Editor's Note: The recent behavior of some public figures had the majority of American Morning's Tuesday audience lamenting the loss of manners, yet questioning the “double standards” that seemed to be imposed against different races. Many suggested that Kanye West and Serena Williams were treated more harshly for their inappropriate behavior than Rep. Joe Wilson or tennis player Roger Federer.
- Dorothy: Where was your rage about civility when Cheney cussed out on the floor of the senate?
- Sandra: How come you weren't talking about manners when those students stormed the stage for a Tancredo speech? How come you didn't blast the Dems when they BOOED Pres. Bush during a State of the Union speech? What is so different?
- Carl: Nice to talk about Serena again and not talk about Federer's outburst during his finals. The blatant racism in the level of coverage is once again embarrassing for America. People have forgotten about McEnroe and ignore Feder...they simply say he is "competitive" and it is understood...
- Freeman: Kanye West is a child who needs to grow up. His fans are angry at him and that will hit him in the pocket. Serena Williams had a bad day. Was she wrong, yes. She'll recover eventually. Why don't you have the same disdain for Wilson. Everyone seems to want to move on from this white man's tirade. Hold him up to the same standards you are putting these two people. The difference between them and him is Wilson did it in an important meeting to the President of U.S. in front of the world. All you've done is dismiss it and certainly emphasized the other two. Double standard.
- Rose: I just watched your segment about Serena and her apology. According to John Roberts, Serena exhibited "bad behavior" and it's becoming an "epidemic". Then lo and behold who shows up talking to John, Elliot Spitzer. Does John criticize Elliot's bad behavior before he interviews him. Very hypocritical to criticize Serena, and have praise for Elliot who was breaking the laws that he was sending other people to jail for. It's not acceptable for a woman to lose her temper, but acceptable for a man to have sex with hookers, and humiliate his family in front of the nation. Am I missing something? Double standards?
I've noticed that our society all disapproves of Kanye West’s behavior and so do I. I feel that there's a double standard. Kanye was wrong; what he did was distasteful, disrespectful – nothing good should be said about his outburst, but congressman Joe Wilson disrespected our president, yet the media show and emphasize the support he has. It was just as bad, don’t care how you put it!!!
Has “freedom of speech” become “freedom FROM civil conversation”? Is there a way to express disagreement (freedom of speech) without disrespectful behavior? What do you think about the “double standard” suggested by the viewers above?