Smerconish: Why Dr. Laura blew it

DR. LAURA WAS RIGHT.

No, not to use the n-word. That is never appropriate.

But she was correct in her commentary on the inappropriateness of its usage elsewhere. Unfortunately, that got lost in the controversy after she herself uttered the slur.

It was a caller, Jade, an African-American woman, who sought Dr. Laura's advice on how to handle social situations in which others make racially tinged comments. At one point in the subsequent discussion, the caller asked Dr. Laura about the use of the n-word.

In responding, Dr. Laura delved into the double standard that allows African-American comics and rappers to use that word without consequence (as a term meant to express solidarity, no less), while anyone white would be excoriated for it.

"Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO. Listen to a black comic. And all you hear is 'n---, n---, n---.' I don't get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing. But when black people say it, it's affectionate. It's very confusing," Dr. Laura told Jade.

She's right. Flip to HBO and watch a guy like Chris Rock careen through his act as irreverently as he wants (to hilarious effect, I should add). Or listen to a Jay-Z or 50 Cent album. They don't think twice about using the n-word. And hardly anyone bats an eyelash or gives them an earful. This despite the fact that the word clearly still elicits an emotional reaction - and rightfully so - from African-Americans and many others when it's uttered by a white.

The shame of the Dr. Laura fiasco is that she is one of a precious few with the platform to make that point in an authoritative, meaningful way. Had she offered her observations without using the full word, she could have made an important point

effectively.

Too bad she blew it.

And the only one to blame for her surrender of First Amendment rights is herself.

Dr. Laura didn't lose her right to free speech, as she implied to Larry King last week. She lost her cool. In front of a microphone that broadcasts to about 9 million listeners each week. She shouldn't have used the n-word. Not once. Definitely not 11 times. And worthy of comment is the ease with which it seemed to roll off her tongue.

Her apology the following day didn't do anything to restore her credibility. At least not in my mind.