Saw the results.

My father called himself a Kentucky hillbilly to the day he died. He was proud of those roots and proud of what he had accomplished. My grandfather was sheriff of Harlan County, Kentucky. My uncle was the town mortician, my aunt a head nurse. Two other uncles were coal miners. All the men were moonshiners. I do not nor have I ever called anyone other than a family member a hillbilly.

I've never said that I believe Paula Deen should be fired for what she said. Personally, I think everyone should be able to choose to buy her products or not, to watch her shows or not. Her sponsors have the right to decide whether to use her as a spokesperson or not, but I'm not convinced they made the right decision.

I do believe she is more prejudiced than she knows and has little understanding of how denigrating some of her words were. From everything I have heard and seen of Ms. Deen, she is a charming, warm person. I have not seen her interviews since this whole mess started. I did read her entire deposition and did flinch at some of her comments.

I've heard some very discriminating "jokes" regarding blacks and slang expressions from "so-calledcomrdians" that earn big bucks from all kinds of entertainment enterprises and are populated by people of all races who pay $$$$ to listen to their vile jokes. How do they get away with it? What difference are they when compared to PD?! C'mon now.... let's get real....

Unfortunately for her(PD) suffers from a bad case of "foot in mouth desease" If she had hired a good profrssional public relations specialist early on , I suspect she would have fared better with the press and others. Most of us have indulged in these gaffs in our past but understand that a quick heart felt apology ,early on, not a sobbing somwhat ingenuous appearing pitty party works better, The press is hoping that you will make a slip and PD does quite frequently. another example" I is what I is" . If I were of African heritage (at this time in our history) I would think that this phrase was mocking me.

Please Paula get some help

Target just announced it will phase out all Paula Deen products. Add Target to the list which includes Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and many others. Her sponsors are paying attention and are throwing her under the bus.

No it's because she is a real life train wreck ... We all love us some real life train wrecks. This is a good one happening in slow motion.

Are you serious, you can't tell the difference?

You can't tell the difference between cutting edge comedy to that of real life?

That happened with Martha Stewart, too. But she reinvented herself after doing her time and is probably making more money than ever. If the media can make money off her again, they will. America has a short memory and many politicians and celebrities cash in on that short memory. (Anthony Weiner is using that short memory to his advantage right now.)

Food Network's competitors are probably salivating to make her a new deal. All this media coverage and "unfolding drama" are making her far better known to all the audiences who didn't know her before.

Definition of Racist has been mutilated
 

The definition of Racism has been so twisted and mutilated, it is now possible to be called racist if you pick the wrong color crayon out of the box. It is now illegal to even recognize that someone is of a different race than yourself. In reality, those defining racism these days are actually, by their own rules, being racist.

There is NO difference, either way people doing this are BOTH as guilty of racism.

Ok, I guess we just agree to disagree, I still think a white person using the "n" word is a lot different in the meaning than when a black person uses it.

It is not right if a white person uses the N word, but black people also call other black persons the N word as well. Comedians use the N word in their "stage acts"...etc,. I believe they're ALL discrimination and racial slurs.

I do believe context is extremely important with words like those used long ago supposedly by Paula Dean. This seems to be more about marketing than about injustice and discrimination.

Comedians say stuff to one another and to audiences that would never pass in polite society. The Aristocrats joke for instance. I really doubt if even the most offensive comedian say would sound off at an occasion like a funeral, graduation, elementary dance recital especially if these involved members of their own family. Maybe they would be they would also hardly be surprised by the consequences.

I may be incorrect, but isn't this the deposition of Lisa Jackson who is suing Paula, et al? In other words, these are Lisa Jackson's accusations of what Paula may/may not have said and/or done. The case has not gone to trial as far as I know.

I have read the following but can't verify if it is correct. Lisa Jackson's attorney sent Paula a letter asking for in excess of $1 million to settle or she would sue. Paula refused and so the suit is going forward. Now we better understand why corporations are so willing to settle out of court.

Also, according to Paula, she used the n word as the result of a man who she helped get a loan from the bank where she worked robbing the bank and putting a gun to her head. Until I've walked in her shoes, I simply can't condemn her. She has asked for forgiveness and so I forgive her.

I totally agree that she is groveling and should stop apologizing publicly. It is my understanding she has done many good deeds for people over the years. Maybe they should start speaking out but she should stop talking.

What really bothers me is when people(comedians, whites, blacks,whoever) denegrate and laugh at, make fun of, whether they make money doing it or not, it (to me) is all the same types of racial discrimination.

This is not about an employer-employee situation, but:

Since when does the mere use in conversation of an ugly, degrading word equate to "racism" which to me means to HARM the person or group???

Just because a person calls another person a degrading term or expletive does not mean that he/she would actually cause that person harm. Many times people use expletives or call people a name simply because they are exasperated and fed up with a situation, not because they "hate" that person because of his color/race!

"Hate" and "hatred" are being thrown around far too often, too, implying that "the hater" is going to do a "hate crime" (i.e. to a minority or gay victim), when in reality the person simply DISLIKES that other person for various reasons.

With the way things are going, pretty soon we aren't going to be able to say we DISLIKE a person!!! Already, people are being timid and vague, saying, "I have issues with him....." instead of saying the truth which is, "I don't like him...he's always been a jerk (or pompous a$$) to me."

It's like the Thought & Speech Police are on patrol and prosecuting truthful, meaningful speech that we're supposed to have the right and freedom of speech to say.