LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE SPITS IN FACE OF TALK SHOW HOST ON THE AIR

DFU listening to KABC in Los Angeles | 9-8-02 | Doug from Upland

[doug from upland]

The evening started innocently enough for Brian Whitman, Sunday evening talk show host on KABC in Los Angeles.

He had on his show four minor candidates running for governor of California. Three were on the phone and the fourth, Libertarian candidate Gary Copeland, was in studio.

The conversation eventually turned to illegal immigration. Copeland did not like Whitman's position and called him a racist. Although Whitman kept trying to answer, Copeland kept talking over him and would not let him speak.

Just as Whitman puts callers in "timeout" on his show when they won't let him have his say, he told the engineer to cut off Copeland's microphone. Copeland became incensed and started packing his things to leave the studio.

Then, in great FReeper tradition, Whitman told Copeland not to let the door hit his ass on the way out. He also called Copeland a lunatic.

Then the rain came. Copeland walked over to Whitman and spit in his face. Whitman couldn't believe it. Two others on the KABC staff couldn't believe it.

Whitman had the station call the police and is considering filing assault charges.

Poor Copeland. He may no longer be the Libertarian candidate for governor. An official high ranking representative of the party called in to Whitman and told him that Copeland would be receiving no more backing and they were going to see what they could do to take him off the ballot.

Now that was classic talk radio. The unbelievable happened. A candidate for governor actually showed himself to be a bigger jackass than Gray Davis. Davis has spit on the law but never on Whitman, at least not yet. Brian, get him in studio.

[Allrich Towing]

"Now that was classic talk radio."

Would have been even better on TV!! ;>)

- Gin

[A CA Guy]

No surprise to me.

[finnman69]

Libertarian and spitting. Hey I heard Hillary needs a few more thugs to spiit on cops when she runs for President.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Then, in great FReeper tradition, Whitman told Copeland not to let the door hit his ass on the way out. He also called Copeland a lunatic.

Hillarious!

[jlogajan]

Oh boy, here we go -- all Libertarians are spitters ...

[sweetliberty]

Just imagine how entertaining spectator politics would be if all the candidates let it all hang out. LOL!

[brat]

Just out of curiosity, what is Whitman's position on immigration? I assume he's for curbing it...why else would he be called a racist.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Oh boy, here we go -- all Libertarians are spitters ...

Not true... some swallow...

[breakem]

too much saliva from all that drug use, LOL

[doug from upland]

Although he is a liberal DemocRAT and we have done battle, he seems to be on the correct side of this one in wanting and orderly immigration process.

[Timesink]

It's goning to be quite fun when the police haul him in for a blood test to see what diseases he's carrying.

God bless the LP ... life just wouldn't be as much fun without 'em.

[Cultural Jihad]

Poor, oppressed-by-all-of-society Mr. Copeland. Now he gets to whine about how the media treats his fringe ideology with such contempt and blocks his access to the public airwaves. "It's not because I couldn't follow simple, basic civil rules that my microphone was unconstitutionally ripped off my own private lapel! No! It was only because I hold the Truth to the veritable salvation of the Republic! Boo Hoo Hoo!"

[ladyinred]

LOL! Darn! Wish that show was on in my area! Sorry to have missed this one!

[doug from upland]

Although there were two witnesses, a caller told Brian to save his shirt for DNA evidence.

I forgot to say earlier that you could actually HEAR the guy spitting on the air. It was amazing.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Sounds like Copeland is just the man for the Libertarians.

P.S. Whitman is a loonier liberal than Mr. KABC.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sounds like a scream! - Wish it was TV.

[doug from upland]

Brian would have given him back the mic after he had a chance to answer the racist charge.

[Cindy]

Not a surprise.

[HairOfTheDog]

Any chance the station posts their archives on the net?