Air America anchor suspended over Hillary whore comments

Washington, Apr.4 : Air America Radio's afternoon host Randi Rhodes has been suspended for her abusive remarks against Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during an off-the-air public event in San Francisco.

Rhodes called Clinton a "f------ whore," several times, in the course of a stand-up comedy routine built on political bits.

Her specific problem with Clinton, said Rhodes in the routine, is that she's disingenuous: "Her deal is, 'Read the fine print, a-------.' "

Rhodes has long been critical of Clinton on her Air America radio show, which is heard 3-6 p.m.

This routine, performed for a private audience at a club in San Francisco and sponsored by the local Air America affiliate, also featured politically incorrect, though not quite so graphic, commentary on folks like former Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro and former New Jersey first lady Dina McGreevey.

It drew a number of ongoing laughs from the audience. There was a loud burst after the Clinton comment, with the quality of the recording making it hard to tell which were laughs and which were gasps. When a video of the routine hit YouTube, new Air America chairman Charlie Kireker issued a statement saying, "Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for making inappropriate statements about prominent figures, including Senator Hillary Clinton, at a recent public appearance on behalf of Air America in San Francisco.

"Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our hosts." he Telegraph quoted Kireker, a long-time Democratic party activist, who has ties to the Clintons, as saying.

Rhodes was not available for comment.

ANI