Report: Randi Rhodes leaves Air America

UPDATED

Randi Rhodes has reportedly resigned from Air America Radio.

A statement from the station's chairman, Charlie Kireker, and president, Mark Green, to be released Thursday says the popular progressive host decided to leave after the station suspended her over the off-air comments. The statement was obtained in advance by RAW STORY.

Last week Air America suspended Randi Rhodes for abusive, obscene language at a recent public appearance in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station.

Air America Media was informed last night by Ms. Rhodes that she has chosen to terminate her employment with the company. We wish her well and thank her for past services to Air America.

We will soon announce exciting new talent and programming that will accelerate Air America's growth in the future.

A video of Rhodes referring to Sen. Hillary Clinton as a "whore" began circulating last week, and the station suspender the host soon after.

I hate this. Randi was one of the only reasons that I renewed my AAR Premium subscription recently. I didn't like what she said about Clinton and Ferraro, but AAR should not have suspended her for something she said off-air.

That being said, one of the other reasons that I renewed my Premium subscription remains at the network, and is the only logical choice to replace her in the afternoon time slot: Sam Seder.

I was appalled when the network shunted Sam off onto Sundays. He is one of AAR's most talented and important voices, and deserves to return to weekdays. I hope the network's management is smart enough to realize this.

(And I know that this is little more than a pipe dream, but they also need to put Marc Maron back on the air ASAP. Just make it freakin' happen!)

UPDATE

From the Huffington Post:

The Huffington Post has learned that Randi Rhodes quit Air America after being asked by the network to apologize for her inflammatory remarks against Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro.

A source at Air America, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "Many people screw up and then apologize and move on. Like Imus. Like David Shuster. Like Jay Rockefeller on McCain. Like Obama on Rezko. Like Hillary on Bosnia. Randi Rhodes refused to apologize for her obscene comments and has chosen instead to terminate her relationship with Air America."