(05/25/09) "Radio Canada rapped for Obama assassination joke" (Reuters)

[Spang]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's public broadcaster was wrong to show a skit that joked about the possible assassination of President Barack Obama and suggested he could be a thief, an industry panel ruled on Monday.

The New Year's Eve "Bye Bye" comedy program -- shown by the French-language Radio Canada network -- generated more than 200 complaints. In one segment, two hosts discussed Obama's election in November 2008. Obama, who took office in January, is the first black U.S. president.

"We're not racists. It will be good to have a Negro in the White House. It will be practical. Black on white, it will be easier to shoot him," one of the show's hosts remarked.

The Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council said it found "nothing redeeming in the allegedly comedic notion that an American president should be shot, still less that this would be easier to achieve because of the color of the president's skin. It was a disturbing, wounding, abusive racial comment".

The show also featured an interview with an actor pretending to be Obama. The host said, "The blacks, you all look alike," and then warned viewers to hide their purses.

The council said the comments and sketches breached regulations, adding they went "too far in terms of Canadian broadcast standards."

The producers of the show denied the skits had been racist, saying they had meant to mock the characters making the offensive remarks.

Complaints about Radio Canada are usually handled by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). In this case the CRTC asked the council -- which deals with commercial channels and has more experience in handling such complaints -- for advice.

The CRTC, which is due to conduct its own probe into the show, does not have the power to fine Radio-Canada but can issue a public reprimand.

A spokeswoman for the commission said such reprimands could cause problems for networks when it came time for them to seek renewal of their broadcasting license. Radio-Canada is due to apply for a license renewal in 2011.

Polls regularly show that Canadians like Obama far more than they do their own leaders. Tens of thousands turned up to cheer him when he made a brief visit to Ottawa in February. A spokeswoman for the U.S. embassy said she did not know whether the White House had complained about the show.

The Source (http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE54O48020090525?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews)

[Horizon]

I really don't care if you like Obama or not, this shit is not even funny, not in the least.:atwitsend::mad:

[NativeSun]

The most disturbing part of this is that it would make Joe Biden president and leave Nancy Pelosi one step closer to the top job. This kind of humor is not even funny at all. I wish Obama a long healthy life.

[Spang]

The most disturbing part of this is that it would make Joe Biden president and leave Nancy Pelosi one step closer to the top job.

Wait. Barack Obama being assassinated is less disturbing than Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi being President and Vice President respectively? Really?

[Horizon]

The most disturbing part of this is that it would make Joe Biden president and leave Nancy Pelosi one step closer to the top job. This kind of humor is not even funny at all. I wish Obama a long healthy life.

Wait. Barack Obama being assassinated is less disturbing than Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi being President and Vice President respectively? Really?

I was leaving that alone as I was stunned that this is actually the only concern NS had about this. Boggles the mind that the death of a POTUS, whether you like him or not is taken this lightly.

[TheTaoOfBill]

At least wait until this president leads us into 2 wars and allows thousands of our sons and daughters to die needlessly before joking about his death.

[Spang]

At least wait until this president leads us into 2 wars and allows thousands of our sons and daughters to die needlessly before joking about his death.

4,991 (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx) to be exact. (http://icasualties.org/oef/) 7,965 if you include 9/11. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks) More Americans have died as a result of terrorism during 8 years of Bush, than any other president. And that's not including the domestic terrorism. Bush and Cheney kept this country safe my ass!

[NativeSun]

4,991 (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx) to be exact. (http://icasualties.org/oef/) 7,965 if you include 9/11. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks) More Americans have died as a result of terrorism during 8 years of Bush, than any other president. And that's not including the domestic terrorism. Bush and Cheney kept this country safe my ass!

Really? You don't consider what the Japanese and Germans did to Americans during the early forties "acts of terrorism"?

[Spang]

Really? You don't consider what the Japanese and Germans did to Americans during the early forties "acts of terrorism"?

No. World War II was not terrorism.

[NativeSun]

No. World War II was not terrorism.

Their aggressive actions into other countries were not efforts to protect their own sovereignty. And what they unleashed upon the populace was terror. You want to talk about torture, waterboarding to the Germans and Japanese during WWII would have seemed benign. Yes, it would have been much better after 9/11 to have done nothing. Letting Al-Qaeda proliferate in Afghanistan could only strengthen our security at home and abroad.

[Spang]

Their aggressive actions into other countries were not efforts to protect their own sovereignty. And what they unleashed upon the populace was terror. You want to talk about torture, waterboarding to the Germans and Japanese during WWII would have seemed benign. Yes, it would have been much better after 9/11 to have done nothing. Letting Al-Qaeda proliferate in Afghanistan could only strengthen our security at home and abroad.

I've always supported Operation Enduring Freedom. Unfortunately, Bush didn't. He thought invading Iraq was more important. As a result, 4,302 Americans have died in Iraq. (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx) Because of Bush's incompetence, more Americans died in Afghanistan than should have. (690) (http://icasualties.org/oef/)

Also, 9/11 happened on his watch. Add another 2,974 dead Americans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks) to the list. Thank you, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for keeping our country safe, except for the 7,966 Americans who have died as a result of your incompetence.

Finally, when a military attacks another military, it's not terrorism. It's war.

[NativeSun]

I've always supported Operation Enduring Freedom. Unfortunately, Bush didn't. He thought invading Iraq was more important. As a result, 4,302 Americans have died in Iraq. (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx) Because of Bush's incompetence, more Americans died in Afghanistan than should have. (690) (http://icasualties.org/oef/)

Also, 9/11 happened on his watch. Add another 2,974 dead Americans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks) to the list. Thank you, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for keeping our country safe, except for the 7,966 Americans who have died as a result of your incompetence.

Finally, when a military attacks another military, it's not terrorism. It's war.

Yeah, funny thing about the term war. During Clinton's presidency there was an actual "declaration of war" upon the United States by none other than Al-Qaeda. Except when it happened, most people laughed about it because after all, what could they actually do to us. We were the greatest military force in the world, and they were riding camels in the boondocks. Well I guess we (or should I say Clinton) should have taken them more seriously. After all, they began planning the 9/11 attacks long before GWB took the oath of office. BTW, the Japanese and Germans did more than just attack another military force. More civilians died at their hands than did soldiers.

[Spang]

Yeah, funny thing about the term war. During Clinton's presidency there was an actual "declaration of war" upon the United States by none other than Al-Qaeda.

And because of Clinton's competent decisions, less Americans died as a result of terrorism during his presidency than George W. Bush's 8 years of absolute failure.

[NativeSun]

And because of Clinton's competent decisions, less Americans died as a result of terrorism during his presidency than George W. Bush's 8 years of absolute failure.

And those were what? That failed air strike attack on an Al-Qaeda camp?

[Spang]

And those were what?

The decision not to unjustly invade a foreign country.

[NativeSun]

The decision not to unjustly invade a foreign country.

So he wouldn't have invaded Afghanistan after 9/11? And if this country really wanted to "finish the Job" in Afghanistan, then the death toll there for U.S. soldiers would probably be higher than in Iraq. Any questions, just ask the former Soviet Union. And after about 8 years, they just up and left, there was no final victory for them.

[Spang]

So he wouldn't have invaded Afghanistan after 9/11?

It doesn't matter, 9/11 happened under Bush's watch.

And if this country really wanted to "finish the Job" in Afghanistan, then the death toll there for U.S. soldiers would probably be higher than in Iraq.

The United States was never at war with Afghanistan.

[Ikasu]

So he wouldn't have invaded Afghanistan after 9/11? And if this country really wanted to "finish the Job" in Afghanistan, then the death toll there for U.S. soldiers would probably be higher than in Iraq. Any questions, just ask the former Soviet Union. And after about 8 years, they just up and left, there was no final victory for them.

Uh, Spang is talking about Iraq, not Afghanistan. Afghanistan was completely justified and necessary. I don't know any reasonable person who did not support the military operation there.

[NativeSun]

Uh, Spang is talking about Iraq, not Afghanistan. Afghanistan was completely justified and necessary. I don't know any reasonable person who did not support the military operation there.

And there would have been U.S. deaths there just the same, and that's what his premise was being based upon: the number of Americans killed because of terrorism under Bush. And the 9/11 happened under Bush is such a BS argument. You mean Al Gore would have stopped it? Let me guess, he would have put Al-Qaeda in a lock box.

[VotingHillary]

So he wouldn't have invaded Afghanistan after 9/11? And if this country really wanted to "finish the Job" in Afghanistan, then the death toll there for U.S. soldiers would probably be higher than in Iraq. Any questions, just ask the former Soviet Union. And after about 8 years, they just up and left, there was no final victory for them.

That war was what caused the demise of the USSR....their entire fiscal budget went to it. Contrary to what Reagan enthusiats insist was his role in the USSR demise.

[Spang]

And there would have been U.S. deaths there just the same, and that's what his premise was being based upon: the number of Americans killed because of terrorism under Bush. And the 9/11 happened under Bush is such a BS argument. You mean Al Gore would have stopped it? Let me guess, he would have put Al-Qaeda in a lock box.

August 6, 2001. Google it.

[Ikasu]

And there would have been U.S. deaths there just the same, and that's what his premise was being based upon: the number of Americans killed because of terrorism under Bush. And the 9/11 happened under Bush is such a BS argument. You mean Al Gore would have stopped it? Let me guess, he would have put Al-Qaeda in a lock box.

I believe Spang's main point is that Americans were killed in an unjustified war in Iraq. He was there btw.

[Spang]

I believe Spang's main point is that Americans were killed in an unjustified war in Iraq. He was there btw.

Technically, Kuwait.

[Ikasu]

Technically, Kuwait.

Sorry. :o

[Spang]

Sorry. :o

It's all good. :cool:

[NativeSun]

Yeah I kmow about the NSA briefing. So what should have been done? The hijakers were already in the U.S. Attack the camps in Afghanistan? Would that have stopped them? Shut down the aviation industry? Do an Israeli pre-flight security screening for every passenger travling into/out of/ and within this country. How much public (and Congressional support) do you think there would have been for the needed measures to prevent 9/11 from happening? Look how long it took for this country to do something in the former Yugoslavia. 32 days is not much lead up time.

[Spang]

Yeah I kmow about the NSA briefing. So what should have been done? The hijakers were already in the U.S. Attack the camps in Afghanistan? Would that have stopped them? Shut down the aviation industry? Do an Israeli pre-flight security screening for every passenger travling into/out of/ and within this country. How much public (and Congressional support) do you think there would have been for the needed measures to prevent 9/11 from happening? Look how long it took for this country to do something in the former Yugoslavia. 32 days is not much lead up time.

How about beefing up security at airports and on airplanes BEFORE 9/11 instead of after.

[NativeSun]

That war was what caused the demise of the USSR....their entire fiscal budget went to it. Contrary to what Reagan enthusiats insist was his role in the USSR demise.

They're both intertwined. They could not have financed both a very expensive arms race and a ground war at the same time. Maybe one at a time, but not simultaneously.

[Ikasu]

How about beefing up security at airports and on airplanes BEFORE 9/11 instead of after.

Or NOT cutting funding for counterterrorism programs and NOT following up on Clinton anti-terrorism initiatives. That may have helped.

[NativeSun]

How about beefing up security at airports and on airplanes BEFORE 9/11 instead of after.

Sorry, I fly almost on a weekly basis. And there's no way the American public would have gone along with post 9/11 type of security before 9/11 without something more tangeable than security alerts at the NSA. And you know those big MRI type of security machines at the airports? Well here's a funny story. After the TWA crash in July 1996, there was the wide speculation that it was caused by terrorists in the beginning. Well, shortly thereafter, none other than VP Al Gore does a press conference at National Airport with one of those machines in the background. He touted how they would dramatically improve the security screening process at the airports to make things more safe. But what really happened was my international tickets went up $20 a pop, that tax money collected purchased very few machines, and on 9/11, most of those machines were still in their bubble wrap. Now that's preventive security I can believe in!!!

[Spang]

Sorry, I fly almost on a weekly basis. And there's no way the American public would have gone along with post 9/11 type of security before 9/11 without something more tangeable than security alerts at the NSA.

We'll never know.

[Ikasu]

Sorry, I fly almost on a weekly basis. And there's no way the American public would have gone along with post 9/11 type of security before 9/11 without something more tangeable than security alerts at the NSA. And you know those big MRI type of security machines at the airports? Well here's a funny story. After the TWA crash in July 1996, there was the wide speculation that it was caused by terrorists in the beginning. Well, shortly thereafter, none other than VP Al Gore does a press conference at National Airport with one of those machines in the background. He touted how they would dramatically improve the security screening process at the airports to make things more safe. But what really happened was my international tickets went up $20 a pop, that tax money collected purchased very few machines, and on 9/11, most of those machines were still in their bubble wrap. Now that's preventive security I can believe in!!!

Unfortunately, Republicans were too worried about stained blue dresses than terrorism in the 90's. Clinton was ridiculed by Republican members when he spoke or introduced legislation about terrorism (the same members that now say he did too little). Here were counterterrorism Clinton proposals in 1996:

Screen Checked Baggage: $91.1 million

Screen Carry-On Baggage: $37.8 million

Passenger Profiling: $10 million

Screener Training: $5.3 million

Screen Passengers (portals) and Document Scanners: $1 million

Deploying Existing Technology to Inspect International Air Cargo: $31.4
million

Provide Additional Air/Counterterrorism Security: $26.6 million

Explosives Detection Training: $1.8 million

Augment FAA Security Research: $20 million

Customs Service: Explosives and Radiation Detection Equipment at Ports: $2.2 million

Anti-Terrorism Assistance to Foreign Governments: $2 million

Capacity to Collect and Assemble Explosives Data: $2.1 million

Improve Domestic Intelligence: $38.9 million

Critical Incident Response Teams for Post-Blast Deployment: $7.2 million

Additional Security for Federal Facilities: $6.7 million

Firefighter/Emergency Services Financial Assistance: $2.7 million

Public Building and Museum Security: $7.3 million

Improve Technology to Prevent Nuclear Smuggling: $8 million

Critical Incident Response Facility: $2 million

Counter-Terrorism Fund: $35 million

Explosives Intelligence and Support Systems: $14.2 million

Office of Emergency Preparedness: $5.8 million


Republicans watered the bill down, laughing at Clinton being too serious about terrorism. Post 9/11, some of these proposals have now been implemented. When Clinton did use the military against Bin Laden, it was "Wag the Dog" tactics. The media actually played clips from the movie when discussing Clinton's actions!

[NativeSun]

August 6, 2001. Google it.

Vietnam War. Google it. Better yet, next time you're in Washington DC, stop by the Vietnam War Memorial. Then add up all of those names on the granite wall. You'll find that it totals more than 7,965.

[Spang]

Vietnam War. Google it. Better yet, next time you're in Washington DC, stop by the Vietnam War Memorial. Then add up all of those names on the granite wall. You'll find that it totals more than 7,965.

The Vietnam War was not a terrorist attack. Let me repost what it was I posted earlier in this thread:

More Americans have died as a result of terrorism during 8 years of Bush, than any other president.

[NativeSun]

The Vietnam War was not a terrorist attack.

Yes, but it was an unjustified invasion of another country, actually countries since we invaded Laos and Cambodia as well.

[Spang]

Yes, but it was an unjustified invasion of another country, actually countries since we invaded Laos and Cambodia as well.

I was a little bit late in adding to my previous post.

Let me repost what it was I posted earlier in this thread:

More Americans have died as a result of terrorism during 8 years of Bush, than any other president.

[NativeSun]

I was a little bit late in adding to my previous post.

Let me repost what it was I posted earlier in this thread:

More Americans have died as a result of terrorism during 8 years of Bush, than any other president.

What are you qualifying as terrorism in regards to the history of this country? Only that of Islamic fundamentalists? You can call what Americans did to Native Americans during the Westward Expansion, acts of terrorism. And on the other side, you can say that Native American ambushes on settlers were acts of terrorism. Here's another historical fact: more people died in auto accidents during George H.W. Bush's term in office than in Woodrow Wilson's.

[Spang]

What are you qualifying as terrorism in regards to the history of this country? Only that of Islamic fundamentalists?

It'll be a lot easier if I tell you what I think terrorism isn't. When our military is fighting another military, it's not terrorism.

[NativeSun]

It'll be a lot easier if I tell you what I think terrorism isn't. When our military is fighting another military, it's not terrorism.

Ah I see. So over the past 6 years, American troops have been fighting the Iraqi Army and not insurgents, or more importantly Al-Qaeda.

[Spang]

Ah I see. So over the past 6 years, American troops have been fighting the Iraqi Army and not insurgents, or more importantly Al-Qaeda.

The Iraqi Army was defeated in 2003.

[NativeSun]

The Iraqi Army was defeated in 2003.

Which was my point. Who have the American troops been fighting against over the past 6 years? Cause I kept on hearing the terms insurgents, sectarian militias, and Al-Qaeda in Iraq. What military are they formed under?

[Spang]

Which was my point. Who have the American troops been fighting against over the past 6 years? Cause I kept on hearing the terms insurgents, sectarian militias, and Al-Qaeda in Iraq. What military are they formed under?

None. The car bombings and suicide bombings and all that other stuff killing our military men and women, are acts of terror done by terrorists.