Roman Around

Yesterday, Larry Elder’s radio show completed its fifteen year run on KABC in Los Angeles. It’s hard to believe, but the “Larry Elder Show” is done. His departure from the airwaves – announced only the day before to the shock and disappointment of his legion of fans (“El Dorados”) – puts a serious hurt on the talk radio genre.

I don’t think I can overstate it.

I adore Larry Elder, and I will miss him.

He was as unique as he was entertaining – a libertarian (with a small “l”) who broke ranks with big “L” crowd on foreign policy. He dubbed himself a Republitarian – calling for the abolishment of the IRS in favor of a “fair tax,” advocating the removal of government from education, arguing that the federal government could (and should) be reduced by as much as 80%, and having no tolerance for the “world is out to get me” crowd – the Victicrats.

He was a fixture in KABC’s afternoon drive-time slot (3-7 PM on the West Coast), but he often filled my Brooklyn kitchen with his hard-hitting, infinitely informative daily fare, via the internet, while I was preparing supper. (Yes, I do the cooking in my house).

On one hand, Larry had a no-nonsense style, as steadfast as anyone I have ever heard when it came the principles of limited government. He didn’t waver and argued as articulately and intelligently as anyone on talk radio. He was brassy, passionate, and had some of the best exchanges with the opposition I have ever heard.

On the other hand, he was amazingly affable, warm, and approachable. He was as accommodating as any host on radio. On his final show yesterday, one caller had nothing but praise for Elder:

I met you about six weeks ago in the KABC parking lot .. As I walking, you were kind of passing to my left, and I very gently said, “Larry Elder.” And you turned a 180 and came walking right up to me, middle of the parking lot, no one could see us.

You walked up, stuck your hand out and said, “Hey, what’s your name?” And you were just the nicest guy I’ve ever met.

You’re this big personality, and you took that two minutes to stop walking to your car to turn right back around to come over to me and say, “hi.” That was really sweet … No one’s looking, you showed your true character.

Elder was clearly moved by the call – as he was by all of the accolades he received during his final two on-air shows.

He never spoke down to his callers and handled some of the most wicked attacks on him with strength and grace – although he wasn’t averse to letting loose on a caller when necessary. He was never vicious, never had need to resort to name-calling, but could slice and dice opposing arguments with the efficiency of a great trial lawyer.

By the way, he is a lawyer.

Elder was relentless on what he saw as the “victricrat” mentality that was damaging much of the black community. He was fearless on the matter. His book “Stupid Black Men” caused quite a stir among liberal black leaders (redundant). Predictably, Elder drew more than his fair share of “house nigger” and “Uncle Tom” attacks during his fifteen years on KABC.

For years, him Mom was a fixture on the show. She was as beloved to the “El Dorados” as he was, with a regular segment every Friday. She was vivacious and a lot of fun to listen to. Larry knew how popular she had become with listeners and would take her along on personal appearances. When the two would be seated at a table, for instance, it was not uncommon to see the lines waiting to meet “Mom” longer than the lines waiting for “Larry.” She was colorful, playful, enigmatic and served as a dispenser of wisdom to Larry’s audience. He called her “Chief Justice” and “Toots.”

She passed away in 2006.

His Dad is still alive.

Elder, too, is obviously still kicking. My instinct was to try and avoid making this piece sound like an obituary, because it isn’t. It is meant as a tribute to one of my favorite radio programs which is now off-the-air, although I fear I may have sprinkled some eulogozing into it.

God willing, Larry has many years ahead of him.

I do, however, offer a heartfelt goodbye to a daily “get together” with someone I consider an old friend – someone who gratified as much as he educated.

Indeed, Elder promises to keep fighting the good fight and to stay public.

Good.

Our side needs him.

I don’t always agree with everything he stands for – but I’m not looking for someone to agree with all the time. (I have that already. I call him “me.”)

He will always be “The Sage from South Central.” No matter what he’s doing, he will always “get her teed up.”

After all, he has “a country to save.”

Thanks, Larry. You’re a good man. I can hardly wait to see what you’ve got cooking next.

A blogger at the great Free Republic.com website called AmericaninTokyo summed it up like this:

Larry Elder is a learned man and a great citizen of this great experiment.

Amen.

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