Chris Krok.
I wonder if Tom Joyner can say “bitch slap”?
Posted on 08/12/2002 6:22:48 AM PDT by kcpopps
Station management at WTDY/AM 1670 has decided to clip the phrase "bitch slap" from its talk radio lexicon after the words drew furious reaction from domestic abuse prevention groups.
Talk show host Chris Krok, who used the phrase Thursday and Friday mornings against state Rep. Terese Berceau, among others, said it had been part of the station's "street vernacular."
"A bitch slapping is like a pillory or excoriating somebody. You know, verbally lashing them with your tongue," Krok said Friday.
But Berceau, D-Madison, didn't see it that way. And neither did many members of violence prevention groups.
Former mayoral candidate Eugene Parks probably had the strongest reaction against the phrase, writing in all bold, capital letters that "THIS KIND OF RADIO TALK SHOW INSANITY CAN NOT BE TOLERATED."
That was written in a letter to Mayor Sue Bauman on Friday, in which he called for Krok to be investigated for a hate crime.
Berceau played it a bit cooler.
"I never listen to the show, but I certainly had a number of people call me and tell me what he said," Berceau said.
"I do think that this crossed the line. And I also think it's become an issue of our community standards."
Berceau said that the whole incident "could be downplayed, except that it's offensive and there is an issue here of who is listening and how they might interpret a call to, uh, slap the bitch."
The appropriate response, she said, would be to try to pinch the station's funding.
"The only thing I can say is that people in the community have to turn to advertisers and ask them why they're supporting a show like this," Berceau said.
That tactic, evidently, was persuasive. WTDY Program Director John "Sly" Sylvester sent a letter to Berceau on Friday. It wasn't apologizing, but it promised he'd direct broadcasters from using the term "bitch" or the phrase "bitch slap."
"We certainly will find better words for a female politician who uses her political power to deny citizens their voting rights," Sylvester wrote.
Though the term has admittedly been used a lot on WTDY, it drew attention Thursday and Friday mornings, when Krok was talking about a petition opposing a move by the city of Fitchburg to annex parts of the town of Madison. The contentious border dispute began with language in the state budget - later vetoed - that would have allowed the town to be absorbed by surrounding cities without a referendum.
The budget language has been attributed to Berceau, as has the petition drive against Fitchburg's potential annexation.
Berceau said that in the debate, Krok lost sight of the issues and began using violent language against her and others.
"I can deal with Sly," Berceau said.
"Sly, we all know, can be outrageous, and I can deal with him. And Sly makes me mad and gets me all riled, and I've made the mistake of calling him before. But I think Krok is tasteless. I think he has so little respect, you know, he goes after the person instead of the issue," Berceau said.
After Krok disparaged her, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence sent out messages to affiliates throughout the state. The coalition did it because a state legislator with a record against abuse was under attack, Berceau said.
Krok said Berceau called on her "goon squad" to attack him.
"They owe me an apology. Terese Berceau owes me an apology," Krok said.
For what?
"For trying to get me in big trouble," Krok said.
Sylvester said that he supports Krok, but that he has to be mindful of language that drives away listeners and advertisers.
If something a talk show host says "gives our opponents a club to hit us with hard enough to hurt us economically, I have to make a decision," Sylvester said.
Krok said that he doesn't feel defeated.
"I don't have to use the term 'bitch slap.' I don't have to use the term 'bitch.' So, I just won't. Fine," Krok said.
Berceau added: "This is exactly what they want, is all this publicity."
Sounds like Krok should have used different language - but bringing attention to the issue of this democrat wanting to annex property without a vote was worthy.
Krok said Berceau called on her "goon squad" to attack him.
Did he get "freeped" by democrats?
Chris Krok.
I wonder if Tom Joyner can say “bitch slap”?
Most memorable career moment:
Staging a huge rally in Jefferson City, MO in the fall of 2000, calling for Al Gore to step down and concede the election. We got lots of TV coverage and lots of listeners out. I did my show live from the Capital, as I commanded "Mr. Gore" to step down! We faxed a petition and called Gore's voicemail live, on-air daily for weeks, too!
Of course he can. In the context of street people of color, the term is not offensive. By the same token, Joyner can also use words that rhyme with "tigger" that Krok would never be able to use on the radio.
Might I suggest cow, sow, dirtbag, bottom feeder, evil red-headed stepchild...
So now speech has morphed into a hate crime? I can't wait for the Supremes to strike down the left wing hate crime laws.
How dare they support a show that criticises me! It should be silenced!
Your suggested list of words sounds appropriate... made me really LOL.
I didn't know THAT! Now it becomes perfectly clear why the uproar.
As for Ms. Berseau, if she's offended by the term, perhaps she should consider getting another pair of shoes, because as we all know, "If the shoe fits..."
Stop that! ;)
I always thought that actions spoke louder than words...
A. "Parks is also concerned that unplanned growth on the city's outskirts is overwhelming Madison's ability to provide adequate police and fire protection community-wide. And he charged that racial discrimination is fueling the growth of these new developments.I guess Parks doesn't even consider that his court-ordered sinecure and windfall could also be responsible for "overwhelming Madison's ability to provide adequate police and fire protection community-wide".
B. "The city appointed Parks a sign shop supervisor after being ordered by a court to find him a job in city government. He had sued the city after being fired from his job as affirmative action director by former Mayor Joe Sensenbrenner.
"In 1997, the city also was ordered to pay him a $441,000 settlement plus retirement benefits.
"Parks said he is enjoying his newfound freedom from the daily grind.
"It's so great, it's unbelievable," he said."
With a name like Wondervixen and lines like that above you'll soon have lots of guys here trying to join you in a peek. (Just to independantly verify your results of course)
With a name like Wondervixen and lines like that above you'll soon have lots of guys here trying to join you in a peek. (Just to independantly verify your results of course)
PC sensibilities be damned, I won't miss hearing this immature and misogynistic slang brought to us courtesy of the gangsta rap sub-culture.
Don't hold your breath. That snowball already has too much momentum behind it.
I'm not saying they shouldn't, for the record.
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