Jay Severin's Insanely Racist Rant

I am not quick to call something racist. In fact, I wrote an editorial pleading with everyone not to call the NY Post chimp cartoon racist. I went on MSNBC and defended that position. I'm afraid calling someone racist often times shuts off dialogue and should be reserved for only the clearest and worst cases. I also defended Don Imus and insisted he should not be fired for his comments.

So, I have some credibility here when I say conservative talk show host Jay Severin should absolutely be fired for his racist comments against Mexicans on the radio. I hesitate in writing about this because Severin is a pathetic nobody who might be looking for national attention by making these kinds of incredibly ignorant comments. But, on the other hand, there have to be consequences for this kind of deeply hateful speech. And if people don't argue forcefully enough against it, there won't be enough pressure on the station to get rid of this hateful racist.

So, what did he say that's got me so worked up? Check it out, and you be the judge:

As you heard in the video above, Severin has been suspended by WTKK-FM in Boston. But that is not nearly enough. If you don't get fired for this, what do you get fired for?

Here are just some of his prize quotes from the show:

"So now, in addition to venereal disease and the other leading exports of Mexico - women with mustaches and VD - now we have swine flu."

He described Mexicans as "the world's lowest of primitives."

"When we are the magnet for primitives around the world - and it's not the primitives' fault by the way, I'm not blaming them for being primitives - I'm merely observing they're primitive."

"It's millions of leeches from a primitive country come here to leech off you and, with it, they are ruining the schools, the hospitals, and a lot of life in America."

"We should be, if anything, surprised that Mexico has not visited upon us poxes of more various and serious types already, considering the number of criminaliens already here."

He also said that emergency rooms had "become essentially condos for Mexicans."

And on a 2004 broadcast, he compared Muslims to a fifth column in this country and said in response to a caller who thought people should reach out to Muslims: "You think we should befriend them; I think we should kill them."

But unfortunately calling for the murder of Muslim-Americans has become so commonplace and acceptable these days that he didn't even come close to getting fired for those comments. So, I guess he figured he had free reign to attack the other half of M&Ms.

Or maybe he's just desperate because his ratings have dropped to 14th in the market in the demos. By the way, if you weren't outraged enough already. You want to know how much he makes for spewing this kind of hate and being the fourteenth best radio show in his timeslot? One million dollars, plus bonuses!

I believe a person has to do a lot to cross the line into a firing offense. Talk show hosts have an interesting but tough job. You usually have to talk for three hours a day, often unscripted. You have to entertain your audience and push the boundaries to spark interesting conversations. That is part of the reason why I give talk hosts huge leeway and why I defended Imus. But there has to be a line somewhere. And this is clearly it. Jay Severin should be fired immediately.

Young Turks on You Tube

UPDATE: Here's how you can contact the station in Boston who hired Severin (even though he lied about winning a Pulitzer Prize and having a Master's Degree in Journalism from Boston University; and he had already said the comments on killing Muslims in 2004). Write them an e-mail or call them here. Remember, they have suspended him for now, which means they are trying to decide whether they should fire him or keep him. What do you think they should do? Let them know.

Comments

[GregGrospen]

I do not understand how one can call Jay racist if he did not say a single untrue thing.

[Mary Gray Whitcomb]

Jay should NOT be fired. Good grief! Get a grip! Just because something is said doesn't make it so. Not only should he not be fired he has NOTHING to apologize for. If you do not like it do not listen!

[numbr1wmn]

ABSOLUTLY!!!!!

[numbr1wmn]

Let me say that Jay SHOULD NOT be fired. He is one amazing talk show host that is NOT conservative by any means. He didn't even vote for McCain. And he didn't like GWB at all. Now, as for the word Crimalians. People that come into this country Illegally are Crimaliens. So what is racist about that? Absolutly nothing. This country so badly wants to cry Rasism at the drop of a hat. Please, this is a free country, if you do not like what he has to say, you can certainly shut the radio off.

[Emma Knight]

Mexico is a large country. It has produced some brilliant philosophers, writers, artists and scientists over the years. It's history is rich diverse. It's people come from all different walks of life. To claim that Mexican' s are the world's lowest of primitives is both ignorant and racist. America is a free country and I too have every right to call a racist a racist. Jay Severin is a racist. If you don't like it, get educated and free yourself of your ignorance or continue to close your ears and pretend that there is no racism and pray that in a few years when your group is the minority, that the majority is more compassionate and educated than you are.

[numbr1wmn]

Your right, but if you knew Jay then you would not that those are not the people he is referring too. It's just that is what you all choose to think is true.

[Emma Knight]

I agree that the word racist needs some refining. Maybe several words to describe racism would be more appropriate. Racism does have varying levels and degrees that need further defining. I applaud you for calling Jay Severin a racist. But I am totally fed up with not being able to use the word with the frequency that I see or hear some form of racism. You are in the fortunate position of not having to experience racism and the effects it has on your person and family. Racism is a legacy not experienced by the majority of the population. But trust me if it really effected you, if it was really apart of your life experience, if you were really born in it's shadow, you would want to scream racist from the roof tops every single day until it disappeared. Just because it does not often happen to you does not mean it is not there.

[rdy4change]

Where is his family from? His real name is Severino.

[darker]

Jay Severin is yet ANOTHER TRICKSTER, SENSATIONALIST AND LIAR.
Tricksters manipulate and get MEDIA ATTENTION.

Media is RESPONSIBLE FOR GARBAGE that it dumps on the public
without being held accountable.

It's past time that MEDIA be SUED & FINED for its
manipulative PROFITEERING while delivering TRASH TO THE PUBLIC.

[lady49]

Hello!

[trunk65]

Fox tactics are horrible, these local and regional wanabees are even worse. This is the climate these stations want to do their business in? Soon, if not already, any semblance of civility will disappear in this country. Come on, conservatives, call these guys out, and regain a shred of your dignity.

[HGMercury]

He may be worse than Michael Savage!

[Greg285]

Why do people who claim to be ‘Christians’ spew so much hatred? Christ was about love and helping the poor and downtrodden. When did it become acceptable to let people say any outrageously hate filled thing on TV and on the radio? These people are NOT Christians and as a Christian, I find it appalling and they give Christians a bad name. These are nothing but ‘False’ prophets and Jesus predicted that these type of people who come forward and claim to be of GOD…What happened to America? When did this Country become a safe haven for this type of hatred?

[communitarian]

We have fallen for the 1620 myth of the founding of the United States and that this should be a White, Chrisian continent.. The Spanish were on this continent more than a century before the Pilgrims. We are on THEIR continent, they are not on ours. Don't you just love the American Way, where we kill the natives, then import slaves from Africa? Trying to exclude the other Americans from our border is like throwing people out of their homes, moving in, then locking them out. Sounds a lot like Nazi Germany to me.

[thinkreasondecide]

I'm almost mad at myself for reacting to this video because I know that giving these people attention is equivalent to giving them power. This is particularly ugly, though. What is sad is that the people who he attacks have little to no political power because they are not represented and are invisible in the arenas of power. Interestingly, my poor immigrant parents from Mexico have much more grace and culture than this man will ever possess. Frankly, I don't appreciate the utilization of poor, decent, hard working people as a means to make a buck and spread hatred for political gain. The great thing is that they are sinking their own ship. If all the Conservative movement has left are Tea baggers and bashers of people who cannot defend themselves, then the end is near. Jejejejeje (that is me laughing in that "primitive" language that only 330 million people speak).

[califcrimdefense]

He is the leech.. A leech exporting the diseases of hatred, intolerance, and uneducated drivel.

[James Redmond]

Man this guy isn't worth anybody's time, but he sure as hell shouldn't be on the radio. This is hate speech.

[dauoo]

I wouldn't call the guy a loser. Cenk posted a new entry about this guy on The Young Turks. It turns out this racist makes over $1 million a year. And, he's rated 14th in his time slot, in his market! He's the 14th best in his time slot in Boston and he makes over a million!?! Where is the outrage? Things like this is why our country needs major change.

[larmarch5]

Jay Severin (James Severino) is just a Rushito on the radio that nobody outside Boston has probably heard of. But in person he is so totally a loser. His reputation among waitstaff in the Boston area is notorious. He is rude, a sexual harasser, and then doesn't tip. He should be banned from bars and restaurants.

[Trueheart]

Oh, do tell! Give us some details on El Severino On The Town. What does it take to get that kind of reputation in Boston bars/restaurants?