KSFO's “gentleman” Rodgers lashes out at Media Matters
Written by Matthew Biedlingmaier & Nathan Tabak
Published
On his KSFO radio show, responding to a Media Matters item documenting his comments that “the female leadership of the Democratic Party” consists of “ugly skanks” who “hate” that “Sarah Palin's good-looking,” Lee Rodgers stated that “one of the little left-wing websites” “inferred that I had said that these women, prominent women in the liberal movement, are prostitutes. And of course I didn't say any such thing as that because I am a gentleman.” Rodgers also said that “left-wing bloggers ... are men in their 30s and 40s who are single and likely to stay that way” and are "[s]till living at home with one or both parents." He added: “And, of course, handwriting analysis has revealed that ... they have to use tweezers to masturbate.”
On the September 18 broadcast of San Francisco radio station KSFO's The Lee Rodgers Show, Rodgers responded to a Media Matters for America item documenting his September 17 comments that “the female leadership of the Democratic Party” consists of “ugly skanks” who “hate” that “Sarah Palin's good-looking” by asserting: "[O]ne of the little left-wing websites apparently took note of the fact that I did, absolutely, proudly, made disparaging remarks about some of the top women of the Democratic Party -- they expanded it to say all Democrat women, which is fine with me, because if they're insulted and demeaned by this, mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned." Rodgers stated of “left-wing bloggers”: “For the most part, they are men in their 30s and 40s who are single and likely to stay that way,” and who are "[s]till living at home with one or both parents." Rodgers added: “And, of course, handwriting analysis has revealed that -- well, how can I put this kindly? Regarding their masculinity, they have to use tweezers to masturbate.”
Referring to his “ugly skanks” comment, Rodgers said of Media Matters: "[A]pparently, they had led these few crackpots who emailed me -- they had led them to believe -- or they inferred that I had said that these women, prominent women in the liberal movement, are prostitutes. And of course I didn't say any such thing as that because I am a gentleman. I wouldn't say anything like that." Rodgers added: “Besides, you look at most of them, and you'd figure, how the hell are they going to live on $20 a month anyway? So, I wouldn't say a thing like that.”
From the September 18 broadcast of KSFO's The Lee Rodgers Show:
RODGERS: I'm worried about the little left-wing bloggers. I'm worried about them because, apparently, they don't have much readership. See, the oldest axiom in show business -- and let's face it, this is a branch of show business -- now, the oldest axiom is: We don't care what they say as long as they get the name right. And apparently, one of the little -- you -- you do a website, you know. It can be read by anybody on Planet Earth who has a computer and access to the Internet.
And one of the little left-wing websites apparently took note of the fact that I did, absolutely, proudly, made disparaging remarks about some of the top women of the Democratic Party -- they expanded it to say all Democrat women, which is fine with me, because if they're insulted and demeaned by this, mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.
But they've got a website, and it can be read by anybody in the world. And I'm disappointed. I'm worried about them, because they don't have nearly enough readership. I got exactly five -- count them, five from the entire planet -- responses to the little left-wing website, and I'm very disappointed by that, because I was hoping more people would notice that they had attacked me. I don't even know which one it is, because I never read the things myself. I know they do exist, of course.
But they apparently have a very limited readership, limited to the -- just the left-wing nutcases. And I think they need to broaden their market, but that's a problem for the left-wing bloggers, because we have a psychological profile of them. For the most part, they are men in their 30s and 40s who are single and likely to stay that way.
BARBARA SIMPSON (guest co-host): I certainly hope so.
RODGERS: Still living at home with one or both parents. And, of course, handwriting analysis has revealed that -- well, how can I put this kindly?
SIMPSON: Try.
RODGERS: Regarding their masculinity, they have to use tweezers to masturbate. And --
SIMPSON: Lee, you're probably right.
RODGERS: Right. Of course, I'm right. Of course, I'm right, in every sense of the word. But --
SIMPSON: Wouldn't that hurt?
RODGERS: What I -- God, don't ask me. How would I know?
SIMPSON: OK. OK.
RODGERS: But, apparently, they had led these few crackpots who emailed me -- they had led them to believe -- or they inferred that I had said that these women, prominent women in the liberal movement, are prostitutes. And of course I didn't say any such thing as that because I am a gentleman. I wouldn't say anything like that. Besides, you look at most of them, and you'd figure, how the hell are they going to live on $20 a month anyway? So, I wouldn't say a thing like that.
SIMPSON: Of course not. I know.
RODGERS: But you lefties who monitor this program to torture yourselves -- let's see. I've only been doing this here in San Francisco for what now, 20 -- I think this is year 23, and they've been vowing they were going to get me fired every one of those 23 years. You people who are doing this, you poor lonely guys down in the basement there trying to type with one hand, you need -- you need a marketing effort.
You've got to do something to get more people to read these blogs because I figure you owe it to me. After all the material I've provided you, you owe it to me to give me more of this kind of free publicity. So, please, get creative and think of some way of marketing your product to somebody, except, just, you know, the lunatic fringe --
SIMPSON: How about making it readable and funny? I don't --
RODGERS: -- 'cause that might --
SIMPSON: I don't understand people who spend their time, a) writing those blogs, and the people who spend their time reading the blogs. Who cares what a guy like that thinks?
RODGERS: Talk about an empty life.
SIMPSON: Yeah, exactly right.
RODGERS: God Almighty, it's just -- it's just pitiful. But anyway, I just throw that out. It's an appeal to them. For God's sakes, do something to market your product, because I want more free publicity. And I promise you -- I promise you I will give you a neverending flow of material.
SIMPSON: Just spell the name right.
RODGERS: They're so friggin' dumb, they don't even know when I'm jerking their chain. It's crazy. It's the KSFO Morning Program. You can have it straight or you can have it with cream and sugar, your choice.
Nathan Tabak is an intern at Media Matters for America.