Fisking Tim Dorsey and the P-D...

As of about 1AM on 23 March 2006, the STLToday.com website has headlined the "Lenihan fired for calling Condi a coon" story. Let me make it very clear that I believe that this is a witchhunt and that KTRS should be ashamed for falsely sourcing the story and the Post should be embarassed for publishing such a travesty of what actually happened. That being said, let me engage in the time honored tradition of fisking this article.

Note: the entire article follows this. Excerpts from the P-D are presented in normal text; my comments are in blue and italicized.

A local radio personality was kicked off the air Wednesday after using a racial slur when talking about U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Dave Lenihan, who was in his second week as a morning show host on KTRS (550 AM), was fired almost immediately after saying "coon" while describing why Rice would fit well as commissioner of the National Football League.

This implies that Lenihan used the offensive word in a context that was apart from his otherwise effusive praise of Ms. Rice's background and accomplishments. He did not. The audio record is clear in this regard, and is also clear that it was a slip of the tongue. Lenihan's students have said that occasionally Dr. Lenihan's speaking prowess in class was marked by such slips, none of which have ever been remotely considered racist.

"She's been chancellor at Stanford. I mean she's just got the patent resume of somebody that's got some serious skill," Lenihan said, according to a recording provided by KTRS. "She loves football. She's African-American, which would kind of be a big coon. . . ."

"'A big coon?' Oh my god," Lenihan said during the morning broadcast. "I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that. OK? I didn't mean that. That was just a slip of the tongue."

The word "coon" doesn't even closely resemble a word that would fit into the context of these sentences. Lenihan was likely reaching for either the word "boon" or "coup" and probably mixed them up. Either of those words would fit into appropriate context. STLToday's MB thread on this issue asks whether there might be a Freudian issue involved; why would anyone on Earth expect laymen to be able to answer that question?

Isn't just the hint that that might be the root cause sufficient to make it real? Perception is reality, as those of us who have studied marketing have been taught. In any case, Dr. Lenihan's students offered there sufficient evidence that he is not a racist, has never appeared to them to hold racist thoughts. And isn't it interesting that the station was eager enough to cooperate that they provided a recording of the alleged infractions to interested media?

The remark prompted an on-air apology 20 minutes later from the station's president, who said "there are no excuses" for what was said.

"There is no place for anything like that in this world," KTRS chief Tim Dorsey said. "There is enough hate. And we certainly are not going to fan those flames."

Dorsey said he decided to fire Lenihan after listening to the broadcast several times.

"I don't know what is in Mr. Lenihan's mind. I know what I heard," Dorsey said. "I know it was reprehensible."

Ahh! Now we get to the real perpetrator. Tim Dorsey takes it upon himself to judge an innocent slip of the tongue and find the slip-per guilty as Dorsey charged. Dorsey craftily uses the words "hate", "unacceptable, reprehensible and unforgivable", and "no place for anything like that in this world" in his unfounded accusation.

Good words to use in this situation. Powerful words. Words filled with emotion, just the kind of words that would inspire full-tilt media coverage as Dorsey sobs his needless apology on bended knee in front of God and his investors...including the Country Day boys who own half of his pitiful radio station. "Give me ink, oh Lord," he sobs, "Just spell the call letters and my name right! Keep the Dorseys employed!"

Hey, Tim...here's a free clue: You obviously have no idea what you heard. Lenihan inadvertantly ran a couple of words together. No harm, no foul. You are simply looking for publicity and affirmation that you are still in charge. The need to lead is a powerful urge for a woman-rejected man.

A State Department spokesman declined to comment.

Great. The Post ratted Lenihan out to the Feds. The good news is that the worst that could happen is an IRS audit. Uncomfortable, inconvenient, but surviveable.

And last month, minority workers reporting to a job site on Interstate 64 near Caseyville encountered a dead raccoon hanging by a wire around its neck.

And including this totally unrelated piece of history makes what kind of sense, unless it's to inflame an already sensitive readership? Isn't that just like the Post?

Look, I know as well as anyone in any business that you have to defend yourself against any sort of claim of racism. But Dr. Lenihan did not...repeat: DID NOT ...commit that. He bobbled a word or two and that IS NOT a fireable offense, even in an employment-at-will state. I hope Lenihan finds himself an aggressive torts attorney and launches a civil claim for wrongful dismissal, lost future earnings and slander in Madison County IL, where the KTRS transmitter is located.

The accusation of racism has been carried on the Internet and Lenihan's reputation has been smeared worldwide and, with web caches, for all time and for no reason at all. Heck, best case, he could end up owning the baseball team, the radio station and the newspaper.

I kinda like the sound of "Dr. Dave's Ballpark", "The Dave Dispatch" and "K-Dave550".

Of course, if Dorsey gathers his senses and rehires him, it could all work out in everyone's best interests. Tim, it's all up to you. Make the call, suck it up, and admit you were wrong.

Read the entire article below:

KTRS host is fired over racial slur
By Jake Wagman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Mar. 22 2006

A local radio personality was kicked off the air Wednesday after using a racial slur when talking about U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Dave Lenihan, who was in his second week as a morning show host on KTRS (550 AM), was fired almost immediately after saying "coon" while describing why Rice would fit well as commissioner of the National Football League.

"She's been chancellor at Stanford. I mean she's just got the patent resume of somebody that's got some serious skill," Lenihan said, according to a recording provided by KTRS. "She loves football. She's African-American, which would kind of be a big coon. . . ."

"'A big coon?' Oh my god," Lenihan said during the morning broadcast. "I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that. OK? I didn't mean that. That was just a slip of the tongue."

The remark prompted an on-air apology 20 minutes later from the station's president, who said "there are no excuses" for what was said.

"There is no place for anything like that in this world," KTRS chief Tim Dorsey said. "There is enough hate. And we certainly are not going to fan those flames."

Dorsey said he decided to fire Lenihan after listening to the broadcast several times.

"I don't know what is in Mr. Lenihan's mind. I know what I heard," Dorsey said. "I know it was reprehensible."

A State Department spokesman declined to comment.

Rice's qualifications to lead the NFL have been fodder for talk radio since the current commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, announced that he is retiring in July.

Rice, who was actually a former provost at Stanford University, is an avid gridiron fan and follower of the Cleveland Browns. In 2001, she told Glamour magazine that running the NFL is her "dream job."

But this week, Rice said that the football position "came open at the wrong time."

Lenihan had been at KTRS a week and a half, Dorsey said, part of an attempt by the station to recast its programming since it became the new flagship station of the Cardinals. The team bought half of the station last year, a move that has led to a personnel switch at the "Big 550." The station fired almost all of its on-air staff shortly before Christmas.

Lenihan's radio resume is limited to three years at WGNU (920 AM). Before that, Lenihan says, he lived in Scotland.

Reached at his home Wednesday, Lenihan apologized again, saying he meant to use the word "coup" instead of "coon."

"I've never, ever really used that word in my life. Maybe psychologically-wise deep down perhaps, but it's not how I feel," Lenihan said. "It's not how I raised my kids. It's kind of wrecked my life to be honest."

Lenihan described himself as a Rice supporter, and said he has already written an apology to her.

"I'm a big fan. I'm a conservative talk-show host," said Lenihan "Or, was a conservative talk-show host."

This is not the first time controversy has led to the dismissal of a St. Louis broadcaster. In August, two deejays for KATZ (100.3 FM) were fired after the pair discussed how they would confront a police officer. In 1993, two disc jockeys, Steve Shannon and D.C. Chymes with then-WKBQ (106.5 FM), were fired after using a racial slur against a caller. They are back on the St. Louis airwaves.

And last month, minority workers reporting to a job site on Interstate 64 near Caseyville encountered a dead raccoon hanging by a wire around its neck.