Posted on 11/19/2004 8:00:05 AM PST by lindor
An unrepentant Sly explained why he called the nominee to be secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, an "Aunt Jemima" and outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell an "Uncle Tom" on the radio Wednesday.
Sly, the on-air name for John Sylvester, told WTDY-AM (1670) morning show listeners that Rice, who is black, bought her way into the White House with obedience to President Bush.
"I'm not apologizing for what I said," Sylvester said Thursday in an interview. "I stand by it.
"I was aiming that directly at a black person that is letting himself (and herself) be used by an administration that has been extremely hostile to minorities," he said.
"Being subservient and being a black role model are two different things. I think (Rice) has not only been bad for the country and for national security, but I think she's been a bad black role model.
"I don't think being subservient to white people and not blowing the whistle on their misdoings is a good role model at all."
Sylvester said his comments were not a ratings ploy. "People know who I am. I don't need to get attention."
Response was negative, from Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold to Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the Urban League of Greater Madison. Sylvester has been intensely supportive of Feingold and Wisconsin Democrats in general.
The comments came in the wake of conservative Milwaukee talker Mark Belling's five- day suspension from WISN-AM (1130) for using the word "wetback," a derogatory term for illegal Mexican immigrants, on his Oct. 27 show.
"While it is not my intention to comment on every extremely inappropriate remark made in our society," Feingold said in a statement today, "given the proximity to the unfortunate comments made by another member of the media, I feel it is necessary to completely reject and repudiate these recent comments."
Cieslewicz said he didn't hear the broadcast but understood that Sylvester's comment were racially insensitive. "Our society is not well served by a coarsening of political discussion," the mayor said, "and comments with negative racial overtones are even more troubling."
The Urban League said it was deeply disturbed. "Such slurs based on racial and ethnic stereotypes have no place in the 21st century," said its statement. "We call upon WTDY and John Sylvester to apologize for using the basest form of racial derision to highlight a political viewpoint."
Sylvester, who is also program director, said he would not take himself off the air nor would station owners, the Mid- West Family Broadcast Group. General Manager Tom Walker did not return phone calls Thursday.
Sylvester said the issue was being stirred by Milwaukee talk show host Charlie Sykes. "I didn't think anything about it," he said. "I think I've even said it before. Anybody who knows me knows I'm not a racist."
"I did call her the Aunt Jemima of the administration because I think not only have they used her race as a trophy, but I think her price of admission to the White House has been complete obedience to the white power structure in the White House," Sylvester said. "(And) I called (Powell) Uncle Tom. Frankly I think they bought his silence."
1670 AM !!! Isn't that the frequency that broadcasts the warnings on the turnpike?
I guess he was fine with the blacks in X42's HW staff. What was that lady's name????
Oh, that's right, there weren' any.
"People know who I am. I don't need to get attention."
I don't, but you sound like a racist.
I would hardly think the Bush Administrations policies regarding minorities share any resemblance of the word.
For a guy who's enlightened, he's sure a pretty poor wordsmith. Unless of course he's selling something to a group of people if he says it long enough.
Well then I think they ought to put Mark Belling back on the air and APOLOGIZE to him for being so 'picky' about his 'wetback' comment!
Yeah! Right! In my dreams maybe.
Condi position is denying the minorities their claim to victimization. How dare she!!!
Without victims, there is no Democratic Party. They need the party to take care of them.
I guess we'll just have to trust him on this one.
ROFL!! I take it you mean the PA turnpike. I think you are right.
I called Walker yesterday and he thought the whole issue was laughable...
I asked him if he thought racist's remarks were funny?
and I didn't get a response.
The whole station and all involved appeard to have no problem with racist's remarks!
Who says the KKK is dead.
It certainly appears to be alive and well in Wisconsin!
bump
Reminds me of Custer's uncanny ability to just look at a person and identify the position best suited to their attributes.
Actually, I do! (And New Jersey, too)
This guy is so racist that he never considers that maybe Bush is FOLLOWING Rice's opinions--rather than vice versa.
Several years ago, Doug Tracht, a/k/a The Greaseman, was booted off the air in Washington, D.C. and his career ruined after he made a stupid comment about Lauryn Hill's music being the reason for blacks being dragged behind trucks - a comment for which he immediately apologized on the air and repeatedly afterward. The outcry was deafening and he was fired anyway. This kind of comment is no different, yet this a-hole refuses to apologize!!
another buffoon with access to the air waves, why aren't people screaming for his resignation, screaming racism, etc? ooops I forgot, sly is part of the mslbm, he can't be persecuted or fined or fired.
Well that is just not acceptable or even possible for sly's mind to fathom.
Ah well. So now we know that WTDY-AM (1670) is a station run by racist morons.
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