Largent Takes the 'Bull' by the Horns

NewsMax ^ | Oct. 17, 2002 | Jackie Hickman

[Doug Loss]

Oklahoma Congressman turned Republican gubernatorial nominee Steve Largent blurted out an obscenity during a taped television interview that aired Sunday night, referring to an interviewer's questions as "bull---t."

The incident occurred when KOKH-TV anchorman Andrew Speno questioned the one-time football star about his whereabouts on Sept. 11, 2001. Largent was hunting in Idaho at the time and didn't learn of the attacks until two days afterwards.

However, while he was in the woods, his staff released a statement with Largent's reaction even though they hadn't been in touch with him.

Speno also pressed the former congressman on where he was during the last two airings of the State-of-the-Union addresses.

That's when Largent got hot under the collar.

"This is nonsense the stuff you're asking about," he complained. "It really is. It's not consequential to this election at all.... That's not policy, that's bull---t, all this stuff about where were you on 9/11."

Largent's political opponents were quick to jump on the episode. Independent candidate for governor Gary Richardson hit the air with a TV commercial that plays the bleeped comment not once, but twice. In the spot, Richardson tells viewers that the state of Oklahoma needs a governor who will show more respect.

Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Brad Henry claims he's received over 100 phone calls from people who were upset by hearing the vulgarism.

On Monday, the GOP'er apologized for his remarks. "I felt like it was an unprofessional and undignified interview. I lowered myself and gave an unprofessional and undignified response, and I regret that."

[Doug Loss]

In Oklahoma, I'd think this would get him a few more percentage points of support.

[Blue Screen of Death]

In Oklahoma, I'd think this would get him a few more percentage points of support.

Even if I didn't like him, after that I would vote for him.

[rface]

well.....Rush Limbaugh said "SHIT" on the air on Monday (I think during his second hour). He tried to gloss over it for a couple of minutes, but his crew must have been laughing and Rush finally had to admit it.

It was quite funny...I laughed my ass off, he still makes veiled references to that moment. I don't think Largent will be hurt by his vulgar mouth ... maybe his "9-11 Press release" will sting him a bit.

Ashland, Missouri

[Phantom Lord]

Hey, if the word Bullshit is good enough for a Quiznos ad campaign, then why not a Gubernatorial candidate?

And let us not forget Bush calling Adam Clymer a Major League Asshole when he thought the mic was off.

[maxter]

He will win in a landslide. Oklahoma knows how to sidestep the bull "hockey." Welcome home Governor Largent!

[lazysob]

Check Here http://krmg.com/

[Wild Irish Rogue]

"In Oklahoma, I'd think this would get him a few more percentage points of support."

Definitely in the red states. Last night on NYPD-Sipowitz said BS in it's entirety,on prime time, on a non cable station.

[Phantom Lord]

Definitely in the red states. Last night on NYPD-Sipowitz said BS in it's entirety,on prime time, on a non cable station.

Has the Charlie Church crowd organized protests and boycotts yet?

[DmBarch]

Reminds me of when George H.W. Bush debated Geraldine Ferraro when each was running for Vice President. Asked how he thought he had done, George said "We kicked a little ass." The press was soon in an uproar. What did this mean? A special insult to a woman, etc. Quizzed about it, all GHWB would say was "It is a time-honored Texas expression."

[jbstrick]

I heard it. I think Rush was embarrassed.

[jbstrick]

Largent will win....

[Station 51]

However, while he was in the woods, his staff released a statement with Largent's reaction even though they hadn't been in touch with him.

How can Largent let the media get away with claiming that his office had issued a false statement about his reaction to 9/11?

[sharktrager]

Maybe he's not letting them get away with anything. Maybe his staff really did issue a statement from him without his approval. It wouldn't be much of a stretch.

[Station 51]

Maybe his staff really did issue a statement from him without his approval.

If Largent's staff is releasing statements without his approval they should be fired.

[Congressman Billybob]

There are times when only the strongest word will do. Obviously the people getting their panties in a wad over this use of the word bullsh*t are obliviously unaware that Barry Commoner, third-party candidate for President, ran a national radio commercial which described the Republican and Democratic candidates as offering merely "bullsh*t."

The network had to run the ad, because it is illegal under federal law to censor ads by federal candidates. The author of that ad -- which obtained millions of dollars in free publicity -- later wrote a book about the campaign. The title of the book was simply, Bullsh*t

Let's play gotcha, here. How many of the people getting their knickers in a twist have, on appropriate occasion, used the same word? Huh? Let he who without sin cast the first cow chip.

Even the Supreme Court has ruled as a matter of free speech that a well-chosen obscenity is sometimes the best way to express the writer's sentiments. It did so in a case called Cohen v. California, known popularly as the "F*** the Draft case.

Heck, I've even used the BS word on occasion, as in the title to next week's column (posted four days early due to the urgent nature of the subject):

Congressman Billybob

This column is based on the fine work by FReepers in a thread on FR. Click for "Ballistics and Bullsh*t"

Click for "Til Death Do Us Part."

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[PhiKapMom]

The local Fox affiliate used Largentsucks.com for the research for their questions and they wondered why Steve Largent said BS! Give me a break -- even the liberal Norman Transcript had the following in its editorial:

"In an editorial board meeting with The Transcript on Monday, Mr. Largent said the reporter had been looking at anti-Largent websites to gather his background material.

"Forgoing professional courtesty for a moment, we have to once again express our aversion to such examples of "gotcha" journalism."

Now if this liberal paper had this to say, then Richardson and Henry are barking up the wrong tree and would expect Largent's numbers to climb!

[PhiKapMom]

Largent is going to win against two lawyers -- Henry and Richardson who believe the answer to our problems of lack of money here in the State is the Lottery.