FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
These days it seems like some so-called celebrities are acting more like third graders than the role models they're supposed to be. At the top of the list is hip-hop star Kanye West, who was a grade A jerk at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday when he jumped on stage and ripped the microphone away from teenager Taylor Swift, saying Beyonce should have won.
Kanye West took the microphone from Taylor Swift during her speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
West has since apologized several times - but he ruined a young girl's moment in the spotlight. Even Pres. Obama called him a "jackass."
In sports - Tennis star Serena Williams cursed out a line judge a third her size in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open, saying she would "take this ball and shove it down your f--ing throat." This happened after an earlier temper tantrum where Williams slammed her racket on the court and broke it.
In the very same tournament, Roger Federer also swore at the chair umpire, saying: "Don't tell me to be quiet, OK? When I want to talk, I talk. I don't give a _____ what he said."
Meanwhile a recent YouTube video apparently caught golf great Tiger Woods throwing his club into the weeds in anger.
Some of our politicians are acting like pigs as well. Congressman Joe Wilson called President Obama a liar on the floor of the House during the president's address to Congress.
And Democratic Congressman Pete Stark of California told a constituent during a town hall meeting that he wouldn't "waste the urine" to pee on the man's leg.
It's not hard to figure out why some of our children don't respect their parents, their teachers, the police or any other authority figures in society.
Here’s my question to you: Do celebrities behaving badly tell us something about the rest of us?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Nikki from Winston-Salem, North Carolina writes:
Yes, Jack, it shows that as a society, unruly behavior is okay. Gone are the days where our parents taught us manners. Now everyone will act like "jackasses" just to have their 15 minutes of fame on YouTube.
Lee writes:
I never thought I'd see the day when we could draw ethical parallels between rap stars and a U.S. congressman. It appears that the difference between the two is that a rap star (Kanye West) can give an apology in earnest while Congressman Wilson’s unyielding arrogance prevents him from doing so. Wow!
Linda from Laguna Niguel, California writes:
Yes, we are losing the underpinnings of decorum, civility and common courtesy in this country. In essence, we are becoming less civilized. It is pervasive and scary.
Steve from Butte, Montana writes:
Kanye West just proved what a jerk he really is. He did nothing but steal this girl’s limelight. What a racist punk.
Mike writes:
Of course it tells us something about ourselves. In each of these cases, we have, through our dollars (or our vote), supported the infrastructure that puts these people in the position that they're in. Refuse to buy Kanye West for a year and see how his actions change. Don't buy Serena or Federer-endorsed gear for a year. Don't vote for Pete Stark. It's that easy. Yet, as a society, we continue to support it.
N. writes:
Society as a whole is swiftly sliding downhill. At the same time, there are just so many more cameras around, mics are more sensitive and a sound bite can travel the world within seconds of being uttered.
Joan writes:
You keep asking questions like this one and I'll take this blankety-blank mouse and shove it down your blankety-blank throat.