Feherty under fire for joke...

[apex53]

Former President Bush is not a Texan... He was not born here, so he is not a Texan... But even if he was I still would not have concerns on how the state of Texas is viewed because of his administration... So yes, there is a doubt, Awsi Dooger...

[PEZGolf]

Key part of the phrase right there. Your opinion is yours and yours alone.

Here are my responses: 1. I have heard the joke before, and if it is about killing bin Laden, Quadaffi, and Kim Il Sung, then it is funny. Even though it is regarded as a joke, I do not think of killing Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi as being funny. I do not like or trust her, and am glad that Leon Panetta attacked her for her accusations that she was not fully informed by the CIA. Conerning Harry Reid, I am some respect for him, but he is not my favorite. You know ---I do not like Ted Kennedy, even though I did go to college in the Boston area, and got converted to rooting for the Celtics, Bruins, and my Beloved Boston Red Sox instead of the Yankees, Knicks and Rangers. Even so, I do not think it is funny to make a "joke" that it is too bad that Sirhan Sirhan and Lee Harvey Oswald were not around to complete the trifecta of taking out "Kennedys". The assassinations of JFK, Bobby, and Martin Luther King just leave me with a real dislike for joking about something like that. 2. I am a true political independent, and H. Ross Perot was the last candidate for President that I supported. I was so turned off by the two flip floppers, McCain and Obama that I could not vote for either. Instead, I wrote in my name for President and my son for Vice President. That is called "making history". How many father-son tickets have received votes in an American Presidential election? PEZ and YOUNG PEZ for Prez and Vice Prez. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Anyway, people think that I am a "bleeding heart liberal". Wrong. Political independent, and that was the way that I registered to vote in 1966, and I have remained the same ever since. 3. As an independent, I can criticize a President on some issues, and support him on others. While I have been very critical of former President George W. Bush on many issues, I voted for him in 2004, and praise him to this day for the way he led our country after September 11th. I do disagree with his record on many issues, but I actually like him as a person. People cannot believe that I can be this way. They either like a President or do not like him. I am no zealot, and can be very impartial in my analyses. So-----------please do not label me in any way. You will find that I am a "moving target" and you will hit the mark only once in ten tries.

[Surefire]

In my opinion, certain topics cannot be joked about

Here are my responses:

You will find that I am a "moving target" and you will hit the mark only once in ten tries.

Moving target indeed!

[iacas]

moving target indeed!

PEZ, you got nailed.

[leftcoastsrt04]

His joke reminds me of another one

You big jerk! I know someone who has a friend who is a lawyer. You must be one of those "Republican" people. You really could have hurt a lawyers feelings you know! As a proud member of the.... well..... Republican party.... You should just take it back...... TAKE IT BACK!!!!! This is the first I have heard about Feherty's comment, and I didn't like it...... I LOVED IT!!!!!

[leftcoastsrt04]

In my opinion, certain topics cannot be joked about---religious beliefs, rape, pornographic films involving children under the age of 5, political assassinations, etc.

Did you hear the joke about the Porno that those 6 year old's made? Seriously bro.... Porno's about kids under 5??? How did you come up with under 5????

[ninetwothree]

This is all too funny!

How could this not be taken as a joke? I could really only understand any drama if the thread was "Feherty acted seriously today and he didn't make a single sarcastic comment!" This would give me reason for concern.


He's nothing But jokes and just because he jokingly made a comment about about something concerning the government and the military does not require an apology, because THAT sounded serious.

I guess its the same thing as saying 'bomb' on an airplane. You get clinked up for that one, so maybe there are special circumstances where its for our best interest (as a country) not to speak our mind... which we are entitled to.

[ERC7.5]

Just found this quote...thought it applied well here.
"Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind." - E.B. White (author of Charlotte's Web)

[bobsuruncle]

i had no idea that America had turned into a country where you can't joke about politicians anymore... since when did the USA turn into a military dictatorship?

[jonnythan]

You can joke about politicians.

Heck, you can even joke about people killing them, though it's poor form and likely to draw strong criticism.

[iacas]

i had no idea that America had turned into a country where you can't joke about politicians anymore... since when did the USA turn into a military dictatorship?

No,

apparently we can't make fun of anyone anymore or idiots will swear at you - behavior which completely eclipses the original act.

[PEZGolf]

While I think I've made it clear I think this story is mostly a bunch of idiots getting their panties twisted because they lack a functional sense of humor, I do think CBS would be within its rights to drop Feherty if they chose to. I don't think it would be reasonable for most employers to do this, but he is specifically employed as a public face for the company. They aren't just hiring him to do a job, they're renting his personality to sell to the public. As such, they have a special interest in ensuring that his is a persona they wish to be associated with. For most employees, this is not the case, and I don't think it's at all reasonable to fire someone simply because you disagree with their politics.

You are correct. CBS is within their legal rights to terminate Feherty. Again, if I was the CEO, he would be gone. I know other people disagree with me, but I think some subjects are "out of bounds", and political assassination is one. You know, have we not learned our lessons about bad cartoons and comments about the Prophet Mohammed? If I made a joke about shooting someone's parents or children, is that OK? I think it is wrong, and in poor taste. There are limits to "freedom of speech", and more than just yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater. Good taste and common sense and morality should impose limits on what is acceptable. In my opinion, Feherty showed a total disregard of the assassinations of JFK, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. He cannot plead "innocent" because he is from Ireland. If any country should have a proper respect for not joking about political violence, it should be Ireland. I think there are times that Feherty has a "screw loose", and he needs to be taught a lesson, and a weak apology indicates he has not learned anything at all from this controversy. Loss of his job might make more of an impression on him. I hope he gets fired.

[iacas]

I think some subjects are "out of bounds", and political assassination is one.

You've already been caught in this thread in talking out of both sides of your mouth, PEZ. I suggest you let this topic end. Everyone else seems to have done so.

If I made a joke about shooting someone's parents or children, is that OK? I think it is wrong, and in poor taste.

That would be your opinion. Suffice to say it differs. Ever been to a comedy club? Doesn't seem likely... jokes made in there are sexist, racist, full of curse words, include violence, etc. And you know what? Most people find 'em funny.

There are limits to "freedom of speech", and more than just yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater.

Yeah, and hate speech. That's about it. Beyond that, you quickly step onto that slippery slope known as "censorship." Woo! That's where I want to be, censoring people!

1984 and GroupThink, here we come!

Good taste and common sense and morality should impose limits on what is acceptable.

The more I read reactions like this, the more the joke amuses me.

It's the joke that keeps on giving!

In my opinion, Feherty showed a total disregard of the assassinations of JFK, Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King.

Oh come on.

Loss of his job might make more of an impression on him. I hope he gets fired.

Uhm, he's not getting fired. Kind of would have happened by now. It's blown over. Get over it.

Actually, since I've got the power, the end.