Ya know there's actually funny making fun of racism and stereotype humor, then there's garbage like that.
Good lord.

"I was out of there quicker than a pair of rims at a Puff Daddy Concert!"

The other examples I can at least grasp (even if they're braindead), but what is he even saying here?

(Scarier: Do I really need someone to explain Larry The Cable Guy jokes to me??!)

Oh! I get it! Because black people steal rims from unattended vehicles AND enjoy Puff Daddy's music!

How fucking droll.

@Nex: There's no shame in being confused by dumb things. I get confused by Truck Nutz. What the fuck are those for?

That open letter is hilarious. I haven't read that in a while.

I think the only people who listen to Puff Daddy are suburban white pre-teens. People like Larry the Cable Guy.

I was more pissed than a queer with lockjaw on Valentine's Day.

HA!!1!1!1!! Gay people like oral sex! HA!1!11!!1!!!!!

Wow, I had no idea. My dad got tickets to the show for his birthday. I think he's going to be a little shocked!

Larry the Cable Guy's entire act is based on humiliating people who are different. Thanks for proving that these racists bigots are the real joke.

This morning Steve Leader with KXL Radio made a joke about violet Thomas, the African-American young lady just selected to be a Rose Parade princess representing Jefferson High School. Her advice to freshman was that 'life is real' and they should take it seriously. In light of the murder of Aaron Campbell by police, she was trying to say that a lot of young people from her school are wondering about the value of their own lives.

Leader responds, "Let me think about that," and then pauses, and adds, sarcastically, "I get it. Okay." Last week he made another racist joke over the radio when he said sarcastically that Michael Jackson would appear with Tiger Woods, rather than Michael Jordon. We are asking the FCC to fine Mr. Leader and his station for these practices at $250,000 for each racist comment.

As long as our community continue to support Paul Allen and the Portland Trailblazers, and Phil Knight and the University of Oregon athletic program, who promote their sports teams on this racist network - KXL, KXTG, and KGW, nothing will change and racists like Steve Leader will continue to vomit their true character over our public air waves!

It's kind of ironic, but the first word that pops up on my spell checker for KXL is "Klan"...

What the hell is KXL radio? Is that AM?

Look, Larry the Cable Guy is fucking terrible, but this is what comedians do. Ever see Raw or Delirious? Do you prefer Eddie Murphy now to Eddie Murphy then? If so, god help you.

@Graham- As if you don't know where the racists in Portland get their info-

While we can choose to not patronize idiots like Larry the Cable Guy, the public air waves belong to us- ALL OF US! And if they're being used to promote hatred, racism and bigotry in our community then it is our right, no our obligation, to expose them and punish them by boycotting their advertisers and asking the appropriate regulatory agency to fine them, or better, remove their license to use the PUBLIC air waves.

@whistle blaster: I'm not sure if you're calling me racist or not. But I don't listen to terrestrial radio. So I guess I'm with you on the boycotting. Internet radio lives in my pocket.

Dude, I'm not going to stop supporting the Blazers because some guy I've never heard of is an asshole. Why don't you just ignore him? That takes away his power a lot faster.

@whistle blaster: I guess I'm just dense, but you will have to explain to me why the remark that Michael Jackson was going to appear with Tiger Woods rather than Michael Jordon is racist. I just don't get it.

@ujfoyt: I think the joke lost all context and meaning in the retelling. You're not dense on this particular issue.

@ujfoyt-
The joke Leader was making is that he believes all black people look alike and behave alike. You're not dense. The joke Leader made was the same stupid racism and bigotry that Larry the Cable Guy uses. At least Larry can claim its "comedy", I suppose.

@TK- Ignoring a racist is one solution. If it's a neighbor then that will probably work.

However, when the hate-speech is sent over the public air waves and is coming from the largest broadcasting radio station in this region that hosts our only professional sports team, then I feel obligated to speak out. If they weren't the "Portland" Trailblazers, then maybe it wouldn't be so important.

The money the Blazers receive from fans, like you, and advertisers is being used to support these ugly practices and behaviors.

The more important question your asking: Should we publicly oppose racism and bigotry in our community, or should we just toke up and veg-out in front of the boob-tube and pretend everything is cool?

Personally, I choose to seek out and slice open the belly of the beast and drain its cancerous waste by what ever means necessary.

@Whistle Blaster: No one around these parts had even heard of this guy or his supposed hate speech until you brought him up. I think you're his PR guy. Any publicitiy is good publicity, am I right?

"Should we publicly oppose racism and bigotry in our community, or should we just toke up and veg-out in front of the boob-tube and pretend everything is cool?"

I think that's a false choice because in this particular case this guy derives his power (and his money) from having more listeners. Fewer listeners means fewer advertising dollars and the downward spiral begins. If you want to say "boycott this douchebag on the radio" then, fine, I'm already doing that.

What's more, I think it might be a more effective tactic than trying to convince people to stop supporting this state's only pro sports team.

@Graham: I have my suspicions about that too.

@Graham-

Let me try to understand your logic. So what you're saying is that since you don't know this particular radio personality, who I know regularly makes racist and bigoted comments, I should have never mentioned it here in the context of an article about a racist comedian? I suppose that's what the racists prefer we do, just stay quiet about it. They're not saying the 'N word', so what's my problem. Hummm..... In fact, according to you there is probably no meaningful comment or observation that ought to be posted, unless of course, it is an attack against another poster which you're so good at. What a restricted little club of bloggers you seem to desire... Why not use your own logic and just blog some where else, where ignorance rules?

And then you want to shoot the messenger?

And I suppose, if we follow your logic, the Mercury is probably nothing more than a PR firm for Larry the Cable Guy, by cleverly planting this article here...

Lay off the smoke for a minute, Graham, and answer one question.

If we observe blatant racists or bigotry toward another human being, what should we do?

Stay quiet...until they come for us too?


Call the Blazers and tell them to change affiliates!

@whistle blaster: Yep, that's my logic. You're a fucking genius. Maybe you shouldn't waste all your geuniu-tude on us mere mortals. Get bent.

Anyway, the real point is that Larry the Cable Guy is a phony and more importantly, is TERRIBLY UNFUNNY and deserves to be boycotted and mocked. No need to go into rascist this or bigot that or radio personality whatever. Next.

@Whistle Blaster - Graham's right on this one. We've never heard of KXL or this guy Leader, and this article wasn't ABOUT him, so stop preaching at us. Turns out we're *already* boycotting him and we didn't even know it. Find some other people to yell at, if you're so upset about him - and stop talking mean about the Blazers.