The next funniest comment comes from Chris who made his point as well. He was able to express VM's sentiment with fewer words:

Chris: "Veri, veri interesting idea! I tink you are veri corract. We ahv mani mani voters in India who has noting to do?"

And then there was M. Wallace who called everyone out; point well taken:

Marty Wallace: "HAAAAAAAAA! OH MY GOD! I am from Omaha Nebraska. Traditional Corn Husker "Go Big Red!"
Let's seeeeeee first, we have the UFO government coverup Conspiracy,...um...we haaave the Peanut Butter Conspiracy.....the Man Made Aids Conspiracy to control population....The 911 Government Conspiracy....Oh yesss! Almost forgot..now we have the INDIAN CALL CENTER CONSPIRACY! HAHAHAHHAAHAHAA!!! This should be on David Letterman or Jay Leno as one of their opening jokes. AHHH Alas...even us white folks have our problems, with trailer trash, hics speaking for us as though they represented all of us."

Common thoughts:

Marilyn Thorpe: "I don't understand it either - Sanjaya should not have won over Sundance. It was cruel the way AI played it out on the show last night - same as between Hayley and Sabrina - quite obviously, the contestant with the singing talent went home. What a shame."

Judyth: "I am stunned that this kid has the possibility of winning..I thought this was a singing contest. Evidently, the Indian callers don't care, and it is a real shame. Something has to be done to prevent this from happening again. Sundance should not have been voted out."

Racially Concerned :

G. Dubey: "The whole idea of Sanjaya going ahead because of Indian Caller Centers is racial and intellectually challanged."

Rangmon: "While I agree that Sanjaya is hopeless, your post is equally inane. I am from India and I do not watch this show. This is for idiots like you who have nothing better to do but blame indians for everything."

VR: "While I acknowledge that Sanjaya does not have what it takes to continue in the competition, the author's ignorant commentary has no basis of truth or even relevance to make a valid point. To even suggest a joke that Indian call centers are behind this "plot" to make an East-Indian thrive, obviously expresses a stereotypical, racial undertone. It's more likely that hormone-driven, pre-pubescent girls are voting for him, than hard-working individuals, half-way across the world, who have more important priorities. The author continues to "support" his ridiculous, far-fetched claim, with weak rhetorical questions that annihilate the validity of his primary point."

Cynical about business:

S: "Takes, at most, a half dozen India based telecommunications & computer hacks at a call center to create a wave of calls to AT&T, as the voting is all automated. Where AT&T's servers are who knows, as they are redundant worldwide, with much in India under a contract basis. IMHO Idol producers & FOX know what's going on, but to reveal same means risking the killing of THE FOX advertising $cash cow for all! With News Corp's telecommunications resources and political connections, one would think they'd have the NSA on top of this, albeit in a VERY QUIET way. If that doesn't work, simply offer the contestant $ to bow out on his own. Of course, a nefarious theory, IMHO, would be that News Corp is behind this from day one, in exchange for a favorable India transmission contract. Would make the Quiz Show Scandals appear like a pillow fight in comparison."

Raging:

Syrene: "What a load of CRAP! As if the poor guys who work their asses off in Indian Call centers give a flying %#$%@ about AMERICAN idol.. BTW India has its own version of INDIAN idol and INDIANS would rather vote for that than for some half-Indian kid in the US of A. Same old stupid assumption that America is the center of the universe and the rest of the world revolves around it....Frankly the rest of the world gives a CRAP.."

Mature:

blkgman: "Now come on guys... First of all what ever happen to freedom of speech? The author has ever right in expressing how he feels so insulting him is not the right course. Some people don't have an ear for music and may honestly think Sanjaya can sing. He obviously thought he could sing until last week when he was shocked (you can tell by his expression) when he knew he should have been voted off. I happen to think as most of you out of all the guys Sanjaya was the worst singer. Jared and Sundance should have made it to the next round. Definitely Sabrina should have made it to the very end in MY OPINION. Life is not fair.. Just like when Jennifer Hudson was voted off and was not even in the top 12. She showed everyone her talent didn't she...."

Sonja C: "I agree with the person who wrote that insulting the author is uncalled for. We all have a right to our opinion. Frankly I'm tired of not being able to voice it for fear of being labeled "racist" by those who disagree and in most cases have no business throwing stones themselves! When it's so obvious that this young man is NOT in the same singing class as the others, but is repeatedly receiving some of the highest number of votes each week, who wouldn't question it and wonder as to why? Please remember we are talking about a SINGING competition here; not a popularity contest. To suggest his followers are all merely "hormone-driven, pre-pubescent girls" reeks of prejudice and stereo-typing, in my opinion! In all probability there are a number of factors that are responsible for Sanjaya's not being eliminated. And very few of them having to deal with his talent, unfortunately."

and Finally

To those that wonder why I would include this story into a business blog about stocks. 1) I am an investor in Indian companies and follow that market with great optimism; 2) Investing relates to probability and statistics and I think that Sanjaya has made it through by some events worth considering, right or wrong; 3) Indian call centers contact me on a daily basis representing communications, insurance, computers, surveys and many other subjects providing mutual benefits to the U.S. and India. The idea that this, like any other proposition with such vast repercussions might result in "unintended consequences" is not so far fetched; and 4) Considering race in some cases when making social or business decisions is realistic, important and not racially motivated for bigoted reasons but for better understanding and appreciation of other cultures. This post exposed many people's varying sensitivities and ideas and that is a good thing.

Check out my other posts for BloggingStocks here.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the vice president for design and research at an architecture & planning firm.