Random Boorish Bits From Talk Radio

Charlie Sykes Wednesday mocked the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union for testifying at a hearing Tuesday before a Milwaukee Common Council considering approval of a water sale to New Berlin.

Calling the WCLU "the robe and sandals" people, Sykes wondered how anyone could discern a civil rights issue in a water sale.

Much of the nearly four-hour hearing was taken up with a discussion of New Berlin's miniscule stock of low-income housing, and the absence of direct transit service from Milwaukee to the portion of New Berlin where the water sale is directed - - an area with the state's largest industrial park, and where another 5,668 jobs could be created.

Using a public resource like Milwaukee water to help add jobs to a neighboring community when low-income Milwaukeans cannot get to the jobs, or find affordable housing, has civil rights' implications that I know Sykes understands.

But my talk radio demerit of the week goes to Rush Limbaugh, who several times Thursday blasted a story in the North Carolina newspaper, The News & Observer, about how consumers, on a weekend when the state suspends the sales tax, could save money on back-to-school supplies and other items in this era of high gas prices.

This sort of 'news-you-can-use' has been around as a staple for years, but Limbaugh saw something else in it.

Because the story was written by a woman, Vicki Lee Parker, Limbaugh repeatedly called it "the chickification" of the news business, finally conceded that his bit was sexist, guessed the writer was a nice person, laughed and went to break.

I found the story: here's a link.