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Audacity of Truth
"Change" You Can Believe In:
"Nixon didn’t try to do that. They couldn't control (the media). They didn’t try. [...] What the hell do they think we are, puppets?"
- Liberal opinion writer Helen Thomas, describing the Obama admin's penchant for heavily scripting public appearances & press conferences - 7/1/09
Where’s the outrage? Opie and Anthony, and “guest” on their show, laugh about raping Condi
Don Imus gets fired for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy headed hos” but XM radio shock jocks Opie and Anthony continue filling the airwaves with even worse garbage and getting away with it.
Click here to listen.
(Warning: Very vulgar language used.)
Would Opie and Anthony and “Homeless Charlie” think it was hilarious if some guy overpowered and raped them? Would they be laughing if someone were talking about doing that to their mothers or sisters or wives? Could these jack asses possibly stoop any lower?
Here’s a good roundup of some of Opie and Anthony’s other stupid stunts.
Just to clarify, my point isn’t that “they should be fired because Imus” was but instead why the selective outrage. What do you think is worse? Imus’ comments? Or the comments made by “Homeless Charlie”, and laughed at by Opie and Anthony?
Update: Oh, and the First Lady was ‘jokingly’ referenced as a potential by “Homeless Charlie”, too.
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52 Responses to “Where’s the outrage? Opie and Anthony, and “guest” on their show, laugh about raping Condi”
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A few general comments to some of the newbies who are treating me like I’m going on a witchhunt on O&A:
1) Please read what I said – again. I clearly stated that I wasn’t advocating O&A be fired, but I was offended by what was said/done/laughed at.
2) It has nothing to do with being “PC” (yes, believe it or not, being upset with someone over them joking about rape is not being “PC” anymore than it is PC for someone to be upset with another person for ‘joking’ about assisinating the President – like Randi Rhodes did).
3) To the person who said I have to “seek out” O&A in order to get offended, I don’t think so. I didn’t have to do anything other than visit Drudge and the link was there. Shock jocks like O&A say and do stuff like the Condi crap in order to get attention and sure enough, that’s what happened here. Bill Maher is on HBO, a pay cable channel, and we hear and rant about his BS all the time, so the argument about ‘if you don’t want to hear it, don’t pay to do so’ really doesn’t wash.
4) Another assumption/strawman that has been implied in this thread is that the people are offended by this ‘obviously’ don’t have a sense of humor. That’s a load. I used to watch some of the Howard Stern shows they’d play on the E! channel. Some of it offended me, while other bits I laughed til my stomach hurt. I used to watch Beavis and Butthead, which a lot of people I know thought was an offensive show. I have the first season on VHS. So, yes, I do have a sense of humor, and laugh at things others probably would not laugh at, but I don’t think joking about raping someone is funny – again, no more ‘funny’ than some crack a person makes about assassinating the President. And some of the comments I’ve read at other blogs make me believe there is a little selective condemnation going on here, because some of the same people defending O&A slam Bill Maher up one side and down the other. It’s odd how the ‘pay to see’ arguments don’t come up in those threads.
5) I think it’s a sad commentary on society when people automatically assume that when someone complains about something someone else said, that that person wants the ‘offender’ fired or banned, etc. Also, when did it become wrong to complain about things said on the airwaves? I complained about the overtly liberal nature of the TV show “Boston Legal” a few months ago, and I didn’t see anyone telling me that if I don’t like it don’t watch.
6) As I said in a comment at Hot Air, if you’re merely defending someone’s right to say somthing stupid, I’m with you. But if you’re holding up O&A as the standard bearers for humor, and think that being offended by their ‘jokes’ means other people don’t have a sense of humor, then you’ve lost me.
7) I have just as much right to complain about O&A as they do to make their little ‘jokes.’ If this country is free enough that they should be able to say what they want on XM radio, then I’m free enough to complain about something controversial they said/did that made national headlines.
PS: I’m totally with Sev on the cultural issue comments. I haven’t even gotten into that part of the argument, because I seriously doubt anyone wants to hear/read that long-winded rant by yours truly
You make a good point sanity, about the merger. This was incredibly ill timed and stupid, if you’re about to ask your dad for a favor, it’s a bad time to lip off to him first.
ST’s point is also very well said, the freedom to be upset about it and complain is part of the same coin that O&A and their supporters use to rationalize the filth they spew. Double edged sword and all that.
And here I may actually shock some people, but putting on my infowar hat from a past life, if people like O&A and Rosie and Cindy Sheehan and all didn’t exist, I’d pay to create them. These are dangerous times, and we are involved in a desperate ideological struggle both on the world stage and here at home with our own domestic enemies. We can’t afford for our base to be lulled into complacency, the more shocking, distasteful, hateful, and radical filth and treasonous drivel is spewed by the left, the easier it is to rouse people of good character and morals, people who understand the stakes, into action. We on the right are often harder to get engaged than the left. For whatever reason, we have jobs, are engaged in work, and other pursuits, jokes about leftists living in their mom’s basements and not working, whatever, the right takes more to radicalize them into motion than the left, and we desperately need to be rallied. The result of our failure to support our cause is to terrible to contemplate.
The ick factor on what they said is off the charts, but I still don’t like more government interference. I did find out and got confirmed today that you can block those shows, which is a good thing. If we want them off the air then we don’t listen to them. But wow ST, you sure picked a good subject to talk about!
Should we ban every strip club and adult movie theatre, because lewd acts are offensive to some? What about gambling, should we ask the government to shut down all casinos because we think gambling is immoral????
The important thing to remember is that XM is a private service that broadcasts over private space that requires a specific XM receiver and a subscribtion plan to purchase it. People don’t complain when your cable company offers Adult movies, why? because you can choose not to order them. The 1st ammendment guarentees the right to free speech, with a few exceptions…none of which are extremely disguisting or offensive speech. If we start ignoring constitutional rights whenever we are offended, whats to stop our society from plummeting into a society where if enough people don’t like it, it becomes illegal. And if that happens, watch out, not everything you like may be accepted by the masses….next thing you won’t be able to swear on cable, then you won’t be allowed nudity on any premium channel, then they’ll go to the movies…no movies with excessive violence, no movies depicting sex, no adult movies, not even in stores…..
Now, I’m not defending what they said. It was reprehensible…As a historically famous person once said, and if I was smarter I’d know who said it, “I agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to my death your right to say it”
Well, that quote is supposed to say, “I don’t agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to my death your right to say it”
Once again it seems like the issue is clouded. I don’t believe anyone said that they should be banned or censored. The point is that these guys were making fun about a rape. To me, the person involved is irrelevant, but to joke about a rape period is disgusting. If you’ve ever dealt with a rape victim, you might be a little more sympathetic to what I’m talking about.
And it is that same constitutional right that allows them to spew this garbage, that gives me the right to say it is despicable and cowardly. I don’t expect, or want, them fired. Our point is that it is a sad commentary on our country today, nothing more.
Sister Toldjah (ST): “Would Opie and Anthony and “Homeless Charlie” think it was hilarious if some guy overpowered and raped them?
No one raped anyone!
ST: “Would they be laughing if someone were talking about doing that to their mothers or sisters or wives?”
Probably not, but they wouldn’t try to get that person fired from their job.
I understand the problem people have with with this audio, but the people who PAY TO LISTEN to them don’t have a problem. The story about the “Shock Jocks” who said something shocking isn’t a surprising story.
I give up.
It’s amazing how if you criticize someone, some people automatically assume you want them jailed, fired, or killed.
NC,
I’m in the group that wants them fired. Not saying you or ST are. But if they got fired, others would think twice about crossing the line of decency on the airwaves.
I just read where CBS canned a couple of DJ’s because of a crank call they made to a Chinese restaurant.
I just think that decency can’t be regulated by the government, nor should it. Unfortunately as a species, human beings seem to be gravitating more and more to the “If it feels good, it must be right” attitude, regardless of who it may hurt or offend.
As I said before, joking about a rape is despicable and they should be ashamed of themselves. I don’t think it has anything to do with being on public airwaves or not. If the same people had heard Imus’s comments on satellite radio, they would have made just as big of an issue out of it.
That wasn’t the infamous “Chickity China, the Chinese Chicken” one was it?
Maybe the most insulting event here is that the original “article” here states that O&A’s guest mentioned “RAPING” someone, and then they all laughed about it. That’s just not true and completely inaccurate and misleading reporting of the facts! The exact words were “can’t you just see Charlie holding the b**** down and f***ing her!?”, followed by a few other comments referring to “holding her down…”, but all in the context of ASKING her if he could do this. I find nearly all of O&A’s “humor” to be offensive and moronic, but what everyone is crying about is NOT apparently what they actually said (maybe implied, but no RAPE was ever mentioned, only a possible dominance in the sex act, not rape!) and the ONLY people that could hear this were subscribers to their particular range of no-holds-barred type of explicit radio. It’s like being upset at seeing a very explicit sex scene in an X-rated movie – where it is not only expected, but one would assume desired to experience!
So what are we going to move on to next – attacking old Richard Pryor records, and Lenny Bruce LPs, and Red Foxx, George Carlin, and Chech and Chong, and Eddie Griffin, and Chris Rock, and other media that is consumed almost exclusively by those who PAY to experience these people’s own particularly blue and explicit adult word play? The outrage should be in our loss of freedom!!!
Why isn’t anyone concerned about this blatant censorship?
O&A were on XM Radio, a subscription service which people must pay to be a part of. The only people listening to that show were people who WANTED to.
When I turn on Comedy Central and see Chris Rock or Dave Chapell make fun of white men using nasty steretypes I get offended and I change the channel. Why cant you do the same? Should we make a big stink about those comics? Its a double standard
Everyone makes some very good points. Each person has the right to their opinion. I was married, I have two children. I have somewhat “old fashioned” morals. I have never done drugs and only drink like once or twice a year. I try real hard to be a good Dad to my kids. I listen to Opie and Anthony and think “most” things they say are funny. Sometimes I am horryfied and can not believe they said what they did. A few times I have even switched the station due to this. Overall I love the show they put out and will listen til they arent on the air anymore. Everyone has the right to be offended by what they said. Honestly I think them edging “Homeless Charlie” on was in VERY bad taste. Is it disgusting and offending what they were doing?? Sure was (To most people) but guess what, they as Americans have the right to express themselves as Entertainers and entertain their audience. Just like you have the right to disagree and be appaulled by what was said. They make ALOT of money due to the fact they have sponsors and costumers that want to hear them entertain us in these ways.
I dont want the Government to step in and regulate the Pay Satelite services (Of course things that would put us as Americans in harms way should be regulated). We give the government an Inch and they will take a Mile. What we need to do to fix many many many of the issues of this great United States is the following.
Make people realize they are responsible for every single action they make( I am so Gosh Darn tired of people blaming everyone else for thier problems instead of maning up for what they do)
Stop asking what the Government or others can do for you and start asking what the Hell you can do for yourself or others.
If a girl gets pregnant under the age of 18 then it is the parents responsibility to help their daughter to take care of that child. The man that helped to create the child definitely should be “partially” (as in 50%)responsible in helpin to support and take care of the child. IT TAKES TWO people to create a child NOT JUST ONE.
Welfare and other services of that type should be an “Emergency Help” for those that need it. Not a crutch people use to be freakin lazy.
Criminals clogging up our jails… This is a HUGE problem in our society. Give the criminals a punishment that is befitting to thier crime. If they savagely killed another person they need to Die. I know alot wont agre with what I just said and that is okay. I feel that if people started seeing that when you commit a crime like murder or any other brutal crime that ends anothers life, and what the consequences are for actions like that it wont definately make them think twice or possibly chose not to do it.
Sorry so long winded and also sorry a bit off topic. Agree with me or hate me it doesnt matter. I just though I would post that I am a super nice, loving and normal guy that enjoys hearing things on the radio that is explicit. Just because I hear it and enjoy it doesnt mean I would do anything they did or suggested.
John
“I give up.
It’s amazing how if you criticize someone, some people automatically assume you want them jailed, fired, or killed.” -NC Cop
You see, the problem is that nearly everytime you hear someone complaining they DO want the offending party fired, or jailed, or whatever. It’s getting frustrating that the shows that I like always have to watch their back, just in case someone wants to throw them off the air. I love O&A because they just don’t give a damn about the people who would normally try to censor you in the name of “PC” or “Decency”. I fucking tired of people interfering with what I like.
And I can’t stand the false outrage that I always hear in conjunction with these sorts of storys.
And in answer to one of the first questions you posed, If O&A got raped or had someone who was close to them raped how would they react. Well, they would a.) laugh about it and goof on themselves, and b.) unleash the Pest Army upon the unfortunate rapist. That’s what O&A would do.
Has anyone ever heard of FREEdom of speech?? The first amendment covers the right for anybody to SAY that they are going to do ANYTHING to ANYONE. As long as they don’t actually do it, who cares?? Besides, this is a radio station that you HAVE to PAY to recieve AND further more, there are restrictions so that parents can BLOCK their children from listening to it. Lighten up and get a friggin sense of humour America. You take yourselves too seriously. I like to believe that the founding fathers made it the First Amendment for a reason!!
Kristal,
Free speech is not an absolute right. There are a variety of situations that demand a bit of restraint. The old “You can’t yell fire in a theater” comes to mind as an example. We certainly wouldn’t want a radical Muslim cleric using the radio to make suggestions about appropriate locations and times for jihad.
However, I have to confess that I am a bit torn on this one. I have no use for Opie and Anthony, and the fact that they, and some of their listeners, would find the discussion of raping ANY woman funny makes me shudder. They consider themselves on the cutting edge, but I have to wonder what edge they reference. Is joking about rape just good clean fun or does it provide incitement for some of their more feeble-minded and less restrained listeners? Does it diminish the seriousness of the real crime of sexual assault? I worry about the coarseness of our culture, especially with people like Opie and Anthony trying to keep themselves in the spotlight by pushing the bubble.
On the other hand, there is nothing illegal about what occurred on their show, and as such, the proper method to voice disapproval should have been to contact the XM network and any sponsors who may be involved. I am content to let the market drive the content on satellite radio, so long as the content does not cross over into the advocacy of violence, which in this case it nearly did. If allowing people who like the content of Opie and Anthony’s show, or Howard Stern’s show, to have access to a paid venue to listen to them means that other forms of speech are freer, I think it is an appropriate price to pay. As Severian said, if we allow these sophomoric morons to be censored, what is to stop an angry listener from insisting he or she is offended by conservative commentary, and demanding censorship of Limbaugh, Hannity, or Franken, for that matter?
Crabby is absolutely correct, you are not allowed to say “anything.” Speech that can cause harm, such as actively inciting people to murder or break the law, and the classic “yelling fire in a theater” are quite rationally subject to restrictions. We don’t often restrict speech for good reason, but dangerous and harmful speech is not protected.
All of which overlooks the primary factor here, the 1st Amendment only specifies that the government cannot restrict your speech, it does not apply to private enterprises such as businesses. People so often fail to realize this. Your employer has an absolute right to control what you say and when and where you can say it. Imagine a kid at the local hamburger joint claiming his free speech “rights” were imposed upon because the manager doesn’t want him to say “would you like fries with that you mother F’er.” That’s patently ridiculous, the manager can and would fire his butt in a heartbeat, and it would not violate his rights at all, as the business is not government.
Don’t they teach civics and such in schools anymore?
To add, this entire mess is being handled in the way it needs to be, in the free market. People have expressed their opinions on O&A to both XM and the sponsors as to whether or not they want them banned/removed, and XM and the sponsors are sorting it out. It appears that XM jumped and banned them before waiting long enough to figure out what their market really wanted, as the sponsors are getting an ear full from people who wanted them to stay, and pulling out of XM. It’s a messy affair, but it’s exactly how it should be handled, XM and the sponsors are determining which action will PO the fewest of their customers and acting accordingly.
Kristal would flunk government 101 as she wrote, “Has anyone ever heard of FREEdom of speech?? The first amendment covers the right for anybody to SAY that they are going to do ANYTHING to ANYONE.”
Ignorance is bliss…. And you were free to be so.