September 14, 2007
Mr. Chuck Bortnick
Vice President, General Manager
WFAN-AM
34-12 36th Street
Astoria, NY 11106
Dear Mr. Bortnick:
We at the 80-20 Initiative are disappointed by your recent hiring of Craig Carton to co-host a sports show on WFAN-AM.
In the very recent past, Carton has made racist and derogatory comments against members of the Asian American community. By employing a fake Korean accent, Carton mocked a Korean American who ran for mayor in Edison, New Jersey, a city with a large Chinese and Korean constituency. Carton has also denigrated Asian Americans by complaining that they crowd gambling venues in Atlantic City. He has also insulted members of the gay and lesbian community, by “outing” politicians whom allegedly were gay or lesbian.
We at the 80-20 Initiative, a political action committee with over 700,000 strong supporters, will be keeping a vigilant watch over Carton’s behavior, both on the air and off, in the future.
CBS Radio should ensure that it will follow its own declaration to “…not tolerate commentary that aims to demean discriminate or harass anyone in our listening audience.” WFAN-AM should be advised that, in the event Carton continues his own pattern of anti-Asian antics on the air at CBS Radio, or engages in racially biased conduct, similar to that of the fired Don Imus, we at 80-20 will take any means necessary to demand his termination.
Sincerely,
Joel Wong
Chair, Discrimination Watch Committee Committee Members:
80-20 PAC, Inc.
joelwong@comcast.net
www.80-20initiative.net
Committee Members:
Garry South
Richard To
Jing-Li Yu