Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > March > 30 > Entry
3/31: Dr. Laura interview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dr. Laura Schlessinger returns tomorrow on the Atlanta airwaves after nearly fours years gone. She’ll be on from 9 to 1 p.m. Sure, she’s on a station that isn’t terribly accessible to a lot of people: 1160/WCFO-AM. But at least she’s got a foothold back in the nation’s No. 8 market. The print edition ran a shortened version of a Q&A with her. Here’s the longer version:
Given your track record in Atlanta, were you surprised after WGST dropped you in 2004 that it took nearly four years for another station to pick you up?
Of course I was surprised, but I’m thrilled to be back. Like fine wine, some good things take time. I also understand the reality of 150 syndicated talk show hosts and 2 local radio stations that also need to put on their own local programming as well. I have more women listening to me than any other show on the radio, and yet somehow that gets discounted because I am not a bra-burning, man-bashing feminist. But every day I go on the radio and help people and that’s the most important thing to me.
What was your take on what happened at WGST from 1999 to 2004 that caused them to drop you? They first put you on live from 3 to 7, bumped you to the mid-mornings then to nights after 9/11.
Clear Channel owned my show at that time. The BIGGEST mistake they made was to take me from WSB which they did not own and where I had higher ratings than Rush Limbaugh head-to-head and move me to afternoon drive on their own station WGST where many of my core listeners, particularly stay-at-home moms, were unable to tune in. After 9/11 many stations felt they needed to be all politics all the time. I talk about things that are more important to many people than who is in the White House — family, marriage, divorce, personal responsibility, morals and ethics. But that was not the flavor of the day. In 2005, I took back control of my destiny and now I own my own syndication company, so, hopefully we won’t make those mistakes again.
I know there was some loss of affiliates post 9/11 but since then, you’ve managed to get your numbers back up and are now 3rd in terms of total audience (8.25 million-plus weekly listeners), according to Talkers magazine. Has your show changed much since Atlantans last heard you in 2004?
I guess they’ll need to tune in to find out for themselves. But I can tell you that my core beliefs and values have not changed and my goal of helping people has not changed. I did start a new thing a few years ago where I will give someone who is trying to improve his or her life an assignment and ask them to call back. For example, there was a couple that was having intimacy issues. I gave them my “15 minute” assignment — cuddle in bed every morning for 15 minutes and call me back next week. Well, I can tell you that by the time they called me, they were no longer having any problems being intimate.
Are there any issues in which you’ve shifted your viewpoint in recent years?
I am more and more concerned about the level of civility in this country. We no longer debate ideas, but instead attack motivations. Why? Are we so afraid of ideas that we would rather attack the messengers? I would love to see us bring civility back to this civilization.
Why do you think your philosophy on life still resonates with so many people?
There are people who understand that personal responsibility is not a dirty word and that purpose is the antidote for despair. It’s really the central point of my new book “Stop Whining, Start Living”. And despite the efforts of the main-stream media to isolate me and my point of view and marginalize me, it’s debuting at #2 on the New York Times best-seller list this Sunday.
I know you’ve gotten some flak for your comments regarding Elliot Spitzer. [She sounded like she was admonishing his wife more than him.] What’s your take on the response to those comments?
I never gave an opinion regarding the Spitzers because I don’t like to speculate about individuals who I know nothing about. I answered a general question “Why do men stray?” Frankly I’m amused by how people’s heads explode when I talk about the personal responsibility of the husband and wife in a marriage. It amazes me that women in particular seem to prefer to embrace the role of victims where they are at the mercy of events around them rather than have a purpose-filled life where they take responsibility and get control of their life and happiness.
Thank you for posting on my radio/TV blog last week. Are you at all surprised how split people are about you—they either hate your or love you? Do you really appreciate the fact you elicit such passion one way or another rather than indifference (the kiss of death for any radio personality)?
I find that most people who hate me have never listened to me. The only things they know about me are what other people have said. I hope they take the opportunity to listen and judge for themselves. I am always surprised at how upset some people are with me, because all I’m doing is giving my opinion. If you don’t like it, don’t listen! I get letters and emails every day from people who have followed my advice telling me it’s helped their lives. I never get a letter or email from someone saying they followed my advice and it screwed them up.
Are you planning to come down to Atlanta soon and do you now yet when?
I’ve always loved Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia. The people have always been wonderfully hospitable and kind and I look forward to returning to your fine city. I was at Ft. Benning last year - that’s where my son got his paratrooper training — leading the “God Bless Ft. Benning” event and we had a great time. I ran a 5K with a bunch of troops and still managed to speak to a crowd of around 10,000 afterward. I look forward to coming back to Atlanta before the end of the year. Besides, my favorite fruit is a peach…and it’s a color that looks great on me!
Comments
By Neil
March 30, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
In other news, we still don’t have bin Laden.
Wow, she ran a 5K (3.1 miles) and still managed the strength to speak before a crowd. Take that all you whiners who run Peachtree every year. Let’s see you run twice as far, stand in a crowd of 55,000 sweaty people for a t-shirt and then walk 2 miles back to your car in 85 degree heat. Dr. Laura has a right to be self-congratulatory.
By Who Dat
March 30, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Welcome back, Dr. Laura! We’ve missed you.
By Sheila
March 31, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
Dr. Laura is not on…I turned over to 1160 AM and didn’t hear her program????
By Chuck
March 31, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Um…the first sentence in the article states Dr. Laura returns tomorrow…
By Chuck
March 31, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Um…the first sentence in the article states Dr. Laura returns tomorrow…
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
A primer on “Dr.” Laura:
She cheated on her first husband.
With her affair, she stole another woman’s husband.
They lived together unmarried, and she bore a child out of wedlock with him. (two things against which she rails on her radio show)
She posed for nude photos.
Her mother’s dead body went undiscovered for two months. It’s not like she disappeared mysteriously; she was in her condo the whole time. Hmm, if only someone had called…or visited… or even noticed…
(what a loving daughter)
Her PhD is in Physiology (not an MD, not even a PhD in Psychology) yet she insists on being called “Doctor” Laura.
Yes, let’s all take advice from this beacon of morality.
What a hypocrite.
By Mr. R
March 31, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
WHO CARES!!!!!
By Sheila
March 31, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Um…Chuck….Rodney wrote the article on Sunday, 3/30/08. Also, according to her site this is stated…Dr. Laura Affiliate News! Atlanta Listeners: Dr. Laura can be heard on 1160 WCFO from 9a-1pm beginning March 31!
By irak
March 31, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Sane Jane is right, what a hypocrite. A track record like that and this woman is telling everyone else that THEY have psychological problems!
By gttim
March 31, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
What a nasty lady! Who is dumb enough to listen to her preach morality? Oh wait, the family values crowd.
By JamieNAtlanta
March 31, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Glad the Double Barrel Ding Bat is back.
By tc
March 31, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
The only thing more ridiculous than “Dr. Laura”, are the people who listen and call in to her show.
By Nancy
March 31, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Dr. Laura’s show is for me entertainment purposes only…
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
PS, I don’t have a vendetta against Laura Schlessinger, despite my vitriolic comments above.
It just seemed like there should be equal time given & readers should be reminded what a controversial figure this woman is.
And, with apologies to Rodney Ho, the softball questions offered here (and her even breezier answers) really don’t address the matter at all.
Was this supposed to be a puff piece?
By marknatl
March 31, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Thanks Sane Jane. May I add one more to your list ? Her son Deryk and his offensive myspace controversy.
By Snozz
March 31, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Rodney, what the hey? Softball doesn’t describe this marshmallow pillow of a Q&A! She says to you her top issue is a lack of civility in society and NEXT RESPONSE she pushes her latest book titled “Stop Whining”.
Uhm, yeah- “Stop whining” is a VERY civil response to someone seeking advice or help. Come on Rodney, I KNOW you’re better than that. This woman is hypocritical and spews hatred, and has always been given a “pass” on it- just like with this Q&A.
By marknatl
March 31, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Thanks Sane Jane. May I add one more to your list? Her son Deryk and his offensive myspace controversy
By "Dr." Mark
March 31, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Yes, it was a puff piece. That’s Rodney’s specialty. And “Dr.” Laura is like Rush, Sean, et al—if you start to ask tough questions, they just hang up. Then, if they’re in the middle of a show, they berate you to the droolers and unibrows who listen.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
I’m guessing everyone on here is already well-acquainted with the famous Letter to Dr. Laura. But it’s laugh-out-loud funny and always worth a re-read.
Does anyone remember The West Wing episode that parodied Laura Schlessinger & paid homage to the aforementioned letter? Brilliant TV, even if my politics don’t lean quite that far left…
By Brian, Decatur, GA
March 31, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
How sad that they have chosen to bring this mean spirited homophobic harpy back on the Atlanta airwaves. All she does is spew hate. I hope that they will reconsider this ill advised action. I for one will not be listening to her spew her mean nasty hateful nonsense.
By The Cowboy
March 31, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Yay, Dr. Laura is back. My life is now complete.
OK, really. I don’t listen to that station and now I never will. A moral train wreck is telling others how they aren’t living morally? Next we’ll have Dr. Kevorkian hosting a radio show about healthy living for the elderly.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Or Bill “Mr. Middle Class” O’Reilly.
Who likes to point out that his parents (the folks) never made more than thirty five grand a year. (he neglects to mention that 35k in the 60s = six figures today)
By Bud
March 31, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Cool. She’ll be on a low-wattage A.M. station at the same time as The Talkmaster. She’ll get dropped from Atlanta within 3 Arbitron rating periods.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Mark, I didn’t add her son’s myspace page because I’m not certain it wasn’t a hoax - there seems to be some debate about its authenticity.
Not like she’s hurting for material, though.
Is anything more pretentious than a PhD insisting on being called “doctor”?
That drives me crazy. And don’t even get me started on the “doctor of chiropractic” - do you have to get your Masters in Backrubbing first, or can you go straight to the doctoral program?
By ugrt
March 31, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
before you believe sane jane’s accusations, have him / her site the source of the claims and check them for yourself
By phil
March 31, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
At least Dr. Laura POSED for a photo.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Here’s one, ugrt. More to come.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/lauramom1.html
And you learn something new every day - I didn’t realize she’d left her mother on the slab at the morgue for 10 extra days after the coroner’s investigation. Nice!
By Ben
March 31, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
I guess sanejane, Brian from Decatur and others are perfect and have never made a mistake in their lives. Looks as if Dr. Laura has made a number of them, but she has done something important and that is learn from them. Yeah, she is shrill at times, but sometimes thats the only way to get someone’s attention. Glad to have her back.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
ugrt, google “Lewis G. Bishop” to learn more about the marriage she wrecked.
Or visit here:
http://www.nndb.com/people/427/000022361/
Or here:
http://www.blurtit.com/q591673.html
By frank
March 31, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Dr. Laura might want to visit the Family Church in Sugar Hill to seek redemption for her hate mongering.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Ben, it’s not a matter of being perfect. It’s a matter of not being a hypocrite.
I am a deeply flawed individual. Probably more so than most; possibly more than she. The main difference is that I don’t use my nationally syndicated radio show to show off my moral righteousness & routinely badger/belittle (or as you say, “be shrill to”) callers whose moral standards are clearly not as high as my own.
BTW, the whole “you guys must be perfect & never have made a mistake before” argument is a lame red herring. Nice dodge though.
By Ally
March 31, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
“Sane Jane” sounds like you have too much time on your hands..everyone has done something that could have done differently…get off the seat of judgement and continue to take your meds..in which case you will stay sane Jane??
By Ben
March 31, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
jane, using your argument would mean that no one who has made a mistake can ever be redeemed or should be followed. By that, your own admission that you are flawed would mean your point of view has no validity. If she were still making the same mistakes she had in the past, that would be hypocrisy. Many times its hard to do the right thing, especially when it hits at a deeply personal level. I think she is voice for morality.
By irak
March 31, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
The audacity of telling people they aren’t capable of a healthy relationship when she’s never had one herself.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
I’m not suggesting only flawless folks can give advice - that would be a pretty short list, no?
I’m simply pointing out that public figures should be very careful about how they portray themselves to the masses, lest they be held up for ridicule and hypocrisy when the walk doesn’t match the talk…
Ben, I at least appreciate the lively debate - good stuff. Your point is well-taken & persuasive.
Now, if only we can get Ally to say something of substance?
My guess is that she’d rather engage in ad-hominems only. No thanks…
By Dave
March 31, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
I guess there should be no judges, teachers, priests or policemen if you follow some of your logic. The key is to LEARN from your mistakes and help others. Some of you people actually DO need to be shaken by the collar to get your attention. You use the term “hypocrite” as it justifies what you are doing and saying and dismiss anyone that is saying “You shouldn’t do that” or “You should do this”. Just because, as a child, you smoked pot, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t tell your kids not to smoke pot. Sane Jane uses that method as an easy out to dismiss anyone that tells her she needs to do better. Guess what….right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter WHO says it. Y’all are so used to the “cuddly” method that gets little or NO response. Ever heard of tough love? It’s making hard decisions that you don’t want to make, but you make them because you KNOW deep down that it’s for the best. Some of you are lilly back boned malcontents that just don’t want their flaws pointed out and offer advise, just because you don’t like to be corrected. You are just 4 yr. olds in a grown up body.
By kd
March 31, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Dr. Laura is so anti-female. Back when her show was on WGST, I heard Laura tell an obese woman caller she needed to consider bariatric surgery just to please some man.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Dave, that’s a straw man. Nobody suggested that there should be no judges, teachers, priests, etc until you brought it up.
I’m not even suggesting that LS shouldn’t have a radio program - that’s something for her corporate masters (rather, their advertisers) to decide.
I’m simply taking a public figure and holding her up for scrutiny and ridicule for being a phony baloney.
No more, no less.
By SKJ
March 31, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Take off BORING Clark Howard and put her in his place!!
By Dave Parkerson
March 31, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this
A straw, huh? Sounds like “I really can’t think of anything noteworthy to say against that, so I’ll call it a red herring or a straw”. Some of you are like my late grandmother who alienated most of our family from her because she was just so dad blasted mean. She went to therapist after therapist who told her so and as soon as they did, she went somewhere else. Today’s MTV culture is so worried about “self esteem” or “feeling good about yourself” when they need to hear what the last therapist told my grandmother “Miss Anita, what you are is mean as a snake and you should feel lucky that someone hasn’t picked up a stick and knocked your brains out.” Was that mean spitited? Nope..it was the truth.
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Sorry about your grandma, Dave.
And just for the record, I’m generally a big fan of judges & teachers. But when they drink from the bench, or have sex with their 14 year old students… yeah, I kinda think it’s appropriate to hold them up for ridicule.
How is this any different?
By sane jane
March 31, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
PS, it’s still a straw man. You debunked a position that no one had taken.
Pretty much a textbook definition of the practice…
By Spence
March 31, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
This was not an interview, it was an advertisement for her show. The interviewer seemed to be more interested in kissing her butt. What a disgrace.
By Mitch
March 31, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
Laura Schlessinger is a known hypocrite, a liar and is NOT even entertainment. For those who listen to her: get a life.
By Pauline Ashley-Wilkes
March 31, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
Makes me wanna go burn a bra. I see so many other women doing that over the last, say, forty years or so.
By AMAZED
March 31, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this
There is such a double standard. When a woman has opinions like Dr. Laura she is taken to task.
But, if you have a man with the SAME opinion it is TOTALLY different.
I enjoy her show, and I can’t wait to tune it.
Most of you whiners are afraid that you don’t measure when listening to her common sense approaches.
By Ugh
April 1, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
Just when I think things are turning around, crap like this returns. Ugh.
By southside z
April 1, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
uuuuuuuuuuhh she is one ugly woman, damn those nude photos of her from the 70s are uuuuuuuuuggggggggllllllllllyyyyyy
this thread doesnt even deserve my catch phrase, i gotta go b4 i throwup
By keven graham
April 2, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
I’m curious as to how many people heard Ike Newkirk say about Dr. laura that “somebody should take a rifle to that woman” as is commented above?
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By Scott
June 23, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
Dr. Laura is an accomplished and an impressive person in many ways, I just wish she’d wake up about 911 being an inside job and stop encouraging people to fight this damn war which many now understand is being fought for global imperialism.
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