# Dr. Laura wants her first amendment rights back... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 18, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594 "2010-08-18T01:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/61 "2010-08-18T16:15:21Z")
I don’t see where USC offers a certificate in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Maybe they did back whenever she got it… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/62 "2010-08-18T16:17:17Z")
> [@conway](#): > > I don’t see where USC offers a certificate in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Maybe they did back whenever she got it… I don’t either. I also don’t think this is important at all. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/63 "2010-08-18T16:17:28Z")
Exactly. She made it up, just like she made it up that she was a “licensed psychotherapist.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/64 "2010-08-18T16:33:39Z")
Granted that Laura Schlessinger is an idiot, but getting back on topic, is there any basis to her claim? She said her affiliates are being attacked. Does she mean complaints were filed with the FCC? If so then she has a semi-rational basis for claiming that the government is acting on things she said and this is a freedom of speech issue. ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/65 "2010-08-18T16:36:59Z")
All a post-doctorate certificate signifies is that you took a certificate class. It’s quite simple. Depending on the licensing board in the state and field you’re going into some certificate classes may be required. For some fields extensive certificate courses may be required. This woman has never been licensed in anything. Her PhD is in physiology. Not that her credentials, no matter what they happen to be, would stop her from being a hypocritical dolt that has done and still does everything she so sanctimoniously berates people for. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/66 "2010-08-18T16:40:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > She said her affiliates are being attacked. Does she mean complaints were filed with the FCC? If so then she has a semi-rational basis for claiming that the government is acting on things she said and this is a freedom of speech issue. I know in the past there have been campaigns to pressure sponsors to stop advertising on her show. She could be talking about that. If an individual has filed a complaint with the FCC, that does not constitute a rational basis for saying the government is attacking her. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/67 "2010-08-18T16:43:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Granted that Laura Schlessinger is an idiot, but getting back on topic, is there any basis to her claim? She said her affiliates are being attacked. Does she mean complaints were filed with the FCC? If so then she has a semi-rational basis for claiming that the government is acting on things she said and this is a freedom of speech issue. What about the people lodging the complaints? Are they supposed to just shut up so Dr. Laura can say ‘nigger’ on the radio whenever she wants to? But that’s supposing it’s the FCC hosting those complaints. Alternatively, it’s probably the general public, who also get the benefit of the First Amendment, calling the affiliates and saying, “Dr. Laura sucks - I’m going boycott your advertisers.” In which case, I’ll see your Government Mandated Censorship and raise you an Invisible Hand of the Free Market. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/68 "2010-08-18T16:47:15Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > [@Shodan](#): > > > > No, I am afraid that is not true at all - [cite](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postdocjobs.com%2F&ei=pfprTNvtBYmtngfB5omPAg&usg=AFQjCNGSHMtyI0QDWjteltw9uQBmV-2ppw&sig2=J6FOj5gBUaQ-ZJR_M-I9gA), [cite](http://www.nationalpostdoc.org/), [cite](http://gap.stanford.edu/5-11.html), [cite](http://gradprograms.med.wayne.edu/degree.php), [cite,](http://www.degreetutor.com/online-programs/health-medical/psychology/cert-psychrespecialization-fielding) etc. > > Those cites prove that there is such a phrase as “post doctoral”, but that doesn’t address **spark’s** observation. Yes it does - it proves that many, many instances exist of people using such a construction apart from describing Schlessinger’s credential specifically. So, what he said is wrong. Now you can either recognize reality, or join **Diogenes** in repeating false statements over and over. Your call. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/69 "2010-08-18T16:58:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Now you can either recognize reality, or join **Diogenes** in repeating false statements over and over. Your call. Is, or is not, Dr. Laura a "“licensed psychotherapist”? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/70 "2010-08-18T17:00:13Z")
**Dio** , can you just admit that Dr. Laura got her certificate \*after \*she got her doctorate so \*\*Shodan \*\*can achieve orgasm and we can rejoin the actual topic of the thread? ---
**Author:** ![capeo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@capeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capeo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/71 "2010-08-18T17:04:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Granted that Laura Schlessinger is an idiot, but getting back on topic, is there any basis to her claim? She said her affiliates are being attacked. Does she mean complaints were filed with the FCC? If so then she has a semi-rational basis for claiming that the government is acting on things she said and this is a freedom of speech issue. There is absolutely no validity to her claim, she’s crying victim like she told her listener not to. There is no governmental action towards her at all just protests and affiliates dropping her like hot cakes. She’s conservative. She should be praising the free market, no? It worked well to get her TV show canned and now it’s working to get her shrill nonsense off the radio. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/72 "2010-08-18T17:11:11Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > Is, or is not, Dr. Laura a "“licensed psychotherapist”? Who cares? Let’s pretend for a moment that she licensed in both psychology and psychiatry, has 30 years experience helping patients, and is nationally recognized as one of the top therapists in her field. Would that make it MORE acceptable that she acts like complete jackass and berates her callers without even listening to them? Those of you defending her credentials are really just building a better case about what a useless lump that bitch is. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/73 "2010-08-18T17:19:39Z")
I don’t know what she means by her affiliates being “attacked,” but from reading [these comments](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dr-laura-schlessinger-vows-back-quitting-radio-show/story?id=11426277), it sounds like she’s just talking about people calling affiliates and sponsors to complain. The government, certainly, has done nothing to her. She just doesn’t appear to know what the 1st Amendment actually is. She’'s a lot like Palin, isn’t she? She thinks that her rights are being violated if someone disagrees with her. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/74 "2010-08-18T17:21:21Z")
> [@conway](#): > > Those of you defending her credentials are really just building a better case about what a useless lump that bitch is. Listen, if the woman was on fire, it’s a less than even money bet I’d deign to piss on her. I can’t stand her. So if the discussion is, “Is she a useless waste of oxygen?” then I’m absolutely on board. But if you claim that she has a felony record, then you better be able to back that up. That’s a factual claim. If you claim she never appeared on the Larry King show, you better be able to deal in good faith with evidence showing that she has. Neither of those factual assertions makes her any less, or any more, of a useless waste of space. But because she’s a useless waste of space we do not abandon all critical thinking and evaluation skills. Unless we are named **Diogenes**. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/75 "2010-08-18T17:23:32Z")
> [@capeo](#): > > All a post-doctorate certificate signifies is that you took a certificate class. It’s quite simple. Cite? Here is my [cite to the contrary](http://www.pcom.edu/admissions/Post_Doctoral_Certificate_Programs.html), showing more extensive requirements than “took a certificate class.” Where is your cite for your claim? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/76 "2010-08-18T17:25:30Z")
She is paying for her ego. Anybody in public life has a pretty good understanding of where the line is. She deliberately went over it to make a point, that she was so respected and smart, that nobody would think she was being racist. She lost. She only has herself to blame. No one did anything to her. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/77 "2010-08-18T17:29:29Z")
Show the proof that she was ever in one of those programs. USC does not appear to offer the particular certification she claims to have gotten there, and we already know that’s she’s outright lied about her qualifications before (falsely claiming to be a "licensed psychotherapist), so what is the actual proof, beyond her own claim on her website, that she actually has any such certification. I’m calling bullshit on it. I don’t believe it exists, and she would not have been qualified for any such program even if it did exist. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/78 "2010-08-18T17:31:00Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > **Dio** , can you just admit that Dr. Laura got her certificate \*after \*she got her doctorate so \*\*Shodan \*\*can achieve orgasm and we can rejoin the actual topic of the thread? Please refraid from comments like this: > [@No direct personal insults or "flaming" in great debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-direct-personal-insults-or-flaming-in-great-debates/210240/3): > > Do not say or imply that your fellow posters achieve sexual gratification or soil themselves in glee/distress due to recent news reports, politcal icongraphy, contemplation of ideological positions, etc. In fact, if you’re going to discuss someone’s bowels or genitalia at all, it better be DIRECTLY relevant to the debate at hand. > > I mean, GEEZ. It’s disgusting and adds nothing to the debate, and I am somewhat dismayed I even have to explicitly make a rule against this practice, but what was once a vanishingly rare occurance is now getting ickily prevalent. This is not longer as prevalent as it was years ago when this rules addendum was posted, but I’d like to keep it that way. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/79 "2010-08-18T17:31:01Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Listen, if the woman was on fire, it’s a less than even money bet I’d deign to piss on her. I can’t stand her. Hmm, Dr. Laura on fire… dammit. Reality set in, and it’s so much worse than the fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594/80 "2010-08-18T17:35:56Z")
> [@conway](#): > > I don’t see where USC offers a certificate in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Maybe they did back whenever she got it… That’s likely, based on California’s change in terminology. From [San Francisco State University Department of Counseling](http://counseling.sfsu.edu/mfccCoun.aspx): > [@](#): > > A note about terminology: the Department is aware that the term MFCC ( marriage, family, and child counseling) has been replaced by MFT ( marriage and family therapy); however, since MFCC still appears in the degree title, which can only be changed by the Chancellor’s Office, we will use the term MFCC when referring specifically to the degree. We will use the term MFT when referring to the program as the field. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Exactly. She made it up, just like she made it up that she was a “licensed psychotherapist.” I’ve now shown you a cite proving that the term was in use in California at one time. So what’s your next excuse? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-laura-wants-her-first-amendment-rights-back/550594.md?page=5)