It's not a nazi salute ....... it elon musk ......being elon musk ..........all these ....... weak...... insecure ...... jealous people ........are trying to find shit wrong with the successful man .......that's all ......
Elon Musk salute ripples across US leading to Sam Kuffel in Milwaukee losing job | Opinion
"What, if anything, can be learned from this case?"
We tucked this question at the end of a poll asking Milwaukee Journal Sentinel readers for their reaction to CBS 58 parting ways with meteorologist Sam Kuffel following posts on her private Instagram account that were critical of Elon Musk for an arm gesture that many have likened to a Nazi salute. It came during an event at Monday's presidential inauguration.
Turns out that, actually, we can learn a lot.
For starters, viewers forge deep connections with the faces on TV screens who deliver the local news, sports and weather. The vast majority of the more than 3,200 people who took the poll disagreed with the station's handling of the Kuffel case. Many of the comments called her by her first name and spoke warmly about her forecasts and Milwaukee ties.
We also learned many people are deeply disturbed by Musk's actions and what they see as the Trump administration's chilling effect on free speech. Others pointed out steps the Biden administration had taken during the pandemic to pressure social media companies to take down content deemed harmful disinformation.
Opinion: Majority of readers in poll say CBS 58 made the wrong call on Kuffel
Beyond the anger, outrage and gotcha, this is a deeply layered story that has drawn national attention. It's about the rights of employees vs. employers in the age of social media, with often blurry lines for broadcasters and news media members. It's about censorship, regulations and the bully pulpit of the presidency. Above all, it's about the meaning of the First Amendment.
"Read the Constitution which we live by. He (Elon Musk) made an offensive gesture and she commented on it. She is fired and he isn't. Think about it," wrote Carol from Milwaukee.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote in the poll and shared hundreds of thought provoking comments. And please consider continuing the conversation by contributing a letter to the editor or submitting a longer opinion column for consideration. We have a running discussion over topics like this every day in the Ideas Lab.
What, if anything, can be learned from the Sam Kuffel case?
Here is a sampling of what readers had to say on this question:
➤"That tyranny is closer than it appears." — Kaye from Glendale
➤"Unfortunately people may feel they can’t voice their opinion if they feel there may be retribution of some type. That's not freedom of speech and shouldn’t be bullied into silence. That’s dangerous." — Janice from Milwaukee
➤"Online shaming never ends well for anyone involved." — Paul from Milwaukee
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➤"Stay in your lane child and grow up. Your opinion matters not to me and I suggest you stop thinking so highly of yourself. It doesn’t work out well for anyone in the long run." — Tom from Green Bay
➤"Be careful what you post on social media." — Kathy from Hartford
➤"Conservative radio stations should not be telling networks who to fire!" — Linda from Milwaukee
Stop flapping your lips and stay in your own lane
➤"People need to re-learn to stop flapping their lips 24/7. You need to get thick skinned and big shoulders. Stop reacting to everything or everyone you do not like. Focus on your career and stay in your own lane." — Diane from Sheboygan
➤"It is a challenge managing millennials who believe social media affords them blanket immunity for all unfiltered thoughts. The CBS 58 management team should have steeped back, weighed Kuffel’s value as a fresh and talented face of the channel and worked through the issue. Just saying ‘You’re fired’ is an amateur approach to talent management." — Jack from West Bend
➤"The people need education, facts and courage not suppression." — Barbara from Wauwatosa
➤"It’s a reminder to take a stroll through Project 2025. It’s not as if Republicans were quiet about their intentions; they published them." — Gary from Kenosha
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➤"This case underscores the importance of creating a culture where speaking out against hate and harmful ideologies is supported, not punished. Organizations should develop social media policies that allow employees to express opinions on important societal issues like condemning Nazi symbols while maintaining professional standards. Furthermore, this incident highlights the need for more robust conversations around free speech and accountability, ensuring that criticism of extremism is seen as a shared responsibility rather than a liability." — Douglas from Milwaukee
➤"While an employer firing for political views expressed on social could be just cause for a firing, taking a case by case basis is prudent. Not every political commentary is controversial or divisive. Most people agree regardless of what side you are on that Nazi salutes is not a good thing. By firing that person you are insinuating you are OK with Nazi support. That's not an image any business would want, well unless you are leading a white supremist group." — Matt from Port Washington
➤"Well, it could be that we are being taught to put up and shut up. Or we could learn to monitor the increase of similar censorship and support the ACLU. We should never have to fear thinking and speaking our opinions, nor should we reject opinions other than our own. We can learn to listen. We can learn to speak louder." — Kathleen from Oconomowoc
➤"Local news isn’t controlled locally by this station and begs the question who is controlling what they feed us?"— Gary from Egg Harbor
➤"Journalists are supposed to report the news, not make the news. The trust in fair and impartial reporting of the news by the ''main stream media' is probably at an all time low. Nobody trusts a journalist who parrots the press releases of the government as true when everyone can see it's not."— Gregory from Mount Pleasant
Elon Musk is the one who should be ostracized for gesture
➤"The person who should be ostracized is Musk, holding the public position that he holds, and he should make every possible effort to show that he really is not who he appears to be. Apologize, make good, make this incident, and America, great again by using it to his advantage and show he really does care about Americans. He is an extremely smart man. Show it!" — Michael from Twin Lakes
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➤"That if you don’t fall in line with Republican/MAGA beliefs be sure not to express it anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it is on your personal story. If your personal opinion is different you should be afraid to share it. You could risk your livelihood and personal safety." — Jaye from Delavan
➤"Media are being intimidated by Trump and his oligarchy." — Jim from Shorewood
➤"The people who run the institutions in this country are complete cowards who value nothing but money." — Kevin from Milwaukee
"I've learned which news organizations are taking a 'neutral' stance on Nazism, which is going to be a pretty good litmus test for me going forward for which ones have journalistic integrity." — Dustin from Platteville
Jim Fitzhe
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