"Weatherman" fired for MLK slur.....

[Lindaloo]

I know it is a racial term used down here. I just find it hard to believe that a professional could be that dang stupid.

[chadtm80]

I know it is a racial term used down here. I just find it hard to believe that a professional could be that dang stupid.

Well just look at j

[Skywatch_NC]

I know it is a racial term used down here. I just find it hard to believe that a professional could be that dang stupid.

Well just look at j

C'mon now Chad...we guys stand together...it's the lady thing to 'slap around' j!

[PurdueWx80]

Wow - when I interned at WLKY in Louisville a few summers ago, the chief met told me of a friend who mis-pronounced Norfolk throught out one whole newscast. I'll leave it up to you to figure out how one might mispronounce that word. Needless to say, he was fired shortly thereafter.

[Lindaloo]

I know it is a racial term used down here. I just find it hard to believe that a professional could be that dang stupid.

Well just look at j

[Tornado_Chaser2005]

It was a mistake in my opinion. I mean I can see where he stumbled on the name...Martin Luther King Can be , if said fast, said Coon..Think about how its said...Loother,, Cing...His tounge must have messed up, pronouncing cooning,,. still having the sounding LOOTHER in his mind. and then saying the right ful word of King to misplace what he said..That is exactly how that happened, and to fire someone over this is horrible..Might as well fire every news person on air, because, ive heard some crazy s***

TC

[SouthernWx]

The reason he slipped is because he probably says it all the time and it was natural for him to say it. It is an extremely horrible racial term used in the south.

That was my first thought upon hearing the story....because I've seen folks here in Georgia (including a couple of my deceased family members) who regularly refer to African-Americans as "coons" (or other equally disgusting terms).

IMO the tv meteorologist was used to saying it at home....add a late night with not enough sleep...possibly some alcohol, and wallah, he slips and says something I'm certain he now regrets.

Should Rob Blair have been terminated? In that type of job, IMO the station manager had little choice. When I was employed at EDS as a Customer/Provider Rep, I signed an agreement before being hired that stated if I said or did anything "that brought reproach or bad publicity" to EDS, I would be terminated immediately and without appeal.

Sadly, I've seen some comments on other weather forums that go even further; folks saying Rob Blair should be "barred" from ever working at a tv station again in any capacity....even angry radicals saying he should never be allowed to forecast weather again (i.e.- strip him of his meteorology degree?). I believe that's going too far....and IMO borders on "witch hunting" (political correctness gone wild).

Look, the guy made a mistake...in his line of work, a very big mistake. He's already paid for it with his job, and will probably be forced to seek future employment in broadcasting outside of Las Vegas (I seriously doubt any other tv station there would risk the bad publicity). He didn't murder anyone.....slipping up and saying a racial slur isn't a capitol offense (at least not yet).

I once saw a tv met in Atlanta slip and accidently refer to a "Cold Air Mass" as a "Cold Mare's Azz"...LIVE ON THE AIR. It wasn't intentional, but in 1970 Atlanta aka "the Bible belt", it almost cost the weatherman his job...even though he was one of the most beloved men on local tv in Atlanta (the late Guy Sharpe). Folks make mistakes...I've made mistakes, we all do; out of stress, illness, lack of sleep, stupidity, etc.

FYI- I just wonder how the reaction would have been IF the Las Vegas meteorologist had been black....and said something derogatory about whites (i.e.- Confederate "hick" Memorial Day)?? My guess is the on air personality would still have their job....just from a couple things I witnessed while working at EDS (things a white guy such as I would have been fired for....but blacks weren't

PW

[mikey mike]

Southern Wx wrote: 
" FYI- I just wonder how the reaction would have been IF the Las Vegas meteorologist had been black....and said something derogatory about whites (i.e.- Confederate "hick" Memorial Day)?? My guess is the on air personality would still have their job....just from a couple things I witnessed while working at EDS (things a white guy such as I would have been fired for....but blacks weren't"

How right you are,but the guy did say a very derogatory thing and in a very public forum.I believe firing him was a little much.They could have given him an off-camera position.

[rainstorm]

ted kennedy referred to the senator from illinois , barack obama, as "osama bin laden". ted wasnt fired from the senate, and i doubt he goes around calling obama a murderer of 3000 americans on a regular basis. it happens.

[Ixolib]

I believe it's entirely possible for the mouth to get ahead of the brain. Happens to me often enough.

For instance, his mind might have been thinking "king" and "junior" at the same time and it just came out of his mouth sounding like "coon". Kinda like when I used to get aggravated with my now-grown kids (Daniel and Angela) and I'd accidentally say "DANGELA!!".

I agree with Linda - they over-reacted because they are more interested in being PC...

[Ixolib]

I once saw a tv met in Atlanta slip and accidently refer to a "Cold Air Mass" as a "Cold Mare's Azz"...LIVE ON THE AIR.

Now that really brought a smile to my face!!

[GalvestonDuck]

I've heard it referred to as "Martin Luther Coon Day" before by racists in KY (note the proximity of KY to IN). It's possible that he says it that way in private and he says it enough that he let it slip on the air this time.

[HurricaneGirl]

He totally said that on purpose. I can see mistaking saying coon instead of noon but King... I don't think so.

[The Big Dog]

But it is a possibility right David? Why on earth would a man in his field say something like that knowing he would be fired? Makes no sense to me. ESPECIALLY since this is MLK day.

Me think if it was a "slip" up.. It was a slip up in this way: He uses the term Luther Coon outside of work, and when talking about him on air he slipped and used his "out of work" term..

This is my guess, too. Says it outside of work around his friends, and then can't stop himself in front of the camera.

I remember back about 10 years ago when Dick Armey (I think it was Armey) called Barney Frank "Barney F--" on the floor on the House. Corrected himself immediately, but you can't unring a bell.

(Edited by GD - although the word was in quotes and not being used as a direct attack towards anyone, it's still not allowed. Anyone who can't figure it out, PM me.)

[The Big Dog]

ted kennedy referred to the senator from illinois , barack obama, as "osama bin laden". ted wasnt fired from the senate, and i doubt he goes around calling obama a murderer of 3000 americans on a regular basis. it happens.

That was bound to happen sooner or later. When I first heard of Obama, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to call him Osama publicly.

[Stephanie]

Sounds to me like it was a mistake and a slip of the tongue. The news station is too PC.

I'm not so sure it was innocent. As I presume you well know Lindaloo "coon" is a racially derogatory word used all across the south in reference to blacks in general and especially poor blacks. IMO, it is hard to "slip up" llike that.

I've heard "coon" used up here in a derogatory manner towards blacks as well. You don't slip up on that one unless you've been thinking it (jokes or otherwise). PERHAPS the firing is too harsh, but DEFINATELY a suspension for stupidity.

[vbhoutex]

ted kennedy referred to the senator from illinois , barack obama, as "osama bin laden". ted wasnt fired from the senate, and i doubt he goes around calling obama a murderer of 3000 americans on a regular basis. it happens.

That was bound to happen sooner or later. When I first heard of Obama, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to call him Osama publicly.

And leave it to the Senate's resident drunk to do it!!!!