So former KGO talk show host Bernie Ward is off to prison for distributing child pornography. When the charges first broke in the media I was a bit skeptical. I’d been listening to his show for the past four years or so, something about his 12:00am rants helped me get to sleep. Despite the opinions about him, he was well versed in his politics and could talk a good game. Surely someone this intelligent wouldn’t be involved with something so outrageously wrong and disgusting? But the evidence came through, 15-150 times he’s transmitted these images, the disturbing Internet chat sessions with a dominatrix housewife. No setup here..the extent of the charges, the conviction, Ward’s apology, all the KGO hosts in shock. He did the crime, so now he does the time.
As I look over the comments on this story at SFgate.com, people are venomous, hoping he meets the stereotypical punishment child molesters get in prison (but doesn’t The Shawshank Redemption prove that such a fate awaits ANYONE in prison?) Can’t disagree with them, a perversion like this. But I don’t see Ward so much evil as I do tragic. The guy’s got SOME level of intellect, being a former priest, a successful left-wing mouthpiece. Like the sentencing judge questioned, why couldn’t Ward realize the crime in these actions and seek help before doing what he did?
But you know how it goes…what’s black & white to us isn’t nearly so clear cut to him.
I really miss Bernie Ward on KGO–not that I could listen to him now, after these charges. He was a fantastic talk show host, whether you liked him or not, easily as good in the shouting match competitions that guys like Savage and Hannity have achieved national success with. But the syndicates refuse to see the viability of a left-winger like Ward, so he kept a strong following in his evening timeslot. I certainly disagreed with a lot that he said and he could be a hardcore bully if he didn’t like your opinion. But that’s hardly unique in the political talk arena, as a loud debate draws in listeners. He provided, IMO, a political counterbalance to my Savage fix some weekday afternoons.
He also led KGO’s Thanksgiving charity drive, which has raised millions of dollars over the years. And that’s what makes this even more tragic…this guy was one of the leading liberal talkshow hosts in the Bay Area, doing all this great work…and all those accomplishments are just, I don’t know, destroyed by his actions.
Guitar & Bass T-shirts now available!
