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Talk show host fired after on-air racial slur
Saint Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 03/22/2006 | Jake Wagman

Posted on 03/22/2006 3:16:47 PM PST by cardinal4

A radio personality at 550 KTRS was fired on the spot this morning after using the word “coon” on the air in a conversation about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Dave Lenihan was dismissed after what he called an inadvertent slip of the tongue. Within 20 minutes, station CEO Tim Dorsey apologized on the air to listeners and announced that Lenihan, who had been with the station for less than two weeks, had been let go.

“I don’t know what was in Mr. Lenihan’s mind,” Dorsey said in an interview. “I know what I heard. I know it was reprehensible.”

Lenihan’s comment was made during a discussion about Rice’s credentials to become commissioner of the National Football League, a topic that has been fodder for sports talk radio since the current commissioner announced he would retire later this year.

Lenihan was listing what assets Rice could bring to the league, including her tenure as a top academic officer at Stanford University and the fact that she is African-American.

“She’s just got a patent resume, of somebody that’s got such serious skill,” Linehan said on the air. “She loves football, she’s African-American, which would kind of be a big coon, a big coon – oh my God, I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that, OK? I didn’t mean that. That was just a slip of the tongue.” Lenihan later said he meant to use the word "coup."

Reached at home, Lenihan said he was still trying to figure out what happened, and was drafting a letter of apology to Rice.

"I was trying to say 'quite a coup' but it came out 'coon,"' he said. "I caught myself and apologized. It wasn't anything I was meaning to say. I never use that word.

(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: condirice; coon; coonass; coup; lenihan; oooooppps; quiteacoup; rice; slur; talkradio
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

I should probably add, the N word is off limits, too.


61 posted on 03/22/2006 6:19:31 PM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Quicksilver

Town to town, up and down the dial ... now we know the backstory. George Carlin would have me say "booger, booger, booger" at this juncture.


62 posted on 03/22/2006 6:27:44 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Michael Goldsberry

Without thought police we will never triumph against "hate".


63 posted on 03/22/2006 6:32:58 PM PST by rimmont
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To: Rte66

I worked in the oilfields, coon ass was acceptable in a jocular fashion among the roustabouts from Louisiana, a term called redbone would, quite possible, get you killed.

Those that know, will agree. Et toi?


64 posted on 03/22/2006 7:32:00 PM PST by Hilltop
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To: cardinal4

WOW ~ I don't listen to KTRS, but my kneejerk reaction is PC run-amok!


65 posted on 03/22/2006 8:06:17 PM PST by StarCMC (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing...thank you Sarge.)
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To: Hilltop

Moi, I might agree, my ownself, since I have never used the term derogatorily. However, I'm not Cajun, so perhaps there are some who do find it offensive. None who have ever come into my circle have found it to be, either, so I've used it affectionately, or so I thought.

Here are some different viewpoints about it. As far as the other term, all I know about it is that it's Leon's last name and I have a lot of his CDs cause I like him a lot.

Here ya go - some discussions of the term "coonass" and also "coonie" in some places:

http://www.coonass.com/whycoon.htm
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/coonass.htm
WARNING: Explicit language
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000815
WARNING: Explicit language
http://www.asteur.org/issue-coonass.html
http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/3076/racoon.htm


66 posted on 03/22/2006 8:30:13 PM PST by Rte66
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To: cardinal4

LOL!

I can still see Eddie Murphy on SNL doing that Jesse Jackson impersonation singing...

"Don't let me down....Hymietown!"


67 posted on 03/22/2006 9:30:48 PM PST by Maury
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To: cardinal4

"Slipsey". Nope, don't count when a resonable explanation is provided. Only works when you are a demorat and from Virginia.


68 posted on 03/23/2006 1:07:21 AM PST by taxesareforever (Government is running amuck)
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To: cardinal4

Should have used "honky" instead. That would have gotten him a raise.


69 posted on 03/23/2006 8:00:43 AM PST by TBP
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To: cardinal4

Dave Lenihan was dismissed after what he called an inadvertent slip of the tongue. Within 20 minutes, station CEO Tim Dorsey apologized on the air to listeners and announced that Lenihan, who had been with the station for less than two weeks, had been let go.

Air America is looking for people.


70 posted on 03/23/2006 9:27:33 AM PST by Valin (Purple Fingers Rule!)
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To: cardinal4; All

If anyone is interested, Larry Elder is talking with the host (Dave) on his show now.

It's KABC 790 in Los Angeles, http://www.kabc.com, or http://www.larryelder.com


71 posted on 03/23/2006 3:44:54 PM PST by Christian4Bush (FreeRepublic and Rush Limbaugh: kevlar protection from the Drive-By Media.)
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To: Christian4Bush

He was supposed to speak with Charlie Brennan this morning on KMOX and I just saw him on KMOV..


72 posted on 03/23/2006 3:47:20 PM PST by cardinal4 (David Gregory-the John Kerry of the Media Elite)
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To: DoughtyOne

Agree 100%.

Politically correct world is not a good world to live in for anyone....


73 posted on 03/26/2006 4:30:12 PM PST by indianrightwinger
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To: spinestein

Yes. Standards should be high. He is supposedly a 2-week old host. So, may be cut some slack?


74 posted on 03/26/2006 4:31:52 PM PST by indianrightwinger
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To: cardinal4
I wonder if that station has Burger King ads boasting BK's "Big Bucking Chicken" sandwich.

Wasn't there an incident when a reporter/propagandist "mis-spoke" Niger Innis' name as the "N" word?

Nothing like sitting back with a beer and some popcorn and watching it all go by.

75 posted on 03/26/2006 4:47:35 PM PST by Thumper1960 (The enemy within: Demoncrats and DSA.ORG Sedition is a Liberal "family value".)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

It obviously was an accident....he was speaking about Condi...CONdi. Say Condi a few times and then see how easy it is to mistakely add an N to "coup" within the same thought process.


76 posted on 03/26/2006 5:01:22 PM PST by EnquiringMind
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To: cardinal4
“She’s just got a patent resume, of somebody that’s got such serious skill,” Linehan said on the air. “She loves football, she’s African-American, which would kind of be a big coon, a big coon – oh my God, I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that, OK? I didn’t mean that. That was just a slip of the tongue.” Lenihan later said he meant to use the word "coup."

I would have to hear the actual clip. Was this done in a sarcastic tone? Many have had true slips of the tongue, and many have manufactured the same as a way of getting their true point across.

77 posted on 03/26/2006 6:37:15 PM PST by DejaJude (Admiral Clark said, "Our mantra today is life, liberty and the pursuit of those who threaten it!")
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