Home of the Free?

[Dravyk]

So much for freedom of speech.

Ronstadt banned from casino for supporting Moore.

http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsma...ment&feed_id=44 (http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=330935&pagecontent=entertainment&feed_id=44)

Last week, Whoopi fired from SlimFast for saying something negative about Bush.

Sounds like those Republican corporate owners are banding together as usual, and, as usual, running scared shitless. :lol:

[Peaches]

Originally posted by Dravyk@Jul 20 2004, 01:01 PM
So much for freedom of speech.

Ronstadt banned from casino for supporting Moore.

http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsma...ment&feed_id=44 (http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=330935&pagecontent=entertainment&feed_id=44)

Last week, Whoopi fired from SlimFast for saying something negative about Bush.

Sounds like those Republican corporate owners are banding together as usual, and, as usual, running scared shitless. :lol:
"Freedom of speech" doesn't apply to privately or publically owned places or companies. :awinky:

Come to my house and say something I don't like and you'll get drinks thrown on you and kicked out too :)

[SykkBoy]

The Casinos here don't like "edgy". Edgy doesn't cut it in Vegas...it needs to be bland and safe....don't be fooled by the topless showgirls and lack of a last call....

Like when those stuffy cunts at Light at the Bellagio hired Tommy Lee and then were shocked he might drink a little and have a bit of an attitude...um, it's Tommy Lee for fuck's sake, not the Pope...

I'm not sure what was worse...when Vegas was promoting itself as a "family destination" or now with a handful of bastards owning nearly all of the casinos and fucking employees out of benefits.

At least we have a kickass mayor (but of course a couple jealous idiots are trying to force him out as well)

[Dravyk]

Originally posted by Peaches@Jul 20 2004, 02:28 PM
Come to my house and say something I don't like and you'll get drinks thrown on you and kicked out too :)
Mmm. Will you beat me too? Please? B)

ike when those stuffy cunts at Light at the Bellagio hired Tommy Lee and then were shocked he might drink a little and have a bit of an attitude...um, it's Tommy Lee for fuck's sake, not the Pope...

LMAO! That one just has me rolling!

[mojobill]

Why is this a 'freedom of speech' issue?

Patrons paid to her this performer SING ( we wont even get into why someone would do something this bizarre ), not to hear her personal political views.....

[JR]

It's a freedom of speech issue for Liberals who hate Bush and have a political motive to make it a freedom of speech issue.

It's a simple business decision for rational people who understand that when you pay a spokesperson to represent a product to 100% of the market... and that spokesperson alientates the company/product from 50% of the market, you might want to hire a new spokesperson and distance the company from the offending remarks.

[mojobill]

Originally posted by JR@Jul 20 2004, 03:49 PM
It's a freedom of speech issue for Liberals who hate Bush and have a political motive to make it a freedom of speech issue.

It's a simple business decision for rational people who understand that when you pay a spokesperson to represent a product to 100% of the market... and that spokesperson alientates the company/product from 50% of the market, you might want to hire a new spokesperson and distance the company from the offending remarks.
Pretty much sums up how I saw it too! ;-)

[Weg Cory]

It is not a freedom of speech issue; rather, a behavorial and business issue.

1) Ignorant people throw things at other people.

2) Casino has the right to fire someone and escort them to the door.

[Torone]

Originally posted by Dravyk@Jul 20 2004, 11:01 AM
So much for freedom of speech.

Ronstadt banned from casino for supporting Moore.

http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsma...ment&feed_id=44 (http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=330935&pagecontent=entertainment&feed_id=44)

Last week, Whoopi fired from SlimFast for saying something negative about Bush.

Sounds like those Republican corporate owners are banding together as usual, and, as usual, running scared shitless. :lol:
I'll tell you a few things:

The Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, not a forum.
This applies only to gov't.
Only gov't can censor.

Finally, you come to my house and start talking about how you thought my 2nd wife was, or what a bitch my current wife is, and you'll be lucky JUST to be thrown out. Last guy who tried bitching about my wife took a walk outside with me; and hasn't been...I better shut up!

Point is, gov't can censor; private companies can't. They have every right in the world to fire those who (1) fail to live up to their contract, (2) tarnish the company's image, or (3) disagree with the company's politics.

BTW, in the case of that no-talent, foul-mouthed, dreadlocked broad, the company actually supports the Dems.

[Phoenix]

I wonder if there are also stories of people getting fired for saying "down with Kerry" or something similar?

Anyway, let's hope Bush can't buy himself another term.

[Torone]

Originally posted by Phoenix@Jul 21 2004, 07:03 AM
I wonder if there are also stories of people getting fired for saying "down with Kerry" or something similar?

Anyway, let's hope Bush can't buy himself another term.
I'm sure there are; but the Lib media doesn't publish them. Hell, they put the Berger thing 'way back on page 16 or 17 in the New York Times...and that was criminal!

I seem to remember someone named Anita Bryant. I also remember a certain Conservative who did a short stint with ESPN. Then there was Trent Lott.

Listen, buddy...the worst gangbangers in politics are on the Lib side.

As for 'buying':
Bush's assets=approx. 15 million
Cheney=I don't know
Kerry=1 BILLION
Edwards=75 million.

Bush doesn't have to buy another term. Honest polls (the ones which don't use loaded questions and which ask equal #'s of Dems and Reps) are indicating that Kerry will be at the bottom of a landslide.

[sextoyking]

Torone,

First off 1bill = John Kerry is totally wrong and you know it. I think he's worth a few million or more, but that 1/2 to 1 bill is his wife's money and not in John's name.

2nd. All the recent polls show Kerry mostly ahead of bush by 2-5 points, which is in a statistical dead heat, so there basically tied. Gallup, Cnn, Zogby, etc.

Polls change every week you know, bush could be up next. With the convention next week, I hope Kerry gets a good bush, just so he lays out a nice plan for the next 4 years.

[PornoDoggy]

Originally posted by sextoyking@Jul 21 2004, 10:37 AM
Torone,

First off 1bill = John Kerry is totally wrong and you know it. I think he's worth a few million or more, but that 1/2 to 1 bill is his wife's money and not in John's name.

2nd. All the recent polls show Kerry mostly ahead of bush by 2-5 points, which is in a statistical dead heat, so there basically tied. Gallup, Cnn, Zogby, etc.

Polls change every week you know, bush could be up next. With the convention next week, I hope Kerry gets a good bush, just so he lays out a nice plan for the next 4 years.
Tsk, tsk, Todd.

You are talking to Torone.

Please don't cloud the issue with relevant facts.

[Vick]

Just look at some of the posts here

This may be the funniest thread in months

:agrin: :biglaugh:

[PornoDoggy]

I don't have a problem with the Casino firing Rondstat for expressing her political views in the middle of a show in Vegas, any more than I have a problem with networks firing homophobes and racists.

Assuming that Goldberg did NOT slip some kind of subliminal anti-Bush message into a Slimfast commercial, however, I find that situation a lot more troubling.

Of course, there will be some people who are just too ignorant to understand why.

But really ... my goal is to someday be so smart and sophisticated as to be above it all, so I can laugh at all of you.

[JR]

PD... one thought has been troubling me for some time now.

when the revolution comes.. where will i stand?

[PornoDoggy]

:ph34r: Probably on your feet. :ph34r:

[Torone]

Originally posted by sextoyking@Jul 21 2004, 09:37 AM
Torone,

First off 1bill = John Kerry is totally wrong and you know it. I think he's worth a few million or more, but that 1/2 to 1 bill is his wife's money and not in John's name.

2nd. All the recent polls show Kerry mostly ahead of bush by 2-5 points, which is in a statistical dead heat, so there basically tied. Gallup, Cnn, Zogby, etc.

Polls change every week you know, bush could be up next. With the convention next week, I hope Kerry gets a good bush, just so he lays out a nice plan for the next 4 years.
So, you want a gigolo and his stooge who happens to be an ambulance-chaser? Kerry has access to and uses his wife's money.

As for the polls, practically all of them are slanted, one way or another.


Pd,
In the immortal words of VP Cheney, "Go fuck yourself!". I have very little time left for anything, much less for people like you.

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by JR@Jul 21 2004, 11:48 PM
PD... one thought has been troubling me for some time now.

when the revolution comes.. where will i stand?
off to the side making sarcastic remarks with Photoshop at the ready?
;-)))))

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Dravyk@Jul 20 2004, 12:01 PM
So much for freedom of speech.

Ronstadt banned from casino for supporting Moore.

http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsma...ment&feed_id=44 (http://www.wbex.com/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=330935&pagecontent=entertainment&feed_id=44)

Last week, Whoopi fired from SlimFast for saying something negative about Bush.

Sounds like those Republican corporate owners are banding together as usual, and, as usual, running scared shitless. :lol:


Drav this is not censorship. Stop being ignorant. A company or person has the right to not hire someone based on what they rant about.

If you had an employee who kept posting on GFY that you suck cock, and love it in the ass, and on top of it rip people off, you would certainly fire him.

Censorship is when the Gov't intervenes and punishes people or does not allow them to speak out.

We as private citizens can choose to do business with who we want.

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy@Jul 21 2004, 10:40 PM
I don't have a problem with the Casino firing Rondstat for expressing her political views in the middle of a show in Vegas, any more than I have a problem with networks firing homophobes and racists.

Assuming that Goldberg did NOT slip some kind of subliminal anti-Bush message into a Slimfast commercial, however, I find that situation a lot more troubling.

Of course, there will be some people who are just too ignorant to understand why.

But really ... my goal is to someday be so smart and sophisticated as to be above it all, so I can laugh at all of you.


PD if you had employees who were angering a large segment of the population, and hence your customer base would you fire them?

I would fire anyone who alienated my customer base. If this was a private conversation between frineds it is one thing, but Whoopi is a public figure who gets a lot of attention ( hence her being a spokes person in the first place).

This is a private company doing what it feels is best for its image.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Dick Cheney was not calling up Mrs. Fast and telling her to cut Whoopi or else Bush was going to destroy the company.

[Peaches]

Seems theres more to the story and LS was NOT kicked out (though she was banned), it happened right before "Desperado" which was the an encore song so the concert was over and she didn't even realize there was a problem until an hour after she left. :unsure:

[LadyLaw]

These companies crack me up...they pay huge sums to purchase the images of celebs, and then fire them when the celebs act true to form and the heat gets too intense. This all reminds me of the Roseanne singing the National Anthem flap a few years ago....my God, what DID they expect from Rosanne??? Whoopi has never been the queen of gentle politically-correct humor, and Slimfast knew that going into it.

However, free speech doesn't mean free of consequences. Whoopi knew she sold her soul to the Slimfast corp when she signed on as a company representative, and I doubt she was surprised she got canned.

Her ass wasn't getting any smaller anyway. :) :) Anybody seen Monica Lewinsky doing Jenny Craig commercials lately. LOL

[PornoDoggy]

Originally posted by Mike AI+Jul 22 2004, 11:48 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ Jul 22 2004, 11:48 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-PornoDoggy@Jul 21 2004, 10:40 PM
I don't have a problem with the Casino firing Rondstat for expressing her political views in the middle of a show in Vegas, any more than I have a problem with networks firing homophobes and racists.

Assuming that Goldberg did NOT slip some kind of subliminal anti-Bush message into a Slimfast commercial, however, I find that situation a lot more troubling.

Of course, there will be some people who are just too ignorant to understand why.

But really ... my goal is to someday be so smart and sophisticated as to be above it all, so I can laugh at all of you.


PD if you had employees who were angering a large segment of the population, and hence your customer base would you fire them?

I would fire anyone who alienated my customer base. If this was a private conversation between frineds it is one thing, but Whoopi is a public figure who gets a lot of attention ( hence her being a spokes person in the first place).

This is a private company doing what it feels is best for its image.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Dick Cheney was not calling up Mrs. Fast and telling her to cut Whoopi or else Bush was going to destroy the company. [/b][/quote]
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey ... I didn't say that Dick Cheney was calling anyone up and telling them to fire so-and-so, did I? I'm not talking about any conspiracy here.

FYI, I would feel the same way if anyone was fired for criticizing Kerry ...

[Weg Cory]

Originally posted by Mike AI+Jul 22 2004, 08:48 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ Jul 22 2004, 08:48 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-PornoDoggy@Jul 21 2004, 10:40 PM
I don't have a problem with the Casino firing Rondstat for expressing her political views in the middle of a show in Vegas, any more than I have a problem with networks firing homophobes and racists.

Assuming that Goldberg did NOT slip some kind of subliminal anti-Bush message into a Slimfast commercial, however, I find that situation a lot more troubling.

Of course, there will be some people who are just too ignorant to understand why.

But really ... my goal is to someday be so smart and sophisticated as to be above it all, so I can laugh at all of you.


PD if you had employees who were angering a large segment of the population, and hence your customer base would you fire them?

I would fire anyone who alienated my customer base. If this was a private conversation between frineds it is one thing, but Whoopi is a public figure who gets a lot of attention ( hence her being a spokes person in the first place).

This is a private company doing what it feels is best for its image.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Dick Cheney was not calling up Mrs. Fast and telling her to cut Whoopi or else Bush was going to destroy the company. [/b][/quote]
I agree.

I am anti-Bush, but you can't expect a private institution to keep you around if they deem you a liability to profits.

Hey, say what you want, but live with the repercusions.

Ugh. Thinking of those lines at the nickel slots!

[JR]

I got Whoopi Goldberg fired.

Sorry for the confusion. It had nothing to do with politics, but with the fact that her and Ted Danson broke up... which was very hard on me. Well, that and also for torturing people with Sister Act 1 and 2.

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy+Jul 22 2004, 12:36 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PornoDoggy @ Jul 22 2004, 12:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Originally posted by Mike AI@Jul 22 2004, 11:48 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-PornoDoggy@Jul 21 2004, 10:40 PM
I don't have a problem with the Casino firing Rondstat for expressing her political views in the middle of a show in Vegas, any more than I have a problem with networks firing homophobes and racists.

Assuming that Goldberg did NOT slip some kind of subliminal anti-Bush message into a Slimfast commercial, however, I find that situation a lot more troubling.

Of course, there will be some people who are just too ignorant to understand why.

But really ... my goal is to someday be so smart and sophisticated as to be above it all, so I can laugh at all of you.


PD if you had employees who were angering a large segment of the population, and hence your customer base would you fire them?

I would fire anyone who alienated my customer base. If this was a private conversation between frineds it is one thing, but Whoopi is a public figure who gets a lot of attention ( hence her being a spokes person in the first place).

This is a private company doing what it feels is best for its image.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Dick Cheney was not calling up Mrs. Fast and telling her to cut Whoopi or else Bush was going to destroy the company.
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey ... I didn't say that Dick Cheney was calling anyone up and telling them to fire so-and-so, did I? I'm not talking about any conspiracy here.

FYI, I would feel the same way if anyone was fired for criticizing Kerry ... [/b][/quote]


I was using Cheney as an example, one you could relate with.

If you are consistent, then that is cool. I am consistent as well. Any private company should be able to fire their spokesman or entertainers who alienate part of their customer base.

[JR]

I am working with Ashcroft now to get MikeAI fired from Pure Cash for his remarks.

Time to start making examples out of people.

[Vick]

Hmmmmm - here's a thought

(to the best of my knowledge) None of us has seen either Ronstadt's or Goldberg's contracts

Were they at will employments?
Where any party can terminate the working agreement at any time for any reason



edited for tense

[LadyLaw]

Vick, usually "at will" employment (where you can be fired or quit for any or no reason) is rare in these "entertainer" kinds of cases. More typically, there would be a specified term of employment, terms and conditions of performance, recitation of what would be considered breach of contract, and finally, remedies (including termination or the right to quit) in the event of breach.

I don't know what LR's term of employment was....one night, one week or even two years. But if she was hired to sing and entertain, making political commentary on the job might be considered a breach of contract. People who go to Vegas shows want entertainment....they'll go to church if they want to hear about the Lord, go to a political rally if they want to hear politics.

I thought I heard Whoopi was 8 months into a two year contract. I would be surprised if there wasn't some language in her contract prohibiting public conduct which reflects negatively on corporate good will (or something like that)...especially since she is known for this kind of "comedy" in the past.

There is no bad publicity. I haven't heard this much about LR in 20 years. If I remember correctly, the Aladdin is a washed up casino in a sea of big names who is now in the news. Whoopi will get another job in record time. And even Slimfast gets a bump in name recognition.

[Vick]

Thanks LL

All good points

There is no bad publicity. The thing I remember LR most for is the Stone Pony's tune "Different Drum" which seems to be on medium rotation here on the oldies station (and Me First and the Gimme, Gimmes did a cover of)

[Dravyk]

Some times you guys are just way too easy to fuck with and to push your buttons! That's what this thread was about and looks like the bait was taken very readily.

Amazing how easily some tempers flared, some folks crossed way over the line and got very low and nasty, and several usually smart webmasters had their IQs plummet faster than Acacia stock. Tsk, tsk.

Oh, and nice to see the level-headed conversations and who remained cool too.

Yes, turned out to be a very telling thread.

[LadyLaw]

Originally posted by Vick@Jul 22 2004, 03:04 PM
Thanks LL

All good points

There is no bad publicity. The thing I remember LR most for is the Stone Pony's tune "Different Drum" which seems to be on medium rotation here on the oldies station (and Me First and the Gimme, Gimmes did a cover of)
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14564,00.html?tnews


Hahahaha Vick....everyone wants a piece of this publicity pie:

"On Wednesday, one of the prospective new owners of the Aladdin, Robert Earl, issued a statement of support for Ronstadt.

"We respect artists' creativity and support their rights to express themselves," Earl said. "We were very sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances of this past Saturday night and want to make it clear that Planet Hollywood has never, in our 13 year history, restricted any artists' right to free speech and we will continue with that policy once we take ownership.

"Upon the assumption of ownership, and with a new management team in place, we would like to offer the use of the Theatre of Performing Arts to Linda Ronstadt for a second concert and further to take Michael Moore up on his offer to join her on stage to introduce her and sing a song," Earl continued. The group Earl represents (a division of Planet Hollywood) expects to take control of the hotel as early as September. "
__________________________________________________ __________

I do not want to hear Michael Moore sing!! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[mojobill]

LOL thanks for that LadyLaw.....

thats a brilliant piece of re-direction there.... it aint us.. its those OTHER owners... LMAO

....and I dont want to hear Michael Moore...PERIOD! ;-)