Darla Jaye doesn't remember hanging up on my dad. But she doesn't doubt that she did.
The spitfire host of KMBZ radio's 980 Live … with Darla Jaye is sitting with me at a Panera Bread in south Johnson County just before Thanksgiving.
Here's how my father tells the story: During last year's presidential campaign, Jaye was talking on-air about how Barack Obama probably wouldn't be able to get a security clearance because of his associations with Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"He says he called to 'get in your ass,'" I tell her. "He gets on the air and says, 'Of course Obama has security clearance because he's a senator. All senators have it.' You disagreed."
Jaye laughs.
"So," I continue, "my dad got mad. He says, '[Obama's] not going to be a terrorist, but even if he were, he'd be better than the guy we have in there now.'"
"And I hung up on him?" Jaye asks.
"Yeah."
"That's such a good point to end a call!" she says, unleashing another laugh, a full-throated rat-a-tat that served her well for a decade on morning-zoo radio shows in Cleveland, Grand Rapids, San Francisco and Detroit. "If I'm coming up on a break, a call like that is a great place to stop. Everybody's going to remember that when we come back. They'll be all fired up and call in to comment on it."
I'm not surprised that hanging up on a caller who's trying to argue a point is a good example of radio craft. But it surprised my dad.
"He seemed to think that you would be persuaded by his line of thinking," I told Jaye, a short, middle-aged woman with a wicked smile and gold rings the size of lug nuts. "I said to him, 'Of course she hung up on you. The format of the show is that she's the expert.'"
Jaye nods. "If I were constantly saying 'Oh, you're right,' I wouldn't last. And if I don't make listeners laugh or get pissed or something, they're not going to be entertained."
Lately, being an entertainer with convictions has brought her an unanticipated honor. After Jaye promoted and appeared at local tea-party protests, grassroots conservatives began courting her to make a run for Kansas Democrat Dennis Moore's 3rd Congressional District seat.
Jaye genuinely sounded touched by their efforts when she announced the "draft Darla" drive on the air in October. She promised to seriously consider a run if 2,000 supporters joined the Facebook page dedicated to the cause. So far, 1,200 have.
For a professional talker, pissing off a Democrat like my father is just part of the job. After years of radio stunts such as "Wine Tastings for Winos" and "How Much Would You Pay to Have Sex With Darla?" she swallowed a $75,000 pay cut to switch from morning comedy to conservative talk in the 118th largest market in America: Huntsville, Alabama, at WVNN 770, the same station that gave Sean Hannity his big break. During her first week, the station ran a "Keep Darla/Broom Darla" poll on its Web site.
"At night, I'd go back to the hotel and vote keep her, keep her," Jaye says. "I called my mom, all of my friends, and told them to vote, too. By the third day, I said to my boss, 'Wow, a lot of people are voting to keep me.'
"He said, 'You don't want everybody to love you. Half are going to love you, and the half that hate you are going to keep listening and calling.' So after that, I would vote love, love, hate. Love, love, hate."
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facebook has a darla jaye is a idiot page join if you think this woman is not a entertainer but also racist and stupid http://www.facebook.com/profil...
The Pitch is an embarrassment to Kansas City and to legitimate newspapers. Nothing more than a local tabloid for sex offenders and counterculture rejects.
The Pitch is an embarrassment to Kansas City and to legitimate newspapers. Nothing more than a local tabloid for sex offenders and counterculture rejects.
Alan I like your story but I did note a couple of biases showing. You mentioned that Dennis Moore was not listening to his conservative constituents. Dennis Moore, who claims to be a conservative, was not listening to any constituent. His office, that I called repeatedly, had no answers for my questions, no information on where Dennis Moore stood, and told me that Moore refuses to meet with constituents. Except under tightly controlled conditions with people he knows (or needs). That would be my biggest complaint with your story, the whitewashing of Dennis Moore's tin ear. Can I say whitewashing without someone thinking it sounds racist?
Alan I like your story but I did note a couple of biases showing. You mentioned that Dennis Moore was not listening to his conservative constituents. Dennis Moore, who claims to be a conservative, was not listening to any constituent. His office, that I called repeatedly, had no answers for my questions, no information on where Dennis Moore stood, and told me that Moore refuses to meet with constituents. Except under tightly controlled conditions with people he knows (or needs). That would be my biggest complaint with your story, the whitewashing of Dennis Moore's tin ear. Can I say whitewashing without someone thinking it sounds racist?
Sorry, everyone! Now Billy, Papa and I told you: Don't play on the computer. How many times do I have to tell you? ... Three? ... Okay, Billy.
Don't play on the computer.
Don't play on the computer.
Don't play on the computer.
Sorry, everyone! Now Billy, Papa and I told you: Don't play on the computer. How many times do I have to tell you? ... Three? ... Okay, Billy. Don't play on the computer. Don't play on the computer. Don't play on the computer.
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Just a note to the Diversity mongers...The only people I see throwing the "N" word around and complaining about "MeSSicans" are Democrats ..of all persuasions.When Conservatives talk about losing America..We are talking about drugs,violence,homelessness,..correcting things that are positive..Maybe Libs would like to see America overrun by the world and promptly crushed.....but mature adult like persons dont....Lib childish hand wringing is sweet but the adults must always run the country.....And now the Student Council is running the school ..so to speak...It cannot be allowed to continue............And Alan..ask daddy just what was so bad about Bush?Other than NBC told him so?
Damn, if someone had told me today that I'd read an inspiring interview with a tea-bagger I would've walloped them upside the head with my hammer and sickle. Great job, Pitch, at transcending labels to get to the heart of what matters.
Damn, if someone had told me today that I'd read an inspiring interview with a tea-bagger I would've walloped them upside the head with my hammer and sickle. Great job, Pitch, at transcending labels to get to the heart of what matters.
I am the guy who gave Darla that job in Huntsville. Darla thought that we gave her the job because of the vote in the poll. We actually liked the people who voted against her. If people had strong feelings, we loved it. Darla got the job, because she had talent. We did not care about if she was a woman. That had nothing to do with it. We were in Alabama, we were progressive. I am not joking here. We were ahead of the curve.
Darla has it.
Peter Thiele
Program Director
AM 970 The Apple
New York, NY
I am the guy who gave Darla that job in Huntsville. Darla thought that we gave her the job because of the vote in the poll. We actually liked the people who voted against her. If people had strong feelings, we loved it. Darla got the job, because she had talent. We did not care about if she was a woman. That had nothing to do with it. We were in Alabama, we were progressive. I am not joking here. We were ahead of the curve. Darla has it. Peter Thiele Program Director AM 970 The Apple New York, NY
What does it mean to "pound sand"? Why would anybody want to wipe their butt with newsprint?
What does it mean to "pound sand"? Why would anybody want to wipe their butt with newsprint?
That was a pretty good article. It was fair and honest.
I like to listen to Darla ocassionaly and I read the pitch online alot also. Nice balance.
Hippy Hawk.
That was a pretty good article. It was fair and honest. I like to listen to Darla ocassionaly and I read the pitch online alot also. Nice balance. Hippy Hawk.
You know, if this was in a newspaper you wouldn�t be able to put in this much content. Then again the KC Star did a whole big thing on the Buzz couple.
As Far As I Can Thro
You know, if this was in a newspaper you wouldn�t be able to put in this much content. Then again the KC Star did a whole big thing on the Buzz couple.
As Far As I Can Thro
You know, if this was in a newspaper you wouldn’t be able to put in this much content. Then again the KC Star did a whole big thing on the Buzz couple. As Far As I Can Thro
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