July 09, 2003
Take over television and radio station
Michael Savage was fired from MSNBC for saying what he has said dozens of times before. He told a gay person that he hoped they got AIDS and died. Now, this is not a shocking statement coming from someone like him. It’s every day conversation. Savage has made a career of being more extreme than Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, David Duke, Richard Mellon Scaife, or any other right wing extremist you can think of. MSNBC hired him with the express intent of out-Foxing Fox, e.g. being more far right and outrageous than Fox. And when they get what they want they fire the guy?
I think a whole lot more heads should roll for this one. Either the strategy as a whole is flawed (which it is, the majority of the country is to the left of Fox, and to the right of FAIR. They're called moderates, and they really do outnumber the left AND the right. And that's how it should be) or they didn't do the most basic background check on who they were hiring (like maybe listening to his radio show or reading his book). C'mon, the only person further to the right in the media today is possibly Ann "If you aren't a conservative Republican then you aren't an American and shouldn't have any rights at all" Coulter.
Fire the whole executive team. Bring in a mix of people from all across the country, show different perspective, maybe even have some balance. Unfortunately the current idea of "balance" in the media is to have a mix of conservative and ultra conservative with the occasional moderate thrown in for flavor (and called a liberal when they really aren't). It is a prime example of how far right this country has gone when Dennis Kucinich is portrayed as a radical leftist. Objectively speaking, he's a solid liberal, not a radical liberal. The fact that he's able to even get his name mentioned in the press is astounding to me.
What they ‘wanted’ was not Savage’s schtick, but big ratings. They could care less about what Savage says, if it were popular. But it wasn’t, Savage bombed, so it’s over.
Posted by: Ted at July 9, 2003 12:40 PMSavage was nothing more than a hatemonger that MSNBC cynically used to generate ratings. He deserved to be fired. but MSNBC is just as culpable for allowing him to spread his bigoted message. Shame on them!
Posted by: Rick at July 9, 2003 01:20 PMI hate how MSNBC is trying to become FoxNews! If I wanted radical right wing crap, I’d watch FoxNews. During the time leading up to Gulf War II and during the war, I prefered MSNBC’s even coverage. But since the war began winding down they’ve taken a turn for the worse. Savage, Joe Scarborough, etc. Where are the independent and left leaning supposed to turn? I know that the right has done a good job of selling the idea that the mainstream media supports the liberal agenda, but I believe that the perception is different from the reality and if FoxNews is supposed to be evening the field then they’ve gone way overboard.
Posted by: blipsman at July 9, 2003 04:01 PMI think a couple of things are happening in cable tv news.
It’s ok for right wing commentators to be obnoxious and politically incorrect. They can shout down their opponents and no one gives a crap. It’s an outgrowth of the anti political correctness (read rude, obnoxious, loud bigoted, racist, homophobic, sexist) Gingrich period when conservative pundits took over the radio airwaves. It’s the whining, in your face” I don’t care what your opinion is, you’re a loser and it’s my right of free speech to say so”, attitude of angry white males and the brainwashed women who cater to their anti social culture. Since that period of time there has been an increasing incivility in all forms of human communication. Not only across the political spectrum, but culturally and socially as well.
On the other hand, liberals are seen as too politically correct, polite and want to be seen as above the mudslinging. So liberals lose out to the big mouthed angry conservative guys who are just exercising their right of free speech to insult and belittle anyone who diagrees with them.
Because conservatives have staked out the territory of meanness, the public expects and tolerates their bad behavior. Whereas, if liberals get angry and shout and slander their opponents, their behavior is seen as out of character and rude.
Liberals can’t win for losing. Conservatives have defined them as whiny, soft, politically correct compromisers.
Liberals need to define conservatives as loud, belligerent, bigoted white guys who drive gas sucking SUV’s watch professional wrestling and only care about how much of their money the government gives to welfare queens.
Liberals need to define, marginalize and demonize conservatives.
Just like conservatives did to them.
Posted by: Rick at July 9, 2003 05:26 PMWhat have you got against wrestling, you elitist snob? It’s more like politics than any other sport.
Posted by: Richard Bennett at July 9, 2003 06:11 PMI can’t resist.
As could only be uttered by Dan Aykroyd.
Richard, you ignorant slut.
(only half kidding)
Posted by: Rick at July 9, 2003 06:54 PMCrazy like a Fox(News), he is, that Mr Bennett.
Posted by: Yoda at July 9, 2003 06:58 PM
