Jokes about Indians roil listeners

Bob Dumas of G-105 is in hot water again.

The host of the WDCG "Bob and the Showgram" morning show and his on-air crew angered members of North Carolina's American Indian community with jokes during a Tuesday broadcast.

In the radio segment, Dumas and co-hosts kidded an intern about her pending marriage to a Lumbee Indian. Dumas joked that Indians are "lazy" and that "a lot of Indians live on the reservation." He also asked whether the groom's grandfather would stand on the side of the road with "a single tear."

Co-host Mike Morse asked: "After you guys get married, are you going to have a tepee-warming party?"

The intern played along with the joking and even laughed.

Not everyone thought it was funny, though. Audio of the comments circulated through e-mail messages that reached American Indians throughout the state.

Complaints have been sent to the FCC and Clear Channel Communications, which owns G-105.

WDCG general manager Dick Harlow had no comment for The N&O on Friday. Just before 3 p.m., he released the following statement on www.g105.com, the station's Web site:

"WDCG apologizes to any listener that may have found remarks or recordings played Tuesday, April 1st, 2008, during 'Bob and the Showgram' to be offensive, derogatory or insensitive. WDCG does not condone inappropriate behavior, language or insensitive remarks."

Gregory Richardson, executive director of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs, said he doubts the apology will be sufficient for everyone.

"I would say it's a start," Richardson said. "I can't speak for the American Indian population. [WDCG is] just saying they're going to apologize, and that's all they're going to do. I would say that's a very lukewarm apology."

Before the Web post, Paul Brooks, chairman of the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs, released a statement lambasting "Bob and the Showgram" for the Tuesday remarks, as well as a history of what he called derogatory comments against American Indians, African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics.

Brooks also referred to disciplinary actions taken against Dumas in the past, including a 2003 suspension for urging motorists to terrorize bicyclists on the road.

Those disciplinary actions, Brooks wrote, were "to no avail."