>>
COMING UP ON "NEED TO KNOW"
-- THE TOWN HAS TALKED
ABOUT THE COMMENTS MADE BY LOCAL
RADIO HOST BOB LONSBERRY.
ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE RACIST
OR NOT, WHETHER A SUSPENSION WAS
TOO HARSH OR TOO LENIENT,
WHETHER THEY PUSHED
THE BOUNDARIES OF FREE SPEECH.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LINE
BETWEEN FREE SPEECH AND PUBLIC
RESPONSIBILITY TODAY.
WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT
EASTMAN-KODAK'S ANNOUNCEMENT
ON THE BUSINESS SECTION
WITH "THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
KEEP IT HERE FOR "NEED TO KNOW."
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M
MICHAEL CAPUTO.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM,
A NOTE TO OUR VIEWERS.
WE ORIGINALLY WERE SCHEDULED
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS BEING
TERMED AS THE INVISIBLE DRUG
PROBLEM -- MEANING A GROWING
NUMBER OF PEOPLE 55 AND OLDER
ARE BECOMING ADDICTED
TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL.
HOWEVER, DUE TO A PROGRAM CHANGE
WE WILL VISIT THAT TOPIC
AT THE END OF OCTOBER
AND WE HOPE YOU'LL TUNE
IN FOR SOME SURPRISING
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
BUT NOW WE TURN TO THE CURRENT
ISSUE AT HAND.
WHAM'S BOB LONSBERRY HAS A LONG
HISTORY OF COMMENTARY
IN ROCHESTER, BUT A FEW SECONDS
OF COMMENT HE MADE, TWICE
OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, HAVE
OPENED UP ARGUMENTS ABOUT RACE
IN THE ROCHESTER REGION
AND ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
YOU'VE HEARD OR READ THEM
BY NOW.
LONSBERRY REFERRED
TO AN ORANGUTAN AND A MONKEY
AS A CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, AN ALLUSION
TO DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BILL
JOHNSON.
SOME SEE THE COMMENTS AS A SLIP
OF THE TONGUE BLOWN OUT
OF PROPORTION.
OTHERS, THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE
OF HATE RADIO BEING PRACTICED.
LONSBERRY WAS SUSPENDED,
AND THERE WAS AN OUTCRY
OF PROTEST BY THOSE
IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL
COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE INVITED A GROUP
OF RESPECTED BROADCASTERS
TO TALK ABOUT THIS AROUND
THE TABLE.
WITH US IS BROTHER WEASE,
MORNING HOST.
ANDREW LANGSTON, FOUNDER, OWNER
AND GENERAL MANAGER OF 104
WDKX-FM.
CURT SMITH, BROADCASTER,
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND HOST
OF "PERSPECTIVES" ON WXXI-AM
1370.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH HERE.
LET'S PUT THIS RIGHT ON THE
TABLE RIGHT HERE.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO DOES NOT
AGREE THAT LONSBERRY'S ALLUSIONS
WERE RACIALLY INSENSITIVE?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION
OF BEING RACIALLY INSENSITIVE.
THEY WERE RACIST IN THE YEAR
2003 TO CALL ANYONE, ESPECIALLY
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, A MONKEY, REPLETE
WITH MONKEY SOUNDS AND WITH
JUNGLE SOUND, AND TO DO NOT
SIMPLY ONCE, BUT TWICE, AND TO
DO CLUMSILY BUT IN A WAY IS
EMBLEMATIC, OF MANY OF THE VIEWS
HE HAS ESPOUSED, THERE'S NO
QUESTION IT IS RACIST.
>> SO DOES EVERYBODY AGREE WITH
IT?
IS IT RACIST?
>> YES, IT IS, IN MY OPINION.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT.
IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT IT IS IN
THIS COMMUNITY.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO INCITE
SOMEONE LIKE THAT?
>> I THINK OF COURSE IT WAS
RACIST, BUT I THINK WHAT A
BIGGER PROBLEM IS IS THE PORTION
OF THE HUMAN BEINGS IN THIS
SOCIETY THAT DON'T THINK IT WAS
RACIST.
THERE'S BEEN A LETTER TO THE
NEWSPAPER THAT I READ ON THE
RADIO, A LETTER TO THE D.N.C.
AND PEOPLE I WAS TALKING WITH
YESTERDAY, ONE OF THEM BEING A
SPONSOR OF BOB'S PROGRAM.
IT IS AMAZING THE EXCUSES PEOPLE
WILL MAKE UP.
I WAS TALKING TO A SURGEON'S
WIFE YESTERDAY, AN INTELLIGENT
LADY WHO THOUGHT THAT THE
COMMENTS WERE NOT MEANT TO BE
RACIST AT ALL.
I SAID, MA'AM, IF YOU WERE
TALKING TO ME ON MY RADIO SHOW
WHERE I COULDN'T SEE YOU -- I
ACTUALLY LEARNED A LESSON FROM
THIS WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS A
VERY FANCY LADY.
AND ON MY RADIO SHOW I WOULD
HAVE YELLED AT HER, BECAUSE I
REACT THAT WAY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MORONIC WHAT
SHE WAS SAYING.
FACE THE FACE WITH HER, I FELT
SHE WAS SINCERE.
I SAID, CAN YOU NOT CALL A
PERSON OF COLOR A MONKEY WITHOUT
IT BEING RACIST.
I IS IMPOSSIBLE.
>> LOOK, THERE'S NO QUESTION, I
SPEAK NOT AS AN ACLU OR AS A
FORMER SPEECH WRITE TORE TWO
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS, HEAD OF
"THE SATURDAY EVENING POST."
OF COURSE, THEY WERE RACIST.
THERE'S NO SLIP OF THE TONGUE.
THEY WERE DELIBERATE.
AGAIN, THEY WERE PART OF A
PATTERN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
ANDY SAID SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM, YES, WE DO
WE ARE IN AN ECONOMIC FREEFALL.
LOSS OF 23,000 JOBS IN 10 YEARS,
40,000, ONE IN FOUR LEAVING
MONROE COUNTY.
KODAK DISAPPEARING -- WAIT A
MINUTE.
ON TOP OF THAT WAS NOW
APPARENTLY AT LEAST SOME OF US
WILL CONTINENCE THE MOST BASE,
THE MOST DIVISIVE, THE MOST VILE
KIND OF RHETORIC.
IF ACTIONS HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES
WHERE DO WE GO?
WHO DO WE INSULT NEXT?
>> LET ME READ YOU AN EXCERPT
FROM LONSBERRY'S WEB COLUMN HE
WROTE THIS WEEK, AFTER THE SUSS
PENSION.
I HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, HE
SAID.
I'M NOT A RACIST AND I MEANT NO
OFFENSE BY WHAT I SAID.
THIS IS AN OFFENSE BY ACCIDENT.
NOT AN OFFENSE BY CHARACTER.
I AM ON THE AIR SEVEN HOURS A
DAY IN TWO CITIES, TALKING AND
TALKING AND TALKING.
TO JUDGE THAT BUT WHAT WAS SAID
IN FIVE SECONDS IS UNFAIR AND
WRONG.
MR. LANGSTON, I WANT TO ASK YOU,
HE SAID THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT.
HE SAYS THAT THIS IS -- YOU
CAN'T JUDGE ME BY FIVE SECONDS
ON THE AIR.
>> YOU CAN JUDGE BY ONE SECOND
ON THE AIR IN RADIO.
THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON FOR
SOMEBODY TO CALL SOMEBODY A
NAME.
THE JUDGE -- THE MAYOR IS AN
CHECK OR THE OF HIS COMMUNITY, A
LEADER.
TO GO TO RECRUIT, TO GO TO
SCHOOL, THIS IS WHY I CHOSE THIS
PLACE, BECAUSE OF EDUCATION.
LIVING CONDITION AND
TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING.
THIS IS A GOOD CITY.
IT COULD BE MUCH BETTER.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
THIS IN.
I KNOW CURT, THIS GUY HAS A LOT
TO SAY AND I'M A LIBERAL AND I
USUALLY LIKE TO FIGHT WITH
CONSERVATIVES.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE
GET OUT HERE THAT I AM 99% SURE
THAT THIS WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
RADIO PUBLICITY STUNT EVER IN
THE HISTORY OF ROCHESTER, YOU
HAVE BEEN IN RADIO FOR 35 YEARS.
>> YOU THINK THIS IS A PUBLICITY
STUNT?
>> PLEASE LET ME CLARIFY.
HE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS A PUBLICITY
STUNT.
HE DIDN'T DO -- IT WASN'T SET
UP.
BUT ONCE HE MADE THAT, THEY KNEW
THEY COULD MAKE HAY.
YOU WILL SEE IN RETROSPECT, HOW
SUCCESSFUL IS.
THEY HAVE GOTTEN A ZILLION
DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLICITY OUT
OF THIS.
SOME PEOPLE THINK BAD PUBLICITY
ISN'T GOOD, IT IS GREAT.
WHEN THAT MAN GOES BACK ON THE
RADIO, THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE
HUMONGOUS AND THEY WIN.
>> TWLA DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE
COMMUNITY?
IF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS TRUE F
THE MANAGEMENT SAW THIS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLICITY
OUT OF IT, WHAT IS IT SAYING
THEN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY?
>> I DON'T SAY THIS ALONE.
THE PROFESSOR OF BROCK PORT PUT
IT OUT, THE COMMUNICATIONS
PROFESSOR OF BROCK PORT SAID THE
EXACT SANG THING.
THE RATINGS PERIOD HAS JUST
STARTED.
THEY GAVE HIM A SILLY TWO-DAY
SUSPENSION WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS
HE'S GOT HIS WEBSITE.
WHERE ALL HIS LACKEYS WRITE BACK
TO HIM YOU'RE THE GREATEST THING
BOB.
WHEN HE COMES BACK ON THE AIR,
IT IS HUMONGOUS, GUARANTEED.
>> LOOK, IT WAS NO SLIP OF THE
TONGUE.
THIS PART OF THE PATTERNAL YOU
DON'T JUDGE BOB LONSBERRY BY 10
SECONDS, YOU JUDGE HIM FOR 10
YEARS.
>> WAIT A SECOND, HE'S BEEN
MAKING RACIST STATEMENTS FOR 10
YEARS?
>> THERE'S -- WE HAVE TO VISIT
THAT NOTION AS WELL.
BUT WAIT A MINUTE --
>> BOB LONSBERRY SAID THAT ON TO
THE AIR AND TURN THAT INTO 10
YEARS?
>> ANYONE WHO HAS AN INNATE
SENSE OF DECENCY, WHICH IS MOST
OF THE COMMUNITY T IDEA OF
CALLING ANYONE BY THESE NAMES
WOULD NEVER CROSS THEIR MIND,
MUCH LESS ERUPT FROM THEIR LIPS.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT
THAT.
>> CAN I PLEASE ASK A QUESTION?
IF EVERYBODY IS AS NICE IN THIS
COMMUNITY AS YOU SAY THEY ARE,
THEN WHY ARE WHAM, WE'RE GOING
TO STAND BEHIND BOB.
I KNOW YOU'RE DOING TO STAND
BEHIND BOB BECAUSE THE RATINGS
ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE MOON
AND THEY'LL HAVE ADVERTISERS.
IT'S FOR THE DOLLAR, YOU KNOW
THAT.
>> YOU HAVE SHOWN THIS
BEAUTIFULLY FOR SO LONG IN
RADIO.
YOU NEED A NICHE.
BUT AS OPPOSED TO TV, WHERE YOU
NEED IF NOT A MAJORITY AT LEAST
A LARGE PLURALITY OF THE
AUDIENCE, NOT TRUE IN RADIO.
>> MR. LANGSTON?
>> YOU HAVE A FORMAT THAT YOU
FOLLOW, YOU'RE LICENSED BY THE
F.C.C., FEDERAL COMMUNICATION
COMMISSION.
YOU ARE NOT LICENSED TO TEACH
HATE, OR MALIGN ANYONE.
YOU'RE TO TEACH THE LOVE TO LOVE
ONE ANOTHER.
I'M OLD FASHIONED.
>> YOU'RE NOT OLD FASHIONED.
THAT'S ENTIRELY CORRECT.
>> AND BEING RESPECTFUL.
>> I LOVE ANDREW, BUT THIS IS
OLD SCHOOL.
I LOVE YOU, ANDREW.
BUT ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE SAYING
IS RIGHT.
BUT IT'S NOT THE WORLD WE'RE
LIVING IN TODAY.
THERE IS HATE RADIO ALL OVER THE
PLACE AND IT'S BOOMING.
>> WELL, LET ME ASK A QUESTION
OF EVERYBODY.
WHO DETERMINES THE STANDARDS ON
THE AIR?
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATION
AND YOU SHOULD ANSWER THIS FIRST
BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STATION OR
IS IT THE MARKETPLACE, SIR?
WHO SHOULD DETERMINE THE
STANDARDS?
>> FIRST OF ALL, MANAGEMENT OF
THE STATION DETERMINES, BECAUSE
WE ARE COMMERCIAL AND YOU MAKE
YOUR MONEY BY YOUR COMMERCIALS.
SOME OF US WE MAKE VERY LITTLE.
BUT I ENJOY THIS MARKET.
I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF
POTENTIAL.
AND WHEN I CAME INTO THIS MARKET
MY HAIR WASN'T THIS COLOR.
I WASN'T THIS HEAVY.
IT DOES -- BUT IT'S A POSITION.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD TO DO
SOMETHING AND SOMEBODY SAYS
THAT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
>> IT IS THE MARKETPLACE OR THE
MANAGEMENT?
YOU WANT MANAGEMENT TO TELL YOU
WHAT TO SAY?
>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I HAVE A CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM
AND WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS
WITH ME IS I HAVE A PRODUCER AND
HE HAS BEEN THREATENED A FEW
TIMES WHEN WE HAVE DONE BAD
THINGS.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GET
RID OF ME.
SEE, BOB, WEASE IS REAL.
IF HE DOESN'T DELAY SOMETHING,
HE GETS FIRED.
WHICH IS TERRIBLE.
BUT THAT'S HOW THEY FIGURED OUT
HOW TO CONTROL ME.
I HAVE GREAT RATELINGS.
I KNEW THEY WOULDN'T FIRE ME.
THEY STARTED TO FIRE MY KID, MY
PRODUCERS.
NOW MY PRODUCER THAT'S IN THERE
NOW, HE IS ON THAT BUTTON AND HE
IF HE MISSES, HE IS IN MAJOR
TROUBLE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, INFINITY
BROADCASTING, WE HAVE WORDS
WE'RE NOT ALLOW TO SAY WHICH
CLEAR CHANNEL CAN SAY WHICH
BOTHERS US IN RADIO.
>> WHO DICTATES?
WE DO.
WE ARE THE COMMUNITY.
WHO DICTATES THE STATION
MANAGEMENT?
THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WHAM
STANDS FOR RACIST.
IF SPONSORS COME BACK AND
SUBSIDY BOB LONSBERRY, LISTENERS
HAVE TO SAY, WE WILL NOT --
>> IT'S THE MARKETPLACE.
>> OF COURSE IT IS.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
CLEAR CHANNEL, THEY NEAR DALLAS,
THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHO IN
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, THEY WISH
TO BE IMPLICITLY OR EXPLICITLY
ALIGNED --
>> BOTH OF YOU ARE ON THE AIR.
WOULD YOU LIKE IT IN THE
MARKETPLACE SAID, I THINK
BROTHER WEASE IS TOO LIBERAL,
I'M GOING TO RAISE A BOYCOTT.
I'M PULLING --
>> THAT'S AMERICAN AND SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED IN 1773, THE
BOSTON TEA PARTY.
WE DIDN'T LIKE BRITISH TEA, WE
DIDN'T SUBSIDIZE IT.
>> BY THE WAY, WHAT YOU'RE
PUTTING FORTH, I'M DONE,, I'M
DONE IF IT'S PUT FORTH.
I HAD LUNCH WITH A SPONSOR OF
BOB LONSBERRY YESTERDAY.
WE GOT INTO A GREAT ARGUMENT
WHICH LASTED INTO THE NIGHT.
LISTEN, I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT
HE SAID, BUT I -- I HAVE TO STAY
ON THE SHOW, HE SAID.
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH ME.
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU
SPONSOR THAT, THEN FOR SOME
PEOPLE YOU'RE SAYING THAT?
AM I WRONG?
>> NO.
ENTIRELY CORRECT.
BUT, YOU KNOW SOMETHING --
>> HE DOESN'T GET IT?
AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTERS.
>> LISTENERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY KNOW WHO SPONSORS THAT
SHOW AND THEY'LL REACT.
ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
>> MR. LANGSTON, YOU ARE
PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST LOCAL
OWNERS IN ROCHESTER.
WHAT HAS THAT DONE, THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE NO LOCAL OWNERS
IN THIS TOWN DONE TO THE
STANDARDS THAT GO OUT ON THE
AIR?
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE LEFT.
WOULD YOU -- LET'S SAY SOMEBODY
MADE A RACIST REMARK ABOUT
MAGGIE BROOKS, WHAT WOULD YOU
HAVE DONE TO THAT PERSON?
>> I WOULD HAVE FIRED THEM.
I HAVE A PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY.
WE MUST GO DOWN THE ROAD AND
THERE'S ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITHOUT
SOMEBODY TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE
AIR, BY SAYING A NAME.
YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT.
THAT'S WRONG.
YOU WOULDN'T LIKE SOMEBODY TO
CALL YOU -- DON'T CALL ANYONE A
NAME.
>> DO YOU THINK WHAT THE -- WITH
THE LOSS OF LOCAL OWNERSHIP HAVE
HURT THE STANDARDS THAT
COMMUNITY MIGHT WANT TO SET?
BECAUSE IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE MARKETPLACE, IF WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE MARKETPLACE
SETTING THE STANDARD, HOW COULD
SOMEBODY IN SAN ANTONIO BE
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN
ROCHESTER?
>> THEY ARE NOT.
THEY'RE INSENSITIVE, THE F.C.C.
HAS CHANGED THE RULES.
IT'S BECOME POLITICAL.
IT'S HEAVILY OWNED BY THE FAT
CAT AND NO CHANCE FOR A PERSON
LIKE ANDREW LANGSTON WHO OWNS A
STATION IN THIS MARKET.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BUY IT, BUT I
WILL RATHER PASS IT ON TO MY
SON.
BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS A
DECENT COMMUNITY.
IT COULD BE A MUCH BETTER
COMMUNITY.
>> CURT?
>> LONSBERRY OUGHT TO BE FIRED
BUT HE'S A RATHER LECHEROUS
EXCUSE FOR A PUBLIC PERSONALITY.
THE FATE IS TOTALLY IRRELEVANT.
BUT WHAT IS IS AT STAKE IS ARE
WE TO BE STIGMATIZED, ARE WE TO
EARN THE REPUTATION AS A HAVEN
OF SLUGS?
I WAS -- WAIT A MINUTE.
I WAS ON A 30-MINUTE SHOW WITH
FRED DICKER T UPSTATE EDITOR OF
"THE NEW YORK POST" WHICH IS A
VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
NEWSPAPER.
IN ALBANY WH'S THE TALK IN
ALBANY, NEW YORK, THIS MORNING?
THIS INCIDENT.
HE SAID TO ME, HOW COULD -- HOW
COULD YOUR COMMUNITY ALLOW THIS?
WHAT IS TO BE OUR ANSWER?
ARE WE THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY?
WE'LL DECIDE.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GETTING
BROAD -- TALK ABOUT POLITICS.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE MORE
QUESTION, BROTHER WEASE.
YOU HAVE CALLED PEOPLE NAMES ON
YOUR SHOW.
>> EVERY DAY.
>> YOU HAVE A NAME FOR MAYOR
JOHNSON, ACTUALLY.
>> I HAVE A NAME FOR MAYOR
JOHNSON AND I GOT THIS A FIGHT
ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THIS
SITUATION.
>> LET ME PUT IT FORTH.
>> WE CALL HIM GRADY.
BECAUSE WE THINK HE LOOKS LIKE
GRADY FROM "SANFORD & SON."
A GUY CALLED UP AND SAID YOU'RE
RACIST THE SAME WAY.
I SAID THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
HE LOOKS LIKE THIS MAN.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
HOW IS CALLING A GUY -- IF I
SAID THAT HE LOOKED LIKE ROBERT
WAGNER, I MEAN, HE'S A WHITE GUY
AND LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER WHITE
GUY --
>> COMPARED TO DON KNOTTS --
>> CAN YOU TELL ME HOW CALLING
HIM GRADY IS RACIST?
>> THE YESER IN SICK WHAT HURT.
THE GENERIC IS IT'S THE
STEREOTYPE, THIS KIND OF PRIMAL
STEREOTYPE APPLIES TO EVERY
BLACK PERSON ON THE PLANET
EARTH.
>> LET ME GET TO WHAT I'M REALLY
TRYING TO GET AT WHICH IS HOW
ONE DEFINES THAT LINE?
WHERE DO YOU -- YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A LINE THAT YOU -- YOU
GET RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE ON YOUR
PROGRAM.
>> RIGHT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT N THE LAST
FEW DAYS WE HAVE BEEN CALLING
PEOPLE ORANGUTANS.
I KNOW THAT WORK WELL ON THIS TV
PROGRAM, BUT WITH THE HUMOR --
WE WERE CALLING EVERYBODY THAT,
TO TRY AND LESSEN THE WORD.
BUT WE TRY AND DO -- WE FEEL
LIKE WE'RE DOING OURS WITH HUMOR
NOT HATE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE CAN TELL THE
DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN
COMPETITION WITH ANDREW, BUT A
BUNCH OF BLACK LISTENERS ALSO,
AND THEY CALL IN REGULARLY.
AND CHIP IN WITH THE KIND OF
HUMOR WE'RE DOING.
WE CALL ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
NAMES, WHERE I THINK PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND IT.
SO FAR, KNOCK ON THIS TABLE, WE
HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED WITH THIS
SAME KIND OF A DEAL.
>> HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT FOR
YOURSELF?
WHERE DO YOU KNOW THAT THE
BUTTON PUSHES AND I HAVE GONE
TOO FAR, CAN'T GO THERE?
>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW EI
DEFINE ITS FOR MYSELF I HAVE
BEEN A BLEEDING HEART LIBERAL
FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
I KNOW WHAT I AM.
I HAVE FOUGHT FOR ALL KINDS OF
THINGS.
RACIST IS THE LAST I'M EVER
GOING TO BE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE MISTAKEN
OFTEN.
MAYBE IT HAPPENED TO BOB
LONSBERRY I.
I THINK MY LISTENER, THE ONES
THAT ARE REGULAR LISTENERS --
ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING
VERY QUICK.
I USED THE WORD NIGGER -- I
FORGOT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS, BUT IT
WAS IN A GOOD CONTEXT.
A LADY WROTE TO THE LETTER TO
THE NEWSPAPER AND I HAD THIS GIG
IN A HARLEY SCHOOL AND BECAUSE
OF THIS LETTER TO THE NEWSPAPER,
THEY FIRED ME FROM THIS CHARITY
THING THAT I WAS GOING TO DO.
IT WAS AMAZING BECAUSE IT WAS
COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT AND
COMPLETELY WRONG.
I WANTED TO MEET THE LADY THAT
WROTE THE LETTER, SHE WENT TO
THE SCHOOL.
IT WAS A STRANGE THING.
>> DELL ME -- TALK TO ME ABOUT
THE LINE.
THERE'S A LINE THERE, WHEN DO
YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- YOU'VE GONE
TOO FAR ON MY RADIO STATION,
YOU'RE GONE?
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE A SENSE IN
AMERICA, WE WANT TO TREAT PEOPLE
AS THOUGH WE WISH TO BE TREATED.
WE'VE GOT EIGHT STRIKES AGAINST
US AS -- AND THERE'S ONLY THREE
IN A BALL GAME.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB
AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT, IF
YOU LOOK AT THE RATINGS, THE
RATINGS HAS CHANGED A LOT HERE.
IT'S MIRACLE WHERE WE ARE AND IN
A SMALL STATION.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS PROGRAM TO
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE AND
ANDRE IS A GENIUS IN WHAT HE
CALLS THE WATER COOLER.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT
GIVES --
>> PEOPLE CAN BE OUTSPOKEN ON
THE WATER COOLER THOUGH.
I HAVE SEEN THAT.
>> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE WATER
COOLER.
IT TOOK ME THREE YEARS TO BUY
INTO IT.
AS SOON AS THEY GOT RID OF ME,
NOW THEY DO A BETTER JOB.
>> CURT, WHERE'S THE -- WHERE --
>> WE DECIDE THE LINE 2.
COMMUNITY ITSELF DECIDES THE
LINE.
>> BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN FRONT OF
THE MICROPHONE AT ONE POINT,
WHERE DO YOU DECIDE WHERE THE
LINE IS?
>> RESPECT, HONOR, COURTESY.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE
APPLICABLE TO THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT WILL.
WE WILL KNOW ON ELECTION DAY.
WE'RE ANOTHER A CROSSROADS RIGHT
NOW.
WE'RE IN ECONOMIC FREEFALL.
THE LAST THING THAT WE NEED IS
TO BE STIGMATIZED AND TARRED.
AND WE WILL, IF WE MAKE A
DECISION ON ELECTION DAY THAT
SAYS THIS IS FINE.
WE COUNT NANCE THIS, THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY COUNTENANCES
THIS.
WE THINK THE EPITAPHS CAN BE
CASTIGATED AND NO REPRISAL AND
NO CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER, WE
WILL DESERVE AND WILL RECEIVE
EVERY NASTY CONNOTATION ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S
TALKING ABOUT, SO YOU GUYS GOT
TO -- NO SERIOUSLY, WHAT DOES
ELECTION DAY HAVE TO DO WITH
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> IT'S A GREAT DEAL.
A GREAT DEAL.
>> LET ME ASK YOU WHAT DOES
ELECTION DAY HAVE TO DO WITH IT?
>> PLEASE, IT MEANS THAT FOR
FIVE OR 10 YEARS NOW THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS SUBSIDIZED
THE LONSBERRY SHOW.
FLAG BY BROOKS HAS GUEST HOSTED.
WAIT A MINUTE, THEY HAVE HELPED
IN ESSENCE TO PAY LONSBERRY'S
SALARY.
THEY COULD NOT BE CLOSER IN
TERMS OF MORE OF A FAMILY AFFAIR
THAN IF THEY HAD SIAMESE TWINS,
WERE INCESTUOUS OR SHARED THE
SAME D.N.A..
>> THE CULPABILITY IN THIS
CLIMATE TOO --
>> YOU AGREE WITH THAT TOO?
>> NO.
BECAUSE MY MAN IS -- YOU'RE A
REPUBLICAN YOURSELF?
>> WHATEVER.
>> I VOTED REPUBLICAN.
>> LET ME JUMP TO WHERE I'M
GOING THAT'S A SMALL TOWN, WE
HAVE HANNITY, WE HAVE RUSH
LIMBAUGH.
THAT'S TO DOING EXACT SAME THING
ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
IF YOU'RE WRONG, YOU CAN HIT ME
FOR THIS.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT DOING
HATE RADIO, BUT THEY'RE A TOOL
FOR THE GOP COMPLETELY.
HOW DOES A DEMOCRAT HAVE A
CHANCE NATIONALLY?
THEY DON'T HAVE A RADIO SHOW
WITH THE POWER OF THOSE RADIO
SHOWS ALL ADDED UP.
AND YOU SAY WE VOTE ON ELECTION
DAY.
>> BUT -- BUT MY QUESTION IS --
>> A GOOD POINT NATIONALLY.
WITHOUT QUESTION, WHEN I SAY
LOCALLY IS TRUE.
>> I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, IF
SOMEBODY WAS TO SIT IN FOR YOU,
ARE YOUR VIEWS THEIR VIEWS?
IN ORDER F MAGGIE BROOKS SITS IN
FOR BOB LONSBERRY, HER VIEWS ARE
HIS VIEWS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
MAYBE HER VIEWS AREN'T --
BELIEVE ME IF SOMEBODY SITS IN
WITH ME, IT WILL BE MY BLESSING
>> THEY HAVE BEEN HIS
ADVOCATE --
>> MAGGIE BROOKS HAS SAID, IF I
WERE RUNNING THE STATION I'D
FIRE HIM.
JACKSON HAS SAID THAT.
>> MAGGIE BROOKS SAID FIRST,
THEY TOLD HER WHAT SHE COULD
SAY.
SHE SAID WAIT A MINUTE, IT IS
INAPPROPRIATE -- TALK ABOUT AN
UNPROFILE ON COURAGE.
IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT,
INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT?
WAIT A MINUTE, SHE SAID
INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT ON
RACISM AND HATRED AND BIGOTRY ON
WHAT KIND OF COMMENT WE OFFER?
FIRST IMPRESSION, FIRST COMMENT,
ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
THAT WAS HER REMARK.
>> I'VE GOT TO WRAP THIS THING
UP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
I'VE GOT TO WRAP THIS THING UP.
>> I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE
ANDREW ON BEING THE SMARTEST
BROADCASTER OVER HERE.
SO MUCH TO SAY, ARE YOU KIDDING
ME QCH BUT GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY.
BUT IN ESSENCE, IT SEEMS LIKE
YOU CAN MAKE A FIVE-SECOND
COMMENT ON A RADIO STATION, AND
IT CAN HAVE ALL SORTS OF POWER.
>> BY THE WAY, I'VE GOT TO SAY
ONCE MORE, HERE IS ANOTHER SHOW.
THIS MAN IS HUMONGOUS.
THIS HAS BEEN A WIN-WIN-WIN.
A HUGE WIN FOR WHAM.
>> BY THE WAY -- THAT'S GOT TO
BE THE LAST WORD.
THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD NOT END
HERE.
WE WANT YOU TO WEIGH
IN BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE,
wxxi.org/ntk
, OR YOU CAN EMAIL
US AT needtoknow@wxxi.org.
IN THE NEXT MONTH WE ARE GOING
TO BE FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION
ON THE RACES.
WE WILL HAVE THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES
IN FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS.
SO WE WANT YOU TO CALL US.
585-258-0250.
NOW
HERE IS THE BUSINESS SECTION
WITH"THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
WITH
US IS ELLEN ROSEN, BUSINESS
EDITOR FOR "THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THANKS FOR COMING IN.
I GUESS WE KNOW WHAT'RE TALKING
ABOUT, TALKING OF THE LATEST
ANNOUNCEMENT BY KODAK COMPANY.
TELL US ABOUT IT AND TELL US HOW
SHAREHOLDERS SAW THIS LATEST
ANNOUNCEMENT?
>> WELL, KODAK MADE A COUPLE OF
STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
YESTERDAY.
ONE IS DEALING WITH THE
DIVIDEND.
THEY HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF HAVING
AN OVERLY FAT CASH DIVIDEND AND
SHAREHOLDERS HAVE BOUGHT THAT
STOCK FOR THE DIVIDEND, BUT
ANALYSTS HAVE WONDERED HOW KODAK
CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT.
SO THEY CUT THAT DRASTICALLY.
BUT EVEN MORE DRAMATICALLY,
KODAK ANNOUNCED A HUGE SHIFT
FROM REALLY REINVENTING ITSELF,
MOVING AWAY FROM THE CASH COW
FILM RAPIDLY INTO THE DIGITAL
MARKET WHICH IS WHAT THE EXCUSE
THAT KODAK GAVE.
WELL, THE REASON THAT KODAK GAVE
BECAUSE IT NOW NEEDS THAT CASH
TO ACCELERATE ITS MOVE INTO
DIGITAL.
>> BASICALLY INVESTING THAT
MONEY?
>> YES, THEY NEED THAT MONEY TO
INVEST IN NEW PRODUCTS.
THEY'RE GETTING INTO THE INK JET
PRINTER BUSINESS WHICH IS KIND
OF A SURPRISE THAT'S ACTUALLY A
BUSINESS THAT XEROX GOT OUT AS
YOU REMEMBER.
THEY HAD A BIG FACILITY IN
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" AND
THEY CLOSED IT UP.
IT DOESN'T HAVE HIGH PROFIT
MARGINS AND IT'S UNUSUAL THING
THAT I'M NOT SURE THAT PEOPLE
ARE REALLY WAITING FOR PEOPLE.
THEY WERE SURPRISED BY THIS.
>> ANALYSTS -- LET'S TALK ON THE
STREET.
HOW DID THEY REACT IN THE END
OTHIS ANNOUNCEMENT?
>> INVESTORS WERE DUMPING SHARES
YESTERDAY, AND IT'S ON ITS WAY
DOWN SO FAR THIS MORNING.
IT JUST -- THERE'S JUST --
ANALYSTS SAW THIS AS NOT BEING A
WELL-THOUGHT OUT PLAN.
DIDN'T GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE IN
THE COMPANY.
THEY KNEW THAT KODAK'S FILM
BUSINESS WAS IN DANGER, BUT THEY
HOPED TO SHOW THEM A SOLID PLAN
FOR GROWTH AND THEY'RE NOT
CONVINCED THIS IS IT.
>> IN THE SENSE OF KODAK,
THERE'S BEEN LONG THE TALK THAT
THEY HAVE TO MOVE ON.
TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING ON, YOU
HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH IT.
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE
LAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS, LAST
TWO OR THREE YEARS HAS BEEN
POINTED TO AN EFFORT TO MOVE ON.
>> YES.
>> AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT DAN
CARP WOULD SAY.
>> BUT THE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING
THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO MOVE IN.
THEY WERE EXCITED WITH SOME OF
THE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, BUT THE
INK JET PRINTER BUSINESS THAT
THE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING THEY'RE
NOT SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP
FOR KODAK TO MAKE.
>> LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS DID
CLEARLY WEIGH IN ON THIS.
THE ONE WHO COMES TO MIND IS
JACK DOYLE.
HE BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, I
WISH YOU WOULD HAVE TALKED TO
US.
WHAT WAS THE REACTION WOULD YOU
SAY IN GENERAL BY THE POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP IN TOWN TO THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT?
>> I DON'T THINK THIS THIS IS A
HUGE SURPRISE.
WE KNOW THAT KODAK IS NOT AS
PART OF OUR ECONOMY AS IT HAS
BEEN 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO.
IT'S STILL SITTING KANTSS, BUT
KODAK HAS GIVEN A LOT OF WARNING
THAT THIS DAY IS COMING.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS A HUGE
SURPRISE, BUT STILL UNPLEASANT
NEWS.
TYPICALLY KODAK HAS IN THE PAST
GOTTEN TOGETHER, DELEGATION AND
LOCAL LEADERS TO LET THEM KNOW.
BUT THAT'S THINGS ABOUT LAYOFFS
AND CLOSINGS WHERE KODAK CAN
QUANTIFY WHAT IT WILL BE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT KODAK KNOWS
WHAT THE PROSPECTUS WILL BE.
THEY'RE NOT SURE IF I'LL END UP
HERE IN KODAK PARK OR HERE IN
ROCHESTER.
IT SAYS THAT THE WORK FORCE HAS
TO BE COMPETITIVE IF IT WANTS TO
GO HERE INSTEAD OF SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT
IT MEANS FOR THE ROCHESTER WORK
FORCE AND ALL IT MEANS.
ITS MIGHT BE A MESSAGE WE'VE GOT
TO BE COMPETITIVE HERE.
ROCHESTER HAS TO BE COMPETITIVE
HERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT COMPETITION ON
ANOTHER FRONT T FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DID SEEM TO MAKE GOOD
AT LEAST ON ITS PROMISE FOR
MONEY FOR THE HIGH-TECH RESEARCH
CENTER IN CANANDAIGA.
>> THEY CAME THROUGH WITH $1.7
MILLION.
ACTUALLY, THE SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL CALLED FOR
$3.5 MILLION, SO ABOUT HALF OF
WHAT THEY EXPECTED, SOME SORT OF
A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO
HOUSES.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT IS BETTER TO
HAVE THE MONEY THAN NOT.
SO THE FOLKS ARE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT AND LET THEM MOVE
FORWARD WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS.
>> REAL QUICKLY, THE ROCHESTER
AREA FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME,
THERE WAS A COMPETITION ALMOST
FOR ROCHESTER PROPER, AND THEN
ONTARIO COUNTY AND CANANDAIGA.
SHOULD PEOPLE IN ROCHESTER SEE
THIS AS GOOD NEWS?
SEE AS GOOD NEWS JOB OOIZ?
>> OH, DEFINITELY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN
CANANDAIGA TO WORK IN
CANANDAIGA.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO SPIN
THESE OFF INTO COMPANY SO YES, I
THINK THIS IS GOOD NEWS.
>> WE HAVE ONLY 30 SECONDS LEFT,
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TELL US
WHAT'S COMING UP THIS SUNDAY IN
THE BUSINESS SECTION.
>> WE'RE LAUNCHING A YEAR-LONG
SERIES.
WITH UNDERSTAND A MONTH WE LOOK
AT ROCHESTER AT WORK, AT THE
VARIOUS INDUSTRY SECTORS THAT
MAKE UP THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WEEK WE'LL LOOK AT THE FOOD
INDUSTRY, FOOD PROCESSING
>> SO YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN ITS.
>> THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN IT,
THE INDUSTRIES THEMSELVES, HOW
BIG A PART OF THE ECONOMY
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US A GOOD
LOOK AT WHO WORKS HERE IN
ROCHESTER.
>> ELLEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
"NEED TO KNOW" WILL DEVOTE
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE'S CAMPAIGN
BY FEATURING BOTH CANDIDATES
IN ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSIONS.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW FROM MAYOR BILL JOHNSON
AND COUNTY CLERK MAGGIE BROOKS.
YOU HAVE THREE WAYS TO DO THAT.
BY LOGGING ON TO OUR WEBSITE,
wxxi.org/ntk
, BY EMAILING US
AT needtoknow@wxxi.org
OR BY CALLING US ON OUR RESPONSE
LINE.
THE NUMBER IS
585-258-0250.
NEXT WEEK DEMOCRAT BILL JOHNSON
ON THE ISSUES.
WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION]
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