Despite high ratings and a strong local following in Pittsburgh, highly rated and highly controversial local ESPN host Mark Madden was removed from the airwaves almost immediately after saying, “I'm very disappointed to hear that Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Sen. Kennedy would life long enough to be assassinated.”
Tasteless? Yes, but beyond reproach? Hardly.
Ted Kennedy’s recent illness is tragic, but it doesn’t make him above reproach, nor does it rehabilitate his odious, “far too liberal, for far too long” stint in the U.S. Senate.
Ted Kennedy’s done this nation far more harm than good, that’s for sure.
Is it sad when anyone gets an almost certainly terminal illness?
Sure, but Ted Kennedy’s had a long run and a very privileged life, so it’s hardly as “tragic” as a younger person coming down with that same affliction.
While the 1st Amendment DOES NOT protect controversial speech from private sector sanctions – anyone CAN be fired for making any number of controversial statements, from comparing the Bush administration to the Third Reich, to wishing Ted Kennedy a violent death.
That said, I think there is too much of an overreaction on the part of many commercial outlets, for as tasteless and controversial as Mark Madden’s comments regarding Ted Kennedy were, he merely said out loud what millions of Americans thought privately.
Tasteless? Yes, but beyond reproach? Hardly.
Ted Kennedy’s recent illness is tragic, but it doesn’t make him above reproach, nor does it rehabilitate his odious, “far too liberal, for far too long” stint in the U.S. Senate.
Ted Kennedy’s done this nation far more harm than good, that’s for sure.
Is it sad when anyone gets an almost certainly terminal illness?
Sure, but Ted Kennedy’s had a long run and a very privileged life, so it’s hardly as “tragic” as a younger person coming down with that same affliction.
While the 1st Amendment DOES NOT protect controversial speech from private sector sanctions – anyone CAN be fired for making any number of controversial statements, from comparing the Bush administration to the Third Reich, to wishing Ted Kennedy a violent death.
That said, I think there is too much of an overreaction on the part of many commercial outlets, for as tasteless and controversial as Mark Madden’s comments regarding Ted Kennedy were, he merely said out loud what millions of Americans thought privately.
5 comments:
What millions of Americans thought privately? JMK, I didn't think that privately. I've lost two family members to cancer and I wouldn't wish that monster on anyone. Well...maybe bin Laden.
My Dad died from cancer back in 1997, and I've said that I wouldn't wish it on anyone either...and as tasteless as Mark Madden's comments were, he didn't either!
He said, "he hoped he'd have lived long enough to be..."
Me, I wish he hadn't spent nearly as much time in office as he has.
i'm with you jmk, i don't get why it's so controversial...
heidianne jackson
http://biggirlpants.typepad.com
"Me, I wish he hadn't spent nearly as much time in office as he has." (JMK)
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Which is to say, that I wish the people of MA hadn't elected this guy to office so many times, on what seems to be a misguided "pity vote" for the tragedies suffered by that family.
Thanks Heidianne!
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