Appetite for Deconstruction

“I really thought that once we got a black president, the attempt to demonize whites hating blacks would stop… but it seems to have grown. And I don’t get it. Yes I do… it’s all about power. And that’s sad.” – Laura Schlessinger

Huh?

The always interesting (and by “interesting,” I mean egomaniacal, bigoted bonehead) “doctor” took a call on her radio show this week from an African-American woman named Jade. Jade was concerned about her white husband’s friends making comments about her that she found racist and hurtful. Not exactly a nut-job looking for airtime. However, Schlessinger, in her infinite wisdom, bulldozed right over her question and scolded Jade for being too sensitive.

Well, Jade asked… what about the “n-word”? Isn’t that offensive??? Psshaw…. Schlessinger said. “Black guys say it all the time,” Schlessinger said, and then went on to repeat the word several times in a row… and then continued to use it throughout her segment with Jade (listen for yourself below).

She was shocked someone could possibly be offended by this (seriously, black people… what’s wrong with you. You act like it’s still a sensitive subject), and kept telling her she needed to develop a sense of humor.

Unless you have a question about your rat’s blood sugar, PLEASE STOP

How idiots like this have a radio program is beyond me. Sadder still is how anyone would listen to this jackass, much less call in for actual advice (at its peak, The Dr. Laura Program was the second-highest-rated radio show after The Rush Limbaugh Show, and was heard on more than 450 radio stations. In May 2002, the show had an audience of more than 10 million people).

For crying out loud, people! She has a Ph.D. in physiology! Her doctoral thesis was on the “Effects of Insulin on 3-0-Methylglucose Transport in Isolated Rat Adipocytes”… which I’m pretty sure means she spent months trying to give rats Diabetes.

Laura is no more qualified to give you sage advice on your life’s problems and challenges than I am. In fact, I’m MORE qualified to help you, since I actually have a degree in something relevant (a Masters in Psychology from NYU) and worked in a psychiatric clinic for a few years.

But that’s hardly my point. I’m telling you: STOP!

STOP listening to other people for advice. STOP getting your news from John Stewart! STOP adopting your opinions on current events from The View! STOP calling into shows like Dr. Laura thinking that a four-minute phone call is going to turn your life around or save your marriage or erase the psychological scars of your recent alien abduction.

Form your own opinions – I’m telling you, it’s very freeing. Sure, it might mean a little soul searching and the possibility that you’re proven wrong once in a while. But it’s better than providing a pulpit for hate-spewing douchebags like this.

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[Check out our previous Douchebag of the Week: Brett Favre]

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