Zero tolerance for Dr. Laura

But TV Allows Anti-Semites, Batterers and Druggies

Poor Dr Laura. On her radio program, Dr Laura called homosexuals "biological errors" and homosexuality "deviant." Now her upcoming television show, distributed by Paramount, stands in the crosshairs of a group of gay activists and. their supporters. So far, the anti-Dr. Laura campaign appears successful, managing to scare away at least a dozen big-name sponsors from backing her show.

Dr. Laura issued a statement of clarification, stating that she did not want her words to "contribute in any way to an atmosphere of hate or intolerance. Regrettably, some of the words I've used havA hurt some people, and I am sorry for that." Scripture, says Dr. Laura, condemns homosexual behavior as a sin, but not homosexuals themselves. And, yes, Dr. Laura recommends "reparative therapy" to assist homosexuals in "converting" back to heterosexuality.

I support the right of homosexuals to marry, and support allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Dr. Laura would, therefore, disagree with my position on "gay and lesbian matters."

But a campaign to prevent her television show? After all, Dr. Laura mostly talks about personal responsibility and accepting the consequences of one's actions. Furthermore, nearly 50% of the American people call homosexuality immoral; and nearly that many believe a homosexual can change his or her sexual orientation.

Forgive me for not understanding the standard necessary to appear on television or movies.

Question Magnitude Of the Holocaust

For example, CBS executives recently learned that a character in "Big Brother," their real-life TV show, belonged to a hate group called The New Black Panthers. The group's founder, Khalid Muhammad, who questioned the magnitude of the Holocaust, once said, "I called them [Jews] bloodsuckers, I'm not going to change that. Our lessons talk about the bloodsuckers of the poor in the supreme wisdom of the Nation of Islam. It's that old no-good Jew, that old impostor Jew, that old hooked-nose, bagel-- eating, lox-eating, Johnny-come-lately perpetrating a fraud, just crawled out of the caves and hills of Europe, so-called damn Jew ... and I feel everything I'm saying up here is kosher."

When presumably red-faced executives found out about the hatemongerer in the house, they did not expel him. Viewers later voted William Collins out of the house, but apparently the revelation that Collins served as Muhammad's aide did not warrant an eviction notice. In fact, CBS said, "This series features a diversity of people, representing different voices and opinions. As long as they treat each other and our audience with respect, we will support each individual's rights to think and speak freely." The network said it opposed hate speech, but that Collins' political views were "no reason to terminate." Well, that's a relief. So, in other words, CBS welcomes David Duke so long as he lays off of the anti-race-mixing stuff.

Tim Allen, the star of the hit program "Home Improvement," was once convicted, shortly after he graduated from college, for selling cocaine. Not consuming, mind you, but selling. But this did not cost Allen his show, nor his movie or book deals. Actor Charlie Sheen will soon take over for Michael J. Fox, the star of "Spin City." But only a few years ago, Sheen got busted and convicted of assaulting a girlfriend. But Sheen now has a show. "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammar has been convicted for driving while drunk and a couple times for possession of cocaine. But this never cost Grammar his show.

Despite Guilty Plea Of Sexual Assault

Marv Albert regained his job as a basketball analyst despite his guilty plea of sexual assault. Comedian Richard Pryor set himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. He still made movies. By the way, isn't this the same country whose drug czar compensates newspapers and television shows for anti-drug messages? Just a thought.

Actors like Ed Asner, Susan Sarandon, and Paul Newman champion the cause of convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Abu-Jamal sits on death row convicted of murdering a cop. The evidence against Abu-- Jamal is clear-cut, according to a recent Time magazine article, and the writer expressed surprise at the supporters' ignorance of the overwhelming evidence of guilt.

We didn't condemn these celebrities to purgatory, and this is a good thing. So can't we cut Dr. Laura just a little slack? But then those other celebrities never used the expression "biological error." That would be crossing the line of decency Provided you could find it.

BY LARRY ELDER

Mr. Elder is a nationally syndicated columnist.

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Sep 1, 2000
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