During a discussion Tuesday night on MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams about Sen. Larry Craig's (R-ID) arrest for "lewd conduct" and eventual guilty plea, Tucker Carlson described to fellow MSNBC hosts Dan Abrams and Joe Scarborough his assault on a man who he said "bothered" him in a Washington, D.C., public restroom.
Carlson said, "Having sex in a public men's room is outrageous. It's also really common. I've been bothered in men's rooms." Carlson continued, "I've been bothered in Georgetown Park," in Washington, D.C., "when I was in high school." When Abrams asked how Carlson responded to being "bothered," as Abrams and Scarborough laughed, Carlson asserted, "I went back with someone I knew and grabbed the guy by the -- you know, and grabbed him, and ... hit him against the stall with his head, actually." The laughter continued.
Carlson's comments, coupled with laughter from Abrams and Scarborough, suggested to viewers that physical violence is an appropriate response to an unwelcome overture. This is dangerous and wrong.
MSNBC has yet to acknowledge Carlson's comments or address why Abrams and Scarborough laughed while Carlson recounted his actions. Instead, MSNBC has treated Carlson's comments as a laughing matter, re-airing the portion in which Carlson claimed to have been "bothered," but omitting the portion in which he seemed to boast of physical assault.
This past spring, during the controversy surrounding Don Imus' racist and sexist comments, Steve Capus, president of NBC News, acknowledged "that there have been any number of other comments that have been enormously hurtful to far too many people. And my feeling is that ... there should not be a place for that on MSNBC." He also stated: "This is about trust. It's about reputation. It's about doing what's right," later adding, "I hope we don't squander this remarkable opportunity that we have to continue this dialogue that has taken place, to continue the dialogue about what is appropriate conduct and speech, to continue the dialogue about what is happening in America. I think we have, as broadcasters, a responsibility to address those matters."
MSNBC, Dan Abrams, and Joe Scarborough should publicly address Carlson's comments. It's time for them to show they don't find humor in or condone the violence Carlson described.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the
comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the
comment you replied to
Why is anyone still taking Tucker Carlson seriously? He has the journalistic chops of a rutabaga.
Ditto Moral Momser Morning Joe, with an inexplicably dead intern in his Congressional office, and Dan-couldn't-hack-it-on-CourtTV-Abrams. C'mon already, they hired Starr Jones! What is MSNBC thinking? The hacks they're setting up as moral compasses have some pretty nasty stuff in their own closets. And a can of Lysol isn't going to get rid of the smell.
Gramma Rose
Tucker's a good host and a good news media personality.
He's also a schmuck. In that same interview he said he was, to paraphrase, the most non-anti-gay republican that there is.
Then he turns around and boasts about slamming some dude's head against the stall.
I disagree though that this is a big deal. Obviously comments like these should be scorned, but we might end up making a bigger deal out of them than they are. Same with Imus: stupidity deserves a deaf ear.
Years ago, as teenagers, it was not uncommon for myself and a few of my buddies to occasionally be "hit on" by gay men (usually older) while hitch-hiking or around the park. Our enlightend response was that it was "creepy" but no big deal short of an actual physical assault. ("Whoa, dude like what a fag hunh? Yuh!..like gross!)
One of our crew, however, would become enraged by the very idea and attack these guys on those occasions he was propositioned. I mean he'd really be pissed.
It was with some surprise that we learned some years later that our freind was openly gay and "married", as it were (to a man).
The lesson I took from that; and was reminded of listening to these three talking heads trying to out-macho each other is as follows:
We HATE most in others that which we FEAR most in ourselves.
It can also be expressed in Shakespearean English as:
"(C)ondoning physical violence" against gays for advances. I'm not surprised to hear this from Carlson. He knows this danger already exists everywhere-especially for TG people like myself.
I was threaten by a male in a restaraunt who'd set a trap to 'justify' his threats. I refused to move out of the Mens Room doorway where I was stopped. I loudly let him & anyone else (incl managment) know I wasn't intimidated. I asked him why feared feminine clothes!
On another ocassion it seem unlikely. A group of teens saw women's clothes through the cracks & stood there for five minutes discussing whether to "kill that mental illness in there". Since then I used the "Women's Room" discretely & quickly.
I never had a problem w/any woman & they Never showed fear. We should be legally allowed for safety alone. But then we're not afforded equal rights now. For the most part it's women treating us especially well. That's no surprise.
Many males are very ignorant re us. Yes, many of us Are heterosexual. This has Nothing to do w/sex. It's gender identity. Even those realizing this assume the 'sexual aspect' immediately. We're humans w/hopes, dreams & yes, values like anyone else. There's no reason for fear.
Yet TV/TG/TS people such as myself are 8 times more likely to be murdered. Going grocery shopping-much less using a restroom-takes great confidence & bravery. Why can't people accept the reality of great diversity in everything? Enough "good/evil" attitude!
P.S. Tucker, you wouldn't want to tangle w/me-even verbally. I've saved injury & perhaps lives of many strangers (largely women) when attacked by males, (incl stopping an infant's kidnapping) never using violence myself despite being punched & threatened.
A skirt wouldn't get in my way of defending or protecting.
Lauren H., Okemos, MI
Does anyone believe that Tucker Carlson is actually straight? This is the first time I have heard him claim to be heterosexual. I always assumed he was gay.
In a way it amazes how this sick cycle just keeps on going and going. MSNBC and the other neocon networks keep throwing out these stupid comments. And then of course they spin viewer digust with said comments to the max for ratings. From Abrams on down, it's the same crap. We can do and say anything we want. It's free speech. If you don't like it, turn it off.
On the flip side of this, the progressive media knows that they have to work thru the corporate media to be heard. Ed Schultz is the biggest "progressive" hypocrite of all. He says he's "progressive." But his Jones Radio company syndicates Stephanie Miller AND Neil Boortz. Is that playing both sides of the fence or what? He obviously thinks that we the average listeners are too stupid to actually catch stuff like this. In many ways the progressive media is just as f****d up as the corporate. And unless we all stop watching/listening to this crap, they'll never change. Because they'll use that audience apathy against you every time.
I think Tuckers' comments and the laughs are just becoming increasingly clear that MSNBC is nothing more than a middle-aged frat-party (run by straight males.)
The Gutter News Network which "enhances" our IQs daily with thier Natioanl Enquirer-like news of Brittny, Lindsy, and Paris....is not news-it's sensationalism.
I'm making a choice not to go dumpster-diving with them and instead will seek out credible news sources.While I'm sure award-winning shows like "To Catch a Predator" and "Lock-up"
and others will find some sort of audience...I prefer eating off plates.
Tucker's fairy tale (pun intended) was motivated by his puny ratings. This classless act will say anything, or do anything to try and prop up his low rated show.
Surely, that was his only motivation for making up this lame story.
Now that the root of Mr. Carlson's homophobia has been exposed, wether real or imagined mabey he can get some help to deal with it in a positive manner.
Tucker is so cute and cuddly, I can see why he would be a "target". He acts so tough when he's protected by the cameras. So many conservative men are outwardly gay haters and then privately cruising bathrooms for manlove. What exactly was Tucker doing in the rest room that day? I wonder how long it will be before Tucker is added to the same list as Larry Craig and all the other conservative "straight" men.
If some guy makes an unwanted sexual advance toward you either avoid or ignore him,tell him to F*CK OFF or go away.You don't round up your buddies and go beat him up or sexually abuse the guy(grabbing him by the you-know-wutz).
Tucker Carlson was raised to believe if a guy hits on you then you must be giving off signals.this is what frightened him.not the proposition but the fear he was asking for it.
Loading comments…
Posted August 31, 2007 | 03:31 PM (EST)