Worst Talk Show Hosts of the Week

Week Ending: May 18, 2007

The worse talk show host of the week was Michael Savage. Savage called the National Council of La Raza, a leading Hispanic civil rights organization "the Ku Klux Klan of the Hispanic people" and "the most stone racist group of I’ve ever seen in the country."

In the May 17 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Savage blasted the NCLR because their name includes the Spanish word ‘raza."

While the term "la raza" in Spanish literally means "the race," it often translated as "the people" and usually refers collectively to Mexican-Americans.

The NCLR describes itself as "the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States." They conduct research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas -- assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health.

So it appears that Savage based his characterization of the NCLR on the term "la raza." He said, "they certainly stand only for one race. That's the name of their group: La Raza -- 'The Race.' "

He didn’t point out any other problem with the group, or identify any activity that the group is involved with to suggest that they were similar to the Ku Klux Klan. Nor did explain why the group is racist.

You can listen to Savage's rant here.

The worser talk show host last week was Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh was angry with the "drive-by media" because of comments made by some journalists that the all of the Republican candidates for President are white men. On the other hand, the Democratic candidates include a woman, (Hillary Clinton) an African-American (Barack Obama) and an Hispanic (Bill Richardson).

On the May 17 edition of his nationally syndicated show, Limbuagh accused the "drive by media" of not playing fair because they did not consider the Democratic field in 2004.

"There's a template developing for the Republican debate last night," Limbaugh said. "How come there are no women and minorities on stage?" I guess you forgot about 2004. And I guess -- you know, the Democrats never get those kinds of questions because it's always assumed that they're fair and just, and not discriminatory and all that."

Limbaugh’s claim, which was no doubt blindly accepted by his minions of dittoheads, was that in 2004 all the Democratic Presidential candidates were also white men.

The only problem with his claim was that it isn't true! In 2004 there were two African-Americans actively campaigning for the Democratic nomination -- Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun (who is also a woman.)

Here's what El Rushbo said.

However, Savage and Limbaugh got beat out for worst talk show host of the week by a local market talker.

"Gunny Bob" Newman, who yaks on KOA/850 in Denver defamed more than a civil rights organization or a group of Democratic Presidential candidates. Newman defamed an entire religion.

On his daily talk show, "Gunny Bob," upset over an alleged plot to attack Fort Dix in New Jersey, said "I want every Muslim immigrant to America who holds a green card, a visa, or who is a naturalized citizen to be required by law to wear a GPS tracking bracelet at all times."
He also proposed that the government "bug their places of work and their residences" and "monitor all mosques and community centers. If they don't like the idea ... throw their asses out."

His boss at Clear Channel, Kris Olinger defended Newman’s right to insult all Moslems in the U.S.

"I think 'Gunny' was expressing an opinion, an extreme one, but his opinion. Hosts are paid to express opinions. That's the nature of what we do, Olinger said.

Apparently, Clear Channel will be paid less to continue expressing harsh and inflammatory opinions in Denver. At least three metro-area businesses have asked KOA to pull their advertisements from "Gunny Bob’s" show.

The companies, Excel Roofing, Ralph Schomp Automotive and Three Tomatoes Catering, asked that the ads run in different time slots on KOA after being petitioned by ProgressNowAction, an political action group in Denver.

Here's what "Gunny Bob" had to say.

"Gunny Bob" Newman. The worst talk show host of the week.