Up til now, I've chosen to stay away from the Imus flap, since it was a non-story, in my view. But this saga has now gone oh-so-Alice-in-Wonderland, it has become impossible to ignore.
Imus made a bone-headed comment, insulted some women, and made some apologies. He got suspended for two weeks, and offered to personally make amends with the society of shakedown artists professional victims as well as with those he personally offended.
Yep--he was a schmuck. But now I sit here behind my keyboard, wondering just how long the apology line at Imus' door is going to be. At this rate, Imus can be the new attraction at Disney World.
Even white people are waiting in line to take a hit in what is fast becoming the United States' biggest blanket party.
Hillary has spoken out about radio host Don Imus: "I've never wanted to go on his show and I certainly don't ever intend to go on his show, and I felt that way before his latest outrageous, hateful, hurtful comments."
Yep. I'm sure that only a week ago, Hillary commented to Bill, saying, "You know, I've been thinking, Bill, and I think that Imus is a complete dweeb and I'll never go on his show," and lo and behold, Shazaam!
And what's with the shakedown artist in chief, Jesse Jackson?
CHICAGO - Jesse Jackson is protesting at the NBC Tower in Chicago Monday over racially charged comments made by radio host Don Imus on the air. "Imus must go! And Rosenberg, too!" the protesters chanted.
Anything to get at those deep NBC pockets, eh, Jessie?
And in what may be the most amazing twist of all, who should come to Imus' defense but the biggest blowhard of all (both literally and figuratively):
JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER: I think people who have a public voice just need to be conscious then of what they’re saying and the effect that it can have and understand that there’s going to be consequences if they say things like that.
O’DONNELL: Right, you just worry if the consequences, you know --
BEHAR: Because you could be next.
O’DONNELL: -impede upon- which is all right. If that happens, it happens. But the point of the story is, if it impedes on free speech in America, democracy is at stake. Because democracy is based on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. So we really have to worry about that in this country.
[Applause]
HASSELBECK: And we should be concerned and responsible without freedom too.
O’DONNELL: Right, but it’s not a freedom if you outlaw certain words or thoughts, because then the thought police come and then before you know it, everyone’s in Guantanamo Bay without representation.
HASSELBECK: That would be impossible to enforce.
BEHAR: What a jump!
I
was going to lay off of the Imus story; but it's hard to do when what is unfolding is nothing less than a veritable museum of hypocrisy and rampant disingenuousness of societal and political discourse, which serves no purpose but to impede our society's progress in much the same manner as a 50 pound overcoat would impede a hummingbird's ability to navigate.
Folks, the Theatre of the Absurd is open, and we've got front-row seats.
Posted by Leo at April 11, 2007 07:41 PM
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*Sighs*
I'm with John and Ken from KFI AM 640 LA on this one. Imus is a proffessional A-hole. It's his job to be stupid and annoying. He is nothing but a drop in the bucket compaired to what rappers and black comedians do daily.
If he wants to apologise fine, but it's not worth all the play this is getting.
Posted by:
Gozer at April 11, 2007 08:02 PM
Everything about this story is a non-story... A stupid guy turns out to have slight racist tendencies and spoke in a fashon fitting it... so what, we have free speech. Black people and overzealous white people got offended... big deal, they have a right to be offended and speak against it. MSNBC drops Imus... corporate entities have a right not to air content that they don't want to...
Honestly, I don't care if Imus is sorry or not; this is just polluting the air-waves...
Posted by: Rana Quijotesca at April 11, 2007 08:19 PM
God... I'm just watching Jackson on Olbermann... What a blowhard... where do they dig up this old fossil?
Posted by: Rana Quijotesca at April 11, 2007 08:20 PM
What is worse, now MSNBC has decided not to simulcast his broadcasts. Mainly it seems because some companies have decided to boycott Imus and MSNBC. The DBM has caved in again.
Posted by: kjstrouble at April 11, 2007 08:38 PM
This is not about Imus, its about Al Sharpton and the press. Al likes this because it gets him on TV. The press likes it because it lines their pockets. I do agree that Imus needs to be punished. I also think Al Sharpton needs punished and any one else that insists on keeping this in the press. This situation is only making the racism gap wider and harder to fix. Racism will always be a problem as long as we the people let the Al’s of the world and the press through gas on the fire.
Posted by: L. Wayne at April 11, 2007 08:42 PM
Mark,
MSNBC, or the MSM as you call it, just fired Don Imus for speech demeaning to women, and minorities. Please read the following quotes from Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh. Should these gentlemen loose their jobs also?
Michael Savage,
On the March 16 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage had this to say about Barbara Walters: "Notice what this double-talking slut just did, this mind-slut Barbara Walters. And I stick by those words. She's an empty mind-slut. She'd peddle anything for a ratings point." Savage went on to call Walters a "mental prostitute" and said, "I think that the woman is vermin. I think she's dirt."
Glenn Beck,
On the March 15 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck said: "Hillary Clinton cannot be elected president because ... "There's something about her voice that just drives me -- it's not what she says, it's how she says it," adding, "She is like the stereotypical -- bitch, you know what I mean?"
Rush Limbaugh,
Limbaugh once told a black caller: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back." Once he mused on the air: "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?" On his now-defunct TV show, Limbaugh expressed his ire when Spike Lee urged that black schoolchildren get off from school to see his film Malcolm X: "Spike, if you're going to do that, let's complete the education experience. You should tell them that they should loot the theater, and then blow it up on their way out."
Posted by: mike h at April 11, 2007 09:19 PM
I really think people will change their views of Imus when they discover he has just entered therapy. Check out the details on my blog - "Necessary Therapy".
Posted by:
Pistol Pete at April 11, 2007 09:26 PM
Watch Sharpton on O'rielly tonite.....
Funny for all the claims of O'Rielly & Fox being conservatively biased... it was nice to see Sharpton praise him for being the number one advocate against rap artists using derogatory words/ phrases on their alblums and the companies that pay them.
In case you missed O'Rielly had previously been invited to disucss the issue at the upcoming African American conference.
As for Sharpton... well he just showed that Clinton, Obama and Edwards are wrong in choosing not to appear at debate sponsered by FoxNews
I guess for Democrat candidats.. they would rather talk to Iran and Syria, then talk to conservative Americans.
Posted by: DougH at April 11, 2007 09:46 PM
The TWO worst "race baiters" in all of this, are
the so-called "reverends-Sharpton & Jackson". To
to be highly insulted by the stupidity of Imus, is
these two once again, going after 'white people' instead of the worst of the worst-the Black Rappers that have viciousness and hate within their lyrics against their own black women. THIS,
is what should have really insulted Sharpton and Jackson-Both of whom, by the way, have insulted other ethnic races, and yet, they 'are forgiven, and given a pass, by the MSM/Press, that are so afraid of appearing to be prejudice'. Seems the Reverends have a definite double standard going on
with this latest fiasco. Does anyone out there remember 'how they marched through the streets in defense of Twana Brawley-accepting her FALSE accusations and accussing Whites of crimes-even before any of the investigation was over? AND, when it was over-they were left with egg on their
faces, because she lied. Yet, they looked to make
it a big thing, because THIS is what they do-get out in front of cameras, accuse, insult, and try to make MONEY from anything they can. Jackson and Sharpton, should NOT be talking about anyone else, as they are just a couple of extortonists against corporate America, who have gotten to use the press to expel their own brand of vile, for the purposes of money making. Wonder what these two 'race baiters' would have done during their own so called careers, if the public has pushed for them to be ousted from their lofty positions of money making? End of Story
Posted by: Jo at April 11, 2007 10:21 PM
Imus is gone from MSNBC. Now they'd only get rid of Olbermann....
Posted by:
Psycheout at April 11, 2007 10:43 PM
"A stupid guy turns out to have slight racist tendencies and spoke in a fashon fitting it... so what, we have free speech. Black people and overzealous white people got offended... big deal, they have a right to be offended and speak against it. MSNBC drops Imus... corporate entities have a right not to air content that they don't want to..."
Rana,
I couldn't have said it better myself. This case shows how the system works. For some reason this has turned into a bitchfest about the motives of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Gar Wood
Posted by: Gar Wood at April 11, 2007 10:47 PM
*Chuckles*
I'll give this story one thing, it's brought many of us together to roundly find it stupid. :)
Posted by:
Gozer at April 11, 2007 10:50 PM
Imus who? I know he’s way left of center. I don’t care about his politics, but doesn’t he have a right to use the same language broadcasted over the airwaves 24/7 by black rappers? I think his choice of victims was wrong, but aren’t these girls the target market for the purveyors of rap?
The guy talks three hours a day five days a week. It’s only a matter of time before anyone would slip-up and out comes something that’s just wrong. Look, if Snoop can say it Imus should be able to also. If Black America doesn’t like it maybe they should discourage such language in da hood too. If they don’t it’s just another double standard leading to more race related hypocrisy. Martin Luther King fought for equality between the races not this gotcha game that being perpetuated by Jackson and Sharpton.
Imus lost the battle when he threw himself on the mercy of professional offended victims’ league. Mercy is not a tangible commodity but, the ability to intimidate is very useful. Imus would have been better off to say, yea I offended them it’s my job so, they can take a number sit down and shut up because I don’t care what they think. He still would have lost his job but, at least he’d maintained a little dignity through a bit of honest defiance.
In the end the truth is Imus doesn’t have a right to use that kind of language but, neither does Snoop. Frankly, the airwaves will be better off without him.
Posted by: Mark at April 11, 2007 11:17 PM
If you could actually see me right now I am inserting my finger in my mouth and making gagging noises. This BS makes me want to vomit.
I loathe PC crap.
Posted by:
Jenn at April 11, 2007 11:33 PM
Given what's acceptable on the radio these days, including the not-subtle name-calling on "shock radio" and rap music lyrics, I admit I wasn't shocked by Imus's remarks. A bit pissed off? Yes. I have a kid in sports and I'm not happy that some kids playing for their school reached the final game in the national tournament and some popular radio host dumps on them using racist terms.
Also, you lost me on this post when you said "Even white people are..."
Back in the day, my dad was raised in a small Ohio town that didn't have many black people but they did have what a lot of folks there considered greasy haired, pasta eating mafiosa scum who always wanted to give their opinions or steal a buck. My dad taught me better than to believe such denigrating terms were appropriate or funny. He also taught me it didn't matter my origin or color, it still wasn't right.
Posted by: carsick at April 11, 2007 11:36 PM
What is the point of bringing Rosie O'Donnell's weight into this discussion, Leo? Did you laugh out loud when typing that oh-so-clever little jab?
Posted by: PatriotismIsJustAnotherIsm at April 12, 2007 12:05 AM
Now that you mention it, PIJAI, yes, I did.
Posted by:
Leo Pusateri at April 12, 2007 12:10 AM
The left is appalled at Imus (who I could care less about) but overlooks Rosie O'Bigmouth?
Could this payback to Imus for exposing Schumer for having never visited Waltyer Reed when that was their number one faux scandal?
Posted by:
Lew Waters at April 12, 2007 12:27 AM
Leo succeeded, PIJAI. I laughed out loud when I read it!
Is Blanket Party Palooza like Beach Blanket Bingo?
Posted by:
Psycheout at April 12, 2007 04:01 AM
Now that you mention it, PIJAI, yes, I did.
So did I--Elsie O'Donnell is a fat cow who deserves to be slammed for her hate-America views and lack of intellect. She should stick to comedy. She's plenty funny...looking.
Posted by: keefer at April 12, 2007 05:20 AM
Order Matt and Mark's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
*Sighs*
I'm with John and Ken from KFI AM 640 LA on this one. Imus is a proffessional A-hole. It's his job to be stupid and annoying. He is nothing but a drop in the bucket compaired to what rappers and black comedians do daily.
If he wants to apologise fine, but it's not worth all the play this is getting.
Everything about this story is a non-story... A stupid guy turns out to have slight racist tendencies and spoke in a fashon fitting it... so what, we have free speech. Black people and overzealous white people got offended... big deal, they have a right to be offended and speak against it. MSNBC drops Imus... corporate entities have a right not to air content that they don't want to...
Honestly, I don't care if Imus is sorry or not; this is just polluting the air-waves...
God... I'm just watching Jackson on Olbermann... What a blowhard... where do they dig up this old fossil?
What is worse, now MSNBC has decided not to simulcast his broadcasts. Mainly it seems because some companies have decided to boycott Imus and MSNBC. The DBM has caved in again.
This is not about Imus, its about Al Sharpton and the press. Al likes this because it gets him on TV. The press likes it because it lines their pockets. I do agree that Imus needs to be punished. I also think Al Sharpton needs punished and any one else that insists on keeping this in the press. This situation is only making the racism gap wider and harder to fix. Racism will always be a problem as long as we the people let the Al’s of the world and the press through gas on the fire.
Mark,
MSNBC, or the MSM as you call it, just fired Don Imus for speech demeaning to women, and minorities. Please read the following quotes from Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh. Should these gentlemen loose their jobs also?
Michael Savage,
On the March 16 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage had this to say about Barbara Walters: "Notice what this double-talking slut just did, this mind-slut Barbara Walters. And I stick by those words. She's an empty mind-slut. She'd peddle anything for a ratings point." Savage went on to call Walters a "mental prostitute" and said, "I think that the woman is vermin. I think she's dirt."
Glenn Beck,
On the March 15 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck said: "Hillary Clinton cannot be elected president because ... "There's something about her voice that just drives me -- it's not what she says, it's how she says it," adding, "She is like the stereotypical -- bitch, you know what I mean?"
Rush Limbaugh,
Limbaugh once told a black caller: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back." Once he mused on the air: "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?" On his now-defunct TV show, Limbaugh expressed his ire when Spike Lee urged that black schoolchildren get off from school to see his film Malcolm X: "Spike, if you're going to do that, let's complete the education experience. You should tell them that they should loot the theater, and then blow it up on their way out."
I really think people will change their views of Imus when they discover he has just entered therapy. Check out the details on my blog - "Necessary Therapy".
Watch Sharpton on O'rielly tonite.....
Funny for all the claims of O'Rielly & Fox being conservatively biased... it was nice to see Sharpton praise him for being the number one advocate against rap artists using derogatory words/ phrases on their alblums and the companies that pay them.
In case you missed O'Rielly had previously been invited to disucss the issue at the upcoming African American conference.
As for Sharpton... well he just showed that Clinton, Obama and Edwards are wrong in choosing not to appear at debate sponsered by FoxNews
I guess for Democrat candidats.. they would rather talk to Iran and Syria, then talk to conservative Americans.
The TWO worst "race baiters" in all of this, are
the so-called "reverends-Sharpton & Jackson". To
to be highly insulted by the stupidity of Imus, is
these two once again, going after 'white people' instead of the worst of the worst-the Black Rappers that have viciousness and hate within their lyrics against their own black women. THIS,
is what should have really insulted Sharpton and Jackson-Both of whom, by the way, have insulted other ethnic races, and yet, they 'are forgiven, and given a pass, by the MSM/Press, that are so afraid of appearing to be prejudice'. Seems the Reverends have a definite double standard going on
with this latest fiasco. Does anyone out there remember 'how they marched through the streets in defense of Twana Brawley-accepting her FALSE accusations and accussing Whites of crimes-even before any of the investigation was over? AND, when it was over-they were left with egg on their
faces, because she lied. Yet, they looked to make
it a big thing, because THIS is what they do-get out in front of cameras, accuse, insult, and try to make MONEY from anything they can. Jackson and Sharpton, should NOT be talking about anyone else, as they are just a couple of extortonists against corporate America, who have gotten to use the press to expel their own brand of vile, for the purposes of money making. Wonder what these two 'race baiters' would have done during their own so called careers, if the public has pushed for them to be ousted from their lofty positions of money making? End of Story
Imus is gone from MSNBC. Now they'd only get rid of Olbermann....
"A stupid guy turns out to have slight racist tendencies and spoke in a fashon fitting it... so what, we have free speech. Black people and overzealous white people got offended... big deal, they have a right to be offended and speak against it. MSNBC drops Imus... corporate entities have a right not to air content that they don't want to..."
Rana,
I couldn't have said it better myself. This case shows how the system works. For some reason this has turned into a bitchfest about the motives of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Gar Wood
*Chuckles*
I'll give this story one thing, it's brought many of us together to roundly find it stupid. :)
Imus who? I know he’s way left of center. I don’t care about his politics, but doesn’t he have a right to use the same language broadcasted over the airwaves 24/7 by black rappers? I think his choice of victims was wrong, but aren’t these girls the target market for the purveyors of rap?
The guy talks three hours a day five days a week. It’s only a matter of time before anyone would slip-up and out comes something that’s just wrong. Look, if Snoop can say it Imus should be able to also. If Black America doesn’t like it maybe they should discourage such language in da hood too. If they don’t it’s just another double standard leading to more race related hypocrisy. Martin Luther King fought for equality between the races not this gotcha game that being perpetuated by Jackson and Sharpton.
Imus lost the battle when he threw himself on the mercy of professional offended victims’ league. Mercy is not a tangible commodity but, the ability to intimidate is very useful. Imus would have been better off to say, yea I offended them it’s my job so, they can take a number sit down and shut up because I don’t care what they think. He still would have lost his job but, at least he’d maintained a little dignity through a bit of honest defiance.
In the end the truth is Imus doesn’t have a right to use that kind of language but, neither does Snoop. Frankly, the airwaves will be better off without him.
If you could actually see me right now I am inserting my finger in my mouth and making gagging noises. This BS makes me want to vomit.
I loathe PC crap.
Given what's acceptable on the radio these days, including the not-subtle name-calling on "shock radio" and rap music lyrics, I admit I wasn't shocked by Imus's remarks. A bit pissed off? Yes. I have a kid in sports and I'm not happy that some kids playing for their school reached the final game in the national tournament and some popular radio host dumps on them using racist terms.
Also, you lost me on this post when you said "Even white people are..."
Back in the day, my dad was raised in a small Ohio town that didn't have many black people but they did have what a lot of folks there considered greasy haired, pasta eating mafiosa scum who always wanted to give their opinions or steal a buck. My dad taught me better than to believe such denigrating terms were appropriate or funny. He also taught me it didn't matter my origin or color, it still wasn't right.
What is the point of bringing Rosie O'Donnell's weight into this discussion, Leo? Did you laugh out loud when typing that oh-so-clever little jab?
Now that you mention it, PIJAI, yes, I did.
The left is appalled at Imus (who I could care less about) but overlooks Rosie O'Bigmouth?
Could this payback to Imus for exposing Schumer for having never visited Waltyer Reed when that was their number one faux scandal?
Leo succeeded, PIJAI. I laughed out loud when I read it!
Is Blanket Party Palooza like Beach Blanket Bingo?
Now that you mention it, PIJAI, yes, I did.
So did I--Elsie O'Donnell is a fat cow who deserves to be slammed for her hate-America views and lack of intellect. She should stick to comedy. She's plenty funny...looking.