Unfair attack on Ray Taliaferro

[Upton]

This is in response to an earlier post.

I grew up in the Bay Area listening to Ray Taliaferro. This man has fought for progressive causes for 30 years. He's a west coast liberal talk show host icon. He's fought against Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43.

Among his many achievements, Ray served as president of the San Francisco chapter of the NAACP and the Frederick Douglass Symposium. He was named board president of the Northern California Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America for 1995-2000. He was the Mayor's Commissioner of the War Memorial Trustee Board from 1992-2000, and he headed up the San Francisco Art Commission for 16 years. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Governors of The Commonwealth Club of California.

Sure he's passionate and abrasive, that's his style, but for those of you to condemn him, just on the strength of a couple words, without even knowing who he his or never to have listened to his show, just isn't right. I had to say something.

Here's a couple examples of his radio show. Try listening with an open mind, and remember we're all on the same side.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNXg6QOIsJE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7l43zdnfUw

[dsc]

1. If the couple of words

were the n word, faggot, hebe, spic, or cracker I wouldn't listen to him anymore either. So why should those words be any different?

[Upton]

4. Have you ever listened to his show?

Do you even know who he is?

[JoFerret]

Wasn't the obama campaign telling us that

words matter.

Actually - I agree with that. they do.

And again - all those other words trip off the tongue. No taboo there.

[bridgit]

2. Ray's a good guy, he was down on the bush junta when Ronn Owens...

was trying to crawl up the bush crime family's ass after 9/11

[Upton]

3. Thank you

It's got me riled up that a man like Ray can be condemned by people who know nothing about him.

[bridgit]

5. There was a DUer earlier that said pretty much that Ray was some neo-nut...

and a waste of radio waves or whatever...then it occurred to me, this person has not a single clue what they're talking about. When we start tossing the good folks out the window we do the republicans job for them :thumbsdown:

[Upton]

7. Thank you

Like I said in the OP, I had to say something.

[bridgit]

8. Understood, peace!

:)

[bluestateguy]

6. He can be very rude

Now some of the Bush lovers that call his show deserve it, but I have found that he can be very rude to people who basically agree with the core of what he is saying, but have only a minor disagreement on a secondary issue.

Nobody doubts his outstanding community service.

[Upton]

10. That's his style

if you listen to his show, you know that. You also know that though he may be rude, he's one of the good ones. He was standing up for progressive causes before many on this forum were even born.

[JoFerret]

9. I have no idea who he is but sounds like

a loud mouth shock star.
is he?
a ranter?
like KO and O'Reilly?

I get my rants from Stephen Colbert.

[Upton]

12. Listen to the links, they'll give you an idea.

[JoFerret]

19. Sore winner type

maintaining civil discourse is a a high priority

[Upton]

21. Ray is on from 1-5 in the morning

he can say things during those hours that can't be said during the day. Sometimes it's not about civil discourse, it's about fighting back.

[stevedeshazer]

11. Ray is for real

I've been listening for at least 20 years. His overnight show on KGO reaches the whole of western North America. I think he's great, and he's been right every time, on Reagan, Poppy Bush, Lil' Boots, and now McCain.

Hell, yes, he's tough and unapologetic. That's why I like him.

[Upton]

14. Thank you

I knew there were some late night KGO listeners out there.

[stevedeshazer]

15. In Portland, no less

Booms in here every night.

:thumbsup:

[Upton]

17. SW Washington

clear as can be

[stevedeshazer]

18. That's funny, I just clicked your profile

I spent a long time driving a truck in the middle of the night driving between Portland and Centralia listening to Ray.

Small world.

[zulchzulu]

13. I used to listen to Bernie and then Ray when I lived in SF

Two outstanding liberal talk show hosts... I know Bernie has hit some rocky waters, but am not sure what Ray is being hit with...

[Upton]

16. He's not being hit with anything

except a DU member that took it upon themselves to label Ray unfairly. I couldn't let it go by. That's something else about Bernie, huh?

[ej510]

20. He's always been for gay marriage, woman's rights......

civil rights, and has always been against propaganda.

[Upton]

22. I know, he's been fighting the good fight

before many on this forum were even born.

[ej510]

23. Speaking of Kgo did you know that John Rothman has...

come along way moving ever so closely towards Obama.

[Upton]

24. I know he's been supporting Clinton

but I think the combination of Obama's speech and the delegate math is getting to him.

[2rth2pwr]

26. rocky waters?

I'll say.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0215081ward1.html

[TragedyandHope]

25. I'm a fan

I listened to him during the Gulf War and 92 election and he was a great breath of fresh air. I actually had to stop listening after Bill got into office because Ray was just showering him with too much praise in the early days. I listened to him for an alternative viewpoint, but once his candidate got into office, he was a bit unbearable.

Anyway, flash-forward to this election year and I rediscovered him online. He's still a breath of fresh air and good humor. He gives me a strong fix of positive energy to be able to endure the MSM coverage of the primaries.

However, he really has gone for a more extreme and cantankerous persona since I listened too him years ago. Most of it is an act to shock and entertain. He freely admits he enjoys cutting loose on callers "to keep people awake in the middle of the night." Sometimes I'll cringe, but most of the time he has me grinning.

If you don't agree with his point of view and his style, I wouldn't recommend him, unless you want to get your blood boiling every night.