On air anchor to blogger: I want to go outside and punch you across the face

[PageOneQ]

Source: Raw Story

Michael Rogers of BlogActive.com and editor of PageOneQ.com was on Let's Talk Live on News Channel 8, an ABC affiliate in the greater D.C. area when anchor Doug Mckelway told him he would like to "give you a punch across the face." Rogers is now calling on Mckelway to issue an on air, as well as a written, apology.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Activist and blogger Michael Rogers is calling on a television show talk host to apologize on air for threatening to "punch" him because he disagreed with Rogers' take on the issue of Outing to issue an on air, as well as a written apology.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/DC_Anchor_to_outing_blogger_I_0507.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Cage match?

:think:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Man, this is shocking............

Doug McKelway has been a DC TV newsman for a lot of years, and his laid-back style is part of his trademark.

I wonder what nerve of McKelway's this whole matter hit?

[onenote]

3. well, it appears rogers accused McKelway of saying something he didn't say

While I think McKelway over-reacted, I think Rogers was being a jerk.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. I gotta watch the video.......

Because this one makes NO sense at all.......

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. Here's the video and the guy is a major douche bag:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-WuZ_yDpU

He starts out with why don't you expose Barney Frank and how he "gotten this nation in huge financial problems this by denying the problems with Fannie/freddie two years ago" ...... apparently he watched THAT video which blames the financial crisis on poor black people - what a guy.

Then he asks why he didn't out a Human Rights Campaign member for getting busted in an online underage sting - I suppose it's because the HRC member wasn't working to pass laws against gays.

He didn't "accuse" McKelway of anything. He used a common debate tactic used when discussing this matter.

McKelway said being outed 'ruins lives' and Rogers pointed out that if you believe that you believe being gay is 'wrong'. Most people who disagree with that logic do so without resorting to fisticuffs. He's not too bright.

McKelway is a major douche-bag.

[LisaM]

9. If he blogged the misstatement

It would all over the blogosphere in a matter of minutes. I don't know all the particulars, but I can see why journalists can get upset with the differences in the media.

[baldguy]

12. Being a jerk is not a crime. Threatening to punch someone is.

[tabasco]

17. No, it's not.

Saying you are going to punch someone is not a crime.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Really?

Doesn't common law call this assault? "I'm about ready to do more than point my finger at you - take you outside and give you a punch across the face"

It seemed like it was an immediate non-conditioned threat. I guess the only thing missing is if Rogers wants to swear on a warrant that he felt threatened.

I don't know the specific state law in play here but it seems like a case COULD be made.

[tabasco]

20. No. Not unless the victim is in reasonable fright of imminent unwanted contact.

Saying "I would like to punch you" is not a threat.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. I see where you are coming from but he said a little more than "I would like to"...

He said "I'm about ready to do more than point my finger at you" .... "take you out side and give you a punch across the face"

I don't agree with your statement:

"Saying you are going to punch someone is not a crime."

Clearly, saying you are going to punch someone COULD be a crime.

[tabasco]

24. Saying you are going to punch someone is not a crime.

Just fucking google it, hoss.

Criminal assault requires more than just words.

And VERY rarely would just words constitute a tort.

[No Elephants]

25. "about ready" is not even saying he is ready, though. Would a reasonable person

have believed that this guy was really going to grab they guy, go off air, haul him outside and punch him--with no one intervening?

Criminal law varies from state to state. Usually, though, you need more than a threat, without at least some physical act that can be reasonably interpreted as indicating someone's next move is going to be physical contact amounting to battery. I don't think that is the case in this instance.

[Dappleganger]

5. Well isn't that grown up and intelligent...

the anchor has no clue to how to debate ideas so he threatens to resort to violence instead.

[BreweryYardRat]

6. Rogers would do better to thrash McKelway...

...and then explain on-air why McKelway's behavior was improper, and request an apology.

Demanding an apology without beating the guy just reinforces the chest-beaters' stereotypes. Better to force McKelway to choose between a physical fight or backing down and admitting that he's just a bag of hot air.

[KansDem]

7. Someone may not be going to England any time soon! (nt)

[sakabatou]

8. Sigh.. resorting to violence. How low.

[LaPera]

10. He'll now become all the republicans hero-Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh & the rest they'll be praising

Doug Mckelwa as tough and a hero against the "dastardly lying liberals" he'll asked to be a guest on their shows, rake in cash, etc....

[Patsy Stone]

11. Really charming.

If you need me to go kick his ass, just let me know. :)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Rogers basically accused the Mckelway of being a bigot and Mckelway took exception

to that. Without proof of the statement, I think that Rodgers needs to apologize.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. Bullshit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-WuZ_yDpU

Rogers did no such thing.. and shame on Rawstory for such sloppy/lazy reporting.

He didn't "accuse" McKelway of anything. He used a common debate tactic used when discussing this matter.

McKelway said being outed 'ruins lives' and Rogers pointed out that if you believe that you believe being gay is 'wrong' .....

It was a comment that, if not for McKelway's ham-fisted interpretation and threat, would have gone un-noticed.

But what do you expect from a pig-headed asshole who started out the conversation with (and I'm paraphrasing) "why didn't you out Barney Frank's hypocrisy in bringing this country to financial ruin with his denial of Fannie/freddie's problems two years ago" .... a little off topic and downright fucking wrong.


And then talk about being unable to grasp the concept: He asked Rogers why he didn't out a Human Rights Campaign member for being caught in an online underage sex sting (hint for McKelway: It's a pretty good bet the HRC member wasn't actively working toward passing anti-gay legislation)

[No Elephants]

26. Outing someone who has chosen not to be out can ruin that person's llife, and maybe some other lives

as well. And that is not the fault of any one person, but of of society. I say that, being a consistent advocate of equal rights for gays and a member of HRC.

I feel that being out is ultimately really the only way to go. But outing people can traumatize them and the people with whom they are involved. For just one example, what if the person being outed is married with children and/or with a family that will shun him or her?

Now, you may say the person deserves it, for being a hypocrite or a fake, but what about an unsuspecting spouse and kids? What did they do that was so bad as to earn them a traumatic event in their lives.

I guess you could warn the person and give him or her enough time to disclose in a less traumaic way. But it is far from clear cut.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Here's his photo, and a video of him and his little sonny boy enjoying blue grass music.

http://www.acc-tv.com.nyud.net:8090/images/wjla/talent/doug_mckelway.jpg
Video:
http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/bluegrass-piece-on-dc-local-news/

His tv station:
http://www.wjla.com/

[Doremus]

19. Seems he's in at least one closet -- marked (R)

And perhaps another closet as well.

He recites all the puke talking points word for word.

He's also waaaay too angry about this issue for somebody who supposedly has no dog in the race.

[Mika]

22. Yep. Loved how Rogers said "you take it more personally than anyone I've met".

Note that McKelway toned it down after that.

Rogers did a great job using common debate tactics. :thumbsup:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. That's the funny part.

The guy was too stupid to realize (at the time) Rogers was calling him a closet case. I'm sure he gets it now :)

The comment that offended him the most wasn't even directed at him per se ... i.e. "If you think outing hurts people you must think being gay is wrong." It's a common debate tactic used when discussing this matter. It's not an "accusation" of homophobia. At least not overt homophobia.