4-13-11 - Discussing Planned Parenthood, Abortion and Taking Calls

In case you missed it...

YESTERDAY'S WRAP-UP AND 30 SOMETHING REMAINING ROSIE RADIO SHOWS
Rosie and the staff started today's broadcast discussing yesterday's truly exciting program where Howard Stern made an appearance.  Janette, who has long since professed her undying love and affection for Howard, said he is just as gorgeous in person as she imagined he would be.  She said even at 57 years of age she was utterly thrilled by his appearance!   Janette called Howard a kind, gentle, interesting man.  Deirdre was sad she missed the entire thing!  Janette was also happy that she got to meet Robin Quivers who, in her opinion, is the best sidekick in the industry.  Janette said she had to eventually stop talking to Robin because all she was doing was telling her how wonderful she is.  Rosie's girlfriend, Tracy, listened to the interview from home and asked what it is about Howard that gets people to tell him everything!  And she also told Rosie she turned all "Long Island" while she was talking with him.  Rosie said in her case, she's decided to just answer anything he asks truthfully.  She said it's worked so far so she's sticking with that plan.  Rosie was so happy for Janette that she got to meet and have her biggest celebrity moment on air.  Janette also recently discovered that Amanda, the segment producer, was born just two months after Rosie and Janette met!   She's the personification of their relationship and she's a lovely young woman!  Rosie was excited to hang with Shirley MacLaine yesterday too.  Thinking back yesterday at her life and that she hung out with Shirley MacLaine yesterday overwhelms Rosie sometimes. 

Rosie said Rosie Radio will be repeats Thursday and Friday of this week.  Tomorrow she has to attend the OWN Network Upfronts, which are held each spring by the TV networks so they can show off their fall line-ups to advertisers.  Rosie and Janette realized they only have about 35 shows left until Rosie Radio signs off!  Rosie said when she presented at the Matrix awards on Monday she had a huge amount of people come up to her to comment on how fantastic she looked!   She didn't think she looked all that different.  But then she watched the season 8 promo for Curb Your Enthusiasm (see below) and she thought to herself that's how she liked to look because it looks more like her.  When she sees herself in photos from the Matrix awards she thinks she looks like a completely different person.  Rosie said she hopes to maintain some balance between no makeup and too much makeup so she can maintain a sense of authenticity when her new show starts.

Behind The Scenes of Season 8



LAWRENCE O'DONNELL, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND AN ABORTION DEBATE
Last night Rosie watched Lawrence O'Donnell as he played back Glenn Beck making fun of him for crying over the cuts to Planned Parenthood.  Lawrence had received a letter from a viewer about how she uses Planned Parenthood for gynecological checks and breast cancer screenings.  He got choked up over the letter on his program and Glenn Beck (who Rosie referred to as "the anti-Christ" who if you shaved his head you'd most likely see 666 carved into it) made fun of him for it.  Lawrence played the tapes of Beck making fun of him and Rosie loved what he had to say.  She said Lawrence O'Donnell is so smart and his comments back to Beck were so well thought out.  Rosie said she loves him.  However, Rosie does not care for Glenn Beck.  She said he lies for a living and he's innately unChristian-like.  She said she doesn't understand his cruelty and thinks he's bad in every way.  She said she can't stand Beck, what he represents or who he purports to be!

Lawrence O'Donnell defends Planned Parenthood

Lawrence O'Donnell fires back at Glenn Beck

Rosie was infuriated at the Planned Parenthood attacks and lies.  And the fact that our elected representatives can lie on the floor of the Senate (like John Kyl saying that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortions) makes Rosie even more angry.   Rosie said what the fuck are you doing on the floor of the Senate speaking then if you're not speaking factual statements!  Pete read the statistics and only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does is related to abortions.  97% of what they do is for basic health care for women.  Rosie said the fact that in the year 2011 we have to fight again for  the rights to our own bodies, infuriates her.  Rosie loves Steven Colbert, who she said is her second favorite man, who has since started trending #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement on his Twitter.

Rosie asked if Glenn Beck has a daughter or a wife.  She said Planned Parenthood does much more than abortion they help treat STDS, administer and educate about birth control, give pap smears, and perform breast cancer screenings.  She said THAT is the majority of what Planned Parenthood does.

Rosie took a call from a listener who grew up in Utah and she said Planned Parenthood was the only place she could go to get birth control as a young woman.  Rosie took a call from a listener who became pregnant at 16 and went to Planned Parenthood to hear her choices.  She came from a very Catholic family and didn't know her options and she needed Planned Parenthood for the education. 

Rosie then took a call from a listener who has an issue with Planned Parenthood getting money because she was passionately anti-abortion and thinks all babies should have a basic human right to live.  She said she's against abortion and she has an issue with taking tax payer money to fund them.  Pete pointed out to the caller that 97% of Planned Parenthood's business is for other things and no tax payer money is ever used for abortions.  Rosie pointed out that she pays a lot in taxes and surely some of that money goes to support the wars we're involved in. And Rosie's 100% against those wars.  So Rosie said, using her theory, she would like her money back!  Rosie said women in America have already fought for their rights to have abortions and the Supreme Court agrees.  The listener called abortion a "genocide" and said it's not about the right to your own body, it's about the rights of the little baby.  Rosie asked the caller if she thought a child that is not wanted should be born anyway.  The caller said that each child should have the right to make his or her own path and a lot of  people have shitty lives but we should all have the rights to have them.  Rosie reminded the caller that there are 500,000 children in foster-care and 100,000 kids available for adoption today.  She told the caller that she and all the others that feel the same way should adopt, raise and care for these children.  The caller said that wouldn't be the solution.  Rosie told the caller that she shouldn't push her belief system about what is and isn't right onto other people.  And she said until the caller is ready to take in the unwanted children of the world she should "shut up!"  The caller said she had her kids very young and it was really difficult for her and not a good situation.  She was on welfare and struggled financially but with welfare she did it and that was the right thing to do.  Rosie asked the caller what she thought should happen if a woman becomes pregnant because of rape or sexual abuse.  The woman laughed at that idea and called that an excuse. She said that's only true in 3% of the cases of abortions!   Rosie said it's the right of every woman to have an abortion and if men could have abortions there would be drive-thru clinics for them like McDonald's.  Rosie said to think abortion is the easy way out is totally absurd and unrealistic.  She told the caller that just because a certain choice worked for her doesn't mean it would work for everyone.  She said everyone should have the right to decide what's best for their own lives.  The caller asked Rosie about the life of the child.  Rosie screamed, "GO TAKE ONE OF THESE CHILDREN IN AND UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO DO IT SHUT UP! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TO DO!"  Rosie was done with the caller at this point and she and Janette talked about friends they've known that have had "backdoor abortions" when abortions were illegal.  Rosie said if anti-abortion activists really care about unwanted children they should begin by taking care of those who are not wanted and in foster-care.

Rosie took another call from a listener who sells birth control to Planned Parenthood for a pharmaceutical company in Southern California.  Many times she's entered the Planned Parenthood locations and been screamed at by anti-abortion protesters.  When she explains to them why she's there, to sell birth control, they don't care and they're so angry they don't listen.  The caller said the protesters are completely disconnected from what is going on there.  This caller is a Republican but said the nutty right-wing, holier-than-thou attitude of the Republican party makes it really hard for her to support her party sometimes.  She also said women need to know about emergency contraception and how there are doctors who refuse to even offer this option to their patients.  She said without Planned Parenthood, we can never know all of our contraceptive options as women.  Rosie mentioned the amazing documentary called 12th and Delaware an abortion clinic across the street from a pro-life clinic. 

Rosie took several more callers on the topic ranging from callers who had abortions and although painful was a good decision for them at the time to callers who chose not to have abortions.  Rosie said, being a lesbian and having only been intimate with one man in her lifetime, she's never had to struggle with an unwanted pregnancy.  But she said many of her friends have struggled with one and every one of them felt the emotional cost.  Rosie said mostly, we need compassion for women in crisis and for the woman who knows what she is and isn't capable of.  

Rosie took a call from a listener who was anti-choice but takes in foster kids because she feels like it's her responsibility to take in unwanted children.  Rosie said she personally could never have an abortion but she doesn't feel like it's her right to tell other women what they should do.  Rosie said since 1973 women have had the right to choose and to think we're going backwards in time makes her extremely frustrated. 

Rosie took a call from another listener who never believed in abortion until she was raped and became pregnant at 27 years old.  She was married at the time and she couldn't live with a rapist's baby her entire life.  She decided to have an abortion and it wasn't easy for her but it was the right decision for her at the time.  She took issue with the previous caller who made it seem like women like her don't really exist.  Rosie thanked her for calling in and sharing her story. 

Janette said this is all a part of the rise of the religious right.  But their argument has its roots in their religious beliefs.  Janette asked why she should have to live under other people's religious rules. 

Lastly, Rosie took a call from a juvenile correction officer who recently helped a young girl with a horrible STD by taking her to a free clinic.  She said they practically saved that child's life at that clinic and they rely heavily on free clinics and Planned Parenthood to help these juveniles.  She said she's seen many kids in her line of work born to parents that don't want them and the outcome is tragic. 

DANCING WITH THE STARS, ASHLEY JUDD APOLOGIZES, AND ROSIE TAKES CALLS
Rosie and the staff briefly discussed how Sugar Ray went home on last night's Dancing With The Stars.  Deirdre said she thinks this year is not that exciting.  Lou, a huge DWTS fan, loves Ralph Macchio on the program.  Rosie does too but thinks she sees some of the same moves he did in the Karate Kid.  

The staff discussed how Ashley Judd has had to apologize for some remarks she made about hip hop.  In her book All That Is Bitter & Sweet: A Memoir Ashley says, "As far as I'm concerned, most rap and hip-hop music - with its rape culture and insanely abusive lyrics and depictions of girls and women as 'ho's' - is the contemporary soundtrack of misogyny."  She has since apologized saying, "The outcry regarding my remarks, 2 paragraphs of my 400+ page book, regarding hip hop and rap, has been as astounding as it is out of context...I have looked closely at the feedback I have received about those two paragraphs, and absolutely see your points, and I fully capitulate to your rightness, and again humbly offer my heartfelt amends for not having been able to see the fault in my writing, and not having anticipated it would be painful for so many. Crucial words are missing that could have made a giant difference," she says in a post on GlobalGrind.com.

Janette feels the world has become so politically correct you can't say anything anymore.  Rosie admitted there are aspects of the hip hop culture that present women in a non-feminist nature but said there are also aspects of Country music that do that too!   And Rosie said unless you're Donald Trump, you can't get away with anything.  Rosie said it seems to her like Donald Trump always gets a free pass for all the horrible things he says while everyone else has to apologize.  Rosie and Deirdre are big hip hop fans.  Deirdre said Ashley's statements puts hip hop music in a horrible light and a lot of it isn't bad.  Janette wanted to know why Ashley must apologize for her opinion.  She said if she doesn't like it, what's the big deal? 

Rosie took a caller who wanted to discuss her fears that Donald Trump might run for President.  Rosie said she doesn't feel like Trump is really going to run.  This caller saw Trump on Fox News bragging that he ripped off Gaddafi.  She said no matter your thoughts on Gaddafi, he is not a moral man. Rosie said she would love for someone to put together all the times he said she was a fat low-class degenerate on a running loop so people could remember what kind of a person he is.  The caller said Trump is so hateful and she fears he someday is going to be a diplomat and in control of nuclear weapons!  

Rosie took another call from a listener who was laughing at Rosie yelling that people need to be more compassionate.  Rosie laughed at herself too.   

Rosie took a call from a listener who doesn't think Donald Trump is the only one that gets away with anything.  She said Howard Stern can get away with anything too!  She said his radio show borders on porn!  Rosie said the difference is one is a Real Estate mogul who takes himself very seriously and one is a radio show host and a comedian.  The caller wanted to know if Rosie had spoken to Kirstie Alley and suggested to her that she take over Rosie Radio when it goes off the air.  Rosie said that despite what people think, all famous people do not know each other.  She said she doesn't know her well enough to call her on the phone and suggest that and it doesn't exactly work that way.  Rosie said hopefully the staff will be able to continue in some manner and they'd let the listeners know as soon as they know anything.

BYE BYE FLIP, ROSIE AND ROSEANNE ARE FRIENDS SEINFELD AND MORE CALLERS
Rosie said the news that the Flip camera will no longer to be made made her sad.  But she thinks the iPhone may have killed it.  Janette said she's buying several more Flip cameras because she like to use them on her trips overseas.   

Rosie mentioned her presentation at the Matrix awards and how she joked about ending up on a nut farm with Roseann Barr if it weren't for her publicist Cindi Berger.  Now Perez Hilton is saying that she's taking a shot at Roseanne!  Rosie said it was a joke and she's friends with Roseanne.  Roseanne tweeted Rosie and said, "You haven't lived til you have eaten my nuts! Once you get my nuts in your mouth, you'll see things different! sending you some!"  Rosie tweeted her back, "Aloha - send me your nuts !!!!"  Rosie wanted to make it clear that they are NOT in a feud with each other!  And then she called Perez Hilton a "dorkoholic' for suggesting it.

Rosie took a call from a listener who said their conversation about the Flip being discontinued reminded her of the Seinfeld sponge-worthy episode.  Rosie admitted she has never seen an episode of Seinfeld or Friends!  She said she wants to order the box set and watch them all.  Janette was once asked to come on a program and comment on the series finale of Seinfeld but had never seen it so she had her assistant get her 6 episodes of it.  She quickly watched those 6 episodes and went on the program as if she had seen every one! 

Elaine ponders if he's sponge-worthy.

Rosie took a call from a listener who works at a nuclear facility.  Rosie asked her if she's ever seen Silkwood but she had not.  She said she feels badly for the people of Japan and everything they're going through and she prays for them every day.  Rosie chatted with the caller about her life and she revealed she and her partner have 7 kids between the two of them.  Both the caller and her partner were formally married to men before they got together and fell in love.  Her partner was already divorced when they met but the caller was married and had been with her husband for 17 years when she realized she was gay.  She was 34 at the time and it had never entered her mind that she could even be attracted to a woman because of her Catholic upbringing.  Her children have adjusted to the change but she barely speaks with her ex-husband and her family.  She lost everyone in her life to be with the woman she loves.  Rosie thanked the listener (whose name was Steph) for calling in and sharing her story.  Rosie said she's always interested in people who didn't realize they were gay until they were older.  Rosie said she has friends who are just coming out now in their late 30s. 

Rosie took a call from a listener who LOVES Rosie Radio and is sad they're leaving.  Rosie said she's sad too but excited about her new job and she said you never know, someday she might be back!  This caller is a huge Howard fan and was so pissed at him when he was an ass to Rosie for so long.  The caller mentioned the Oprah/Howard feud and Rosie said she didn't even realize there was a feud between them.  Rosie said she realizes that Howard has a problem with Oprah but she's not sure Oprah has a problem with Howard.  Rosie said she doesn't have any insider information though, she's just guessing and she's never had a conversation with Oprah about it.  The caller said she hopes Rosie can mend the fences between Oprah and Howard.  Rosie said she doesn't speak for Oprah but she doesn't think Oprah holds a lot of time in her mind thinking about Howard.  Rosie said Oprah goes towards the things that draw her and doesn't pay attention to the things that don't. 

GAME FOR STEPH THE CALLER
Family Feud.  James asked a question with 12 possible answers and each person had to guess one of the answers from a survey of 100 people.  The farther the answer was on the list, the more points the player got.  The player with the most points wins. 

Name something you might buy that is almost always white.
Rosie said "toilet paper" for 2 points.
Pete said "bread" for 6 points.
Janette said "sugar" for 10 points.
Shoshana said "paper towels" for 11 points.
Deirdre said "trash bags" for 0 points.

Names something checked before you buy a house.
Pete said "general home inspection" for 0 points.
Janette said "roof" for 2 points.
Shoshana said "plumbing" for 1 point.
Deirdre said "floors" for 0 points.
Rosie said "termites" for 4 points.

Names something you are afraid of as a kid.
Janette said "spiders" for 4 points.
Shoshana said "the bogeyman" for 5 points.
Deirdre said "snakes" for 2 points.
Rosie said "the dark" for 1 point.
Pete said "parents" for 0 points.

JANETTE VS. SHOSHANA
Name something in front of a school. 
Janette said "buses" for 5 points.
Shoshana said "crossing guard" for 4 points.
Janette said "children" for 2 points.
Shoshana said "playground" for 0 points.

JANETTE WAS THE WINNER!!!!!!!!!!

Rosie closed the show and said they'll be back live on Monday (April 18th)!  

and that's what you missed - kw