# News anchor's slurs go on the air

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 16, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878 "2000-01-16T19:02:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2000, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878/21 "2000-01-18T22:26:00Z")

</div>

Well, first of all, the newscaster needs to learn to watch her mouth even if she _thinks_ she’s not on the air, because you never know.

And why do some people think her comments are funny? I don’t see what’s so hilarious.

> [@](#):
>
> I could be a lesbian, folk-dancing, black woman stutterer.
> 
> “What’s that?” Haines said appearing to be listening to another employee.
> 
> “In a wheelchair …” she said, laughing.
> 
> Then she continued: “… with a gimping, rubber legs. Yeah really. I’d have a successful career, let me tell you.”

I’ve probably heard that “joke” from right-wing conservatives a million times. It was old 20 years ago. “If you’re a black woman in a wheelchair you’ve got it made.” Funny how none of the black women or disabled people I know seem to agree with that statement.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878/22 "2000-01-19T21:44:00Z")

</div>

Her job may not be the only one in danger…  
[http://www.smh.com.au/news/0001/20/pageone/pageone8.html](http://www.smh.com.au/news/0001/20/pageone/pageone8.html)

* * *

Rigardu, kaj vi ekvidos.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878/23 "2000-01-19T22:27:00Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> “It’s that she failed to follow a rule that most people in the broadcast entertainment industry follow–if there’s no indication otherwise, assume all mikes are on. She could have been talking about anything, and it still would have looked silly on camera.”

it wasn’t a live airing. she was taping a promo for a segment. someone in the booth screwed up and used the wrong take.

* * *

_what is essential is invisible to the eye -the fox_

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-anchors-slurs-go-on-the-air/12878.md?page=1)