WRKO host suspended for calling Turnpike chief a derogatory slur

Boston Globe ^ | July 18, 2006 | Steve Greenlee

[ConservativeStatement]

WRKO suspended talk-show host John DePetro yesterday for using a slur for "homosexual" in reference to Turnpike Authority chairman Matthew J. Amorello.

The morning host, who calls himself "The Independent Man," was suspended for two days after using the epithet on the air during a discussion of Amorello's conduct following the ceiling collapse of the I-90 connector. DePetro called Amorello "[expletive] Matt," adding, "I don't mean gay [expletive]. I mean like he's a sissy boy. He's a little sissy boy."

Neither DePetro nor Amorello returned calls late yesterday, but WRKO program director Jason Wolfe said the station has "zero tolerance for racial intolerance... Mr. DePetro has 72 hours to think about this." Wolfe said he purposely chose the word "racial" because "people will lump everything in together."

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I've read about Matthew Amorello. He was a GOP state Senator who ran for Congress in 1998.

In Assachusetts, the Gay State, GOP means Graft Only Politics. It's practiced by both parties, more by the Dems as they greatly outnumber the other.

[Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness]

Was is fag Matt?

Yes, DePetro called Matt a "fag".

I sensed DePetro immediately recognized his verbal faux pas and backpedaled from the comment by stating his definition of a "fag", explaining he meant it in the sissy sense, not the homosexual sense.

I find DePetro banal. The guys who substitute for him, 'Pundit Review', are more insightful and should have his slot on WRKO. It's just a matter of time before they do.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I don't believe for a second that WRKO is trying to get rid of Depetro. And certainly not with Brian Maloney.

[Clintonfatigued]

Obviously, Amorello leaves much to be desired. But I'd rather have him in Congress than the person he ran against, moonbat leftist Jim McGovern.

[ladyinred]

So much for free speech. That is reserved for liberals who advocate shooting the President of the United States between the eyes and 'tolerant' things like that.

[ThomasThomas]

Girly Men worked for Arnold.

[real saxophonist]

I have a friend who is a bassoon player. He happens to be gay. The French word for bassoon is 'Fagot'

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I agree with you about Jim McGovern. We definitely would not be in the mess we are right now. Amorello was in way over his head.

[RobbyS]

Racial? doesn't that make drunkards a race? EM Kennedy is the king of that race.

[goldfinch]

So much for free speech.

Nonsense. The guy violated company policy and was suspended by his boss. You seem to have forgotten two important things. First, the 1st amendment prevents the GOVERNMENT from making a law to suppress free speech. And, second, actions have consequences. He acted against the radio stations policies, and the station was well within their rights to suspend him. I commend them.

[raccoonradio]

thanks...I work nights and only now am finding out about this.
made some posts in a thread arising from the Herald article.

[raccoonradio]

>>he won't resign because of a conversation with his wife

he made some kind of comment like "I talked it over with my wife. We have a 60-40 relationship when it comes to decisions. I won't say who has the 60 and who has the 40". It was said he was trying to lighten things up with that remark.

[raccoonradio]

I don't think Jason Wolfe is gay...at least as far as I know.
A quick websearch turned up this bit by liberal blogger/
Boston Phoenix writer Dan Kennedy: "Wolfe helped turn WEEI (sister station) into a huge success by encouraging a crude, locker-room approach that often veers into homophobia. "

Wolfe is now in charge of both WEEI and WRKO; the addition of the Red Sox to WRKO next year (some games will still air on
WEEI) and the conversion of "Taste of Boston" into a more
political show (Todd Feinburg) are two indications of Wolfe's
work, perhaps.

[Southack]

"I have a friend who is a bassoon player. He happens to be gay. The French word for bassoon is 'Fagot'"

Whew! For a second there I thought that you were going to say that he was French!

[Criminal Number 18F]

You're right of course, Fat Matt's a crook, but McGoon is a crook, AND on the enemy side in the war.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Criminal Number 18F]

I'd like to start a new minority called "fishermen" and start making demands on the enviro-whackos.

Geez, that's a more minor minority every year.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[HiTech RedNeck]

But he is a derogatory slur.

[mewzilla]

This was an excuse. The radio coverage on the Big Dig scandal has been blistering. I'd like to know the backstory behind this. Someone ought to be asking WRKO's management some tough questions. Bet they go after Howie Carr next.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Thanks. My only connexion to RKO is as a listener. I don't go in for sports much any more so I never listen to EEI.Probably couldn't find it on the dial. My truck radio is tuned to RKO and BZ for the traffic reports.

The host I'd like to see RKO lose is the evening syndicated talent, Michael Savage. Listening to a dull mind rant gets old in about two minutes. But I'm sure he will stay because he costs next to nothing.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[mewzilla]

I wonder if Carr will have anything to say on what the station's doing to DePetro...