Al Franken on Air America Radio

[Emi]

TRANSCRIPT

The O'Franken Factor
http://www.ofrankenfactor.com/

Aired about 12:10pm on June 2, 2004
Air Amerida Radio

[...]

Host Al Franken: We caught [FOX News and talk radio host Sean] Hannity in another lie. The guy just will not stop... Let's play this, this is from May 26th. This is comparing... This is talking about moveon.org which is a group that I've done some stuff with, and... well here:

SH: Now Al Gore, this is MoveOn.org PAC that he is now aligned himself with because of number of times he's associated with them. This is a group that had a website that featured ads that compared our President George Bush with Hitler. One of their big supporters, George Soros, also compared George Bush to the Nazis. This is the group that says we ought to have a non-military response to 9/11. Do you think it's appropriate for a former vice president to associate with a group that has ads on their website that compare the President of the United States to Hitler?

AF: Okay, now. As Hannity knows, MoveOn.org had a contest in which people submitted 30 second ads on the Bush administration. They posted over 1,200 submissions on their website and two of them compared Bush to Hitler. As soon as this was pointed out to MoveOn people, they immediately took the ads off from the website, they never featured these ads nor do they as Hannity says have these ads on their website that compare president to Hitler. This is something Republicans made huge deal out of. In fact the place you could find these was on GOP websites. They took them down.

And Hannity knows this, and it's just tiresome. We continuously debunk Hannity's lies but it doesn't make any difference. He keeps on repeating lies we debunk and then he tells other lies that he knows are lies. And he forces us to resort to the only weapon... welcome to today's edition of Fighting Hannity's Lies With Lies About Hannity.

[...]

AF: Okay, today's lies about Hannity. Remember this isn't true. That's important--this is a lie. Not true.

AF: Hannity was born a hermaphrodite.

Co-host Katherine Lanpher: What?

AF: It's not true. Not just a hermaphrodite, but a conjoined twin who is also hermaphrodite. They were conjoined at both sets of genitals. Remember this isn't true, it's a lie. The doctor in delivery room said he'd never seen a more hideously freakish creature in his life, Sean and Shawn, S-H-A-W-N.

They were separated at age 14 by drunk carnival barker using a [inaudible] stolen from bearded lady, who was Sean's mother and father. Remember, none of this is even remotely true, it's a lie. Anyway, Sean nearly bled to death but survived and now has a quarter of a vagina and three-quarters of a penis. Remember this isn't true.

But in a sense it is far less [inaudible] lie than the lies this three-quarter man tells everyday. And we here at The O'Franken Factor, we feel that it's our duty to keep lying about Hannity as long as he insists on lying to America. That was today's Fighting Hannity's Lies With Lies About Hannity.

KL: Al? What happened to Shawn, S-H-A-W-N, Shawn?

AF: Katherine, it's a lie, there were no twins. But your asking demonstrates how insidious these lies could be. He-she bled to death.

KL: Oh, that's terrible.

AF: But Sean didn't seem to care, he's never even mentioned her on the show as his sister.

KL: That's terrible.

[miriam]

Let’s hope these people find this sooooo incredibly funny that they will laugh themselves to death. That way this kind of ‘jokes’ would make the world a bit better. Miriam

[Dana Gold]

They perhaps don't realize that everything in life goes 2 ways. I regard some "normals" as cretinish, perverted freaks of a lower social and biological order. especially slack-jawed, knuckle-dragging athletes, who (after engaging in drug and spousal abuse) are portrayed as "real men" and "heroes".

Al Franken and his co-host?.... gabbing idiocy to an audience of chimpanzees (who w/o understanding what the hell is being said) blindy, stupidly laugh along.........They are the "joke".

And there are a lot of shows that are like that: Jerry Springer and Maury Povich...... hosting shows that regard other human beings (not deemed normal) as "a joke"; with the audiences behaving like scurrying, loud-mouthed incontinent animals in a zoo.

Television/radio "entertainment" at its intelligent best:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Betsy]

factorcorrections@<hidden>

[Dana Gold]

I'm in just "the mood" to offer "a rebuttal"...not as vitrolic, of course, as my recent post; but nonetheless I do not appreciate the entertainment value of hermaphrodite ha-ha-ism. I will bring to their attention that their "jokes" were not funny at all and to respect human beings who live with intersexed conditions..........thanks for the email address Betsy.

Dana

[Dana Gold]

my words to "them":

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this email as protest to the disrespectful portrayal of "hermaphrodites" (human beings with an intersexed condition, of which I am one of) as freaks and a "joke" by Al and Kathy on the show O'Franken Factor (aired 6/2/04 12:10 PM); portions of which are below my statement. I have been abused and tormented by this society since childhood for being a "freak of nature" and an object of both ridicule in a twisted humorous (to my tormentors) way. I would ask that, in the future, your hosts and other personnell involved in talk-show presentations maintain some decency and humanity toward intersexed individuals and reflect upon the message you send to your listening audiences when you portray us as freaks and jokes. I would expect that you could at least apologize publicly and realize that we are after all, just as human as you and being born sexually ambiguous does not justify (from a humanistic standpoint) us being regarded as anything less than human.

[Glenn]

...what would happen if they were reported to the FCC?

How can I file a complaint about obscenity, indecency or profanity on the radio or television?

The Commission asks complainants to provide the following information:

the date and time of the alleged broadcast;

the call sign of the station involved; and

information regarding the details of what was actually said (or depicted) during the alleged indecent, profane or obscene broadcast.

With respect to item (3), in making indecency determinations, context is key! The Commission staff must have sufficient information regarding what was actually said during the alleged broadcast, the meaning of what was said and the context in which it was stated. There is flexibility in how a complainant may provide this information. For example, the complainant may provide a significant excerpt of the program describing what was actually said (or depicted) or a full or partial tape or transcript of the material. In whatever form the complainant provides the information, it must be sufficiently detailed such that the Commission can determine the words and language actually used during the broadcast and the context of those words or language.

You may file a written complaint and mail it to:

FCC
Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554

or

You can file at fccinfo@<hidden>


Glenn, still causing trouble

[Peter]

I find Al Franken's remarks on hermaphrodites and twins personally very painful. I was born intersex and was also born a twin (non-conjoined). The death of my twin in childbirth was a severe emotional blow to my mother. I wish that people would stop making such painful and hurtful jokes at the expense of others.

p.s. Thanks Betsy for the email link. I have sent them a copy of my remarks.

Peter

[Dana Gold]

If and when I get a response or reply I will post it here at BLO. Or maybe they might "make fun" of me and my email.

I wonder how "they" would handle and react to someone hosting a show where they as "normal" people are debased and ridiculed....Ohhhh, they would, no doubt, have a fit.

Dana

[Betsy]

And mine:

Dear Air America and Mr. Franken,

I am quite dismayed by your 'jokes' from yesterday's show when discussing Sean Hannity characterizing him as a hermaphrodite and then going to say that the doctor never saw a more freakish thing in the delivery room. As someone born with an intersex condition, I found your comments insulting and stigmatizing. Intersex people nor conjoined twins are neither freakish nor are they "he-she" as you said.

Perhaps you are naively unaware of the frequency of intersex births and the shame and secrecy that often surrounds them. Approximately 1:2000 people have an intersex condition, making it about as common as cystic fibrosis and comparable to Downs Syndrome. Would you make fun of someone with Downs Syndrome for the sake of ratings? Why do you believe that people with an intersex condition are an appropriate target for you?

I would encourage you to learn more about intersex conditions and the shame and secrecy that surrounds them before using us as the butt of another joke.

I trust an apology will be made.

[Dana Gold]

I did some research about this Sean Hannity and he strikes me as the type of individual who would do more than just joke about the intersexed community. He apparently is a strict religious right-winger that in the past has aligned himself with elements of the traditional values "folks"and upholds the "anti-homosexual agenda". Since potential hate-mongers like this usually don't realize the difference between gay, intersexed, etc; we may expect some interesting "barbed" rebuttal from him to Al Franken's depiction of a freak/he-she etc.

They're all so ignorant about this; these "social commentators"....left-wing; right-wing, etc. :mad: :confused:

Dana

[Betsy]

Actually, I sent him a copy of the release with the belief that it is a good opportunity to educate about intersex issues. I've often said that if given a choice between appearing on a show like 60 minutes or the 700 club with Pat Robertson, I would choose the 700 club in a heartbeat.

Betsy

[Dana Gold]

Ahhhhh, I get it; sort of like "sowing seeds and irrigating the land" where it is the most arid and desolate.

Dana:)

[Dana Gold]

I received this in my email a little while ago:

Thanks for the email--you and other listeners with similar concerns have opened our eyes to the concerns of the intersexed community. We'll work to be more aware in the future.

Ben Wikler
Producer
The O'Franken Factor

Well, they were prompt in their response, I'll say that.

Dana

[Peter]

Here is their response to my email:

Thanks for the email, and I'm sorry that we caused you pain. Another listener directed us to bodieslikeours.org; we're in the process of becoming more sensitized to intersex issues.

Best,

Ben Wikler
Producer
The O'Franken Factor

[Betsy]

Thanks for the email--we'll be more mindful of this in the future. There's no reason intersex people should be caught in the Al Franken-Sean Hannity crossfire, and they won't be again.

And thanks for suggesting your website. I'm learning from it.

Ben Wikler
Producer
The O'Franken Factor

I'd still like to hear a public apology. Given the number of emails they have received (based upon those that cc'd me on the ones sent in reaction to the action alert) it's almost impossible for them to ignore it.

Betsy

[Emi]

I wrote them an email before posting the transcript here, but somehow I never heard from them. They probably just ignored my email, and then re-considered it after receiving several other emails. So thanks for sending all those emails.

Despite this, I like Al Franken. I liked his work on Saturday Night Live, as well as his latest book "Lies and Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." We need radio programs like Franken's to succeed. But of course that doesn't mean we have to tolerate "jokes" that are just as offensive--albeit at least it's labeled "jokes"--as Rush Limbaugh's.

And also, Sean Hannity is EVIL. See the aforementioned book, or listen to any of his radio program, or the show "Hannity and Colmes" on FOX News.

[Betsy]

Emi, or anyone...

If you can listen to the show tomorrow (Friday 6/4) I'd be interested in knowing if they mention it or apologize. I will be unable to as I'll be enroute to the city and don't think I can get the NYC station all the way out here on my car radio. You can listen on line as well from 12-3pm http://www.airamericaradio.com/pub/globalDefault.htm

Betsy

[Betsy]

A sampling of some of the emails sent to Franken that I was forwarded:
****
Fwd: you blew it, Al Franken
Dear Mr. Franken,
>I like your show, and I usually like your sense of humor. However, you
>really blew it in your June 2nd show in which you went on and one about
>hermaphrodites and cojoined twins. It really wasn't funny, and it was
>indeed offensive. Al Franken, there really are people out there who
>are intersexed, and there really are people out there who are born
>cojoined. I don't think it is necessary to explain why I found your
>attempt at humor offensive -- I think it's obvious.
>Disappointed,


****
Hi Betsy - we can get this out on to one of our smaller lists this week (chapter leaders) and to the weekly alert next week. We just sent out the weekly alert for this week.

Thanks for letting us know.

Ron

Ron Schlittler
Acting Executive Director
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
****
> Dear Air America,
>
> I just received this transcript, and if it's true, I want to let you
> know I find it horribly offensive.
>
> I like to think that we gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and
> intersex people can at least expect not to be ridiculed or referred to
> as "freakish" or "he-she" by people on the left. We deserve better
> than this, and you should already know that.
>
> In your attempt to challenge right-wing radio shows, please don't
> emulate them.
>
> Confused about intersex issues? Visit BodiesLikeOurs.org, or the
> Intersex Society of North America (ISNA.org), and learn.

****
Dear Mr. Franken,

I am a great admirer of yours, and I have long lauded your efforts to expose the mendacity and duplicity of the Religious Right.

All the more reason, then, for me to feel shocked, upset and really, damn near betrayed upon reading the transcript of your remarks about conjoined "hermaphrodite" twins, to whom you referred as "freakish" and "he/she."

Not funny. Not one bit funny, Mr. Franken. Intersexed people, especially children, deserve respect as the unique, wonderful, lovable creatures they are.
Comments such as yours can only add to the popular perception that intersex is indeed a freakish condition, and one that must be "cured" immediately through radical, castrating, genital-mutilating surgery.

I know. Believe me, I know. I am the mother of an intersexed woman, and I have been with her through her struggles every step of the way.

I expect the Religious Right to treat sexual minorities with such contempt and derision, Mr.
Franken, but I expected much better from you. I sincerely hope that in the future, I will be much less disappointed in you.

Sincerely,
<removed>

***
this is pretty crass and horrifying stuff.
i'll definitely write.
***

Echoing Emi...thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write.

Betsy

[Emi]

Okay, I have made the segment from yesterday's The O'Franken Factor available as Ogg Vorbis file. You can download and listen to the file at:

http://www.intersexinitiative.org/misc/040602-alfranken.ogg

Ogg Vorbis is an audio endoding format, like Windows Media and RealAudio; in fact, it's an open-source alternative to these. If your computer can't play the file above, perhaps you should install software to enable that. If you have a Mac or Windows machine, download the Ogg Vorbis plugin for QuickTime at http://sourceforge.net/projects/qtcomponents/ ; if you have Linux or other non-Mac brand of UNIX clone, then chances are that your computer can already play Ogg Vorbis files--and in case you don't, you won't need me to lecture how to make it happen.

Note to Betsy: Please don't give this URL to the email list. The file is 700KB and my server can't handle hundreds of downloads. It's a treat for message board participants only. As for hosting the file yourself on your own server--well, it's not *my* copyright that you're violating so it's none of my business.

[Betsy]

Apology issued :p

http://www.bodieslikeours.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=824