Tampa DJ: Let Haitians die

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, January 22, 2010 - 3:57 PM Share

I am in Tampa, where a local disc jockey, Bubba Clem, sent a Twitter saying "f---- Haiti," and also has called the tens of thousands of deaths there a "cleanse," according to the local paper.

It makes me want to throw up. Yes, of course, he has a right to say that. And we all have the right, perhaps the duty, to call his boss, Keith Lawless, at (727) 579-2024, or to e-mail him at:

keith.lawless@coxradio.com

This really bothers me. The station issued an apology, but I don't think that is sufficient. I actually think the appropriate action for the radio station would be to fly Mr. Clem to Haiti to see with his own eyes the tragedy there. That is what I suggested this morning in my note to Mr. Lawless.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Image

EXPLORE:LATIN AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA, DISASTERS, MEDIA

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HUNTER

5:38 PM ET

January 22, 2010

Sad

We wonder why we are reviled around the world. America is doing great work in haiti right now, saving lives and keeping the place afloat - or as afloat as can be expected.

But it only takes one asshole like this, and it will be published worldwide. I often told my guys that their actions would have strategic effects. I even told them you are at risk and I want you to risk even more because if you don't measure twice and cut once and decide to pull the trigger (when you didn't have to a) first you'll have to live with the consequences b) you might screw things up so bad that you'll buy us another year or two in Iraq. (Note: this goes to the oops we shot the sheik's daughter possiblity.

First Do No Harm, Be Good to Other People. This asshole on the radio needs to recognize that these sad Haitians are humans, they are people. The question now is "is Bubba Clem human? There is no question in my mind that he lost a bit of humanity, never to be regained, with this stunt.

JSINAIKO

7:59 PM ET

January 22, 2010

Depressing...

And not surprising.

There is an element in the country - always has been here - that thinks this sort of thing is just fine.

If I was religious I would pray for him. Seeing as I'm not all I can do is shake my head and remind myself that the first amendment is a great thing.

As an aside, I heard a caller (on a sports-talk show no less) last night point out that Haiti has never helped the USA when it suffers NATURAL disasters like Katrina and 9/11!

WALKING WOUNDED

11:31 PM ET

January 22, 2010

Wonderful picture

I'd love to see a link or description. Is it current?

FEMALEALIENINVADER

12:55 PM ET

January 23, 2010

Bubba is a Love Sponge

Oh yes, shock-jocks just HATE it when people call their boss. Attention like this only encourages him. At least you didn't have to actually listen to his show.

TOM RICKS

9:41 PM ET

January 23, 2010

Well, you could boycott his advertisers

That certainly will get the station's attention. Or just ask his advertisers if they want to be associated with a guy who thinks Haitians should die.

WALKING WOUNDED

7:27 PM ET

January 23, 2010

Taking care of the children of all ages

is the surest way to reduce the need for more to make up the ranks. The Barro-Becker Model seems to oversimply the linkage to correlating infant mortality vs fertility rates.

The linkage is really about the long-term care of the survivors vs the next generations vertility rate. And caring is something we need to do, for the sake of our own souls.

GET REAL

10:14 PM ET

January 23, 2010

Bubba is NOT the problem, YOU are

This is sensationalism at it's finest. First, all of you "critics" probably have never heard of Bubba The Love Sponge. Your first opinion of him is from hearsay. HE NEVER SAID "LET HAITIANS DIE!" NEVER!!! Second, nice stock footage photo of African-Americans sitting in a bus. Those children don't look to be suffering. They look pretty healthy to me. Chances are that is a stock picture of a family from Chicago. I hope Bubba The Love Sponge sues this rag for slander.

If anyone is interested in learning the true, Bubba's radio affiliate in South Florida, 93 ROCK has posted the truth via audio AND video on their website, 93rock.com. It's uncut and uncensored. I recommend you check it out.

Howard Stern, Tucker Carlson and others voiced their opinions on this situation and it's all up at 93rock.com

People...if you want to make a difference in this world, start with yourself instead of feeding into the lynch mob who's only agenda is to protect the freedom of speech...only it agrees with their personal agenda.

Stick with the facts, NOT the fabracations. The news media has turned into garbage and it's sad.

JSINAIKO

5:03 PM ET

January 24, 2010

From the tag around the kid's

From the tag around the kid's neck it is pretty clear that in fact this is a photo of Haitian refugee kids.

Instead of subjecting us to Bubba,why don't you tell us the truth seeing as you seem to be on intimate terms with it.

I would tend to believe Tom and not you in this instance - prove me wrong.

CHARLIEFORD

5:47 PM ET

January 24, 2010

So if he didn't say anything offensive, what's ...

... he apologizing for?

SAINTSIMON

12:46 PM ET

January 25, 2010

seems to me you're really off

seems to me you're really off base here Ricks. The real objects of Bubba's 'insensitive' derision are clearly heart on sleeve uber liberal celebrities who just seem to glory in [for reasons which I'm pretty sure are not entirely pure] these public displays of pity and Obama who is seen as being too close to these professional weepers and whose agenda is seen as compromised by those sympathies.

Nothing wrong with that. Inappropriate? Possibly. Ineptly or coarsely expressed? Yeah, seems like it. But we don't have thought police yet with the absolute authority to dictate what we should feel and how it should be expressed - I know some of you uber liberals long for the day when we will all be required to join hands with George Clooney and weep for the orphans, but we're not there yet.