Posted on 04/13/2007 5:26:53 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Touchy, touchy! Diane Sawyer is in the business of dishing out tough questions and challenging people's answers. But when a guest on today's "Good Morning America" politely corrected her on a First Amendment matter, the GMA host was quick to accuse him of "attacking" her.
Los Angeles-based radio talk show host Larry Elder was Diane's guest, in to discuss the Imus matter. Sawyer introduced him as a "conservative radio host" though on his own site Elder describes himself as a "libertarian" and "a blend of fiscal conservative and social liberal." Of course we all know how many times the MSM has described Al Sharpton as a "liberal" in the course of his innumerable appearances over the last week or so: that would be precisely zero, at last count.
Elder opined that Imus' punishment did not fit the crime. Imus' comment was offensive sexist and racist, said Elder, "but he apologized, apologized again, did the obligatory beatdown tour a la Michael Richards by appearing on the Al Sharpton show, and as far as I'm concerned, that should have been enough. In the grand department store of life, Don Imus operates in the toy section and I think that those remarks should have been taken with some perspective, but they weren't."
To her credit, Sawyer then raised the issue of rap lyrics, displaying some on-screen with blanked-out words, their messages more vile than anything Imus had said.
In wrapping things up, Sawyer said "free speech issues abound in all of this."
There were big smiles on both sides, but one sensed that Sawyer's feelings had indeed been hurt, and that Elder was trying to recover from what he feared might have been a GMA-career ending moment.ELDER [politely correcting her]: Diane, I do want to take issue with the term 'free speech.' This has nothing to do with free speech. Free speech has to do with the government suppressing political speech. This has to do with a private employer, CBS, determining for all sorts of reasons that Don Imus ought to go. That's just the way things go. That's just free enterprise. It has nothing to do with free speech."
SAWYER: Well, free speech enables you to end this interview by attacking me! Thank you very much.
ELDER: I didn't attack you Diane, I was just simply clarifying something.
SAWYER: Alright, Larry, good to talk to you this morning.
That is considered an attack?
How does Diane keep her blood in, with skin that thin?
Well that’ll teach her to interview those rabid, foaming at the mouth right-wing Conservatives, now won’t it?
outta hear the reputations of Barbara Walters and Dianne Sawyer in Vegas...........these ole blistexs’ “get down” while there and the stories are aweful ,multiple and accurate.
“Good for Larry. A big part of the problem in this country is that the idiot masses dont understand that the Bill of Rights, which includes the right to freedom of speech, only restricts government behavior. Individuals and private companies can limit speech any way they want. Diane should know better.”
Exactly! It’s amazing how many out there don’t get this. I got so sick of hearing how the dixie chix were denied free speech because people stopped buying their records, and had the nerve to criticize them. If I said what Imus said, my company would fire me too.
Let me preface by saying both are offensive.
That said, which is more offensive to you personally:
1) Conservatives are a-holes.
2) Freepers are a-holes.
There is a difference in how personally you take each statement.
As long as he doesn’t call her a nappy headed ho.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Teaching liberal TV personalities sound thoughtful is like teaching pigs to sing. It hurts your ears and just frustrates the pig.
I'm hearing now that Imus is a conservative. I wonder if he is as surprised to hear that as I am!
Diane Sawyer is a manipulative phony and a typical lib. Sawyer cries “victim” after being “attacked” by the “conservative” to cover up for her own stupidity. What a clown.
I don’t think Sawyer thought Elder was attacking her...but, SHE is the smart one, how DARE he make a smarter point than she??
Why shouldn’t he Diane??? Are you upset cause you are a woman, or upset because he is a black man...that didn’t go along with YOUR agenda??
That may be ... but she's reasonably easy to look at ... not the pinched, thin lips,
and squinty little eyes look of a typical liberal female.
I knew Diane when. She does and she is.
I’m surprised Sawyer hasn’t filed “intellectual rape” charges against Larry. /sarcasm
LOL. True, but remember, the Devil was the most beautiful Angel in heaven too!
Diane Sawyer: A twit parroting liberal talking points. Has no friggin’ idea what she’s talking about.
BUMP for excellence.
It's her mouth. When you see her talking on camera, it looks like she is borrowing/renting someone else's lips and she still hasn't gotten used to it. It gets real creepy if you watch her a while.
I heard Larry comment about this on his show this afternoon. Maybe I’m wrong, but I got the impression that he felt Diane was kidding with him when she said that.
Interesting. Thanks.
“There were big smiles on both sides, but one sensed that Sawyer’s feelings had indeed been hurt, and that Elder was trying to recover from what he feared might have been a GMA-career ending moment.”
I’m sure it isn’t that important to Larry if he ever goes on GMA again. If he was trying to smooth things over, it was because he is a gentleman. Additionally, he values truth, and is not someone who kisses up.
Go Sage!
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