Randi Rhodes Suspension: Your Take

[davidlynch]

Poll question: Randi Rhodes Suspension: Your Take

Randi Rhodes was suspended (for an unspecified period) from Air America Radio. This is because in a stand up routine in a comedy nightclub (off-the-air), Randi referred to Clinton as a "whore" (see numerous threads for complete details). How do you feel about AAR's decision to suspend Randi?

[tekisui]

1. Was the stand-up bit affiliated with AAR?

[DesertRat]

3. Yes

http://www.airamerica.com/blog/2008/apr/03/statement-air-america-radio-chair-charlie-kireker-1

[tekisui]

6. Then, they can suspend her for any reason.

[Breeze54]

37. NO! It was a Green Radio 960AM event ! Not an AAR event!

"PHOTOS: An Evening with Randi Rhodes

http://www.green960.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=213008&article=3459759

Click here to watch the video from Randi's San Francisco appearance

Note the banner says GREEN 960AM- Not AAR!


Thank you to everybody who made it out to the Broadway Studios for our SOLD OUT Randi Rhodes appearance!"

[Hobarticus]

49. LOL!!! Green 690 KKGN is an Air America affiliate!!!

Kireker himself has said Randi was speaking "on behalf of Air America".

http://www.airamerica.com/blog/2008/apr/03/statement-air-america-radio-chair-charlie-kireker-1

[Breeze54]

51. It was not an AAR event and Kireker is lying that AAR sponsored it. Even Seder has said it wasn't !

"Thank you to everybody who made it out to the Broadway Studios for our SOLD OUT Randi Rhodes appearance!"
http://www.green960.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=213008&article=3459759

[Hobarticus]

61. LOL!!! He's lying because YOU said he is?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[chrispossible]

64. Read The Facts

From the Station in San Francisco..

http://green960.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=213008&article=3493425

[Ian David]

4. It was sponsored by AAR and an affiliate radio station.

Here's a link to the youtube video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DfdhWi5MILo

[tekisui]

7. In that case, it's their call to make.

Private companies can act how they see fit.

[Breeze54]

38. Green 960 AM held the event...not AAR!

http://www.green960.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=213008&article=3459759

[Ian David]

2. I'm going to agree, so long as she's only suspended and not fired. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. What was the context?

Context is EVERYTHING.

Political whore? No foul. Can apply to just about everyone in the DLC, male or female.

Literally, a whore? Again - what context? I can't imagine any in which she could mean it literally - it was Bill that has the reputation of catting around, not her.

WHAT'S THE FUCKING CONTEXT?

[MadMaddie]

11. Now there you go asking about context!!

:sarcasm:

It seems that context doesn't matter anymore? No matter what side you are looking at.

No one cares and it's like the public has been dumbed down so much that context and the truth doesn't matter.

Pretty sad isn't it?

[jkshaw]

13. There's a video of part of her routine up on DU

in a couple of places. She's a great standup and what she said would have been perfectly all right and funny in a nightclub, say. Since the thing was rather public and affiliated with AAR, the situation was different, and the people running the station have to placate a lot of different entities. The audience sounded mixed in their response -- some laughed, some sounded taken back. At least, that's the way it sounded to me. I just don't have an opinion on whether her suspension was good or not.

[Radio_Lady]

26. Where is that link? I joined the party late today and can't find it...

Thanks for your interest.

Radio Lady in Oregon

[noamnety]

27. It was pretty bad, and included a gay slur as well.

"That's so gay" or something along those lines, I forget the exact phrasing, and the calling her a whore (and ferraro as well) was a whole long drawn out thing, not a passing one word comment.

[dbonds]

8. I kind of agree with the punishment, although it shouldn't be more than a few days.

She was in the context of an AAR event for an affiliate, and she said 'fucking whore' which is a few notches above just plain ole whore. Now I think we all know she meant it as a corporate whore and not a prostitute, but I can see in context an official event how she took it too far. If it was her personal time I would have no problems with it.

[journalist3072]

9. She should be fired. eom

[liberal1973]

12. No way in hell

[journalist3072]

15. Yes way in hell. eom

[backscatter712]

47. Way to be the censor, asshole.

Yeah, someone gets called a name, so let's destroy her livelihood. Take away her job, take away her salary, her means to pay her mortgage, pay her bills, get food, support her family.

All for calling someone a name.

If you really believe that destroying a person's livelihood is a just punishment, then you're a real piece of shit.

Seriously. FUCK YOU.

[Highway61]

10. here....sad

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3101976&mesg_id=3102123

[cui bono]

14. She was representing AAR so they have a right to suspend her.

I'd rather listen to Sam Seder anyway.

[baldguy]

16. They hired her to express her opinions, then lose control of their bladders when she does.

AAR management are a bunch of cowards.

[mondo joe]

25. Like Don Imus? Or Andy Rooney? Being contracted to express your opinion is never

free of recourse for the contractual partner.

[sam sarrha]

59. imus was on the air and the girls wernt whores.. HilleryFienstien are Corporate whores.. there is a

difference

[tridim]

17. The more I think about this the more I think she should quit..

and tell her management to go fuck themselves.

Randi should be able to say whatever she wants on or off the air, otherwise she's just a puppet for management. That's not what progressive radio is all about. Or, maybe it is. :(

She's AAR's cash cow, and they'll miss her much more that she'll miss them.

[davidlynch]

18. Yeah Man Nova-M!!!! n/t

[intruderart]

65. That is EXACTLY what I thought.!

AAR is getting studpider every day. I was pissed when they fired Malloy (even though he gets me crazy many times) and ready to give it up entirely when they took him off. Just like I was seriously upset when Masr Maron and his great show got the boot. But as long as Randi was there, I would listen religiously. Now for a standup routine they want to punish her? They have TOTALLY lost it.

I know it is not the popular thing to say, but I have never been that big a fan of Seder's but I can see why he has a loyal following.

I think she should follow Malloy to Nova M and make THEM the big cheese once and for all. Maybe AAR has outlived its usefulness. I sure as hell jhave better things to do with my time then to listen to the whiny Ed Shultz.

I'm with you, tridim!

[PeaceNikki]

19. WHO thinks this has ANYTHING to do with 1st amendment rights?!?!?

For real?

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. Who thinks this has ANYTHING to do with Randi Rhodes?

If she'd said what she said ONLY about Ferraro, we wouldn't have heard a whisper.

It's manufactured outrage.

Again.

[DesertRat]

21. What if she had called Obama

A "fucking (any derogatory word)"? Would the outrage that would ensue here and in the media be manufactured?

Just saying

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. It would still be just a comedy routine.

And I don't give a flying fuck about fucking anyone using the work 'fuck', or any of its fucking derivatives, at any fucking time time in any fucking way about fucking anything.

It's just a fucking word.

If you don't like it, well, who gives a fuck?

[PeaceNikki]

22. The manufactured outrage is about the suspension.

moreso than the comments themselves. Trying to equate it to squelching of 1st Amendment rights is as melodramatic as it gets.

[RaleighNCDUer]

32. Did they tell her before the show what she could or could not say?

If they didn't, they've no one to blame but themselves.

So fuck em.

The suspension is unwarranted.

[EFerrari]

41. Pros don't wait to be told. They ask. n/t

[mitchtv]

23. why don't you add "FUCKING WHORE"?

she didn't just call her a whore (synonym for politician)

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. You know, don't you, that "fucking whore" and 'fucking polititian"

are synonymous?

[mitchtv]

34. true , but still

omitting the vulgarity, softens theimpact of the statement and prejudices the poll.It is simply untrue (by omission)

[mondo joe]

24. Neither. Like Don Imus's situation, it's a matter of the contractual agreement between RR and AAR.

They have a contract. This is consistent with the contract or it's not - I don't know the contract so I can't say.

[El Pinko]

28. Strongly disagree

I haven't listened to her or AAR in years, but on principle, she did nothing wrong.



And I don't think Clinton is a whore or anything else nasty. I came thisclose to voting for her in the primary.

[RaleighNCDUer]

48. Well, she is DLC.

"Whore" would be a step up from that.

[Ellipsis]

31. If there would'nt have been a Youtube video of it, she'd still be swingin' the hammer.

[Bright Eyes]

33. She was out of line.

A short suspension is in order.

[Phoonzang]

35. Can't say I care one way or the other

I used to like Randi then she got on my nerves and I stopped listening. I'm not tremendously offended by her ranting about Hillary and Ferraro during a stand-up comedy routine. She didn't do it on air. But whateva, I don't listen to AAR (Nova M FTW). There's really more important things to worry about than her suspension. She'll be back, I assure you of that.

[bdamomma]

36. again she was not on the air when she said this.

AAR yanked her off, is that free speech????

[Breeze54]

39. Exactly!

http://www.green960.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=213008&article=3459759

[EFerrari]

40. No, it's radio. It doesn't matter if she was on the air or not

except that instead of being fired she only got suspended.

[Breeze54]

42. Yes it does matter. She was at a private event held by Green 960, not AAR!

If we were to follow your line of (not) thinking, then anyone

in the USA could be fired for what they do while off the job!

You could be fired for the political signs in your front yard!

That is fascism at it's finest! It's the Thought Police!

It's unAmerican and wrong and so is AAR wrong.

[EFerrari]

43. No, sweetie, it's show business.

It's the industry standard and has been forever. I know it seems freakish but those are the rules. If you headline for someone, you have to mind yourself on AND off stage or whatever venue you're in. And radio is particularly uptight.

[Breeze54]

44. Sweetie? Rather patronizing... She was on her own time, she's a free agent. n/t

[EFerrari]

45. I didn't mean to be patronizing.

When you're under contract, you may act as a free agent but that doesn't matter. You are never really off of the clock.

[Spike89]

53. Exactly!

It's always been the price of celebrity. I really don't care if Randi is on air or not, but I get riled when so many people express such blatant ignorance of what freedom of expression means.

[Fla Dem]

60. "At Will" employees are fired from their jobs all the time for things they

do outside of work. Posing nude for a calendar and smoking have recently been in the news for causes why people have lost their jobs. Most employees are "employees at will"

At-will employment is a doctrine of American law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can terminate the relationship with no liability if there was no express contract for a definite term governing the employment relationship. Under this legal doctrine:

“ any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is equally free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease work. ”

Several exceptions to the doctrine exist, especially if unlawful discrimination is involved regarding the termination of an employee.

You do or say something an employer doesn't like, or puts their company in a bad light....you're gone baby gone.

[EFerrari]

63. "Why did you shoot him, Babe? Why?"

"Because I didn't like his looks. I didn't like his stinkin' looks." -- Babe, Crimes of the Heart

[mondo joe]

54. It's just a matter of what they have each agreed to contractually.

In light of their contract, whether she was on the air may not be relevant at all.

[backscatter712]

46. Disagree - the punishment does not fit the crime.

Granted, this isn't quite in First Amendment territory - Air America can control what is said on their radio broadcasts and at Air America sponsored events in their name.

But still, it's really draconian. Randi Rhodes was suspended for calling a person a name. And there's a lot of well-founded suspicion that this incident is just an excuse - the bigwigs were looking for a way to can her because they didn't like her support for Obama, or didn't like her opinions against Hillary, or otherwise don't like her message.

It's really political, and it stinks to high heaven.

Anyways, you know what to do...

http://www.airamerica.com/contact

[Hieronymus]

50. Randi is mean and trashy. As far as I'm concerned, it's good riddance for ..

whatever the reason.

[Breeze54]

52. Awe, did your widdle ears hear a bad word? Wah! All the SF Obama supporters liked it.

Then turn it off if you don't like it!!

----------

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc

SOLD OUT: An Evening with Randi Rhodes (Obama supporter) (Meeting)
NOTE: GREEN 960'S WEBSITE SAYS THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT. PERHAPS THERE WILL BE NO-SHOWs AT THE DOOR, BUT FYI SO NO ONE IS DISAPPOINTED. I DO NOT CONTROL TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT. THIS IS GREEN 960'S EVENT.


Come join other Bay Area Obama supporters for an evening with Air America host Randi Rhodes!

She was quieter in her support earlier in the primary season, but this week Randi Rhodes has been on fire with her passion for Obama (and disappointment/anger with his opponent). Today (3/7), she spent nearly her whole show urging people to get to Pennsylvania or to call Pennsylvania on behalf of Senator Obama.

Let's show her some Bay Area love and have a chance to get together socially as well. Spend your afternoon phonebanking and then join us (in Obamawear of course) for a great evening. Doors open at 5:30 pm, event is at 6:00 pm.

This event is $5 at the door, and you sign-up in advance via Green 960 radio station's website.
http://www.green960.com/pages/events.html?feed=211592&article=3368653

After the event, we can all head to a place in the neighborhood for drinks and organizing for winning Pennsylvania, the nomination and the White House.

[Hieronymus]

62. I did turn her off months ago, for the reasons I stated.

[Cleita]

58. Yes, she was so mean that she set up a fund to

help victims of Katrina to help rebuild their homes along with Habitat for Humanity when our own government abandoned them. It's still happening btw. Yep, that's what that mean Randi does, help people who have less than her, in any way she can. She's also so mean that returning war vets turn to her to get their problems heard because their own government and military won't.

[Kitty Herder]

55. I agree with her suspension as long as it's temporary. If they go so far as to fire her for this,

that will be going too far. And I'll be pissed.

[Cleita]

56. Janeanne Garofalo said it best on the air with Sam Seder.

Here is a woman who has championed liberal causes, getting lawsuits and death threats because of it for standing her ground. She feels Randi is being treated badly by AAR. Let's face it Randi has had some firsts in pointing out the un-American actions of the right wing and getting threatened in a variety of ways because of it. Now she's pointing out the flaws of some of our so-called Democrats who we know as DCLers. She's really getting her First Amendment rights trashed by the people who should be backing her.

There was a lot of political talk and criticism of sacred cows on the cruise to Alaska that I went on with Randi. It seems a shame that we now have to go out to sea on a cruise ship to be able to discuss issues and politicians freely as it would seem our First Amendment rights are no longer guaranteeing that we won't lose our jobs or maybe even end up in jail for expressing what we think.

[asdjrocky]

57. What a load of crap.

I'm so sick and tired of the rules in this country being made by the people who are most easily offended.