"Gunny" Bob's suggestions for replacing Air America's Rhodes included Sen. Obama, Stalin, bin Laden, Charles Manson

Commenting on Air America Radio's April 10 announcement that host Randi Rhodes would be leaving the progressive network following her April 3 suspension for using vulgar language to insult Sen. Hillary Clinton at an off-air event, Newsradio 850 KOA's "Gunny" Bob Newman on his April 10 broadcast suggested possible replacements for Rhodes, to "stay true over at Air America to their programming ideology." In addition to Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and former President Jimmy Carter, Newman's suggestions included "Osama bin Laden. [bin Laden collaborator] Ayman al-Zawahiri. Robert Mugabe, the dictator down in Zimbabwe ... [former Ugandan dictator] Idi Amin," and "[a]dmitted terrorist Nelson Mandela," the former president of South Africa. Newman also stated that former cult leader "Charles Manson would be a fantastic Air America host" and included Joseph Stalin among "those characters [who] would fit right in at Air America."

As Colorado Media Matters has noted, in commenting on Rhodes' suspension on his April 7 program, Newman criticized the purported "hatred and intolerance" of KOA's sister station (AM 760 KKZN) and "the far left" but omitted the numerous extreme opinions he has voiced on his own show, such as his call for "every Muslim immigrant to America who holds a green card, a visa, or who is a naturalized citizen" to be "required by law to wear a GPS tracking bracelet at all times."

The Denver Post reported that Rhodes' show has been picked up by a different syndicator, and that KKZN will air her program in its previous time slot, 1-4 p.m. weekdays, starting April 14. Clear Channel Communications Inc. owns KKZN and KOA.

From the April 10 broadcast of Newsradio 850 KOA's The Gunny Bob Show:

NEWMAN: Now, Air America had this statement on their website regarding the departure of Ms. Rhodes, quote: "We will soon announce exciting new talent and programming that will accelerate Air America's growth in the future," close quote. OK. At 303-713-8585, what exciting new talent do you think they should replace Randi with? Now, if they stay true over at Air America to their programming ideology, I have some recommendations. But I want you to make recommendations as well at 303-713-8585 on "Gunny" Bob 850 KOA. Osama bin Laden. [bin Laden collaborator] Ayman al-Zawahiri. Robert Mugabe, the dictator down in Zimbabwe, he would be a good Air America host. [former Ugandan dictator] Idi Amin -- oh wait, he's dead, never mind. [Sen.] Barack Obama. Rosie O'Donnell. Jane Fonda. [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid. [Congressman] John Murtha [D-PA]. Admitted terrorist Nelson Mandela [former president of South Africa]. [Sen.] Ted Kennedy [D-MA]. [Sen.] Hillary Clinton. [Democratic Party Chairman] Howard Dean, [cult leader] Charles Manson. Charles Manson would be a fantastic Air America host. You talk about pure entertainment, whoo. Roseanne Barr. Oh, here's one: Joseph Stalin. Wait, he's dead too. Forget him. And Jimmy Carter. Any of those characters would fit right in at Air America. 303-713-8585, you got "Gunny" Bob on Newsradio 850 KOA. Hate takes a holiday; suspended Randi Rhodes quits Air America.

—E.B. & J.F.B.