Libtalkers Benefit From Negative Publicity

'BIG F-ING' SCAMS?

Rhodes, Schultz Stories Increasingly Smell Fishy





*** UPDATE: Rhodes Out, Was She Pushed? More Tonight ***


Are both fans and detractors of liberal talk radio being taken for a ride?

With two "progressive" talkers enjoying an unprecedented wave of publicity in recent days, fishy signs of stunt-dom have begun to emerge. How did we not see this days earlier?

Last week's biggie was the headline- generating suspension of Randi Rhodes, a result of having called Hillary Clinton a "big f***ing whore" during an affiliate- sponsored event.

At the time, your Radio Equalizer did note some odd aspects of the story:

UPDATE: word late today is that Rhodes may not be returning to Air America Radio anytime soon, which is a surprise. Could this really be a broke network's way of forgoing Randi's huge salary? Consider this: the incident occurred two full weeks ago, on 22 March. What explains the delay in her removal? Certainly, there wasn't a public controversy to deal with, almost no one not in attendance that night even knew about it.

Since then, there has been no official word on Randi's fate, other than having been given the week off. But that nagging feeling that this is a contrived controversy is only growing stronger.

For one thing, allowing former Air America personality Janeane Garofalo to phone in and savagely attack management during Randi's timeslot is not something we would normally expect when a host has been suspended. It's unlikely her fill-in would have taken her call had he not felt safe in doing so.

There's also the strange silence at Randi's own website, where the homepage shows no sign of Rhodes even being away from the program. In fact, Monday's date was listed with a fresh newsmaker graphic, as though nothing has happened.

In addition, clips in support of Randi, including another version of the Garofalo call, have been posted by libtalk supporters to YouTube, including several under the name "AirAmericaRadio". Though the user claims to be a fan and not connected to the network, it sure seems like an official effort. BoreAmerica has noticed this as well.

At this point, it wouldn't surprise your Radio Equalizer to learn Randi was in Barbados taking in a sunny holiday while this "controversy" raged in her absence.


As for the Ed Schultz flap, where Barack Obama has felt the need to apologize to McCain for his "warmonger" remark at a North Dakota fundraiser, this too seems increasingly contrived. On and off the air, Schultz has been milking this for all it's worth.

Could it be that Big Eddie cooked this up in advance, knowing full well he could generate the kind of publicity that conservative talker Bill Cunningham did when introducing McCain?


Nobody can fault a radio talk show host for seeking publicity, it's a job requirement. But talkers who go down this path should understand that things don't always go according to plan and a backlash can emerge when least expected.

So watch it, guys, before your own base ends up turning against you. Nobody likes to be taken for a ride, not even fans.


FOR New England regional talk radio updates, see our other site. NEW: WRKO host in trouble over university degree claims


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Technorati tags: talk radio randi rhodes suspension ed schultz warmongers barack obama john mccain air america radio north dakota fundraiser

Classic Rhodes/Franken/Soros image: Pete at IHillary