Ethnic Cleansing At Air America Radio

The Cincinnati Black Blog ^ | April 13, 2005 | Nate Livingston

[natelivingston]

I guess this should be filed in the "Washington Politics" thread ... I'm an African American registered Democrat. I don't mind giving conservative Republicans hell when they deserve it. But unlike many conservative, I don't mind speaking out against my Party when I think they are wrong and encouraging them to do the right thing.

Anyway, white liberals are having fits about the article posted below, which was written by me and published on my blog, in Black newspapers across the country, and at the liberal Daily Kos blog.

I'm posting the article here because I'd like to have some feedback from a more conservative audience. (I also sent it to Mr. Hannity. Who knows, he may do something with it one day.)

ETHNIC CLEANSING AT AIR AMERICA RADIO

When liberal Air America Radio Network yanked hip-hop legend Chuck D, a member of Public Enemy, off the air on April Fool’s Day and replaced him with Jerry Springer, they made fools out of Black Democrats, especially those in the hip-hop community who believed Air America would serve as a shining example of the Democratic Party’s purported commitment to tolerance, diversity, and partnership.

When the Coalition For A Just Cincinnati -- the group leading the economic boycott of Cincinnati -- decided to protest ethnic cleansing at Air America by picketing a live Springer broadcast, Jerry showed us just how intolerant he was. Like a scab, he crossed the picket line. Then he ordered a member of his all-white “Team Springer” clan to call the cops on us. In contrast, conservative Republican Sean Hannity welcomed protesting of his appearance in Cincinnati last summer. Who’s intolerant?

After being on the air for a year, Air America finds itself struggling to attract and keep listeners, just as the Democratic Party struggles to gain and keep voters. The removal of Chuck D -- one of only two daily African American talk show hosts -- represents much more than just the “whitening” of Air America, it symbolizes just how far the Party has drifted away from the Black community, it’s most loyal support base.

White liberals’ support for racial, ethnic, and viewpoint diversity appears nonexistent when it’s them, and not the government, being challenged to diversify. Air America passed over hundreds of qualified and experienced African American talk radio hosts i.e., Tavis Smiley, Bev Smith, Ed Gordon, Raqiyah Mays, and Joe Madison, for such no names as Ed Schultz, Mark Maron, and Sam Seder. But it’s not like we weren’t warned.

In announcing his debut on Air America, Springer said the radio network had cornered the “wine and cheese” crowd but needed to reach out to the “beer and pretzel” market. If you think these sentiments mirror Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean’s belief that Democrats should quit placating African Americans and start recruiting “white guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks” into the Party, you aren’t alone.

Even beyond racial diversity, Air America’s white overseers have done little to foster an ideologically diverse listener base or allow all voices within the Democratic Party to be heard. Air America has turned into an endless stream of boring bellyaching, where so much time is spent responding to conservative talking points that we can’t push an alternative agenda. This isn’t the best our Party has to offer, it is the worst. The notion that a few elitist reactionaries represent the Party of Roosevelt and Kennedy is preposterous. Springer and the rest of the second-tiered talk show hosts don’t speak for me, and I don’t think they speak for Latinos, Women, hard-working union members, or other African Americans either. Air America represents the hijacking of the Democratic Party, silencing of minority voices, and destruction of a common sense agenda.

Every election cycle, Democrats run through Black neighborhoods preaching partnership, but the alliance between Blacks and Democrats resembles less a partnership, and more a master-slave relationship where African Americans work like slaves to increase voter participation while whites reap all the benefits. Remember last year’s “voter empowerment” effort where Russell Simmons and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs were dispatched around the country and assigned to lure young African Americans into the election process? At the same time Combs was preaching “Vote or Die”, former Senator Carol Moseley-Braun and Rev. Al Sharpton were being killed off in the Democratic primaries. And right after the election Ron Kirk and Wellington Webb were looked over for the position of DNC Chair in favor of Dean. What does it take for Blacks to get the message that once Democrats have no further use for Blacks, they dispose of them. They did it to Combs, Simmons, Moseley-Braun, Sharpton, Kirk, and Webb. And that’s exactly what Air America did to Chuck D.

“Fight the power” is my favorite Public Enemy song and the movie it appeared in “Do The Right Thing” is my favorite Spike Lee movie. One of the movie’s main characters, Buggin’ Out, wants the pizza owner, Sal, to put some pictures of African Americans on the wall. Lee’s movie and Chuck D’s lyrics inspired a generation to stand up to those in power and declare “…got to give us what we want; gotta give us what we need. Our freedom of speech is freedom or death; we got to fight the powers that be.” I know I’m not alone when I say white liberal Democrats need to live up to their promises on tolerance, diversity, and partnership. And Air America needs to put some African Americans on the air.

-----

Nathaniel Livingston, Jr., publishes the Cincinnati Black Blog which is available online at

[LincolnLover]

Wow, Nate, I didn't know what to expect when I began reading your piece but...wow.

Very well reasoned and provocative, IMO. I imagine the reaction you're receiving from snits like Markos Moulitsas (who sniffed, to Brian Lamb on C-Span last Sunday, that he "doesn't read any" conservative blogs) is along the lines of, "Well, those Republicans are evilracistnazipigs. How *dare* you question us when, by comparison to thoselittleHitlerwannabesontheRight, we're golden."

Unlike Mr. Moulitsas, I do and will continue to read blogs written by those on the "other side". Keeps me mentally sharp and well-rounded.

Perhaps that's why the Left keeps losing.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The Dems have never had any use for black America other than to use you as a tool.

The Dems were able to block civil rights legislation for 100 years until the Republicans almost got it done under Eisenhower, then they passed it under Johnson as a way to buy votes. Johnson himself believed that blacks would vote for Dems for 20 years. Guess he undercalled it.

Even Clinton could only find Ron Brown and Jocelyn Elders for positions in his administration. Unfortunately we all remember Jocelyn's proposal for "education". Who does the Democratic Party include in its current leadership from the black community? No one.

The Democratic Party wants God removed from the public square, abortion on demand - even after birth, euthanasia for unwanted relatives, special rights for homosexuals and special rights for themselves. How does a predominately Christian black community square itself with this? How has destroying black families, and putting black men in prison through welfare programs, helped the black community?

You're preaching to the choir here. We expect the left-wing to behave the way that Air America does.

[Alouette]

qualified and experienced African American talk radio hosts i.e., Tavis Smiley, Bev Smith, Ed Gordon, Raqiyah Mays, and Joe Madison

Ever heard of Marie Kegler? She used to call herself the "Black, Female Rush Limbaugh."

[Night Hides Not]

Air America just arrived in the Dallas area - 910 AM. The signal sucks, just like their programming.

Yesterday, I heard one of their shows using terms such as "Nazi" and "stormtrooper" to describe the DC Capital Police. The inference that it was Bush's fault was soon forthcoming.

The second I heard "this could never happen in MY country", one thought immediately popped into my mind:

Elian Gonzalez--that hideous picture of the poor kid being taken by the SWAT team member. IIRC, that raid was approved by Janet Reno. Wasn't she employed during the Clinton administration?

[Physicist]

First, a heartfelt welcome to FreeRepublic. You'll get flamed to hell and back, of course, but then again everybody here does, no matter what their views.

Second, I'd be interested to hear your take on this article: Excuses, Excuses.

Sharp essay, BTW, but I'm afraid you plucked some awfully low-hanging fruit.

[Finny]

Nate, are you aware that a black man is probably the most popular sit-in host when Rush Limbaugh is on vacation? Walter Williams is beloved by thousands upon thousands of talk radio conservatives -- when he's on the air, my dad calls me with only two words that we both treasure: Walter's on!"

Larry Elder, the should-be-sainted Thomas Sowell, Deroy Murdoch, Ken Hamblin, and Star Parker are just a few conservatives that come immediately to my mind who are so popular among conservatives, and their opinions are all the more poignant because of their experiences as black Americans. Come home and find real welcome to YOUR party, Nate! It's called the Republican party. The racism is truly on the left, not here. Conservatives care about IDEAS, not race.

[lilmsdangrus]

bump for later

[Fawnn]

But unlike many conservative, I don't mind speaking out against my Party when I think they are wrong and encouraging them to do the right thing.

You obviously haven't read much here, have you? Too bad you didn't throw something into your column about immigration.... ;)

I seem to recall that it was Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower who sent troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce court-ordered school integration.

I seem to recall that it was the Republicans who had to overcome the Democratic's fillibuster attempts to stop passage of the Civil Rights Amendment.

More recently, I seem to recall that Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, and Condi Rice all have had or have high-ranking positions in the current government.

You get the idea....

Yet the media continues to claim that the Democratic Party is the party of diversity. Go figure.

I suppose on the good news side, you do have the impeached former president as the nation's first black president -- or, so says the MSM.

[Madeleine Ward]

Nate, you almost lost me with the very opening line. You come across as another liberal who is somehow better and more enlightened and more open-minded than us conservatives.

But I read on. I agree with much of what you said, but welcome to the conservative mindset. We have been talking for years and years about how your party does not really doesn't really give minorities a voice at the table and doesn't really give them opportunity.

But may I point out to you, and this is what most liberals don't get, Air America isn't some government or public institution. It's private. They have to make money. And apparently, they don't think they can make money with your guy. And I think all liberals, including yourself, need to 'grow up' to that reality.

If you want you guy to get heard, go out and find some sponsors.

[An Old Marine]

Here's the deal Nathaniel and I'll say it bluntly. I think the Democrats and their various machines (ie. Air America) take you Black Americans for granted. Further they need you guys to need them. Hence after 60 years of the "civil rights fight" things could still be a bunch better for you.

So they keep dumping rhetoric and empty promises with occasionally tossing a sunsistance bone in your general direction to your votes.

Politically things aren't going to get any better for Black Americans until you declare your votes as having to be earned again.

[Incorrigible]

Ping

[timtoews5292004]

Thank you sir, for being willing to speak your mind and stand up for what you believe in. Read both sides of each argument, it will make you stronger.

[Bob]

The Dems have never had any use for black America other than to use you as a tool.

I've never understood the blind, unwavering loyalty among African Americans to the democrat party. See:

George Wallace (D-GA)

Maddux, Lester (D-GA)

Faubus, Orval (D-AR)

Byrd, Robert (D-KKK)

Gore Sr., Al (D-TN)

Good, solid democrats all. </sarcasm>

[freebilly]

I’m not alone when I say white liberal Democrats need to live up to their promises on tolerance, diversity, and partnership.

I'm just waiting for white liberals, like Alec Baldwin, to live up to their promise to leave the country for good when Bush won the election in '00 and again in '04.

And Air America needs to put some African Americans on the air.

Sorry, there ain't no Affirmative Action in the marketplace. If there's a talented liberal black radio personality that can draw an audience (and ad revenue) and entertain (a la Rush)then ERR AmeriKa would be pretty damn foolish not to hire him/her, but no one has an obligation to hire a mediocre talent no matter how much or little melanin they have in their skin.

[Bob]

Oopps, sorry, should have been:

Gore Sr., Al Al Gore, Sr. (D-TN)

[Chameleon]

Nice article, Nate.

"Air America has turned into an endless stream of boring bellyaching, where so much time is spent responding to conservative talking points that we can’t push an alternative agenda."

I think you've really gotten to one of the core issues that haunts the Democratic party today.

Rebuplicans do a fair job appealing to conservative ideolology. The Democrats have devolved into a party lacking ideology beyond, "Republicans suck, and we have to beat them."

It's not about winning at ideology anymore, it's more like winning a football game to them.

"White liberals’ support for racial, ethnic, and viewpoint diversity appears nonexistent when it’s them, and not the government, being challenged to diversify."

I think it's actually even broader than that. White liberalism is so mired in elitism that they cannot imagine anyone having the gall to ask them to change at all. They're the ones who fly their gulfstreams to environmental rallies, have armed bodyguards accompany them to gun control rallies and complain to national TV audiences that their viewpoints are being silenced. They are smarter than others, and know what's right for the "everyone else" crowd. The peons of the "everyone elese" crowd aren't worthy of challenging their superior intellect or righteousness. Thus they are hopelessly blind to their hypocrisy.

[beeler]

This is the first time you've come face-to-face with leftist hypocrisy concerning their self administered position of protector of "minority" rights?

[mvpel]

Time to wake up, Nate, from your fever dreams about the Democrat Party.

You're coming so close to an epiphany, but you can't bring yourself to finally embrace it:

...they made fools out of Black Democrats, especially those in the hip-hop community who believed Air America would serve as a shining example of the Democratic Party’s purported commitment to tolerance, diversity, and partnership.

Then he ordered a member of his all-white “Team Springer” clan to call the cops on us.

White liberals’ support for racial, ethnic, and viewpoint diversity appears nonexistent when it’s them, and not the government, being challenged to diversify.

Purported, Nate. That's the key word.

"Tolerance," "diversity," and "partnership" are just empty platitudes which they mouth, in order to sucker you into voting for them. When it comes time for the rubber to meet the road, they put Nancy Pelosi instead of Maxine Waters in charge, while the Republicans put Condi Rice and Colin Powell four heartbeats away from the Presidency.

How did you feel about Democrat attacks on Condi Rice, portraying her as a big-lipped ignorant mammy, or a "race traitor," or "murderer?" Have you been subjected to this kind of attack yourself when speaking out against your party?

As Walter Williams put it:

The attacks on Dr. Rice and Gen. Powell are the results of one-think where all blacks are to think alike. Any who stray are race traitors. A monopoly on ideas serves no one well and explains why solutions to problems for a large segment of the black community will remain elusive.

Democrat elitist snobs only appreciate Blacks when they come out to vote, and otherwise expect them to sit down, shut up, and stay in the back of the bus, as you're finally starting to discover.

Are you aware that the Democrat party was originally founded as a way to protect Southern slavery?

Are you aware that the Republican party elected the first Black Senator and Representatives, appointed the first Black cabinet official, and nominated Abraham Lincoln, author of the Emancipation Proclamation, as its first Presidential candidate?

Were you aware that the kind of gun licensing and registration that the Democrat party pushes for was enacted in Michigan under pressure from the Ku Klux Klan because of the risks they faced from armed Blacks?

And consider the blunt words of Florida Supreme Court Justice Buford in 1941:

I know something of the history of this legislation. The original Act of 1893 was passed when there was a great influx of negro laborers in this State drawn here for the purpose of working in turpentine and lumber camps. [T]he Act was passed for the purpose of disarming the negro laborers ... and to give the white citizens in sparsely settled areas a better feeling of security. The statute was never intended to be applied to the white population and in practice has never been so applied.

He was a Democrat, and the law of 1893 was passed by Democrats.

Sounds like Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein, doesn't it?

I hope you come to realize, as so many others have, that the true home of honest, hard-working, American Blacks - and Jews, and Latinos, and any individual from any religious, ethnic, or racial group that still values the American Dream and the traditional principles of liberty and personal responsibility - is in the Republican Party.

That's where the solutions to the problems facing the Black community lie, by shattering the Democrat-imposed monopoly of ideas. Contrary to Williams' notion - the solutions are not elusive, so long as you don't willfully blind yourself to them.

[DGray]

More and people are getting the same wake-up call: Democrats talk the talk, Republicans walk the walk. Welcome to FR.

[griswold3]

Very good article, Nate!
IMHO, I think the Democratic Party has been taken over by George Soros and the "Shadow Party". They will take the party no where. Their belief that groups yield the power is mistaken. History shows that individuals who stand up to "powers that be" are the most effective. Whom do we credit civil rights to? Not the Black Panthers. I hope you can hold the liberals accountable because I for one think we need more honest debate and compromise for a better country and at present the Dems "Just say no" program isn't helping this country.