A challenge to ALL of you whining about P. Dean's firing

[NoTeaPartyPleez]

Yeah, and try to organize a wedding like the following:

She's a fake right down to her perfect teeth, false eyelashes and wig, too.

 

[NoTeaPartyPleez]

Can you prove that she has used that term in recent history?

There's no proof she used it 30 years ago.

She was deposed on May 17, 2013.


In deposition, Paula Deen, grilled for allegedly using ‘******’.
Questions to Deen on using the word ******:

Lawyer: Have you ever used the N-word yourself?
Deen: Yes, of course.

Lawyer: Okay. In what context?
Deen: Well, it was probably when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head.

Lawyer: Okay. And what did you say?
Deen: Well, I don't remember, but the gun was dancing all around my temple … I didn't — I didn't feel real favorable towards him.

Lawyer: Okay. Well, did you use the N-word to him as he pointed a gun in your head at your face?
Deen: Absolutely not.

Lawyer: Well, then, when did you use it?
Deen: Probably in telling my husband.

Lawyer: Okay. Have you used it since then?
Deen: I'm sure I have, but it's been a very long time.

Lawyer: Can you remember the context in which you have used the N-word?
Deen: No.

Lawyer: Has it occurred with sufficient frequency that you cannot recall all of the various context in which you've used it?
Deen: No, no.

Lawyer: Well, then tell me the other context in which you've used the N-word?
Deen: I don't know, maybe in repeating something that was said to me.

Lawyer: Like a joke?
Deen: No, probably a conversation between blacks. I don't — I don't know. But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on. Things have changed since the '60s in the south. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior. As well as I do.

On her brother's behavior:

Lawyer: Are you aware of Mr. Hiers admitting that he engaged in racially and sexually inappropriate behavior in the workplace?

Deen: I guess

Lawyer: Okay. Well, have you done anything about what you heard him admit to doing?
Deen: My brother and I have had conversations. My brother is not a bad person. Do humans behave inappropriately? At times, yes. I don't know one person that has not. My brother is a good man. Have we told jokes? Have we said things that we should not have said, that — yes, we all have. We all have done that, every one of us.

On telling jokes that target African Americans, Jews, gays and other groups:

Lawyer: What about jokes, if somebody is telling a joke that's got –
Deen: It's just what they are, they're jokes.

Lawyer: Okay. Would you consider those to be using the N word in a mean way?

Deen: That's — that's kind of hard. Most — most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks. Most jokes target — I don't know. I didn't make up the jokes, I don't know. I can't — I don't know.

Lawyer: Okay.
Deen: They usually target, though a group. Gays or straights, black, redneck, you know, I just don't know. I can't, myself, determine what offends another person.

On planning a Southern plantation-style wedding:

Lawyer: Do you recall using the words “really southern plantation wedding”? Deen: Yes, I did say I would love for Bubba to experience a very southern style wedding, and we did that. We did that.

Lawyer: Okay. You would love for him to experience a southern style plantation wedding?
Deen: Yes.

Lawyer: That’s what you said?
Deen: Well, something like that, yes. And -–

Laywer: Okay. And is that when you went on to describe the experience you had at the restaurant in question?
Deen: Well, I don’t know. We were probably talking about the food or –- we would have been talking about something to do with service at the wedding, and –-

Lawyer: Is there any possibility, in your mind, that you slipped and used the word “******”?
Deen: No, because that’s not what these men were. They were professional black men doing a fabulous job.

Lawyer: Why did that make it a -– if you would have had servers like that, why would that have made it a really southern plantation wedding?

Deen: Well, it –- to me, of course I’m old but I ain’t that old, I didn’t live back in those days but I’ve seen the pictures, and the pictures that I’ve seen, that restaurant represented a certain era in America.

Lawyer: Okay.
Deen: And I was in the south when I went to this restaurant. It was located in the south.

Lawyer: Okay. What era in America are you referring to?
Deen: Well, I don’t know. After the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War.

Lawyer: Right. Back in an era where there were middle-aged black men waiting on white people.
Deen: Well, it was not only black men, it was black women.

Lawyer: Sure. And before the Civil War –- before the Civil War, those black men and women who were waiting on white people were slaves, right?
Deen: Yes, I would say that they were slaves.

Lawyer: Okay.
Deen: But I did not mean anything derogatory by saying that I loved their look and their professionalism."""

In deposition, Paula Deen, grilled for allegedly using ?******?.*|*Chocolate City: The Best African American Blog

 

[PredFan]

Yeah, and try to organize a wedding like the following:

She's a fake right down to her perfect teeth, false eyelashes and wig, too.

She voted for Obama, twice. Fake AND stupid.

 

[kwc57]

If Paula Deen was paid to be over the top and shocking, her saying the n word on hbo would not negatively effect her career.

So using the N word is OK in your books? There is a justifiable place and time where it is perfectly acceptable? Obviously uttering it in the privacy of your home 30 years ago is unacceptable, but saying it in public in a national venue is fine and dandy. It's all about the time and place? Is that seriously your reasoning?

 

[kwc57]

It's not a double standard.

Of course it is and to make matters worse.......she said it decades ago in private and they spout stuff today on national TV and get a pass. What about that isn't a double standard exactly?

Maher and Deen are about as different as a nun and a porn star.

This is not a difficult concept and I think people are purposefully being dense just to stir the pot. Maher is famous for his controversial comedy. He's selling that image and when people hire him, they are buying that. Deen is selling a wholesome southern belle image and that's what the food network was buying. If tomorrow Maher came out as a devote Catholic, he'd lose his audience and sponsors. Deen divates from her image, and the same thing happens.

Well, we agree on that......but probably not on who is being purposefully dense.

 

[AmyNation]

If Paula Deen was paid to be over the top and shocking, her saying the n word on hbo would not negatively effect her career.

So using the N word is OK in your books? There is a justifiable place and time where it is perfectly acceptable? Obviously uttering it in the privacy of your home 30 years ago is unacceptable, but saying it in public in a national venue is fine and dandy. It's all about the time and place? Is that seriously your reasoning?

See post 177

 

[Pogo]

Yeah, and try to organize a wedding like the following:

She's a fake right down to her perfect teeth, false eyelashes and wig, too.

She voted for Obama, twice. Fake AND stupid.

You know what -- this mining of the political registrations of people under pressure for stuff that has nothing whatsoever to do with politics, just so you can personally profit with some internet message board political points on the back of her situation--- is the self-serving hackery horseshit that has to stop.

 

[kwc57]

Yeah, and try to organize a wedding like the following:

She's a fake right down to her perfect teeth, false eyelashes and wig, too.

She voted for Obama, twice. Fake AND stupid.

But wait.........she's a racisssssssst!!!

 

[KevinWestern]

Kevin, I normally agree with you. In this instance however, finding out that a 67 year old woman raised in the deep south once uttered the word ****** privately some 30 years ago about a bank robber waving a gun in people's faces is like finding out that water is wet. Look, I'm not even a Paula Deen fan. I always found her grating and a little went a long way. I agree that FN has the right to fire her. I simply think they were douches for doing it as it doesn't amount to a hill of beans and you'll never convince me that it would affect their bottom line. There are far too many other entertainers out there in all sorts of venues who are repeat offenders who get passes. Has Capital One fired Alec Baldwin yet? Do they court controversy for their product?

Again, KWC, not all entertainers are judged equally. A “bad boy” movie star can do and say things (and still get paid) that Paula Deen would not be able to get away with. Her product – what she built her career on – is something that can be categorized as clean and wholesome (ie a down to earth country lady cooking food). By admitting she called a black person a n**ger, in any context, her "wholesomeness" is going to take a hit. This is not shocking to me in the least.

Paula – whether or not she was the victim of a hypocritical witch hunt by the media – had her wholesome reputation tainted, and ultimately became a liability for the network.

And because the Food Network doesn't exist for the sole purpose of making sure Paula has a job and is cooking on TV, they weighed their options and decided it was best to dump her and not face a potential "jump ship" domino effect from their advertising partners. Maybe it would have all blown over, but when you have someone who is replaceable like Paula, and potentially tens of millions of dollars at stake - why take the risk? I mean, are you nuts?

If I was a shareholder of the network - and had significant dollars of MY money on the line - I would much rather choose the route that ensures overall network health vs. the route that puts everything on the line just to save Paula's ass. The latter would be an completely irresponsible management decision.

I don't think calling them "douches" for safeguarding the network is fair.

.

.

 

[Desperado]

so you're saying paula deen is good to go if she says the N word on HBO? Really?

She said in in private not on HBO which makes the whole matter worse , since we are now punishing people for what they said in private. Now that is a very scary cliff we are headed for.

 

[KevinWestern]

She said in in private not on HBO which makes the whole matter worse , since we are now punishing people for what they said in private. Now that is a very scary cliff we are headed for.

The problem was that she publicly confessed to calling a black person a n**ger in a derogatory way. This damaged the product that she built up over the years (ie a nice wholesome old lady).

As a result, she became a liability and the network chose to ditch her rather than risk the overall network health by keeping letting her stay.

It's just business and pretty straightforward in my view.

.

 

[Plasmaball]

i dont care about this issue. Its stupid.

 

[velvtacheeze]

What do I hate more? White southerners, Paula Dean, her wake-apnea fatso fans, or the GOP? It's a tie! I hate them all with equal vigor and contempt. No apologies. Get over it.

 

[Desperado]

The problem was that she publicly confessed to calling a black person a n**ger in a derogatory way.

Ok This proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt she is beyond stupid for apologizing.
Does this prove she is a racist? Not in the least. In fact, she most likely voted for Obama to prove she wasn't.

 

[KevinWestern]

The problem was that she publicly confessed to calling a black person a n**ger in a derogatory way.

Ok This proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt she is beyond stupid for apologizing.
Does this prove she is a racist? Not in the least. In fact, she most likely voted for Obama to prove she wasn't.

Doesn't matter if she's a racist or not, problem is that people are now associating Paula with her n**ger comment and this hurts her image to the point she's a liability.

Again, its not an argument of whether or not she's racist; it's instead whether it not she's a liability for the network (which she clearly is at this point after seeing all the discussion).

You gotta keep things simple.
.

 

[WillowTree]

I just love to read my signature line and laugh like hell, it's become a bedtime ritual.


ta ta

 

[Pogo]

so you're saying paula deen is good to go if she says the N word on HBO? Really?

She said in in private not on HBO which makes the whole matter worse , since we are now punishing people for what they said in private. Now that is a very scary cliff we are headed for.

And Bill Maher didn't say his thing on HBO either. If he said it at all. Nobody said anything on HBO. HBO was inserted by the loonyposter who also posted the BS about what he got fired for.

Speak of the devil...

I just love to read my signature line and laugh like hell, it's become a bedtime ritual.

ta ta

You're easily amused.

Ignorance is bliss. Good riddance.

 

[Desperado]

The N Word 30-40 years ago? Mel Brooks used it quite frequently in Blazing Saddles, so is he a racist?
After all, he only used it to get some laughs. If you thought Blazing Saddles was funny, does that make you a racist?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upvZdVK913I]the new sheriff scene from blazing saddles - YouTube[/ame]

 

[rightwinger]

The N Word 30-40 years ago? Mel Brooks used it quite frequently in Blazing Saddles, so is he a racist?
After all, he only used it to get some laughs. If you thought Blazing Saddles was funny, does that make you a racist?

the new sheriff scene from blazing saddles - YouTube

Mel Brooks used it to show the racial intolerance in the town. Not the same

 

[Desperado]

The N Word 30-40 years ago? Mel Brooks used it quite frequently in Blazing Saddles, so is he a racist?
After all, he only used it to get some laughs. If you thought Blazing Saddles was funny, does that make you a racist?

the new sheriff scene from blazing saddles - YouTube

Mel Brooks used it to show the racial intollerance in the town. Not the same

Maybe, Maybe Not.....
Could be he was just going for a cheap laugh.
Did you laugh at the movie? Did you think it was funny?
Does that make you a racist?
Do you even believe they could make that movie today?