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KRXQ is under fire again for Sacramento’s #1 morning radio show and their wacky antics. The titular Rob Williams & Arnie States of the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show have drawn nationwide scorn for their hateful comments towards gender dysphoric children and blaming of the transgendered for America’s descent down a slippery slope of zoophilia and bestiality. Arnie is additionally targeted for comments approving of violence against boys wearing high-heeled shoes, and for his thoughts on beating his theoretical high-heeled wearing gay child, if he were to have one.
In case you have never met the trio on 98 Rock, they star as self-caricatures on a radio/comedy show with three hyper-opinionated friends. Think Seinfeld in Cowtown. Arnie plays the fat, dumb, loser, hick. Rob plays the successful capitalist genius. Dawn plays the crazy, loudmouthed, overly-emotional woman. Each show features voyeuristic details of their lives, which helps keep their loyal audience. Regular listeners get to be in on a lot of jokes, like Dawn’s therapeutic vacations, Arnie’s tiny penis, and Rob’s snobbish tastes.
The show makes jokes and provides commentary on retarded children, fat people, gay men, nerds, people with chronic diseases, single mothers, lesbians, people from every foreign country, liberals, illegal immigrants, women, child molesters, environmentalists, and dumb people. They were fined $55,000 in 2004 for “graphic and detailed discussions of various methods that men may employ to disgrace, degrade and humiliate women before, during and after sexual intercourse,” according to the FCC.
We all know that talking dirty and inciting sexual violence on the air are no-no’s but RAD’s show is currently coming under fire for creating a dangerous atmosphere of intolerance. I am curious to see how this plays out as Arnie, to me, has no credibility. He plays a dumb-ass on the radio named Arnie. His role in the theater of the airwaves may be protected as artistic expression.
While I look forward to discussions that Arnie is a satirist of his own hickery a la Jeff Foxworthy, a more salient discussion will be identifying people in danger from falling prey to Arnie’s influence. I am optimistic and believe that there is not a legion of ArnieHeads that were indoctrinated in to a life of dumb-assery by Arnie’s radio rants enough to beat gay classmates, siblings or children.
Or, am I naive? Is Arnie dangerous?
20 Comments | Leave a comment
Yes he is. People once thought Hitler would just go away.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
He’s a tool, as are any of the morning clowns who go by one name like they’re your buddies.
Cruelty is hilarious, if you’re a sixth grader or emotionally underdeveloped enough to laugh at people that aren’t exactly like you. Thank God for iPods.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I also don’t buy the “he’s participating in theatre” bullshit either. That would imply nuance and careful craft. Plus, he would be liable to meet a gay person or two, if my experience working in the theatre is typical.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
How terrible. Of course what we choose to watch and listen to has a coarsening effect on our approach to other people. For some reason in the world of entertainment calling something “humor” is supposed to be some sort of panacea for the way it desensitizes us to violence and sexuality.
This is why I only listen to Michael Savage. Just kidding.
June 4th, 2009 at 8:05 am
The listeners are more dangerous than the hosts. All FM radio music/entertainment of this format is geared to brain dead fools. Ice sitting contest anyone?
June 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Wow, I agree 100% with Turty Squip.
I think they should be able to say anything they want on the radio, though, short of inciting violence. And I think the free market – i.e., a truly capitalist boycott – should prove to the station that this kind of infantile, childish, cruel idiocy is unwanted, and these children can go find jobs in an employment sector they are more suited to.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:54 am
When I first saw this headline I thought you were talking about Arnold Schwartzenegger when you write “Arnie”. On that note, does any idiot take anything that idiot says as anything but idiotic? “The people of California have spoken. They want an all cuts budget.” Yeah Arnie, that’s exactly what we meant when we voted down the bullshit cuts you proposed along with your idiotic spending cap.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I don’t see what the fuss is about, talk is cheap! I always look at what people DO vs what they say.
To answer another poster comparing him to Hitler (seriously worst internet argument ever) Hitler didn’t just say he was going to do stuff, he DID IT!
Saying offensive stuff is offensive, so vote with your dollars and stop trying to convince others of your offended state. I hate listening to Dawn so I vote to listen to my ipod instead.
I also enjoy reading this blog so I shall continue to do so!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:13 am
98.5 morning show Rob Arnie and Dawn – There is something to offend everyone. No one is left out. If you’re offended change the f-ing station!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Jose:
Murder is the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH of transgendered people. Yes – more than heart disease. More than suicide. More than old age, even.
There’s a reason for that, and certainly this kind of crap encourages that sort of violence.
Yelling “fire” in a crowded theater, to use that overdone cliche, is dangerous. Are you saying that people shouldn’t be responsible for what they say?
June 7th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Isn’t Hitler the inventor of yelling fire in a crowded theater? Need more proof?
Hitler Warfare Enticed Yodeling = yelling fire in a crowded theater
June 8th, 2009 at 6:04 am
“WE HAVE FAILED YOU. AS A SHOW, AS PEOPLE, AS BROADCASTERS, WE HAVE SIMPLY FAILED ON ALMOST EVERY LEVEL.”
They should be apologizing for leaving the “caps lock” key on … now THAT’S offensive.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I’m with Moe on this. I listened to the podcast, after the fact. It is sick. Not funny. Sick. Rob and Arnie need their heads examined…and their apology doesn’t mean shit.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
All people who make fun of other people should be burned at the stake.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Whether or not Arnie States should or is taken seriously by listeners should not be the point… the point should be, why are you listening to this radio station. As someone before in this blog said: “there’s something offensive for everyone…no one is left out” … Why do we encourage them to continue doing that by continuing to listen? I personally believe that Dawn’s name should not be attached to this controversy as she has been the only one defending the LGBT people from day one…
Just stop listening to this show…… Make those two fail because by their intolerant preachings… and Im sure Dawn can get a job elsewhere… she’s better off somewhere else where she’s not being put down by her co-host and the listeners every single day….
oh, and by the way, Dr. Drew on loveline is almost as bad on his show when it comes to gay and lesbians…. too long to explain what he says regularly…. but pay attention to how he calls people gay or lesbian when they’re trying to explain something… and not in a rational or objective way… more in a “Im calling you out!” way…. as if it’s something bad…. just you listen to him closely… and when you realize his bias opinions, then turn of that radio station as I did too…
Thanks… and sorry for writing so much….
June 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am
No apologies necessary, thanks for stopping by and sharing (and that does for the rest of you, too).
A letter has been posted by Rob on their website at http://robarnieanddawn.com/. This letter is RAD’s first step in trying to rectify this situation.
They will return to the airwaves on Thursday, joined by transgender advocates from GLADD.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Heh heh- Stickie said “rectify.” I hope Dawn has to try out a GLADD advocate on the air to show that she is REALLY sorry. Or Arnie should have to cross-dress for a day and submit to everyone’s propositions.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I’m surprised no one pointed out my use of the word “titular”.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I hope that the apology is presented in some form of rhyming couplets, thus making it their “GLAAD RAP.”
June 11th, 2009 at 6:27 am
I was hoping that Tom Bosley would make an appearance representing GLADD.
Oops, wrong GLADD.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:02 am
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