Home

9/2/98

Prager began his show by noting how several years ago KABC management forbade him from using big words like "thesis."

Then he tackled Santa Monica's opposition to getting a Hooters restaurant. An opponent said he didn't want "frustrated fraternity boys and dirty old men ogling women."

Prager thought this a putdown of old men. What's wrong with old men wanting sex? What's wrong with looking at women?

From the 9/2/98 LA Times:

By John Glionia:

… This was an establishment whose very name rankles most feminists, a chain that has been the target of lawsuits nationwide alleging discrimination and abuse, a chain condemned for its insistence on scantily clad, shapely young waitresses, a chain about to enter the up-to-now happy family of Santa Monica business owners.

The chain is Hooters, that international company with 234 restaurants in 41 states and a dozen countries--but so far none closer to Los Angeles than Newport Beach.

The reason for the local absence--and for potential fireworks as Hooters makes plans to open restaurants over the next two years not just in Santa Monica, but also in Long Beach, Burbank, Pasadena, Westwood, the South Bay and the San Fernando Valley--can be seen in the discussion that followed.

"Let me ask a simple question," Mayor Robert Holbrook finally said. "What exactly does 'Hooters' mean?"

One Hooters franchisee, Larry Klinghoffer, took a deep breath and explained that it could refer to any number of things: to Hootie the Owl, the company mascot, or, as he delicately put it, to part of a woman's body.

"It means," he said, "whatever it means to you."

Moments later, council members winced in embarrassment when a local activist came to the microphone and blurted out: "I'll tell you what Hooters means" and went on to use a vulgarity.

… Santa Monica city officials--enjoying more commercial prosperity--feel the same way. They complain that Hooters is a place that objectifies women. Employing a staff of often-buxom waitresses dressed in tiny shorts and skimpy tank tops, the restaurant attracts a clientele these critics have struggled to avoid at the family-oriented Third Street Promenade, they say.

Citing Hooters' own research, which shows that the restaurant appeals to men between the ages of 25 and 54, Councilman Paul Rosenstein put it even more bluntly.

"We do not need gangs of frustrated fraternity boys and dirty old men coming downtown to drink and ogle at women," he said, admitting, like others on the council, that he had never been to a Hooters.

…Last year Hooters settled a federal class-action lawsuit filed by several Chicago men denied jobs as waiters at the chain. As part of the settlement--in which Hooters agreed to pay $3.8 million--the restaurants were allowed to continue hiring only women to wait tables. Hooters also endured a four-year investigation by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which led to no charges.

Mike McNeil, vice president of marketing for the Atlanta-based Hooters of America Inc., insisted that the chain's marketing concept is not controversial. "Abortion is controversial," he said.

Yet he acknowledged that any debate about the company's name helps business.

"If people decide we stand for part of a woman's body, we don't run from that," McNeil said. "Female anatomy or a bird--for us, it's just good marketing."

Klinghoffer said the restaurant will hire waitresses with all shapes and backgrounds. "We're looking for high energy levels. Like the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders or a surfer girl," he said. "Do they have to be attractive? Yes, that's part of the concept. Not the size of their body parts."

The Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women has also criticized the Hooters venture. But one city official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the real sticking point is less a feminist issue than the sheer tackiness of the restaurant's name.

"We fancy ourselves as the capital of liberality, but the name 'Hooters' is too politically incorrect--even for us," the official said. "Of all the things to get mad about. We can't even keep the legitimate adult businesses out of the city. But mess with [the Third Street Promenade], the crowning jewel in this bustling little burg, then you've got a problem."

* * *

Giving a Hoot

Some samples of the protest that Hooters restaurants and their scantily clad waitresses have garnered in recent years:

1994

Maple Shade, N.J.: Members of the National Organization for Women carry signs, competing with Hula Hoop-spinning waitresses. Hooters is "more insidious" than a strip club, one protester complains. "At least a strip joint is honest about what it is."

1995

Newport Beach: First Hooters in Orange County opens. Chain says it will open five more in the county in two years--none of which has materialized yet. Two months later one waitress tells a restaurant critic with a wink, "No one really comes here for food."

St. Louis: Judge orders city to issue a permit to Hooters. City had banned the restaurant after residents bombarded City Hall with calls and letters of protest.

Schaumburg, Ill.: After a bitter debate with a feminist group, Hooters wins approval to open near a mall. One critic grouses, "Everything about the place is a deception."

Guilderland, N.Y.: Shouting match breaks out between waitresses singing "You Are My Sunshine" and NOW protesters in front of recently opened Hooters. Says one waitress, "They don't have to look in here or eat here if they don't like it."

1996

Roanoke, Va.: Plan to open a Hooters on a street with a bawdy history draws protests from a citizens group that has battled to rid the road of massage parlors.

1998

Boston: A line of 50 shivering men waits hours outside a new Hooters that was scheduled to open its doors for lunch but kept customers waiting until evening because of a longer-than-expected fire inspection process.

Nottingham, England: New Hooters comes under fire from women's groups and equal opportunity campaigners for employing only women to wait tables.

Prager points out that the clothing worn by Hooters waitresses is no more risque than that worn by many on the Santa Monica Beach and the Third Street Promenade. Prager says ogling in privacy (restaurant or strip joint) is fine. Public behavior, such as what people wear publicly, is a big deal.

Prager remembered how a female physician phoned to complain about a dying man looking down her blouse. Prager was proud that the man wanted to look down her blouse. She was offended. How dare he?

Prager says that conservatives, even religious ones, tend to be more open than liberals. One "proof": A conservative Christian radio station has had him on many times while no LA leftist station would, until some woman at KPFK heard Prager say that, then had him on the air for an hour…

When Prager said that the Christians thought he was going to hell, P's five year old son Aaron looked at him. P has taught Aaron to not swear. P said on the radio, "Aaron, it was an appropriate use of the word in this context… I will explain it to you later."

How many talk show hosts could bring their children with them to broadcast? Not many.

Prager suspected that there are many people (Liberals) who will defend the President's fling with Monica and condemn Hooters.

Prager thought the phrase "dirty old man" a class put down. Rich cultured upper class elderly gentlemen with young women was fine, but lower class men of age with sexual feelings is supposedly disgusting. P. thinks the phrase should be stricken from the vocabulary of honest, well-meaning folks.

When a caller told Prager that he frequently used his ideas in his speeches, Prager asked: "Do you cite me?"

Citing sources is an excellent value but Prager takes it too far. Constantly citing your sources is awkward and slows down a speech. Also, I hear Prager often cite sources for things that they are not the sources for. (I've heard Prager attribute things to Dr. Steve Marmer and Will Herberg that these two did not originate.)

Prager and company should be primarily concerned with getting their values and ideas out there. If they are cited, that's great.

Prager devoted his third hour to President Clinton and his lack of credibility due to lying.

Caller and P: Many baby boomers identify with Clinton, and his indiscretions.

From today's WSJ, a book review about a new work on British philosopher Isaiah Berlin: "In another well-known essay, "The Hedgehog and the Fox" (1953), Berlin took the distinction once made by the Greek poet Archilochus -- "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one thing" -- and applied it to writers and thinkers generally. Most thinkers are in the grip of a fixed idea to which they cling desperately, and which they are convinced explains the whole of our experience. These hedgehogs believe that all truths -- scientific, moral, political, religious -- are compatible, and indeed ultimately one. In politics, these are the most dangerous of men. Foxes, on the other hand, see the complications of living in a world of many truths and are less quick to judge. They do not deny the notion of truth; they simply see that we cannot always reconcile all things that are truly good and thus must make compromises among them. The term "tragedy" has worn thin through overuse, but this is indeed a deeply tragic view of human experience, and of politics in particular."

IMHO, Prager is at his best while he is a fox, and at his most boring when he becomes a hedgehog.

From Prager's Official Web Site:

Friday, September 11, 1998

Dennis began the show calling for the president's resignation. Dennis reviewed the President's apology he gave during a prayer breakfast in Washington, DC. President Clinton asked for forgiveness. Dennis

said that the president still doesn’t understand what he has done.

That it is not the affair, it is his lying to the American people, that he is not a credible President and that he cannot bomb terrorist bases without people calling them "Monica Missiles." The President of the United States, the protector of freedom around the world, must be able to govern. Dennis said that he cannot ask for forgiveness from him in regard to the affair, "he didn’t cheat on me." If he wants to ask for forgiveness for lying - fine, then show contrition by resigning - do what’s best for the country and we will forgive. But words don’t do it anymore because his words are not believable. Dennis said that he has done a lot of soul searching into his oft held belief that when it comes to the office of President, it is more important what his policies are than his character. That he much rather have a man who has extra marital affairs and be willing to bomb Iraq than have a

President who is faithful to his wife and not be willing to confront evil regimes. Dennis said that he is now leaning toward the idea that a person of values, of a high moral caliber, of decent character would most likely be the leader whose policies coincide with his values. In other words, a morally decent leader would carry out morally decent

policies. Dennis said that he still needs time to think this through and as in most instances the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Thursday, September 10, 1998

Dennis announced that this is not a happy day for the United States of America. Very soon 456 pages containing intimate sexual behavior about the president of the United States is about to be released to the general public. How are the media going to report this? It is obvious that salacious details of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky will

come out. The polls have shifted. Most Americans are saying that if the President lied under oath he should probably leave office. Dennis emphasized that the issue is about lying, not extramarital affairs.

Dennis said the President is not aware what damage he has caused his presidency. His apologies were never apologies. He can no longer effectively govern because of the loss of his credibility. Dennis is not happy about any of this. He doesn’t want Al Gore as president but you cant’ be president of the United States without credibility. Dennis

took a vow that he would not discuss on his program the salacious

sexual details that will come out in the report. He wants everyone of every age to be able to listen to the program. It is not crucial to the republic that these details be discussed in the electronic media - it is crucial to the republic to know if the President of the United States lied under oath.

Wednesday, September 9, 1998

Mark McGwire hit his 62nd home-run of the season setting a new

record. Dennis called last night a "Norman Rockwell" moment.

Dennis listed the following reasons why last night was so moving:

During the game every time Sosa came up to bat, the St. Louis fans gave him a standing ovation and a lot were chanting "Sammy, Sammy, Sammy…

Baseball stadiums all across the country stopped their games to show the replay of the home run and in every stadium McGwire received a standing ovation from the fans and applause from players on the field.

Immediately following the home-run, he was congratulated by his teammates, the Chicago players, and picked up his 10 year old son

high above his head and gave him a big kiss.

Sammy Sosa ran in from the field to give him a big hug. They both embraced for quite awhile.

He then ran into the stands and hugged the Maris family. And held them in his arms.

In an ESPN press conference following the game he thanked "the man upstairs" and said that in the morning he touched Maris’ bat and felt that this was going to be the day and that Maris was with him. Then, in the news conference he picked up Maris’ bat and his, and put one on each shoulder.

In the press conference on the field, he thanked his family, his ex-wife and her husband for getting his son there on time to be with him. He gave credit to his teammates and said he wouldn’t have accomplished this without them. He also said how proud he was that his bat will be next to Maris’ in the hall of fame and gave tribute to the Maris children.

When the owners gave him a ’62 Cardinal red Corvette, he put his son in the front seat for the loop around the stadium.

According to reports last night, McGwire liked St. Louis so much that he took a cut in pay in order to continue with them this year and gives one million dollars a year to abused children. (Apparently, Sosa also gives a lot to charity)

The 22 year-old young man who retrieved the ball said that he felt it could never belong to him, that McGwire should have it and that McGwire already said that he wanted it to go to Cooperstown.

Dennis said McGwire in an American hero because a hero is a human being whom we aspire to. The 60’s ushered in 35 years of cynicism - "all politicians are liars, everyone is a sinner, etc." is not true.

"Everyone is sinner" lumps Hitler and Mother Theresa together, murder and jaywalking are now both simply called sins. With everything being equal, there would be no heroes. Dennis said of course McGwire didn't risk his life to save others but he is a hero because of the way he is conducting himself. DP is convinced that the young man wouldn’t have given the home-run ball back to just any

player. It is because a decent guy, McGwire. prompted it. Goodness is contagious and evil is contagious. That is why it is important to reward goodness. It happened to a nice city, nice player, nice fans…everything worked out well. A caller told Dennis he wants to send the young man 100 dollars and calls on owners and players to match this. Dennis said sending the check is acknowledging how beautiful the boy’s gesturer was. In the long run of life the decent get treated better than the indecent and McGwire got the ball back because he is decent. Dennis said that in America today there is a palpable hunger for innocence, simplicity, and decency. We are drenched with ugliness and cynicism. A woman called saying how cynical she is because what McGwire did was not so good because that is what he does for a living. Dennis said "no, what makes him magnificent is the way he reacts to glory - with humility, love, and kindness." He reminded her that he gives a million to charity. Dennis said that we ache for good folks in the public eye.

Tuesday, September 8, 1998

Dennis began the show with a provocative question, not for the sake of provocation, but rather for moral clarity. Dennis cited a Psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen Marmer, for posing the following question:

Imagine Chelsea Clinton was an intern in the office of the President of Stanford University and the identical situation as Monica Lewinsky took place. Should the president of Stanford resign? Dennis is trying to figure out how the people who think President Clinton shouldn't resign think through the issue. Do you think the president of Stanford would remain, should he remain, and how would "Mr. and Mrs. Clinton" react? By hearing the responses Dennis believes he will better understand their position on Clinton. Dennis mentioned his show he had a few weeks ago when most women were saying it didn’t matter what he did but rather the job he does and Dennis wonders how their husbands interpret this other than the affair was not a big deal. The first caller today, Colleen, said that she believes the president of Stanford would not remain in office. The next caller, Ed, told Dennis that there is no way the president and his wife could be consistent on this and was glad Dennis switched the situation around.

Monday, September 7, 1998

Today is Labor Day - Dennis said he loves doing holiday shows.

Dennis discussed labor. He said that for the sake of your own happiness, you need, if it is at all possible, to pick a career that you enjoy and that brings you meaning. Meaning is critical. That doesn't mean that you have to work with kids, or special needs people, etc.

One can derive meaning from all sorts of careers, but meaning is crucial for your overall level of happiness. Dennis wrote an essay about this in his book, Happiness Is a Serious Problem.

Dennis' next topic was on a quote he read in today's New York Times.

A Christian pastor was quoted as telling the grieving relatives of the people killed in the Swiss Airline crash, that "life goes on." Dennis said that this is not what you tell people at a time like this. That this statement is meaningless, what does it mean "life goes on"? How will it go on? Certainly not the same before the crash. It doesn't go on for those killed. Whose life goes on? That the earth keeps spinning? That the relatives also did not die in the crash? Dennis was angry at this statement because he thinks it doesn't validate the full force of the grief that the loved ones of the killed are experiencing right now. Dennis said it is better for all of us to tell anyone who is grieving over the loss of a loved one that their loss is tremendous, that they may never be the same again, and if there is anything we can do to help them during this time of shock, grief, and mourning, that they should call on us and we are here for them. This then validates their feelings of intense sadness, anger, and loss. To do otherwise, Dennis said, is cruel.

Friday, September 4, 1998

The show began with Dennis clarifying a remark actor Jason Alexander made about Dennis earlier today on the KABC morning show. Mr. Alexander said that he didn’t understand why Dennis for years had said that adultery is no reason for breaking up a marriage, that it is not a big deal, it should not cause tension and yet when the President commits it all of the sudden he is the devil and shouldn’t be in office. Dennis said that unfortunately he was misrepresented. His position on adultery is that it is a terrible thing that clearly is a sin that is prohibited in the ten commandments. Of course it causes pain and tension. But, that in an otherwise good marriage, especially when there are children, it should not be the sole reason for ending the marriage. If it is, then it is because of a bruised ego rather than a rational decision. Dennis also stated that his reasoning for calling the President to resign has nothing to do with his adultery. If he had jaywalked Dennis would have the same position. It is because he lied to the country for 7 months about it, he had his entire cabinet lie to

the country about it, and he simply is not trusted by the American

people. Dennis said that the press doesn't believe him and that they are reluctant to even print his golf scores because they think he lies about the numbers.

The rest of the show was a true Prager Classic. Dennis noted how women often comment to him that when they walk by the KABC men’s room they hear laughter and lots of talking but that women rarely talk in their facility. Dennis said that he had heard this before about restrooms in general, not just at KABC. So, Dennis opened the phone lines to find out why this is. Dennis also asked why the women’s room is always cleaner than the men’s room. The calls instantly came pouring in. This was truly a fun show. In the end Dennis learned that the men’s rooms are in fact cleaner than the women’s rooms and the reason why men converse more in the bathroom is because men don’t find relieving themselves as gross as women do. Dennis said women naturally have more decorum and so they don’t think it’s right to have the conversations in the bathroom like men do. Men are more gross, according to Dennis. A bathroom is no different than any other room.

Thursday, September 3, 1998

Dennis began this show discussing the Swiss Airliner that crashed

into the waters off Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, killing all 200+ passengers on board. Dennis spoke to captain John Greaves, a pilot captain who also practices aviation law. Captain Greaves told Dennis that there have been 450 reports of smoke in cockpits on commercial airliners and that they are almost always due to wiring. Dennis said "thank God our daughter wasn't on that flight" but that he felt funny saying that because someone else's daughter was on that flight. He said but of course he’s not saying thank God someone else was on that plane. DP doesn’t have intellectual respect for those who say this proves there is no God when tragedies occur. If your belief in God is that which protects you from airplane crashes then you believe in a butler in heaven, not a heavenly father. God allows fires in airplanes.

God is not a fireman. The idea that God should stop airplane fires is silly. It's emotional, not realistic. If God could stop fires we could get rid of all maintenance crews. What if a pilot is drunk? Is God suppose to make that man sober? Much of peoples' belief in God is childish.

We have to grow up in all areas of our life: with spouses, friends, etc.

We also have to grow up with God-speak. So why pray? Because requests from God is an infinitesimal part of prayer. Dennis noted that the word in Hebrew to Pray, L'hitpalel, means to examine oneself. Requesting is not a sophisticated faith. To believe in God is to believe that God knew all the people on the plane, not that God should be an airline pilot. Dennis wants to know why, even though this loss is horrible beyond words, are Divine questions asked about airplane crashes when more than 200 people died yesterday in car crashes? He said that our task is to build the safest airplanes. If God took care of it, there would be no point to being human.

Dennis then discussed the issue of Safeway supermarket employees protesting Safeway’s policy of having their employees smile and greet people by looking them in the eyes. Some female employees said that action makes them vulnerable to men who think they are coming onto them. Dennis had on his show the union’s representative who is defending the workers’ rights to choose whom they are friendly to and he had on a representative of the supermarket chain defending the policy. Throughout this intense show employees of the chain were calling in complaining about the policy and of the supermarket having "mystery shoppers" go into the stores and review the employees’ level of friendliness. Throughout the show Dennis heard both sides and in the end said that he sides with the supermarkets’ policies of greeting people with kindness.

Wednesday, September 2, 1998:

The restaurant chain, Hooters wants to open up in Santa Monica, CA.

Councilman Rosenstein said that he doesn't want it because he doesn't want "a gang of fraternity boys and dirty old men ogling" at waitresses in Santa Monica. Dennis was offended by this. Since when is looking at women make you dirty? What is the definition of a dirty old man? And, why the reference to age? What does it mean, dirty old man? Dennis said that Santa Monica is not exactly Provo, Utah.

It's not known for its sexual modesty. Dennis said he went to a Hooters in Florida and that after about two minutes he started reading newspapers and he didn’t see anyone ogling or acting gross. One woman called up to say that there is a Hooters in Colorado Springs.

Dennis noted that it is a very conservative city and that The Family Council is headquartered there. Dennis said that conservatives are more open to differing views than liberals. He noted that a conservative Christian radio show asked him to guest host a show. He is a Jew, not someone who believes in Christ. When Dennis publicly complained that no liberal program had ever asked him on the air, someone from KPFK (one of the most liberal stations heard in L.A.) had him on. Dennis said that there is even a commission on the status of women in Santa Monica. He said that this is a bunch of hot air and that this balloon needs to be punctured with the needles of honesty.

Dennis wants to know why the commission has never said anything about scantly clad women on Calvin Klein billboards.

Tuesday, September 1, 1198

Dennis devoted this show to the question of whether David Cash Jr. should be thrown out of the University of California at Berkeley. He is the man who witnessed Jeremy Strohmeyer struggle with Sherrice Iverson at 4:00 AM in a Primm, Nevada bathroom. That same night he allegedly heard Strohmeyer's confession of raping and murdering the seven year old girl. He did nothing about it. He is the star witness for the prosecution against Strohmeyer. Prior to the murder, Cash was admitted to begin his education this fall at Berkeley. Now, protesters (of students and non- students) led by Iverson’s mother, are asking for his removal from the campus. The campus said they have no legal grounds to remove him. Students have said they will shun Cash. Dennis asked two provocative questions for his show. 1) Does Berkeley take more than test scores and grades into consideration for prospective students? 2) If Cash and Strohmeyer were black, would the students be as open with their opposition or would it not be politically correct to protest the admission of a black student under the same circumstances? A representative of Berkeley came on and said that he was not at liberty to discuss this particular case but that they do take character into consideration. Several black people called Dennis with different reactions to his second question.

Some said that of course they would still protest, others said no way; that the political climate would not allow such opposition from the most liberal campus in the country.

Monday August 31, 1998

Dennis began his show telling people he has an Israeli guest in his home and that Dennis was so impressed at how much he knew about the United States, including different songs. Dennis said he is always impressed how much people outside of the United States know about our country.

The first hour's topic was taken from an article in Sunday's Los Angeles Times. The article was about schools banning peanut butter.

This in an effort to combat a steady increase in allergies to peanuts.

This is happening across the country. Some schools are making kids with peanuts or peanut butter sandwiches sit at separate tables. The bottom line, the schools say, is the life of children over the inconvenience of others. Dennis said that this is an example of much of what is going wrong in America’s thinking. 5% of kids have the allergy. There is no logic or moral duty if one out of 20 kids is allergic. The other 19 should be able to eat peanut butter sandwiches.

Tiny minorities are dictating policies for huge majorities. A caller told Dennis that Los Angeles schools are required to provide alternative entrées if a doctor writes a note about a child’s allergy. DP said this is wrong. His kids keep kosher; is the school required to provide kosher meals? No. If kids have special needs, it is up to the parents to ensure their kids’ needs are met.

Dennis’s second topic was on a New York Times front page piece that gave evidence showing people who spend even a few hours a week on the Internet (including emails and chat rooms) experienced higher levels of depression. The article showed that Internet use caused a direct reduction in the amount of time spent with friends and family.

The Internet produces more cases of shallow relationships than the fewer deep ones we need in order to feel secure and less depressed.

Dennis said that he uses the Internet a great deal and that his show is better because of it. He asked his audience if they think the NYT article is true? Dennis has never gone into a chat room. He said he would much rather take that time to chat with friends and family and that the problem with the Internet is that you don’t know if the people are telling the truth about who they are(i.e. gender, age, location, ideas, etc.). Dennis did say that he knows couples that met over the Internet in chat rooms and then later married. He opened up the phone lines to get the listeners' reactions.