A popular San Francisco news anchor inexplicably made a joke on a Wednesday evening newscast suggesting NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. “should marry his stepmother.”
First, some background: Preceding the quip by KPIX news anchor Dana King was a flawed report from sports anchor Dennis O’Donnell about the unveiling of the stock car Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be racing with his new team next season. Dale Jr., son of the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., is in his final season with Dale Earnhardt Inc., the racing team his father founded and left to Dale Jr.’s stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt. Dale Jr. and Teresa have been publicly at odds about the direction and management of DEI.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR’s most popular driver, and his millions of fans have purchased merchandise emblazoned with his #8, which is the property of DEI. Negotiations with Teresa to allow Dale Jr. to race under #8 on his new team broke down, forcing him to choose a new number. 88 is the number he selected (he purchased the right to use the number from another driver).
O’Donnell, who as the sports guy really should have known more about the matter than, say, me, suggested that the sole reason why Earnhardt Jr. switched numbers was so more Dale Jr. merchandise could be sold. As O’Donnell concluded, news anchor Ken Bastida -- who apparently knew more about the story -- chimed in, saying “I thought it was about his stepmother.”
At that point, co-anchor Dana King said “I think he should marry his stepmother.” Nervous laughter from the rest of the team resulted, to which I believe King responded, “Well, isn’t that what…” leaving her follow-up comment a fragment. Then she turned to the camera, smiled, and said, “On that note…” went into the introduction for the following program, and the reminder to view the 11pm newscast.
Sure, it’s a “joke.” But what type of joke is it? One that plays on stereotypes of southerners as inbred hicks. Don't think so? Think about it: Would King's joke have made sense if Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the most popular figure in yacht racing? If this was bicycle racing and not NASCAR, and the dispute was about Lance Armstrong’s feud with his stepmother, would anyone have suggested Lance marry his father’s widow?
Most disturbing to me personally is the fact that Dana King is 1) normally, one of the Bay Area’s more balanced anchors, and 2) black, as am I. I don’t think she would be amused if an anchor she worked with made a remark based on racist stereotypes on the air. But white southerners, unlike minorities, are still politically correct targets.
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}}---> Earnhardt Jr.
September 20, 2007 - 04:12 ET by Cool ArrowShould we expect more from San Francisco? The culture of depravity pervading that city completely innoculates them from shame.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Cool Arrow, That was my
September 20, 2007 - 05:36 ET by USA4freedomCool Arrow,
That was my first thoughts!
The nerve of any one in San Fran preaching to us about
depravity!
Live from Sodom & Gomorra: it Dana King and the KPIX
news team.
With: (don’t I look like a man in my pants) Hillary, in for “man”
sports, football and baseball.
Also with: (don’t touch my hair) Jonnie Edwards, in for “other
man” sports, Ice skating and interpretive dancing.
Special report from: (don’t say notton bout my big ears) Barrack
Obama, with a breaking story about elephants at the zoo.
Weather tonight with: (who took my stool/cant kiss my giant
wife) Dennis Kucinich, with the semi big story of fire from the sky, is it
global warming, or just fire in his pants..
So..its back to you Dana, I hear you have a breaking story
about some racist crackers in Georgia...
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Agreed. These people are
September 20, 2007 - 07:28 ET by motherbeltAgreed. These people are sick.
IT'S TYPICAL FRISCO...
September 20, 2007 - 05:24 ET by danybhoySan Francisco is an amplified vision of what the progressives think the world should be & is. NASCAR & it's fans are rednecks & all that comes with redneck culture. Let me explain something to Dana King, leave redneck comedy to guys like Jeff Foxworthy, you stick to reporting news with the hard left bias that Americans(yea, I know Frisco does'nt want to be American) are tuning out everyday.
I'm no fan of NASCAR, but as a sports fan, I must say that they are one of the best run leagues going. The NFL is #1, I would put NASCAR at #2, yes baseball geeks, MLB is in decline due to no leadership. NASCAR is growing all the time, & their drivers are great with the media. They understand, unlike so many atheletes today, that they represent themselves, their team, & most of all, their sponsers.
Final note, try to find a group of Americans who are more patriotic then the NASCAR fan(rednecks). I'm sure Dana King & many like King who are not big backers of the USA & never miss the chance to run down those they deem "below" them. Now, had Dale Jr. or any other big name in NASCAR made a joke about "the Gay Bay" or started ranting about interpretive dance & it's light in the loafer fans, these are exactly the people who would lead the charge to shame whatever driver said such an offensive remark.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
It’s a good example of
September 20, 2007 - 06:16 ET by USA4freedomIt’s a good example of standard bashing what is good in
America.
The people in San Fran, look down their nose at us, but we
are laughing at them.
The married mayor, having a affair with a news person.
Homeless, peeing all over the streets.
Taxes going through the roof, (some one has to pay for the
homeless).
Some of the highest aids rates in the nation. Some where
around 18,000 people. (That is almost the entire population of my little town
here New Bern NC.
Seems like every week we hear something like: We the
government (on high) had decreed that you can have sex on the park benches but
can’t smoke afterward.
I am not a big NASCAR fan but I do watch some times.
They are smart. The drivers sign autographs, meet with fans.
It’s a sport that is entertaining, with out profanity. (Otherwise a sport you
can take your family too. I haven’t see any drivers (with the team) go up in
the stands to beat up fans yet.
Remember when (I think it was NBC) that sent people dressed
as Muslims into the stands expecting them to be beaten up. Well nothing
happened, another set up by the MSM busted..
Its funny, we in the south/ mid west would be the first
people to stop and help someone on the road, and yet we are the A$$ Holes. I
hope Dana never breaks down in her car in the south. I wont have time to help,
I have to get to my sister and brother’s wedding...
What a Jack ass.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
But white southerners,
September 20, 2007 - 08:54 ET by general companyVery well put, you could also add Christians in that group as well
This is what make them a target
here New Bern NC.
My sister live there, we love to visit her , very nice area.
You Must Be Joking
September 20, 2007 - 10:02 ET by River CityUSA said: "Remember when (I think it was NBC) that sent people dressed as Muslims into the stands expecting them to be beaten up. Well nothing happened, another set up by the MSM busted.."
I never heard of this. I can't believe they would do such a stupid thing. They are complete jerks.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” Ronald Reagan
He's not joking, River City. They did it.
September 20, 2007 - 10:07 ET by RJYou can't believe it? I remind you to never, ever over-estimate the liberal media. ;^>
USA Today Article
September 20, 2007 - 12:12 ET by kdoliverhttp://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-06-dateline_x.htm
Cut and Paste the link above. Dateline was the one sending Muslims to the NASCAR races. It appears it occured in Martinsville.
http://thelazytriathlete.blogspot.com/
You've got your West Coast mayors mixed up.
September 21, 2007 - 01:55 ET by L.N. SmitheeYou've got your West Coast mayors mixed up. It's L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that had an affair with a news reporter. S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom had an affair with his campaign manager's wife. After it became public knowledge, Newsom gave an at-large apology, and announced that he would be getting counseling for alcoholism, but it wouldn't be required for him to step down from office.
"Hey, I've got nothing against the press...they wouldn't print it if it wasn't true..." -- Joe Jackson, "Sunday Papers"
Sorry, your right. It's
September 21, 2007 - 05:19 ET by USA4freedomSorry, your right. It's hard to keep all the stuff they pull stright..
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Not Southern by birth.
September 20, 2007 - 10:30 ET by Clear thinkerI was born a Yankee. Yep, born in Mass and lived there until the tender age of six. We moved around alot from Mass to Michigan, then Ohio, then NJ. As a young adult I moved South to S.C., and finally the Blue Ridge Mountains of western N.C.
Moving South was the best thing that ever happened. I love it here and would never even consider moving back North. I love the people, the climate, the lifestyle, the schools, the healthcare, etc, etc.
Those elitist SOB's that put down Southerners are ignorant, uneducated, and bigots.
This leads me to one question.... if it's so bad here, why do you keep moving here??????????
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'Frisco
September 20, 2007 - 11:45 ET by tpmintxI once read somewhere that more than 50% of 'Frisco's non-unemployed population is employed by the government at some level. I can't really use the term "working" in this case.
This statistic did not include the welfare recipients and others who are also dependent on the government in some form or fashion.
I felt that this single statistic encapsulated the biggest source of problems in 'Frisco. More than half of the voters are always going to vote in favor of more government spending, as they are all the direct benficiaries of it.
(I use the term 'Frisco, because the people who live there all hate it.)
hmmmmmm...
September 20, 2007 - 12:00 ET by LionKing"I use the term 'Frisco, because the people who live there all hate it."
Interesting...that got me thinking. With liberals hating religion and San Fran being a liberal haven, why haven't they tried to change the name. San Francisco is Spanish for Saint Francis...where is the separation of church and state?...Isn't the very name of this city forcing religion upon everyone? Every government document that has San Francisco on it is clearly violating the much heralded separation of church and state.
[Just wondering...]
geeesh - could you be any
September 20, 2007 - 13:11 ET by katleegeeesh - could you be any more thin-skinned?
I think you're really reaching/projecting on this one!
katlee...
September 20, 2007 - 17:27 ET by LionKingYou really got me pegged.
LK... Things that make
September 20, 2007 - 13:16 ET by Clear thinkerLK...
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm?
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that is true - so what gives
September 20, 2007 - 13:16 ET by TruthMongerthat is true - so what gives I wonder?
we, out here in the Golden
September 20, 2007 - 13:26 ET by katleewe, out here in the Golden State, embrace our Spanish heritage and all the Spanish names
katlee... That explains
September 20, 2007 - 13:30 ET by Clear thinkerkatlee...
That explains why you have a Governor from Austria.
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Silly me, I thought the
September 20, 2007 - 20:27 ET by balboaSilly me, I thought the comment was made because Teresa Earnhardt is pretty hot, not as a joke about "in-bred hicks."
Yeah, it's a stupid comment. But it's not a slight against Southerners.
Yes, it is an anti-Southern slight. Think about it
September 21, 2007 - 01:03 ET by L.N. SmitheeSilly me, I thought the comment was made because Teresa Earnhardt is pretty hot, not as a joke about "in-bred hicks."
Yeah, silly you.
Yeah, it's a stupid comment. But it's not a slight against Southerners.
Once again, I ask: Would Dana King's joke have made sense if Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the most popular figure in yacht racing? If this was bicycle racing and not NASCAR, and the dispute was about Lance Armstrong’s feud with his stepmother, would anyone have suggested Lance marry his father’s widow?
It only makes sense in the context of being insulting. Just like this.
"Hey, I've got nothing against the press...they wouldn't print it if it wasn't true..." -- Joe Jackson, "Sunday Papers"
If those stepmothers were
September 21, 2007 - 08:49 ET by balboaIf those stepmothers were hot, then yes, I can totally see someone saying that.
It's not all a conspiracy to put down southerners.