The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

20 April 2007

Alec Baldwin Verbal Abuse Against Daughter, Talk Radio, Network News

FAIR GAME

Baldwin Abuse Tape Is Of Public Concern







With the leak and subsequent network airing of a tape featuring actor / liberal political activist Alec Baldwin verbally abusing his 11- year- old daughter, a predictable backlash is already underway.

In this instance, however, media critics (or are they Baldwin's lefty political supporters?) are dead wrong. That's because there are bona fide reasons to bring this into public view.

From TMZ.com (where you can also hear the tape):


An enraged Alec Baldwin unleashed a volcanic tirade of threats and insults on his 11-year-old daughter, Ireland, calling her a "thoughtless little pig," and bashing her mother Kim Basinger -- and TMZ has obtained the whole thing unfiltered and raw. And we've learned, a family law judge was so alarmed after hearing the tape, she has temporarily barred Baldwin from having any contact with his child.


By playing the seven- minute tape on NBC's Today Show, has his family's privacy been violated? Is this nothing more than a private dispute? More on this below.

In addition to NBC and other television networks, a number of radio talk shows aired excerpts of it today, where hosts unleashed tirades against the arrogant actor.

At the left- leaning TVNewser, the grumbling begins:


Baldwin's Outburst Gets 7 Min. Of 'Today'

The Today show did a segment on Alec Baldwin's outburst at his daughter" this morning. "Are they actually booking off of TMZ now?," an e-mailer asks.

NBC teased TMZ's leaked audio at the top of the show. The seven-minute segment aired during the 7:30am half-hour; Matt Lauer chatted with Harvey Levin and Dan Abrams about it.

"The story is nothing more than an ongoing, nasty domestic dispute. How tabloid can Today get?!?," a tipster asks. (And let's not mention the 30 Rock connection.)


Unlike NBC's shameless decision to air the Virginia Tech shooter's manifesto, this call was the right one, for these reasons:


Any time we can raise societal awareness of the nature of child abuse, whether physical or verbal, the media should do so.


Alec Baldwin is a public person. With fame comes a reduced expectation of privacy.


The tape isn't private because one side of this family dispute chose to leak it to the media. That makes it fair game.


Baldwin is a political activist who frequently makes unhinged political statements. This sheds light on his true personal nature. As a result, why should we listen when he attacks Bush and Cheney?


With the judge's decision to eliminate contact between Baldwin and his daughter, it became a news story and moved outside the realm of tabloid gossip.


Baldwin, who in the past has expressed an interest in becoming a liberal talk host, has frequently shot his mouth off in public on political issues.

Now that we know this lack of character extends to his family life as well, our picture of Baldwin is complete.

For years, conservatives have attempted to convince Americans that Alec Baldwin is an unhinged lunatic, with limited success. Now, the actor has done himself in better than anyone else ever could have.

In terms of sheer career damage, this could exceed a Mel Gibson or Michael Richards by far. What's next for Alec Baldwin?

Finally, one more question: will so- called "progressives" try to rewrite history, Imus- style, to pretend he was never one of them?


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7 Comments:

  • First of all, I would like to say this tape was harsh. However, I would also add that we should not judge the entire situation by one conversation. Yes, I believe a "timeout" is warranted, but I also believe we need to hear both sides of a story before we go any further. Alec is in a no-win situation. As I have been involved in divorce situations in the past, I can invision this situation as a runaway train headed for a wall if someone doesn't step in and help these folks NOW!!!! I would implore these two to step up to the plate and do the obligatory work which is necessary to invoke a nuturing, stable environment in an impossible siutation, otherwise the time will pass beyond the point of no return and this child will be the one to suffer, in that, her future endeavors with issues involving the central core of her life will not be dealt with in a healthy manner and those around her will suffer. The parent sharing custody, but is not within the home or involved in the child's life on a day-to-day basis can be made to feel like an outsider. As I previously stated, I have no idea the particulars of this situation, and I will not judge anyone, but anyone hearing that conversation can see that these people need help in dealing with an impossible situation before irrepairable words are spoken ( and may have already been). I beg Kim and Alec to lay down their swords and do the right thing for their daughter NOW!!! I have no idea what led up to this conversation, but know that children can pierce your heart in much the same way as Alec did when he spoke in this manner to his daughter. Let's hear three sides and get a resolution to this nightmare.

    By Blogger suzanne, at 21 April, 2007 10:01  

  • As the previous comment stated, I would be careful to draw too many conclusions from one tape (and this includes my personal very low opinion of Baldwin).
    That said you also cannot deny what this shows of his character.
    I only wish when a man my wife had an affair with verbally abused my daughter (to the point of blaming herself for everything), I wish I had some admissible tapes for evidence and for all my so called friends who pointed fingers at many without checking the facts.

    Carl Strohmeyer

    By Blogger Carl, at 21 April, 2007 17:13  

  • Hate to be personal and all that, but that tape could be something MY FATHER would've said to me as his son.

    He was more emotionally abusive, not so much physical, as if HE NEVER WANTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME! Physical scars can heal up, emotional ones are another matter.

    But what Baldwin has done with his child, kind of makes my old man look like Ward Cleaver!

    By Blogger The Real Bob Anthony, at 22 April, 2007 06:21  

  • I think it's time for a a good cry, then a group hug. We'll all be better for it.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 22 April, 2007 16:28  

  • This was not news. I saw some of the segment, and my first thought was that Hanity was retaliating. This should not have made it to air. It is an obvious attempt for leverage by Bassinger.

    What Baldwin said was deplorable. The fact that it was leaked into the open is just as deplorable. Divorces are ugly, emotional situations. This one is obviously a very bad one, and the last thing anyone should do is put their dirty laundry out for everyone to see. Just what was accomplished here? Alec Baldwin is obviously humiliated, as is his daughter (who is the only one who probably deserves sympathy).

    These people can get help, none of them are poor. No one needs to step in, someone just needs to grow up. I mean after all, they are hollywood stars. How stable could they actually be?

    Shame on Hannity and Colmes for putting this on.

    By Blogger Cincimaddog, at 23 April, 2007 12:30  

  • how about we're all fucking human beings and alec baldwin is not a god. we all have afamily tiffs too. why the fuck should i care about alec baldwin's

    By Blogger boredwithbetty, at 26 May, 2007 07:39  

  • As a daughter who's father is verbally abusive I know that there is NEVER an excuse to speak to your child this way. funny this is that my father heard about this story and proceeded to say how deplorable it was of a father to say such things to his daughter. haha these kind of people fall on both sides of the line and few of them know how bad they are. but they are all manipulative and controlling and NOTHING can EVER justify the use of this kind of language. I hope that it at least lets others like myself know that we are not alone in having fathers like this and anytime the media can point out where the real blame lies it makes at least me feel a little better knowing that it isnt me. because all too often I think it is.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10 October, 2008 02:23  

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