Rhodes says Air America Breached Her Contract

[SoFlaJet]

Rhodes says Air America Breached Her Contract
by Jeff Norman


In a textbook example of "progressives" undermining their own agenda, Air America has suspended its star host Randi Rhodes for telling jokes that generated absolutely no controversy until the network - two weeks after the now suddenly objectionable comments were made in a stand-up comedy performance - decided to remove her, at least temporarily, from its airwaves.

At an appearance in San Francisco sponsored by Air America's local affiliate, Rhodes referred to Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro as "fucking whores." It's widely understood this epithet, delivered in the context of a well-received comedic rant, is what prompted the suspension. But Air America's terse statement on the matter, offers no explanation beyond declaring it "does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our Hosts."

It's not detectable at this point if Air America honchos believe Rhodes was somehow supposed to have known what she said is punishable. Also unknown is the duration of her suspension. According to New York Daily News reporter David Hinckley, the network is remaining silent for now "to gauge public reaction." How principled.

Ferraro has wasted no time calling for Rhodes to be fired. The former VP candidate told Fox News earlier today, "What did they do with Don Imus when he went after the young black team who was playing basketball with kind of the same language? Treat them both the same...She's coming at me and Hillary in a ... sexist way... To incite people with language like this young woman just did on radio is very, very dangerous because ... some people take this stuff so seriously that it can affect your security."

Understandably, Rhodes is stunned and angry. About her employers she told me: "They are in breach of my contract and have damaged my hard won excellent reputation in the broadcast industry..." Rhodes added she received thank you letters from representatives of Air America, the San Francisco affiliate and sponsors praising her for the performance that now has her in hot water.
Rhodes is scheduled to speak in New York on April 28 with former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter at an event sponsored by U.S. Tour of Duty, the nonprofit project I run. It is not yet clear if the popular host will be back to work for Air America by then - or ever. At a critical moment in its evolution, the network has put itself in an untenable position. Ultimately, does Air America, or does it not, stand for free speech? At this moment, it clearly does not. That's not very progressive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-norman/...-b_b_94981.html

[DS1]

1. oh shut up you fucking whore

[monmouth]

2. Sounds like Randi is becoming the Ann Coulter of the left..sigh.....n/t

[SoFlaJet]

4. and the Clintons have become Joe McCarthy

silence dissent-Schuster then Rhodes...who will be the next one to be fired when the mad Queen shouts "off with their heads!!"

[yurbud]

31. Bush didn't get any media people fired until he was in office. Impressive work from Hillary

Maybe she'll start a war and disappear people before she even clinches the nomination at this rate.

[Gman]

10. Exactly!

We don't need someone like her held up as an example of the left as Coulter is held up as an example of the right.

[ColbertWatcher]

13. The left has no Coulter-equivalent. Shame on you. n/t

[Freedom Train]

67. "The Ann Coulter of the left"

Yeah, I think you pretty much nailed it. Sad.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Yeah, the Imus situation was just the same as this, Geraldine.

:crazy:
A bunch of student athletes vs powerful politicians.

[rurallib]

7. And Imus was on the air, during his show.

[Rose Siding]

55. That's exactly it - She wasn't on air.

So it's very different from Imus, and even Shuster. More like Whoopie Goldberg who got clobbered for the "bush" joke about Bush.

The Clintons' reach is spooky.

[valerief]

43. Agreed. The crap that comes out Ferraro's mouth I flush down my toilet.

[fascisthunter]

5. Looks Like It.... Didn't Rush Limbaugh Call Hillary a Bitch?

And from what I understood it was not in a comedic context at all. Not that AAR has anything to do with this guy, but where is the outrage regarding that episode?

Why do I have a feeling the people bashing Randi are neither on the left or democrats, but just want to see the number one progressive radio talk show host get ruined? I can see animosity from Hillary supporters, but I don't believe all of those bashing her even support Hillary in a the way a Democrat would support a candidate.

Rush Limbaugh is asking republicans to influence this primary.... how many are here doing just that?

PS - I am not for calling out posters, just that many here need to keep in mind there are those stirring up the pot and maybe the mods are right to tell folks to ignore some posts.

[wpelb]

48. Rush and Hillary

So far as I know, Rush is neither a liberal nor a Democrat. Randi is, I assume, both. If Rush called a Republican or a conservative those things, he'd probably hear it from his audience and his advertisers.

When in the media business, don't alienate your friends! (The same is probably true in politics.)

[Uben]

6. Calling one of our candidates "fucking whore"?

She should be disciplined. I don't know why these talkshow host think they are above scrutiny. They constantly try to push the envelope of what they can say. Why can't they just speak in a civil manner and avoid all the profanity and name calling?

This is akin to O'reilly calling Obama the "N" word on his show. I would hope they would fire him and fine him substantially, as well, if that were to happen. So, I guess you Obama supporters can see where we are coming from, having put it in that context.

[SoFlaJet]

8. do you actuall KNOW where this was said

and in what kind of format, or do you just get your marching orders from The Mad Queen and follow orders?

[Uben]

12. Says in the OP

was a stand-up comedy piece in SF, SPONSORED BY AIR AMERICA, the ones whom she worked for. What else do we need to know?

[SoFlaJet]

15. what you NEED to know

is that it was NOT a public broadcast but a stand-up routine. Mark Green is letting HIS politics dictate the business of OUR airwaves

[Windy]

17. exactly! He is a HRC supporter and has drunk the Kool-Aid.

He hired Bill Press to continue to push the pro-clinton mantra! He set out an edict that host are not to express an opinion. Randi has been very vocal for many months about the clinton's dirty political games. Now they use a stand up routine to finally get her off the air.

Their pro-hillary bent may be the undoing of Air America.

[Uben]

20. No one tells me what I need to know...

......I make those choices myself. I did not say it was a public broadcast, it did not have to be. If she wants to be a political personality, she needs to act like an adult. She is no better than Ann Coulter. They both use outlandish behavior to get attention.

[Windy]

21. Randi is NOT Ann Coulter! Wow. That is such a false statement.

She is intelligent and has lead the fight on exposing the Bush administration and their attempts to thwart the constitution among other issues.

You just have a problem with her because she does not support Hillary Clinton and freely speaks her mind during her radio show with regard to Clinton and her games and why she believes she is wrong for America at this time!

And I'm not referring to her stand up routine. I'm referring to her radio show.

[Cronopio]

24. Your support of freedom of speech is determined by your reaction to speech you *don't* like.

Stalin, Goebbels, and every fascist who ever lived were in favor of speech that they found acceptable. Martin Luther King and Gandhi specialized in behavior and speech that were outlandish and outrageous to the status quo they lived in.

They were also attacked for the same reasons that Randi is being attacked - because she might "set a bad example that others might pick up on" and "compromise the tactical PR face of *our* revolution".

If you're concerned more with political tactics than with ethical principles like "freedom of speech", then your morals are *tactic-based* and opportunistic, not principle-based. And, sooner or later, your tactical game will force you down the same road that Stalin and Goebbels took.


"She is no better than Ann Coulter."

But Ann Coulter's supporters have a better understanding of the concept of "freedom of speech" (When it applies to people on *their* team, of course) than many of Randi's so-called progressive supporters.

Air America has just shot its own "progressive" PR in the foot by acting like all other fascist corporate structures.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. Sponsored by an _affiliate_ (not an O&O).

[HooptieWagon]

34. NO, it was sponsored by an AA affilliate.

A local radio station. As cited in the OP, the station was pleased with Randi's appearance. And AA had no problem with Randi's comments for a couple weeks, then they did. One could conclude their sudden reversal was due to complaints from the shrillbots or the shrew herself.

[paulk]

50. "shrew"

"shrillbots"

Obama must be proud of his "hope and change" crew.

I wonder why you find this kind of sexist crap acceptable.

[That Guy 888]

58. "Obamatron" "Kool Aid drinkers"

"...If a politician doesn't wanna get beat up, he shouldn't run for office. If a football player doesn't want to get tackled or want the risk of an a occasional clip he shouldn't put the pads on." - former President Bill Clinton

[paulk]

60. go back to Free Republic

asshole.

[That Guy 888]

62. Asshole? Wow, aren't you nice and polite?

Sorry I don't have a free republic account. I doubt they listen to NovaM, Air America, Stephanie Miller, Mike Malloy or Randi Rhodes but I do think they would be in favor of them being fired.

While I personally don't find Senator Clinton "shrill" or a "shrew", unfortunately some of her supporters, regardless of gender, are. I don't see why some of her supporters act as though insults are just coming from the supporters of Senator Obama.

[paulk]

63. "shrew" directly referenced Hillary Clinton in the post I

responded to.

that is sexist bullshit, and I don't see how someone with your "liberal cred" can countenance that.

[That Guy 888]

64. In case you haven't noticed...

supporters of the two Democratic candidates have been flinging insults back and forth for awhile now. "You're sexist!1!" "You're a racist!!1" The worst of them I ignore, but I try to separate the individual poster from the entire group of supporters of either Senator.

Your original response included "Obama must be proud of his "hope and change" crew." which to me seemed too broad brushed. I chose to quote former President Clinton to remind you that insults are going both ways and playing the victim card here (on these message boards) is a little ridiculous. If that was the nastiest comment you saw all day, your ignore list must be a hell of a lot longer than mine.

[paulk]

66. what I've noticed is that sexist comments like calling a woman

a "shrew" or her supporters "shrillbots" is tolerated on this board.

[krkaufman]

46. Wrong. Calling a politician a "whore" is NOT the same as calling an African American a n.......

The term "whore" is widely used as a generic term for someone who is acting on behalf of another entity in some sort of quid pro quo arrangement. Though I could be mistaken I suppose, if I've missed all the threads on DU decrying sexism every time the term "media whore" has been used.

As for your hypothetical, comparing Rhodes' comments to O'Reilly calling any African American a n***r on his show, it is nonsensical on at least two fronts: (1) Rhodes didn't make her comments on-air; and (2) I think you'd be hard-pressed to find evidence of another contextual meaning for n***r that would not still be inappropriate, unlike "whore." (e.g media whore, political whore, etc)

[Gman]

9. Fire Rhodes

Damaged her hard won excellent reputation in the broadcast industry?? Maybe in her mind. I guess calling women who support women "fucking whores" is conducive to an excellent reputation in her mind.

Rhodes is just another foul mouth that has a stage. She went off the deep end 2 years ago. I haven't cared to listen to her since.

[SoFlaJet]

11. you haven't cared to listen to her

since she said she voted for Obama-be honest-oh wait, that's not a trait the supporters of The mad queen embrace

[Gman]

37. I didn't know she supported Obama until I read it hear at DU

She's no better than listening to Hannity or Rush or Coulter. Same schtick, different person. She was good at one time. That was before she canonized herself.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. I said it before, I'll say it again...

...Randi's use of the word "whore" is the linguistic equivalent to the Janet Jackson Superbowl BOOB scandal.

Nothing more than Outraginess

[Windy]

19. In my area they run a spot of randi saying the word WHORE in a discussion about Marilyn Monroe

and diamonds, equating it to the message that "diamonds are a girls best friend" says to girls.
That you can be a whore and get diamonds. Those are the words she uses on the spot that is played EVERY DAY her in Detroit!

Funny, using the word WHORE on the airwaves was just fine for Air America in a spot to promote their programming!!!

Randi has a point.

[ColbertWatcher]

22. Good point. n/t

[Ian David]

18. If this is factual, this makes the case for punishing Randi somewhat weaker.

1) If the affiliates and sponsors thanked her, rather than chastised her, immediately after the event, then that weakens the case for punishing Randi.

2) If such punishment is actually forbidden somehow in Randi's contract (for example, a clause that says Randi can declare anyone a "fucking whore") then she should obviously get off scot-free.

3) Geraldine Ferraro is full of shit. What Randi said wasn't as bad as what Imus said. Imus' comment was directed at "civilians," people who did not intentionally interject themselves onto the national political stage. Imus' comments were directed at a group of girls who played basketball, not someone who has voluntarily gone on Fox "News" and taken a political stand.

However...

1) The speech was not well-received by the audience. Well, it was until she called Hillary a "fucking whore." The crowd cheered and clapped when she called Geraldine Ferraro a "fucking whore" because... well, because it's true, for one thing. However, they booed when she called Hillary a "fucking whore."

2) This is not a "free speech" issue. Air America and the affiliates paid Randi to represent them at their event, and if they are unhappy with her job performance, they have every right to suspend or fire her. Randi was being paid by her employer to speak. If they do not like what she said, it's their call (within the bounds of their contract, of course.) Ultimately, this is an issue of fairness in general and of contract law, not an issue of free speech.

PS: Geraldine Ferraro can go fuck herself with the horse head nebula-- it's sharp and pointy.

[zalinda]

23. And, maybe if the video of the event

hadn't made youtube, she would have been fine. This has been quite a ride here on DU, can you imagine what the sponsors thought. I'm sure that sponsors were quite upset at the video and did not want to condone what was said. Whether they would be Clinton supporters or not, some sponsors get quite upset with that kind of language. Air America is a business, after all and not the lefts' play toy.

zalinda

[Ian David]

25. Yes, I'm sure 1-800-own-gold and The Star Registry were afraid they'd be de-legitimized. n/t

[Cronopio]

28. "Air America is a business, after all and not the lefts' play toy."

AAR is a business that is dependent on their reputation as one of the few progressive bastions in the media.

Fortunately, I was shown how false that pretense is when they fired Mike Malloy a couple of years ago for being similarly outspoken. Should Thom Hartmann now be worried about what somebody might think about any comment he makes while on air? Shouldn't he start clearing it with the bosses first, as a matter of policy?

Of course he should, and AAR should now drop the pretense that its business is based on anything other than exploiting the righteous outrage of the left with calculated, sanitized commentary.

[Cronopio]

26. "This is not a "free speech" issue."

Oh, yes it is. Freedoms specifically guaranteed to us as our American birthright are not *legally* (the emphasis is crucial) subject to the fine print in an employer-employee relationship. If corporations can make the Bill of Rights contingent on your paycheck and their idea of "job performance", you have no effective rights, and the Bill of Rights and the Constitution are what GWB said they are - "just pieces of paper".

The fact that AAR paid for and sponsored the event doesn't negate the Bill of Rights in that situation, or give AAR the right to interpret it. When corporations are allowed to negate the Bill of Rights in this way, it absolutely and inarguably *IS* a "free speech" issue.

There are only two sides in this argument, and you have to choose which side you're on. "Freedom of speech" should always apply in every situation, or it will never really apply as a right, just as a conditional dispensation.

[Ian David]

27. She was paid to speak. It wasn't free speech. It was paid speech.

If they guy at the drive-thru window insists on saying, "You want fucking fries with that, asshole?" he's not doing what he was paid to do, either.

[Cronopio]

29. "You want fucking fries with that, asshole?"

If the company that owns the drive-thru window, or the manager on duty, lets him do it - he is doing what he is paid to do. Again, it *is* a free speech issue because the person is being allowed or denied the opportunity to say what they want by their employer. You can defend that, but don't try to deny that it's an infringement (legal or no) on a right supposedly guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

The question is, did AAR specifically bar Randi from making politically sensitive remarks in her routine, and did they specifically spell out what they meant by "politically sensitive"? If Randi had called Ann Coulter or GWB's wife a bitch, would she have been fired for that? And, WHY NOT? Wouldn't that be a little politically sensitive? Isn't most of what we write on this forum politically sensitive?

If they didn't give Randi the option of saying "No, I won't be a part of this event because your idea of 'politically sensitive' infringes on my free speech rights.", than Randi is right - they *did* illegally infringe on her terms of her employment contract. Because even if it is "paid speech", payment in an employer-employee contract is based on a specific, doucmented understanding - not unstated implications.

Randi should sue the shit out of AAR for this, and she should win.

[susankh4]

30. Uh, it's the ratings, stupid.

And the advertisers.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

If calling Hillary and Geraldine whores had boosted ratings... or brought in more advertisers.... it would not have been a problem.

Alas, Randi failed to recognize that half of her audience would be offended. And that her advertisers would start threatening AAR.

Buh-bye Randi! (Doing my best John McLaughlin here.)

:hi:

[Cronopio]

35. Question No. 3 - how do *you* rate the Bill of Rights? Bob Novak?

Doing my best McLaughlin. :)

That Lenny Bruce, failing the recognize that a good portion of the status quo would be offended at what he said. What an asshat. He deserved to lose bookings and be harassed by local and federal law enforcement.

And Jim Morrison. Not very PR-savvy was he? "... can't get it up without a gun." Pissing off both the New Haven and Miami police.

And John Lennon, making that comment about being "bigger than Jesus"? What a fucking idiot he was. He should have known how powerful the Baptists (and the J. Edgar Hoover-era FBI) were. Geez, anybody knows *that*.

[SoFlaJet]

32. or if she had called Obama

some vile name would Hillshill Mark Green have suspended her? Doubtful...

[Cronopio]

36. He'd have given her a raise. :) nt

[Ian David]

44. Exactly. Was she doing and saying what was contractually expected or required.

If it's true that she was following her contract, or that AAR violated theirs, then she should be 100% in the clear.

[Ronnie Roach]

33. Air America new management want to clean house!

If anybody noticed, Lionel has been taken off the air. Tom Hartman is no longer broadcasting in New York. The new owners are DNC followers. Randi is not conforming to party lines. Her suspension is an excuse to dump her!

This Randi's favorite song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLVWzOp7Q70

[Larkspur]

52. I despised Lionel but he's still on the air for AAR

Thom Hartmann's home is in Oregaon. NYC was NEVER his regular studio and his show predates him joining AAR.

[tpsbmam]

54. One NY station is replacing Lionel with infomercials. I think the

infomercials would be more interesting than Lionel.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/tvstation...t_id=1003784649

APRIL 02, 2008 -

WWRL-AM, Access.1's News/Talk station in New York made several changes to its programming lineup, bumping several Air America programs out of prime-time periods. The station's original contract with Air America expired on April 1, 2008, making the moves possible.

As a result, Jones Radio Networks’ Ed Schultz picked up a big New York clearance by taking over the 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. slot formerly held by Air America's Thom Hartmann.

Instead of Air America's Lionel from 9 a.m. to Noon, the station will air health-related infomercials.

[Larkspur]

59. In the car I listen on my portable XM Satellie radio

I get Bill Press before 9AM, Lionel from 9AM - 12 PM, Ed Schultz from Noon - 3PM, Randi from 3-6 pm, Rachel Maddow from 6-8 PM and Thom Hartman's first 2 hours from 8-10 PM. Mike Malloy comes on from 10 PM - 12 AM.

I like Sam Sedar, Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow. I can listen to Randi in the car but not a big listener of hers. She does know her stuff. When I'm in a ranting mood Randi is fine, but when I've had a hard day at work, I find Randi's voice a bit grating on my mind.

[Emillereid]

38. Ferraro says: ... to incite people with language like this young woman just did on radio..."

Randi did not say her comments on the radio like Imus - she said them at a private event.

[AX10]

39. The left wing Ann Coulter doesn't like...

not getting her way. Wahhhhhhhhhhh!
:nopity:

The air seesm so much cleaner without mediawhore Randi Rhodes on the air.

Oh Obambites, don't give me any crap about calling her a mediawhore, most of us have referred to those with bias in the media as being mediawhores.

[Chalco]

40. The event was an Obamaton fundraising event.

The crowd cheers as a presidential candidate is called an f-ing whore! Must be proud. You people are losers.

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

[AX10]

45. Thanks!

[That Guy 888]

56. Obamaton? Yeah, it's those Senator Obama supporters who are filled with hate...

Did you DLC guys decide that projecting was something else that you wanted to pick up from the rethuglicans?

BTW, about your http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r2cc link:

"SOLD OUT: An Evening with Randi Rhodes (Obama supporter) (Meeting)
*To folks wondering the Obama campaign was somehow affiliated with this event, please know that it was in no way sanctioned, authorized, or endorsed by the Obama for America campaign. This was a fundraiser put together by a San Francisco radio station (you can see their explanation of the event here www.green360.com). This website is one of hundreds of thousands of user-generated websites you can make on My.BarackObama.com.*

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."

Weird that a liberal/progressive radio station would promote itself on a Democratic candidate's website. Since some of the people in the audience supported Senator Clinton, it seems fairly easy to conclude that it wasn't an "Obamaton fundraising event"

[madmom]

41. I saw in the article linked where Ferraro called for RR to be fired but

not Clinton, Why is that? I mean everyone is saying Hillary called for her to be fired but it doesn't say that in the article please show me a link to where it says that.

[That Guy 888]

57. It's assumed the hypocritical Ferraro is acting as Senator Clinton's surrogate...

just as she was when she decided to support Senator Clinton by saying "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept".

As for her being a hypocrite :

When asked if she had any regrets about what she said, Ferraro replied, "absolutely not."

"I am who I am and I will continue to speak up," she said. She added that she thought it was a shame that the Obama campaign was trying to block her First Amendment rights, and that she felt that was no way to conduct a campaign.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/12/ferraro-steps-down/

[madmom]

65. But Ferraro is no longer a part of the Clinton campaign staff, and you know what

is said about people who "assume" anything. If Clinton has to be responsible for everything someone says regarding her and her campaign then so does Obama. Remember Rev. Wright? No I'm not condemning Obama for anything Rev Wright said, but the same goes for Clinton. Everyone is responsible for what comes out of their own mouth, not others!

[Liberty Belle]

42. Complain by calling 212-871-8290 or by email at this link:

http://www.airamerica.com/contact

also please kick and recommend this thread so everyone will see and help bring Randi back!

:kick:

[wpelb]

47. This may get me in trouble, but here goes . . .

Randi had the right to say whatever she said. It's a free country, and a lot of people who heard her probably agreed with her, or at least got a good laugh out of it.

However, if she signed a contract saying that she wouldn't do something, and then she went out and did it anyway, she may not have much of a case. I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know if a contract can restrict a person's speech. (The First Amendment applies only to Congress; the Fourteenth Amendment extended the application to state legislatures.) In any case, she should have known that trashing Sen. Clinton and ex-Congresswoman Ferraro would, or at least could, have repercussions. As far as I know, Rush Limbaugh doesn't call fellow Republicans "pieces of sh*t" or "f*cking whores" (or if he does, he manages to keep those epithets away from the public). Does he even call Democrats those things?

Talk-show hosts who want to succeed should listen to Rush. He obviously has a big audience, and has been able to weather controversies. Those who absolutely can't stand his politics will need to find a successful talk-show with views that they are more comfortable with, and try to determine what the host can and cannot (or won't) do to alienate his (or her) audience, advertisers, and fellow-thinkers.

[romana]

49. Slurs

When Ann Coulter, at a political conference, called John Edwards a "faggot" in a cheap attempt to get a laugh, the left went ballistic. I believe many complained to her syndicators. She was an invited guest to this conference, and was not representing the papers that ran her column, but if I'm not mistaken she lost a few syndication deals from this. This was, at the time, celebrated on DU.

How is Randi Rhodes calling Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton "fucking whores" to get a cheap laugh at a political venue somehow different from Ann Coulter calling John Edwards a "faggot"? As I said in another thread, the word "whore" may be applied to men, but the meaning is inherently sexist, and calls up demeaning sexist imagery, IMO. "Whore" and "faggot" are slurs, and really should have no place in our discourse.

I have listened to Randi Rhodes since Air America started, and consider myself a fan, but IMO this suspension was justified.

[Larkspur]

51. Ferraro is not the same as the Rutgers' women's basketball team

Ferraro is an adult and a politician. The Rutgers' women's basketball team was made up of young adult women are are playing basketball for their school, not running for public office. Imus insulted regular citizens who were basketball players for their school. Ferraro and Hillary are politicians, the latter who is running for President. Both are subject to public scrutiny.

[Timothy Gatto]

53. She Wasn't Verty Funny

I watched the video. She wasn't very funny. I suppose that she
could have done something better than that if she was going to
get suspended. I respect her right to say whatever, but she
WAS on Air America's dime when she spoke. She should have
thought about that. 

[Cleita]

61. Too bad AAR doesn't see that Randi is

is voicing the concerns many of us have about Hillary Clinton. I am particularly concerned with the lying she seems to do so easily. Just because she has a D after her name doesn't mean she espouses progressive and liberal positions on the issues. Randi and anyone else should be able to point this out and shine a light on some very unsavory aspects of the Clintons before they get back into the White House. I personally am not looking forward to the many attacks from the enemies of a sitting President as we had during the Bill Clinton administration. It made it difficult for him to do his job and now that our country is in a dire position because of what the conservatives have done to it, we need a President who can roll up her/his sleeves and get to work with a minimum of distraction.

Also, I remember many Democrats who condemned us for pointing out what we thought was not a principled Democrat in Joe Lieberman. The same type of vitriol was flung at us and attempts at silencing those of us who saw someone who was not behaving in a politically kosher way. History has vindicated us and we all now know who Joe Lieberman is although it's much too late to take back the damage he did to the 2000 election. This is no different.

Perhaps she should have used different language maybe saying they prostituted themselves. It could be more acceptable than saying "fucking whores", although it means the same thing. It goes to show the hypocrisy of the whole thing.