Bob grant: taking hate for granted

Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Neal Boortz, squeaky little Mark Levin, and The Radio Equalizer have raised a high dander because Radio & Records, the industry magazine bowed to pressure and withdrew a lifetime achievement award to New York talk radio legend and scrapulous race-baiter Bob Grant, 78.

The Washington Post: Grant,whose radio career spans 60 years, has stoked outrage and generated spasms of publicity by making derogatory comments about Latinos, gays and African Americans. He has called blacks "screaming savages" and "sub-humanoids," and denigrated then-New York Mayor David Dinkins, an African American, by saying he looked like "the men's room attendant at the 21 Club."

Grant, huddling under a series of laughable toupees, has covered himself and the conservative movement with glory for many decades; and they are grateful. He's been identified as an inspiration and mentor to Hannity, Levin, and Glenn Beck. The right-wing explaining industry owes him as one of the first to see gold in the edgy, street level, blue collar, hate-scraping he pioneered. 

He was fired from WABC in 1996 after commenting about late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, an African American, killed in a plane crash. At first, reports on the crash said one person might have survived and Grant he cracked, "I have a hunch [Brown might be] the lone survivor. But then, I'm a pessimist at heart."

He was rehired at WABC last summer.

The magazine's change of mind was due to a letter campaign brought by Scott Pellegrino, a longtime Grant critic who aggregated a long list of his more outrageous racist statements over the years, spread the compendium far and wide, and caused a insurgence of R & R employees.

The magazine released this statement: "Upon further review and consideration of Bob Grant's complete body of work, Radio & Records has withdrawn its decision to present the 2008 News/ Talk/ Sports Lifetime Industry Achievement Award to Mr. Grant."

Limbaugh: ''I think it's extremely cowardly that this Radio & Records bunch can rescind an award they had bestowed simply because of one letter from a malcontent. We're losing to political correctness. Grant deserves a lifetime achievement award from a whole lot of people, not just a trade magazine."

(Maybe Big Pants should give an annual Race-Inciting for Ratings Award, so hosts of radio-for-knuckle-draggers can get a gold star too).

Political correctness? Grant's ratings-baiting racial flaming transcended any such a harmless label. Think Progress collected some of Grant's bests of:

    ~ Stating that he had been praying for the death of basketball star Magic Johnson, Grant implored, “Why is it taking so long for the HIV to go into full-blown AIDS?” [10/1/92]

    ~ “Minorities are the Big Apple’s majority, you don’t need the papers to tell you that, walk around and you know it. To me, that’s a bad thing. I’m a white person.” [Newsday, 6/2/92]

    ~ Referring to black churchgoers, Grant said, “I can’t take these screaming savages, whether they’re in that A.M.E. Church, the African Methodist church, or in the street, burning, robbing, looting.” [4/30/93]

   ~ Grant onced claimed that the United States has “millions of sub-humanoids, savages, who really would feel more at home careening along the sands of the Kalahari or the dry deserts of eastern Kenya–people who, for whatever reason, have not become civilized.” [1/6/92]

   ~ “I’d like to get every environmentalist, put them up against a wall and shoot them.” [New York Times, 4/18/96]

   ~ Grant said that he hoped that President Clinton would “exchange bodily fluids” with an HIV-positive immigrant. [New York Times, 4/18/96]

   ~ Grant referred to former New York Mayor David N. Dinkins, an African-American man, as a “washroom attendant.” [New York Times, 4/18/96]

Comments

[joanie]

What do you suppose is missing in the rearing of children who become people like this? Name callers, intolerant haters, greedy and profiteering warmongers...

I just don't understand how they think.

[PugetSound]

i gotta agree joanie. just like that mike malloy dude, right?

[sparky]

I have an idea-- lets get Rev. Hutcherson and this guy in an auditorium, sell tickets ( all money going to a charity for New Orleans) and see what happens...

[wutitiz]

For every Bob Grant there are 10 lefties like Julianne Malveaux. She's the former Pacifica host who wished that Clarence Thomas would eat lots of fatty foods and die young of a heart attack.

Actually I think it's time to stop the disingenuous conflation of bad traits whether boorishness, racism, or sex perversion etc., with partisan politics.

It's the classic distraction ploy used when ideas have run out of steam and become indefensible.

[Blargh]

"What do you suppose is missing in the rearing of children who become people like this? Name callers, intolerant haters,"

Yep. And what better place for those kids to learn love and tolerance but to peruse the archives of Blatherwatch.

There are precious few threads here that don't immediately degenerate into name-calling, hatred and distortions of whatever your current version of the truth might be.

Unfortunately though, the proprietor of this mess is largely to blame. Most of his entries set the tone for the responses that follow.

[joanie]

I don't think enticing children to an adult blog is in the works, blargh.

And leave it to putsie to add names to a generic statement. Telling, isn't it putsie.

BTW, blargh, you might spend some time actually auditing the name calling on this blog before you make assumptions. Might surprise you.

Last but certainly not least, an amazing and interesting discussion of MLK on Seder right now.

[joanie]

And, while I'm loath to even ask for facts from someone so lacking in anything substantive, do tell the last time you heard Malloy race-bait or warmonger?

Yes, he does name call . . . but my statement certainly goes well beyond name calling. But, if your rhetoric is so dearth of anything better, go with what you have I guess.

That's the kind of post that makes you so forgettable, putsie.

[joanie]

You guys, Seder is having Catherine Harris on again. I used to think this was a joke but now I understand it is really her.

If you haven't heard her, it's pretty sad.

I wish someone would confirm that this is really her. He never ever gives away that it isn't her but you won't believe what you hear if you listen.

Sammycam

[Duffman]

With THAT type of baggage, I would question why this magazine gave him this award in the first place? Do they not vet their candidates?

[Duffman]

joanie sez:
"That's the kind of post that makes you so forgettable, putsie."

Haha...that's a laugh! One thing Puts isn't is 'forgettable' and you know it ms joanie. He makes more sense than all of us put together. And everyone recognizes it but obviously will not acknowledge it. And I say this not to kiss up to him but to just point out that his statements are always fair, never degrading of anyone and quite frankly educational. So, disount him all you want but we know the truth, don't we.

[joanie]

How interesting that with the return of the duffo (who comprises putsie's very own peanut gallery) we see the absence of andrews, billhill and of course that one time poster mangus.

Everybody needs a friend, duffo.

[Duffman]

And...joanie, I was none of those; you can choose to believe or not, it really doesn't matter because we really can't be sure of anyone on this blog...can we?
There are many who post from this IP address, some are my friends and some I don't even know and do they like to kid around...in a word, YES. So, I don't really know what they did in my absence but it really doesn't matter.
I tell you this (rather than merci) because you merit an explanation...he doesn't. What ever, it just doesn't matter.
BTW: I doubt I'm Puts' only fan but probably the only one who would outwardly admit.

[Nevets]

Duffman, what I find as coincidental is that while you were gone no one mentioned anything about you. It wasn’t until a few days ago that everyone was wondering where you were and whether you were alive or dead. Then miraculously, you reappear (good thing, I like the way you hand D&D his ass) almost as if, well, as if they all knew you were coming home from your vacation soon. Hope it was fun and not too cold.

[joanie]

So, you're at your business on Sunday night . . . or all those people come to your home to work?

Doesn't matter. I don't care.

Now that Seder is over and Sammycam is going down, I must tear myself away!

Every Sunday I get addicted to the Sammycam! What's a girl to do?

Man I wish the sun would come out again. I'm so sick of gray days and rain.

Signing off for now. Sammy's biggest fan, joanie.

[Duffman]

Thank you Nevets; it was far from cold let me tell you and it wasn't quite a vacation but one hell of a learning experience. I was in some remote areas of S.A. where life is re-defined. Fun?...well, certainly the people were fun but lifestyle is a bit basic (to say the least). Yeah, my *friends here think it funny to razz me about my support of Mrs Clinton and some are for her as well. I have suspicions as to who some of these 'posers' might be but bottom-line is it doesn't matter.

[joanie]

Not true, Steven. About two weeks ago, "mangus" said he had died two weeks earlier.

Get with the program fella. So we talked about it. And then, since andrews seemed to turn up at about that time, we put two and two together and it added up to duffo.

Smoking gun? Perhaps not. Circumstantial? Probably. We'll see. Duffo has a history....

[PugetSound]

joanie
gee, that malloy sounds fairly threatening and intolerent here as he namecalls.
for the record, i am not a fan of bob grant.

anyway, here is some of malloy with fairly threatening language.

HatefulMalloyThreats

Or, how about this nice article from someone that Blam says speaks 'authoritatively about radio. He nails it fairly well.

ArticleonMalloy

[joanie]

where's the race baiting and warmongering...

[PugetSound]

classic joanie
"So, you're at your business on Sunday night . . . or all those people come to your home to work?

Doesn't matter. I don't care."

Posted by: joanie | January 20, 2008 at 04:06 PM

then why the heck would you ask? just trying to make duffman look bad cause he is working on the weekend in his business? then you do the little disingenuous crap. hey, haven't you ever gone on a vacation and had to catch up on work? happens all the time.

[wutitiz]

Thanks for link, PS, and nice to hear from you. I can't fathom how this guy can have a show, unless this was just a bad day or something.
There was nothing in the 4 mins. I heard but cliches & bile strung together. No information, no insight, no reasoning, no nothing.
He should forget the waterboarding idea, and just lock people in a room w/ a tape of his show.

[PugetSound]

spot on wuttitiz.
hey, i agree with your earlier statement that this stuff isn't reserved for hosts on just the right or the left. both sides have their ranters. isn't it funny how the ranter niche audience on one end of the spectrum can be so blinded by 'the word' that they don't recognize that they are in fact doing the same thing?
my cure for that is to force yourself to listen/read just a little bit from people you disagree with.
i use to take in the weekly standard and use to get all the anti hillary/stop ted kennedy junk mailers. and i use to also get the nation and would get the same stuff about stopping newt gingrich or tom delay. both sides use it for fundraisers from 'the faithful'
if you only read one side it is like leaning into a left hook.

[joanie]

Sort of like all the guys on the right, huh?

[PugetSound]

man, what is that thing up on bob's head?
with all that money you would think he could afford something a little better.

[PugetSound]

i agree joanie. the ditto heads, sean hannity 'great american', all give me a kidney ache.

[PugetSound]

seriously, does listening to someone rant like mike malloy really seem enjoyable? same with randi.
isn't it tiresome after about 30 minutes. i can only take rush in small doses.
give me ronn owens or dennis miller.

[PugetSound]

so joanie, in the spirit of intellectual honesty what about that malloy clip and article i posted for you.
what's your take?

[wutitiz]

PS, I think her take is that she's skedaddling.

But I agree w/ you. I'd rather listen to, for example a Goldy, than a Hannity any day of the week. At least Goldy digs into things & presents fresh info & arguments.
I'm not saying I like him. He's wrong about so much, after all. But I would still listen.

[joanie]

I didn't listen putsie because I've listened often enough to know him. Sometimes I listen and sometimes I turn him off. I've posted that several times on this blog.

No, I don't post clips of stuff I think is stupid. I leave it out there in the ether.

Knowing that I listen to the guy, why would you think you'd have something new for me? Just curious.

[joanie]

Now, in the spirit of "intellectual" honesty, what was the point of posting that?

And in the same spirit of "intellectual"honesty, where's the racebaiting and the warmongering?

Or is Malloy and some name calling your whole brainload of "intellectual" honesty?

[PugetSound]

Joanie
how would you know what was on the clip unless you listened to it?
I swear...if you didn't exist conservatives would have to invent you.
if bob grant -god I can't believe I am actually in a position to defend bob grant- reference to mayor dinkins and washroom attendant rises to the level of objectionable than surely what mallow is saying about a young woman does merit the same.
but of course, you didn't listen to it...right? even after you asked me to post it. right?

[PugetSound]

wutitiz
i think goldy does great when he is actually debating someone from the other side. i recall his time on the john carlson show when he debated with sharkansky on the gregroire/rossi election.
he and sharkansky are damn good when they get to tussling about. if he would engage in that kind of back and forth i would tune in every sunday.

[PugetSound]

your original posting also asked about name callers and intolerant haters.
sounds like malloy fits the bill on that.

[Dana]

He deserves some kind of award just for having the guts to wear that dead animal on his head in public!

[mercifurious]

Joanie, you're too nice. "Duffman's IP spawn" is just the recent episode of an endless series: Duffy Attention Addict Theater. Lot's of friends at one IP address? Yeah right, but who cares.

Duffman's contributions to BW in total: "I love Hillary, I don't like John Edwards (something about emails from Edwards, blah blah blah), Unsupported Wingnut factoid, kiss anyone's ass that agrees, then flee like a coward when he's called-out on anything... and now the new characters. Just an information/energy black hole.

He's about as compelling as a fruit-fly with extra wings. Time to wash-out the petri dish & move on. Good riddance, Duffman.

[PugetSound]

Merci
that was a funny comment vis a vi Duffman's IP Spawn."
descriptive and accurate. but his explanation seems reasonable. at least as reasonable as your going to get regarding sock puppetry.

but your comment about Duffman
"then flee like a coward when he's called-out on anything"

Could you give some examples on that?
He seems to be able to give and take a slam with the best of us. It's not like he comes on this message board deluded that he is going to get some love. I give him credit for coming on and throwing out his side.
You're a smart/witty fellow and by the way, I am looking forward to an update on your website. The Alfred Hamilton Board was good stuff and I thank you for providing a bit of explanation to it so instead of shaking my head as I pass by it now I just have a silent chuckle.

[sparky]

I cant stop looking at that man's head.

[mercifurious]

PugetSound:
"then flee like a coward when he's called-out on anything"
Could you give some examples on that?

Four examples, just off-hand:
Duffman states "If you study his comments in some relative depth" about Scott Ritter, but then runs for cover when we ask to see the relatively deep study (ie source).

Duffy uses a 5 page essay by a Serbian holocaust denier as a "source", but doesn't read it carefully (suprise), and then cowardly screams "It's over!" when we called him on it.

Duffy get's more-then-thoroughly source spanked on global warming, but then (again) runs for cover with "I've made my point(s)... next topic"

Duffman provides a source re: Global Warming, but when I point out that his source actually argues the OPPOSITE (ie, Duffman failed to read carefully - again), he tucks-tale and runs.

Thanks for your words on Alfred Hamilton. Silent chuckles all around. Gotta love that ol' cuss. I especially liked the lawsuit that Slade Gordon filed/lost against the sign.

[coiler]

Grant is old, me thinks that Limbaugh is secretly benefiting by Grant being knocked off the list. Not a real loss there, just more room for Missouri Fats to move up.

[PugetSound]

Duffman, what say you?

[Duffman]

Sorry, a very busy day! Merci's damning of me is expected but is not creditable. He tends to draw conclusions from assumptions. I very explicitly explained my points on political stance to him and there was no response. I could also dredge up past posts on the likes of 'Webb' and/or 'waitress' and/or the 'Shark' to slam him the way he tends to do me, but why waste my time. I am not an imposter, I know my convictions and I know merci does not like me. He's made rude discriminatory comments about my weight, etc., et al. I'll have you know merci that I am no long a 'heavy-weight'...still too heavy but not as you portray me.
Bottom line is I can only state my case as I see it and the fact that someone like merci who quite frankly might lack character and 'rushes to judgement' I can't account for. But merci, I love you also my brother.

[Duffman]

By the way merci, do you deny posting under an assumed moniker on another blog (that I sometimes post to) and trying to discredit me?

[sparky]

Oh my
Fred Thompson just withdrew from the presidential race.

[Duffman]

...but probably not from the VP position; being an 'ol supporter of McCain?

[sparky]

I can't imagine too many people getting excited about the Old Farts ticket.

[KS]

Back to the object of this post - I'd like to hear Grant debate Olberdouche or Goldstein. There would be a tirade of name-calling by Grant and F-bombs (by Goldstein) and shouting over Grant by Olberdouche.

That would be good propaganda to send to Bin Laden in exchange for one of his tapes.

[Duffman]

By the way MerciPussyFace, do you deny posting under an assumed moniker on another blog (that I sometimes post to) and trying to discredit me?

Posted by: Duffman | January 22, 2008 at 08:17 AM

Oh my. Still waiting.

[Duffman]

By the way MerciPussyFace, do you deny posting under an assumed moniker on another blog (that I sometimes post to) and trying to discredit me?

Posted by: Duffman | January 22, 2008 at 08:17 AM

Oh my. Still waiting.

Posted by: Duffman | January 26, 2008 at 10:28 AM

Posted by an imposter!