What Jay Severin thinks about the poor
Note: Please post any new comments to the new SeverinWatch blog: http://severinwatch.com/2008/02/25/what-jay-severin-thinks-about-the-poor/.
Jay Severin is Boston’s local version of Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Laura Ingraham, etc. How anyone takes him seriously, I don’t know. One of my guilty pleasures is listening to his show and, when I’m able to get through, berating him on the air. Here is a transcript of my call with him from February 25, 2008 at about 5:45 pm. The conversation lasted 5 minutes, 45 seconds. That’s a LONG time in talk radio.
David: Hey, Jay!
Jay: Hey, David.
David: I’m doing a little blogging, and I wanted to get you on the record about what you said previously about the poor. And I know you don’t like to be misquoted, so maybe you’d want to just repeat that about, exactly what you said about their hygienic habits.
Jay: Well, I don’t recall exactly. Would you like to ask me a question? I’ll be perfectly candid with you.
David: Well, what I thought you said was "I don’t have anything against the poor, except for the fact that they don’t bathe very often and don’t smell very good." Is that accurate?
Jay: I did say — The best of my recollection is I said that or words to that effect.
David: And you believe that?
Jay: Well, obviously there was some dark humor involved in what I had to say, but I — You’re asking me whether I said it, and so –
David: Well, because –
Jay: (inaudible) … words to that effect.
David: You’ve previously said something to the effect of "you don’t say anything on the air unless you honestly believe it."
Jay: OK, well, all right. If you wish a debate here, if you wish a parsing of words I’m certainly not reluctant to administer one. You know, the — Now again, this is not necessarily in relation to what we’re talking about, but if you’re asking me to speak to this, a smarter man than myself would just, you know, not pick this fight, but I’m here and what I say is fair game, therefore what I’m saying is that poor people, socio-economically speaking, poor people have different habits of every kind than do the affluent. That’s to say, by the way, people of different classes have different habits in every realm of their lives than people in other classes. And the fact is that if you were to say that there are some people who have better or not so good practices of personal hygiene, clearly the more affluent one happens to be, the better one’s practices of hygiene happen to be, by and large, and the poor tend, for one reason or another, not to have either access to or inclination toward hygiene the same as the middle, upper-middle, or upper classes. It seems to me that’s a straightforward socio-economic or sociological observation.
David: OK, but that’s not what you said. You didn’t say that wealthier people tend to bathe more often –
Jay: No, I didn’t say that. You’re saying that.
David: Right, you said, I think — and again, I don’t want to misquote you, this is why I’m on the phone — you, essentially you said that poor people smell bad.
Jay: I said, I said something like, very much like, in fact maybe even verbatim, I said something like "poor people are boring, and often smell."
David: OK, so they’re often smelly but they’re always boring.
Jay: I didn’t say always.
David: You just said that. Poor people are boring and they often small bad. So –
Jay: I don’t contest that.
David: OK, so can you define "poor" for me then? Because I just want to let these folks, you know, know who they are that you think are boring.
Jay: You know, I enjoy a good joust, but I’m not a fool. No, I think you can probably go on from here and identify the poor.
David: Well, I don’t know, I mean … anyone who makes less than you?
Jay: I think I’ll let you define the poor. The Democrats, of which you are clearly one, you define pretty well who the rich are, like anyone with a family income of $75,000 or more? So I’ll let you do what you’re so good at, because by the way, the Democrats practice every day the religion of class warfare –
David: Now now, now wait a minute –
Jay: I’ll let you define the poor.
David: No, no. You’re all about "words have meaning." You know, you’re very precise in terms of language.
Jay: Indeed I am.
David: And so if you’re going to use a word like poor, I assume you know what it means. It’s a relative term, so what does it mean to you?
Jay: "The poor" is not a relative term. The poor are the poor.
David: What do you mean it’s not a relative term?
Jay: I mean it’s not — I mean "the poor" is not open to interpretation. The poor are the poor.
David: Are you talking about the definition of the poverty line?
Jay: Look, my opinion of the poor is not different than your opinion. There’s a certain fact quotient here. The fact quotient is that either one is poor or one is not. One may disagree on the standards, but the fact is somewhere, somehow, there’s a definition of what it means to be rich, much as there’s a definition to be what it is to be poor.
David: Well, I would suggest then that you –
Jay: What are you after? What do you want me to tell you?
David: Basically, I want you to admit that you said something stupid for once. Why can’t you just do that? Why is it so hard for you to be confronted with something stupid that you said and say "you know, gee, that was a dumb thing to say. I take it back."
Jay: I don’t take it back. I was clearly — I was clearly trying to have fun with everyone when I said words to the effect that poor people are boring and they don’t bathe a lot. Now, if you can’t be — Is that something you might maybe hear on Saturday Night Live or someplace else?
David: You don’t hold yourself out as a comedian, Jay. You hold yourself out as one who offers social commentary and wisdom.
Jay: I’m asking you, is it reasonable that you might hear someone say that — Is it reasonable that you might hear, say, Eddie Murphy, or Chris Rock say that in the course of their performances?
David: It’s totally irrelevant whether they would say it or not. I’m not going to answer that question –
Jay: Totally irrelevant quickly is –
[At this point Jay hung up on me. I was unable to get to a radio in time to hear the final comments he made before going to commercial or the next caller.]
This is classic Severin:
- He ridicules callers who disagree with him if they don’t know the dictionary definition of words like racist, bigot, and discriminate. He lights into people when they things like "what I mean by sexist is…" But he refuses to define a word that he brought into the conversation, and even refuses to admit that "poor" is a relative term. Is someone with a $25,000 salary and $2,000 in the bank poor? In some places yes, in some places no. Jay, if I ever hear you roll out that "words have meaning" line again, I’m going to call you a hypocrite. And I’ll be right.
- When trapped, he tries to counter his opponent by changing the subject and demanding yes or no answers to irrelevant questions. The Saturday Night Live thing was typical. Fortunately, I didn’t take the bait.
- He will note that politicians’ true sentiments are conveyed in off-hand remarks, and he may have a point there. But in this case he tried to simultaneously stand by and distance himself from his own outrageous, off-hand remarks. You can’t have it both ways, Jay.
- He seems to pride himself on his debating skills, yet he makes fundamental errors that most of his listeners either can’t or won’t point out. He scoffs at the (conveniently unnamed) Democrats who define "rich" as anyone with household income over $75,000. By that logic, $75,000 is too low; one shouldn’t be considered rich unless one has household income of perhaps $100,000 or $200,000. And he seems to think there’s a pretty clear division between being rich and being poor. So in other words, Jay, you think that all people making less than $100,000 or $200,000 — that is to say, the vast, vast majority of Americans — are boring and smell bad. Is that right, Jay?
Jay could have taken it like a man and left it at that. But after the 6:00 news, he felt it necessary to further impugn my credibility, referring to me as an unemployed wanker. I’ll post the transcript of that bit when I get a chance. I’m actually NOT unemployed, so I may not get to it right away.
Comments
Comment from david
Time February 26, 2008 at 9:42 am
I may be crazier, but I hope I’m not as big a jerk as he is.
Pingback from The Schrug » Blog Archive » What Jay Severin thinks about his critics
Time February 26, 2008 at 11:29 am
[...] Login « What Jay Severin thinks about the poor [...]
Pingback from The Schrug » Blog Archive » Attaboy, McCain
Time February 28, 2008 at 7:27 am
[...] talker he claims to be, I do find his willingness to challenge his supporters refreshing. Too bad Jay Severin has vowed he will never vote for McCain. I’d love to hear McCain’s reactions to some of [...]
Pingback from The Schrug » Blog Archive » Ignorant, cowardly, liar Jay Severin vs. "A-hole David"
Time March 3, 2008 at 10:42 pm
[...] by the way, Jay, not Dallas.) It’s the same change-the-subject tactic he employed against me last week. Of course, he can only do this when we are no longer able to [...]
Comment from Don
Time March 8, 2008 at 1:16 pm
It’s sickening to me that in a city like Boston this guy gets a prime time radio forum. Is he the best the radio station can do? He brings any type of serious exchange of ideas to such a low level of discourse that I’ve never been able to listen for more than 10 minutes at a stretch. I’m not a conservative but I would relish a conservative commentator that would debate his point of view in an honest and open way; this would challenge me to look at my assumptions more critically. But this guy is about name-calling, spurious argumentation, and bigotry.
I wonder if David Halberstam was aware and if so how he felt about Severin’s copping of the phrase ‘best and brightest’. I’m betting it was done without permission or acknowledgment. Anyone happen to know?
Michael Graham is a simpleton. He’s annoying, yes, but not as contemptuous as Jay Severin.
Comment from Barry Nolan
Time March 24, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Good for you Mr. Schrag. The Nazis-in-waiting of WKKK should be confronted on a daily basis. Next time you are at it – you might want to mention his history of lying – about winning the Pulitzer Prize – (he didn’t) – about having a Masters Degree from BU (he doesn’t) – seems like these are things that would be easy for him to get right if he were interested at all in the truth.
Comment from Bill Clinton
Time April 26, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Michael Graham is a stupid idiot. Author, if you wanted Gay Severin not to cut you off, you should have mixed in a little ass-kissing with your criticism. But I suppose Jay always wins in the end.
Comment from maxdp
Time May 6, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Great job keeping mr severino on task to your question. usually he seems to spiral into rage but you seemed to keep the dialogue pretty light even though you remained pointed. Funny he brought up SNL and Chris Rock, etc. I’d love to hear Chris Rock talk with Jay Severin. One of the ways JS thinks of himself as funny is his continual sexual references and such. That and his bumper music are supposed to make him hip and funny. Pretty disgusting, but not as disgusting as his politics. I also find it funny that he takes such libertarian positions but also admits to being clueless on economics. Extremely ugly — can’t wait for people to get tired of him.
Comment from B
Time July 28, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I read the dialogue. and im confused.. you said that you berated him yet in the end your the only person in the conversation who decided to “not answer that question” while Jay Shmuckley answered all your questions and was SMART enough not to try to put a number on poor like many people (not democrat or republican just people) tend to do. What at the time was your definition of poor? The standard democratic number is 75k I make 52k so am I poor? what about someone like me making 52k without bills or without kids to support (i have 3) are they still poor? what if 2 out of 3 of my children where with my ex and i was paying 50% of my income out in child support. At that time i’m poor correct?
A smart man does not put a number to something that cannot be defined simply by a number. Not saying i agree with him on most of his views. but his point about the definition of poor was dead on while being someone who listens to many talk radio hosts from both sides i do agree that the man is abrasive but at the same time TRIES to be comedic in his comments about people while a lot of people who dislike his views are the ONLY people who actually take his word like it is gospel word for word ONLY in serious context.
I will admit that i listened to him one evening this past year and was amazed by a female caller, a mother, who called him out on his abrasiveness and he actually stopped and apologized for his use of the word RETARD and has since tried and as far as i can tell succeeded in not using the word again. more than i can say for a lot of talk show hosts.
again i didn’t see a very strong berating and im pretty sure i was listening to that phone call when you made it. the end of it was pretty much “i cant waste my time here explaining something that is assumed to be understood” referring to the definition of poor and to his attempt at comedy.
Comment from david
Time July 28, 2008 at 8:59 pm
B: I didn’t specifically say that I berated him on this particular occasion. I said that I like to do it when I can. I agree there was not much berating on this one afternoon.
Severin most certainly did NOT answer all the questions; specifically, as you note, he declined to define the word poor even as he claimed the definition was objective and obvious. I was not the one to make general statements about the poor; therefore, I have no need to define the term to win this particular argument. In fact, I would say there is no uniform standard for being poor. The poor of Boston are very different from the poor of Appalachia and the poor of Bangladesh. So my point is that making blanket statements about how the poor smell and how often they bathe is ridiculous.
If he really doesn’t mean what he says, but instead is just saying things to provoke and get a laugh, then he should say so. Instead, he often goes out of his way to say that he only says what he honestly believes. And on the occasion in question, he refused (at least initially) to admit that he was joking, but rather offered a feeble proof of his original statement and refused to retract the statement.
My fear is that the “Best and Brightest” believe that the man is talking sense rather than nonsense. To the extent that is happening, I fear he is doing real damage to our social and political culture. I honestly believe that his comments will lead some of his listeners to develop beliefs and behaviors that stem from prejudice, bigotry, stereotypes, etc. Therefore, I will continue to do what I can to expose his outrageous behavior.
Comment from Angelina Lenahan
Time August 7, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I was like the frog in the pot of boiling water…when I first listened to Severin, I actually thought he was witty, intellectual, articulate, well-educated, and I could overlook his arrogance because of the aforementioned qualities. However, I began to “get it” after awhile. He’s such a womanizer, veiled by his flirtatiousness with female callers, and his bragging comments about relations with women half his age… oh, but wait, there’s more. Last week I listened to an exchange between a gentleman caller and Severin that embarrassed me—I felt very embarrassed for the gentleman. I do not believe he called to be taken advantage of in the manner that Severin did, i.e., to set up Severin for his own agenda of making those sexually explicit and graphic remarks. The caller was merely commenting on the interview Tom Brokow had with Obama on Meet the Press, and the fact that Tom seemed to be so much in awe of Obama that it was like a love fest. But certainly, I don’t believe the caller, nor the audience, expected the remarks that followed from Severin who disgustingly alluded so graphically to oral sex, that one could almost “see Tom getting up from his knees, and wiping his mouth…” (paraphrasing; words to that effect.) It was so disgusting, and he went on and on, comparing it to Clinton and the intern. I was very offended. Sure, Tom was all gushy interviewing Obama. Severin did not have to frame it in sexual terms. I was driving at the time, and almost lost it. He is filthy and really nauseates me. My son, a grown man of 31, used to listen to him all the time. He’s totally turned off because of the same reasons. Severin is such a phony, arrogant, narcissistic bastard, don’t even get me started on what he said about the poor. Kudos to you, David. I happened to stumble upon your site, and I really like it. Keep writing. Best to you. Angelina
Comment from jay 111
Time August 18, 2008 at 7:51 pm
David , you are a complete ass====,
Comment from Don
Time September 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Jay Severin is so repulsive. Don’t you just love his kiss-ass “best and brightest” audience! Yesterday a guy thanked him and said he tunes in every day for his “civics lesson”! Severin is a hateful man.
Comment from Alan
Time October 3, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I remember these calls very well like it was yesterday. The guy is a demagogue. Nothing more. He lies about Obama intentionally. He says Africa because it is something his audience can comprehend. To them indonesia is Asia and Jay talks good about Asians on a weekly basis. Michael Graham is no better. I just don’t understand how come nobody challenges them.
Comment from david
Time October 3, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Alan, few people challenge them because it’s too hard. It’s nearly impossible to get through on the phone, and when you do get through you have to wait forever. By the time you’re on the air, what you were calling to complain about has long since passed, and you often end up with a response of “that’s not what I said; don’t misquote me.”
Look, I’m nobody, right? But I’m sure that if I were actually in the studio with Jay — up in his house in Manchester-by-the-Sea — I’d be able to poke gigantic holes in nearly everything he says. I just wish he would start putting his asinine views in print on his blog again and allow comments there as well. He’d get hammered.
Comment from Jason
Time October 10, 2008 at 11:29 am
I agree with jay 111. You are a complet ass and probably a Commnist as well. I you people want to give your money away to people that don’t work or hate this country, then do so, but don’t reach in my pocket and take anything from that doesn’t belong to you.
You’re all morons
Comment from Jon
Time October 16, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Big deal David. Is your whole point to prove Jay Severin said something stupid? Were you expecting an apology? you should know better than that. So what if the guy doesn’t like poor people. EVERYONE hates (misplaced jealousy/envy) the rich. The fact is people with wealth seem to believe people without it don’t work hard and somehow deserve what they have, and people without wealth think exactly the same thing, except they believe the people who have it DONT deserve it! In either case their are exceptions, but guess what? THATS LIFE!
Comment from david
Time October 16, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Jon: In this particular case, yes, that was my point. As I said to Jay, “Basically, I want you to admit that you said something stupid for once. Why can’t you just do that? Why is it so hard for you to be confronted with something stupid that you said and say ‘you know, gee, that was a dumb thing to say. I take it back.’” But he couldn’t or wouldn’t do that. As Jay’s father would say, “that’s all I need to know about that fellow.”
Jason: Very thoughtful analysis. I certainly see why you would be considered one of the “best and brightest.”
Comment from Jeff
Time October 21, 2008 at 9:56 am
On political analysis, the guy is empty. He has said over and over that Obama was unelectable. He would be a disaster. Would lose 48 states. Of course this was in the midst of the Rev. Wright tape rolling. 5 to 6 months later here we are.
Yesterday 10/20/08 he said that poor people smell. The vitriol coming off his mouth and some of his listerners is unbelievable. I listen because I had no idea some people think that way. If I stop listening, it’s equivalent to me not knowing what some people around me think.
Comment from ros muise
Time October 24, 2008 at 7:48 am
In light of the scare of HIV infection at a US high school would like to read what Jay said some time ago re HIV. Believe he said we were being lied to & HIV was no longer a threat. Am not surprised that Imus won’t have him on his program. Jay doesn’t know much about anything is my opinion.
Comment from Richard N
Time October 24, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I dont no how that racist jerk like jay rat boy look alike severin is still on the air him and mike graham should not be allowed on the air or anywhere in boston for him to call hillary a fat bastard talk like he is black when talking about jesse jackson when he talks about obama its yo yo yo bama how can he get away with things like that get rid odf him he is bad for radio and bad for boston
Comment from meah
Time October 24, 2008 at 9:11 pm
severin is the ultimate con artist, an accomplished liar. I listen occasionally and usually am amazed that he is allowed on air i.e. often pornographic. The guy is right- he has serious issues, mostly related to deep-seated hatred of anyone who does not reflect his narsisstic self-interest. He is a dangerous man with a dangerous deceitful message, especially re: Obama.
Comment from Patrick
Time October 25, 2008 at 7:08 pm
David,
To my limited understanding, Jay Severin has a RADIO TALK SHOW. A talk show that thrives on its listeners. As a Jay Severin supporter, I wanted to thank you for giving his show so much press. Listening every day, calling in, being entertaining, all wonderful byproducts of your obviously narrow-minded attempt to rid the airways of Mr. Severin.
Jay needs you as much as he needs his supporters. Do think WTKK or those who advertise on WTKK care whether or not you disagree with him? To them, your just another loyal listener.
Again, I wanted to thank you for your continued support of Mr. Severin’s radio program, and I also wanted to thank you for your ignorance of media economics.
Perhaps you should thank me as well for deciding to post on your wonderful blog.
Comment from American Citizen
Time October 28, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Dear Patrick: You have raised a valid point. Perhaps what we (people who disagree with the extreme views of Mr. Severino) should be doing is writing and/or calling all the sponsors of his so called “show” and let them know how bad it could be for them to associate their names with such radical, racist and unbalanced views. Why do I listen? For the same reason I go to the Zoo: For the amusement! Listening to him is like going to a freak show.
Comment from Patrick
Time October 30, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Dear American Citizen,
I find it very ironic that you’ve chosen to label your self as you have, and yet are trying to limit Mr. Severin’s FIRST Amendment rights!
Trying to force someone to not say what you do not want them to is a catalyst for fascism.
Comment from david
Time October 31, 2008 at 7:42 am
Patrick: Freedom of speech and freedom of the press do not include the “right” to make a million dollars a year to say things on the radio that are stupid and/or false. I’m sure I speak for “American Citizen” when I say we would both support Jay’s right to say whatever he wants on a soap box in the Boston Common. We simply think his audience and his sponsors deserve to know that what he says on the radio is a bunch of hooey. Once informed of that, they can make their own decisions about whether to continue listening and paying his salary. To see what Jay thinks about people who exercise their First Amendment rights by criticizing Jay, see http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2008/02/26/what-jay-severin-thinks-about-his-critics/.
Comment from Patrick
Time October 31, 2008 at 12:57 pm
For purposes of this argument, here is the main text from the First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
David,
I am a little concerned. My original post was almost a week ago. I heard nothing from you all week. And finally once you find ANY kind of avenue of which to retort (The “Decorum” of Free speech), you grace us with your presence. Please feel free to respond to my original post.
David and American Citizen,
I want to make this perfectly clear. I, in no way, believe that your slander of Mr. Severin’s opinions to be valid. While I understand that some of what Jay says is a bit fantastical, I understand it to partly because of the nature of the business and partly to be exaggeration to prove a point. To take language at its literal value is naive.
Free Speech is unequivocal, it is absolute. You either believe in it or you don’t. If you think its okay for the government to legislate restrictions of speech, that is your opinion, but it does not make you a believer in free speech. Qualifying free speech is to not understand the nature of its freedom.
David, someone who puts their heart and soul into providing his thoroughly thought out opinion to an audience on a day to day basis ought to be able to appreciate the complexities to an issue like free speech. I am sure you fall into this category and I would urge to reconsider your position on the matter. While you may not agree with Mr. Severin, undermining his free speech is a slippery slope.
Already in this country, the first amendment has been compromised.
Hate speech laws will be the first of many others to assign preference and attach a rigid sense of decorum to all speech. Soon, the legislature will involve itself in an infinite regress of limiting the type of speech that can be allowed, and in what venue.
Totalitarianism has many forms David.
Comment from david
Time October 31, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Patrick: Sorry for the delay. I was out of town on the day of your original post and then was having Internet connectivity problems that prevented me from posting and approving comments on a timely basis. Those problems should be resolved now.
With regard to your original post from 10/25: I don’t really care how many listeners Jay has as long as he doesn’t have the license to lie to them and mislead them with impunity. I wouldn’t care at all if he were simply doing satire with a conservative bias — a sort of counterpoint to the Daily Show. But it’s clear that many of his listeners consider his rhetoric educational and informational, and that bothers me.
Please note that I have never, ever, ever suggested that any governmental body should step in and censor what he has to say or take him off the air. Last time I checked, I was not Congress. So I am in no way suggesting any infringement on free speech or abrogation of the First Amendment. At the same time, there is no such thing as a right to broadcast. If Jay decided that what he really wanted to do with his time on the air was to recite the alphabet or the phone book over and over again, and the powers that be at WTKK decided to cancel his contract, would you say his right to free speech was being denied? Of course not. You’d say it was a reasonable decision.
You say that “to take language at its literal value is naive.” But isn’t that exactly what Jay does when someone accuses him of racism, bigotry, sexism, chauvinism, homophobia, etc., etc.? And Jay’s the one who claims never to say anything he doesn’t absolutely believe (except when it suits him to say that he occasionally takes some poetic license to prove a point). He can’t have it both ways.
Saying that free speech is absolute and not subject to any legislative qualification is itself naive. There are all sorts of things you can say that will and should land you in jail. Examples: “The theater is on fire!!!” or “Mr. President, I’m going to kill you” or “Say, officer, how about I give you $100 and we just forget about that speeding ticket?”
Do you now understand the difference between criticizing/correcting what Jay says and threatening his First Amendment rights?
Comment from American Citizen
Time October 31, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Patrick: I believe David has already explained the point here. And… I also believe you have misread my words. I was surprised with your comments because I -NEVER- said Mr. Severino’s freedom of speech should be suppressed by the government. If I was Mr. Severino I was going to call you “stupid” at this point! It would be rude and unfair to you but we both know that this is exactly what he does to any disagreeing voice. Don’t worry, I’m not that arrogant nor ignorant.
I would like your permission to ask you a question: If you think Mr. Severino has the right to go on air and say whatever he feels like, why do you think we don’t have the right to pick up the phone and call whoever we want to express our views about his radicalism? After all, aren’t we all entitled to the same right to freedom of speech? I don’t see how a phone call, a letter or a personal visit to a business owner to express my views about their un-wise association with such a radical would prevent anybody from exercising his or her right to freedom of speech. It could cost him his job but never his right to express his views. To me this is the most civilized way of fighting against his harmful ideas. Not to mention that this is also a constitutional right of mine.
Look, if you think it’s ok to say that the poor smell (your hero said it again yesterday, October 30th), that is ok to view women as a piece of meat, that homosexuals and people from other ethnicities and/or religions are inferior beings, that we should kill all Muslims (he was forced to apologize for this one but I bet you Adolf Hitler would endorse him here), that people with different opinions are ‘un-Americans’, ‘un-Patriotic’, ’stupid’ and so on, it’s your choice. That doesn’t prevent me from fighting against these insults in any possible legal way, does it?
You may be as articulated and eloquent as you want but the bottom line is: Mr. Severino is wrong Patrick. And we will fight his nonsense in every possible legal level. Wait and see. Oh! Be ready to make some phone calls yourself. Soon he’s going to be begging you “best and brightest” to save his job, his way of living and supporting his family and bla bla bla. It seems like some of you have already swallowed his “freedom of speech” bait. How predictable!
As for the irony on my “American Citizen” label, the real irony lies on this: Even thought I have fought for my country TWICE in Iraq, according to Mr. Severino’s standards I’m ‘un-American’ and ‘un-Patriotic’. I ask you, Patrick: Should I laugh or should I cry? Perhaps neither. Perhaps the right thing is just do what I do best: Fight the enemy with all my heart.
Comment from Brian
Time November 3, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Severin is a fraud. His constant attack on Obama is fraudulent. As if Obama is anything other than MAINSTREAM!!!!! Severino acts as if Obama is some sort of lefty. Hmmm… Obama supports the death penalty, Genn. Petraeus, war (more in Afghanistan, less in Iraq), voted for presidential spying as well as immunity for telecoms … Need I say more?
But Severin plays it as if Stalin himself is running against McCain. Ridiculous.
Comment from blueblueblue
Time November 5, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Hey, great job, David!!! I amuse myself by listening to that hideous looking bastard Jay once in a while after work now and then. This guy is the biggest fucking coward! He calls people out and they have the balls to give their opinion, and then he “loses” the caller or hangs up on them when the conversation gets too intense for him..basically when he is looking DEFEATED. Then he rants about them for 10 minutes and they cannot defend themselves. Good riddance to Paul Sullivan and David Brudnoy,too. Those ignorant, racist, bastards–karma is a bitch!! I hope they are enjoying the pits of hell…!
Comment from ron
Time November 5, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I tuned into this wtkk by mistake when I moved to Boston from Michigan and now I am not able to avoid listening to it, not because I like the clowns like Michael gram or Jay severine, it’s just I am desperate to hear somebody confronting these goons. They should not be allowed to work here, they should be asked to fade away, and they are very hateful and inciting violence. This is like hateful imams preaching in masks against non believers. Now he has started saying that he is not going to accept Obama as a president and will work hard to get him impeached. I don’t know on which direction this country is heading to if it allows these kinds of haters in media. It’s the worst possible way of misusing freedom of speech. There is no way to get these guys off the air? I wish there is no place for haters in this world.
Pingback from The Schrug » Blog Archive » We’re number 10!
Time November 5, 2008 at 6:40 pm
[...] lot of people have been commenting recently on my 8-month-old blog post, What Jay Severin thinks about the poor. I was wondering what accounted for the interest in that old article, so on a hunch I Googled [...]
Pingback from We’re number 10! | Severin Watch
Time November 7, 2008 at 11:42 am
[...] lot of people have been commenting recently on my 8-month-old blog post, What Jay Severin thinks about the poor. I was wondering what accounted for the interest in that old article, so on a hunch I Googled [...]
Pingback from Ignorant, cowardly, liar Jay Severin vs. "A-hole David" | Severin Watch: Dedicated to exposing Jay Severin’s lies, ignorance, incompetence, etc.
Time November 7, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[...] by the way, Jay, not Dallas.) It’s the same change-the-subject tactic he employed against me last week. Of course, he can only do this when we are no longer able to [...]
Pingback from Attaboy, McCain | Severin Watch: Dedicated to exposing Jay Severin’s lies, ignorance, incompetence, etc.
Time November 7, 2008 at 12:29 pm
[...] talker he claims to be, I do find his willingness to challenge his supporters refreshing. Too bad Jay Severin has vowed he will never vote for McCain. I’d love to hear McCain’s reactions to some of [...]
Pingback from What Jay Severin thinks about his critics | Severin Watch: Dedicated to exposing Jay Severin’s lies, ignorance, incompetence, etc.
Time November 7, 2008 at 12:31 pm
[...] I mentioned in the last post, I was on the radio yesterday with Jay Severin (the talk show host formerly known as Jimmy [...]
Comment from Boston1775
Time November 21, 2008 at 6:58 am
It is time for Jay Severin and Michael Graham to find another place to live.
They hate our culture: our politicians, our public schools, our democratic values.
WTKK promotes the daily attacks on New England. Our airwaves are being used against us and are sponsored by Dover Rugs, Subway, Dr. Bruce Houghton, Reeds Ferry Shed etc. I will never shop at any of these places and I encourage everyone I meet to avoid anything that supports WTKK.
At every instance that I write about these idiot savants of hate, I connect them to the owners of WTKK. These are the people who bear the ultimate responsibility for the daily assaults on civility. I work with kids who are Arab, African Americans, South and Central American, and the many varieties of Christian, Muslim and Jewish. What WTKK deems fit for public consumption, I and many others do not.
The attacks that emanate from WTKK on these children’s cultures, their identities and in one case, his very name, Hussain, must be fought. Children in our public schools deserve protection from those who express hatred as easily as they sell a perfect smile or a mattress.
Let’s continue to make it difficult for hatred to be broadcast daily from the studios of WTKK.
(David, I stumbled over your site when I did a search to find out where Severin has been lately. I’m hoping he’s starting to get into trouble, but I’m sure it’s wishful thinking. Keep up the good work. I’ll be listening for more calls from you.)
Comment from Listener
Time January 2, 2009 at 4:45 am
Jay Severin is a a very arrogant man. He liked to talk about Kathie Couric, about her blossom chest, her hair cut. I really think that he has a crush on her but he is such in denial yet to say,o “She is too dumb for me.” He talked his home, about his million dollar advertising company. He called less fortunate people as “bastard factory” (people who are on welfare). He said that it is their fault for not making enough money. If you google him, you find information about him lying about receiving Pulitzer award and his master degree from BU. – He said if Obama win as a president, he was going to move out of the country. I can’t wait for him to get out of this country. He is a hateful talking duck.
Comment from Jeff
Time February 16, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I patronize most of the companies, which sponsor Mr. Severin’s show. He is one brave mane to stand up to insane liberals running this state. I hope his predictions about the congress are tru, and in 2010 will have 1994 all over again, but with Speaker much more conservative then Gingrich.
Oh, by the way Cadilac Deval will LOOOSE the re-election bid.
Comment from John
Time February 23, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I think this is much ado about nothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people who are poor do smell. So what? Severin was trying to be funny, entertaining, get a rise out if his audience. It comes with the job. it’s how talk show hosts are successful. Even though i don’t agree with him politically, i think Severin can be pretty amusing.
Comment from arne
Time February 27, 2009 at 7:39 pm
david — you are the man! i work frequently in Massachusetts and am fascinated by the fact that a man like jay severin is the best they can do on the radio. i am sorry to have missed your discussion. the day before he had a rant that michelle obama was ugly! that segment was so pointless as to be ridiculous. the looks of the president’s wife could not be more irrelevant and only proves jay is equally irrelevant. it amazes me that he is able to attract an audience given that is intellect is so much smaller that his prejudice.
hey jay, if you are reading this, i am happy to chat with you….. unless i am too boring, smelly, ugly or whatever you rant on to get an audience.
arne
Comment from Trish
Time February 28, 2009 at 9:08 pm
His latest spin as it is on all the right-wing stations is that blacks are responsible for this banking collapse because they don’t pay their mortgages. He even had a recording of a black Obama supporter claiming that Obama would help her pay her mortgage now with the stimulus package. Severin claims that the middle class would have to pay for it. The only way to get this yahoo racist right-wing hater off the air is to give him some competition. Writing or calling his sponsors or turning him off won’t do it because he has so many ignorant uninformed listeners who think he speaks for them when in reality he is part of the corporate elite making money off his listeners. He even claimed one day after a caller disagreed with him that he makes more money in one week than the listener does in 10 years residing in his mansion in Manchester by the Sea. He’s scared to death he’ll lose his gig and millions. Go to Bostonprogressivetalk.net and sign the petition to bring back Progressive talk radio. It’s the only way.
Comment from Joe
Time March 4, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I really don’t think we should put Michael Graham in the same category as Jay Severin. Graham is thoughtful (although excitable.) Severin is a pathetic clown.
Comment from Alan
Time March 17, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I like Graham. I agree with him and other REAL fiscal conservatives. We’re headed for disaster if Obama’s agenda passes virtually intact.
Severin, on the other hand, annoys me. For instance, he was commenting on Michele Obama’s lower body the other day. With all the important issues to discuss, he made that the subject of the day. I think he’s about to go off the deep end again. Some woman on the phone called him ugly and he went into a tirade. I happen to agree with her. And then he defends the bonuses AIG is handing out on the next show. He sure knows how to turn stomachs and turn off listeners. I’ll give him that!
All this crap about his audience being the best and brightest… Well, the very brightest fiscal conservatives who occasionally tune in from time to time see him as an arrogant, whiney-voiced gasbag with a chip on his shoulder. I’m sick of his obsession with what he considers high intelligence. He obviously lacks common sense and good judgment. Can you say inferiority complex?
Unfortunately, I can only get FM talk radio at work (2nd shift). I’m tired of Severin and wish WTKK would either replace Severin with Graham or re-broadcast Graham’s morning shows.
Comment from Trish
Time March 18, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Well, Jay Severin finally got his come uppance yesterday on the Don Imus St. Pat’s Day WTKK broadcast from the Wilbur Theater. Imus told him to get the “fuck off the stage” or he would shoot him. So the “ugly” (as one of his listeners called him after making fun of Michelle O’Bama’s looks and saying she had the face of a camel)rat-like looking Jay we hope was embarrassed and given by Imus his “do” which he has done to others, mostly women. He used to call Hillary a “fat ass bitch” and Caroline Kennedy also had a fat ass. That is the best he can do which is typical of these right-wing talk show hosts – go after the physical attributes of a Democrat.
Alan, while I respect your views and probably would not agree with some of your positions, I am pleased that you recognize the disrespect and sleaze with which this guy operates. I don’t mind civil discourse with positions on issues whether one is a Democrat or Conservative (we can all learn from each other’s views); however, this show puts forth one view only and that one is Severin’s. He makes fun of anyone who would disagree with him. I just don’t listen to it at all except when I happen to tune in for a few minutes and hear his blathering. When is Boston going to do better and at least have some programming that offers an opposing view?
Comment from Alan
Time March 18, 2009 at 11:20 pm
If a “balanced” or progressive (liberal/socialist) radio show can’t attract an audience, it gets replaced by one that can. That’s what’s been happening. Most radio talk show listeners agree with conservative talk hosts and don’t want to hear arguments from liberals/socialists. Why? Because they don’t agree with them and can’t be swayed. For the most part, they don’t want to hear it. Same goes for TV. Fox News has been killing CNN and MSNBC for years. Why? Fox News programs are more mainstream, believe it or not. Am I glad Hannity dumped Colmes? You bet! I was sick of listening to Colmes.
If only people voted for candidates who think more like them…
Comment from Trish
Time March 20, 2009 at 6:46 pm
When listeners never hear the other side of issues and are fed a steady diet of right-wing talk 24/7 for years with no programs of opposing views, it is called “brainwashing” plain and simple. The talk show hosts cleverly demonize and misrepresent Democratic positions and values, play to people’s fears and most negative instincts, inflame and outright lie so that their listeners will learn to think that Republicans are promoting their (the listeners’) best interests when, in truth, it is the exact opposite.
A lack of Progressive talk stations has nothing to do with listeners not wanting to listen to opposite views. It is just that right-wing talk
is the “only game in town” – there are no other talk programs except for NPR on the radio (a totally different format) and while driving, people like talk radio for company. Even if a caller has an opposing view, they would either not get on the air or would be torn apart and made tosound like a fool which is why you don’t hear people who don’t agree with the host calling in.
As for Air America, it didn’t succeed because the signal was so poor and there was no reception after 5 PM; however, it has succeeded nationwide as proven by Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann to name a few. In order to find their programs, one has to stream from a computer.
Try Jimmy Myers on WTKK on Sundays from 3 – 6 and see how he respects his callers even the ones with whom he disagrees.
The majority of people DID vote for a candidate who thinks like them and his name is Barack Obama.
Comment from Alan
Time March 21, 2009 at 1:31 am
Obama thinks like most of the people who voted for him? You’ve got to be kidding!
The majority of educated people voted for McCain. Obama got in only because a very high percentage of uneducated lower class slobs voted for him. Did you know that 47% of the people in Detroit are functionally illiterate? Over 20% of American adults function (or malfunction) at the lowest literacy level. This unbiased site and a few others reveal these startling facts: http://www.detlitcoal.org/faq.htm
Of course, barely literate people were likely shown how to vote for Obama by lefty groups like Acorn. They’re much to stupid to know what’s good for America, of course. As long as there’s a freebie…
Your statement tells me you don’t realize just how stupid the people in this country are. They are the ones who put a very inexperienced, big spending, high taxing liberal/socialist Democrat in the White House at the worst possible time – when the economy is tanking! We actually needed to elect either Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee at a time like this. Fiscal conservatives like Ronald Reagan are far better choices, no matter how healthy or not the economy is.
Government is MUCH to big and inefficient. Just what do you think Obama plans on doing about that growing problem? He’s going to ADD to it, of course! He wants to expand government even more, making people (citizens and illegal aliens) even MORE dependent on government handouts! I’ve got good news for those opposed to this plan, however. There won’t be enough taxes raised to finance it and China will soon stop lending us money.
Airhead America failed because most people who lean left don’t care enough about what’s ruining this country to tune into talk radio. They’d much rather listen to junky music and watch junky TV. That’s where THEY get brainwashed by lefty loonies.
Why do I call them loonies? Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and Al Franken are perfect examples of lefty loonies. These clowns are our leaders? Have you ever listened to them?
On second thought, I guess you’re right about most Americans thinking like Obama in some respect. There ARE that many malfunctioning minds in this country, educated and uneducated.
Comment from Alan
Time March 21, 2009 at 10:38 am
If the article on the following link doesn’t convince enough people to vote for GOP and independent candidates who strongly emphasize the importance of fiscal restraint, government agency consolidation, and a much stricter adherence to our immigration laws, this country will quickly become a disaster! If we don’t elect a convincing number of these candidates in key states in 2010 and if there aren’t enough of them to quickly turn the tide, our national debt will reach a critical point. We’ll no longer be able to “finance” all these insane programs designed to boost the lower classes into the middle class. That’s always been an impossible dream, incidentally. We’ve just witnessed (via the “houses for everyone” program) how destructive such an attempt can be. But wait, it’s about to get worse!
What will actually happen? Most of us will be dragged into poverty! Inflation, the single most destructive tax on a nation, will set us ALL back. People on fixed incomes will suffer the most, be they retired or collecting every handout being offered by the government. Of course, these too-numerous freebies will become MUCH more expensive. Our great leaders won’t be able to borrow enough or tax us enough to pay for them. A growing black market and possibly a revolution will put an end to it if newly elected, fiscally conservative officials fail to do so. That’s the reality of it!
Comment from Amy
Time April 15, 2009 at 2:14 pm
The advantage Jay has is that he’s smarter than the majority of his listeners, because the majority of his listeners are, shall we say, sub-intellectuals. The irony – that he refers to them as his “best and brightest” – is only lost on, well, on them. I am sure that HE knows they are neither best nor bright, but he also knows they keep him employed. It is of no use to argue with him on air, as he will ALWAYS hang up on someone he disagrees with eventually. You can call yourself a skilled debater when you know that you can end the conversation as soon as it gets too heated for you, and he does. EVERY SINGLE TIME. I applaud your efforts, but they’re futile as long as he has 1.) no respect for people with differing opinions and 2.) a disconnect button.
He’s also an astounding misogynist with a SERIOUS Madonna/whore complex. The only women who have value to him are under 25 year olds, or young mommies. He lies by omission about his personal life as husband and father, and pretends to be some sort of player. With that face, that’s quite a stretch.
At least he (truly is) intelligent, though he’s a ridiculous, alarmist blowhard. His colleagues Michael Graham and Michelle McPhee are truly dumbasses. McPhee consistently – and I mean almost once per sentence – uses words incorrectly, and does it over and over with apparent glee. She pronounces the word “condescending” as “con-DEN-send-ing”. Repeatedly. McPee and Graham both have their schtick,and it’s tired and nearly content-free. Disgraceful all around.
Comment from joyce
Time April 17, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains. – Winston Churchill
enough said
Comment from david
Time April 17, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Joyce, how is this quote relevant to the discussion? And would it not be equally pithy to say any man who is over 30 and is not a conservative has no wealth?
Comment from oskar Wilder
Time April 21, 2009 at 11:22 am
To answer your question, JAY is the bigger pussy. One of my clients is a lesbian who was activated after 9/11 (AF Reserves). Her life was basically destroyed due to the prolonged activation (she eventually filed for bankruptcy and lost everything, in defense of our country). Jay was ranting on dismissively about the ‘well meaning’ gals in the military..and proposed that ‘the strongest woman will never be equal to the strongest man’. Well, put a gun in her hand…and see how that holds up. He also went on and on about ‘homo marriage’. It dawned on my that the only person whom I knew that was serving in the military, was being attacked from two fronts, by Mr. ‘Thank you for your service…I salute you’. She was fighting for our rights, while hers were being attacked by this tool.
I proposed to Jay that he box my client in a charity event (she’s a black belt). Jay responded with an email which was supposedly copied to an attorney..which included a lot of legal-ese (none of it based in the rule of law).
Jay is a total pussy…who lacks the courage of his (changing by the day) convictions.
I sense a pretty hefty drug addiction…and, based upon his rabid defense of the bonuses re: the AIG bailout (funded with taxpayer’s money), his listeners finally have to be waking up to the fact that when he says ‘WE’…he’s not talking about ‘THEM’.
Comment from Patrick
Time April 24, 2009 at 9:26 am
Oskar,
To prove your point to Jay, you want him to physically fight your client?
What’s even funnier about your post is the fact that on one hand you are enraged by his lack of respect for Women, but on the other, to insult Jay, you call him a “pussy.” Your post name is a famous author, and you mention your “client” in your post, so it appears you view yourself to be pretty smart. Unfortunately, you’re not analytical enough to not use the colloquial misogynistic term that links being weak with being a woman, fantastic. In all honesty, you could not have tried any harder to make such an egregious oversight.
PS. Oskar (spelling it a K certainly makes you original), I beg you, please please please reply to my post. Work is extremely mundane right now and I could really use some solid comedic relief.
David,
Been a long time, my friend. Joyce’s comment is not only relevant to this discussion, it is relevant to really any political conversation. The comment denotes the very nature of the political animal that is man. Our politics are situational. If I am wealthy and over 30, I am most likely a conservative. If I am poor and under 30, I am most likely a liberal. If I work for a corporation in middle to upper management, I am most likely a conservative, if I am a teacher, I am most likely a liberal. An individual’s political position is self-interested first. Churchill’s famous quote simply lends itself to this mantra.
Moreover, the statement is intrinsically linked with truly the only question that needs to be asked in politics. What is the nature of man? Are we selfish? Altruistic? The answer seems ambiguous. I asserted that I find man to be ultimately selfish, you may disagree, David. However, the idea that another question of a political nature could be posed is simply incoherent, humanity’s nature must be first determined, and then humanity can decide on its next course of action. Folks who determine their political position with out first answering that question are simply regurgitating information that has been fed to them via the media, their parents, etc.
Comment from david
Time April 24, 2009 at 9:40 am
Patrick, I quite agree that politics are situational and I myself have become less liberal and more pragmatic as I’ve aged. But I don’t think that conservatives of any age are justified in feeling the sort of contempt and loathing for liberals that Jay and many of his callers display.
Anyway, I ask everyone to follow the Jay Severin stuff over at its new home: http://severinwatch.com.
Comment from Lori
Time February 26, 2008 at 9:35 am
David, you’re a great guy, but I don’t know who is more crazy — you or Jay!