Racial epithets, communists, anti-woman sentiment, and uninhibited profanity.
The most recent episode of "Mad Men," you say? Nope. That nonsense didn’t end in 1968.
Without further ado, here are the five worst video media disasters of April 2012:
5. Fox Commentator Drops The F-Bomb On The Air
It’s not so much that liberal commentator Bob Beckel said the F-word with gusto on Sean Hannity’s Fox News Channel show. It’s his reaction that makes this clip priceless. Beckel didn’t know they were on the air—and his tonal shift from defiance to finger-pointing to contrition unfolds in a couple of highly amusing minutes.
Although this clip only ranks at No. 5 on the list, it’s my personal favorite of the month.
4. Washington, D.C. councilman Marion Barry blasts Asian business owners
Former D.C. mayor and current councilman Marion Barry slammed Asians when he said: “We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. They ought to go.”
Well, at least it’s not like he’s the chair of D.C.’s Committee on Aging and Community Affairs, which is responsible for Asian issues, right? Oh, wait, he is? Wow. That’s quite a gaffe.
3. Look out, Joe McCarthy. You have competition.
Did you know that there are “about 78 to 81” Democrats in Congress (both houses) who are members of the Communist Party?
Nope, that’s not a headline from 1954. That McCarthy-esque statement came from Rep. Allen West (R-FL) during a town hall meeting earlier in April, evoking the worst days from the Red Scare.
I’m just waiting for someone to ask him: “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”
2. Football coach pays players to injure competitors
In a remarkably violent and vulgar audio tape, former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was caught offering players money to injure members of the opposing team. About one player, he said: “We’ve got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head…we want his head sideways.”
About another player, he said, “We f*ckin’ take out that outside ACL.”
Williams’ disgusting rant earned him an indefinite suspension from the NFL. May he never spend another moment on a professional, college, high school, or youth football field.
1. Hilary Rosen slams Ann Romney.
Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen handed Republicans a giant cudgel when she said that Ann Romney “has never worked a day in her life.” Many women were genuinely offended at Rosen's assertion, especially given that Ann Romney was a stay-at-home mother who had raised five boys.
Rosen should have known better, especially since these types of comments have drawn scrutiny in the past. In 1992, Hillary Clinton caused her husband's campaign unnecessary heartache when she declared, "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession."
Rosen's comment, which helped Republicans neutralize the "war on women," quickly drew condemnation from within her own party. Within days, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, White House Spokesman Jay Carney, and Campaign Communications Director David Axelrod all condemned her remark.
Visit the Mr. Media Training blog for three additional gaffes from April.
Brad Phillips is the author of the Mr. Media Training Blog. His firm, Phillips Media Relations, specializes in media and presentation training. He tweets at @MrMediaTraining.