Francisco and sponsored by the local Air America affiliate, also featured politically incorrect, though not quite so graphic, commentary on folks like former Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and former New Jersey first lady Dina McGreevey.
It drew a number of ongoing laughs from the audience. There was a loud burst after the Clinton comment, with the quality of the recording making it hard to tell which were laughs and which were gasps.
When a video of the routine hit YouTube, new Air America chairman Charlie Kireker issued a statement saying, "Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for making inappropriate statements about prominent figures, including Senator Hillary Clinton, at a recent public appearance on behalf of Air America in San Francisco.
"Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our hosts."
Kireker, a long-time Democratic party activist, has ties to the Clintons.
The suspension is "indefinite," giving Air America time to gauge public reaction. Sam Seder, who sat in for Rhodes when she was on vacation last week, also filled in today.
Rhodes was not available for comment. The flurry of chatter over the suspension reinvigorates at least two controversies that have often bubbled up of late: where the line runs between commentary and comedy and whether a candidate’s friends can be his or her worst enemy.
Comedians argue that the nature of comedy involves using language that’s deliberately over the top and should not be taken literally. They liken it to cartoon characters getting flattened like roadkill before they peel themselves off and pop back up again – that the exaggeration is part of the gag.
Morning host Don Imus of WABC (770 AM), for instance, routinely calls Clinton things like "Satan" and "the fat pig." Critics say some comedians use the rationale of exaggeration to justify using language that’s crude and nasty, and lowers the whole level of public discourse.
Meanwhile, both Clinton and her chief rival Barack Obama have had to defend comments made by people who support their candidacies – comments seen as sufficiently insensitive it was potentially harmful for the candidate to be associated with them.
Rhodes’ remarks did not involve Obama, but if they circulate widely enough, he will doubtless be asked if he repudiates that sort of characterization – which of course he will.
Rhodes’ remarks don’t go much further than those of other political comedians in an election season. But the fact she hosts an ideologically partisan daily radio show puts her in a different spotlight – or rather, today, temporarily flicks off the light altogether.
Thank you Randi Rhodes for always telling the truth (and being a funny motherfucker)
Reprinted thanks to:David Hinkley – Daily News
38 Comment(s)
By libhomo on Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
I disagree with the wording of Rhodes’ comments, but I find her suspension a creepy corporate attack on free speech rights.
By Michael Lang on Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
I agree in part with you about the free speech issue. Whether Randi was crass or just rude is a matter of personal opinion. Consider the forum which she spoke at…. it was a private Affiliate meeting….not a public forum and not on the radio.
The other issue is her content and the context in which is delivered it, She didn’t come out and make a solitary statement, “Hillary is a whore” because she was doing a stand-up comedy routine…not a speech!
Everyone needs to lighten up a bit.
Besides all of that…Hillary behavior, in my opinion has turned out to be ugly and shallow.
Mike Lang - Publisher
By Janice D on Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
Randi tells it like it is. Truth these days is vital.
Think of the lies and crap that comes from the
Fascits that have damaged our country.
Randi is a patriot and I applaud her!
By Michael Lang on Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
Janice, Bravo! I too applaud her. You know, Randi is a pretty smart lady and I got to believe that she knew exactly what she was saying and the possible backlash that would ensue ….but a suspension? Giv me a fucking breaK!
Mike Lang
Publisher
By Michael Lang on Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
Now that’s what restores my faith in the United States of America…. no matter what the issue, the question remains, “How can I make a buck on this incident?”
So go to MyShirtsSuck.com and get all of the FUCKING trinkets and other fun fucking stuff that you credit card can endure…OK?
By Adolf on Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
I see Air America is right up there with the Fascist Bush/Clinton wackos.
Why aren’t we talking about Mark Penn of the Clinton campaign and his other employment at Burson-Marsteller, where Saudi Arabia and Columbia are clients, and how he’s lobbying Congress for a free trade agreement with Columbia. May the people of Penn. need to wake up and smell the coffee about who they are voting for.
By Michael Lang on Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
Adolf, the entire “political machine” is one big incestous “good ole boy” cluster fuck with everybody looking out for themselves. Loyalty and principled behavior is a rarity and should be singled out and applauded at every opportunity.
Winning and looking good are top priorities but as I have come to learn and believe:
“YOU CAN’T SAVE YOUR FACE AND YOUR ASS AT THE SAME TIME”, however most people still will try!
Mike Lang - Publisher
The Lang Report
By TERRY on Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
WHERE IS FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA; DOES CORPORATE AMERICA REALLY DICTATE WHAT US CITIZENS CAN SAY ON THEIR OWN DIME….SO WHAT IT WAS AT AN AFFILIATED LOCATION..WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE AS BILL MAHAR OR ANY OTHER COMEDIAN. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING IN PUBLIC EXCEPT YELL “FIRE”.
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