The ignorance of people in power

[Chaimera]

i was never a fan of this dude, but the fact that he lost his livelihood for making a few off color comments is just fuckin insane. the "controversy" is ridiculas. and the fact that is is utter bullshit that he loses his job, yet any other number of rap stars, priests, movie stars, metal stars and so on dont have to worry about losing their job. and half of those mofo's have done much worst. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18072804/

[Kyrros]

I think the hair they're splitting is that it was on national TV and supposedly for a 'family' program. Just goes to show what pissed off people are capable of and how much it takes to piss them off. :/

What he said wasn't cool at all, but I agree with ya Chai.

[Chaimera]

I agree that someone of his stature should have known better than to make a funky comment like that. But at least he didnt pull a Mel Gibson, or a catholic priest ya know?

[Tastyvixen]

I think that was a bit harsh considering he apologized many times for it. Of course I'm not sure what exactly he said so I guess it depends on how bad the racial slurring was.

[Vallikat]

Tasty, he called the entire Rutgars women's basketball team "nappy headed hos".

[Tarryk]

I'm on the middle-ground with this one. But it's actually less about the comment then about him. He's an idiot and a royal d*&#weed, and deserved to lose his job a LONG time ago (I hate shock-jock personas with a seething passion, and his is one of the worst).

So frankly I'm glad it happened. If it were someone else undeserving who made that slip, I'd call them a complete moron, let them drip out the long string of apologies, and be cool with them keeping their job (or pissed that they lost it). But in this case I think that the networks and the viewers alike had the same notion as me, they're just neglecting to admit the facts: He's an ass who had to go, he's said crap like this MANY times before just never got called out for it, and since this went so public it ended up being a REALLY good reason et finale to wipe him off the schedule for good.

[Mivat]

Freedom of speech give you the POSSIBILITY of saying whatever you want without fear of prosecution. Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you SHOULD say it, just because one can. The ability to speak doesn't neccesarily mean that one is intelligent, which remarks like that is (to me) a clear indication of.

I'm in the same bin as Tarryk on this one.

[Fishi3]

One of the prices paid for the kind of fame and celebrity this guy had is that he has to tred the mine field of public opinion. I can remember an insult comic who was on the oscars. Looking out into the crowd he said. "Oh good so and so isn't here.", His whole monologe was ragging on this one actor and he got really vicious about it. He should of known better. As it happened that actor wasn't in the audiance because he was the next presenter. When the insult comic ewalked of stage he walked into the flying fist of fury. The Academy was mortified. The actor was never charged. The comics career was over he couldn't get a job bottling fart jokes in seedy comedy clubs for crack whores after that.

So ultimately when your job is to stand up and be an ass it's really only a matter of time till you screw up and end up on your ass in the street.

[Jassel]

He ended up getting fired!? Las t I heard it was just a 2 week slap from radio!

I agree what was said was not appropriate, but its wasn't THAT bad.. It could have been a lot worse. With all the apologies that he said and meeting with the team. He shouldn't have gotten fired. Just my opinion though...

[Vallikat]

I don't think he was fired over this one incident. I think this incident was really just used as a scapegoat. The fact is that this guy has been insulting everyone and their brother for years and getting away with it. This time he just took it a step too far. So it's easy to say that he never should have been fired after all his apologizing. But this is a long standing pattern of behavior. A slap on the wrist really wasn't going to change that.

Also, I'm inclined to believe he's going to land on his 2 feet. I mean the guy is a multi-millionaire for goodness sakes. So I'm having a hard time mustering any sympathy.

[Jassel]

True, Valli.. As I don't know his history I am basing my opinion off this incident alone.

I just listen to the radio here in Dallas, and they do it all the time. I have heard far worse things then what he said on the radio, but as was already stated, this was on a family kind of TV show. Some of the morning shows here go beyond where they maybe should, but it caters to their listener. I guess we can look at it this way... He was no longer catering to the kind of listeners that they once had, and now because of this incident had they not fired him, he may have lost a lot of listeners.

[Acushla]

Freedom of speech give you the POSSIBILITY of saying whatever you want without fear of prosecution. Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you SHOULD say it, just because one can. The ability to speak doesn't neccesarily mean that one is intelligent, which remarks like that is (to me) a clear indication of.

I'm in the same bin as Tarryk on this one.

I should note first that I am not a Laywer. That said my understanding as it is interpeted here in US is that freedom of speech means they cannot prevent you from speaking your mind, nor can they prosecute you for speaking your mind. They can however prosecute you for the "Content" of your statement.

[Mivat]

Ah Thanks for clearing up that one, Peregryn

[Jugsmalone]

Well my tried and true motto is if you can not say anything good keep your mouth shut . It has worked for me in many situations, I will say this tho it takes a lot to push me over the hill and if you do run for it is my best advise.