Air America Radio suspends Randi Rhodes for using the "W" word.
In the 1919 case Schenk v. The United States, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech doesn't permit someone to falsely yell "fire" in a crowded theater. That interpretation of our Constitutional rights was brought up to date today when the management of Air America Radio suspended talk show host Randi Rhodes for calling Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton "whores." Ms. Rhodes' live tirade was not broadcast on the Air America network. We know about it because it was captured on tape and made available for endless viewing on YouTube.…
Article comments
26 - Robert K. Blechman
I think the key difference we are missing here is that Randi Rhodes is a public persona and a recognized proponent of progressive issues. The fact that her suspension has generated such intense media coverage shows that we're dealing with more here than a corporate employee expressing an non-corporate opinion.
Randi deals in discussions of people who have put themselves in the public spotlight. She addresses political issues as they are represented by the various candidates. Maybe the letter of the First Amendment doesn't protect such speech (although I think it does) but surely the entire body of writings of the Founding Fathers favors this kind of spirited political exposition.
We can all agree that some words are dirty and might better be left out of this discourse. But to silence any political expression because it is presented in an unpleasant or unconventional mode is to threaten all political expression.
27 - Dan
Is there a petition we can sign to have Randi Rhodes committed to intense psychotherapy?
28 - Arch Conservative
It seems as if at least some of the posters, such as txcat get it.
Free speech means that you as a private citizen have the absolute right to say anything you want anywhere you want at any time. However if you have been hired to represent a business the people that sign your checks have every right to decide wether or not they want you to continue to employ you because it's not a matter of your free speech but your representation of your employer in a manner which they find acceptable and if they can your sorry ass for saying something boneheaded it is in no way a violation of your free speech.
29 - Leoanrd
The First Amendment protects the people from the government making laws and limiting speech. It doesn't do a thing when it's your employer curtailing your speech.
30 - bill
The fact that Hillary is a "whore" for corporate America is fact beyond repoach. She and her husband helped start the DLC an organization dedicated to getting democrats to sell themselves for corporate money just like the republicans so they could win elections. She has taken more corporate lobbist money than any other candidate democrat or republican running for president this time. We have seen vividly the kind of strings attached to this kind of money for the last seven years. Whoring yourserlf out has become accepted venacular for selling out your beliefs. Randi had every right to call it like it is. The people who own Air America are Hillary supporters who wanted to get her to quit. Nothing more.Her employers did not have firing her as an option she had a no fire contract. They are just using this incident to get her out.
31 - Dave Nalle
Having free speech means that we have to take responsibility for the consequences of what we say. Randi Rhodes has been given an object lesson on this reality.
Dave
32 - don
When new management does not like the terms of a contract negotiated by the previous management as in this case with Randi's no firing clause then all management can do is humilate her into quitting. The legality of her suspension when she has a no firing clause in her contract is extremely suspect. With the damage to her reputation done by this incident expect a huge lawsuit coming soon. i hope the new Air America owners have some deep pockets cause this little incident is gonna cost them big time!!!