(Photo of a cowboy doll through a pinhole camera by karlrobin.)
***I'll be on Air America with Sam Seder at 9:15-ish am ET this morning. You can listen live here.***
Pam Spaulding has had fantastic coverage of the Imus "Nappy Ho Show" dust-up from the moment the stupidity left the man's mouth. As Pam said yesterday:
Sharpton and Imus spar on the radio. Crooks & Liars has the audio here. Among other things he said “Our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far.” Yeah. Ya think? (emphasis mine — and I can hear Pam's voice saying this as she typed it…)
Having spent the entire week last week dealing with a sick little Peanut, and then my own bout with the flu over the weekend, I missed this latest Imus idiocy first hand. Frankly, I'm glad I slept through most of it because, in all honesty, this sort of self-inflicted crap seems to tumble out of the show on a constant basis. And the "say something stupid because you think it's cute, only retract it when people call you a jerk to your face, pretend to be contrite for a while, then repeat" gets old after a while.
I can remember a fairy tale that had two sisters — one good, and one wicked. The wicked one, as generally happens, made an ass of herself by being rude to a sorceress. Never a good move (sort of like being a moronic, loud-mouthed, mysoginistic racist in front of a live microphone). From that point forward, she was cursed, and toads and snakes dropped from her mouth every time she opened her mouth to speak.
That is pretty much the Imus show whenever I happen to watch it on MSNBC to check on a particular guest appearance…except it's not just Imus who has the curse, it is every stinking human being on the show, including the guests. Being invited on the show must be one big invitation to out-do the level of asininity of every other person on the public airways and have no one care, because the I-Man will just chuckle and then tell you to stop being naughty.
Yet Imus leaves whatever racist or rude or mysogenistic or outright disgusting remark made by a guest or one of his many putrid regulars — several of whom make "Larry the Cable Guy" look like "Renaissance Man of the Enlightment" — just sitting there. It is as though this dreck is acceptable to think, you just shouldn't say it out loud in the parlor among company, unless, of course, they are your sort of company. (wink wink nudge nudge)
Digby has this absolutely right:
Whatever the reason, it's quite clear that mainstream media have either ignored, pandered to or actively embraced hate radio for almost two decades now. Nary a peep has been said about the relentless, daily drumbeat of demogoguery and loathing of their fellow citizens that these talk show hosts vomit onto the public airwaves for anyone with a radio to hear….
The discourse that everyone is so shocked to see is now uncivil and "nasty" was polluted decades ago by a bunch of rich, white businessmen who saw that they could make a very nice profit at exploiting the lizard brain of the American rightwing and help their political cause at the same time. The media thought it was all in good fun (and good for their bosses) just as they do today.
We bloggers didn't make this toxic, fetid environment, we just live in it. And toxic and fetid it is. At some point the prim and proper MSM are going to have to put down the smelling salts over the uncivil blogosphere and deal with the fact that the world they enabled with their convivial chuckling and snorting at Rush and Imus over the years has brought us to this place. The rest of us are little busy fighting off the neanderthal thugs they helped create.
Even more from Digby here as well. Both articles are more than worth the read all the way through, including links, and they sum up so much of the frustration on this whole fetid mess.
MSNBC and CBS Radio have suspended Imus' show for two weeks, with Imus promising to retool the show and to change its tone, whatever that means this time. I'd like to think this has been some sort of personal epiphany moment, but, as Clarence Page pointed out this week, this is just one in a string of wake-up calls that only serves as a short-term poke in the ribs until the next "oopsie" moment.
For two short weeks, Imus has been tossed off the radio chuckwagon. How many of his little dress-up cowboy pals will come running up to play with their cap guns until the next round of insults comes flying out? Look out for those toads and serpents, fellers…some of them can be toxic.
UPDATE: Eugene Robinson has a suggestion this morning that makes a whole lot of sense to me — Imus (and his idiotic radio chums, because they shouldn't be forgotten in this equation) ought to explain to the parents of the basketball players how this "all in good fun" idiocy took such a wrong turn.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Morning Christy! Now off to read the post.
Ha, Zed!
The self promoting Imus rides again. He’s the definition of ‘all hat and no cattle’ stereotype. The MSNBC lone cowboy. Phooey!
Morning Hotflash!
Even worse than “the nappy headed ‘hos” comment was the producer’s remark about “jigaboos.” It’s quite stunning that no one in the MSM is even talking about it, though someone did a diary on it over at kos.
Well, I won’t argue with Christy’s perception of Imus’ show. But I have a different take, and I left a short comment on the last thread in sum, free speech is accountability. Imus is being held accountable.
But proportionality matters, too.
Imus says what he said was stupid, he makes no excuses, he vows to do better. I’ll be there to watch.
Stem cell research is being debated in the Senate today. Proportionality matters.
Eugene Robinson’s one of the best things about the WaPo. Fred Hiatt, on the other hand, should be pumping gas instead. (Oh, wait, he IS pumping gas — on the editorial page.)
Good Morning, CHS, excellent post as per usual.
OT- Here’s a photo glimpse into how Monday’s Iraq protests looked to the rest of the world (not filtered through our MSM):
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/2277
Keith Olbermann said he hasn’t gone on Imus’ show for many years because of the things he has said in the past. I love that integrity!
Please tell Sam Seder to ask MSNBC to put him on instead of Imus! Air America has unfortunately decided to kill Sam’s weekly show and put him on Sunday’s only. :(
Toad and Snake Stew for youm , lucky prognosticators of doom , ummmm
Phoenix at 7 — I’ve met Gene, and he’s a hoot in person. He and Colby King do amazing neighborhood coverage and fantastic human interest pieces with a large amount of heart for the WaPo — that don’t get nearly the play that they should. Both of them were at the Eisenhower poverty and race symposium in which I participated last year, and were wonderful.
As repugnant (or should I say, Repubnant) as Imus is, I’m much more upset about the high-tech lynching by the MSM of Nancy Pelosi, Louise Slaughter, and company, for their trip to Syria.
Prairie Sunshine @ 6-
I understand your take about proportionality, and I admit I have not watched or listened to enough of Imus to know firsthand how “proportional” his latest offensive remark is, compared to his usual schtick. But after reading the many comments of others who do seem to know, I think he has reached his limit on “do-overs”. Give his soapbox to someone else.
Marie Roget @ 8
Wow – that’s a lot of free speech. Things are even better in Iraq than
IMcCain thought….Fine Post, Christy, and digby definitely worth the read.
From EPU land:
And there’s the little matter of Imus using CBS and MSNBC as the means. He was suspended not for free speech but for embarrassing his corporate employers, and at a time when the MSM is doing stories about the uncivil blogs, suggesting they need to clean up their acts to be taken seriously — and then Imus speaks in the same way he always does and gets caught in their hypocrisy.
JJ is right to call attention to all the other obscenities, but it doesn’t follow that Imus should be excused or that CBS and MSNBC are not responsible for what their stars say. Let them stew in it a while, and make it harder for Disney/ABC to justify Melanie Morgan and friends, etc, etc.
Clarence Page, on CNN, chiming in on Imus, admitting he has “enabled” Imus by going on his program. Lots of folks looking in the mirror this a.m.
Good Morning Christy and Firedogs,
tantrik – I was asking downstairs about that producer – have actually had the show on low volume in the background for over an hour and haven’t heard his voice – is he there this am ?
Mornin’ Christy! I used to occasionally catch bits of Imus’ show on MSNBC when surfing by, especially when he had a musical guest I like. But I was watching the day his so-called producer and other idiot regulars went off on Jill Carroll because she did what she had to do to stay alive after being kidnapped. I think terrorist was the nicest thing they called her. I have not watched (nor missed) any of his idiocy since.
Who cares about this moron? The real story today is the massive campaign to play down the DOJ crimes. Although there’s a good editorial in the NYT, in the Post there’s a laughable justification of Goodlings fifth stance, which ends, “she’s not a criminal.” As if he had some knowledge of her deeds.
The strategy appears to be, a/ play down the upcoming Gonzo testimony. b/ use Goodlings justification that it’s a purjury trap being set for her, in the same way that Libby, supposedly committed no crime (even though he was convicted of four.) c/ Blame Gonzo for not expressing his case clearly a la Newt on Saturday. This is so that, if they have to, Gonzo can quit, and they can call the whole thing done with.
Morning ‘pups! If I drank coffee, this would be the morning for it…
Here’s what I wonder – will politicians looking to show that they’re not wind-up automotons (paging Joe Lieberman) stop going on his show now? One of Imus’s shields is the occasional veneer of respectability that comes when high-level pols come on and yuk it up with him.
I mean, the guy’s been a self-parody for years. Why should anyone pretend otherwise?
And now, out into the world for a few hours.
Bush Ties Drop in Illegal Immigration to His Policies
NYT article headline-made me giggle. Sure no one WANTS to come here any more.
Then I sighed.
Scarecrow @ 15
Yes – enabling! That’s the word that didn’t come to my brain at 5:35 AM!
Sorta OT but there is a connection…
Admission is NOT absolution.
Deeds NOT words.
It’s been my theory that Bush and his followers (add Imus and others in the media who have no character) abide by one theory:
It’s easier and more lucrative to ask for
forgiveness rather than permission.
Think about it?
EPU’d and OT now but..
Here is a little something that I may have missed in an earlier post here but I think it is worth bringing up in this context. Apparently it is now going to be OK to frivolously blow the whistle on anyone as long as you say they might be a terrorist. House votes to protect John Does I found this point particularly interesting:
(Emphasis added). We’re not out of the woods yet are we Dorothy?
Oh I am so glad I have better things to listen to!
EPU’d from last evening: Bluetoe asked
… and HotFlash answered
Norquist’s politics make liberals mope;
They vanquish the USA’s hope.
But one frabjus day
He departed, they say;
He slipped on a wet cake of soap.
And now, more on topic:
Don Imus makes me so unhappy;
His show is incredibly crappy.
They should send him away,
And force him to play
with a basketball covered with nappy.
So I check the radio and he’s still on the air. The reports yesterday were ambiguous. Ah, he just said his suspension begins on Monday.
Jeff Greenfield is on the show now. Pam’s right–these people enabling him is the key. I do listen to the show because of the people who appear on it.
Greenfield:
You do make fun of everybody….It is true your show makes fun of black people in a way that’s different from the way you make fun of black people….When you parody black people they all sound the same–minstrely….When that gets into the area of race…you look for the most obvious thing. Skin color is a different level of insult. Don’t swear off making fun of black people doing stupid things. Swear off the most obvious stereotypical thing…. Has any of your prominent guests ever raised your racism with you?
Imus: No
Greenfield: People who listen to your show listen to a weird mix–serious political commentary and a teenaged, sophomoric male locker room show. There’s an enormous disconnect between people who appear on your show [citing Lieberman] don’t seem to be aware of the rest of the content.
Anna Quindlen is not a racist bigot. There’s something about how people regard your show. A lot of us have heard the show in a way that we didn’t get the point that there are different standards. the fact that hiphop music or people in the inner city talk a certain way doesn’t matter–because that is inside the family.
……..
Greenfield: You make choices. Mike Breen is a very different sports guy that Sid Rosenfield*. Nobody who listens to you expects a course of kumbaya. The emperor still has no clothes. You don’t make calls about sex tapes anymore. You don’t need racial stuff that affects your show. The rules are different now. Even if we haven’t called you on that, well maybe that sucks too.
Imus: very short Imus–I should have my own Robin Quivers.
Our mindset is not to make all black people sound like Aunt Jemima. We’ve talked about having a black member of the cast for years.
Greenfield: We went through this with you when you tanked at the radio/TV dinner. We’ve stuck with you for 15 years. Race issue runs like a scar, a wound in American history.
Imus: There is vicious racism between light skinned blacks and dark skinned blacks. People need to know that.
————————
*The point on Rosenfield is well made, actually.
————————
Greenfield is a representative voice of the media enablers. They’re gonna keep this guy on the air–despite years of serial racism.
is every stinking human being on the show, including the guestsCome on, you are way better than that.
Prairie Sunshine @ 6
This Imus issue may not be that big a deal compared to other matters, but remember, Jimmy the Greek got thrown off CBS in 1988 for saying that Black people are better athletes because they were bred by their white owners. Link. When we force these people off the air, we are putting our values into action, and over the long haul, it makes for a better society.
g’ morning, all… coffee’s ready…
I heard Imus’ apology yesterday and when he was saying “I’m a good person”, I thought who even has those kind of thoughts in their head that they would slip out their mouth? and then still claim they are a good person…
I just don’t get it.
The Imus storm will soon pass since today is the day we find out who’s ya baby daddy – let’s face it, the Imus coverage will disappear and it will be all Anna all the time.
In moderation for length I guess. Imus is on the air.
OldCoastie @ 28
that claim is mostly based on the ranch for kids with cancer, as he says. And, you know, AFAICT that ranch has kids at it for something like 10 weeks a year.
Not to excuse the main stream professional media from embracing hate as a tool for profit, but they are not the only ones to embrace hate. Firedoglake seems to have a split personality, doing hard digging political reporting on one hand, and embracing hate and ad-hominem attacks on the other. The right wing is not alone in making a living off of hating people, of projecting folks in a negative light.
Visit http://radar.oreilly.com/archi…..ers_1.html Just think about it.
Prairie Sunshine @
6
I agree with the essence of your response to my post in the last thread. I don’t think he should be fired, either. Imus does many good things, and has some of the best interviews on television.
That said, I stopped watching when the 60 Minutes “n-word” crack came to light about 2 years ago.
Jeff Greenfield on Imus this morning. He makes solid points, takes Imus to task, but takes himself and every guest who’s ever been on the show and never, not one called privately to compain about the sophomoric nasty comedy. Tells Imus he doesn’t need to do that. Yes, Lieberman, you were the first political name Greenfield mentioned….
So anyway, it’ll likely be on wfan.com in their Instant Replay later. Worth listening to. I do agree with Greenfield.
And that’s the last I have to say on the subject.
Phoenix Woman @
7
Speaking of which, I’m getting more pissed off by the minute over Richard Cohen’s crap on WaPo’s editorial page this morning:
Perhaps Cohen should remember that Al Capone was imprisoned for income tax evasion, not the violent crimes for which he is notorious. That Scooter Libby has been brought to justice for perjury rather than for starting a war that has killed 600,000 people frustrates the shit out of me, but the world is a safer place now that he has been convicted.
jayackroyd @
31
Refresh.
In my book, the only way Imus can come back is if he pubicly admits he (aware or not) is a racist or has racist tendencies. I think his apology is mostly “oopsie” at this time and that is not enough for that comment.
Personally, the airwaves would be a lot cleaner if he would just go away.
Does it seem odd that Janet Jackson’s boob had the FCC in an uproar? Where does the FCC stand on degrading a girl’s basketball team with racial insults??
Robert Butler @ 32
Please explain what we should love about some white guy calling the Rutgers women basketball players “nappy-headed hos”?
JPL @ 38
The FCC is a farce!
It is a sorry state of affairs when Fux (u being an o with its mouth open) presents itself as in the clip in “Obama Pulls Out …”. I could have lived my life without having seen that – should have had warnings posted. I presume the fella in this post is of the same “quality”. Remind me again about there being “culture” and “civilization” in the media. Coulda fooled me.
Am reading John Stewart Mills’ essay On Liberty. A passage may be of interest:
“The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by, when any defence would be necessary of the `liberty of the pressas one of the securities aginst corrupt or tyrannical government. No arguement, we shall suppose, can now be needed, against permitting a legislature or an executive, not identified in interest with the people, to prescribe opinions to them, and determine what doctrines or what arguements they shall be allowed to hear”
Sounds suspiciously just the case here just a year short of 150 years after the quote was written.
@ 40
Don’t feed ‘em
raven at 27 — Look, Imus has his good mornings and can ask insightful questions when he’s in the mood to do so. But (a) his choice of sidekicks is less-than-savory, (b) when he and whatever guest he has on at the moment get on a “mean girls” roll, they have no ability to apply breaks and dont care over whom they roll and (c) I just don’t find him amusing on the whole. I don’t find Howard Stern amusing, either, so it may be that my style and his just aren’t compatible. But in any case, calling a college basketball player a “nappy headed ho” just isn’t funny. Period. Especially in the context of all the other idiocy that comes dripping out of the mouths pretty much weekly — which Digby talks about in both pieces linked above.
masaccio @ 40
He’s not saying that.
This blog, and other blogs, regularly call people “whores.”
I would point out, however, that going after people for their political m.o. is different than going after innocent young women for their race and ethnic origin.
I, for one, don’t want blogs turning into the on-line version of Mr. Rogers.
Imus’ problem is that he’s a Howard Stern dressed in mainstream media clothing. It doesn’t work. And the mainstream media will have to come to terms with that.
Prairie Sunshine @ 34
maybe some good will come out of this- some reflection and discussion (frank reflection & discussion) would be lovely
O/t but radio related ;-) -
Can anyone tell me if C-Span3 is the same as “C-Span radio”?
Have become mightly ticked w/Serius b/c first, they pulled the Folktown channel, then they pulled C-Span (the only two reasons I subscribed in the first place). Heading into town today to check cost of XM hardware/installation. XM still has C-Span of some variety and if it is more likely to carry the hearings live, the decision is a no-brainer. Computer viewing is not an option due to dial-up. I’d willingly sit in the car and run the battery down not to have to wait 24-48 hours to enjoy Mr. Henry’s party. *g*
JPL @
39
That’s cuz the sight of a boob means the death of western civilization.
Moreover, this two week suspension is a publicity stunt. He’ll come back after two weeks with more audience than ever.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 44
I totally agree, I was simply commenting that “every stinking human being on the show, including the guests.” is an oversimplification. As Prarie Sunshine just pointed out, Jeff Greenfield just made some great points to Imus about the racial tone of parts of the show.
To my fellow lefties, selfrighteousness does not become us. It is our tragic flaw.
Imus is a sophomoric jackass, but he is not a hate filled racist. There is a difference.
I was surprised to read Eugene Robinson say the term “ho’s” was popularized by rappers. I heard it for the first time at Ft Campbell,KY in 1966 from the brothers from Memphis.
OFF TOPIC: For those late nighters who read my niece Cassie’s blog, you may be interested in her latest post on the Jose Padilla court ruling. You can find writings by 7 left-leaning political teens here.
raven at 50 — Point taken, but when you are writing four or five articles every day, seven days a week, after having had the flu and don’t make a mistake in any of them…get back to me. *g* And it was meant to be clarified by the following two paragraphs, which I think do so pretty well in the second reading, in between feeding The Peanut and wrting my next article before my radio appearance this morning…
JPL @ 38
Great question! Where do they stand on Rush’s lies and hate as well?
old gold @ 51
he doesn’t have to be a racist in order to say racist (or sexist) things. imo, this is about what he says – not who he is (’cuz really, we don’t know).
if he can learn from the experience (and stop doing it) then everyone wins.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 54
Damn Redd, I wasn’t meaning to give you a hard time. I have the greatest respect for all you doggies, I was just surprised.
Waccamaw @ 46
Nope but you can get all 3 cspan TV feeds plus the radio at their website. cspan.org
old gold @ 51
I know there is a difference-usually when it comes to actions-but I can’t say that I am fond of either group.
But they have a right to show they are idiots~and others have the right to protest and bring the fear of economic consequences~corporations set up this formulae-if we had a working FCC this might not be an issue as much….
old gold @ 51
how do you know? if you regularly use racist hate-filled language, how do we know who you are?
Christy how old is your peanut? Hope all are feeling better very soon.
old gold at 51 — I have done the same, both on the page and off for folks on the left, as well as the right. Imus doesn’t get a pass. Sorry, but there you are.
lina @ 59
The real question is why do so many Americans tune in to listen to that kind of racism, sexism and generic bigotry?
The reason people like Imus have gotten away with this sort of talk for years is because we as a society have not really grappled with the history and the assumptions which makes such talk not only possible, but funny to many.
We would all do well to look within ourselves and look for ways in which we have been complicit or have tacitly endorsed such sentiments.
Someone upthread mentioned that the misogyny in the “nappy headed hos” comment is in a way worse, and not getting nearly enough attention. As a point of fact, it is much “worse” to call a black woman “nappy headed” than a man (implies that she is ugly and not well groomed)–in essence, he was calling the Rutger’s women ugly. Which reduces all women to being judged on their looks.
I have to point out that I have seen some of this kind of talk in the late night threads on this very site. Last week I was horrified to open my browser to see TRex’s late night posting going after an Ann Althouse with the statement that she needs to get her hormone levels checked by her doctor.
As a woman of menopausal age, I was personally stung by that comment. It harkens back to the old assumption that a woman is inherently vulnerable to being “unbalanced” due to an overload (or lack of, as the case may be) to her female hormones.
The same argument that has been used to keep women from either gaining full equal rights or being entrusted with positions of real power for eons.
My hope is that this Imus debacle can become a cautionary tale for all.
Calling someone a “nappy-headed whore” is both racist and misogynist. Respectable organizations fire employees who, in their capacity as employee, make such statements for public consumption. I do not and will not listen to Imus’s program and will avoid the products of its sponsors.
raven @
50
You know, I disagree with that. If Greenfield had made those points before this episode, it’d carry way more weight. What he’s doing now is repeating what Fineman said yesterday “The rules have changed.” Sure, Imus might be bigot, but he has to shut up about it now.
In point of fact, I don’t think he is a bigot. I think a good chunk of his audience is, and that he constructs content aimed at them. Howard Stern did this as well–devised content for bigoted morons. By saying what is otherwise unsayable, he draws in the people who call up the get rich quick advertisers, and the 50 something rich white guys who buy the BMWs from his advertisers.
My guess is that he’s gonna have to hire some token. Perhaps hire a black sports guy. But who would take that job? The radio station has only one black DJ, a guy on late night three or so days a week. No women, except for special reporting on the girlie sports, golf and tennis.
The real test would be firing McGuirk, who is his Cartman, and would effectively denounce racist content going forward. I can’t see that happening.
TexasBetsy -
Nope but you can get all 3 cspan TV feeds plus the radio at their website. cspan.org
Are you saying that I can hear what’s happening clearly even with dial-up? Thanks.
Quick OT, really OT
Sorry in advance.
I need some help and suggestions. The church I’m at now is about to lose its IT guy and along with him our web host. We need to find another host. The 2 sites that I maintain of my own are both Mac hosts and the church is PC. Any suggestions of reliable, not overly expensive web hosts with good tech support and e-mail aliases?
I am not defending Imus. Nor do I think he should get a pass. What I was trying to get at was the tone of the condemnation. To my ear, which sometimes matches my tinfoil hat, it is just a bit too selfrighteous.
christy’s on sam seder right now
Christy on AAR now.
TexasBetsy @ 55
Sharpton made this point yesterday on CNN. She was contrite. She apologized. She was nonetheless fined by the FCC.
Yup, she is, coming in loud and clear
Waccamaw @ 66
Yes, if you open the feed into real player and then collapse the picture dial up should be fine.
I keep reading people saying here and elewhere that Imus is not a racist, Imus is not a hardcore racist. Yet his show has always incorporated cruel racism and sexism on a daily basis. He says racist and sexist things EVERY DAY. Are people letting Imus off the hook because when he’s not being a racist sexist boor he’s smart? Or do people just not understand how the racist, sexist banter is central to the show?
Here’s how it works. Someone — usually Bernard McGuirk — makes an outrageous, offensive remark. There is a brief moment of silence. Then the whole crew bursts into laughter and in the guise of remonstrating with Bernard, they repeat the offensive statement over and over.
That’s how Imus is able to go on TV and radio for the last week and say he never called Gwen Ifill a cleaning lady. He outsourced the job to the crew, and thinks he has plausible deniability.
Calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team ‘nappy-headed hos’ is the final straw in a giant haystack. He must be fired.
She is talking about the FBI misuse of it’s powers right now.
TexasBetsy -
Sorry for my ignorance, darlin’, but could you please translate “open the feed into real player”? Mac-based, if it makes any difference.
Keith Olbermann has refused to appear on Ipus since 1998
Woohooo! Christy on Sam Seder Show now!
Waccamaw @ 77
If on Mac, open iTunes, select Radio, then select Talk/radio and Air America.
The real test would be firing McGuirk, who is his Cartman, and would effectively denounce racist content going forward. I can’t see that happening.
My point was that Greenfield is an example that “except it’s not just Imus who has the curse, it is every stinking human being on the show, including the guests.” Is a bit of an oversimplification. Chritsty wasn’t all that thrilled.
I’m on a thread with Waccamaw at the same time! *Waving Waving!*
And I’m finally, for once, here when Christie’s on the radio and I can’t seem to get the connection to work. Does anyone know if you have to be a subscriber to be able to stream Sam Seder’s show online, or can anyone listen in?
katherine graham cracker @ 77
Also saw where someone called him “I-mess”. ;-)
Waccamaw @ 76
I am on a mac also. Do you have realplayer or windows media? Click the link below and then click STAND ALONE PLAYER for whichever type you have. Then shrink the picture so far that all you have left is audio.
http://www.cspan.org/watch/cs_cspan3_…..p;Code=CS3
[Mod Note; link edited.]
truth @ 75
So you listen to this racist, sexist stuff EVERY DAY?
Scarecrow @ 79
That may not help him with CSPAN 3.
Christy’s segment appears to be over now.
Stay on AA, Sam is lobbying for Imus’s slot!
Doonesbury strip is great today: Treasonous Vermont!
Pfifferling @ 81
Free while it is broadcasting. Costs money to listen later in the day or tomorrow.
truth @ 75
These two questions are distinct. Racist, sexist commentary is at the heart of the show. But these are all bits–horrific bits that shouldn’t be aired. There’s no way to know what he actually believes. But the content of the show speaks for itself.
Good for Olberman for refusing to appear. Oh, and Gwenn Ifill–which is apparently, according to an op-ed in the NYT today–what led to her being smeared with racist commentary.
TexasBetsy @ 86
That may not help him with CSPAN 3.
If you go to the Air America website and click on “Listen Live online” whatever player your system has set up to handle the stream will then take it from there.
Thanks, TexasBetsy! I must be doing something wrong, then. I’ll hopefully get it figured out by Christie’s *next* appearance. :)
Who will replace Sam?
Look let’s cut through the crap here. What Don Imus said was in obvious bad taste, thoughtless, racist, hurtful and outright stupid.
But give me a break with Sharpton. Here’s a guy who has never seen a microphone or camera he didn’t like. And while the Rev Al can be an amusing fellow, all of this outrage and thunder is less about Imus and more about another hypocritical platform to promote Al Sharpton, a guy who has never been elected to anything.
His job title seems to be: “Professional Black Guy.”
We’ve been seeing the same boring act since Tawana Brawley in 1987. Eugene Robinson’s quiet and reasoned opinions carry a lot more credibility with me than the semi-regular Al Sharption (It’s all about me) Def Comedy Jam.
Yesterday I was flipping through the radio dial and heard Shaun Hannity (sp?). Well I think it was Hannity, describe Teresa Heinz Kerry as a “Scumbag.”
Where’s the outrage?
Pfifferling @ 92
MY instructions were for accessing CSPAN and CSPAN 2&3. SCARECROW’s instructions are for Air America’s feed. Two very different places. :)
vidocq @ 95
Imus liked Al.
What the Imus affair really exposes is the nature of white privilege. They just believe that they have the right to say whatever they want and as long as they don’t actually say the “N” word they are in the clear.
Like all people, there are good and bad features and you have to judge them based on your weighing of all sides.
I will continue to listen to Imus because despite his occasional descent into sophmoric jackass behavior, he’s also one of the only outlets for serious interviews and discussion. Clinton may not have won in 1992 without Imus. Kerry’s best media moments have been on Imus. Imus and Matthews jumping on the Joe Wilson op/ed drove the issue and forced Cheney/Libby to lash out.
If we fire him, do you think the replacement will be better? Al Roker is on the MSNBC site blogging that Imus should be fired. Now do you really want more “Al Roker” type broadcasting? Inane, inoffensive and utterly valueless.
Imus still falls on the side of providing more value than ill in my opinion. I think he should stay.
noen @ 98
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
noen @ 97
Some of us white folk choose to speak kindly most of the time and avoid offending others with ANY kind of words. Boring I suppose.
Alright, I’m really p*ssed that Air America is moving The Sam Seder Show from weekdays to Sunday and part of his broadcast time is being overlapped by The Young Turks. I just heard one of these guys say Don Imus is “not a conservative.” Please. How they have the hubris to call themselves “The Young Turks” is beyond me. And I thought Cenk Uygur was a progressive – what the hell is wrong with him?
vidocq @ 95
the issue is mainstream vs. fringe. Imus can’t have it both ways. He can’t do fringe language and stay in a mainstream market.
He needs to be fired.
Help please.
Quick OT, really OT
Sorry in advance.
I need some help and suggestions. The church I’m at now is about to lose its IT guy and along with him our web host. We need to find another host. The 2 sites that I maintain of my own are both Mac hosts and the church is PC. Any suggestions of reliable, not overly expensive web hosts with good tech support and e-mail aliases?
snowbird42 @ 94
Lionel, whoever that is.
noen @
98
That’s quite a generalization.
RevDeb @ 104
Check out swishmail.com
If MSNBC is suspending Don Imus, why the hell is Rush Limbaugh even still working?
Wigwam @ 106
College talk.
Thanks, TexasBetsy.
Thank you, too, noen. I tried the “Listen Live Online”, but it didn’t work. Perhaps it has something to do with having rejected the cookies. I’ll try again later. Thanks!
Did I hear that Democracy Now is coming to Sams slot?
not the senator @ 99
Nope. You can get cutting edge political programming without racism, sexism and misogyny.
Imus belongs on AM radio. And MSNBC needs to look to their brand and come to terms with that fact.
Mandrake @ 102
AAR has been screwing around with the line up for years. Just another self-inflicted wound. Young Turks came on a while ago and Cenk is not a progressive. He was a republican who somehow got some sense knocked into him. He is still a Reagan fan. Personally I don’ t care much for the program. My fave was Morning Sedition and I was really OK with Rachel Maddow taking that slot eventually because I had liked her when she and 2 others were in the 9-12 slot. The ones I do list to or pod cast are Rachel and Thom Hartmann. Randi is fun for about a half hour but she is really really repetitive.
you know imus is the best of the worst as far as corporate media and I would hate to see him replaced witb someone ectreme, which Imus by comparison is moderare
I believe imus and sharpton can work this out
I believe Imus can tell sharpton he will make a pledge to critisize anyone that makes rascist remarks on his show and I believe Imus will mean it
I like the charity work Imus does and while he’s not quite left of center in his politics he is certainly left of everyone else am radio who is not on air america…and he’s even left of some of the hosts on air america…sammy and armstrong for instance
I’m hoping this is worked out
raven @ 85
Point taken. I haven’t heard every show he’s ever done. Let me amend my statment: every day I’ve ever listened. I’m from New York, and I’m a big sports fan. My family listened to WFAN on the radio. I’ve been listening to Imus off and on for over 20 years. I switch away when the crap comes on, but I keep coming back because (a) there’s almost nothing on morning TV; and (b) I want to hear those politicians and media figures who appear.
Waccamaw @ 66
If I read you right (and my IT skills aren’t too rusted), you probably won’t be able to stream any sort of audio from the web at phone dial-up speeds. With a high-bandwidth connection (cable or DSL) you’ll be swimming in media — able (like I am) to have C-SPAN playing video or just audio from one window, while keeping busy — sometimes doing “real world work” — in many other windows.
I regularly listen to TV feeds from Congressional hearings in one window, participate in FDL blog comment strings about ‘em on this server, and have lively, fun typed conversations with other FirePups in the FDL-related realtime chat which sometimes happens during busy times here ( http://gabbly.com/firedoglake.com on another server — very handy when this server starts smokin’). Sometimes all that I/O makes my head explode but hey I’m a masochist I guess and I like pushing my 1.67gHz Mac laptop to its limits, too… :)
But of course none of this is possible unless I’m tethered to my cable feed. Come back in a couple years when there’s internet radio and ubiquitous WiFi. Won’t that be loverly…
kdh22 @ 100
So true – how many black pundits do we see on any given time, any given day, on any given so-called “news” shows? Watered-down Juan Williams, isn’t that about it?
RevDeb @ 103
I may have a suggestion for you, but need to find the website for Peter Godbold of Godbold Computing.
Christy, I’m sorry to hear about your week of Peanut flu.
I have perhaps become a bit obsessed with the flu, but it seems to me that we have an “Avian Flu Katrina” facing us.
Another worldwide pandemic of influenza is, according to public health scientists, a certainty. The only question is when. We had three pandemics in the 20th century, of which the first — 1918 — was by far the worst. Science has not learned to control pandemics since then. We have simply been lucky. DNA sequencers have discovered that the 1918 “Spanish flu” was an avian influenza, as were the lesser pandemics of 1957 and 1968.
But we can deal with the next pandemic with vaccines and the like, right? No. According to studies on the website of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
So what are we doing about it in our individual homes, in our schools, in our local communities, in our states, and in the nation?
I don’t trust the federal government, frankly speaking. It couldn’t handle Katrina and its aftermath.
Schools must be closed immediately when the leading edge of the pandemic arrives. Also theaters, churches, universities, public meetings. That made a huge difference in St. Louis in 1918 — as compared to the politicians going ahead with a massive parade in Philadelphia after warnings, which triggered thousands of needless deaths there.
Do you trust your state government? Do you know whether your state has a pandemic flu plan. Do you know whether it is any good?
How about your local community.
jayackroyd @ 104
AGHHH!!!! Not a good move!
truth @ 115
You nailed my interest exactly!
snowbird42 @ 111
God, I wish. I’m mad about this. Somebody on his blog gave out the following number to call and complain: 212-871-8290. I don’t know if it’s a valid number yet cuz I haven’t had a chance to call.
I think that this whole Imus thing is a tempest in a teapot. I’m a white male and we often refer to ourselves as ‘Ho’s to our employer Pimps who farm us out for a lot more money than we get. You will find that this is fairly common talk. To make it a Federal case is ridiculous. I don’t like Imus either, but this is ridiculous.
Aren’t there more important things going on than some gasbag named Imus? Scutz like him are all around – on the air (Ho-Stern – ugh), tv, music, arts, books, toobz, newspapers and the streets. It’s all just words; focusing on the words or the purveyor doesn’t change the attitude. That’s where the real works needs to be done.
Yes, Imus is a foul mouthed twit.
But he is not even close to being as cowardly, traitorous and bigoted as any of the creeps on FAUXNEWS or Rush Limbaugh.
And please, do not hold Al Sharpton up as ANY kind of a paragon of virtue. He is to social action what Don King is to boxing.
PS – excellent job Christy. I ran all the way to the office and scrambled to my computer to catch you on the show. You do us so proud!
When the pandemic flu hits our country, can we control it with vaccines?
According to the U.S. Government website, PandemicFlu.gov,
Keith made me proud with his short and sweet take on Imus. Thank you, Keith.
TexasBetsy @ 120
AGHHH!!!! Not a good move!
Who is this Lionel?
raven @ 109
College talk.
How so? Could you perhaps explain a little? I’ll start by saying that I don’t have the time and space here to write a long and well form analysis of privilege.
AGHHH!!!! Not a good move!
Who is this Lionel?
Richie?
Never been able to listen to Imus. For the brief time that Providence had an AAR affiliate, they still played Imus in the morning. Less than useless. Two minutes was enough for me.
Pfiff -
Where you been, my friend? Missed you lots; have you switched to a different time crew? ((((hugs))))) & *waves* from this side of the pond.
Scarecrow -
Well, I sorta understand that. *g* Leaving shortly to check on the XM but will play around a bit later today to see if iTunes is installed. Thanks muches! (Another reason to switch to XM…..they have Air America.)
PS to TexasBetsy & noen -
Appreciate the additional suggestions. Will check for them also and any others that may crop up. And, just for the record, Waccamaw is a “her”, not a “him”. *g*
Y’all have fun today!
I have worked with white guys just like Imus who would say that they are not racist and would never make a disparaging comment in front a black, gay, woman, etc. But when they are with “their own kind”, they don’t hold back what they really think of them.
How so? Could you perhaps explain a little? I’ll start by saying that I don’t have the time and space here to write a long and well form analysis of privilege.
In my limited experience terms like “white priveledge” and “Hegemony” are used mostly on college campuses.
RevDeb @ 113
I like Rachel, Thom and Randi also (she does rant, but I guess I keep my rage so under the table that it feels good to hear somebody express those things I am not permitted to express in my conservative environment.) I guess I can record some of that stuff on my XM and listen to it on the a.m. drive. I just haven’t figured out how to do that yet.
Prof @ 119-
I got the flu a month ago that lasted 2 1/2 weeks. I am healthier than most and I couldn’t believe that something could knock me down like that. And several people I know had the same thing lasting even longer.
As a working cowboy and rancher for over 35 yrs. I couldn’t help but comment. Imus has taken and catapulted the stereotype of racist redneck cowboys. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have worked with scores of black cowboys in my life. I have long forgotten about color and race. I have always admired them for their dedication and skill. Imus can’t even ride, rope, tiedown, doctor, and release a calf, let alone a 1200lb cow who just calved. He has people do it for him. Man he makes me mad, although I will give credit where credit is due, and his ranch does give kids with short life expectancy some good memories.
RevDeb @ 113
I miss Al Franken. Well, actually, it’s his guests that I miss — e.g., Joe Conason. Al was also very good when he had serious guests on. I don’t particularly care for his humor, when he has someone acting as his straight-man.
raven @ 135
And what is wrong with “college talk?” Frankly, that is the kind of thing that I hear wingnuts who listen to Rush Limbaugh say (well, actually the kind of dismisal that one would expect from Limbaugh himself) to disparage liberal and progressive ideas.
And white privledge is not a college idea. It was ingrained in our constitution and in the national psyche when the framers designated people of African descent “2/3’s of a man” and American Indians, the original people of this land were not even acknowledged. That is not a college dissertation, it is simply history and common sense.
Raven @ 135
May I suggest the Willie Lynch Letters and a book I just read, Democracy Matters, by Cornel West. Both are extremely enlightening.
BTW if you want to hear a really good talk about the nature of racism and white privilege Tim Wise does a very good job.
Tim Wise’s web site
Tim on Indymedia
Good stuff. Expands your mind.
I can’t defend his remarks and I wouldn’t even try. But, he does have the best interviews. He asks the questions we need asked. During Libby trial, he speculated that Russert wasn’t telling the whole truth and asked every guest what they thought. He asked Andrea Mitchell about her ‘everyone knew’ remark. He grills his guests in a way that no one else dares. That’s the part worth saving. If he goes, there is nobody else out there who dares to confront his guests in this way.
I know this won’t be a popular comment since he often crosses the line. But, people need to acknowledge that his abrasiveness sometimes has a positive result.
Check out
http://www.lionelonline.com/
I guess I can record some of that stuff on my XM and listen to it on the a.m. drive. I just haven’t figured out how to do that yet.
If you have the skyfi2 you can only record something while it is playing and the power is on. You can’t go back later and play back anything once the power is off. The new innos can, I think. I forked out the $$ for AAR premium so that I could download the podcasts which can be played over iTunes or on a mp3 player. Since I do have an ipod it’s easy.
This week I’m one of the Arbitron “chosen” so I’m getting to write in AAR and CSpan radio a lot. That should throw them for a loop.
raven @ 135
In my limited experience terms like “white priveledge” and “Hegemony” are used mostly on college campuses.
ok
So what’s your point?
CSpan 3 , readings of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Fitzmas!
Hope you folks kept that DC house renter because you’ll soon need it when more Independent Counsels spring forward.
I’ve a feeling some pending cases have items Fitz will use he’s simply letting their discovery process advance. Don’t give up on this!
Nice drive by!
If you want to see how fast the 1918 avian influenza pandemic spread in the US, look at this map from PBS of the expansion over the United States in three weeks.
Some communities acted decisively. Not only St. Louis, but Seattle. According to a history of what happened there:
But Seattle’s mayor replied:
Kansas City banned weddings and funerals if more than 20 people were to be in attendance.
The New York Times bestseller The Great Influenza observed:
And did it help?
A study was published last week in London with this conclusion:
Neil Ferguson, D.Phil., of Imperial College, London,
The effect of public health measures on the 1918 influenza pandemic in US cities. PNAS DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0611071104 (2007)
For everyone who went off on a Sharpton tangent, did you actually click thru to Pam’s post? Because Pam clearly says in her post that I linked above that the whole “Jackson and Sharpton speak for all black people everywhere” issue is a whole post in and of itself, and she’s right. And that wasn’t remotely the point of this post — or hers.
Tap Duncan @ 143
?LinkyNoWorkie?
cathy @
137
My son got both flu and strep at same time. But took Tamaflu & antibiotics and was back in school in 48 hrs.
Good point Christy.
So when do you get your own show on Air America? That segment was too short.
If you think that your state or local officials will act decisively, you might want to check into what plans they have.
Here is what the State of Oregon’s plan says:
How much of a plan is that?
Or to put it another way: Oregon communities are on their own.
Sorry my bad it’s http://www.lionelonline.com !!!
From Eugene Robinson’s column that Christy linked to:
You can be a shock jock or you can be a respected interviewer, but you can’t be both.
this was the point being made by a commentator at CNN yesterday. If he’s going to be hosting a morning cable talk show, then he has to drop the shock jock content.
He ended the show with an interview with Bill Maher, who was irreverent and funny, as always.
Mandrake @
136
I like Rachel, Thom and Randi also (she does rant, but I guess I keep my rage so under the table that it feels good to hear somebody express those things I am not permitted to express in my conservative environment.) I guess I can record some of that stuff on my XM and listen to it on the a.m. drive. I just haven’t figured out how to do that yet.
I like those same 3, plus Ring of Fire on the weekend.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 149
And it is worth pointing out that Sharpton is not the only prominant African American to be calling for Imus’s firing. The head (name escapes me just now) of the professional association of black journalists has continued to call for Imus’s firing, as have other prominent Black clergy and civil rights activists. Many of them have said that they don’t believe that Imus is a “bigot” per se, but they do believe that there should be very real consequences for his statements.
It is worth pointing out that if Imus made those statements in front of African American co-workers or employees in many “normal” employment situations, it would be grounds for immediate termination.
kdh22 @ 140
Thanks
Fresh thread everyone. And a fresh cuppa coffee for me…
Thanks for all the Air America comments, gang. Much appreciated.
Redd – you sounded good on the radio.
And something else equally disturbing…along with hate talk radio, apparently torture scenes are becoming more embedded in our media. What’s worse, we as a nation seem to accept this without flinching much. Read Clive Thompson’s interesting piece, Cruel Intentions, ; I guess the light at the end of the tunnel is that, as Thompson puts it, we are now engaging in moral debates and that is a good thing.
glenn greenwald will be on with sam seder this morning at 10:30am est.
looks sam’s going out with a bang… so sad, he really works to connect the blogging world with the radio world.
here’s what glenn had to say this morning:
Christy Hardin Smith @
150
I second the recommendation. Pam is her usual astute self. The political conflict in the black community–reflecting a generational conflict you can see everywhere–played itself out with the CBC/Fox deal. The leadership is losing touch with the grassroots.
I love Sam. He’ll be on Sundays, I understand, but his daily discussions will be sorely missed here, I can tell you that.
Olbermann’s comment was quite illustrative.
Keith, back in 1998 felt that Imus’ language, humor and banter were objectionable enough to stop being involved with the show.
You’ve seen Keith’s show. He’s not a prude and he certainly has a sense of humor. He also seems to have a fundamental dignity and a strong sense of fair play.
Listening to a bunch of middle aged white men launch an ad hominem attack on a group of young college women is Imus’ caliber.
Keith O saw that back then and wanted nothing to do with it.
That of course hasn’t stopped Lieberman, Dodd, Santorum and the Beltway Fun Bunch (including the newly discredited Howard Fineman and Tom “Solidarity” Oliphant from abasing themselves for Imus low wattage exposure.
Says a lot to me.
-GSD
Well if Imus needs to explain himself to the BB players, then maybe Stevie Wonder should, to,, since he used the word Nappy in a song he wrote. And maybe Al Sharpton should explain his racist comments to the Jews of Crown Heights and the white people he tarred in the Tawana Brawley hoax. And maybe a thousand rappers need to explain to all women why they use these words and worse in their raps. Tell me, why are they not being brought to task?
I don’t defend Imus, but if he is going to be attacked for using these these words, then anyone who uses these words should also be attacked. or else we are nothing more than hypocritical apologists.
GSD @ 166
Or Kerry, Biden, Obama, Ford
azureblue @ 167
Colin Cowerd is pointing out that the use of “Queer” has the same history, bad for some to say ok for others.
raven @ 168
raven @ 169
Individuals should set standards for their behavior and strive to maintain those standards. Judge ye not lest you fall.
azureblue at 167 — So, you are asking me why I didn’t do a ten volume treatise on anything that has ever been said incorrectly or offensively by any person on the planet on any given day, ever? Yeah, I think I just answered the question…
Raven,
I said the “beltway fun bunch” and that includes all of the above and many more.
-GSD
GSD @ 173
Sorta looked like you were focused on wingnuts.
Also, there is quite a vigorous debate among many African-Americans about the use of stereotypical race language in pop culture.
-GSD
Raven,
Dodd is one of the most liberal guys in the senate.
Ford is one of the most conservative democrats.
-GSD
Oliphant is considered a “liberal” journalist, Fineman a centrist.
Christy hope both you and the peanut feel better. Really like the old lemon honey and hot water remedy for comfort, vitamin c. Also used a great deal of powdered slippery elm mixed with honey for colds and flus with my three daughters when they were young.
I do not give herbs credit until I actually witness them work. Slippery Elm does.
Take the powder, pour in the honey, makes a paste (looks gross, taste great) kids generally really like the taste. You can either eat the paste or pour hot water over it and make a tea. Breaks up congestion and mucous. Really works
Rest, tea, hot baths when one is sick!
Hope you feel better.
RevDeb @ 144
Well, I guess I’m hosed then – thanks for the info.
GSD @ 176
my bad
1,482 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
To Prairie Sunshine and all the other Firepups who feel the need to offer Don Imus more freedom to insult and ridicule than anyone else gets in a civilized society:
Don Imus is a transmitter of racist, sexist and fascist ideology.
He has “crossed the line” many times and not been brought to account by his corporate masters.
He is advancing patently racist excuses to justify his remarks in apologies that are not apologies…such as the excuse that there is a vicious battle between light skinned blacks and dark skinned blacks that white people need to know about or that the “jigaboo and wannabe” reference was in the context of Spike Lee.
If he was genuinely remorseful and really a “good person” he would apologize and not try and rationalize his error but he continues to qualify his remarks in the most obviously racist way.
Finally, it disheartens me no end that here on FDL of all places, there are folks who would argue for absolution and acceptance of this obviously racist opportunist. As an original “boomer” who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s and understands that the struggle for human rights in this country is not just a “racial thing” but defines who we are as a people and defines the first line of defense against the systematic attack on democracy posed, I am dismayed and profoundly disappointed that anyone here would argue to give Imus any mercy on this even out of Christian charity.
KEEP THE FAITH AND KNOW WHO THE ENEMY IS FOR GOD’S SAKE!!!
On the Imus issue. I still say send him to New Orleans and have him walk the city doing interviews with people struggling to rebuild.
Or have him drive around the country (I am sure he has a few big trucks) and drive people back who were displaced by Katrina back to New Orleans or the region. I am sure some light bulbs would go off in his head.
Imus and his wife are actually focused on some childrens needs. He blew it and it was a serious mistake. Be creative with his punishment.
Much better than giving him a two week paid vacation.
GSD @ 176
I really like what Dodd has to say. During the Bolton and Rice confirmation hearings( Bolton of course was not confirmed) Dodd played hardball, asking really difficult questions
raven @
179
No, I won’t ask for an apology……We’ll leave that to Imus: )
-GSD
I’m so very weary of all this. I wish all of radio and TV news people would just drone out facts, much like BBC “Readers.” For insight, interpretation, snark and comedy I turn to the blogs.
Waccamaw, I will catch up with you on another thread. Hope you’re experiencing the same gorgeous sunshine today that we are….
Christie, I’m so disappointed that I missed your appearance today (I’ll get the technical glitches ironed out for next time!), but glad to hear that you’re all doing better. Take good care of yourself.
GSD–As one boomer to another, well said!!!!
I am old enough to remember when Jim Crow was still defended in the media and in normal everyday conversation. I am also old enough to remember when it was a woman’s place to grow up and get married, with perhaps an interlude to go to college and maybe work for a couple of years as a nurse or a teacher or a secretary.
I also remember when there were no women’s sport’s leagues. It was really not so long ago.
Just because the laws have changed doesn’t mean that the attitudes which informed the existence of racist and sexist policy have.
Just to be a spelling nanny: I’ve seen many bloggers have a hard time with this word. The etymology of misogyny is Greek misos meaning hatred Greek gyne meaning woman. (Same root as in gynecology.)
No excuses for Imus, but seeing him (via ABC’s “Good Morning, America,” on Al Sharpton’s radio show made me think of the radio version of professional wrestling. It’s about as sincere and meaningful.
Good point Christy.
So when do you get your own show on Air America? That segment was too short.raven @
169
Yes, that is correct. Priviledge, whether it is white, straight, male or any other form, is about power and how it is used over those who have less power.
That is why it is more ok for those of us in the GLBT community to use “queer” where it might (sometimes and under certain conditions) be not ok for someone not of our community to use it.
Why? Because there is always an underlying threat behind some words. Words, by themselves are of course, just sounds. But they can carry a veiled threat when used by some people and less of one when used by others.
Using the “N” word has a whole different meaning if shouted by a policeman towards some young kid than it does when a hip-hop rapper casually blurts it during a performance.
These issues and the controversies they generate are about power, they are always about power, who has it and how they wield it. And when they are not about power, they are still about power.
i won’t. he promised clarence page, in
a widely-reported pledge some years back,
that he understood the issues surrounding
racist rhetoric. that pledge was false,
apparently. . . stick a fork in him. he’s done.
now, the pledge sprang from one of his
earlier incidents — referring to gwen ifill as a
“cleaning lady”. — right.
it is time that he (and c.b.s.) recognize
that a national audience is a gift,
and a privilege — not a property right.
now, i’m all for letting him “help him-
self” restart his life in [new] media, by
letting him try to re-build an audience,
using a narrow-cast/podcast/webcast/
internet radio whatever model, on his own
estimable dime, and time. . .
i am not in favor of the leased public
broadcast bandwidth being his to use,
any longer, through c.b.s. and the like. . .
so. . . gate — meet imus.
imus — meet gate.
I have a lot to say about this at the moment – and thankful to have this forum!
I am at work right now, and the guys in the cubicle across the way just got back from their coffee break, where they happened to see the Rutgers basketball team on TV expressing their hurt. Now these guys are actually making fun of these girls for being hurt, using many of the same terms Imus did.
How on earth can anyone think a group of college girls playing basketball deserve to be insulted in the worst way by a major media personality on national TV?
I’m disgusted, but unfortunately not surprised. I recently moved to Florida and have been amazed at the blatant racism I hear expressed every single day. It is almost without exception the right wingers who talk this way. I have said many times that you could lay an overlay map of ‘red’ voting over an overlay map of racist attitudes and they would match up perfectly.
This is about so much more than Don Imus.
RevDeb @ 132
An opinion held by many. Too sexist for me. He’s never been able to employ a female longer that two weeks regardless of race or ethnicity. Not sure I agree with Sharpton about FCC overly regulating speech. After all Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia, Paul Rodriquez and many more take pot shots at whites and women. In fact most comedians, regardless of race, take pot shots at women, some are down right vile. Bad taste is not illegal and do we really want to start down this slippery slope. Better to boycott the show and its advertisers than to give the Administration any more power than it’s already grabbing. I found the headline below disturbing, and yet it doesn’t get any coverage. The year is 2007 and in the state of Georgia, this is a first. Pathetic.
Ga. Senior Class to Try Integrated Prom
I’m not black, but I am a mother and it would break my heart to hear my daughter called a “nappy haired Ho” or a “jiggaboo” (which is another comment from that show) or anything else so hurtful and mean. If anyone said something so cruel about my child, the fight would be on. I cannot imagine how those girlas and their families feel. If these young women and their parents meet with that dickhead they are much more forgiving than I am.
I don’t give a crap about Imus’ right to free speech. The same people who think this is just dandy went psycho insane over a 1 second titty shot. Screw Don Gregory and anyone else who thinks it is cute to demean college athletes. Or to make racist remarks and call it a joke.
This is a shameful way to treat a group of college athletes who have worked very hard and made it to the top of their game.
He did not go “a little too far” in being “funny”, what he said was mean and hateful and racist and it is not funny by any measure. He pretends that he is sorry, but throws in all kinds of caveats about how he was “just kidding”. Everyone is just too sensitive. He should be fired. So should Bernard McGuirk who apparently made the “jiggaboo” comment. It is wrong and there is no excuse for it.
Both of these guys make nasty hateful remarks all the time and if they apologize, everyone should just brush their should off and let it go. There comes a point when they must lose their platform.
Apparently Rutger’s Head Coach Vivian Stringer and her team of accomplished student-athletes accepted the gauntlet and responded by opening the dialogue with all the distinction and poignancy befitting this situation.
The team will meet with Imus in private.
Consider it the Intervention of the Century.
A radio point man, with some cred for his ability to see the Iraq war for what it is, needs to understand that he and his cronies are carrying on what they deem an “acceptable war” of misogyny and racial denigration EVERY DAY.
Perhaps his soul on some level is just begging to experience some major shift in his world view.
Having seen the temerity and character of this Rutgers team (respectful UCONN fan here) he’s about to get exactly what he bargained for. Maybe more.
Behold, world. A minority-led, minority-majority team, issuing forth from the 8th oldest university in this country — It’s about to get as REAL as you can handle.