CNN host says "faggot" on the air - calls it simply a "naughty name." ABC asks same host to do commentary on GMA

"My Two Sense" blog reports that it's now apparently CNN policy that its hosts can use the word "faggot" on the air because it's simply "a naughty name." No bleep, nothing. And the CNN host, Glenn Beck, even went so far as to make fun of the New York Times for not using the word "faggot" in print.

From CNN's own transcript:

BECK: I'm down to this crappy show. But anyway, Dave, what is the - what is the controversy? One of the guys called another guy a naughty name.

GLOVER: Yes. Basically you have Isaiah Washington, who's one of the stars of the show, who referred to one of his co-stars during a heated argument a derogatory term for a gay man that starts with "F", rhymes with maggot. Did it a couple more times after that. And do you like how I did that?

BECK: Yes.

GLOVER: And...

BECK: Do you know that "The New York Times" wouldn't even print - I mean, we can say the word. We're having an adult conversation here. Wouldn't even print the word "faggot."

GLOVER: Right.

BECK: Wouldn't print it. I find that amazing.

A naughty name? Does CNN consider the n-word just a naughty name too? How about the k-word for Jews, or the s word for Hispanics? Just naughty names we can say on the air, and criticize others for not using them too? And what does ABC - the network of Isaiah "You're a Faggot" Washington - think about all of this? Why invoke ABC? Because they just asked this neanderthal Beck to do regular commentary on Good Morning America. Diane Sawyer said she thinks Beck's comments are based in "common sense." Really? Perhaps ABC could explain the common sense behind calling someone a "faggot"?

CNN and ABC are fooling themselves if they don't think there's going to be a massive advertiser boycott of both networks very soon. And as a veteran of such boycotts, I can't imagine any advertiser is going to want to stick with a show, or a network, that uses and tries to diminish the abhorrent nature of slurs like "faggot."

As an interesting aside, CNN deleted an entire segment of an interview with Bill Maher a few months back because Maher suggested that then-Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman might be gay. New Rule: Maher would have apparently been fine with CNN if he'd simply said that Ken Mehlman was a faggot.

- John in DC, AmericaBlog