Posted by bean on February 03, 2009 at 10:19:04:
In Reply to: Re: Feder fiasco posted by millerbeach on February 03, 2009 at 09:52:34:
'Tis true, and 'twas a surprising (to say the least), unbecoming showing for a 40-year veteran broadcaster in this market. Following John Calloway's follow-up interview to what was aired on Ch. 11 after Feder announced his retirement, when they told delightful stories and then asked if the crowd had any questions, Saunders bizarrely chose that opportunity to get up at the mic and hurl accusations and insults at Feder which had apparently been brewing in Saunders' head for years.
Feder was the guest of honor; Saunders couldn't have emailed him, written him a letter, or called to meet him privately, as opposed to involving other present members in his personal issues with the man?? Thankfully Tom Shaer got up and and said that though Feder wrote some negative things about many broadcasters over the years (including Saunders whom he called his friend) he also wrote many positive things, including calling Saunders "a local treasure" on many occasions. Shaer said he wished Feder would be back on the beat to act as a watchdog who takes some people to task when needed.
Until Shaer got up, it was one of the most shocking, unexpected, uncomfortable things to watch, a) because of the tasteless way Saunders chose to air his beef with Feder and b) because most of it was petty stuff that had no basis in race for his criticism at all. He was trying to put Feder on trial or something, and Feder was merely a guest interviewee at a union meeting, for pete's sake.