Clear Channel pulls conservative host over liberal protests

NewsMax.com ^

[Peter0901]

MILWAUKEE - A radio station pulled a conservative talk radio show from the airwaves Nov. 8 as members of the city's Latino community continued to protest its host and his use of an ethnic slur.

WISN Radio's parent company, Clear Channel Communications Inc., said Mark Belling's program would return but did not say when.

[steplock]

What if he was calling the illegal aliens swimming across the Rio Grnade "WETBACKS" -- would he be fired for using the proper decriptive term?

If you have fallen into the PC correctness propaganda being brainwashed into american skulls-full-of-mush - I guess you would.

Is someone was offended by the term, I would give that person a face-to-face on the air discussion of the matter to explain WHY he would be offended by a term that did NOT describe him? WHY would he be so unsure of himself - why would he be so sure that the term refered to HIM?

As the old Carly Simon song stated --- "You're so vain - You probably think this song is about you."

Maybe I live in the world of my childhood where I took to heart the childrens refrain .... "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but WORDS will never harm me."

Grow up people and learn how to take care of yourselves - otherwise Hillary will be your MASTER!

[Peter0901]

If Looney Left calls the president a liar, fraud, Nazi, racist, homophobe, bible thumper, etc. it is applauded as "enlightened" and "free speech".

---

That is correct. We had to listen to that — and MORE —from Hollywood Left and such "enlightened" individuals as Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and Barbra Streisand, but every time one mild in comparison pejorative gets thrown at liberals, they squeal like stuck pigs and whine like a bunch of girlie men (sorry if I offended anyone). Point is, the Left wants to silence conservative speech ... anyone remember how they went after Rush after his remarks about Donovan McNabb last year?

[robertpaulsen]

"then he should apologize."

He did. In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal on November 6th. It wasn't good enough -- you be the judge:

'I am truly sorry,' Belling says

Posted: Nov. 6, 2004

Here is the complete text of Mark Belling's statement:

"For more than 15 years, I have prided myself on working hard to effectively communicate my thoughts on important community issues in a manner that is both passionate and, at times, light-hearted. However, for the last 10 days, I have failed miserably as a communicator, and I have only myself to blame.

"Not only was my use of an ethnically derogatory term completely wrong, but my effort to apologize for this mistake was inept and insensitive.

"While my broadcasting style is free-wheeling, I cannot use that as an excuse for my terribly poor choice of words and for unintentionally trivializing a matter that is of deep concern to many.

"I want to apologize for my inappropriate language. I apologize to my listeners, and I extend a specific apology to the tens of thousands of Hispanic and Latin Americans in the metropolitan Milwaukee area for my terrible choice of words. Additionally, I apologize for the manner in which I have handled the legitimate, negative reaction to my ill-advised language. That was the wrong thing to do.

"I know that my comments have rightly angered many, and that this anger goes beyond the Hispanic community. And while I know that I have given ammunition to those who want to silence everything I say, I sincerely pledge to do my best to make sure that this one-time lapse of responsible conduct on my part will never be repeated.

"I hope that the Hispanic community, my listeners and both my supporters and detractors will accept this as a sincere and real apology and judge me going forward on my ability to never make such stupid mistakes again.

"I have learned many lessons in the past 10 days, and one of the things that I have learned is that we are all men of clay feet. I will try to grow and be a better person based on the lessons my terrible mistake has taught me. I am truly sorry."

[yarddog]

Just why is the term "wetbacks" offensive when used to describe illegal immigrants?

Are they angry because they actually crossed on dry land rather than swim the Rio Grande?

It has no negative implications other than that the person is an illegal alien.

Apparently any use of slang terms is offensive if used in conjunction with minorities.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Most interesting that Eisenhower's deportation operation was callled "Operation Wetback." Now the wetbacks have enough power to get a radio host pulled for using the same term. How tender and sensitive we have become.

[FastCoyote]

The illegals call themselves "mojadas" so what's the big deal?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

It is offensive and stupid to use.

I'm offended that you used the word "stupid." That is a very offensive and stupid word to use.

Some day maybe we won't all jump at the chance to be "offended." For now, though being "offended" carries WAY too much power!

[trashcanbred]

Sounds good to me. So they still want him out? People are using this as a stepping stone to get him out. Do you think he will survive it or with the station give in?

[Catspaw]

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The exact quote:  

On last Wednesday's show, Belling said:

"You watch the voter turnout on the near south side, heavily Hispanic, and compare it to the voter turnout in any other election, and you're going to see every wetback and every other non-citizen out there voting."

A description of his on-air apology:

Belling apologized on the air Monday, admitting the term was "derogatory." But he couched his apology in sarcasm and bluster, later polling listeners on whether he should have apologized and saying he "should have used a different mean term."

"I deeply and profoundly apologize," Belling said in a telephone interview with a Journal Sentinel reporter conducted live Monday on Belling's afternoon show.

Later, after 15 of 20 callers said he shouldn't have apologized, Belling sarcastically called his audience "all wet."

His formal apology (after advertisers started canceling & protestors started protesting):

'I am truly sorry,' Belling says

Posted: Nov. 6, 2004

Here is the complete text of Mark Belling's statement:

Mark Belling

Photo/File

Mark Belling

Related Coverage

Apology: Belling issues formal apology for on-air use of ethnic slur
Belling: Text of his statement
Kane: Belling was wrong, but he shouldn't be silenced

"For more than 15 years, I have prided myself on working hard to effectively communicate my thoughts on important community issues in a manner that is both passionate and, at times, light-hearted. However, for the last 10 days, I have failed miserably as a communicator, and I have only myself to blame.

"Not only was my use of an ethnically derogatory term completely wrong, but my effort to apologize for this mistake was inept and insensitive.

"While my broadcasting style is free-wheeling, I cannot use that as an excuse for my terribly poor choice of words and for unintentionally trivializing a matter that is of deep concern to many.

"I want to apologize for my inappropriate language. I apologize to my listeners, and I extend a specific apology to the tens of thousands of Hispanic and Latin Americans in the metropolitan Milwaukee area for my terrible choice of words. Additionally, I apologize for the manner in which I have handled the legitimate, negative reaction to my ill-advised language. That was the wrong thing to do.

"I know that my comments have rightly angered many, and that this anger goes beyond the Hispanic community. And while I know that I have given ammunition to those who want to silence everything I say, I sincerely pledge to do my best to make sure that this one-time lapse of responsible conduct on my part will never be repeated.

"I hope that the Hispanic community, my listeners and both my supporters and detractors will accept this as a sincere and real apology and judge me going forward on my ability to never make such stupid mistakes again.

"I have learned many lessons in the past 10 days, and one of the things that I have learned is that we are all men of clay feet. I will try to grow and be a better person based on the lessons my terrible mistake has taught me. I am truly sorry."

And another apology in an interview with a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter::

In addition to his written statement, Belling sat down with a Journal Sentinel reporter Saturday.

"I knew and I know that that term is offensive," he said in measured tones, exhibiting a far more subdued persona than the blustery on-air presence. "It's clearly offensive and shouldn't be used in any context, whatever class of Hispanic immigrant that you're talking about, for two reasons.

"First of all, it completely obscured the point that I was trying to make. My goal was to try and make a strong point on voting, and no one ever heard that point because of my obnoxious language. And secondly, you just shouldn't say that."

Belling's first response to the growing controversy came on his Monday radio show, when he apologized for using the word in a discussion of possible voter fraud. He followed up by joking about the situation and polling listeners about whether he should have apologized at all. Belling continued to joke about it through Thursday's show.

"I went into my normal fall-back mode, which is bombast, sarcasm, self-effacing humor," he said Saturday. "That was moronic, it was offensive, it was stupid. It is clear to me that what I was trying to say I did not say well, since it has obviously made matters worse, and that is my fault.

"I had a full week to remedy it, and I clearly made matters worse," he said. "I'm very, very good at communicating my message exactly as I want to. And it's obvious that exactly the opposite occurred here.

"I'm not suggesting it was tactically wrong, I'm suggesting it was wrong, it was stupid."

 

[Charles Martel]

"Way-uhl... Ah'm a wetback now!"
- Alan B. Shepard, 5/5/61

[Racehorse]

Racehorse: . . . but we should not forget those of Mexican descent whose forebears lived north of the Rio Grande long before the river became an international border.

demolishhollywood: It's never a valid argument to say that, because somebody's ancestors were killed, oppressed or defeated, that they have some excuse to break the law, or gain special privledges. This is the same logic people use to argue for slave reparations... makes me sick!

Sorry you're feeling ill. But, either I miswrote or you misunderstood. I oppose illegal immigration by anyone and believe the law should be as strictly enforced as possible. I also adamantly oppose so-called slave reparations, special privleges, etc. etc. etc.

I do understand . . . as I tried to point out . . . why words like wetback, greaser, beaner should not be used over the public airways.

Now, I did love the Frito Bandito and that little doggie that got LULAC so mad . . .

[Swordmaker]

Liberal brownshirts have successful forced conservative talk show host Mark Belling, a frequent guest host for Rush Limbaugh, to be yanked from the air in Milwaukee over his use of the word "wetback" to describe illegal aliens attempting to vote in Milwaukee in the presidential election.

Another example of Liberals failing to learn from their previous mistakes.

Sixteen years ago, or so, Morton Downey Jr., another conservative talk show host in Sacramento, California, was removed from the air because of complaints by Liberals about a perceived "ethnic slur." The complaints were in reference to the on-air comment by the conservative host where he used the word "Chinaman".

Lead by then Mayor Robert Matsui (now Congressman Robert Matsui, a DemocRat, what else), a Japanese-American who was not by any stretch of the imagination a "Chinaman" or even Chinese or Chinese-American, the carefully orchestrated complaints lead to the removal of Morton Downey Jr. from KFBK's roster of talk show hosts, despite Downey's tearful on-air apologies.

Despite the fact that the "slur" was a common reference to persons of Chinese ancestry in the area (most people did not even know it was offensive to such persons) and that the usage was by no means intended as a perjorative, within a week Downey was history at KFBK.

HIs replacement was an unknown radio DJ named Rush Limbaugh... and the rest is history.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

Offense, like beauty, lies in the eye of the beholder. It's just a word. Get over it or be stupid.

[cubreporter]

That's why Rush has been on the air for so long. He's the best and in my mind he's number one. Solid, solid, solid.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

terrorists

[cubreporter]

You must be pretty young cause When I was growing up it was: "Sticks and stones will break my bones but NAMES (not words) will never hurt me."

[demolishhollywood]

Offense, like beauty, lies in the eye of the beholder. It's just a word. Get over it or be stupid.
 
That's the gist of it. Quit whining and get over it! I don't get offended when people call me whitey, honkey, hoosier, or hick, because I'm actually secure with myself and my beliefs.

[flashbunny]

Please- compared to belling, hannity is awful.

You don't need to be cheering when liberals who have tried to silence mark belling suceed. They hate him because he's a conservative voice in milwaukee. The 'wetback' comment, which he repeatedly apologized for, is just the vehicle they're using to accomplish this. They're all banding together in order to quash one of the few voices who is fighting for the taxpayers of milwaukee.

[Peter0901]

But when he said it, The Reverend Jackson was never held accountable for what he said ... and it was much, much worse than a term used to describe criminals (people in this country illegally, consuming my tax dollars and being shepherded to vote — illegally — for liberal politicians who want to give them more of my tax dollars.

[flashbunny]

Yes, he would be. If you've never heard his show, try not to judge it.

He's been instrumental in helping the republicans gian control of the state and especially getting a republican in office as milwaukee county executive - something that hasn't been done, since, gee, the beginning of time.

That's why there are all the protests. He's apologized repeatedly for the comment. But the leftist groups that see him as a threat want to use this incident to be rid of him.