Air America Denies Secret Service Probe Over Bush Assassination 'Skit'

NewsMax ^ | 4/27/05 | Carl Limbacher

[wagglebee]

Air America talk show hostess Randi Rhodes apparently crossed the line into the "put a gun to President Bush's head" camp on Monday with a bad radio skit, but the liberal talk network claims there is no Secret Service investigation into the incident.

The controversy stems from a Social Security reform bit on her program, in which someone from the fictional "American Association of Armed Retired People" says, "A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us.

"Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp," says the imagined retiree - and then four gunshots ring out.

Yes, Air America's poor ratings beg the question: If gunshots ring out and no one is listening, do they make a sound? But we digress ...

In a press release, Air America said, "We are not under investigation from the Secret Service."

Co-COO and president of programming Jon Sinton added: "We regret that a produced comedy bit that was in bad taste slipped through our normal vetting process. We do acknowledge that it was an internal error and internal discipline will be enforced."

Rhodes offered her regrets: "It was a bit. ... It was bad. I apologize a thousand times."

[wagglebee]

This is outrageous! If Rush had said something like this about Klintoon, he would have been jailed and his broadcast license would be gone forever.

[bahblahbah]

It was probably a media stunt to boost their ratings.

[EagleUSA]

The liberal double standard...and it would have been on the front page of every lib-slop rag in the country. For weeks!!!

The left is beyond disgusting. But the right has to fight back. HARD.

[GeekDejure]

Err Amerika Sucks !!! ;-))

.

[Wiseghy]

If they're not, they should be. This is beyond bad taste. The FCC should also be taking a hard, hard look at this one as well. I would expect a record fine, of nothing else. Just where do we draw the line, if not here?

You can bet a conservative host would be out the door in a heartbeat. Can you imagine anyone threatening Clinton this way?

[Viking2002]

Err Amerika should be taken off the air permanently. What they did was a violation of federal law, period, and those responsible should be tossed in the hoosegow. Now, just imagine what would happen if these inciteful seditionists were to be given a pass, and their bureaucratic lackeys were able to ramrod the Fairness Doctrine down our throats, as well. They'd be prodding the lunatic masses on the Left to take out the president while they sit back, laugh over the airwaves, and wipe their keisters on the First Amendment.

Lock and load, people. It won't take much more for the vermin of our society to finally light the match.

[GreyFriar]

Why is it that this type of "opinion" is repeatedly coming from the liberal/leftist/Democrats and is seen as "harmless joking" yet the "right wing" does nothing of this type, but is proclaimed by those leftists of wanting to do it to their candidates? (Rhetorical)

Whoops, I forgot, they have to do this to violate the law to be able to claim that when they are arrested for threatening the life of the president, they are being politically persecuted for their opinions!

[John Lenin]

Randi ? Isn't that a guys name ? Randi is the definition of the Culture of Death.

[cwb]

"The liberal double standard..."

Not to mention the irony. For almost a year, the MSM (and Hollywood) has been trying to make AA the talk of the town in talk-radio...when there's been absolutely nothing to talk about. Now that there is, silence is golden.

[Doe Eyes]

Why is it that this type of "opinion" is repeatedly coming from the liberal/leftist/Democrats and is seen as "harmless joking" yet the "right wing" does nothing of this type, but is proclaimed by those leftists of wanting to do it to their candidates? (Rhetorical)

You can bet that any Freeper that expressed a similar "opinion" about a Leader of the Democratic Party would be immediately zotted.

[proxy_user]

That seems like a most strange thing for them to say.

You would think they would be complaining that the Secret Service and the Bush administration were infringing on their right of free speech.

[GVnana]

Air America needs a story that won't die.

[Pillows]

Does anyone have an audio clip of this?

[Pillows]

HERE'S THE FIRST THREAD ON THIS:

FIRST THREAD

[TheForceOfOne]

If you take into consideration Nicholson Baker's "Checkpoint", one would be less likely to consider Randi's satire as some sort of Freudian Slip. Bring her in for a full mental examination just in case she is serious.

It is a crime to promote this type of activity against the President of the United States of America and should be treated as such.

I also think tying up Airhead America's finances in court for a couple of years to defend themselves would serve them right.

[Bossy Gillis]

Problem is, nobody heard it, if Rush had said it, yes, it would be all over the place.

[EagleUSA]

...when there's been absolutely nothing to talk about. Now that there is, silence is golden.
======
They are slimey, like cockroaches that hide when they feel threatened. The light of day (truth) is their enemy, big time!!

[AZ_Cowboy]

It was probably a media stunt to boost their ratings.

Bingo! That's the oldest radio PR stunt in the book. Most folks have more brains than to threaten the President, however, being that such actions are illegal.

[Reactionary]

I guess gunshots pass as erudite commentary among the liberal set.

After all, they're about on the same level as the Brownshirts. And just as creative and smart.

[LibWhacker]

Yeah, that's what they think. I'd give anything to be the Secret Service agent who got to take down and arrest Randi Rhodes. I'm sure I'd use the crossface chicken wing power piledriver on her. Or something like that. I'd brush up on it first.

[theDentist]

And what does the Secret Service say?

[Ramstein75]

I was listening to Rhodes reaction today and of course the only thing she apologized about was the bit being unfunny...not really sorry about the intended meaning....she then went on to blame other republican senators for saying similar things about former Prez Clinton...shameful radio.

[squirt-gun]

Limousine morons

[randog]

You would think they would be complaining that the Secret Service and the Bush administration were infringing on their right of free speech.

I think that's what they're hoping for--the opportunity to scream 'Oh, the Oppression!'.

I remember back when Slick Willy was in office...any reference here on FR to harming a head on his head was quickly wiped from the server. Our enemies were looking for anything to nail us with and we knew it.

[L.N. Smithee]

This is reminiscent of the indescribably revolting Hot 97 FM (New York) song calling tsunami victims "chinks" and portraying God as saying, "Swim, you b*tches!" They apologized for that, but I have a hard time believing people that could conceive, write, and record such a vile thing in the first place would have such a rapid change of heart.

For what it's worth: FR's favorite comedienne (NOT!) Margaret Cho's new tour is called "The Assassin Tour." Hmmm -- I wonder what she means by that???

[freekitty]

These people are sick and I have heard that Rhodes person is real trash.

[wagglebee]

This is reminiscent of the indescribably revolting Hot 97 FM (New York) song calling tsunami victims "chinks" and portraying God as saying, "Swim, you b*tches!"

Actually, this is worse. The song you describe was a parody, and though it was in extremely poor taste, it was referring to an act of God over which man has no control. The Air unAmerica skit was suggesting a deliberate act of violence against the President of the United States; depending upon how real a threat to the President is, this can in and of itself be a federal crime.

[libs_kma]

"If Rush had said something like this about Klintoon, he would have been jailed and his broadcast license would be gone forever."

Or at the very least, Klintoon and Satan's daughter would have made sure Mr. Limbaugh received the "special" treatment from Hellary's longtime bud at the IRS.

The same IRS treatment all Klintoon's sex victims got, and also any organization that asked Hellary about her horns and pitchfork.

[Fudd Fan]

it's always "just a joke!" when they get called on it. The 'RAT idiots.

[eric_da_grate]

These people are sick and I have heard that Rhodes person is real trash.

She's trash. A recovering coke-freak. A hardcore leftist and highly volatile temper. I suggest you watch the HBO documentary on the rediculous network. I think it's called "Left of the Dial". (?)

That network is a complete disgrace. Incredibly undisciplined 'hosts' and an unrelenting RAGE for this President that can't be measured. Anything that hastens the complete collapse and demise of this socialist outfit would be welcomed.

[Flux Capacitor]

----In a press release, Air America said, "We are not under investigation from the Secret Service."----

I wonder if these homicidal freakazoids actually believe this. The Secret Service has likely been keeping tabs on this Children's Crusade of the Airwaves since the first time Randi Rhodes threatened the President during her show -- that little bit where she wished for something to the effect of Tony Soprano showing up to "take care" of Bush, then puckered her lips into a cute little gunshot sound effect.

-Dan

[harpo11]

REmember when some movie actor threatened Congressman Henry Hyde and his family?

There is a union ad out against Arnold Swarzenegger, some kid is talking about how Arnold is going to lay his momma off for five days without pay even though Arnold and his family have everything, this little boys family will suffer and it makes his momma mad and when momma is mad Arnold better watch out.

That's all the dems can do. No solution. No answers. Just lots of personal threats.

The political party that swears that they are the party of peace, understanding and can't we just get along and learn to tolerate each other. All it is is nothing but a bunch of obnoxious, obstructing, objecting democrat dolts.

[zot]

Could be they are lying when they say there is no Secret Service investigation, but if there isn't, there ought to be. They were advocating murder of the President.