I came across this article in the Huffington Post via their Twitter account and simply had to retweet and comment on it myself.

I was horrified by the tweet’s message, “Sarah Palin defends Dr. Laura via Twitter: ‘don’t retreat…reload!’”

At the time, I had not heard about the Laura Schlessinger controversy but after reading this article, I must say that there are a few things that I would like to point out about this issue.

1) Laura Schlessinger is absolutely right to declare that she will be ending her program once her contract expires this year. If the world learned anything from the Don Imus and the “nappy headed hoes” controversy of April 2007, it is that racial slurs on public radio are not allowed and will result in dismissal and public ridicule.

2) Sarah Palin not gaining the vice presidency had to have been one of the best things to happen in 2008.

3) On the matter of Dr. Laura’s 1st Amendment rights, and Palin’s comment “1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence!” Sorry to say, but it is within the law to censor a voice on the radio!

If you know anything about the law, you would know that it was for situations like this that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was founded. Dr. Schlessinger is trying to protect her reputation and ensure that she will have some hope of working in the communication industry in the future.

3b) “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC’s jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.”

I took the liberty of replying to to Sarah Palin’s Twitter account @SarahPalinUSA telling her that “@SarahPalinUSA “Don’t retreat…reload! ” I’m AfAm, I don’t use the N-word, encouraging its use is ignorant. Plz stop.” I

don’t know if she’ll actually get around to reading it or even pay my words any attention, but at the very least, someone is telling her that this is unfavorable. I’m African American and I don’t use the N-word. I would hate to promote something so ignorant and racially demoralizing as that term.

Sadly, Palin, who seems to have gathered quite the following, is a voice that people follow and imitate. I hope that this is rectified very soon and that Palin is taken out of the public eye. She is not the type of role model that I want the young women of the next generation to listen to.

Rose, Adam J., “Sarah Palin Supports Dr. Laura via Twitter: ‘don’t retreat…reload!’” Huffington Post. 18 Aug 2010.
Faber, Judy. “CBS Fires Don Imus Over Racial Slur.” CBS News. 12 April 2007.

Yasheaka Oakley

Yasheaka Oakley is an independent consultant specializing in public relations, social media, and online marketing via her website, YOakleyPR.com. You can keep up with her on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to her e-newsletter by clicking here.

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