Posted on 09/23/2003 5:38:08 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
ROCHESTER NY--A local conservative radio host was suspended for two days Monday after he made on-air comments that alluded to Rochester’s African-American mayor as a “monkey” and “orangutan.”
Bob Lonsberry, midday talk show host with WHAM-AM (1180), apologized during a two-minute taped message at the beginning of his show Monday before a guest host took over.
“I mean neither the mayor nor anyone else any personal harm or insult,” said Lonsberry, whose statement was replayed at the end of the three-hour show.
“And I would certainly apologize for any interpretation of my words which would appear to be racist. I am not a racist. But then racism is in the eye of the beholder, not in the heart of the speaker.”
Lonsberry made two controversial remarks recently that alluded to Mayor William A. Johnson Jr.’s campaign for Monroe County executive.
Late last month, Lonsberry made the first comment after an orangutan briefly escaped from a cage at the Seneca Park Zoo.
“Headline: Orangutan escapes at zoo, runs for county executive. Fascinating stuff,” Lonsberry said.
On Thursday, Lonsberry played what he said was the last caller of his show. Music that suggested a jungle scene with monkey sounds was then heard.
Lonsberry responded, “Freakin’ monkeys loose up at the zoo again. That’s really fine, really fine. Yeah, yeah, and he’s running for county executive. What is with that? I think we better go now.”
The comments drew rebukes from Johnson, a frequent Lonsberry target, and county GOP Chairman Stephen J. Minarik III. Both questioned whether a two-day suspension was enough.
Johnson said the suspension amounts to “nothing more than a slap on the hand,” saying community outrage over the remarks may grow because of the light punishment.
“There has to be a better statement that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” said Johnson.
Minarik said of the suspension, “It seems to me, considering the severity of the commentary, that may not be enough.”
Republican county executive candidate Maggie Brooks declined to comment Monday, saying “it would be inappropriate.”
Lonsberry, 44, of Mount Morris, Livingston County, didn’t mention the mayor by name, but Johnson said Lonsberry knew what he was doing — especially since it happened twice.
“I think the connection is much too close, and someone of his intelligence … that’s not an accident,” Johnson said Friday when first asked about the comments. “It’s not a slip of the tongue. He should know better.”
Several attempts to reach Lonsberry at the station Friday were unsuccessful. He has an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached Monday.
The radio station did not say why the chosen punishment was a two-day suspension or whether Lonsberry will be paid during the suspension. Lawyer Frank Cegelski was hosting the show in Lonsberry’s absence, said station manager Jeff Howlett.
Howlett said only one person complained after Lonsberry made the remarks. Officials at City Hall said they’ve received about a half dozen calls from people angry about it.
The station, owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc., refused to let callers on the air Monday to discuss the suspension. Howlett said the phones “were jammed” with people wanting to comment, many supporting Lonsberry.
Howlett said the goal was to “focus on the issue of the day and not the Bob Lonsberry issue.” The show’s topic was government consolidation.
“I would like to apologize to our listeners, advertisers and employees for Bob’s offensive remarks,” Howlett said later in a statement. “Talk shows are by their nature controversial; however, there is a community standard to which we hold all of our on-air talent.”
The Rev. Norvel Goff, president of the Rochester chapter of the NAACP, said he had received several calls about the remarks. Goff said he plans to meet with Howlett to hear the comments and is withholding judgment until then.
He said he had heard complaints in the past about racially insensitive remarks allegedly made by Lonsberry.
John Baugh, a professor of linguistics and education at Stanford University, said the words “monkey” and “orangutan” have negative connotations when used toward black people.
“If you look historically at a lot of the racist insults against African-Americans who were slave descendants, comparing us to apes, monkeys and orangutans was common,” said Baugh, who is black. “If anyone wants to argue it’s a generic insult, that’s more far-fetched than saying that kind of insult should not be taken as” a racial slur.
The comments are the latest nationally in which the use of the word “monkey” led to accusations of racial slurs. The most famous was in 1983 when legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell faced strong criticism when he said of the Washington Redskins’ Alvin Garrett, “look at that little monkey run.”
In 2000, Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker was accused of calling black teammate Randall Simon a “fat monkey.” And last month, a white Schenectady policeman was fired for allegedly calling a black man a “monkey.”
On Friday, Johnson said he and Lonsberry have a long history, dating back to Lonsberry’s career as a columnist with the Democrat and Chronicle and commentator at WHEC-TV (Channel 10).
At one point, Lonsberry advised the mayor to ignore him, Johnson said, adding that he has generally taken that advice to heart.
Johnson was asked whether Lonsberry should be fired.
“That’s not for me to say. ... Those words aren’t coming out of my mouth, and I’m not promoting it,” he said Friday. But he added, “If I were to make some racially disparaging comments about Maggie Brooks or I was to make some sexually disparaging comment about Maggie Brooks, he would be leading the parade to have me run out of town. Therefore he has to be held to the very same standard.”
Lonsberry sounded iffy about his future career in his recorded apology, saying at one point that he’s off the air Monday and today and that the future is somewhat uncertain. He said he was being taken off the air after an editorial Saturday in the Democrat and Chronicle took aim at his comments.
After 15 years as a newspaper columnist and talk show host, Lonsberry explained that the community has a right to judge him and his positions, saying, “My thought is that I will gladly offend people purposely. It is never my intention to offend people accidentally.
“Whether or not I am a racist I leave to you to judge.”
And as soon as Hillary apologizes for the f...Jew remark, I'll consider the Lonsberry fiasco.
The only reason this has gone this far is because he is running for County Manager and NEEDS the publicity.
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