Posted on 11/08/2004 2:25:59 PM PST by Snerdley
Belling taken off air over racial slur But talk show host 'will return,' says Clear Channel official Journal Sentinel staff Posted: Nov. 8, 2004
Mark Belling
From the Archives
11/1/04: Talk show host made reference to 'wetback' voters (11/1/04) 11/3/04: Latino leaders plan series of protests 11/4/04: Latino leaders urge Clear Channel to take Belling off the air 11/5/04: 300 protest at station over Belling 11/6/04: Belling issues formal apology 11/6/04: Text of Belling's statement
WISN-AM (1130) has taken talk show host Mark Belling off the air - at least temporarily - for his use of a derogatory term for illegal Mexican immigrants on his Oct. 27 program.
In a statement read at the usual 3 p.m. opening of his show, an announcer said:
"WISN is adamantly opposed to the use of racially offensive language. As a result of his comment and subsequent actions, Mark Belling is currently not on the air.
"We regret the incident occurred, and we look forward to helping educate the public about ethnic diversity. Our focus is to rebuild relations with the Milwaukee community."
In a statement, Cindy McDowell, vice president and market manager of Clear Channel's six Milwaukee stations, declined to use the term "suspended."
She said "Mark will return to the air. Right now, both Mark and the station are focusing on how we can educate the public on ethnic diversity."
More complete coverage of this story will appear online later tonight and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday morning.
We need to attract minoritys to our cause... The conservative movment does not have room for ignorance or bigotry at all...
I never knew that term was considered derogatory....It always has been.
Well, it always has been derogatory when speaking of all hispanics as WB's, but if it's used to reference the specific subgroup of hispanic's who are here ILLEGALLY (as it is here), then it's not, it's just discriptive.
Way out of the loop... There are a lot of Mexican Americans who had parents that were immigrated illegaly and they are very offended to hear their parents called wetbacks..
I too emailed the station. Tried calling but line is busy.
Mark is being railroaded. He has profusely apologized by using the term, only referring to Illegals registering in Milwaukee. I do not agree with everything Mark does and says but he has been a great asset in reporting the voter fraud in Milwaukee.
"The popular Ann Willis Richards made use of the comment "wetback" in her 1990 TX gubernatorial victory, and not a single media person that I can recall protested in the least."
Well, DUH!!!
Those that think this is really just temporary should know that the replacement for Mark today was Sean Hannity.
This was NOT just a fill in host for Mark's show, but a seperate contract to air a syndicated show that WISN did NOT carry before this.
It is my opinion is Mark will NOT be back unless unbelievable pressure be brought on WISN and Clearchannel.
---and the first place I heard it used was in SW New Mexico by hispanic surnamed citizens in reference to illegal border-crossers---
WISN has carried Hannity for a few years. His show is usually on tape delay from 8 - 11 pm.
Your point, though, is not substantially-changed. In the past, WISN would air a fill-in (usually general manager Jerry Bott, especially if it were a last-minute absence), a "best-of" show, or simply rerun Belling's Rush appearance. IMHO, both Belling and Bott are done in this town. Sad that the oh-so-tolerant Left has succeeded in taking out the local competition it doesn't own.
This is the same rationalization that someone who claims that they are not racist and feels that they can refer to "ignorant" blacks as "n" words. I am white and I grew up in the south and midwest. I have also lived on the East Coast. I can assure you that racism is still very much a serious underlying problem within the United States. Just think about how many times in the company of all white friends someone has told a racist joke or made a racist remark and you or your friends laughed. If you say nothing to rebuke that person making the joke or statement then you are simply saying that it is acceptable.
I'm a Mick because my people sometimes use Mc or Mac in their surname, though my name starts with an O'. We're known as drunks because many of our people drink in excess. I don't get drunk. We eat potatoes but I don't like them as much as pasta. We're known for our anger and humor because most Irish are angry and humorous, usually at the same time. That one really pisses me off!
True it's a general statement but a true statement as well; stereotypes follow those guidelines generally. Have I offended anyone?
Where would we get the idea of calling hispanics wetbacks?
reminds me of Chris Rock's comment that's not considered
un-PC when told by him.
"There are black people and there are n-----s."
Had this been said by a democrat of Hispanic descent, it would not be mentioned.
Where would we get the idea of calling hispanics wetbacks?
Again, for the umpteenth time, the term "Wetbacks" is NOT REFERING TO HISPANICS. It was referring to ILLEGAL (read: Criminal) persons of Mexican decent. You only fuel liberal fires when you make such intentional distortions.
Of course you know where the term comes from right? There is a river seperating the US from Mexico, and often those that come over illegally cross THROUGH that river and get their backs wet. The term is used (derogatorily) to reference those that are so obviously new to our country that it's said thier backs are still wet (from the crossing of the river).
Please refrain from confusing the issue by associating the WB term with anyone other than the group it really describes.
I think they should be called CRIMINAL INVADERS.
Good for you for setting the record straight. I heard Belling the day he used this term. He was not referring to the hispanic community but to Illegals registering to vote. Again, I say, I do not agree with everything Belling says and does, but he has been an asset for his continued hounding and pounding of our city's officials regarding vote fraud in Milwaukee.
The term should have always been "Wetfeet", they only get their backs wet if they fall down in mid Rio Grande.
Outlawing free speech, one word at a time, is the soicialists incremental route to total censorship.
Thank you, now at last this old fart has something to feel offended about.
Only the ignorant and bigoted consider Republicans to be ignorant and bigoted.
amen!
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