Thug Radio Host Urges Beating and Shooting RNC Protesters

[Avidor]

Run time: 01:39 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=606X0O_52NA   Posted on YouTube: April 07, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 07, 2008 By DU Member: Avidor Views on DU: 3784

 
From the http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=90C4435C5FE063BDD37418F79CED2FDD?diaryId=3632"> Minnesota Monitor:

The Twin Cities' newest conservative talk show host has an idea for managing the thousands of protesters coming to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in September: machine guns.

Chris Baker, formerly a talk radio host in Houston, took over the morning spot on KTLK in early March. On Friday, he took issue with the debate among Minneapolis law enforcement personnel as to whether police should limit the use of Tasers and pepper spray on protesters in Minneapolis (link to audio file). Baker's suggestion is violent suppression of what he calls "stinky protesters" that are part of "an industry funded by billionaires and communist organizations (and) they are well-coordinated and incredibly dangerous."

Baker continued: "So we've been talking about police protection during the upcoming convention when all those stinky protesters are coming. There seems to be a big debate over whether or not police officers will be able to wear helmets, carry shields, use pepper spray and Tasers on this crowd. You know, I'll tell you what works on a crowd like this -- a machine gun, that always works very well."

Baker's co-host, "Jordan," agreed: "Mow 'em down, baby!" he added.

"You must have order, you cannot have a civilized society without order and if that means cracking a few skulls, so be it," said Baker. "A good ole boy network is what you need and hand out some ax handles."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. And Randi got bitch slapped for her indiscretion. What'll happen to THESE guys?

[rurallib]

4. Mothing - they didn't denounce Hillary.

[Sinistrous]

11. Oh. My. God.

:eyes:

Hang in there. I've called the waaaaambulance for you.

[madamesilverspurs]

28. And in my neck of the woods,

which happens to be northeast Colorado, there is sadly no shortage of those who would gladly do this guy's bidding. When they post comments to their newspaper's online articles, their remarks are full of references to "libs, commies, pinkos". One recent comment insisted that anyone who votes for any Democrat "should be taken out and shot." I leave it to you to guess how many readers posted comments opposing those of the shooter.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Is there an address

to write and complain?

[Avidor]

5. KTLK Contact Page

http://www.ktlkfm.com/pages/contact.html

[DangerDave921]

6. Wow

Has anyone ever heard of satire? Or jokes? Or do you really think - seriously - that the guy is advocating mowing down protesters with a machine gun?

Do we really want to go ape-shit when stupid hosts make stupid comments? Because in reality, it just makes the other side more quick to jump on any stupid comment a Dem makes.

I say we ALL have to be less freaking sensitive on comments made by talk show hosts. They are going for shock, for ratings, and for fame. And you're giving it to them just like they want.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. Your position...

Assumes that there is not a lot of people out there who have cognitive deficiencies and the ability to seperate satire from a call to action. Bad assumption.

I guess I am getting old. I remember those days when a radio host would have been thrown out the door, within minutes of making a remark like that. Those were better days.

[MindPilot]

12. It may be hyperbole, it may be satire, buuuut...

Some whackjob out there in listenerland may just take the guy seriously.

Unlike what Randi said, this was on-the-air.

[Avidor]

13. It's NOT satire.....

From the same Minnesota Monitor article:

Peace advocate and former FBI agent Coleen Rowley heard the violent rhetoric on Friday. "It doesn't take an expert on the First Amendment to recognize that suggesting the 'good ol' boy network' hand out ax handles and machine guns be used to mow a crowd down comes close to inciting violence," she wrote at the Huffington Post. "This inflammatory rhetoric looks no different than the reason we are not allowed to falsely yell 'fire' in a crowded theater."

She continued: "I can also speak from personal experience -- having worked almost 24 years as an FBI agent -- that such remarks would almost certainly elicit investigative concern if the tables were turned and such speech came out of the mouth of someone critical of the government."

[fascisthunter]

15. I Think Your Trying to SPin This Says Much about Your Intentions Here

good bye.

[johncoby2]

58. No. This is typical Chris Baker

He did this stuff in houston. He got fined, suspended, then finally let go.

he is an ass.

[Mojorabbit]

16. I so disagree

I expect there to be big problems during the convention as it is. This kind of talk only exacerbates the problem and there are too many people out there who will take it to heart. It is not ok to advocate this type of behaviour in my opinion. And I will speak out against it.

[DangerDave921]

26. Clarify

Do you really think the host was advocating such behavior? Do you really believe his intention was to get listeners out with machine guns to massacre protesters? The reason I am not outraged over this is because I don't believe the guy TRULY meant to massacre people.

As to your comment that there are too many people out there who will take it to heart, report back here in a few months on how many folks actually showed up with machine guns and axes.

Apparently some on here don't really like free speech. Free speech is sometimes ugly and vile. Deal with it. As for the ban on inciting violence, there has to be evidence that the speaker was truly trying to incite violence. Statements made by "entertainers" as satire or comedy don't fit the bill.

Look, the guy's comments were stupid and juvenile. Oh the horror! A juvenile comment made by a shock jock! Call the FBI.

[AlbertCat]

39. I'll clarify it for you...

.... since you seem to be clueless.

Do you really think the host was advocating such behavior? Do you really believe his intention was to get listeners out with machine guns to massacre protesters?

What he is advocating is hating Liberals. His intentions are to keep your hate of those who disagree with you alive and well.


Got it?

[DangerDave921]

42. Yes I do get it

And I believe the guy should be allowed to say it. Without a bunch of people calling for his firing.

It's called FREE SPEECH.

Does no one here believe in constitutional principles? Do we really want suppression of entertainers every time they say something we disagree with?

[Wednesdays]

49. I'm with fascisthunter on this one

You're just as bad as the rightwing radio nutjob.
Sayonara.

[DangerDave921]

50. Wrong

Whatever happened to that old quote that gets tossed around here once in a while? Something about not agreeing with what you say, but defending to the death your right to say it.

Again, there are principles that rise above petty bickering between parties, and debates over who can be the most outraged over verbal slights.

I want more free speech, not less.

[liberal1973]

54. The problem with this repub idiot

is his listeners.

[Popol Vuh]

55. Ever Heard of Hate Speech?

n/t

[DangerDave921]

56. Yes

But I don't agree with the term "hate speech" because there is no way to define it with any precision. It's all in the eye of the beholder. I've seen some pretty hateful things posted on DU, and I like having the freedom to write such things and read such things. That's what freedom is. It not only gives you freedom, it gives the other guy freedom too.

And I don't believe the guy really meant he wanted protesters killed. It's hyperbole, satire, attempted comedy -- whatever you want to call it.

[kenfrequed]

32. Right...

So, it is be kind and tolerant to right wing nut job AM radio show host week?

Say, outside of the immorality of letting them lie and threaten and bully, AND the advantage of looking weak, meek, and impotent, how has this tactic of ignoring the right wing domination of the AM radion worked for us the past two decades?

Seriously while I commend your strange zen-like stance of not acknowledging stupidity I really don't see it as a laudible strategy. Me, if I wanted to crush them, would pounce at such things for what they are... opportunities. Opportunities to point out how bigoted, intolerant, idiotic, violent, bloody, and police-state-minded, the opposition is.

Besides, morally speaking, it is sort of a good idea to call these people on this violence-creep thing to prevent them from blurring the line of "acceptable levels of police brutality." After all, failure to do so invites someone to say: "well.. those dirty, filty, lice ridden protestors are just lucky the police ONLY beat, electrocuted, and shot them with rubber bullets"

[DangerDave921]

33. Go Ahead and Fight

If that's what you want to do, go for it.

There are some principles which stand above party and the notion of winning or beating your opponent. And the one I most cherish is free speech. So yeah, I'll give a pass to a dumb-ass shock jock who is clearly making a joke, albeit a juvenile and crass one.

But if you want daily monitoring of all talk shows, and feigned outrage over any perceived slight by the other side, then by all means report this guy to the FCC and the FBI and whoever else you can think of.

[kenfrequed]

34. Bah

Spare me the straw man BS.

I am not calling for censorship, nor abrogation of his (and the corporation he represents) right to spewing hateful rhetoric out of their collective posteriors. What I am saying is that we have to stand up and call them out for what they say and do.

We have to stand up and say, "yeah, you know what, you sure have a right to say that, but you are a disgusting SOB for choosing to do so." We have to call fascism and suggestions of police state tactics precisely what they are. To do less invites more.

[jhrobbins]

36. This is what Bill Maher has called 'faux outrage' that is proliferating

in our discourses today - everywhere and by everyone.

[DangerDave921]

41. Yup

And if the same words were uttered by RudePundit or a similar person about RW'ers, all these same DU'ers would be laughing.

[rurallib]

3. "communist"? Wow - an oldie but a goodie makes a comeback.

We seem to have a huge oversupply of RW bullshit talkers. Can we somehow do something use with them like export them to RW bullshit poor places like Iraq or Saudi Arabia? Or maybe turn them into fuel by housing them in a confinement operation and burning the 'gas' for heat.

[Minnesota Raindog]

7. If this were a protester making these violent threats the FBI would be investigating

So where is the FBI now?

Kind of reminds me of Lester Maddox, who used to keep an ax handle behind the counter to keep blacks out of his Georgia restaurant:

http://tinyurl.com/3jklyx

Maybe Chris Baker could sell authographed ax handles like Maddox did to help raise money for his bands of GOP convention vigilantes:

[MindPilot]

8. Another old white boy still angry because he never made it

with the hot hippie chick in 9th grade.

[Binka]

22. And STILL Can't Get Any

These posing Nazi wannabes are so boring. He should lose his stupid show!

What a PUTZ!

[AmandaRuth]

10. well we all know what "good ole boy network"

is hate radio code speak for.

[fascisthunter]

14. "Looting and Destroying Property"... BS!

Calling for violence against people should get this guy fired. But I'm sure as most right wing radio, he'll just get a public "slap on the hand".

We all know the radio industry is owned by the right wing.

[zbdent]

17. comedy can hurt ...

:eyes:

What people will call "comedy" ... all in the line of "good old boy entertainment" ...

How much do you want to bet that the radio guy will say "Hey, I was just kidding! I was trying to be funny!"?

[Zachstar]

24. comedy is never supposed to hurt. It is designed to lift stress and bring laughs.

This is not comedy except maybe for some radical neocons.

For anyone that is halfway civilized these talk show comments are offensive as hell. The founding of our nation was filled with incidents where protesters where mowed down by musket fire.

And this talk show guy is an idiot as well because few police overall bring machine weapons to a heated protest.. Reason? Because if a nutjob gets that gun there will be hell to pay. And police have been knocked down and stripped before at violent protests.

The mowing down they do these days is rubber pellets and tear gas. So even the violent measures the police use today are nowhere near the hostility this idiot talk show host is talking about.

So it is.

Offensive to the person who cares about the .gov

Offensive to the police who actually have to deal with this protest stuff while talk show hosts sit inside or in their comfy seats at home.

Offensive to republicans who are trying to regain seats they have lost.

Offensive to moderate republicans such as Ron Paul.

etc.. etc...

This talk show guy needs no chance to apologize he needs to be FIRED!!! And then investigated by the FBI.

[Sinistrous]

18. Do the words "Clear Channel" help explain anything? n/t

[Zachstar]

19. He talks murder and Rhandi gets suspended because of namecalling?

WTF is with this industry?

[Froward69]

20. oh geese

Sig Heil!!! :sarcasm: what a fucking fascist nazi!

[EnviroBat]

21. Oh goody. Another "tough talkin" fascist behind a microphone.

Yeah, we hear ya tough guy. Perhaps I'll see you out in public someplace. I'll be the one swinging an axe handle at your bald-ass tard orb. Chris Baker is a little punk.

[Pappy]

23. You do realize that he is doing this purely for shock value

I think this guy is pulling a Micheal Savage and is doing this purely for publicity reasons and us talking about it has done exactly what he wants.

[Zachstar]

25. Savage has never called for american citizens to be mowed down.

Called for massive arrests? Yes in my view
Called for censorship of the press? Yes in my view

Yet never have I heard him say that a machine gun needs to be taken to American protesters.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

46. Radio is about one-upsmanship.

Especially for the B and C-Listers. So when Weiner makes with his drivel, the little guys feel they have to do him one better.

Thus, the slippery slope.

[raouldukelives]

27. Couple hunderd years ago..

He would have called for mowing down the Boston tea party members.

[DangerDave921]

29. Got much ego?

So protesters at RNC are the equivalent of the boston tea party members? LOL.

[annm4peace]

30. this show is on our public airwaves !

Our public airwaves should not be used to advocate violence.

Baker might be "joking".. but it doens't meant the listener's will interpret it as humor.

When Fresno, CA local KMJ host, consistantly joked about violence against weekly protesting "Peace Fresno" they were shot at with Paint guns, which did not injure anyone, but did damage their cars. At the time PF had a lawsuit against the Sheriff's dept, to get info on them that was gathered by a deputy that had infiltrated the group for 6 months. So law enforcement did not investigate the paint gun shooting.

* in MN, the majority of the "protesters" are over the age of 60, and do so because they have grandchildren, and are active in their socially responsible churches, or other religious center. And in MN, the majority of the groups are strongly advocates of "non-violence" and are extremely respectful of law enforcement. Many of the men are Veterans and are protesting cause they know what war does

[DangerDave921]

31. Dichotomy

You have to be consistent.

I agree that public airwaves should not be used to advocate violence. I could not agree more. In your next paragraph, though, you say the guy may be joking. Well if he's joking, he's not advocating violence. What a listener does in reaction to a joke does not make the joke an incite to violence.

[annm4peace]

35. contact the station and the advertisers !

Wouldn’t it be great if, at the very least, Baker could be persuaded to apologize and/or clarify his remarks.
So please consider telling people to call KTLK (office tel. no. 952 471-3000 or KTLK General Sales Manager Todd Kalman (952 417-3028) and/or KTLK’s advertisers.
So far we’ve identified the following advertisers.

Pro built Windows (the sponsor of Baker’s particular segment). (Mary, tel. no. 651-770-5570 is the owner.)

A-1 American Garage Door (tel. no. 612 789-0005 or suburbs 952 285-7112)

Institute for Low Back and Neck Care, Bloomington (952 814-6600)

Leaf Guard (800-LEAFGUARD)

You First Mortgage (United First Financial), Lakeville (Peter Meulepas, 952 461-1204)

Sandvold and Associates Insurance and Financial Services Group (952 544-2837)

[KingOfLostSouls]

37. V For Vendetta

also showed the proper way to deal with loud hateful talk show hosts....

[Have Not Productions]

53. "The greatest victory was the fear"

And just like in the movie you can see what his over all objective was with such ignorant comments. To put fear in the protesters minds as well as fear in minds of the people at the convention of the protesters. ...and personally I wish a V would visit mike savage's house.

[AlbertCat]

38. Protesters!

Yikes!

Overturning cars! Setting buildings ablaze! All those Peaceniks do that, y'know.

I'm sure if we had had some menacing-looking police in FL in 2000, they coulda bludgeoned those flown in "protesters" who were disrupting the ballot re-count. Gotta keep a check on protesters, y'know. don't want any of 'em anywhere.

[trthnd4jstc]

40. Thanks for putting this up Avidor.

Chris Baker is a thug. We have a right to seek redress of grievances. Noone has a right to destroy property. But, machine guns to provide protection. Usually, it never need come to that. Most protesters are not out for a battle. Hopefully, those that go to St. Paul to protest will be treated as fellow citizens.

[MindPilot]

43. Funny thing about this "free speech".

Dude can broadcast hate, bigotry and violence all he wants, and he may suffer some repercussions from advertisers or maybe even from his employer, but he hasn't broken any laws.

However if he were to say "You must have sex, you cannot have a civilized society without sex and if that means licking a few pussies, so be it," said Baker. "A good ole fuck network is what you need and hand out some porn." there would be fines, license suspensions, and a for-certain firing.

It's the age-old dilemma "you can prick your finger, but don't finger your prick"! (Credit to G. Carlin for that line)

[HUMANUS_GENUS]

44. typical

He sounds like the typical neocon kook, who advocates and relishes the murder of innocents.

[annm4peace]

45. Any updates on this story

Has any local newspaper picked up this story or 950am or Kfai ? or MN public radio ?
Seems like it is news when you threaten people on the air.

[Avidor]

47. The local papers might cover it, but....

... this really is a national story since it's about the RNC.

The local media usually sweeps disturbing stuff like this under the rug and pretends it's Lake Wobegone.

[Avidor]

48. Coleen Rowley:"Here's proof that we need to re-defeat fascism."

http://the-vigil.blogspot.com/2008/04/new.html

Speaking for the coalition to march on the RNC, we who oppose the Iraq War are NOT fools, traitors, enemies or even stinky protesters. If all the pro-war radio talk show hosts want to keep denouncing us that way, that's fine. But please note: your mentor, Hermann Goering, advised to "just denounce the pacifists"--he didn't say you had to machine gun them down.

[annm4peace]

51. call the advertisers listed above

their hate is so uncalled for, how can people support this type of talk. I wonder how much it cost to underwrite Baker's show?

[Autobot77]

52. This guy is a major douche

Heres a video a year ago where he got pwned by Bernie Ward. He couldn't debate, so he basically made some lame fat jokes, then walked off the set.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=O0LXv6IZi8I

[Avidor]

57. Listen to Chris Baker Go Ape on Republican Rep. Ron Erhardt...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCIFsuLLkvs

... apparently Chris Baker's got a history of inciting vigilante violence:

http://michilines.wordpress.com/2007/08/18/more-on-immigration-2/

This link is to a list of Baker’s podcasts. Scroll down to the 6-19 podacast labeled “Chris Baker talks suicide bombers and border security with RUSS KANAKI (sic) from the Dept. of Homeland Security.” At about mark 5:20, Baker says, after earlier claiming that thousands of people have contacted him about volunteering to man the border:

“If you’ve got guys who are willing to go down there and willing to stand a post, why can’t we arm them and let them kill some of those guys? I know that’s a very bold question, but why not? Screw these guys, ok? They’re varmints. They’re criminals. They’re murderers. They . . . the way that they treat these criminal aliens as they smuggle them is inhumane. So why can’t we just kill them?”