C-SPAN Caller Sick of Listening to Black People

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by Jon Bershad | 5:12 pm, March 29th, 2010

» 14 comments

One of the most illuminating parts of watching the Health Care debates last week was listening to the differing opinions of the C-SPAN audience as they called in. There’s just something nice about hearing what real people have to say about the issues. Well, sometimes.

Earlier today, a caller called into the channel’s Washington Journal about the way they handle their callers. His main complaint: too many black people.

The caller, Bill, a Republican from St. Paul, seems to be believe that no black people can be conservatives and since they all worship Obama and therefore C-SPAN should take less of their calls to remain impartial (No black conservatives? Hasn’t he seen Michael Steele all over the news today?). It dissolves into racist nonsense almost immediately with Bill giving great insight about how C-SPAN should change their name to BLACK-SPAN. Ooh, burn.

While there’s nothing particularly funny about racist ranting, you have to chuckle and admire C-SPAN’s Bill Scanlan as he gives a master’s class in maintaining dignity in a no-win situation. Unfortunately, his poise here might just be born of experience. In January he got to have a discussion with a caller who wanted less Jews on the air.

That’s the problem with real people. Sometimes they’re real crazy.

Bill Scanlon, CSPAN

same2u

Republicans are the party with the “Big Tent” filled with teabaggers.
Fidoohki

As opposed to Loony liberal land the Dems have become…
timzank

Wonder what Robert Byrd thinks of this?
tjl

Tea Baggers are sweet, aren’t they?
sueNaustin

Why does it matter which line “they” call on? Would he have been less offended to have heard that someone on the Democrat’s line was on the phone so he could mute it or something? That is an awful early time in the morning to get so agitated.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

@sueNaustin: The hosts alternate between the lines, so someone were to call the “wrong” number, then it could make it appear that public opinion is skewed and it costs a party member, a place in line.
sueNaustin

@Magister: Thanks for the explanation. Obviously I don’t watch a lot of C-SPAN.

Well … I guess then I think he was asking C-SPAN (in his frustration) to presuppose that when a black person calls in on the Republican line that they are lying and that C-SPAN should screen as such.
blueblogger

The average age of a C-span caller is about 80. I have tried to watch but I just can’t.
http://www.thecobraslair.com Cobra

sueNaustin,

Then….that would advocate the racial screening of phone calls, and would also demonstrate why GOP outreach to minorities is abyssmal.

–Cobra
Nachi

Excuse me, Bill. As I switch away from BLACK SPAN to WHITE SPAN. And attempt to determine which is more intellectually empty and boring. I note that the RNC keeps re-running “Big Top Pee-Wee.”
TylerDurdin

same2u, you are the KIng and Quenn of teabagging.
TylerDurdin

the caller was harry reid, Cobra!
http://www.thecobraslair.com Cobra

Keep on mining that non-White demo, Tyler. We Democrats appreciate your efforts.

–Cobra
writer

How could he tell they were black over the phone?