Fact-checking Dr. Laura
EmailWith today’s Dr. Laura racial rant story getting beaucoup buzz, some fact-checking on the public opinion aspect may help:
1. SCHLESSINGER: "Yeah. We've got a black man as president, and we have more complaining about racism than ever. I mean, I think that's hilarious."
There’s been a decline in the number of Americans who call racism a problem in this country – 75 percent this spring (our latest data), including 33 percent who called it “a big problem.” This was down from a high of 89 percent overall, and 54 percent “big problem,” in 1996. Same springtime poll, 12 percent said President Obama was doing too much to represent the interests of African-Americans; 13 percent, too little; 67 percent, “about the right amount.”
2. SCHLESSINGER: "Dear, they voted him in. Only 12 percent of the population's black. Whites voted him in."
Whites voted for John McCain over Barack Obama by 55-43 percent, a 12-point margin. That's a point from the average by which all Democratic presidential candidates have lost whites in elections since 1976. However, previous Democratic candidates who won the presidency did much better among whites – Jimmy Carter lost them by 5 points in 1976; Bill Clinton by 1 and 3 points, respectively, in 1992 and 1996. Barack Obama won while losing whites both because of his strong showing among nonwhites, and the fact that whites have made up a decreasing share of the electorate.
By the way, Schlessinger's interlocutor, Jade -
3. CALLER: "It was the younger generation that did it. It wasn't the older white people who did it."
– nailed it. Obama won by a record margin among young voters overall, and won whites age 18-29 by 10 points, while losing whites age 30 and up. We could use her on the election night exit poll analysis desk.
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I really don’t care for Schlessinger. Aside from the fact that she “counsels” people without credentials or training in counseling (which evidently is not illegal to do), she is really judgmental, demeaning, antagonistic and abrasive. I guess it is these “qualities” which keep her on the air; many people find this entertaining, sort of like what the Romans did when Christians were thrown to wild animals and eaten alive.
However, I don’t see that her comments regarding blacks were racist. What she said about Obama supporters was true. What she said about blacks using the “N” word is true. Whites are often called names by blacks and typically don’t think a thing about it. What amount of skin melanin does make using the “N” word acceptable? 100%? 50%? 10%? Who gets to decide? The media, Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton? I want to know.
Mark
Posted by: mark | August 13, 2010, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Dear Mark, a little thing called context really helps when dealing with racial issues. Whites in this country do not have a history of being systematically discriminated against by blacks with the power of the government behind them.
Whites were not seated behind German prisoners of war during army entertainment during world war II. Perhaps this helps explain why blacks might be a bit more sensitive about racial discrimination than blacks, they have borne the brunt of it since they were brought here against their will and often still do.
The N word is never acceptable and feeling free to insult all blacks with a racial epitaph because a few blacks choose to use is is rather childish and yes racist.
Posted by: neve | August 13, 2010, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
sorry part of my statement should ready “a bit more sensitive than whites”
Posted by: neve | August 13, 2010, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Her comments regarding blacks were not racist just unintelligent. One day, if humans survive, we will be one race.
Posted by: Cover Letters | August 13, 2010, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Why this article? The caller didn’t even address any of these issues – dr. laura brought them up as part of her racist tirade. The facts themselves aren’t as important as the message dr. laura wrapped them in, which is blacks are causing many of this countries problems. You and the rest of the media are missing that. She came across as extremely racist. You are only furthering her cause by fact-checking.
Posted by: mike | August 14, 2010, 9:11 am 9:11 am
By the way, she said people shouldn’t marry outside their race. Why aren’t you addressing that and doing any fact-checking? Why is the media missing that statement? The media is being hypocritical and covering up for one of its own. Go look at matt drudge’s page and you will see nothing about dr. laura’s comments and yet a few weeks ago he was up in arms on black-on-white fake racism.
Posted by: mike | August 14, 2010, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Dr. Laura’s cold blooded racist response to this African American caller, should be one of MANY reasons Laura must be tossed off and banned from the radio.
Having REGULARLY scheduled access to this forum is not a platform she can be allowed to keep.
Posted by: Buster | August 15, 2010, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Does this Dr. Laura person even know what the N-words means. She should go look it up!!! She sounds just like one.
Posted by: bunkhousegirl | August 16, 2010, 6:50 am 6:50 am
I am rather shocked at the logic of those who say “Blacks call each other names, why can’t I?”
It is the connection between them. I call my wife “Babe”. You cannot. See, because she and I are close and you are not. I rib my softball teammate with the title “fumblefingers”. But you behind the fence cannot, at least not while expecting him to accept it gracefully.
So keep your insults inside your own head. It is not OK to voice them just because the target’s friends needle him with the same words.
Posted by: Martin | August 18, 2010, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
While I am not a fan of Dr. Laura, I do feel the need to correct an incorrect statement made by another commentor. Dr Laura does in fact hold the appropriate certifications for counseling. She earned post-graduate doctoral certification in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. She worked worked in private practice as well a teaching at college level. Many tend to discount television and radio personalities creditials. But she, just like Dr. Phil holds a doctrate level degree in a counseling discipline.
Posted by: Joy | August 20, 2010, 3:33 am 3:33 am
Some of the other comments have brought up the fact that the caller was not even calling about what Dr. Laura ended up going off about. The poor caller called in with a very legit concern, and Dr. Laura from the start ignored her concern, telling her she was “hypersensitive”.
I think it is completely wrong to call someone of another race “hypersensitive” to comments and stereotypes that even though may seem innocent are offensive. You aren’t them, you don’t know what it is like to be them. A person who is giving advice should not just blame the victim as being “hypersensitive”, and then belittle and offend them.
It seems like Dr. Laura just wanted to go off on this rant that made no sense to what the caller was calling about. I loved that the caller Jade was not buying into her argument, and she remained intelligent and poised the whole time. This is obviously a very smart woman, and it is a shame that her husband’s family has such little respect for her, and use such words and stereotypes in her presence. Dr. Laura sounded mean, and ugly during the whole exchange. There was no reason for her to go “N, N, N” and using the whole “one group of people does it, so why can’t I do it too” argument is elementary. The word is wrong and should not be used by anyone who would like to be taken seriously. Jade acknowledged this when she said “it’s not okay when they do it”. But Dr. Laura of course ignored this.
Dr. Laura came across as an unintelligent racist, and I feel like Jade is owed more then just a half hearted apology.
Posted by: cbh19 | August 20, 2010, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
Please, how about some fact checks on the President and the Vice President.
Posted by: Jan Saunders | September 1, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am