AAR suspends Randi Rhodes for controversial live performance

[FightingIrish]

Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for inappropriate statements she made about prominent figures. At an appearance in San Francisco, Rhodes used aggressive language to describe both Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro, calling each of them a "f-ing whore."

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/04/update-randi-rhodes-suspended-for.html

Video of the appearance (NSFW):

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/04/randi-rhodes-channels-her-inner-bill.html

 

[DaleGriffin]

That is unfortunate as her and Schultz are the only thing worth listening to on that Network.

 

[Don62]

Wow. What a mouth. I didn't realize she did stand-up comedy.

 

[DToTheJ]

Incidentally, Stephanie Miller - herself a professional comedian - has gotten away with saying "whore" and then some on recent appearances on CNN, Fox News et al. Not to mention cursing on C-SPAN. And Stephie gets off scot free... yeah baby!

As an aside, I find Rhodes' antics tame compared to the remarks ESPN's Dana Jacobson used at a roast for a colleague - that was not televised, mind you...

 

[Nate Wesley]

That is unfortunate as her and Schultz are the only thing worth listening to on that Network.

Ed Schultz doesn't work for Air America Radio, nor is his show produced/distributed/syndicated by AAR. His Jones Radio show is featured on the "Air America" XM 167, however.

 

[words2you]

Once again another example of how our rights continue to erode away. If I were her, I would file a suit for violating her first amendment right for freedom of speech. If need be, take it all the way to the Supreme court. Your welcome to say anything you want just as long as the company and government agree with it.

 

[Grapevine]

This is not a First Amendment issue.

This is an employee/employer relationship.

If Bill O'Reilly did an interview with Time Magazine and said that the Holocaust was a good thing, and that maybe Hitler missed a few Jews, do you think he would be on the air tomorrow?

Please.

 

[DaleGriffin]

Once again another example of how our rights continue to erode away. If I were her, I would file a suit for violating her first amendment right for freedom of speech. If need be, take it all the way to the Supreme court. Your welcome to say anything you want just as long as the company and government agree with it.

Once again another example of people not understanding that the first amendment protects you against the government not your employer. Words have consequences in the private sector.

 

[nmoore6676]

Incidentally, Stephanie Miller - herself a professional comedian - has gotten away with saying "whore" and then some on recent appearances on CNN, Fox News et al. Not to mention cursing on C-SPAN. And Stephie gets off scot free... yeah baby!

As an aside, I find Rhodes' antics tame compared to the remarks ESPN's Dana Jacobson used at a roast for a colleague - that was not televised, mind you...

Maybe because Stephanie Miller, unlike Randi Rhodes is entertaining?

Seriously I do not think that remarks made off the air at an obviously political rally should have any bearing on her being on her show. If she had said those things on the air and it actually went out over the air then yes, because they could have been fined.

When radio stations hire controversial personalities they have to expect controversy. The firing of Don Imus, who I personally believe should have retired about 30 years ago, was for that reason for which they let him go wrong too. In other words you get what you pay for and Ms. Rhodes was not on her show. An "indefinite" suspension, which could easily become a firing, is really really wrong.

 

[Don62]

This is not a First Amendment issue.

This is an employee/employer relationship.

If Bill O'Reilly did an interview with Time Magazine and said that the Holocaust was a good thing, and that maybe Hitler missed a few Jews, do you think he would be on the air tomorrow?

Please.

Excuse me, Grape, but I don't recall Randhi saying anything comparable in her stand-up routine.
She just used some words that may have offended some, but I didn't hear her saying anything like the Holocaust didn't happen or that 9-11 was an inside job.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Dale Jackson nailed it when he wrote:

"Once again another example of people not understanding that the first amendment protects you against the government not your employer. Words have consequences in the private sector. "

Seriously I do not think that remarks made off the air at an obviously political rally should have any bearing on her being on her show. If she had said those things on the air and it actually went out over the air then yes, because they could have been fined.

When radio stations hire controversial personalities they have to expect controversy. The firing of Don Imus, who I personally believe should have retired about 30 years ago, was for that reason for which they let him go wrong too. In other words you get what you pay for and Ms. Rhodes was not on her show. An "indefinite" suspension, which could easily become a firing, is really really wrong.

It don't much matter whether the remarks were part of a broadcast for which you are paid to do.

What about people who DO NOT BROADCAST as part of their job. If you work for the Eli Lilly Company or Home Depot or Microsoft.... if you use offensive language in the men's room of the country club and word gets out, your employer may reprimand you or terminate you.

Saying it at a political rally which is a rather public forum would be far more serious than something said in the men's room at the WalMart.

If you want an eye-opener, try this book which I am currently reading: "FREEDOM For The Thought That We Hate". (author: Anthony Lewis, a law professor.) "Freedom of Speech" as we use the term today dates back to (a drum roll please): 1931.

I know. First Amendment. Our Constitution. 1789 or something like that. All those years that was assumed to protect ONLY the printer. And it only meant No Prior Restraint. Once you printed it you were subject to the various Anti Sedition Laws which dealt harshly with people who were critical of government and leaders if we were in tension at the time with another country.

So finally, in 1931, the Supreme Court finally enunciated something like what all of us were taught in school about Freedom of Speech.

Then came 9/11/01. Guantanamo reminds us that once again we are not sure what we are free to say.

It turns out that maybe Freedom of Speech is a "work in process" that has yet to find it's fixed place in the big scheme of things.

 

[jaymarvin]

If she had done it on the air that's one thing but off the air what's the big deal? It's just over reaction and another dumb move on the part of AAR. She did not deserve this in anyway way shape or form. What, are we no back to the days of Lenny Bruce? Sad.

 

[RadioMoo]

If Bill O'Reilly did an interview with Time Magazine and said that the Holocaust was a good thing, and that maybe Hitler missed a few Jews, do you think he would be on the air tomorrow?

Yes.

 

[jasper933]

Who know, with all the cuts / changes at AA, maybe this is a way to make more economical changes. Hope to hear her on Sirius soon.

 

[Ultimajock]

If she had done it on the air that's one thing but off the air what's the big deal? It's just over reaction and another dumb move on the part of AAR. She did not deserve this in anyway way shape or form. What, are we no back to the days of Lenny Bruce? Sad.

...and where was it that Lenny was first busted for "obscenity"? San Francisco. Of course, that was in 1961 -- a year that the AAR brass appear to be looking ahead to...

 

[jimwalsh2001]

Is it possible that it's all a publicity stunt...

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Once again another example of how our rights continue to erode away. If I were her, I would file a suit for violating her first amendment right for freedom of speech. If need be, take it all the way to the Supreme court. Your welcome to say anything you want just as long as the company and government agree with it.

Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one.

As noted elsewhere, this is not a freedom of speech issue as it was her employer, not government that suspended her.

So why did they do it?

Because there's an every-so-slim-and-fading-faster-and-faster chance that one of the women she called a ho could be the next President of the United States. It may be okay for standup comics to do that, but a radio network that wants to be taken seriously as a national media outlet has to have a slightly higher standard than your basic foul-mouthed comic.

 

[jaymarvin]

Hey, Bob. Good to find someone who remembers KRLA and the late Bob Hudson! This is no stunt. If I had to guess I'd say the ownership is tight with the Clintons and this is for real. Right on UJ this kind of stuff does smack of 1961 and from a progressive network no less.

 

[nmoore6676]

Dale Jackson nailed it when he wrote:

"Once again another example of people not understanding that the first amendment protects you against the government not your employer. Words have consequences in the private sector. "

Seriously I do not think that remarks made off the air at an obviously political rally should have any bearing on her being on her show. If she had said those things on the air and it actually went out over the air then yes, because they could have been fined.

When radio stations hire controversial personalities they have to expect controversy. The firing of Don Imus, who I personally believe should have retired about 30 years ago, was for that reason for which they let him go wrong too. In other words you get what you pay for and Ms. Rhodes was not on her show. An "indefinite" suspension, which could easily become a firing, is really really wrong.

It don't much matter whether the remarks were part of a broadcast for which you are paid to do.

What about people who DO NOT BROADCAST as part of their job. If you work for the Eli Lilly Company or Home Depot or Microsoft.... if you use offensive language in the men's room of the country club and word gets out, your employer may reprimand you or terminate you.

Saying it at a political rally which is a rather public forum would be far more serious than something said in the men's room at the WalMart.

If you want an eye-opener, try this book which I am currently reading: "FREEDOM For The Thought That We Hate". (author: Anthony Lewis, a law professor.) "Freedom of Speech" as we use the term today dates back to (a drum roll please): 1931.

I know. First Amendment. Our Constitution. 1789 or something like that. All those years that was assumed to protect ONLY the printer. And it only meant No Prior Restraint. Once you printed it you were subject to the various Anti Sedition Laws which dealt harshly with people who were critical of government and leaders if we were in tension at the time with another country.

So finally, in 1931, the Supreme Court finally enunciated something like what all of us were taught in school about Freedom of Speech.

Then came 9/11/01. Guantanamo reminds us that once again we are not sure what we are free to say.

It turns out that maybe Freedom of Speech is a "work in process" that has yet to find it's fixed place in the big scheme of things.

A normal person like an accountant who says offensive things in a situation where the employers feel that they have been damaged through association is different. Here you have a company who has hired someone for the express purpose of making outrageous comments to garner ratings. Think Don Imus and Howard Stern.

What happens on the air is one thing in light of the FCC' s current views but this occurred at a political event in San Francisco, a city not noted for sane and enlightened discourse. Then there was a lapse of time between the event and her suspension. They (Clear Channel) did not suspend Bill Cunningham for his over emphasis of Senator Obama's middle name though the McCain campaign did chastise him and denounce the implication.

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Hey, Bob. Good to find someone who remembers KRLA and the late Bob Hudson! This is no stunt. If I had to guess I'd say the ownership is tight with the Clintons and this is for real. Right on UJ this kind of stuff does smack of 1961 and from a progressive network no less.

My real name is Bob Hudson and I did work at KRLA and for one week both Emp. Bob and I were there at the same time (I was doing news as Robert Hudson).

Lenny Bruce was busted by the government: not his record company and there is no similarity between his situation and Mizz Rhodes'. She was suspended because of AA's inherent media bias: had she said that about a Republican, there would have been no problem, but AA wants to be the radio network of not just the radical left who call themselves "progressives," but all yellow dog Democrats, so such a virulent and foul attack on the still-Queen Bee of the Democratic party is an affront to the basic mission of AA.