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Subscribe to RSSThe Los Angeles City Council passes a resolution asking Clear Channel to end racist and offensive remarks. Kim Baldonado reports.
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles City Council members called on TV and radio broadcasters to keep their hosts from spewing crude slurs, citing KFI radio calling Whitney Houston a "crack ho."
The council voted 13-2 on Wednesday for a resolution urging Los Angeles stations to do "everything in their power to ensure that their on-air hosts do not use and promote racist and sexist slurs over public airwaves."
The resolution stems from comments made by KFI talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of the “John and Ken Show” who, three days after Whitney Houston died, referred to the pop music icon as a “crack ho.”
Read NBCLosAngeles.com's coverage of council's mission to cut racist remarks
“It is easy to become desensitized to what other groups find intolerable which ultimately fosters an environment where negative comments can go unchecked and corporate guidelines and policies are no longer being enforced,” the resolution stated.
The resolution also states that it important for stations to hire more women and minorities.
The measure is a symbolic stance and has no legal force. However, council members argued that it was proper for the ethnically diverse city to speak out against what they called hate speech.
Government has no right to suppress "hateful, vile, despicable speech" but society should not tolerate it, Councilman Paul Krekorian said. "We can drown out that hatred with a loud chorus."
The measure was sponsored by three black council members and supported by civil rights and minority media groups. It was broadened after originally naming only KFI-AM and its owner, Clear Channel, which carries Rush Limbaugh and owns hundreds of stations nationwide.
The comments led to a public outcry, a seven-day suspension for the hosts and a public apology.
"They brought Latinos, African Americans, native Americans, women's groups -- everyone together around this particular issue," said Jasmyne Cannick, of the Black Media Alliance, who urged the council to pass the resolution.
Station officials have promised to diversify their staff and add more minority hosts at the station where conservative hosts often rail against taxes and illegal immigration.
Clear Channel Los Angeles and KFI responded with the following: We "support the LA City Council resolution regarding the need for diversity of personnel, inclusionary programming, and appropriate on-air language across all media."
The resolution also cited recent remarks by Limbaugh. Limbaugh called law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a prostitute who wanted the government to subsidize her sex life after she urged lawmakers to consider the importance of contraception coverage in their discussion of national health care policy. He later apologized after several sponsors dropped his show.
The station has 1.5 million listeners during any given weekday.
This story includes reporting from NBCLosAngeles.com’s Jason Kandel and Ted Chen, and The Associated Press.
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The airways should be represent to who we are. Government control of words I believe is wrong. if you don't like what you hear.....turn the station. If you want to listen you'll have to hear whats being said.
America uses discriptive words to describe things. Four letter words are daily language. The government needs to get out......seperation of church and state......the only thing that makes words wrong is religious influence.
Again, don't like it.....don't listen. Actions speak louder than words. My guess though, everyone would still listen if all bans and suppression were lifted.
They're not trying to control the words, they essentially just passed a resolution to bring attention. Next time read that dad burn article.
From the article:
Government has no right to suppress "hateful, vile, despicable speech" but society should not tolerate it, Councilman Paul Krekorian said. "We can drown out that hatred with a loud chorus."
The DJs aren't being threatened with fines, community service, or jail time. They are still free to say what they want. The 1st Amendment also allows you to call out people for way they say. Racists nowadays hate being called racists. Instead of acknowledging some of the things they are racist, they try to justify it by saying other people do it too, childish.
Who gives a rip.... turn the dial and quit listening if you don't like the show. Too many people in this world wish to control others on what they say, do or act like. Go live in a plastic bubble....
PROVING that the left is ready to get rid of free speech (if they don't like it).
AKRandy, you prove many on the right gets their news from headlines only. Next time read the article. It CLEARLY states the resolution is symbolic and has no legal enforcement.
It's just not a Tea Party day if you can't find something to be outraged about.
Have these people ever HEARD of the United States Constitution?
"They brought Latinos, African Americans, native Americans, women's groups -- everyone together around this particular issue,"
IE, all the pathological victims and professional witch-hunters.
AK,
Yes, because LA's city council speaks for every left leaning person in America. Oh the drama!!! Trust me, if that was our goal we would have gotten rid of Limbaugh, Beck, Palin, et al, wayyyy before KFI.
No, this is wrong, even if it's only symbolic. Fed Up said it perfectly, if you don't like it change the channel. End of story.
Fitz,
Lol, yes, because none of those demographics have any reason to believe that discrimination is possible, right?
Or, how about they take that energy and do something useful. Instead of trying to paint the radio people as racists and hateful, why not spend that energy and try to get the ho's to stop smoking crack? If you get rid of the crack ho's then you wouldnt need to call someone a crack ho.
Very simple- If Whitney Houston wasnt a wasted druggy who killed herself, she would not have been called a crack ho. Oh wait... i forgot - its not her fault. So instead we will attack anyone that simply stats their mind.
When and where did the imaginary right to not be offended start trumping peoples right to free speech? It hasnt, the left just feels the need to stifle speech that it doesnt agree with.
Democrats, republicans - both are trying to take away rights to protect us from ourselves, the only difference between the two is which evils THEY deem the rest of us are too dumb to protect ourselves from.
ah yes censorship...something this site knows ALL about, or haven't you opened any of these posts that are completely dominated by the "collapse this post" morons?....................
Daryl,
Duh.
Scooter,
Collapsing a post isn't censorship. Your entitled to post, not entitled to have people like what you post, and you certainly aren't entitled to an audience. Voting something down, is nothing more than a different type of expression, an expression of distaste for what was written and you can still click on them and read them.
Post that when the moderators or government read your stuff prior to allowing it on.
JPJohnson:
I read it.
Remember Al's wife Tipper???? She wanted to censer the MUSIC industry! Remember NOW??
The left is always trying to find ways to shut people up they disagree with!
People can't stand hearing the truth these days. It's ridiculous the things they can come up with to bi-ch about.
AK,
So did Lynne Cheney. Remember her war with Eminem? I mean, both sides are guilty of getting their panties in a wad over language and speech.
Fox went after Jon Stewart, claiming he was a racist... It happens all the time, from both parties.
Stop being a partisan.
Sarah;
Really? I would call it censorship: Here is what the dictionary says:
Maybe that will clear it up for you.
PS. You forgot TIPPER GORE
Uh Sarah - If you would learn to read you would see that the reasons for reporting a post is that it is either of "no value", "inflammatory", or "advertising." No where in that list is, because you do not agree with it or to "vot[e] it down." To report a post so that it gets collapsed simply because you do not agree with the author is an attempt at censorship and I have definitely noticed the left wing liberals like yourself seem to do that quite frequently. If you think newsvine should have a down arrow in addition to an up arrow then why don't you write to them and tell them so instead of misusing the reporting feature. All you do is make work for the moderators who often come through restoring post that were inappropriately collapsed by people like you.
Sarah: you go girl.... Ha! :D)
I notice that the only time right wingers cite anything about separation of church and state, is when it affects them.
But sadly, some of you are correct, in that hate speech does represent America, and these small people must trample on others to feel better about themselves.
Bunch of losers --- who can't get laid (at least not by the women they'd really like to have -- and can't get).
JPJOHNS - " It CLEARLY states the resolution is symbolic and has no legal enforcement."
What a great use of time and resources.
P.S.
"The resolution also states that it important for stations to hire more women and minorities."
How could that possibly be true? Why would it not be important for the stations to hire the most qualified applicant for any position?
Such a double edged absurdity...in one breath they wish to add teeth to sensorship and on the other promoting afirmative action for those without enough backbone to speak up for themselves.....
Enough of the self-serving pitty party...as an employable person you either have what it takes to be employed or you don't.
As for the remarks about Whitney Houston....I suppose if they are inaccurate those being charged with slander could be taken to court...Obvously, the remarks were in very poor taste and yet unless they are proven to be slanderous well....it is just sensorship.
Personally, I think as an entertainer she was flawless...sadly, the same cannot be said about how she lived her life or who she chose to have in her life. She sang the song of a strong and stalward woman and to all who watched her she was surrounded by women of that same cloth. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save her from an unfortunate, undignified and untimely death.
So for the LA council to make such an absurd resolution tagged to the death of an icon...shame on them for being one more underserving group of hangers on.
JS,
Uh, if you would stop being deliberately obtuse, you would realize that "No Value" and "Inflammatory" are ways of expressing what you think of the post. Inflammatory is another way of saying, "It inflames me". No value, means "I think it has no point". They're still, just mere personal opinions.
They're terms used to describe your personal opinion of what was posted. It's still just people expressing how their opinion about the post, and the post still remains up.
A little sensitive, are we?
AK,
Not so much. Censorship, real censorship, comes with power and authority. Like through the office of a censor or the government. You have access to collapse a post as well, ergo you can "censor" all you want too.
Wow, can we slow down on the whining. Just because people don't like what you say, doesn't mean you can't say it.
It's like you folks want to have your cake and eat it too. You can say whatever you want, but people aren't allowed to click a button to show their disagreement. We have to listen and like it.
Now that I find to be a typically conservative thing. You all seem to think that not getting to tell other people what to do, or allowing other people to express themselves, somehow takes away from your freedom. Post all the crap you want, I can click the exclamation point as many times as I want.
You're posting isn't infringing on my clicking, why is it true that my clicking is infrining on your posting? You're still posting, and they're still up, even if they're collapsed.
Oh, and PS...
I didn't forget Tipper Gore, you had already brought her up, however you had failed to mention Lynne Cheney was also a part of it.
And you must not have read the definition of censorship. It is folks like us that pay for YOUR CAKE!
HUH???? It was the left wing LA council telling radio what NOT to say but like most left wingers you try and spin it!! The LA city council is NOT RIGHT WING! HELLO
The L.A. city council has the 1st Amendment right to say whatever they want to say. No one is censoring anyone. They are ASKING, not TELLING. They are saying sane and reasonable things about a lost art, that of CIVILITY.
OMG, did you read the article, because it's symbolic only. Second, I already said I didn't agree with the action. Third, you insult everyone who actually does live under the yoke of censorship.
Does having the ability to change the channel mean we're censored? Do I have the ability, do any of us, have the ability to keep you from posting? Of course not. Just because we say we don't like it, doesn't mean you didn't post it. We'd be censored if we DIDN'T have the ability to collapse things. That would be a greater form of censorship.
And what authority do I have to keep you off the vine? Is your stuff proof read to make sure it fits with what Newsvine wants to promote? Are you not allowed to post? Is access being blocked to certain information?
If it's hate speech and gets deleted, well that's legal. And how exactly are you paying for me? I pay for you too, you know. You're so blinded by your need to just be angry and "belong" to a side, you're bordering on paranoid.
Drag your backwards self into the real world, grow a set, and stop whining. You wouldn't last a day in a nation that was ACTUALLY oppressive.
Deangelo,
I'll see that, and raise you these guys think that they're censored because we can collapse their posts. WTF? Apparently I missed the memo that I was all powerful and could block their access to either posting or information, by simply clicking the exclamation point.
Maybe the LA city council should pass a resolution to reduce the number of Crack Hos on city council. Was Crack Ho the problem or the fact that it was applied to Whitney Houston? I've heard Crack Ho applied to skanks from any race, I don't see how it's racist. The term may have originated in the black community, but it applies equally regardless of race, color, religion etc., but not sex I guess.
Sara
Maybe you should read the Fox article about Jon Stewart. I didn't see any where in the Goldberg article that called Stewart a racist. The title of the article --"Is Jon Stewart racist?" It is not "Jon Stewart is a racist". Here is the article.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/06/28/is-jon-stewart-racist/
the real problem here is what makes these people say these things? why can't we disagree and still respect a person? why can't we express our opinions and still have a little civility? why does everything have to start out at the extreme and only get more extreme?
yes people have a right to express their opinion but could we maybe try to be a bit less hateful about everything we want to express? could we trying saying it in a way that doesn't make us sound like trash or 12 year old street kids? and though I can have a pretty bad mouth myself, how about if we cut out some of the profanity?
we keep upping the ante to get attention. how about ramping it back a bit... you know, just for affect?
"Government has no right to suppress 'hateful, vile, despicable speech' but society should not tolerate it"
Well said!
a crack ho is someone selling their body for cocaine. unless they can demonstrate that she was a whore it seems to me her estate should sue the station for allowing that kind of insult to be broadcast just after her death. what the LA Council wanted was to censure not censor them. I may be an old fogy but when i was young if you called someone a bastard you were in a fist fight. (don't call my mama names) Freedom of speech does not give you the right to say untrue things about another person. The same is true with Rush when he called the young lady both promiscuous and a whore. The public censured him by contacting his advertisers.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2012/03/22/10815995-houston-died-from-drowning-coroner-says
For god's sake, vote with your fingers, change the station. If it really disturbs you, organize a boycott of the sponsors of the show. Broadcasting is an art form and should be whatever the listeners will support. I listen to my own collection of music and watch mostly public television. I got stuck in a doctor's waiting room with General Hospital on the TV. I am voting against that by finding another doctor. That crap really makes me ill, but each to his own.
the only thing that really matters about this article is this sentence contained in the article
What would Bill Maher say about this?
He would LOVE it!!! He is as far left as you can get, so taking stuff from SOMEONE ELSE is right up his alley!!(free speech)
I don't watch FOX sorry...wrong again and what is the Drudge??
Hey Daryl (and your brother Daryl) get a clue and get off the MSNBC glue.
The letter the council sent over to Maher regarding the filth and condemnation toward women that comes out of his mouth must have gotten lost in the mail.....don't ya think? Or maybe the messenger they sent over (he his right in their midsts) got lost. Either way I don't hear a lot of leftloons calling him out. Of course Maher is going to protect anyone that stoops to his level.....it takes some of the weight off his shoulders. The stuff Limbaugh had to say pales by comparison to the crap that comes out of Maher's mouth (and my guess is Maher is probably personally familiar with "crack hos."
He'd say it's "get whitey" time.
You know just because your news channel of choice screams that the left takes away people's rights doesn't make it reality. You cannot rewrite history, try as you might. it is not the left that is taking away a woman's right to determine what to do with her own body. It is not the left the is telling people it's their god or no god...
You're are confused. You imagine somehow because your rights are respected that everyones rights are respected. You are the person that runs the stop sign because you don't like it and when you're injured because you weren't wearing a seat belt you want the rest of us to pay for your life, for the rest of your life.
This is the logic of a child. This is the logic that stops developing at 14. Adults don't look at everything and immediately discount it because they don't like it. They look at all of the angles and try to understand how whatever it is benefits most people.
I suggest you give this a try.
You spin a good lie!!!!!!!! But is What it is a LIE!
The left wants to leave out details like the coroner said she died for cocaine use!!
You libs can stand the TRUTH
Yes randy we libs can stand the truth.
So, once again, the Left wants to censor speech they don't agree with but have no problem with people like Maxine Watters or Jimmy Hoffa Jr.
Hypocrisy much?
It's a non-binding resolution, how is that censorship? You can be called out for saying ignorant things, that's not infringing on your rights. People like you love to whine about free speech being taken away. Who's threatening you with a fine, community service, or jail time? That's right, no one. You just don't like being called out.
JP - the issue with many is that tax dollars are being paid to this worthless city council for them to listen to the radio and then complain about it.
They need to turn off the radio and get back to work - L.A. is seriously jacked up thanks largely to their incompentence and inaction.
HA! Conservatives are WAY more apt to censor free protected speech especially if it doesn't agree with their "God" driven agenda!
They've brought suits against porn, against music, against radio, against television.
It amazes me how much "Republicans" and "TeaParty" folk don't like facts!
It's just as worthless when Republicans pass nonbinding resolutions saying:
Somehow I doubt you have the same level of fake outrage when conservatives are using tax dollars to spend time on their pet issues.
Christian-3196489:
Really????? I have not seen any sites that let the "community" collapse other peoples comments!
JUST HERE AT LIB CENTRAL!!
Christian - take a moment and look up who the biggest champion of censoring music has been in recent history...you know, the one responsible for the big, ominous "ADVISORY" sticker on something deemed "offensive".
You'll discover none other than Tipper Gore was behind it. Yep, you got it...the ex-wife of Al "I invented the Internet" Gore - someone you would be hard-pressed to call a right-winger.
I'll grant you that there are many Christian groups, and Christian politicians, that have lodged complaints and suits against the Porn industry. But the other media you mentioned have equal opportunity censors involved.
GREAT comment! How the left hates the TRUTH!!
Its not legally binding, but they ARE trying to force censorship by trying to rally the community to not stand for such hate speech. They are trying to demonize speech that they dont agree with, only since it is protected and legal they cant do it through laws. This is the only way they can legally try to censor these radio people, so thats what they are doing.
People here saying "its not censorship, its not legal - herp a derp blah blah" are willfully ignorant because it fits into what they themselves want and believe.
So once again THE RIGHT doesn't read the article or understand what is being said beyond their childish need to have everything their way...
<shaking head> is anyone here over 12 years old? You don't have to be Einstein to understand how this stuff affects our kids and our society.
YOU ARE RIGHT! Asking people to be more civil is just nazi satanism. Burn LA to the ground!
Asking one group of people to be more civil is hypocrisy. The Left defends the speech of people calling other people demons and devils and defends another guy saying to "take those sons-a-bitches" out, but has an absolute hissy fit with even civil discourse that they disagree with. I'm not saying either one is right but the hypocrisy doesn't help at all.
@daryl: your argument sir is exactly what is wrong with the statements I'm talking about. What gives you the right to call me a racist, religious bigot when you don't know me? You've never met me and have never listened to a single point of my ideology. What gives you the right to use such hate speech directed at me but then turn around and decry it in others?
I'm a conservative. I agree with most of the Tea Party position. Oddly enough, I agree with a large part of what Occupy says they're about as well. I'm agnostic. Where in all that can you conclude that I'm an extremist religious bigot with any kind of certainty? Obviously, you can't. So until you can treat other people with respect, don't expect any. That, my friend, is just the way it works.
@Daryl, are you saying that the Dem's in Teddy's era are STILL ALIVE and are now Tea Party members, (sarcasm). Sir, your statement is complete nonsense. HOwever I'll give you an "A" for effort when it comes to pushing YOUR OWN political agenda.
God bless KFI
Ah, the good old freedom vs responsibility conundrum. When we fail to regulate ourselves, others will try to do it for us. What's the solution?
You are. What you say (or type) affects others. Calling someone names because they don't think as you do not only makes you look petty, it also heightens the climate of intolerance and abuse.
Call someone a whore or ghetto trash or a moron or whatever often enough and it becomes acceptable. And it's your fault.
Does that mean that all RAP stations will be illegal in LA? I doubt that will happen.
One could only hope so, PAF...but, sadly, their speech is protected as "cultural".
best question / post i have seen today........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The truth hurts.
The LA City Council has again proven itself to useless once again. Instead of tackling the mounting debt that this city has accumulated, they instead wish to focus on such heart stopping business as to try and censor the airwaves. If only the citizens of Los Angeles could get this worked up about the senseless spending this city does on a daily basis, Los Angeles MIGHT become a decent city like it once was long ago...
What censorship did they try to pass that has ANY legal ramifications? Next time read the article.
Right-Wingers sit around looking for anything to complain about. Voters are ignorant because people get their news from headlines only.
The media is run by the left!! HELLO!!
How nice of you to show America what the lefties think of them by calling the voters ignorant!
I missed the part where The LA City Council is doing something about the crime rate!
JP,
The only people I see complaining are the city council members, who by the way are Democrats! When will the left doorknobs quit wasting the taxpayers money and concentrate on how to balance the budget, how to lower the crime rate, how to stop giving illegals a free pass, how to get the right teachers in the schools (and not the pervert kind...)???
@JK1963 most people have not obtained the ability to see into someone elses soul and be able to tell if they are the right teacher or the pevert kind. Since you must have that skill why don't you offer your ability to the LA Shools and afterwords we can offer your services to the Pope, boyscouts, college sports programs and all foster parents. your solution to the illegals was inspirational. Wait! you didn't offer any solutions just complaints. You must be a republican.
@Richard,
Of course I am a Republican. Regarding the teachers, there have been numerous accounts that these individuals have had previous allegations brought against them and yet they were still allowed to teach. It doesn't take but common sense to figure that out. The only reason these "teachers" were allowed to still be in contact with children is because they had a union protecting them. As for illegals, that is pretty simple. LA county has just reversed a policy of not impounding a driver's car for 30 days because it is a "hardship" on those that don't have a drivers license (i.e. illegals...). This kind of pandering flies in the face of common sense... Oh wait...since all these solutions just require common sense that must make you a Democrat.
It's politically incorrect to say anything negative about a black person - accurate or not, and the minions of political correctness will get you.
I can handle it.
Glad to see with all that disastrous budget nonsense they were able to come together for something that is as important as a drug addict being labeled a "crack hoe" or someone who lives in a different area being called a slut.
I thought we were a tough country. What happened to that? Now we call cry if someone hurts our little feelings. Too bad. Get over yourself. Anything anyone says can be found offensive to the listener. Anything. What happened to sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me? I'll tell ya what, we've all turned into self centered sensitive morons. FREEDOM of SPEECH! ALL SPEECH! If you don't like it, wear ear plugs.
Tell it like it is. Calling Whitney Houston a "crack ho" is only half true; she was a crack addict, but I am unaware of any evidence that she was a ho.
How about nappy head?
To be accurate she should be called a "crack-head" to quote a certain judge that is on TV
Well, wasn't she?
they should pass a law too keeping inhuman gay people from kissing in public..it's disgusting and rude..no one need's to see that inhumane crap
What this resolution amounts to is restricting first amendment rights under the constitution. No one said you have to like what they say, but you have to allow them to say it. Period, end of story. The FCC has specific guidelines with a list of unacceptable "words" that cannot be used. Calling a spade a spade is not among this list!
The LA City Council cannot keep their city fiscally solvent or their citizens protected from high crime, so who cares what they have to say.....they're incompetent.....
L.A. City Council: Get back to work protecting pedo teachers and promoting illegal immigration. Turn off the radio - THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
When I say the headline I thought someone called Pelosi a crack ho.
How does the left define "hate speech"? Is calling Sarah Palin a c_nt hate speech or tolerable because she is a conservative? I find it amazing that the left only brings out their rule book when they disagree with the person making the comments and for this reason, most people don't pay any attention to their temper tantrums. Consistency doesn't exist on the left.
The lovely Mrs. Houston is NOT a crack whore...she is a dead crack whore. There is a significant difference.
OK now let's get all referances to the "N" word, the "B" word and all other derogatory words of the radio. That would eliminate MOST OF WHAT IS CALLED RAP MUSIC!!!
As a "white" I can't say the 'N" word but any "black" person can--isn't that discrimination?
As for Huston--yes she WAS an addict--whether you use the "polite" or "slang" verson of the discription!!!!
Either "sanitize" ALL speech---yes fine any radio station $1000 for each time they paly a song with the "N" or 'B" word or let FREEDON OF SPEECH be appilied to all persons.
Sad to say, but it looks like the term tolerant liberal has become an oxymoron.
Take your pick, Daryl. Both are equally damning.
Truth is a valid defense in defamation.
Hate Speech? Did anyone say "I hate you"?
Sarah Palin is a moronic idiot. Whitney Houston was a crack hoe. Who cares? Maybe if Sarah Palin didn't get on TV doing stupid things then I wouldn't say or know she was an idiot. If Whitney Houston didn't get on a reality show and run around barely coherent with a crackhead look on her face then we wouldn't know what she was.
Don't want people making comments - don't get on TV in the public eye.
I don't hate either of those women - just my opinion about them. For the record, I don't like George Bush, Barack Obama, or that church that rallies at funerals. Before any of you whiners try to call me a woman hater, a racist, or a homophobe, but i'm sure you will since you can't think of crap else to say.