Responses about ‘Dr.’ Laura  Oh, you people have such dirty minds!

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is not a real psychologist. Although she does hold a master's degree in counseling,her doctorate is in physiology.OK,so she made some huge mistakes when she was much younger and she learned some valuable lessons from them. Bully for her! However, if anything, that should make her more empathetic and forgiving towards her callers,not into some acid-tongued,holier-than-thou you-know-what!

And if there are more "counselors" out there who are like her, I am scared.A good counselor takes the time to listen and tries not to jump to conclusions. "Dr.Laura" hardly lets a caller get a word in edgeways before she starts making judgments and verbally abusing the caller. Also,she exploits Judaism and the current political climate in her efforts to maintain an image of moral superiority. It wasn't so long ago that she didn't actively participate in the Jewish religion. But now that political correctness and talk about the Holocaust have become popular, she has jumped on the bandwagon by suddenly expressing pride in her Jewish heritage. I've always thought that,for the most part, the Jewish people were rather tolerant. If anything, her talk would be more suitable for "The 700 Club". And not only that,but she seems to have forgotten the commandment that says something about honoring one's mother and father, because she hasn't spoken to her mother in ages.

Evidently, she isn't practicing what she preaches. It is obvious that Laura Schlessinger does not use her program as a vehicle for helping others, but rather as a means of lining her pockets and gaining notoriety. – Delilah

Dear clp, You are sick! Why do you listen to the show if you hate it so much? Dear Janice, Any luck finding pics of Dr. Laura, after all the hype, I'm really curious. thanks! I have only one sentence to send you. I believe it is short but to the point. So here goes.... TO Dr Laura, Hate your show, Love the rack!!!!!. Thank you for your time. Having worked in the psychiatric-farse field I know how burned out one can get. Dr.Laura is very burned out and needs to quit. If she was to listen to herself after a year off she'd probably say " damn, i was sounding bad". dean g.

I think that Dr. Laura and her listeners are losers and hypocrites; why  is she so popular? All she does is play "holier than thou" and lambaste low-class callers with simplistic authoritarian patronization from behind a dogmatic facade. Do you think she's getting a "push" from higher-ups at ABC as a campaign to promote the show? It CAN'T be because of ratings.... can it? If so, God help us all.  --Brian Hi guys! Found your site and I love to hate her. The problem is I have a few questions. 1.is there a talk room for the laura-hating public? 2.When is her divorce and/or internet lawsuit coming up? And finally, any other sites you recommend besides the parody page, I have only found 2 pictures, but I work with a woman who thinks she is a god, and I sent them to her with your articles, but I'dd love to find more. Are her lawyers attacking every web site that puts them up? I looked in Howard Stern's site to try and find them, but no one on God's green earth has that much time. Thanks in advance for any help you might give, Lynn

I've read some of the things that you have written about Dr. Laura. I do agree some of the things she talks about is rough, but why son't you ask the kids about some of the things she says. Such as if they want a new mother or father, when divorce comes up the kids are the one that get all the shit from you wanting a new man or woman. But when the kids like the other new partner then they get shit from the one that has no partner. It's ok for you to chose a new person in your life but if the kids want a new don't like them then they have hell to pay because they never see you anymore. And for those that let your kids stay with anybody including some of the daycares read some of the stories about abused children that's where it happenes most of the time.

And as far as her past how many of you have been perfect. She is now a changed person from what she was then believe it or not everyone makes mistakes and she will tell you she made hers to. Why don't some of you try this with your kids they might not have to give so many DNA test to find out who the fathers of your kids are.

Yeah, I seen the pix and so what. I could care less. I hope she had a lot of fun doing it, really! I honestly just think that this whole Dr. Laura rage is all about those lame pictures and a two-faced stereotype. C'mon lets all drop it and move on. -----J.M.-----

News From Our Corporate Media: According to MSNBC, Jacor has been trying to prevent anyone in its empire from discussing the recent Laura Schlesinger flap. It hasn't entirely worked out, and of course talk about Dr. Laura's nude photos has swept through other media. The very fact that such an effort to silence discussion -- and over such a trivial issue at that -- indicates the problems with radio consolidation:

"What Schlessinger didn't tell listeners is that the company that syndicates her radio program, Jacor Communications, has sent a memo to all of its radio stations insisting that disc jockeys and talk show host not discuss the situation. But Jacor has a mini-revolt on its hands. Despite the memo, several stations and personalities are talking about Dr. Laura and the pictures. Perhaps most damning for the Doctor is the fact that she denied the existence of the pictures a mere two weeks ago."

As far as a good listener I can't begin to count the times she has gotten the object of someone's call so screwed up, then when she finds out she is not correct she becomes mad.

My main reason for writing is her nude photos have you went to www.spacecitynews.com? How can she quote morality when she was married living (shacking up her words) with a married man allowing him to take nude photos of her, she is always saying your actions have consequences. If so why did she fight so hard to keep her consequences off the Internet I.E. the law suit to keep the photos of her shady "atheist" (again her words) past out of the hands of her fans. One might think, she might thinks her listening audience may have the same lack of compassion and consider her a hypocrite. 

I hate the fucking bitch! I'm forced to listen to her for an hour each day as her show happens to fall between to of my favorite programs and I have no real choice. You hit it right on the head in your posting. Keep it going! 

I landed at your site and found it senseless. It does not say anything other than you hate DL with a passion and wasted hours of your life telling people why we should all hate DL. Who calls radio talk-show therapists anyway? I don't think people really take these quacks seriously.

Tell you what! Since you have so much time on your hand, so much energy, why don't you help my cause? Now, you could make a real difference! – Elle on the Web

Remember Sheba – http://www.iscweb.com/personal/marcelle/sheba.html 

I recently sent you a note about your Dr. Laura page but didn't realize until afterward the depth of content of your entire website. It really is extremely insightful and informative and I'm always so thankful for people like you who take the time to speak from the heart. Keep up the great work and you now have a new fan! -- Mike 

BTW, it appears that you are afraid of going to hell. But you're already there. Is there really any sense of kindness or justice in this world?

The strong violate the weak wherever one looks... --R.B.

The Naked Truth Emerges!

I saw today that the net had nude pictures of Dr. L.  What a hoot!  Do you know what the adress is?  If so, please let me know. Thanks....    J.W.  Where can I see the photos that Dr. Laura's ex-boyfriend supposedly has had posted on the web?  I heard on the news that they're quite un-Dr. Laura-like. I'm not so much interested in what she looks like naked (or just risque', or whatever) I just want to see that she just might be a human being after all.  Ken  I heard there are nude pictures of her somewhere... Cheating on her husband..?  any ideas here??? thanks  I barely knew of Dr L until I read about her nude exposure.  So I went online and read your informative site.  Thank you.  I remember now that I have heard her and did think she was a jerk.  I just never realized until now what a cultural phenomonon she is.  By the way, where IS the nude photo site?  Thanks.  Seen the pictures of her yet?  Talk about immorality --FuSIoN

Janice,  Check out www.clublove.com.  They have nude photos of DL and a lot of info about them.  She has gotten a temporary restraining order against showing them, but they expect to have them back on soon.  Incidentally, the restraining order claims:  1.  They are not pictures of her, and,  2.  She holds the copyright.  Typical of DL reasoning, say what?  Janice,  Although DL's lawyers have gotten to most sites, you can still view the pictures (if you have the intestinal fortitude) on Howard Stern's page: www.koam.com.  Now, go take on the day!  Note from Janice: I tried the Stern web page and didn't find any photos. Clublove is an XXX-rated site which requires a credit card number before showing you the "free" nudies of Dr. Hypocrisy.

Although Dr Laura wishes for a more rounded world that may make her a little old fashion but not completely off base.

You ideas are a bit off base.

Dr laura expects this, although I do not totally agree with her, her points are valid in a world that suffers from 55% devorce rate leaving thousands of kids slightly disjointed, I know I was on of them, education is important, you should have the parents raise your child not some stranger that really doesn't care.  Love, encourage, cherish and simpley be there for your kids.  Love and honor your spouce unless they comit evil.  That evil can be discribed as anything that violate the sanctaty of marriage, the love and respect of the children, and the violation of someone elses rights.

that is the message that DR laura is trying to get across and the fact that I am neither a liberal nor a conservative allows me to make a moral and justified dision to listen to her and reap the rewards that all my trails and tribulations are not in vain.  thank you dal 

Most of her analogies came not from the bible, but from Star Trek the Next Generation or an occasional old Trek episode.  She also used Quantum Leap, Alien Nation and/or Babylon 5.  She even appeared in Quantum Leap, where she encouraged the star to take his clothes off during a talk show episode.  She didn't preach against abortion or homosexuality.  Whatever you did before your relationship was your business and it wasn't necessary to tell all to your new relationship.

Working mothers weren't a SIN.  In fact, since she wasn't a religious person, sin didn't seem to exist.  She said that you should stay home if at all possible and day care wasn't as horrible as she puts it now.  I did like listening to her because for the first time here was someone who understood what it was like to have to stay home with children and discover the frustrations of never having a clean or organized house.

She would talk about the difficulty of being raised in a mixed religous family, but would say that her parents did it and "l came out fine."   I got the impression that going to church was sporadic.

I moved in 1993 and couldn't get her in my new city.  I would listen to her in trips back to the old turf.   I moved again in 1996 and started listening again and was shocked not hear one word about Star Trek and to discover she had become Jewish, and was now spouting the bible.

I am appalled at her judgmental nature.  Of course, she couldn't remain christian, after all judge not lest ye be judged.  Only 3 days ago after she told this woman who was in a quandry as to leave her husband or stay for the kids, she yelled at her saying "I'm not going to give you permission to do anything that is your decision."  She wouldn't even advise her as to what the potential was in either situation. I have been in this woman's shoes, and finally got the guts to divorce my husband.  It is not a pleasant divorce and things still aren't settled.  In my mind I said a little prayer that please let something happen to knock her down from the pedestal she has placed herself on.

Then I hear on the radio about Bill Ballance.  What a hoot.  I would listen to Bill's love advice talk show while in high school in Torrance, CA.  We were always shocked as teenagers as to how rude the subjects could be. Women always wanting to tell all about their affairs and how many times they even tried to get him to call him personally.  They sometimes would try to give out their phone numbers, but they would get bleeped out.  I wonder if I heard Dr. Laura's phone call?  Bill Ballance was a rude egotistical S.O.B. But he was fun to listen to.  If he was her mentor, she learned well.

My question:  Does anyone out there remember Dr. Laura in her kinder, other fannish years?  I preferred the Star Trek/Science Fiction Fan myself. 

Janice, Check this out.  I have been visiting a page (clevenet) which had a Dr. Laura discussion group and the sponsor closed it because of all the nude DL postings!  It had been going on at a nice daily pace, 5-10 participants, and then all of a sudden it had about 100 a day.

I thought DL's latest "exposure" was a great topic for discussion (on a number of levels) and I was very disappointed to see the plug pulled. I was really enjoying the CleveNet site when it was shut down.  I have been unable to find any more active"anti-Dr. Laura" discussion groups or newsgroups.  Do you know of any?  I find they are very difficult to locate using search engines due to the incredible number of pages (usually from radio stations) promoting DL.  Any help would be appreciated.

Note from Janice: I don't know where they can be found. If you do, dear reader, kindly e-mail that information to me by clicking here.

 

A Letter From A Reader   to the Management of KGO San Francisco  Dear Folks,  I was quite disappointed to find that even more air time has been given to the self-centered opinions of Dr. Laura. I believe KSFO* would have been a more appropriate venue for her. What is even more upsetting is that time was taken away from Dr. Dean Edell and others, to accommodate her. It's ironic, because he is the one that actually adds value to your programming line-up and to your listeners lives. I know that ABC probably dictates to a certain degree how long KGO must air Dr. Laura, but it's just sad that a community as diverse and intelligent as the Bay Area must be subjected to her narrow-minded self-righteousness.  Don't worry...I'm not forsaking KGO entirely...There is still to much good programming. I just find myself, for the first time in a while, with nothing on the airwaves to listen to between 1:00 and 4:00. I guess I'll just keep a few more CDs with me! -- M.B.  *Editor's Note: KSFO is a powerful AM station in San Francisco which, due to its right-wing agenda, is known to some as "KKKsfo."

I love your site! Dr. Laura will burn in hell! She has sinned according to my moral code and my morals are better than hers. I think god (or goddess!) wants us all to have as much sex as possible with as many people as possible before we die! god also wants my wife to have
a fulfilling career and not be shackled by kids. god likes atheists better and he thinks inter racial/religion/same sex/etc,, marriages are groovy. I believe this and since Dr. Laura does not I am going to now get a radio show and tell her and her brainwashed followers that the eternal, fiery pits of hell await their ultra conservative asses when they die!!!  thanks  g. c. 

Janice, I thoroughly enjoyed the new Dr. Laura Responses! One letter, however, really stuck in my craw- the one from the "board-certified psychiatrist" (I'm dubious, but let's assume it's true). Why oh why oh why do these conservatives assume that if you disagree with "authority figures" like DL, that you also reject the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and anything else that's holy? As my brother says, maybe he/she slipped into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't watching.

And what is this crap about psychologists being second only to journalists in their rejection (or whatever) of religion? Where did he/she come up with that? Her own personal research project? What about psychiatrists? Do a little research in that area, "Doctor". Early twentieth century psychoanalysis was often criticized for ITS rejection of spirituality.

Well, yo-ho-ho and a hearty quack-quack!  –  Bob

PS: By the way, Larry Metzler does NOT orchestrate your music. The music on CD or record is already orchestrated; he perhaps chooses appropriate selections and co-ordinates them to fit in between commercial breaks.Orchestrating refers to the act of choosing specific musical instruments to play particular musicallines within a musical work. Orchestration is, indeed, a complex and technical musical endeavour, and has nothing to do with selecting CD's.

dilemma n. a difficult choice between two (usu. undesirable) alternatives, (syn.) a quandary: She was in a dilemma over staying in her tiny apartment or taking the time and trouble to move.

Hope this helps. – Bob in Kansas

I have a question for you:  Are you basically saying that you reject the Ten Commandments and The Sermon on the Mount as moral teachings?  You sound rather intolerant to me and full of hatred for anyone who dares disagree with your self-proclaimed "right" to do whatever you decide is what you want to do.

I do not doubt that PhD and PsyD licensed clinical psychologists do not care for Dr. Laura since as a group ,psychologists are second only to journalists in their hostility to and ignorance of organised religion.

As a board-certified psychiatrist I do not listen to Dr. Laura because I, like most of my colleagues, am busy seeing patients during her broadcast hours.  I do plan to check out her new book on the 10 Commandments to see what she has to say.

---

At 12:17 AM 10/3/98 -0700, Janice Leber responded:
>PLEASE don't make the mistake of equating "Dr." Laura with all that is
>holy. There are already too many false idols out there.
>
>I think the Sermon on the Mount is inspirational. I think the Ten
>Commandments are great. I think Dr. Laura stinks to high heaven. And I do
>not think these thoughts are incompatible.
>
>Jesus was a great teacher with an important message the world would do
>well to heed. He was also humble. "Dr." Laura is rude, obnoxious,
>self-centered, unfunny, someone who fudges her credentials, feigns
>humility, and... Shall I go on?
>
>Maybe you'll get a chance to listen to her show someday and you will find
>her to be, as she describes herself, "evidence of God's presence on
>earth!" I HAVE listened to her show (don't any more, thank goodness), and
>I think she is "evidence of nasty, self-righteous attitude on earth!"
>
>Thanks for writing,
>Janice Leber
>choppedliver@hotmail.com
>http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/liver/

---

At 07:52 PM 10/3/98 -0700, Janice Leber responded:
>I was raised in the Mormon religion. (My parents converted when I was 3.)
>As a child I was steeped in the Mormon faith, largely to the exclusion of
>most Christian beliefs -- which the Mormons claim to be the foundation of
>their religion. I am no longer a Mormon -- I consider it a
>19th-century-style cult. I wrote an article about it on my web site.
>
>Whether or not God exists, a good idea is a good idea. And "Love thy
>neighbor as thyself" is a very, very good idea and a great philosophy
>around which to center one's life. That's what I mean when I say I
>support the teachings of Jesus. (Mormons mentally rephrase it to "Love
>thy Mormon neighbor as thyself -- thine other neighbors shalt go to hell
>so forget about them.")
>
>My grandparents' religions are a mixed bag. How about you? What's YOUR
>religious background, if I may ask?
>
>Thanks for writing,
>Janice Leber/
>choppedliver
>http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/liver/ 

---

I became "born again" through Young Life in high school and began studying and reading the Bible daily and joined a peer Bible study group, even though I had been raised in a SBC from birth.  I was an avowed atheist until the end of the ninth grade when I "joined the church" largely because I was the last member of my Sunday School class to do so and I was expecting to receive BSA Eagle rank during a worship service soon. However, that was the end of my open rejection of God and Jesus.  I was particulary concerned as to whether or not I would be permitted to believe that life existed elsewhere, pretty intellectually naive.

Like you, I consider the Mormons to be an 19th century cult.

I trust you've read C S Lewis's works, such as Mere Christianity, and The Confessions of St Augustine. Both were avowed atheists and scholars who came to have a personal relationship with Christ as adults.

How about a double-bill: The Stern-Schlessinger Show. (Sorry, that would have to be the Schlessinger-Stern Show, since the vehement ANTI-feminist would never tolerate second-name status). Feel THAT, Doctor!

Tonight I will dream of Laura and Howard Stern doing a late night tango el buffo. (If I were in the candy bizz I'd create a DR. L lollipop. Big candy head on a stick. Kids' moms would buy me out, and keep the kiddies quiet biting off the good doctor's cranium.)

Sweet dreams.. 

LMorgan/Anchorage, Alaska 

Just had to say first of all that I agree with everything about Dr. Laura that you said on your web page. She really is a self-righteous bitch! And this article in the September issue of "Vanity Fair" magazine is all the proof you need. I suggest you get a copy and read the whole thing, but part of it describes how Laura's son Derek was running in the halls in the building Schlessinger was working at and Laurie Sanders, who was doing her radio show at KOST, which is a sister station of KFI and is housed in the same building, called her program director and said "This has got to stop." When Sanders was released from KOST, supposedly because of budget cuts, Schlessinger ran around saying "Ding, dong, the witch is dead!"

Schlessinger has also gotten other women with shows like hers fired because she mentioned to the program directors that they wern't real doctors. Isn't that ironic?

And there's more. LOTS MORE! Too much to get into here. I definitely suggest getting a copy. (By the way, "Vanity Fair" is the same magazine that broke the story on Newt Gingrich's extra-marital affairs.)

• 1: Vibrating like a carp out of water
• 2: Thrashing around like a couple of crazed weasles
• 3: Tom Leykis

There are also liks there to the Vanity Fair article and two cartoons about DR laura, one of which is a comic strip. If you'd like to listen to Tom, an accurate list of affiliates is at: http://tomleykis.simplenet.com/stations. And of course, you can browse the rest of Tom's site at: http://blowmeuptom.com. If you want to e-mail Tom, is address is: tom@blowmeuptom.com. Thought you'd like to hear about this.

Best wishes, Dave 

• 1. Pay money for someone elses child through wellfare because they could not "afford" one when they got pregnant.
• 2.Pay taxes for the study of curing aids, or any other type of "socially" contracted disease caused by people who "want to check out the merchandise" as you call it before getting married, or from passing the needle around taking the very drugs that you condemn her of "preaching" against, which by the way I believe coffee does not transmit.
• 3. She does not say that you should be religous but that you should be faithful and not a hypocrate if you are, regardless of what religion it is you follow. If you are religous you cant follow it only when it suites you.
• 4. What are the statistics of divorce between two people with different religions? I would be willing to bet that statistically it is higher than a unireligous familly.
• 5. How can a gay couple be parents? Unless I missed something in biology class it takes a male and a female to create a child.
• 6.Yes, you are correct on way thing. If you do live "right" as you called it there is no need for an abortion. I guess abortion is a viable birth control method for those who do not like to take responsibility for thier actions. The only problem is that it is a method used after the fact.
• 7. How do you know she does'nt like sex after marriage?
• 8.The people calling in seem to want to blame all of thier problems on everyone else except themselves. This is what a three year old child is expected to do, not an adult.
• 9. Divorce (of course). Dont we all have something against divorce? Or is divorce something that is a possitive? I guess its the alternative route to take for those of us who did'nt "check out the merchandise" before marrying it. Sort of like a "satisfaction gaurantee". Perhaps we should keep our receipt in case we wish to return the "merchandise".
• 10. By the way, bussinesses contribute more money to the environment than any environmental group ever will. And when you refer to safer products are you refering to rubbers so you can "test the merchandise" before you marry it without fear of contracting the above mentioned ailments associated with such actions? We also would not need more police as you suggest that Dr. Laura wants if more people followed her advice, we would need less.
• 11. You condone cheating on your spouse?
• 12. You dont want to "provide well for your family"?
• 13. You dont want to be "your kid's parent".


If you answer yes to number 11, 12 or 13, then I thank my lucky stars that you are not my spouse or parent.

P.S. If you only listened to her twice as you said you did before you found out you did'nt like her, then how is it that you know so much about her? Would'nt you have stopped listening to her a long time ago before you had a chance to learn all of these things? If I dont like a show I dont listen to it long enough to form such a strong opinion against it.

I, too, initially felt that her in-your-face, take responsibility for yourself, approach was refreshing, but it appeared after a while that her self-perceived success led her down some very ego-involved paths. In other words, if it is her opinion, it can't be wrong, despite her self-contradictions.

As a REAL licensed Ph.D. type clinical psychologist, with twenty years' experience, I am very troubled by her apparent inability to recognize florid psychopathology in her callers. Clearly, 30-to 60 seconds of moralizing is not going to do anything other than create guilt over what these needy individuals are unable to change, except with considerable help and motivation. It appears to me that "Dr." Laura is more similar to the Jerry Springers than to a serious therapist such as Joy Brown. I truly wish she was not on the air as I do not feel in general that she is helping anyone.

Thanks you for your thoughts on this issue. 

"This is the hard part, the part that makes buy self-help books by the stupefyingly moronic Dr. Laura."

So, I'm going to do what you should do--I think you're full of it, so I won't read any more of your berating, just as if you don't like Dr. Laura--don't listen 

Instead of spending so much energy bashing her show, maybe you should listen again with an open mind. Talking with a priest, rabbi or minister may help also. Dr. Laura is not perfect and she never claimed to be. However, when someone who promotes such high standards as she makes a mistake, they fall further because people who are too weak , afraid, etc to try and live in the same manner wait for that mistake to happen. This justifies their weakness - "see, she isn't so great." No one is great without God. Without Him we are nothing. We are only saved by His grace because we can never be perfect. I urge you to give Dr. Laura another try- obviously her message had a profound effect on you. Find the courage to look into yourself and challenge your thinking and beliefs. You'll find, like I did that they are founded in temporal things- current trends, culture, fads, etc. These things don't last. Only God's word does. 

I suspect that you are a baby boomer because it is this me-generation that holds most steadfastly to the notion that they deserve in life whatever it is that makes them feel good; it is they who are most likely to be angrily threatened by the Dr. Laura assertion that you are responsible for your life. Do you feel more empowered blaming others for your problems, giving up on a marriage that no longer makes you "happy", or regularly living in victim status? Not me. My mind is open enough, and my sense of self strong enough, that I can listen to Dr. Laura and face some of my personal challenges, or disagree with some of her points, without getting angry or defensive.

It is certainly nice to see that you are not one of the many people I come across "surfing" the net (or in any media source for that matter) who forms unfounded and ridiculous opinions based on things they know nothing about. I get very annoyed at people who sit in judgment on others blaming the other person for "judging."

I have heard the stories that Dr. Laura had an affair when she was married (w/a married man). To the best of my knowledge that story is true. My opinion is that people can change and as long as she is practicing what she preaches NOW, I can have respect for her as a human being. While I personally enjoy listening to Dr. Laura, I will say that the first few times I listened, I got very outraged with her (just as many of her critics do). How could she put down single mothers (I'm a single mother--but, I said--there were circumstances I could not control) so sweepingly? The more I listened though, the more I thought--"As much as I despise to admit it--She's right--there are certain moral and ethical standards stemming from the Bible and other traditional sources which, if all people aspired to, would make the world a better place. So now I listen to the show for two reasons. First, it makes me think about what kind of person I am. Second, it makes me think about what kind of person I ideally would like to be.

Thank you for e-mailing me back. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have mine and you have yours. I suppose I just get frustrated when critics (in this case of Dr. Laura) put forth these strong, sweeping opinions and don't even give the impression that anything good comes from the source being criticized. I have a great deal more respect for someone who (I now know) has some basis for their opinion and who--even if they don't agree with it--can at least acknowledge the other side of the issue.

So, all in all--you surprised me with your candid admission (that you agree with a lot of what Dr. Laura says). It makes it a great deal easier to accept the fact that you think she's an arrogant jerk knowing that you can see other aspects. Take care. 

---

...I wanted to let you know I just finished reading the slam commentary on Dr. Laura. Certainly, everyone is entitled to their opinion and I must admit, the commentary had a lot of time, effort, and even wittiness to it. I'm a married woman in her mid-30's and probably would have written a slam similiar to yours a few years ago!

Be assured, I'm no Dr. Laura "groupie" or anything--but in my view (and millions of others), she is on-target. Yes, I agree her delivery is BLUNT!!!! (That's an understatement!) But the content of her message-- and her (BLUNT!) suggestions on moral living are worth at least a thought. God forbid someone could keep their legs together and ACTUALLY WAIT FOR SEX UNTIL MARRIAGE. WHAT A CONCEPT----BOY, WHAT A CRAPPY STATEMENT THAT WOULD MAKE ABOUT A PERSON!! Seriously, I'd ask you to consider the immense amount of self-respect and the respect of your spouse that might be gained. I think that's what Dr. Laura is hoping for...along with her desire to reduce the number of knocked-up, welfare-dependent women and women who would choose to kill their kid through abortion. (Again, I understand your reaction to Dr. Laura's style of communication and the fact that it's so abrasive-----but her content is sound!! ) Thanks for reading this. Have a good day!

I am to the point where I can't listen to her anymore. I tried for a while to see what people liked about her, but to me, there is simply nothing to admire.She is a cold, angry, insensitive shrew. Thanks for listening. Beth

Number 1 would have to be her laugh. 

Try listening some more with an open ind. 

I know we are not the only ones who detest her on-air antics. Yikes!  

A catalyst for suicide?  One reader wonders Hello, Janice,  Thanks for writing me back. In my email to you I mentioned that I was afraid that Schlessinger would eventually become a catalyst for a suicide. If a post I read (on the web-site where I found your post) is true, then one of Schlessinger's more unstable callers fell victim to this. Reportedly, she killed her child and husband, too. I sent this letter of outrage to Schlessinger's web-site:  It has been reported to me, thus verifying my worst fears about the danger of what I view as your megalomaniacal recklessness, that one of your more mentally unstable callers, after being "emotionally mutilated" by one of your mindless and sadistic diatribes, went home and killed her child, her husband and herself. It was also reported that she left a murder/suicide note which included the statement, "even Dr. Laura said I'm a bad person". This was reported in a web-site post by a relative of the dead woman. If this report is true, you have blood on your hands. If it isn't, I believe that it is only a matter of time until the unconscionable emotional brutality that you inflict upon the masochistic (and the other self-contemptuous among us) will, in fact, push a suicidal person over the edge. Maybe it has already happened more than once. I hope not. But if it has, I hope those suicides become widely publicized and help bring an end to your hypocrisy and your blind treachery. The email address of the dead women's relative is on a web-site which chronicles many of your "therapeutic" absurdities. Since I do not trust you, I will not risk the retribution (even if only sugar-coated in passive-aggression) that I would most likely receive at your narcissistic hands should I provide you with my email address. You need help. Get it before you wreck any more lives. A concerned human being.  Her propagandist handlers will probably protect her from my words but I needed to send some shock waves in her direction even if they never reach her directly.  I hope Schlessinger is investigated by responsible persons soon. If there are murder/suicide notes with her name in them, people should know about every one.  You asked about the web-site where I found the post that mentioned Schlessinger's name in a suicide note. Click here to check out that site. Post #10,"Thanks, Dr. Laura", contains the information you are looking for.

Thoughts from a psychologist in Kansas I would like to point out that "Dr." Laura's claim to "postdoctoral" training in marriage and family counseling is as misleading as her use of the title Doctor in the therapy milieu. Postdoctoral education is assumed to be at the doctoral level or higher, i.e., doing a neuropsychological fellowship at a medical school. Going back and doing master's level training (which is what her marriage and family degree consists of) is in no way "postdoctoral education". Another way of looking at this is if a physician decided to earn an MBA, would he or she claim it as "postdoctoral training"? Of course not, it would be ridiculous. Recently I was at a Spring convention of psychologists in my state and the subject of Dr. Laura was brought up numerous times in informal conversations. 95% of what I heard was negative and many concerns were expressed about her exploitation of low-functioning and dysfunctional individuals for "entertainment" purposes (and financial gain).  I have been cruising the net regarding Dr. Laura and have found that most comments fall into two categories: those who blindly support her and her support of "morality", and those who dislike her because of her treatment of callers and her inflated ego. Unfortunately, I see almost no comments from bona fide mental health professionals, who are surprisingly silent, except when talking to peers.  One of my other objections to Dr. Laura is her propensity to "pick and choose" from biblical based morality, apparently based on what SHE thinks is appropriate. I have read considerably about Judaism (I am not Jewish) and have discovered that there are about as many sects of Judaism as there are Christian denominations. Even more interesting, these sects are established primarily on disagreements about how to interepret scripture! Dr. Laura would have us believe that HER interpretation of Jewish orthodoxy is accepted by all Jews, which is nonsense.  Oh, well. Perhaps her "show" will suffer the same fate as Rush Limbaugh and simply wither away with no attention from anyone other than those who live in denial.  Have you noticed that recently LS has been using the expression "Is this the hill you want to die on?" when responding to callers who have a clear moral imperative, but the cost of asserting it is unusually high?  This appears to be a case of "situational ethics" for LS.  In other words, when the cost is high, the moral issue becomes secondary!  Isn't this exactly the issue in such things as abortion, divorce, and single-parent families?  What a hypocrite! Why does she imagine people have such difficulty living highly principled lives?  Answer:  Because the cost may be much higher than the value of the moral principle involved – duh.  The funny thing is that I don't think she has any insight whatsoever into the conflict between her "hard moral" stance and this approach to problem solving.

Well How pleased I was to see your commentary this evening as I suddeningly realized that "the good Doctor" has a web page. OOOO sometimes I just wish I could......... Well needless to say I couldn't agree with you more. When I hear her just slamming some poor young woman who obviously needs someone to talk to I just can't believe it. I could go on and on but you said it best already so ....... go take on the day! 

"Cats are just coyote food as far as I'm concerned," this hateful bitch said, laughing happily about it. The woman is clearly deranged. She should be stripped, smeared with chicken guts and dropped in the desert for coyote bait.....

I wholeheartedly agree with your article about Dr. Laura. Thankfully, her show was taken off the local station here in Gainesville Florida. What I found most disturbing was the number of devotees that called in to be condemned and abused by dr. laura. What's up with that? I think that you should dress dr. laura up in a dominatrix outfit and have "mistress laura, I want to be whipped. do it to me again." coming out of a radio speaker.

I agree with some of her statements about taking responsibility for your actions, but ironically, her methods are more irresponsible than the actions of her callers. I ain't no shrink, but my theory is that she condemns and blames others because she is too weak to take responsibility for the "mistakes" she makes in her own life. Her ramblings seem pointless and are just a way to make herself feel higher than thou instead of looking at her own personal weaknesses. She preaches to treat others as you would want to be treated yet I doubt if she would want to be treated the way she treats her callers. She's the ultimate hyprocrite.

Thanks for the great article. It made me laugh. 

As you so eloquently put it, she too was human (like the pun) and as a member of this sin based race, has committed errors and has been made a better (arguable I suppose) person for it. I just think things, as much as would prefer them to be, are not black and white...there ARE areas of grey. I do believe she is right in promoting family, marriage, sprituality, removal of gossip and taking responsibily, I don't however, particularly condone her holier-than-thou attitude and obvious lack of common sense. (lack of common sense wherein she promotes that the wife...while not exclusively, but preferably, stay home an raise the kiddoes, so that hubbie can dump her later in life...leaving her with no skills other than changing diapers, cooking meals, and cleaning house....DUMB MOVE).

While her intentions appear to be good, alas I must admit she is on one huge power trip.

P.S. Wonder why she divorced? Would love to get a hold of those court docs to find out the reason why...are they public record? Well...live a decent, thoughtful life and I think you'll be OK...smile. 

Ms. Schlessinger: you couldn't pull a pin out of her ass!

Again, Great work, Sonoma County Free Press! 

Letter to Laura from a Listener

July 9,1998

Dear Dr. Schlessinger,

I know that you "don't do debates" and that this fax will probably end up in your round file. However, I feel compelled to send this after hearing a part of your show earlier this week.

I should let you know that I have voiced my displeasure to the program director of radio station CJAD in Montreal, Mr. Steve Kowch, for carrying your show during the afternoon hours. As such, I have effectively boycotted the station after noon- and often before that time. To me, a musician and composer born and living in Canada, it is incredible that a program director in this country would import a syndicated show from the US, such as yours, during  an important time-slot. This is not your problem; but when combined with the reprehensible conduct of you on your show, it makes a regrettable situation worse.

In an afternoon earlier this week, when turning on the car radio (which was tuned to CJAD from the morning) I was subjected to your rant about "knocked-up brides". Even though I am not in the habit of writing letters to the editor or calling radio stations in indignance, I promptly called the station to complain. The receptionist, bless her heart, claimed that the content of your show has nothing to do with Mr. Kowch or CJAD. She did, however, give me your fax number. I was incensed that any health-care professional would use the term "knocked-up" at all- never mind repeatedly and in such a self-righteous rant. For me, it is was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I have heard you say on-air "knocked-up", "horny", "sluts", "screwing" and other charming terms a number of times and feel strongly that this is language unbefitting a professional therapist. I know this makes 'good radio' (just ask Howard Stern or Jerry Springer) but it makes me ill to hear this from a so-called professional psychologist. How do I explain these words to my 7-year-old who may be listening? (yes...I am my kids' Dad). I would respect no therapist who speaks in such a way, to say nothing of the moralistic, self-righteous, confrontational tone that is your trademark.

In closing, if you have read this far- or if you are reading this on the air in a mocking tone a la Rush Limbaugh- let me say that I have again voiced my opinion to the program director of the station. Furthermore, instead of grumbling in silence, I feel it is also important that you know how some people in this area feel about your tone and choice of language. That a number of your views are repugnant to me is irrelevent-- radios come with on-off switches and channel-changers, and I am free to use them when you are on. However, I feel whether I listen or not, the community standards that you so righteously strive to raise are being hurt by this kind of "shock-talk".

Yours truly, David Findlay

PS: By the way, Larry Metzler does NOT orchestrate your music. The music on CD or record is already orchestrated; he perhaps chooses appropriate selections and co-ordinates them to fit in between commercial breaks. Orchestrating refers to the act of choosing specific musical instruments to play particular musical lines within a musical work. Orchestration is, indeed, a complex and technical musical endeavour, and has nothing to do with selecting CD's. 

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Right on, David!

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