Dr Laura Quits Radio, Misinterprets 1st Amendment

Dr. Laura announced on the Larry King show last night that she was quitting radio. You see, last week she went on a bit of a classic racist rant when talking to a black female caller. She used the n-word repeatedly, condoned racists jokes, and was just generally her normal, horrible, bigoted self. She was later shocked -shocked, I tell you!- to hear that not everyone thought her racist remarks were all that helpful or, you know, acceptable on any sort of level.

Well, now Dr. Laura is mad and she is not going to take it anymore! She quits! Why, you ask? Let's hear it straight from the horse's mouth:

“The reason is I want to regain my First Amendment rights. I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I’m sort of done with that.” (via Feministing)

That's right, she's quitting radio to devote herself to the (paid) defense of our 1st Amendment rights! Why, thank you ever so much, Dr. Laura. How kind. I just have a teeny tiny note for you first: I don't think you have a firm grasp on the First Amendment. To paraphrase The Princess Bride, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Here's the thing: You have the right to say whatever it is that you want to say. Really. Be a racist pig all you want. However, your right to say whatever you like doesn't mean people have to like what it is that you say. Sorry. People can get angry. They can stage boycotts. They can exercise their freedom of speech right back at you. I know, how annoying. 

Also: Enjoying freedom of speech is different than having a national radio talk show. The former is a right, the latter is a privilege. Radio, my dear, is a business. Being a host is your job. People have to perform well at their jobs and make money for their bosses in order to keep their jobs. You are not special. I think most people would come under fire for going on racist tirades at work. 

So now Dr. Laura is off to be, in her words, "stronger and freer to say the things that I believe need to be said for people in this country." Yes, because I've noticed that previously she's had a real hard time feeling free to say what is on her mind. Of course. I'm not exactly sure, however, what she is hoping to accomplish. Does she want to campaign for Freedom of Uncriticized Speech? Freedom of Not Hearing Dissenting Opinions? Freedom of Unchecked Racism? Who knows?

Poor Dr. Laura. All she was trying to do was give some insanely racist advice and everyone started picking on her.

Photo credit: Doctor Who