The Character Assassination of Paula Deen

Paula Deen

This may be a sensitive issue for some. For others, it's just plain stupid.

Paula Deen is a hugely successful TV personality, designer & businesswoman. She was fired from her TV job at the Food Network after admitting that she used the "N" word. She could have lied and avoided this mess, but she was giving a deposition and she was under oath.

There's been a lot said about this story and there will be a lot more to be said. Here's how it came about: A former employee of Paula Deen Enterprises, Lisa Jackson, is suing Deen and her brother, Earl "Bubba" Hiers, in federal court alleging racial and sexual discrimination in the workplace. The deposition was related to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that, while discussing with Jackson plans for Hiers' 2007 wedding, Deen said she wanted a "true southern plantation-style wedding." "Well, what I would really like is a bunch of little niggers to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around," Deen said, according to the lawsuit.

She was invited to appear on the Today Show. She accepted the invitation but didn't show up.

Here's my take: Those who are making a big deal out of this are doing more to divide the races in this country than anything else.   Talk is cheap.  Actions speak louder than words.  If Paula Deen were racist, why would she hire a black assistant?

If I were programming a network, I'd hire her in a minute and pair her with a black co-host.