Dr. Laura pulls a Kramer, Sarah Palin comes to her rescue

[flames_1987]

"I made the decision not to do radio anymore," Schlessinger said on CNN's "Larry King Live." "I want to regain my first amendment rights. I want to be able to say what is on my mind, in my heart, what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry."

Just last week in a debate about racism on her radio program, the conservative host used a racial slur 11 times on the air. A black female called in complaining about her white husband's use of a racial epithet. Dr Schlessinger told the caller she was being hyper-sensitive, then repeatedly used the word herself.

http://www.newsopi.com/showbiz/dr-la...troversy/3697/


And of course look who came to her side, via her twitter

Sarah Palin

"Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")"

"Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"

[CaptainCrunch]

I could look at Schlessingers naked pictures all day, as long as I didn't need to listen to her B.C.

I could also look at Sarah Palin all day, and when I hear her words she sounds like Charlie Browns teacher.

[nik-]

Not a surprise from both of them. Two useless windbags.

[WilsonFourTwo]

So she said Niger (extra g).......so what? I happen to agree with the late-great George Carlin's point of view on the subject of "Bad Words"

".... It's the context that makes them good or bad. The context. That makes them good or bad. For instance, you take the word "Niger." There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "Niger" in and of itself. It's the racist a-hole who's using it that you ought to be concerned about. We don't mind when Richard Pryer or Eddie Murphy say it. Why? Because we know they're not racist. Their Nigers"

I sure wish we were as focused on people's actions as we are their words. We'd be a helluva lot better off.

[valo403]

It's funny that the GOP, and Palin in particular, is quick to talk about Constitutional rights in this instance while also being proud supporters of trampling on Constiutional rights in the case of the Ground Zero Mosque.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by valo403

It's funny that the GOP, and Palin in particular, is quick to talk about Constitutional rights in this instance while also being proud supporters of trampling on Constiutional rights in the case of the Ground Zero Mosque.

Don't forget, they demand that the monstrous deficit (which they are very much to blame for) is slashed immediately.......but also demand that the Bush tax cuts (for earners over $225,000/yr) be extended. I guess the middle class and their 15% of the wealth are supposed to pay off all the debt. They'd probably ask the poor to do it, but they're all overseas getting shot at.

The reason I barely give a crap about America at this point........the GOP has royally screwed the average American more than anyone since the 1st Reagan administration, but because the Republicans scream the loudest on TV, the American people are going to vote them into power this fall.

America is full of stupid, stupid people. And in my opinion, they're finally getting what they deserve.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

So she said Niger (extra g).......so what? I happen to agree with the late-great George Carlin's point of view on the subject of "Bad Words"

".... It's the context that makes them good or bad. The context. That makes them good or bad. For instance, you take the word "Niger." There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "Niger" in and of itself. It's the racist a-hole who's using it that you ought to be concerned about. We don't mind when Richard Pryer or Eddie Murphy say it. Why? Because we know they're not racist. Their Nigers"

I sure wish we were as focused on people's actions as we are their words. We'd be a helluva lot better off.

Here's the reality of the situation though. Black people can use that word because, for them, they're mocking the people for being racist in the past and inventing that word to distinguish them based on skin colour. When other people use it, it's usually thought of because there is underlying racism in it. Is it fair? That's debateable. But that's the consequence for the white man being so racist in the past generations.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Don't forget, they demand that the monstrous deficit (which they are very much to blame for) is slashed immediately.......but also demand that the Bush tax cuts (for earners over $225,000/yr) be extended. I guess the middle class and their 15% of the wealth are supposed to pay off all the debt. They'd probably ask the poor to do it, but they're all overseas getting shot at.

The reason I barely give a crap about America at this point........the GOP has royally screwed the average American more than anyone since the 1st Reagan administration, but because the Republicans scream the loudest on TV, the American people are going to vote them into power this fall.

America is full of stupid, stupid people. And in my opinion, they're finally getting what they deserve.

But I just moved here

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

America is full of stupid, stupid people. And in my opinion, they're finally getting what they deserve.

I would say thats a problem with every country in the world, its not mutually exclusive to the Americans.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Here's the reality of the situation though. Black people can use that word because, for them, they're mocking the people for being racist in the past and inventing that word to distinguish them based on skin colour. When other people use it, it's usually thought of because there is underlying racism in it. Is it fair? That's debateable. But that's the consequence for the white man being so racist in the past generations.

I understand where the problem comes from, the point Carlin was trying to make (which I subscribe too completely) is that it's absolutely stupid to carry on that assumption......all it does is allow the negative power of the word continue. People need to get over it. The primary reason that the words remain offensive......the persecuted group wants to keep it that way for one reason or another.

Gays and lesbians (imo) seem to have this figured out the power of language better than most groups. Words like Fag, Queer, Fairy, are associated with the lifestyle/reality of their lives and have lost all power. Nowadays, these words aren't typically seen as offensive. The attempt to use those words for hate/oppression are still a huge issue, but that's all about the ACTION and not the WORD.

Sorry to be on the soapbox about it......this language stuff just drives me crazy. I see how words get manipulated to create divisions or trick people and it makes me really, really angry. I'll say it until I'm blue in the face.....I sure wish we were as focused on people's actions as we are their words. We'd be a helluva lot better off.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I would say thats a problem with every country in the world, its not mutually exclusive to the Americans.

I dunno. 18% of this country is dead certain Obama is a Muslim. That's roughly 60 million people.

That's a lot of really stupid people.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I would say thats a problem with every country in the world, its not mutually exclusive to the Americans.

Yup, agreed. I think that the "Sound-byte, ADD" culture in America has been so successfully manipulated by extremist groups (not the GOP, per se), the USA is seeing the process of manipulated democracy occur much faster than other Western nations.

And thank you for not hanging me for an obvious over-generalization. Most people would have skipped the point and lynched the speaker. I do appreciate it.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

I dunno. 18% of this country is dead certain Obama is a Muslim. That's roughly 60 million people.

That's a lot of really stupid people.

Yup. The power of language.

If I spent enough time repeating it, I sure that I could convince you that you're color blind. It would be even easier if I was in a position of authority/trust.

That 18% had Fox "News" and the like repeating "Obama is a Muslim" to them for 3 years. It's actually a good 7 points lower than I would have expected.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

So she said Niger (extra g).......so what? I happen to agree with the late-great George Carlin's point of view on the subject of "Bad Words"

".... It's the context that makes them good or bad. The context. That makes them good or bad. For instance, you take the word "Niger." There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "Niger" in and of itself. It's the racist a-hole who's using it that you ought to be concerned about. We don't mind when Richard Pryer or Eddie Murphy say it. Why? Because we know they're not racist. Their Nigers"

I sure wish we were as focused on people's actions as we are their words. We'd be a helluva lot better off.

While I appreciate your point (and that is an excellent Carlin performance, I can listen to him non stop) there are some words that just need to go away. That is one of them.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by habernac

While I appreciate your point (and that is an excellent Carlin performance, I can listen to him non stop) there are some words that just need to go away. That is one of them.

+1

And the first thing needed to make that happen......take away the power of the word. Once it's useless, it fades into oblivion.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

I dunno. 18% of this country is dead certain Obama is a Muslim. That's roughly 60 million people.

That's a lot of really stupid people.

Yup, and 7 babies just died of whooping cough in California due to the anti vaccine nuts.

But there are a couple of questions that I would need to ask?

Are we condemming people as stupid because of their opinions or their stupidity?

Would you be willing to believe that there are about 5 million stupid people in Canada, and are we condemning people for their beliefs as stupid because they disagree with their own.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin

"Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")"

"Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"

Reading this makes me want to actually go through with backhanding a woman for the first time in my life

[Locke]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

And of course look who came to her side, via her twitter

Sarah Palin

"Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American,not fair")"

"Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!"

WTF is this? This is completely unintelligble gibberish! Did an adult write this or was this simply a result of a fat man mashing a keypad and hoping to elicit Shakespear?

[troutman]

Don't be surprised to see a Dr. Laura TV show on Faux News in the Fall.

[HeartsOfFire]

It should also be noted that Dr. Laura is mistakenly claiming her First Amendment rights were being violated. I cannot state this clearly enough: The First Amendment protects you from prosecution, conviction, and incarceration. Anyone and everyone in the States has the right to say what they want and can be confident that they won't be arrested for it. Before somebody bites my head off, there are a few exceptions to this rule, particularly in cases of conspiracy to commit criminal acts. I acknowledge that. But the basis and my point remain the same.

The First Amendment DOES NOT extend to private enterprise. If you're a face (or in this case, a voice) of a company and you say something offensive, and your employer has a problem, you better believe that they have every right to dismiss you as a means of damage control.

She is mistakenly making this out to be a First Amendment issue, but no court will buy that and no self-respecting lawyer would take that case.