No Imus won't be fired folks. Kerry was his candidate. The decadent left has no morality, no ethics, no standards. They cover for each other and answer to no one. Morally bankrupt on every level.
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RELATED:Atlas Shrugs: Another Jew Hater out of the Closet: Don Imus
With Imus twisting in the wind, it is fascinating to watch his mostly liberal collaborators in the media try to avoid being affected by the stench. They all went on the show in the past knowing that that he specializes in making fun of people. But they excused that in order to reach his audience and, in many cases, sell their books.
Consider Howard Kurtz, the media reporter for the Washington Post who appears fairly often on the Imus show. Imus made his offensive remarks on April 4, a Wednesday. On April 6, Imus apologized on the air. Two days after that, on April 8, Kurtz's "Reliable Sources" media watchdog show aired on CNN. Did Kurtz say anything about Imus's remarks and the propriety of people like Kurtz appearing on such a show? I watched the show. Please check the transcript. I can't find anything. Can you? Instead, he devoted a segment of his show to Rosie O'Donnell's recent controversial remarks and female bloggers getting threats from readers. Doesn't this omission say something about Kurtz's objectivity as a media correspondent? Perhaps this will be a topic at the Washington Post annual meeting on May 10. AIM will be there, too.
To top it off, Kurtz's "Media Notes" column on Monday includes nothing about the Imus controversy and his own appearances on the show.
The City of New York, where Imus works and maintains a residence, issues "may issue" concealed carry licenses, allowing the police to determine who is allowed to have a concealed handgun. This is according the Sullivan Act, and in practice, it means that very, very few permits are issued.
Don Imus has a well-known history of alcohol and cocaine abuse in his past, and while he claims to have been clean for many years, his substance abuse history is certainly enough reason to deny him a permit even in "shall issue" areas. It is clearly his fame, and fame alone, that has afforded him the privilege to carry a gun in New York City.
It only seems fitting that his infamy caused him to be stripped of this privilege as well.
MSNBC's Dan Abrams:
People have every right to be angry, insulted and hurt by Imus's comments. And Imus himself has said they have every right to call for his resignation. Those opinions are heartfelt, and I can tell you they have been heard loud and clear by MSNBC and NBC News. The one set of instigators who should be ignored are our friends over at Fox News, who have made this part of an ongoing political campaign against MSNBC over everything and anything they can find. Now, I understand why they're doing it. It's a good strategy to attack a network that's suddenly offering up a challenge to them on a number of fronts. But one would hope another network would attack with clean hands. We all know that's not the case over at Fox, not even on this sort of issue.
Oy.
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Jane!
…with much love.
KO is on Dan Patrick talking about this.
trois?
damn you raven.
WOW! Hacktacular Howie is a Liberal? WTF? Not in THIS lifetime he ain’t.
This is good, Patrick is taking KO to task for not jumping on Imus like he would have if he were on Fox.
Neil @ 5
Not the first time.
hoo-ha!!!
MSNBC has some big decisions to make. To Fox or not to Fox. That is the question.
This is the GOP spin, you see. Because Imus didn’t attack Clinton 100% of the time, but only 85% of the time, he is a liberal.
EPU’d from Christy’s earlier thread but on topic here (slightly emended):
Re: TV journalism and infotainment:
I missed the Imus thread because I just got to the lake. My only comment about Imus: he’s very much part of the smug Beltway nexus of journalists and politicians.
Just look at his cast of regular guests, all usual suspects:
Journalists: Tim Russert; David Gregory; Howard Fineman; Chris Matthews; Andrea Mitchell; Jonathan Fineman (occasionally); Dan Rather (occasionally when he was at CBS but hasn’t been back since he left); Brian Williams (occasionally)
Politicians: Joe Lieberman; John McCain; Harold Ford Jr. (who has yet to come to his defense); Rick Santorum; John Kerry (occasionally: who perhaps hasn’t forgiven Imus his kiss of death in the 2004 elections); Senate-windbag Joe Biden
Abrams’ “clean hands” argument goes right out the window if they keep Imus. MSNBC will have no credibility in their (well-deserved) attacks on FOX if they keep Imus on the air. Best to clean house and stand on high ground when exposing Orally, Beck, and MM for their racism and hatespeech.
I’ll bet Imus’ wife is PISSED!!! Her book just came out and she was slated to appear on a number of shows this week and next, I’ll bet he’s sleeping alone on the couch!!!!
KO, “This is a broad ranging problem that has been going on for a long time and sometime they were going to have to put a bullet in his head. . .metaphorically”.
Biodun @ 12
Funny, it looks just like the list of the Sunday morning regulars.
Question for Conservatives:
If Imus is a liberal, how come he backs conservative non-Democrat Joe Lieberman?
OT – House probes military on Tillman, Lynch
snip
Lynch, a 21-year-old former Army supply clerk, became one of the most visible faces of the war when she was rescued from an Iraqi hospital after being captured by Iraqi forces on April 1, 2003. Eleven U.S. soldiers were killed where her convoy was attacked, and six, including Lynch, were captured.
Her videotaped rescue by special forces branded Lynch a hero at a time the U.S. war effort seemed bogged down. It also stirred complaints of government media manipulation.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..lman_lynch
Hello, Steno Sue
Santorum and Lieberman were his candidates too.
Al Roker says it’s time for the I-Man to go:
What I don’t understand is why people even tune into jerk-offs like Imus? Talk Radio is not part of my world. I just don’t get it. But then I never listened to the sermon when I had to go to church every Sunday as a kid either.
Man, if only the wingnutty bizarro-reality were true and liberals DID have say over what happens to Imus. He’d be out on his ass faster than you can drawl out “librul medja”.
OLBERMANN: A brief preface to our third story on the COUNTDOWN, the suspension of Don Imus by this network and by CBS radio for his remarks last week about the Rutgers University women‘s basketball team. I may be mistaken about the exact date, but I don‘t believe I have appeared on his radio or television show program 1998. This has been a conscious decision, stemming from what I thought were inappropriate things he has said about various people.
It has also been a conscious decision not to try to publicize this stance. And to borrow the phrase of an ex-colleague, it‘s not my day to run the network. First, NBC announced tonight that the simulcast of Imus in the Morning would not appear here on MSNBC for two weeks, starting next Monday. Then CBS radio announced it would suspend the show outright for the same time span. That time drag, by the way, will permit maximum exposure for his charity radio-thon later this week. Here are the details from our correspondent Rehema Ellis.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18038830/
Imus has a lengthy list of on-the-air trangressions of insensitive and bigoted jokes. His joke about Gwen Ifill, his conversation with Clarence Page and his insensitive and bigoted remarks about the Rutgers basketball team come to mind.
If you agree he has been innapropriate in his humor, that the joke is both bigoted and at the expense of the subjects, then what is the just outcome of this controversy?
Should public media people lose their jobs for being bigoted and insensitive? What if you believe them to be sincere in their apology? I also recognize the message sent when bigots, repeat offenders, face no consequences. What do you think?
I think Gewn Ifill has Imus’ number.
In this instance he picked on kids.
Anyone can make errors of judgement and taste
(even here at FDL from time to time ;)
But picking on a bunch of teenagers, because you can, is just plain bullying.
And that is a character flaw, not a mistake of judgement or taste.
Steerike! He’s out.
I’m new to this Imus person — never have listened or paid any attention, but this Q&A from Eugene Robinson caught my attention.
How can this guy still be on the air and attract the “talent” he does?
ipus opposes the war(sic) but supports John McCain for president. He supported Kerry but spent the entire time trashing him and slandering his wife. And during the campaign was cruel to Elizabeth Edwards –endless fatlady jokes.
Come on folks this is a smoke screen by the MSM (only not a dead BLONDE this time) Stick with the real story
Bush, rove, gonozo and the rest are the real Story. Watch the hearing on c-span3 April 17 Start you video recorder @ 10 am
Did Imus ever say anything about Jeb Bush’s marriage?
katherine graham cracker @ 27
Same with Contessa Brewer…
Contessa Brewer is a news anchor for MSNBC. She joined MSNBC in September of 2003 after working for WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a weekend anchor and general assignment reporter. She has also worked for KMIR in Palm Springs, California (which, like, WTMJ is owned by Journal Communications), and KRNV in Reno, Nevada.
Brewer, in the spring of 2005, served briefly as a news reader on the popular “Imus in the Morning” radio show that is broadcast out of Secaucus, New Jersey, syndicated nationally, and broadcast on MSNBC; but her tenure was brief, and she became embroiled in a public feud with Don Imus after the New York Post published a gossip item in which she was overheard disparaging the radio personality. Among several insults, Imus had called Brewer “fat” on his radio show, despite the fact that she is of average weight and height.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contessa_Brewer
OT but important from previous thread by Neil @173
http://www.gregpalast.com/bush…..#more-1586
Imus seems to be what I call a “redneck hippie”. Looks like a hippie, but thinks like a redneck. He is not a liberal, and he’s no hippie, and he’s no cowboy.
Project much, do we?
And Kurtz is a “liberal?” Could have fooled me.
He called a girls sports team..dirty whores. period.
We know he is a pickled reformed drunk who has a history of saying these things. What does it take to get fired?
Why does GE and NBC hate american womens sports teams?
big bob @ 28
We have time for both conversations. I agree that the alter is more consequential.
The clear-eyed dignity & composure of the Rutgers team members @ their presser today gave the lie to Imus’ crude put downs. Those women rocked…
Kurz is a liberal?? I always thought he was a media whore.
Imus is a liberal? I always thought he was a clown.
itwasntme @ 31
Is Palast a reliable source?
If I had a daughter looking to play college basketball, I’d be very happy to have C. Vivian Stringer be her coach.
Taking time out from affairs of the state, The Dunce also weighs in:
I still have not had my comment to CNN posted on their blog or read. For those of you who didn’t see it in the earlier thread:
________________
Don Imus made vile racist and sexist comments, and deserves to be reprimanded and suspended. However, the same can be said for CNNs Glenn Beck. Beck has made many racially and sexually offensive comments that are on par with those of Imus.
Glenn Beck has made comments like this:
“What happened to the Duke lacrosse team was practically a lynching without the rope. And for the first time in my life, Mr. Oreo Cookie without the chocolate on the outside can understand why people celebrated when O.J. Simpson was acquitted.”
Hillary Clinton “is a stereotypical bitch”.
And to Congressman Keith Ellison, a Muslim: “Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.’”
So, while CNN enjoys pointing a scathing finger at MSNBC, they should consider applying the same scrutiny to their own employees. CNN has trumpeted the Imus controversy into a huge two-day story while continuing to tacitly endorse such behavior by Glenn Beck. I would have much more respect for CNN if they operated by the same ethical standards they demand of their competition.
__________________
I personally think all of these media pigs like Imus, Beck, Coulter, Malkin, and others of their ilk should be off the air. However, they bring in ratings, and corporate media won’t kick them out.
The notion that Imus is a liberal, being protected by liberals, is about the most preposterous thing I’ve heard this week. This is a big corporate media brouhaha, with Fox and CNN piling on MSNBC (whose ratings have been going up), while not putting near the same scrutiny on their show hosts and guests. Shame on them.
minor correction to Abrams’ statement:
“But one would hope another network would attack with clean hands. We all know that’s not the case over at Fox,
not evenespecially on this sort of issue.“browny @ 37
Being a clown in a noble and ancient profession. What do you have against clowns?
TeddySanFran @ 26
Teddy:
I think this interview is trying to play down their complicity in Imus’ behavior.
I think the operative phrase now is and should be: “Enough is Enough”.
Taking down Imus should be a signal to the broadcast media and politicians who think they have a comfortable niche to walk into with racially, ethnically and gender-biased remarks. These remarks do far-reaching damage.
That signal is: NO. MORE. QUARTER.
Eureka Springs @ 38
Read it. You probably heard it before and will remember it. In the light of the US Attorney firings, it takes on a whole new perspective.
Ha ha, Sheri Annis’s husband Howie the Putz a liberal?
That would be Sheri Annis, Republican media strategist who runs a company called “Fourth Estate Strategies” selling her right wing media expertise.
That Cliff Kincaid, what a kidder.
If Imus’s hatespeech has succeeded in uniting blogtopia and the bigotsphere, will Privileged Media continue to support him? Is this a real Insider vs. Outsider struggle?
Angry Black Bitch, OTOH, noted another obvious issue yesterday:
Click through for a photo, as well as an ABB smackdown of NBC and their
journalistic integritylove of money.I don’t understand how we can get so worked up over Imus, when there’re still pustules like Glenn Beck polluting our air. I think this reeks of “Look! Something shiny!”
The WFAN afternoon drive show Mike and the Mad Dog is talking about this. Running out the they make funny of everyone line.
They’re going to have a real problem with call-ins, though. The audience Imus directs his racist content to will be calling in making racist comments.
Chris Russo has opened up a fissure by bringing up Sharpton’s role in this. Sharpton has screwed up in the past, but his act has been substantially cleaned up.
Eureka Springs @ 38
Yes! If you haven’t read his book about the 2000 election in Florida, you should run and get it at the first opportunity!
In spite of his kids cancer ranch, Imus lacks honor and character as do the vast majority of MSM hacks. It’s an epidemic without a known cure.
Imus is only part of the problem… all of those political and media “elites” who are defending him, even now… what are they thinking? And what should their consequences be? (Howard Fineman, Tom Oliphant, Jeff Greenfield, among others)
They should ALL be held to account. Just silencing Imus (if that even becomes permanent) does not really change anything.
Digby has a great post on this story, and brings in the money angle… i.e., how the elites manage to hawk their books so successfully on his show.
Unfortunately, I’m seeing too many (progressive?) comments about free speech re: this story, and that is not what it is about. There is no government quashing of speech involved here.
Badwater @ 43
In a similar vein, why insult whores, who also have an old (some say the oldest) time honored profession, and perform a useful public function? What useful function does Kurtz perform again?
conniptionfit @ 49
Hey, one whacko at a time..) [thanks for the palast reply]
MoShep @ 54
Do you REALLY wanna go there?!?
conniptionfit @ 49
they are all creepy and jsut cause we can’t
get Beck at the sametime doesn’t mean Ipus gets a free ride. For whatever reasons this particular hs brought attention to Ipus and his horrible behavior and it is rightly being pointed out that this is not his 20th offense.
oops…more like his one millionth offense
Harry Reid’s Office’s statement:
why insult whores, who also have an old (some say the oldest) time honored profession, and perform a useful public function? What useful function does Kurtz perform again?
I think the professionals prefer the term sex workers
I am very upset by this controversy, because I was set to launch next week a brand new patented nylon product designed to prevent mid-day bedhead called Nappy Head Hose. Damn you, Don Imus.
Seriously, though…who is listening to this man? I do not understand, but think there is a link, between journalists’ worshipping at the MSNBC Imus altar and their refusal to challenge anyone on the facts. There’s a Grand Unified Theory of Lazy, Focus-Group Fearing, Spotlight-and-Cocktail Seeking Journalism out there, but I can’t formulate it.
because it’s all strange fruit from the same poplar tree
Wait, he’s still on the air this week? Seriously?
It’s on at 3am pt, so I never see it.
I’m sick of hearing about this. It is not news. It isn’t. Shock jocks are there to shock. This is ultimately shocking. STFU and go to bed for Christ’s sake.
Imus is such a “liberal” that conservative Howard Fineman of Newsweek defends him, as does conservative Michael Smerconish.
katherine graham cracker @ 27
its called having it both ways. imus is a schmuck.
hola all, from an internet shop in barcelona. wow. what a city …..
Is everyone here calling for Imus termination?
I, like Tom Oliphant, think there is more to be gained by taking him seriously in his regret and holding him to the higher standard he professes to have set for himself.
Clarence Page wants nothing to do with Imus. Clarence called Imus on his bigoted language and solicited Imus’ pledge to cease and desist. When over time Imus did not, Page bid him farewell. Page has not been invited nor would he accept a guest spot on Imus’ show. Nonetheless, Page does not advocate for his termination.
I abhor Bill Donahue’s tactics (President and CEO Catholic League for the defense of Catholic’s Civil and Religious rights) and methods. He stakes out the position of outrage, he demands cease and desist, he demands people lose their jobs, and he organizes efforts to inflict financial hardship.
When I think of demanding Imus’ job, I think I’m treading close to the tatics employed by crazed and unreasonable zealots like Donahue.I am opposed to Imus’ insensitive and bigoted language but I am also opposed to living in a culture where people’s jobs are at risk when they cross the line of civility and propriety. At he same time, Imus’ language sets a tone that should not be considered acceptable.
The pot calling the kettle black (no pun intended). Glenn Beck’s exchange with Anderson Cooper:
Beck is right about one thing: making money for the corporation. The market (pace the advertisers and the ratings) will decide Imus’s fate when he gets back from suspension.
Imus slummer, Jack, and I’m OK.
jayackroyd @ 59
Update: This is also up on Pelosi’s website, so this is a joint leadership statement.
Late to the party for Christy’s “Spine” thread:
Recovering Reporter’s suggestion is a leaf out of the Navy Submarine Service’s play book: double-crew the boat. Blue crew goes out to the sea buoy, dives, does their 60 day cruise underwater, and comes back for two months of training, R&R, more training, etc. while Gold crew is out. Great idea for the intra-beltway press.
jayackroyd @ 59
Thanks. I’ve been following the battle of the press conferences between McConnell and Reid on CSPAN 1.
I must say, Jack Reed (D-RI) is one credible, solemn and well spoken person.
TheOtherWA @ 63
He’s still on this week because of a scheduled fundraiser he’s doing for a charity. He said this morning he’s going to raise a million dollars. Yes, it’s all about corporations–and the market.
When I first heard about this, I wasn’t paying attention and only heard Imus say “nappy-headed.” I didn’t hear the “ho” part. I don’t watch the guy b/c he’s always been a braying jackass. Once I heard “ho” I knew he should be shitcanned.
What really blew my mind, though, was the other moron who used the word “jigaboo.” What the fuck? Who uses that anymore? I mean, I thought “jigaboo” went out with “spearchucker.”
I’m from the south. I’ve heard this shit all my life, most recently from my soon-to-be ex-in-laws. If that language rolled off their tongues so easily on the air, there’s no doubt what is said when the mics are off.
I don’t give a fuck how long that mummy has been propped up in front of a mic. Fire his ass.
We don’t need another Jeremy Bentham, for god’s sake.
kdh22 @ 52
he uses the kids to insulate himself from criticism of his racist and sexist act. deviousness and bad faith. period
oh Tommy Yum, I had the exact same response to the “ji**boo” quote and am now lmao
said to mr. cbl on Sunday -
“these goons would’ve called Paul Robeson spearchucker !”
At some time we as a society need to say that our public airwaves may not be used to promote hatred and division within our society. Hate Radio has made multi-millionaires out of a bunch of white men but it is a cancer destroying our culture. I hope Imus is fired. It would send a timely message to the Hate Mongers who polute our airwaves.
barcelona. wow. what a city …..
hmmmmmmmham
And Old Lord McCain will appear this week on his show — another sign he’s losing it. I find it interesting that Eugene Robinson sees daylight between Imus’s journalist guests and their bosses:
More from Waxman:
fahrender @ 75
As has Bill Bennett. When his thought experiment blew up in his face (there would be less crime if every black woman aborted her fetus) he called on everyone to remember the work he’d done as edumication secretary and the social work he and his wife did in the gh-etto. Bill Kristol was his character witness.
I’ve been engaged in this Imus debate since before the Rutgers incident. Today and yesterday I was particularly annoyed by some of the things katherine graham cracker had to say on the topic. After listening to, gasp, sports radio and Joe Morgan, Eddie Johnson, Dan Patrick and KO I think I finally have the “context” down right. I have been able to wince and bear the nastiness of the show because he did interesting interviews and seemed to pull for veterans and kids with cancer as well as attacking the Bushites. KO really helped me understand the depth of the problems with the entire Imus show so I think it is appropriate for me to say I have been wrong. . .especially to KGCracker. peace
fahrender @ 66
Barcelona? you fortunate person! However, you must understand that if you do not spend at least one full day, preferably two, at the Sagrada Famiglia, and another at Guell Park, you are doomed to eternal something-or-other for an unforgivable affront to the genius of Catalania, as well as a missed opportunity for an incredible aesthetic experience.
If the airwaves belong to the people, where’s my check and/or tax deduction?
Neil @
67
Were I working in Corporate at CBS or NBC (or for whomever is Imus’s actual employer) and openly — albeit jokingly — called a black female co-worker a “nappy-headed ho” I’d be summarily fired on inciting “hostile workplace” grounds. Is inciting a larger “hostile society” any less serious?
Were I his boss, it’d be one strike, you’re out (and, for the record, his inflammatory racial rap sheet extends way beyond one strike).
.
Morris Sheppard @ 83
Gaudi duty.
Ed Deevy @ 77
A strategic and deserved prosecution to set an example?
Where are the demands for McGuirk to apologize? He was the first one to call the women “hos.”
Fire them all.
I was particularly annoyed by some of the things katherine graham cracker had to say on the topic
thanks for a great compliment!
punaise @ 85
Howdy punaise! In this case duty is a pleasure with no strings.
And why is the Imus thing news?
Well, race is an explosive issue in America–the third rail in everything. The US will probably never heal from the history of slavery and lynching. And when you mix race with gender? Wham!
AZ Matt 80,
Can you imagine what will happen if there are RNC related e-mails related to either of those events to bolster support for the Repubs and the war….I’ll bet Waxman knows or at least suspects something.
I think the denizens of TradMed who defend Imus are terrified of him. They back him up — calling him a good man who said a bad thing — because they are afraid he’ll stay on the air and demonize them. Also, he sells their books for them, apparently something they are unable to do without his assist.
They must be aware of his long and infamous history in this particular arena of race and sexism.
hey, Morris Sheppard!
Tommy Yum makes a great point.. Even Little Rock, AR closed down the last resturant named “Sambos” in the ’70’s…what the he*l yanks?! Can the guy!
katherine graham cracker @ 88
best way I could think of to grovel
jayackroyd @ 59
This doesn’t sound quite like blinking to me. Does this mean Levin was a bit off the reservation Sunday with his comments that basically said “if Bush vetoes, we’ll cave?” I sure hope so, because man, that was depressing.
Totally ot – Attention TRex – please see p. 93 of the 4/16 New Yorker.
(”You keep him busy while I go for help.”)
Neil @ 81
Bill Kristol was his character witness.
Well, if Kristol was his witness then it’s all good….I think I’m gonna puke!
Fahrender @ 75
Yeah, tell-tale sign of an addict.
I’m convinced this schmuck harbors much self-hatred and guilt and then tries to pass it off as crude humor. He needs help but I doubt he will ever seek it. His offspring, consequently, will bear the sins of the father.
Heard that Clusterfuck asked to meet with dem leaders to discuss how they could do exactly what he wants on the Iraq spending stuff.. Yer kiddin- right Clusterfuck? Whadda shithead!!
Neil @ 67
We’re not talking about civility. We’re talking about CBS and MSNBC entertainment content. this content runs next to Good Morning America and CNN’s American Morning. If this were an isolated incident, then I think Imus’s bosses would be correct in treating it as an error in judgment on a show that is very close the edge on taboo topics.
But at this point, it is very clear that racist and misogynist content* is an integral part of the show. As long as McGuirk is part of the program, that will continue. That’s his role, and he plays it with relish.
CBS and MSNBC management is endorsing and promoting this content. That’s the issue.
And it’s also part of the media world that we’re constantly talking about, an insular collection of opinion shapers.
*Nobody has bothered to mention that the female traffic reporter was required to use, a while ago, humiliating monikers like Lucy Lubejob or Betty Bumpers and now is required to use male first names.
I live near DC. WTOP radio has been asking people to comment on the Imus thing. I am amazed at how many people have made comments about rap music making statements about Whites and Richard Pryor’s comedic routines about black people and why were they considered funny? Some have even said it’s a free speech issue. Oh, and there’s a poll to freep on the front page of the website.
http://wtop.com/
Do you think Imus should be fired?
Yes 40%; No 60%
When my children and their friends were young and prone to tattle on their playmates, the other mothers and I demanded that along with any complaint of bad behavior they must say something good about the child. In that spirit I offer the following:
-Imus donates tons of money to charity and uses his show to help raise more.
-He was the driving force behind the Veteran’s Rehab center in Texas
-He has his camp for sick children
-All proceeds from his green-cleaning products go to charity – none go to him personally.
-He asks the questions no other journalists ask
-He provides the outrage over issues important to us – especially the Walter Reed scandal. Not even Olberman shows the outrage that Imus does.
-He is the only one that talked about Andrea Mitchell’s curious remark regarding Valerie Plame.
-He talked about Russert’s role.
-He can do those things because he is so outrageous.
He deserves to be criticized for his hateful remarks. But enough is enough, he has done some good also.
All I ask, require, is that my party, the Democratic Party respond appropriately to its base. Nothing more, and certainly, nothing less. This is not a difficult request to understand. But it is a request that can be underestimated and misunderstood in terms of overarching importance.
pol @ 101
What about the completely ignored option?
BobbyG @ 85
You make an excellent point.
Biodun @ 40
Since Bush never fires ANYONE, no matter how great their transgression, unless and until it becomes politically expedient to do so, I’m wondering whether the rest of the people in the press room were laughing when Perino got that question.
In the meantime, Imus seems to be making things worse, rather than better, in his initial stops on the Apology Tour. I saw him this morning on the Today Show — which devoted almost the entire first hour to the Imus controversy, as if nothing were going on in Iraq — and one second he’s saying that what he said is indefensible, and then he gets angry at people for calling his character into question, or bringing up past incidents of abusive or offensive language towards minorities or women. “I’m a good person, I raise a lot of money for charities…this is a comedy show, this isn’t Meet the Press…I went to Al Sharpton’s studio and took it like a man, even though he had a 100 people in the room yelling at me.”
Imus, here’s a bit of advice: when you’re in a deep hole, stop digging.
Should Imus be fired? Beats the hell out of me- I’ve never seen the guy. Sounds as if he tried to pretend he was a rapper for a while and stepped into it up to his eyeballs. Kinda funny!
This whole thing is so out there it’s hard to know what to make of it. Imus himself is a disgusting bigot in many ways much of the time. Bernie, part of his daily backup, well, there is no excuse for him, he’s not worth the oxygen he breaths. The sad part is these guys actually do think their racist remarks are just all in fun, as in funny. However, it looks like some are going to try to tag him to us, progressives. Yes, he does like John Kerry, and he likes Harold Ford, loves Lieberman, hates Lamont, hates Hillary (he says she’s the devil). Oh, and by the way, he also thinks the war is just stupid, but he also says he’s a Republican.
The really sad part is that he really does do some extremely good charity work and fund raising, and he really does attack issues like the failure to rescue citizens after Katrina and the Walter Reed mess like a bulldog. In these things he does serve a useful and necessary function for society. Nobody did more to raise funds for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund than Imus, and he puts his money where his mouth is. He supports the totally green cleaners that his wife developed and from all reports, they really are environmentally friendly. They also spend considerable time and money on their ranch for cancer kids.
But Imus still doesn’t get it that he is a bigot…although I’m sure he’s sincere in his apology. Must’ve taken quite a bit to admit that he was an addict and alcoholic before he went into rehab too. But I guess my point is that Imus is a contradiction of himself. The man is a walking, breathing enigma. He is neither all good nor all evil, as are many of us, especially the most complex personalities among us. I don’t watch his show on a regular basis, and never will because I don’t like a lot of what he puts on the public airwaves. Can’t stand his friend Bo Dietl, or his other little playmates, but he does sometimes have some interesting guests, and sometimes, because he is so outrageous, he does some very revealing and interesting interviews. I just turn the channel whenever that’s not happening. Which brings us to the marketplace. I think it will be the ultimate judge of Imus’ behaviour. If everyone watched as often as I do, he won’t survive on TV much longer.
Lots of folks take their money and do good things with it.
But slamming racial slurrrrs across the airwaves so you can get rich and fund charity is not the proper way to do it. [jeeesh]
pol @ 102
Imus himself made the point that the term “nappy headed ho’s” was first used in the “black community.” Al Sharpton, who was also on when he said that, almost gave birth to a cow. When he had calmed himself, he said evenly, “That doesn’t make it right for you to use it. The fact that other people use offensive language doesn’t give you a pass.” Imus then went on to say, “But it wasn’t said in anger or while I was drunk.” As if being sober when he said it made it BETTER!!!!
Imus the equal-opportunity guy about insults:
They are all minorities, I-Man. Add to that Gwen Ifill, Serena and Venus Williams. And you get the picture.
solai @
103
Sorry, no amount of good works make up for what he said. It’s simply not acceptable, and they’ll have to find themselves someone else to ask the tough questions about Andrea Mitchell.
Child-rearing examples don’t really apply to a multi-millionaire hatespeaker.
Don’t you just love how my Democratic party, particularly the front runner for Dem prez is constantly speaking out on the important and vital issues of the day!
Actions speak louder than words fire pups.
In one corner we have a ranch for kids with cancer.
In the the other corner, we have a country with ethnic cleansing, killing a folks with bulldozers.
http://www.miftah.org/Display……egoryId=23
Neil at 106–
If someone in CBS corporate communications described the Rutgers team in this way, he or she would be out of a job. Likewise if Simon & Schuster (another CBS property) published a children’s book using this language.
Mike Francesa has just made the point that Imus is unfireable. He generates too much revenue. This will have, they’re saying, a serious effect on the radio station’s performance. The 2nd quarter Arbitron book just opened.
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
Imus – resign. Your schtick is old and lousy. Your crew is a bunch of punks.
You should have been fired for your repeated Ray Nagin schtick.
I warned you that this BS was going to come back and bite you hard.
Enjoy
Imus has been making an ass out of himself for a very long time (like in years and years).
Oh my eyes!!!!
Why do I link over to that horrible Atlas Juggs? Is it a rubberneck/accident response? Is it out of killing curiosity? Alas, I am sticken blind for looking.
If I still can’t see by 5:00, push me out the door and let me make my way home as a blind man.
I REALLY appreciate hearing the viewpoints of so many fire pups on the Imus thing. You guys are thoughtful and intelligent, and have many interesting and insightful perspectives to offer. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion.
jayackroyd @ 114
Thanks. That was precisely my point at #85.
.
You know I thought when the Libby Trial was over I’d be able to gett away from the lake for a while. NAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
solai @ 103
Well said, and my sentiments also.
The Republicans and the DLC must love this Imus distraction.
Imus, like multitudes of others, thinks the problem is he said a bad thing
frankly goon boy, the society will not evolve until you figure out that attitudes fuel those words and questioning them is required for us to grow up on the issue of race
Ann in AZ @ 124
Going forward, if he cleans up his bigoted speech, then good is good, and if he resumes?
cbl @ 125
Now that I’ve switched side s on this I would point out that he is saying that he is going to change. I know, he’s said it before.
cbl @ 124
This is similar to what one of the Rutger team members said. She said that in some ways it is a good thing because it brings it out in the open. Those girls are awesome.
raven @ 128
You’re a little conflicted. I think that’s ok. I am too.
solai @ 102
I’m a nobody in terms of celebrity, but proportionally, I’ll put my charitable good works up against his any day.
Notwithstanding my personal ongoing commitment to community service and altruistic acts — none of them would suffice to yield me a two-week slap-on-the wrist/hideout/blow-over suspension from my job were I to utter such remarks openly at work.
Oh, I see, it’s different for us Little People.
.
There are many things I have given up paying attention too long ago. One is Imus and others are college and professional sports.
BobbyG @
85
I had a woman working for me once who got pissed and called her female subordinate a c___. I wanted to fire her on the spot, though she was under contract, but our legal department(!) got nervous – she was a woman between 40 & 65, a protected class – so nothing happened. My thought was to let her sue and defend what she did – but dumber heads prevailed. She didn’t get her option picked up, though.
Of course, Imus brings in $$ to those who throw his pickled brain in front of a microphone, but I have to say that at some point, leadership in corporate America needs to consist of someone saying, in effect, I’m not willing to make money off of that.
And really, it’s sad that we’re spending time talking about a useless tool, but sadder still that such a useless tool can make so much money being one.
Raw Story headline: Senate to probe FBI’s national security letter abuses: Soon…
This isn’t just about Imus’s tasteless vocabulary. The real story is why so many in the press continue to defend him. (The money (for selling their books), belonging to the club, the huge audience, the white guys’ refuge, etc., etc.)
Should Imus be fired or not? I don’t really know. True, anyone else would be. However, he as been allowed/enabled/encouraged/stroked for… just this kind of behavior for years. Of course he’s surprised everyone’s so upset. Hey, who changed the rules? Well, the rules have changed… so, grow up!
In any case, if he keeps his job, it is an opportunity for all of us who consistently complain about BigMedia’s lack of personal insight to complain each time he says something else that is equally outrageous, and ask whoever else was on that particular show how they can support or defend such behavior.
Of course, this will only work for those who are not making excuses for calling people (especially women and minorities– of either party) tasteless names on the web.
(Taylor Marsh has a great post up about this… and how calling Hillary names is not really much different in the grand scheme of things.)
When the audiences go away, so will the hate mongers.
This is nothing more than a contrived controversy. All that is occurring is that Imus is generating an audience, advertising revenue and profit for shareholders. He’s doing EXACTLY what he’s supposed to do – SHOCK.
The foolowup arguments about whether he should stay or go are all spurious and beside the point. The shock/hate genre is an entertainment venue. That so-called journalists, pundits and politicians guest star to hawk their own wares is tolerated – becasue there is an audience for them.
Don’t watch, don’t listen, don’t comment – DON’T TUNE IN. It’s the same as not feeding the trolls.
Where there’s a market, there’s a marketer waiting to exploit it.
Don’t allow yourselves to continue to be exploited.
You’re a little conflicted. I think that’s ok. I am too.
One of my problems is that I think all this stuff lives in all of us. My favorite buddhist nun, Pema Chodron, talks about it in terms of child abuse. She say that, as a mother, there were times that she wanted to clobber her kids. There were things in her that prevented her from doing it but the impulse was there. I don’t know whether this is part of the process of society “questioning” itself but I hope so.
Yes, BobbyG, I was reinforcing your point, and mine, by noting that these are all activities that CBS employees take part of their jobs.
raven @ 123
True dat!
(((FDL and its entire crew)))
((((Jane)))
So where is FDL’s Pulitzer Prize already?
raven @ 137
One of my problems is that I think all this stuff lives in all of us. My favorite buddhist nun, Pema Chodron, talks about it in terms of child abuse. She say that, as a mother, there were times that she wanted to clobber her kids. There were things in her that prevented her from doing it but the impulse was there. I don’t know whether this is part of the process of society “questioning” itself but I hope so.
My problem is not that I live with some bigoted and or sexist thoughts. I’ll own those and any of them that come out of my mouth.
My problem is: What is an appropriate consequence for Imus?
I’ve decided that his two week penalty should have come years ago but atleast it has come now. If he insults people on the basis of race or sex again, and he will, there will be no defense for taking his job, and they wont.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 134
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) will chair a hearing Wednesday on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s abuse of its national security letter authority, according to a press release sent to RAW STORY.
Tap Duncan @
14
Mrs. Imus can write? Who knew. LOL!
My problem is: What is an appropriate consequence for Imus?
Does it matter that he doesn’t need the money? He’s said it over and over so even firing him isn’t really punishment. Seems like it would be more punishment for his ratings and advertisers to crash and burn.
punaise @ 86
As in Gaudi duty time? (to carbon date myself!)
Try googling “racist DJ fired” . . . it’s a long list of sites and stories that comes up.
Why does Imus get a pass, when so many others do not? Simple: like Leona Helmsley, he thinks that the rules only apply to “the little people,” and apparently his media masters tend to agree.
“But, but, what about his ranch?”
Hooray for his ranch for kids with cancer. I’m all for good works. But how large a ranch does a shock jock have to have, before he can spout racist mysogynistic garbage with impunity?
N=1 @
136
Even though there is credence to that arguement. There’s also such a thing as “turning off” a demographic group.
Look at Michael Jackson…he became so wierd…even though he generated publicity he alienated much of his demographic.
I think that the nation is dealing with a number of issues that have been strenuosly avoided for a long time.
The last election just saw the electoral slaughter of much of the ruling good ole boy network that had nestled snugly in the Republican Party.
Things are a changing.
The one guy who really gave up alot was Howard Fineman. He basically said—”damn, used to be white males were in the catbird seat….now we gotta share the table with everyone else.”
-GSD
raven @ 143
Even though he’s too wealthy to need an income, losing his job would be a huge punishment.
It would also set a standard for the limits of tolerance for bigoted jokes on the air.
Mrs. Imus can write? Who knew. LOL!
Now there is a brillant statement.
What I would like to see happen regarding IMUS is that he and his sponsors are forced to watch the Rutgers girls interview. Forget GE they’re hopeless.
believe the above advertised hearings on NSL’s is to be private not public . . .but I’ll be damned if I can remember where I read that 3 threads ago
raven @ 137
One of my problems is that I think all this stuff lives in all of us. My favorite buddhist nun, Pema Chodron, talks about it in terms of child abuse. She say that, as a mother, there were times that she wanted to clobber her kids. There were things in her that prevented her from doing it but the impulse was there. I don’t know whether this is part of the process of society “questioning” itself but I hope so.
raven-thanks for that. FWIW, I agree-I think we all carry around our prejudices but very few of us actually act on them. I must admit to my prejudice against men of Arab descent these days (hangs head in shame). But I also tell myself I’m responding to the mass hysteria in our country aginst Middle Easterners perpetuated by the Bush administration, and can temper my prejudice with rational thought.
But as long as Imus, Beck, Malkin, Coulter, and all the others spew this venom out to the culture at large, the message will seep through that it’s “okay” to demonize people based on their looks, culture, gender, religion, etc.
This issue is important because the bigger picture is that Bush has used Fear to justify his administration. Fear, of course, relies on defining and dehumanizing an enemy-people like Imus, wittingly or not, enable Bush to perpetuate that Fear.
Fear is a powerful emotion. None of us wants to get blown up by a suicide bomber at our local mall. That’s not reality, but Bush would have us believe that the nasty Arabs are just around the corner, lurking, planning-be scared, be very scared.
It all starts with the hate speech, though.
Fire his ass. And take Rush, Bill, Ann, Sean, and Michelle with you, Don.
One of the things about the Imus flap which bothers me the most is how different our threshhold in America is for racism against African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and other non-white cultural backgrounds than is the threshhold when it comes to anti-Semitism. Real anti-Semitism, not the fake calls made against people who support victims of Israeli aggression, for instance.
How long would his suspension have been had he called the Brandeis women’s baskewtball team “pimply-faced kikes”? Or how long would he have been suspended if instead of insulting Gwen Ifil as a “cleaning lady,” he had insulted Judith Miller (in the ’90s) as an “Auschwitz kapo”?
Or if, instead of wanting to nuke Palestinians attending Yasir Arafat’s funeral, he had instead allowed a guest to say unchallenged on a broadcast of Ariel Sharon’s funeral, disparaging the grief of Jewish funeral attendees by calling them “Stinking animals. They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill ‘em all right now”?
I realize Imus has also been criticized for anti-Jewish remarks, but I feel had his level of invective used against other minorities been used similarly against Jews, he would have been suspended for more than two weeks.
He should have been fired long, long ago for any number of ugly statements. Imus Insensitive? My ass!
TRULY BREAKING NEWS!!!!
Larry Birkhead is Dannielyn Smith’s daddy.
We now return to our regularly scheduled program…..
Eureka Springs @ 38
Heck yeah
Bagdhad, 4 years after it was “liberated”.
BAGHDAD – A raging, daylong battle erupted in central Baghdad on Tuesday and four Iraqi soldiers were killed, 16 U.S. soldiers were wounded and a U.S. helicopter was hit by ground fire at the close of the second month of the massive security crackdown on the capital.
How’s that working out for ya, Mr. McCain?
-GSD
As for all this faux outrage from the msm over Imus’s comments, what about Limbaugh, what about Beck, O’Reilly (the kidnapped kid really enjoyed it??) Coulter??
Coulter just spewed forth with a column bemoaning the slow progress of the Darfur genocide.
“Who’s running this genocide, FEMA?”
She’ll likely be on Matt Lauer next week or chatting with Uncle Lou Dobbs before you know it.
-GSD
Mandrake @ 156
If those you list say anything, it will only be to attack those criticising Imus.
“It all starts with the hate speech, though.
Fire his ass. And take Rush, Bill, Ann, Sean, and Michelle with you, Don.”
Thanks mc@151
It really is as simple as that! ;~)
Has Murdock weighed in on the Imus scandal yet? Me thinks he is waiting with bated breath for NBC to fire Imus so he can give Imus a proper home at FOX.
And why isn’t John Edwards getting more credit for leading by doing by originally refusing to debate on Fox. Oh silly me – MSM is scared of Edwards.
Imagine how unglued they’ll be when we successfully draft formerly elected President Al Gore. heh.
Accept no substitute.
EPU’d:
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.
Oh, the irony.
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.
Raven
Your point about our weaknesses is well taken.
And, from time to time, these weaknesses may show, in private or limited public.
But when your job consists of talking about other people to a large audience,
well, the bar should be higher… much higher.
In fact, much of Imus’ popularity is amongst listeners to whose feel their own weaknesses validated.
The man is a sad bully who tries to do good things, but funds them by spewing hate and misogony.
Not acceptable.
He can have his views, even speak them in public, but he should not be given a forum.
Mack @ 161
I’m coming around to this.
I DO appreciate that last statement from Dan Abrams. Quite frankly, I was flabbergasted when there was no flap about O’Reilly suggesting that the kid that was kidnapped and held for several years was actually enjoying the whole thing. I remember Olbermann saying something about it, but other than that, crickets chirping in the background.
Should the issue only be about racial slurs? How about smearing and persecuting the defenseless, the helpless, the dispossessed, regardless of race, age, sex, religion, or sexual orientation?
I’m not pushing censorship here, but where is the balance? I remember someone saying once that the difference between conservative sense of humer and liberal sense of humor is that liberals make jokes about the most empowered and privileged of us, the ones who have the power to do the most damage to the “little people.” Conservatives like to take nasty jabs at the most disempowered, the weakest of our society and, yes, they think it’s a riot.
This issue is about more than race it is also anti woman. This point was made by the Rutgers team. This part seems to be lost in the discussion. This is I think an even bigger point. It speaks to lets keep them in their place – minorities and women. No woman whould think this is OK. It is just the good old boys white anglosaxon network trying to keep us all subserviant. I was a season ticket holder at Rutgers for many years. Even before this coach was hired. I have new respect for her after today.
We should remember this filth spews forth on public (leased to to GE and NBC and CBS) airwaves.
Eureka Springs @ 165
Which is why I don’t listen to any of their crap, with the exception of Olbermann. Although I admit to catching snippets of Tweety and Scarborough before and after.
Does anyone know who the sponsors are for the IMUS show. The idea that he’s allow to spread filth about yound adults bothers me and might be worth a few letters.
Now onto more important matters, like how the Republicans will use the Imus matter to dovetail with their argument that the Democrats are attacking Alberto Gonzales because he is Latino.
-GSD
Not that confronting misogyny and racism are not important matters.
-GSD
Mandrake – And it is why our Feds should not sell rights to GE and FOX and CNN (to name a few) for promoting hate.
JPL: I’m told that Media Matters has a list online of Imus sponsors…
I wonder about Chris Carlin, the fellow that has been doing the sports on Imus since that idiot Rosenberg left. He is the Rutgers foorball announcer and seem like a really decent human being.
GSD @ 168
Excellent point. They have a whole 5 days for their arguments to ferment sufficiently for the Sunday line-up.
o/t
from Democracy Now site -
8 Arrested in Protest Against CIA-Linked Aero Contractors
would love a linky on this if anyone has one :)
Ann in AZ @
124
Amen.
I think this Imus flap is Scooter2.0 — it really exposes the incestuousness and inbreeding among TradMed apologists. The people who appear on his show, who should be condemning his comments, cannot condemn him because they appear on his show — and need to appear again.
NYT
cbl @ 174
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1265714/
CD, thanks I’ll check it out
I’m starting to think the Imus thing is a destructive distraction to our own discourse. Isn’t the real issue that the MSM is dominated by corporate interests with a direct stake in promoting divisive and distracting discourse that no longer has any legal obligation to provide balance or objectivity?
Eureka Springs @ 170
Agreed. I’m really sick of being called a conspiracy theorist by some simply b/c I am aware of who is controlling the airwaves and why they run their programming the way they do – I can see you understand where I’m coming from.
Getting people who are already dispossessed to despise those even weaker and more unfortunate than themselves is all part of the larger agenda of distracting us from what’s going on behind the Oz curtain of capitalism. This also includes playing on peoples tendencies towards racism as well. This includes “brown people” in the Middle East, of course.
Why don’t we just suspend the administration indefinitely for suggesting that Iraq had something to do with 911? Because the only link between the two is the fact that Hussein and the 911 hi-jackers were brown people (oh yeah, they were Islamists, too, never mind the fact the bin Laden and Hussein hated each other). This administration has done more to foment racial hatred than Dom Imus has, I can tell ya!
I have to agree that this has made strange media bedfellows. One thing is certain to anyone who has watched or listened to Imus for any period of time- the one thing he is not is a liberal. NBC ia being hard on himto avoid being accused of giving him (yet another) pass. It is the CNN & Faux Newsies who are painting him as a liberal and calling for his ouster. Let me see, what do we call them? oh, yeah, the competition.
realworld @ 179
YESSS! See my comment below.
As I prepare to read mandrakes kind reply..
FYI, new thread
CD @
171
I smell Martha Burke cross-dressing for another instant of fame!
Boy Scouts, NHL, Masters Golf, Imus … hates all white guy stuff.
Misandrists rule the waves.
cbl @
62
Really a magnificent thread imvho. FDLers disagreeing respectfully and extremely intelligently about a very complex set of cultural issues. We’re talking about the fundamental symbols that Americans use to talk about other Americans.
IMVHO, Imus’ frequent guest, Lieberman4Lieberman started this latest round of refined white supremacy with his, “are you a Bill Clinton Democrat or a Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton Democrat?” It was critical to marginalizing Lamont and beating him. Other Democrats noticed how effectively it worked, which is why the plagiarist, Joe Biden, used it in his “compliment” for Obama, as “clean” and “articulate.” AFAIK, this really helped Biden’s doomed candidacy for the nomination. One of the unspoken tragedies that I have observed (my take) is that the Rutgers’ head coach responded that her players were “articulate.” IMVHO this confirms how sensitive so many African Americans are about their need to be bi-cultural in order to secure employment. Ebonics is a result of white supremacy laws that forced segregation. We all talk more or less with the dialect our parents used. Most European Americans do not have to learn a new dialect to get a job.
I also think Imus has been stealing viewers from Fox Noise for some time. He also saw Lieberman and Biden get away with it, this was and is a business decision, imvho. Don wants to drive ratings as the misunderstood white man, who is the real victim in this.
When African Americans talk about this stuff, they get splattered for “playing the race card.” What I find so helpful about this thread is a lot of European Americans asking, “what are my ethical responsibilities as an American to other Americans?” African Americans are not the only ones who have suffered under white supremacy. This particular story also has to do with male supremacy.
The battle will be what it is always will be, the struggle for each side to portray themselves to their core constituents as the real victim. So far Americans have used excellent restraint in dealing with Imus. Failure to maintain that discipline will allow Imus to crown himself the “real” victim.
I linked to cbl’s comment only because it was such a typically magnificent riff (from her), this time on Billie Holiday’s classic STRANGE FRUIT.
John Casper, Sorry your comment was EPU’d..
Good take!
Thanks very much Eureka.
realworld @ 179
I don’t think so. The MSM’s elite journalists all appear on his show to plug their books, and by their appearance lend his show some veneer of credibility. It’s all part of the same vicious cycle.
Let me mention one little thing, just a footnote to the discussion, concerning Imus — and all the people like him who I have the misfortune of encountering in day-to-day life.
In addition to the primary outrage of the racist spewings themselves, I experience a secondary kind of outrage as well –
the assumption on the part of the hate-spewer, that merely because my skin appears to be in the “white” category, that I will therefore accept whatever racist ugliness is being shoved under my nose.
My reaction is always the same: How fucking DARE you assume that? What? Do you think I’m some sort of little white supremacist sorority sister of yours?!?
(And it’s almost always men who have spouted this stuff in my presence. Can’t say that’s universally true, but it’s been my own personal experience.)
They really do act as though white women should stick up for their right to go on and on about “minorities” and their own personal “victim” status as white men.
When this sort of discussion would occur during happy hour in a bar, when inhibitions are even lower than they otherwise would be, let’s say in an office during the work-day, the question would pop up inevitably:
“What? Are you saying you would go out with one of THEM?”
And then when I’d respond with, “Too late, it’s a moot point. Been there. Done that,” you would see the rage flare like gasoline had been tossed on a fire.
The sexual insecurity and hence self-worth of some white men often seems to lurk right below the surface in lots of these cases. These people can even proceed to have their subconscious psyches completely unravel, verbally, in your presence. It’s amazing. Like watching an extremely ugly session on the psychoanalytic word-association couch.
I would sometimes get the ugliest of threats tossed in my face then, and I count myself lucky for not having had my tires slashed, or worse. But then, I still believe it my duty both as a Christian and simply as a decent human being — period! — to challenge racist spew whenever it occurs in my presence.
Just last month in early March I had to write an email rebuking my own brother-in-law, who had sent me an ugly anti-Mexican “joke” email. It was my duty to say such a thing is not ever acceptable to send to my inbox. If he feels he has a right to say such things to me, then he certainly has the right to also expect a very very harsh answer.
We who “know better” (we hope and pray!) about the ugliness of racism have a duty to DEMAND that such things NEVER become acceptable.
If WE don’t make it a tabu, who will? The mass media? Ha! We see the answer to that this week, don’t we?
Imus should be fired. Civilized society should have no room for this evil. After all, once it’s accepted “in polite society” to find a class or a race inferior, then any evil is eventually excused. Just ask the folks of Rwanda.
John Casper @
185
Yes, this was a great comment. And, I’m beginning to wonder now how much of a role Imus played in Gore’s defeat, not just by influencing his audience, but by his influence, as well, over his “guests.”
What I would really like to see happen is for his elite guests to be held responsible now… along the lines of JC’s post here… asking themselves what their role is in all of this. And if they won’t ask for themselves, we can certainly ask for them.
One more comment in EPU-land.
Oh, Heavens to Betsy. Fox claims the moral high ground in the Imus Affair. How very . . . uh, white . . . of them.
This must be the clinching evidence that our political culture is totally and completely batshit crazy.
Morris Sheppard @
105
This reminds me of Daniel Quinn’s book, Ishmael, and of the Takers and the Leavers.
EcoFuture Link
OT –
Yesterday when hearing on the radio about “tens of thousands” protesting the US occupation in Najaf, the first thing I thought was this –
Knowing how they minimize the number of antiwar protestors on the streets HERE (usually by a factor of ten, at least), why wouldn’t they (officials and the media) minimize the number of peaceful Iraqis protesting THERE?
Here’s a photo suggesting I was right about that:
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/2277
People as far as the eye can see.
Delia @ 191
Now there’s an expression from the forties and fifties that I’ve been resurrecting from time to time.
You hear some Anglo say something moronicly patronizing about the racially “other”? Reply: “Mighty white of you!”
That wasn’t the original meaning, but then we can subvert the meaning of the cultural expressions of racists — and turn it into anti-racist snark, can’t we? I mean, “it’s a free country.”
I’d be surprised and don’t believe Imus is a “Jew hater.” His wife is Jewish.
Am I worse because I think Imus should be permanently fired, yet I have ignored the much nastier endless exhortations to sexual and racist violence in rap and hip hip songs, because somewhere in my mind I may just think “Whaddya expect?”
OK, maybe I missed something here. I don’t think the punditocracy, or hosts like Imus, are assessed on the basis of how right (or wrong) they are, unless they are so badly wrong that ratings suffer. What TV execs care about is name recognition. Remember the old saw that bad publicity is better than no publicity? Controversy helps sell a show. Imus is a piker compared with Howard Stern and some other shock jocks.
My current puke award goes to CNN’s Glen Beck. I watched him early on for about 15 seconds and then decided that I was not going to waste even another second on that gas bag. But if you wanna get attention, be outrageous.
There is apparently, however, a tipping point, as Dan Rather discovered. Imus right now is very close to the tipping point, or maybe even just past it. The tipping point comes when you start to lose your audience, and ratings decline. So if you don’t like the Imus schtick, don’t watch, and if Imus’ name comes up, just say that you never watch him, because he’s such a stupid rube (or equivalent perjorative).
Bob in HI
P.S. As for me, the only time I ever watched Imus was recently when I watched a video re-run of segments of his show with Alison Krauss, who is one supurb singer, and her very talented band. Oh, and I have indeed learned something from this recent rage about his show. I think I’ve learned what “nappy-headed” means; its a phrase that I’d never heard before the Imus controversy. But I’m still not sure what “Ho’s” are. It must be something bad.
P.P.S. I did not see the Women’s BB final that Imus referred to (I was at work here in Hawaii), but I have seen them play (on TV). They are an exceptionally talented and well-coached team that plays excellent defense. Everyone they played scored well under their season average points per game. They are an exceptional group of athletes, and some of them will wind up playing professional BB. Tennessee just happened to have an even better team that played with greater poise and determination.
Mandrake @ 166
why do you say the airwaves are leased. The spectrum which CBS holds is licensed and the licenseholder only pay nominal renewal fees. It is a license to print money and always has been. What is hopeful is digital packet broadcasting on the Internet and the end of licensed spectrum as an important vehicle. CBS news has always been crap. CBS has a better veneer when the news was run by Paley, Stanton and Cronkite. But their nightly news show was 12-15 of advertising out of 30 minutes and most of it was event coverage, in the entertainment mold. Couric is hopefully the last gasp for this crap.
Recall the juvenile, nasty comments Imus made about Ned Lamont’s appearance.
Dan Abrams must not miss the forest for the trees. Decency and doing the right thing should not be compromised by FOX’s Noise. To not do something because FOX Noise wants you to do it, is insufficient reasoning. For all the people (of any gender, color, race and religion) he’s gigglingly and snidely insulted over the years only to apologize after being caught — Don Imus needs to be fired at warp speed. Opposing FOX Noise has nothing to do with it. Decency does. Cut your losses, Dan. Don Imus is a dinosaur.