Category: Radio
Rush's Disdain for Humanity is Showing Again
Offender: Rush Limbaugh on the Rush Limbaugh Radio Show
Media Outlet: Aired on radio stations nationwide 2/25/10 - syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
The Offense: To illustrate the need for health care reform, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) told the story of a woman who wore dentures that had belonged to her late sister. Rush Limbaugh called it the "sob story of the day" and joked, "what's wrong with using a dead person's teeth? Aren't the Democrats big into recycling? . . . So if you don't have any teeth, so what? What's applesauce for? Isn't that why they make applesauce?"
NOW's Analysis: Other conservative media outlets also made light of this story, but Rush, not surprisingly, wins the award for lack of sensitivity. It doesn't matter to Rush that this woman (and people like her) could be in his audience. Or that people really are suffering in this country because they can't afford decent health care. Rush is a lost cause, but maybe his listeners should pause for a moment to consider whether their hero really cares about anyone other than himself.
Conservatives like Rush will do anything to block health care reform, including misinforming the public and mocking real people who are struggling under our current system. The fact that such a contemptuous man is still on the air is a sad commentary on the state of radio in the U.S.
Take Action: Contact Lisa Dollinger at Clear Channel and let her know what you think about Rush's comments: lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com
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Want to Insult a Powerful Woman? Call Her a Prostitute
Offender: Glenn Beck on The Glenn Beck Program
Media Outlet: Aired on radio stations nationwide 11/23/09 - syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
The Offense: Beck called Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) a "high-class prostitute" on his radio show.
NOW's Analysis: The discussion by Beck and his co-host, Pat Grey, about the kind of "prostitute" they think Landrieu is was quite lengthy, detailed and highly offensive. First they offered the right-wing claim that Landrieu accepted a "bribe" as if it were proven fact. The conversation included these delightful nuggets: "you're not at Motel 6 with this, no . . . this one comes to your Four Seasons hotel room and does it right . . . you might even think she's the wife of the CEO she's coming in on the arm of." Rush Limbaugh followed up on his show the same day, saying that Landrieu "may be the most expensive prostitute in the history of prostitution."
So what's wrong with equating politicians with prostitutes? After all, it's a quick and vivid way of accusing legislators of selling their votes (and presumably their principles) for money. Countless political cartoons have portrayed supposedly greedy and ethically-challenged politicians in fishnet stockings and garters. Since when did this amusing metaphor hurt anyone?
The problem is, the accusation conjures up an image almost exclusively of women -- typically streetwalkers, but sometimes high-class escorts like Beck describes. Also, the term seems to flow so easily off the tongues of men seeking to degrade successful, powerful (perhaps "uppity"?) women. Not long ago Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fl.) called Linda Robertson, an adviser to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, a "K Street whore," and he was rightly criticized for doing so. Whore, prostitute, hooker -- it's time to retire these sexist terms that only encourage our society to see women as commodities to be bought and sold.
Take Action: Tell Kraig T. Kitchin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Premiere Radio Networks, what you think about Glenn Beck's and Rush Limbaugh's sexist comments (they both gave the same syndicator--shocker).
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Beck Talks Turkey, Insults Albright
Offender: Glenn Beck on The Glenn Beck Program
Media Outlet: Aired on radio stations nationwide 10/8/09 - syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
The Offense: On his radio show, Glenn Beck had this to say about former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "Good heavens! I'm sorry I just looked up at Madeleine Albright and she's . . . [screaming and laughter] No, normally it burns our eyes out . . . and look at the neck skin on her . . . does she kind of look like a turkey? . . . look at her eyes and her nose. She looks like a turkey."
NOW's Analysis: No matter how accomplished a woman may be, she is always subject to ridicule, particularly where her appearance is concerned. Men can get as old and ugly and heavy as they want, but women are supposed to be sexually appealing at all times and at every age -- otherwise, watch out! Like Hillary Clinton, who Beck called a "stereotypical bitch," and Sonia Sotomayor, who he referred to as "Hispanic chick lady," it appears that Albright should not expect the same level of respect that men in those same positions are routinely granted. And that's just wrong.
The added irony here is that Glenn Beck recently bragged that more women were calling into his radio show and showing up at his book signings. He's been doing shows with moms because he claims that "it's the women, the moms, that I think truly have an idea of what's going on" in the U.S. Of course, Beck knows better than to insult these mothers and grandmothers with jabs at their appearance. But the fact is that he insults all women when he belittles Clinton, Sotomayor and Albright.
Take Action: Tell Kraig T. Kitchin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Premiere Radio Networks, what you think about Glenn Beck's sexist, ageist comments.
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