ON MESSAGES OF HATE

MINDLESS VITRIOL

This bit from a New York Times op-ed titled "Spies like you and me", by Bob Herbert, on the current anti-immigrant mood of the country, prompted a question in my mind.  First, the segment:

"Enlisting ordinary Americans in a nationwide hunt for so-called illegals is a recipe for violence and hysteria, a guarantee of tragedy.

We’ve already got radio-active talk show hosts spewing anti-immigrant venom from one coast to another. Media Matters for America, a monitoring group, has noted that Michael Savage, who has the third-most-listened-to show in the nation, said the following on his July 2 broadcast:

“When I see a woman walking around with a burqa, I see a Nazi. That’s what I see. How do you like that? A hateful Nazi who would like to cut your throat and kill your children.”

When a woman wears a burqa, said Mr. Savage, “She’s doing it to spit in your face. She’s saying, ‘You white moron, you, I’m going to kill you if I can.’”

I wasn't sure if this quote was accurate, so I Googled it...sure enough, Michael Savage, with his average audience of 8 million listeners, did say it.  There's an audio clip of it here in a post by Media Matters, with it's full context.

This then raises a question in my mind.

How is this different than Don Imus's comments about another group of minority females earlier this year that caused a highly publicized national brouhaha and lead to his very public firing?

Why is Michael Savage immune from the reaction that Don Imus received?

What am I missing here?

Comments

[Alex Tolley]

Don Imus was not fired for what he said, but because the sponsors decided that they didn't want their products to be associated with negative public feelings stirred up by his comments. CBS then used this to cancel his show. Clearly, until the brouhaha, the sponsors were quite happy to fund the show, as was CBS. Note that Imus is quietly getting back on the air.

Hateful as Savage is, there is nothing preventing him from venting as he does. That is the essence of freedom of speech. He could only be taken off the air by legal means if he incited a crime by his speech, such as suggesting women in burkhas be raped or killed. Otherwise, unless the sponsors refuse to fund his show, he can continue saying what he says.

If we were to take action on all possibly hate speech, well the Robertson's and Falwell's of this world would be removed from the airways and pulpits forthwith. (Fallwell did us this service naturally).

[Bruce]

I seldom listen to Savage but when I do his rants are very good. So is Mark Levin on WABC. Same station that you say "Imus" is quietly coming back on the air with.

Think the discussion regarding Imus' remarks are now over. But I support Savage saying what he said. You see the muslims are a religion. Even if they are American citizens, there are no evil dictators that will chop off their heads if they don't cover their faces or where burka's. They are free to be Americans. But when they think they are better then me and demand special treatment, they have crossed the line.

I don't care what your religion is. But do not even attempt to impose it on me. Not in the market for your preachings.

The Koran has many interpretations. And is the Muslims bible. It is suppose to be a peaceful religion. And I guess that for many it is. But the radical faction is the one that took down the towers and killed 3000+ innocent Americans. So hatred for them is bound to occur among many, especially Jewish people, as Savage is.

And Alex is correct. It is freedom of speech even on the airwaves. But as Alex also says, unless he causes a riot or asks people to murder any Muslims, he is free to say what he wants.

We all have to stop being so sensitive and over the top politically correct. If everyone spoke nice words about everyone else it would be a truly boring world.

Bruce from Florida