Donahue uses commencement speech to push...

[Guest hardyz1]

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Talk show pioneer Phil Donahue heard boos and catcalls Saturday during a politically tinged commencement address at North Carolina State University. Donahue's speech was peppered with his political opinions. It was met with boos that rained down like confetti. A few students walked out of the ceremony at the RBC Center. Some yelled at Donahue to "get off the stage." Others booed when Donahue listed "what liberals believe," including the true separation of church and state.

 

Donahue told the graduates that the rights and privileges in the Constitution have been eroded. Without mentioning George W. Bush, he said only Congress can declare war and not the president. He said basic liberties are being undermined by the war on drugs and by a "trend toward to the sword rather than a trend toward civility." What liberals believe, he said, "is that no one in authority should tell you to 'shush,' that executing retarded teenagers is wrong, and that unions give workers a deserved place at the bargaining table." Donahue, 67, urged the graduates to help renew basic American constitutional values of free speech, separation of church and state, and respect for the rights of minorities. "Your mission is to challenge your public servants and bring America back to basic constitutional values," he told the students. He urged political conservatives to be tolerant of those with differing views. "Take a liberal to lunch," he said. "Take a Dixie Chick to lunch." Donahue is a nine-time Daytime Emmy winner for his syndicated talk show, which began in 1967 and aired nationally from 1970 to 1996, paving the way for dozens of such shows to follow. His most recent talk show on MSNBC was canceled in February after six months. He was invited to speak in part because he and an N.C. State professor both attended the University of Notre Dame. He got loud applause by noting that N.C. State beat Notre Dame in this year's Gator Bowl. "I came looking for liberals," he said, "and here at N.C. State I found friends." Some in the crowd called his comments "left wing." Others said a graduation wasn't the place for his political platform. "It was their day to shine," said Brad Royal, who attended the ceremony, speaking of the graduates. "They had achieved four years working for this moment, and he (Donahue) used it to get back in the spotlight, and this wasn't a time for his spotlight. It was their time to shine" An N.C. State spokesman later said the crowd was generally respectful and that some students cheered his comments. About 3,700 students graduated from N.C. State Saturday.

 

What a douche.

[Guest Vyce]

I'd be outraged if this was 15 years ago and Donahue was actually still relevant.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

So out of all that shit, these are the two valid things he talked about:

 

He said basic liberties are being undermined by the war on drugs (...) separation of church and state

 

I wish you had kept it short and relevant, Phil. Those are two very important points many people gloss over.

[Guest hardyz1]

So out of all that shit, these are the two valid things he talked about:

 

He said basic liberties are being undermined by the war on drugs (...) separation of church and state

 

I wish you had kept it short and relevant, Phil. Those are two very important points many people gloss over.

I completely agree. What a tool.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

Anyone talking about their political beliefs in an innapropriate setting such as this is a fool... it only undermines what valid points they may have.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

What in the hell is a major university having that hack Phil Donahue give their commencement speech? What Jerry Springer not available.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

What in the hell is a major university having that hack Phil Donahue give their commencement speech? What Jerry Springer not available.

Hey at least Springer has some semi-recent political background.

[Guest RepoMan]

Like W or Cheney don't have done the same thing, they just don't annouce as much as Phil. Getting a political figure and expecting them to gloss over their belifes is just ignorent.

[Guest Some Guy]

Well the Pres and teh VP are actuall political figures and Donahue is a former talk show host who only succeeded when pandering to the (now) Jerry Springer audience, he attempted to succeed with his far Left-wing views on a talk show and basically sucked and got his ass kicked by O'Reilly. Donohue is a fringe celebrity, George Bush and Dick Cheney are the leaders of the country. One would expect a politician to be political, one would expect a fringe celebrity to be keep it short and sweet and be thankful that anyone still remembers he's alive, given teh reception he got when he started flying off into left field there are now even fewer people who care.

[Guest Ripper]

Blah, blah, blah...if it had been someone up there verbally felating the president, it would be no problem. You're gonna tell me they got Phil fuckin Donahue as the speaker and thought he wouldn't once delve into his political beliefs. They shouldn't have been suprised. This shouldn't even count as "news".

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

he attempted to succeed with his far Left-wing views on a talk show and basically sucked and got his ass kicked by O'Reilly.

Who, I might add, ALSO goes to colleges with a soapbox and airs his views while he's there.

 

Then, he usually shows a tape of his opinionmaking on his TV show the very next night.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Funny stuff. Hardyz, when I saw that you posted it I was guessing this speech took place at Sappy Valley. However, if that were the case he would have had a standing O...

Edited May 21, 2003 by kkktookmybabyaway

[Guest hardyz1]

Heh. PSU got some shitty unknown author. Those pigfuckers would've loved Donahue.

[Guest Some Guy]

Blah, blah, blah...if it had been someone up there verbally felating the president, it would be no problem. You're gonna tell me they got Phil fuckin Donahue as the speaker and thought he wouldn't once delve into his political beliefs. They shouldn't have been suprised. This shouldn't even count as "news".

First off we weren't talking about "someone up there verbally felating the president". we were talking about THE fucking President or the Vice President.

 

Now that I think about it. it is perfectly reasonable to expect Donahue to go off an a left-wing rant, I think the college expeted it. What I don't think they expected was students walking out and booing. That's the issue.

 

Jobber, when a college books O'Reilly (it could be argued that they shoudl or shouldn't) virtually everybody who's heard of him knows what they are getting and I;m sure he's had some walkouts as well. But virtually nobody watched Donohue's show and most people still think of him as the sensationalist talk show host guy, not as a left-wing wacko. There is a difference O'reilly has had 2 best sellers, the most popular cable news show, has a popular radio show and has been on every show from Bsoton's sports radio mornign show to Horard Stern expousing his views on politics. Donahue had a hit talk show in the 80s and early 90s and bombed as a political talk show host on the least watched cable news channel.

 

If you get Bill Cosby to do the commencement, you know you'll get soem comedy, if you get Clinton you know you'll get a Democratic slant, if you get Bush you know you'll get a GOP slant, if you get an 80's talk show host most people wouldn't know what to expect. Gettign Donahue would be like getting Richard Bey to most college kids.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

He wasn't spreading his opinion, he was holding a speech about a thematic that was handed to him. I agree that for a touchy feely ceremony like on graduation you'd rather want a thought-light speech. But that's the decision of the principal and not of the orator.

 

But the result of this simple faux-pas says a lot more about the real maturity of the graduates than any number of exams could ever have done. They should have listened and voiced their dissent by shaking heads and then later discussing at the cocktail party about how much that speech sucked, not shout "OMG NONPATRIOT" and storm out of the hall.

[Guest Some Guy]

How is this:

"Take a liberal to lunch," he said. "Take a Dixie Chick to lunch."

 

Not spreading his opinion?

 

It wasn't screaming "NONPATRIOT and storming out" it was studetns voicing their disapproval of what he had to say. It might not be the msot mature way to go about it, granted. These are college students, not 45 year olds after all.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

So what about Bush discussing his agenda at a college ceremony? Was that any less politically wrong? And don't give me the "Yes because Bush is the Prez and Donahue is just a talking head" thing. Is it right to invite a President running for re-election and let him go on about his plans?

 

Not saying Phil is right and Bush is wrong, or Bush is right and Phil is wrong. I still think a college graduation calls for something different, really.

[Guest Some Guy]

I don't think politcs should enter into it at all or much at a commencment. If a speaker is brought in to give a speech like Clinton for instance and it is a voluntary thing that's fine, but commencment speakers should stick more to the "work hard and make your parents proud" type of stuff. Rather than "take a liberal to lunch" or some otehr horseshit.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

He wasn't spreading his opinion, he was holding a speech about a thematic that was handed to him. I agree that for a touchy feely ceremony like on graduation you'd rather want a thought-light speech. But that's the decision of the principal and not of the orator.

 

But the result of this simple faux-pas says a lot more about the real maturity of the graduates than any number of exams could ever have done. They should have listened and voiced their dissent by shaking heads and then later discussing at the cocktail party about how much that speech sucked, not shout "OMG NONPATRIOT" and storm out of the hall.

Ah, so listen to what he has to say and DON'T respond if you don't like it?

 

I suppose that if they DID like it, they should've avoided applauding, huh?

 

Seems only fair.

-=Mike

[Guest TheMikeSC]

So what about Bush discussing his agenda at a college ceremony? Was that any less politically wrong? And don't give me the "Yes because Bush is the Prez and Donahue is just a talking head" thing. Is it right to invite a President running for re-election and let him go on about his plans?

 

Not saying Phil is right and Bush is wrong, or Bush is right and Phil is wrong. I still think a college graduation calls for something different, really.

No con EVER griped about Clinton or his cronies giving commencement speeches. It's what happens when you're the President.

 

However, if YOU college brought in, say, Morton Downey Jr --- would you quietly sit there while he went off one of his diatribes?

-=Mike

[Guest JMA]

Oh, Phil... Did you REALLY have to say all that? Can't you just be subversive, like everyone else? But seriously, I think Donahue is a nice guy, he's just overzealous sometimes. He should've stayed on topic. The best way to promote liberalism is not to make such a big deal about it. No long winded speeches or preaching. You first get people to like and/or respect you, then you talk about your beliefs. After this they'll be more inclined to listen. Passion is fine, but don't overdo it.

 

And this is from a member of the Left.