Imus: 'Embarrassed' by racial comments

[Elrathin]

YORK (AP) -- Calling himself "a good person" who made a bad mistake, radio host Don Imus said Monday he would check his acid tongue after being lambasted for making racially charged comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

"Here's what I've learned: that you can't make fun of everybody, because some people don't deserve it," he said on his nationally syndicated radio show Monday morning. "And because the climate on this program has been what it's been for 30 years doesn't mean it's going to be what it's been for the next five years or whatever."

I've never known it to be ok in the past decade to make remarks like he did and get away with it. Not sure what he is trying to say here.


Imus said he was "embarrassed" by the remarks, in which he referred to the mostly black team as "nappy-headed hos." He said he had made the comments in the course of "trying to be funny," but he was not trying to excuse them.


"I'm not a white man who doesn't know any African-Americans," he said.

I know he may not be a racist and I know he may not have meant the comments, but what does the fact he knows some African Americans have to do with the reason or the fact he made those comments?


Imus said he hoped to meet the players and their parents and coaches, and he said he was grateful that he was scheduled to appear later Monday on a radio show hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has called for Imus to be fired over the remarks.

I was just ROFL when I read this part. Since when was Al Sharpton elected to be the racist counselor? It seems like anymore if you are a white guy that says something about blacks that it's like being sent to the principals office with Al Sharpton there. LOL

what I want to know is when is Al Sharpton going to "counsel" all those black rappers and comedians for calling whites crackers and being demeaning to women? Oh wait, Blacks can't be racists according to Al Sharpton evidently.

Sharpton has said he wants Imus fired and that he intends to complain to the Federal Communications Commission about the matter.

"Somewhere we must draw the line in what is tolerable in mainstream media," Sharpton said Sunday. "We cannot keep going through offending us and then apologizing and then acting like it never happened. Somewhere we've got to stop this."

Yes, somewhere we must draw the line against what is tolerable in mainstream media, unless it is some black, latino, or anyone else saying racists comments about whites, then there is no line because that is ok according to Al Sharpton evidently. :rolleyes:


Meanwhile, the Rev. Jesse Jackson planned a protest in Chicago, and an NAACP official called for the broadcaster's resignation or firing.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson make me absolutely sick to my stomach. These self righteous bastards will call racist on just about anything, but excuse it when their race does something racist against whites or anyone else.

Bottom line, this guys comments about the basketball team are inexcusable no matter what the thought was behind them. He will most likely lose his job over this and that is fine he will be dealt with in one way or another.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have self-appointed themselves the racist counselors of America, except when their own race does something racist and then it's just not understanding the black people when you call that racist.

These two need to either be genuine about stopping racism across the board and not just against blacks, or just admit that according to them blacks can't be racist.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/08/imus.ap/index.html

[Alonzo]

He will most likely lose his job over this and that is fine he will be dealt with in one way or another.

No he won't. He's a long time radio star, even howard stern claims him as an influence, though now they don't like each other that much. The guy has been a bigot for years, this is nothing new.

I remember growing up having to listen to him, my father loves the guy and still listens to him every day. In the morning he watched him on tv and then listens to him on the radio going to work.

[Labrocca]

I think he should really just make it up to the girls. It was the team he offended imho. If he was seriously sorry he would invite them to the show...pay for them and treat them like royalty for a few days. Tell them on air he was sorry to them. THAT imho is how you apologize...not this public apology crap that isn't targetted at the people you directly hurt.

[Professor]

He's a long time radio star, even howard stern claims him as an influence, though now they don't like each other that much. The guy has been a bigot for years, this is nothing new.


Sounds like he's safe then.Â*Â*MAybe he'll lose this job, but he'll land another.


Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson make me absolutely sick to my stomach. These self righteous bastards will call racist on just about anything, but excuse it when their race does something racist against whites or anyone else.


That is irksome.Â*Â*You can't have it both ways.Â*Â*Especially when both sides claim to be joking.

I'd also like to know how these two get off proclaiming themselves the voice of African Americans.Â*Â*It's pathetic. I don't think the AAs consider him their voice. I went to a ralley in Chicago, both Obama and Jackson spoke. When Obama spoke people crowded in to hear him. Next came Jesse Jackson, took the oppurtunity to use the restroom.

[wonder cow]

Yes, somewhere we must draw the line against what is tolerable in mainstream media, unless it is some black, latino, or anyone else saying racists comments

Like Carlos Mencia who is the biggest racist I have ever seen in mainstream media. And not the least bit funny.

nappy-headed hos

Meh...

Sounds like he was saying that they have unkempt hair and are promiscuous.

*cough*

But hang him anyway. I never much cared for Imus.

Meh..

[NortheastCynic]

The comments weren't racist, they were stupid. Imus was talking about how ugly the Lady Scarlett Knights were, especially in comparison to the Lady Volunteers, who he called "cute". The majority of the Lady Vols are black. This is NOT a racial issue.

-NC

[Stoner]

The most shocking thing out of all this is somebody actually understood what Imus actually said. The man talks like he has a fist-full of marbles in his mouth. Not to mention he is dreadfully boring.

[wonder cow]

The man talks like he has a fist-full of marbles in his mouth.

HaHa. So true.

[bobbylien]

Weren't both of the teams almost completely African American? How was it racist to comment on the appearance of one team compared to the other?

[Pookie]

Back to the topic, what he said was definitely racist. If they don't fire him and drop his show, that will send a message to all that this is okay behavior. Not a good idea, I don't think.
Purrs,

[NortheastCynic]

Hey Pookie,
How exactly is calling one group of black women "nappy headed hoes" and another 'cute" is racist? He was making a low-brow attempt at insulting the looks of one group of black people while subsequently complimenting the other. It would be the equivilent of calling one group of white women "pasty faced [insert an expletive]" and calling another group "smokin".

-NC

[Alonzo]

Hey Pookie,
How exactly is calling one group of black women "nappy headed hoes" and another 'cute" is racist?Â*Â*He was making a low-brow attempt at insulting the looks of one group of black people while subsequently complimenting the other.Â*Â*It would be the equivilent of calling one group of white women "pasty faced [insert an expletive]" and calling another group "smokin".

-NC


He was attacking them for having a natural black hairstyle.

It's like attacking any black that isn't doing their best to be white. At least that how I understand it.

[NortheastCynic]

He was calling them ugly. If you look at the comment by itself, sure, it looks racist...but everything leading up to the comment and everything after was in reference to their looks. Someone said they reminded him of the Toronto Raptors, Imus said they were "rough" and "had tattoos". Everything in that segment of the show was related to the looks of the women and none of them had to do with race. As I said, in the context of this segment, I don't believe the comments are racist. They were low-brow and stupid, but he wasn't making a negative statement about the entire black race; quite the contrary, he complimented the Lady Vols, as I've mentioned.

-NC

[Alonzo]

Either way I've heard enough bigotry from him that whether or not this is an example, I still think he's a bigot who should be fired.

[bobbylien]

Either way I've heard enough bigotry from him that whether or not this is an example, I still think he's a bigot who should be fired.

Definitely. But don't you understand why its a bad idea to shout out the race card so quickly? His comments were out of line but I don't honestly see anything racist to them.

[Alonzo]

Well, it appears to me that he wouldn't have attacked them if they looked more white.

[NortheastCynic]

I'm sure that if they were ugly white girls he would've made a similar attack...Don Imus is a shock jock, this is what he gets paid to do.

-NC

[Caravaggio]

I`m no fan of Imus...but when are they going to get down on black comics like Chris Rock for making a living insulting whites?

[Alonzo]

NEW YORK -- MSNBC and CBS have decided to suspend Don Imus for two weeks following his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

MSNBC first announced it would suspend telecasting Imus' radio program for two weeks, beginning April 16.

A short time later, CBS announced it will suspend its broadcast of Imus' radio program for the same two weeks.

Despite apologies from Imus on Friday and Monday, the suspension will start next Monday, MSNBC said in a written statement.

"Don Imus has expressed profound regret and embarrassment and has made a commitment to listen to all of those who have raised legitimate expressions of outrage," it said.

"In addition, his dedication -- in his words -- to change the discourse on his program moving forward, has confirmed for us that this action is appropriate. Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word."

After a career of cranky insults, Imus was fighting for his job after one joke that by his own admission went "way too far."

Imus apologized Monday, both on his show and on a syndicated radio program hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is among several black leaders demanding his ouster.

Imus could be in real danger if the outcry causes advertisers to shy away from him, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio.

"Everyone is on tenterhooks waiting to see whether it grows and whether the protest gets picked up more broadly," Taylor said.

Imus isn't the most popular radio talk show host -- the trade publication Talkers ranks him the 14th most influential -- but his audience is heavy on the political and media elite that advertisers pay a premium to reach. Authors, journalists and politicians are frequent guests -- and targets for insults.

He has urged critics to recognize that his show is a comedy that spreads insults broadly. Imus or his cast have called Colin Powell a "sniffling weasel," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson a "fat sissy" and referred to Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, an American Indian, as "the guy from 'F Troop."' He and his colleagues also called the New York Knicks a group of "chest-thumping pimps."

Imus: We went way too far
On Sharpton's program Monday, Imus said that "our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far."

The Rutgers comment has struck a chord, in part, because it was aimed at a group of young women at the pinnacle of athletic success. It also came in a different public atmosphere following the Michael Richards and Mel Gibson incidents, said Eric Deggans, columnist for the St. Petersburg Times and chairman of the media monitoring committee of the National Association of Black Journalists, which also wants Imus canned.

"This may be the first time where he's done something like this in the YouTube era," Deggans said. Viewers can quickly see clips of Imus' remarks, not allowing him to redefine their context, he said.

On his show Monday, Imus called himself "a good person" who made a bad mistake.

"Here's what I've learned: that you can't make fun of everybody, because some people don't deserve it," he said. "And because the climate on this program has been what it's been for 30 years doesn't mean that it has to be that way for the next five years or whatever because that has to change, and I understand that."

Imus' radio show originates from WFAN in New York City and is syndicated nationally by Westwood One, both of which are managed by CBS. CBS Radio just replaced chief executive Joel Hollander with Dan Mason. With Imus' radio show reaching an estimated 2.5 million people a week, his future could conceivably be decided by CBS chief Leslie Moonves.

CBS has denounced Imus' remarks and said it will monitor his show for content.

The show is simulcast daily on MSNBC, where it reached an estimated 361,000 viewers in the first three months of the year, up 39 percent from last year.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and about 50 people marched Monday outside Chicago's NBC tower to protest Imus' comments. He said MSNBC should abandon Imus and MSNBC should hire more black pundits.

Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP board of directors, said it is "past time his employers took him off the air."

"As long as an audience is attracted to his bigotry and politicians and pundits tolerate his racism and chauvinism to promote themselves, Don Imus will continue to be a serial apologist for prejudice," Bond said.

Imus was mostly contrite in his appearance with Sharpton, although the activist did not change his opinion that Imus should lose his job. At one point Imus seemed incredulous at Sharpton's suggestion that he might walk away from the incident unscathed.

"Unscathed?" Imus said. "How do you think I'm unscathed by this? Don't you think I'm humiliated?"



http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/09/imus/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[Caravaggio]

The Irony!!!


December 03, 2003, 8:40 a.m.
Sharpton’s Victory
The dumbing down of presidential candidates is complete.


“If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house."




Those were the immortal words of the Rev. Al Sharpton during the Crown Heights crisis in New York City in 1991. A car driven by a Hasidic Jew had run over a black child in the Brooklyn neighborhood, prompting black-Jewish tensions that eventually spilled over into antisemitic riots. Sharpton's contribution to civic peace was statements like the above, together with such classic anti-Jewish smears as: "Talk about how Oppenheimer in South Africa sends diamonds straight to Tel Aviv and deals with the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights."

Oh, the statesmanship. This is the man who stands with eight other presidential candidates every two weeks or so to opine to a national audience about the future of the republic. With Sharpton, the dumbing down of presidential candidates is complete. In 1992, Pat Buchanan ran for president after having a cable-TV show. In 2000, Alan Keyes did Buchanan one better — he ran for president to get a cable TV show (it appeared briefly on MSNBC). Sharpton is running on the Keyes model, with his scheduled Saturday Night Live guest-hosting gig this weekend showing some results.

Fringe candidates can have their place. Ralph Nader added something to the 2000 election. But Sharpton has no memorable policy proposals, no distinctive ideological position, nothing but himself and his resume.

He wants to be remembered as the guy with the funny lines rather than a racial provocateur who smeared an innocent man during the Tawana Brawley hoax and built his New York notoriety on race hatred. "We will not stand by and allow them to move this brother so that some white interloper can expand his business," Sharpton said in a 1995 Harlem controversy over a Jewish storeowner who had a conflict with a black rival neighbor. A protester in that case eventually shot his way through the store and burned the place down, killing eight people.

The other Sharpton priority is supplanting Jesse Jackson. Sharpton threw his sharpest elbow of the campaign after it was reported that Jesse Jackson's son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., planned to endorse Howard Dean. Sharpton promptly, and ridiculously, denounced Dean for his "anti-black agenda." Why does Sharpton hate Jackson? The same reason Ford hates Chrysler. He's the competition.

Sharpton and Jackson are dueling over who will be the nation's best-paid race hustler, a lucrative occupation. For example: According to the Wall Street Journal, the owners of the Word Network, which is devoted to running black church services, pay Sharpton and Jackson roughly $10,000 per protest to demonstrate at the headquarters of cable operators that don't yet carry Word. A Sharpton-led protest in March 2002 prompted a St. Louis operator to begin carrying the cable network.

The cynicism of the Sharpton campaign is an open book. Typically, presidential candidates stay in cheap accommodations. Sharpton's campaign, in contrast, is an excuse to live high. According to the New York Post, Sharpton has stayed at the nation's swankest hotels, including a visit at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, which soaked up five percent of the cash Sharpton had raised in the third-quarter fundraising period. When appearing at black churches, Sharpton collects a "love offering" — that goes directly into his own pocket.

Sharpton counts on other candidates and the moderators at the debates being too timid to challenge him on his checkered past and questionable practices, so he can pass himself as respectable. In an exception, Tom Brokaw recently asked Sharpton if he would apologize for his role in the Brawley case. Sharpton had a defamation judgment against him in the case, but he stood by his smear and responded with a fusillade of obfuscation that eventually wore Brokaw down.

Sharpton will no doubt win his own private presidential race. He will emerge from this campaign as the nation's foremost "civil-rights leader." Owned by Sharpton, however, that title is not worth having.

— Rich Lowry is author of Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years.

(c)2003 King Features Syndicate


http://www.nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry200312030840.asp

[NortheastCynic]

Sharpton is one of the most self-important, self-righteous, self-centered human being on God's Earth. He's a disgrace, and most likely a racist himself; and at the very least a race-baiter.

-NC

[lily]

....yeah but he is fun to watch when he's running for president. The man will say anything.

[Alonzo]

Sharpton seems to have changed a lot shortly after the assasination attempt. Most of the negative things I've seen on him are from that period or earlier.

[Caravaggio]

Sharpton seems to have changed a lot shortly after the assasination attempt. Most of the negative things I've seen on him are from that period or earlier.


HAAAAAA....HAAAAAA...Gee maybe Imus could benefit from one.

[Caravaggio]

....yeah but he is fun to watch when he's running for president. The man will say anything.


Liberals always see humor when Demorats run for presidents.

[Stoner]

I'm in shock (well not really) at how everyone is jumping on the PC bandwagon.

What he said was not that big of a deal. It was a joke. People that want to jump on the race card make me sick.

[Pookie]

Maybe I missed this but white people's hair has never been referred to as "nappy" and "hos" is just insulting.
Therefore, "nappy-headed hos" is an insult and perhaps some folks need to brush up on our American language.
See the difference?
Purrs,

[NortheastCynic]

No one that I'm aware of has claimed it to be anything other than an insult. My claim is that insulting the looks of one group of black people while complimenting another is not the act of a racist.

-NC

[Alonzo]

No one that I'm aware of has claimed it to be anything other than an insult.Â*Â*My claim is that insulting the looks of one group of black people while complimenting another is not the act of a racist.

-NC


That becomes debatable when one is insulted for having a look that is typically black.

[NortheastCynic]

That's fair enough. As I said, I don't think the insult was smart or funny; and I certainly see why some believe it was racist.

-NC

[wonder cow]

A couple of observations:

Going on Al Sharpton's radio program to apologize for being intolerant is like apologizing to Charles Manson for stabbing people.

And 'nappy headed hoe' is phraseology taken right out of black culture, so physician, heal thy self.

[Elrathin]

Going on Al Sharpton's radio program to apologize for being intolerant is like apologizing to Charles Manson for stabbing people.

Exactly. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are two of the most hypocritical people when it comes to racism.


And 'nappy headed hoe' is phraseology taken right out of black culture, so physician, heal thy self.


White people are racists, but black people aren't. It's just as simple as that in the world of Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

[Professor]

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/10/imus.rutgers/index.html


Imus critics: Apology, suspension not enough

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Critics of radio host Don Imus aren't swayed by the shock jock's apology or MSNBC and CBS Radio's decisions to suspend him after he referred to a women's college basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

They want Imus canned, plain and simple -- not only because the remark was deemed racist, but also because it smacked of misogyny.

Imus tried to stem the backlash from his comments by appearing on the Rev. Al. Sharpton's syndicated radio show Monday, where he said there was no excuse for his remark and "I wish I hadn't said it. I'm sorry I said it."

Imus made the offensive barb Wednesday, the day after the Rutgers University women lost their national championship bid to the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

Sharpton was not placated by Imus' apology and told CNN's Paula Zahn later Monday that the radio host's two-week suspension was merely "a baby step in the right direction."

"I think to say that his statements were racist, as they've said, then that means they should not allow him to come back," he said.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and National Association of Black Journalists have joined the former Democratic presidential hopeful in his call for Imus' ouster. The SCLC has asked the Federal Communications Commission to enter the fray.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said during a Monday demonstration outside NBC's Chicago, Illinois, studio that Imus' comment should not be written off as "a slip of the lip."

The NAACP echoed Jackson and Sharpton's sentiment, saying, "Those that are given access to the public through mainstream media must be put on notice that they have everything to lose by spewing racist ideas and rants."

Added Julian Bond, chairman of the group's national board of directors: "As long as an audience is attracted to his bigotry and politicians and pundits tolerate his racism and chauvinism to promote themselves, Don Imus will continue to be a serial apologist for prejudice. It is past time his employers took him off the air."

Women also came to the Scarlet Knights' defense Tuesday, insisting that the flap over Imus' remarks was not solely about race.

"My listeners are irate; they're just so upset about this. It's just something that continues to happen with this person," said April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks. "I think right now it's about women and minorities. It's not just about minority women; it's women and minorities he's offended and humanity as a whole."

Appearing on Sharpton's show, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a Michigan Democrat and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, also raised the issue of chauvinism.

"I mean, who says 'hos' publicly?" she asked. "What is that? That is probably one of the most derogatory things any woman -- black, brown, yellow -- could even ever experience."

The Rutgers hoops squad, which has eight black and two white players, is scheduled to break its silence on Imus' remarks during an 11 a.m. ET news conference Tuesday.

Suspensions to begin Monday
MSNBC and CBS Radio, which owns New York's sports-talk station WFAN, announced they were suspending Imus for two weeks for his remarks, effective Monday.

MSNBC's "future relationship" with Imus depends on "his ability to live up to his word," according to a statement from NBC News. The cable channel simulcasts a television version of Imus' radio show.

"His dedication -- in his words -- to change the discourse on his program moving forward has confirmed for us that this action is appropriate," the statement said.

Shortly afterward, CBS announced plans to suspend its broadcast of Imus' radio program for the same two weeks.

On the Wednesday show that kicked off the controversy, Imus told listeners, "That's some rough girls from Rutgers."

"Man, they got tattoos," he said. "That's some nappy-headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that now."

Imus apologized for the remark Friday and repeated the apology Monday.

"I'm a good person, but I said a bad thing," he said. "But these young women deserve to know that it was not said with malice."

On the Rutgers campus, Imus' words were met with outrage. University President Richard McCormick called the remarks "disgraceful, disgusting and racist."

McCormick further said the women hoopsters "represented Rutgers in an exemplary fashion of which we are extraordinarily proud, and then he says that. Why, why, why, why, why?"

Should Imus be sacked?
However, not everyone believes Imus' remarks should earn him the boot.

Syndicated columnist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune said the suspension was sufficient in his view.

"I personally think that's enough. That's more than he has ever gotten before," said Page. "He was called to the carpet by his public on numerous occasions. I think this gives a sound warning because it hits him in the pocketbook, although I am sure it will just help his ratings."

Republican presidential contender Sen. John McCain said Monday that the shock jock's comments haven't dissuaded him from appearing on the show.

"I'm a great believer in redemption," the senator from Arizona told reporters in Phoenix. "Whether he needs to do more in order to satisfy the concerns of people like the members of that team, that's something that's between him and them."

Page said candidates may need to answer for their appearances on the show, "just as if they belonged to a country club that discriminates."

Howard Kurtz, media critic for The Washington Post and host of CNN's "Reliable Sources," said Imus is known for his comedy, but "his comedy too often strays into the offensive."

Kurtz, whom Imus once called a "boner-nosed, beanie-wearing Jew boy," said Imus may now understand that his remarks about the Rutgers team crossed the line.

"Imus should be held accountable for some of these offensive things that he says, but there is also a good side to Don Imus, and I don't think that should be completely obliterated in all of this chest thumping," he said.

[wonder cow]

Women also came to the Scarlet Knights' defense Tuesday, insisting that the flap over Imus' remarks was not solely about race.

HaHaHah!!!

This is some of the most over blown nonsense I have ever seen in my life. Make my day and please, work native Americans into this. Please!!

Not since Anna Nicole Smith bit the dust, oh so long ago, has something been this important. I will go to sleep tonight thinking of this and hope beyond hope that CNN will have 24/7 coverage of this for the next 2 weeks.

Oh please God, let it happen!!

*sobs and cries like a bi1ch (a nappy headed bi1ch?)*

We need one big cross country inter-cultural rainbow hug. Let us continue to feign disproportional outrage and grief for the next 3-4 news cycles, or until a story with even more media juice comes along to preempt this one.

[BIrdzeye]

I have to say that I'm pretty astonished at the efforts by some to sanitize Imus's remarks. FCOL, he called those women "ho's!" In my book, that is downright disgusting!

I don't give a rip whether he keeps his job or not, but he deserves every bit of flack that he's gotten for his remarks.

[Professor]

This is some of the most over blown nonsense I have ever seen in my life. Make my day and please, work native Americans into this. Please!!


His comments also made Native Americans sad, leading to a protest in Oklahoma. The Chinese were similarly affected and yesterday's nation wide shutdown of restraunts left millions without their eggrolls.

I threw the Chinese in as a freebee.

[wonder cow]

His comments also made Native Americans sad, leading to a protest in Oklahoma. The Chinese were similarly affected and yesterday's nation wide shutdown of restraunts left millions without their eggrolls.

I threw the Chinese in as a freebee.

HaHaHa!!

The melodrama emanating from my TV set right now is saturating my personal atmosphere with a fog of murky crud.

Yet, somehow, I am strangely drawn to it. I...can't...change...the...channel.....HELP!!

[lily]

Holy cow, (now to be confused with Wonder Cow) is the Senate break over yet? Aren't there real news stories or some real tragedy out there somewhere?

An hour long press conference from Rutgers was a bit much.

Imus apologized for the remark Friday and repeated the apology Monday.

I don't watch him, he gives me the willies and he's on too early, but I usually fall asleep and change channels when I wake too often in the night. Happened to have it on MSNBC this morning, rolled over and the whole show was him apologizing. He's apologized to everyone under the sun and has an appointment to apologize to Rutgers. Is the crucifiction over yet?

[Stoner]

It amazes me how the media runs with such a non-story.

If Imus was black no one would have blinked for him making that comment. It would have been accepted.

[sbannon]

I'm with Imus... wow, never thought I'd put those three words together before.

I can't stand the guy, but come on now, this is out of control. Taken in context (which is the only fair way to take them), his comments weren't racist. They were sexist and crude to the Umpth-degree, but not racist by any common-sense standards I can reach.

Then again, I suppose we could be getting endless hours of Paris Hilton coverage instead. It's so good to have 24/7 news coverage around the world so we can stay on top of these important issues and events going on.

[lily]

What's really sad is he doesn't really need the money. I'd hate to have to go out on a note like this. With sponsers pulling their ads, it looks like he might have to.

[BoogyMan]

What's really sad is he doesn't really need the money. I'd hate to have to go out on a note like this. With sponsers pulling their ads, it looks like he might have to.


Hi Lily. What is disturbing is that he doesn't HAVE to go out this way. How many times has the guy apologized now? What he said was crass, dismissive, and insulting, but I don't see that he has a huge issue with racism here. I certainly don't see Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson having a leg to stand on with regard to Imus. Don't get me wrong, I cannot stand Imus or his show, but I fell he is taking an undeserved fall here.

[Elrathin]

I certainly don't see Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson having a leg to stand on with regard to Imus. Don't get me wrong, I cannot stand Imus or his show, but I fell he is taking an undeserved fall here.


Actually they have a leg to stand on IF and I say IF they stood for the same comments that EVERYONE says and not just whites. Unfortunately they don't.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are only against whites saying comments to blacks, and not ANYONE saying the comments.

When Sharpton and Jackson start having black rappers and black comedian on their shows asking them why they use racist terms against whites, I'll give them some credit. Until then, they are just a couple of hypocrital racists themselves.

[BoogyMan]

Like I said El, they don't have a leg to stand on. Especially not Mr. Jackson with his previous "himeytown" commentary.

It appears that MSNBC has cut Imus loose.

Read about it here (http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/11/imus.rutgers/index.html?eref=googletoolbar).

[Stoner]

Did you hear what Imus said to Sharpton after he was fired? He asked him when he was going to apologize to the Duke lacrosse players.

I love it. Perfect.

[Elrathin]

I felt Imus comment deserved a punishment. I felt the two weeks was more than enough for the comment he made.

There was a show I was watching the other day, can't remember what channel offhand or the show, they were talking to teenage girls about using the word "Ho". All of the women found it offensive, but in the end the interviewer asked them how many had used that word and all of them raised their hands.

Quite hypocritical that in today's time more blacks are using the word Ho in rap music and in comedy material than any other white person saying it, yet they get a free pass. Just more proof that Sharpton and Jackson feel that black people can't be racists themselves.

I just want to see Sharpton and Jackson once try to dance around the question of why they don't have black rappers and black comedians that say racist comments about whites on their shows.

[Stoner]

I just think it's a sad day in America when racists like Jackson and Sharpton dictate who gets fired.

[Professor]

I don't think he should have gotten fired. He was given a two week suspension then under pressure, CBS caved. He was fired because his network couldn't take the pressure.

[BIrdzeye]

I just think it's a sad day in America when racists like Jackson and Sharpton dictate who gets fired.


It's as American as apple pie to apply economic pressure to protest speech that some find objectionable. Conservatives sure haven't been shy about using the same tactics.

[BoogyMan]

How many times does the guy have to apologize? This is getting ridiculous. Jesse "hymietown" Jackson having ANYTHING to do with getting the guy fired is a complete joke.


Source: Link (http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_102163935.html)

(CBS) NEW YORK CBS 2 has learned that CBS-owned radio station WFAN has fired Don Imus. The news comes a day after MSNBC discontinued their relationship his radio show.

CBS Chairman and CEO Les Moonves met with Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on Thursday morning to discuss Imus' future with the company. The shock jock has been in hot water since calling members of the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."

[potter]

I think EVERYONE needs to clean up their act on the public airwaves.

I'm a bit tired of the sexual innuendo, lack of truth in advertising, blatant misrepresentation of truth, and factual manipulations, by everyone. the air waves are public property. They should reflect that through honesty and holesomness.

Cable is another story.

[BoogyMan]

Potter I will stand with you on the sexual innuendo, lack of truth, blatant misrepresentation, factual manipulations, etc. I cannot, however, support the hypocritical action taken by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton going on a blood crusade after such broad and public contrition on the part of Mr. Imus.

As I have said before, I cannot stand Imus, but he did do good things. He just wrapped up his yearly radiothon today that has raised up to 40 million over the years for charity. That good work ended today at the hands of two hypocritical social crusaders.

[Elrathin]

I cannot, however, support the hypocritical action taken by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton going on a blood crusade after such broad and public contrition on the part of Mr. Imus.


If you're talking about them getting him fired, yes, I'll agree. However, he did deserve some punishment for at least calling those women Hoes.

I was satisfied with the two week suspension that they were going to give though as punishment.

[BoogyMan]

I cannot, however, support the hypocritical action taken by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton going on a blood crusade after such broad and public contrition on the part of Mr. Imus.


If you're talking about them getting him fired, yes, I'll agree. However, he did deserve some punishment for at least calling those women Hoes.

I was satisfied with the two week suspension that they were going to give though as punishment.


I have not complained at all about the two week suspension of his broadcast, I would not have complained about two months. Even Imus has said that he earned the suspension and his contrition has been widely reported, but to trot in men like Sharpton and Jackson is the height of hypocrisy.

[Elrathin]

but to trot in men like Sharpton and Jackson is the height of hypocrisy.


Got no argument there from me. I personally saw Imus comments as more sexist than racist.

[Stoner]

I'm a bit tired of the sexual innuendo, lack of truth in advertising, blatant misrepresentation of truth, and factual manipulations

Great solution to your problem. You ready? Write this down. If you don't like what you hear on the radio change the station.

Dismissed.

[Alonzo]

Ya, stoner's right! If I don't like bigots making a living being bigots then I should do nothing!

And, again, Imus has made many comments like this, he just previously had picked different groups.

[BoogyMan]

And, again, Imus has made many comments like this, he just previously had picked different groups.


Such as......

[Alonzo]

March 16: Imus' producer Bernard McGuirk, while performing "in character," refers to Sen. Barack Obama as a "young colored fellah." He later refers to Hillary Clinton as a "bitch."

November 2006: Imus calls out his "Jewish management" at CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards."

November 2004: During Yasser Arafat's funeral, Imus producer Sid Rosenberg calls the Palestinian people "stinking animals" and suggests, "They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill 'em all right now."

1998: A reporter claims Imus called PBS commentator Gwen Ifill a "cleaning lady," but Imus later denies he uttered the remark.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/04/10/MNGMEP5Q251.DTL

McGUIRK: She's just trying to sound black in front of a black audience. As opposed to sounding Southern. She was pandering.

McCORD: You think?

McGUIRK: She'll have cornrows and gold teeth before this fight with Obama is over.

IMUS: Oh, my God, I mean --

McGUIRK: She'll be giving Crips signs during speeches.

IMUS: That's crazy, isn't it?

McCORD: Yes.

IMUS: What do you have, Lou [Rufino, program engineer]? Let me hear what you have.


http://mediamatters.org/items/200703070009?f=i_related

Obama has a "Jew-hating name"
http://www.maconareaonline.com/news.asp?id=16863

From the March 16 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning:

EGAN: Well, Imus, the whole nation is talking about it -- stunned and shocked by it, indeed. You might've heard of it: This young colored fellah pretty much deckin' the old bag from New York and takin' away some of her money. I'm speaking, of course, about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, bejeez. You satchel-faced bastard, ya, bejeez.


http://mediamatters.org/items/200703160007

And as reuters points out, and if you ever actually listened to his show:

Pioneering U.S. "shock jock" Don Imus thrived for more than 30 years on radio by insulting everyone -- blacks, Jews, Arabs, homosexuals and women. On Thursday, he got fired for finally spewing out one insult too many.


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSMCC28037420070412?src=041207_1905_TOPSTORY_cbs _drops_imus

[BoogyMan]

So the only Imus quote you actually have with him saying something offensive is the one below?

November 2006: Imus calls out his "Jewish management" at CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards."

It appears that his staff is where most of the problem lies. The comment above is one that should have gotten him suspended.

[Stoner]

If I don't like bigots making a living being bigots then I should do nothing!



You weren't paying attention again. Doing nothing isn't what you're supposed to do. You change the station.

And how is he a bigot? What part of "nappy headed ho" is bigotry? Why can black people use some of the most racist lyrics in rap but no one says a word about them?

[Alonzo]

If I don't like bigots making a living being bigots then I should do nothing!



You weren't paying attention again.Â*Â*Doing nothing isn't what you're supposed to do.Â*Â*You change the station.

Which leaves the problem bigot to continue making plenty of money.

And how is he a bigot?Â*Â*What part of "nappy headed ho" is bigotry?Â*Â*Why can black people use some of the most racist lyrics in rap but no one says a word about them?


Last time I checked, they weren't attacking black people for something characteristically black. There's a difference between "What up nigga?" and "damn niger".

[BoogyMan]

Last time I checked, they weren't attacking black people for something characteristically black. There's a difference between "What up nigga?" and "damn niger".


The situational ethics that it takes to justify that differentiation boggles the mind Zo.

[Elrathin]

Last time I checked, they weren't attacking black people for something characteristically black. There's a difference between "What up nigga?" and "damn niger".


Wait a minute so are you actually defending a black person saying "What up Nigga" but if a white person says it, it's wrong? How about, they are both wrong?

I'm sorry, but if that is the case where a black person can say something but a white person can't, that is some double edged hypocrisy there.

Maybe the government should come up with the official Black language and White language then, so the FCC has clear cut rules of what white people can say and what black people can say. :rolleyes:

[Alonzo]

Wait a minute so are you actually defending a black person saying "What up Nigga" but if a white person says it, it's wrong? How about, they are both wrong?

I'm sorry, but if that is the case where a black person can say something but a white person can't, that is some double edged hypocrisy there.


The intent is almost always different. How many times does a black person refer to black people as nigers, and intend it as an insult (I'll give you chris rock)? And rarely do you ever hear niger used as nigga. The "er" is typically dropped for an "a".

The situational ethics that it takes to justify that differentiation boggles the mind Zo.

I'm sure you're equally upset about women calling themselves bitches. I know women who use that term among friends, but generally guys mean something very different when they use the term.

Hell, feminists even attempted to take backparticularly by musicians who supported feminism.

Nigga does not mean niger. The intent and meaning of the word differs due to context. I know white people who call their black friends nigga in the same way blacks do. Hell, one of my coworkers often uses the term "nigga" when seeing his white friends. At the same time he'd never use the word "cracker" to refer to them.

The context gives the word a different meaning.

[Elrathin]

The intent is almost always different. How many times does a black person refer to black people as nigers, and intend it as an insult (I'll give you chris rock)? And rarely do you ever hear niger used as nigga. The "er" is typically dropped for an "a".


That wasn't what I said, if a white person says "what up NIGGA" with an A is it wrong for them to say it, but right for a black person?

In other words if a white person on the radio said "What up Nigga" should they be fired.

If a black person on the radio said "What up Nigga" should they be fired?

[Alonzo]

That depends entirely on contex. If a black guy walks into the studio and I simply use the phrase "What up nigga?" that is very different than having two radio cohosts, one white and one black, using the phrases like that or "My nigga Jim Bob" (tried to think of a very white sounding name) and things like that. One is clearly acceptable to both parties and is therefore very different than just using the phrase without having any familiarity or consent from the other person.

[BoogyMan]

The situational ethics that it takes to justify that differentiation boggles the mind Zo.

I'm sure you're equally upset about women calling themselves bitches. I know women who use that term among friends, but generally guys mean something very different when they use the term.

Hell, feminists even attempted to take back particularly by musicians who supported feminism.

Nigga does not mean niger. The intent and meaning of the word differs due to context. I know white people who call their black friends nigga in the same way blacks do. Hell, one of my coworkers often uses the term "nigga" when seeing his white friends. At the same time he'd never use the word "cracker" to refer to them.

The context gives the word a different meaning.


You will come up with an argument like this that is beyond reason and in the same thread vilify Imus for a comment for which he has shown abject contrition?

Imus knows he made an idiotic mistake and was intelligent enough to try and make amends. I would imagine that the only good to come out of this whole mess is that there is now a spotlight on the hypocrisy of Jackson, Sharpton, and the rap culture that encourages such commentary.

[Alonzo]

Boogy, do you know any black people who use the term nigga? Look, I don't like using the word, I don't like others doing it. But it's undeniable that the meanings are very different, with very different intent and understandings.

Can you say the same for imus? That there was no derogatory intent, in any form, when he made those comments?

[BoogyMan]

Boogy, do you know any black people who use the term nigga? Look, I don't like using the word, I don't like others doing it. But it's undeniable that the meanings are very different, with very different intent and understandings.

Can you say the same for imus? That there was no derogatory intent, in any form, when he made those comments?


None of the black people that I know use that term Zo. They have too much self respect to involve themselves in such base and degrading speech.

Imus admits he messed up Zo. He also has been very publicly contrite over a moronic comment that he acknowledges was wrong. Consider some Imus quotes.

I've said 100 times: I said it and if I hadn't said it, we wouodn't be sitting here talking about it. And that's the bottom line.
...
Don't tell me that context isn't important. Context is importnat in everything we do in our lives. But it's not an excuse.

He knows he owns this Zo, and he is making no excuses for his commentary. He has apologized over and over and over again.

There is absolutely no way that you can explain away the hypocrisy with which the Imus situation has been dealt.

[lily]

One wonders if this wasn't such a slow work week, would this have even made the papers? Anyway, it seems they have their bases covered.

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/12/AR2007041201825.html)

One of the most interesting things about the Imus meltdown is how MSNBC and
its parent company, NBC Universal, moved from sluggish inaction to ordering
a two-week suspension to bidding Imus, his cowboy hat and his unfunny
entourage an abrupt adios. A day later, CBS Radio followed suit and canceled
Imus.

The pressure applied by Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other activists
certainly got NBC and CBS's attention, and the news conference held by the
offended Rutgers team was devastating. News stories citing Imus's past
transgressions were embarrassing. And the withdrawal of Imus's biggest
advertisers -- General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, American Express,
Ditech.com, Procter & Gamble, Staples, Sprint Nextel -- removed any
financial incentive for MSNBC to keep the show on the air.

It would be logical to conclude that money talked and therefore Imus walked.
But I tend to believe NBC News President Steve Capus when he says that the
biggest factor was the internal reaction from NBC News employees, who told
him in no uncertain terms that enough was enough.

Two of the network's on-air stars -- "Today" weatherman Al Roker and NBC
correspondent Ron Allen -- authored strong anti-Imus posts on NBC blogs.
Producers of NBC and MSNBC news shows gave the controversy nonstop coverage.
Meanwhile, Capus was hearing from dozens of NBC employees who worried about
what continued association with Imus would do to the network's reputation.
Among them were women and minorities who told Capus they felt the sting of
Imus's attacks personally.

[BoogyMan]

Imus didn't address women or minorities in general. He insulted a specific group of young ladies at Rutgers. I don't get the comment highlighted comment below from the article. I could see the association concerns but "felt the sting of Imus's attacks personally?"

Capus was hearing from dozens of NBC employees who worried about
what continued association with Imus would do to the network's reputation.
Among them were women and minorities who told Capus they felt the sting of Imus's attacks personally.

[potter]

Potter I will stand with you on the sexual innuendo, lack of truth, blatant misrepresentation, factual manipulations, etc.Â*Â*I cannot, however, support the hypocritical action taken by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton going on a blood crusade after such broad and public contrition on the part of Mr. Imus.



I agree

[potter]

I'm a bit tired of the sexual innuendo, lack of truth in advertising, blatant misrepresentation of truth, and factual manipulations

Great solution to your problem.Â*Â*You ready?Â*Â*Write this down.Â*Â*If you don't like what you hear on the radio change the station.

Dismissed.


They are public airwaves and should have an inherent decency and honesty for the broad audience.Â*We support it, we should expect a standard. ButÂ*hey, if you want to hear the crap on cable, be my guest.

JMO

[Alonzo]

None of the black people that I know use that term Zo.Â*Â*They have too much self respect to involve themselves in such base and degrading speech.

While that's debatable, my point is that you're not familiar with the perspective of people who do use the term. It's not degrading to them.

I've said 100 times: I said it and if I hadn't said it, we wouodn't be sitting here talking about it. And that's the bottom line.
...
Don't tell me that context isn't important. Context is importnat in everything we do in our lives. But it's not an excuse.

He knows he owns this Zo, and he is making no excuses for his commentary.Â*Â*He has apologized over and over and over again.

There is absolutely no way that you can explain away the hypocrisy with which the Imus situation has been dealt.
[/quote]

Consider this Imus quote:

And so on Thursday, Mr. Imus wondered aloud on his show what the big deal was, saying people should not be offended by “some idiot comment meant to be amusing.�

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/07/arts/television/07imus.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1176437169-RAx+4UEqYHetg/xx8cV3YA

Considering he wasn't aware his job was on the line at the time, the sentiment expressed in that one was probably more in line with what he really thinks.

[BoogyMan]

I am aware of his commentary and he has come around to the understanding that his commentary was moronic and hurtful to those girls at Rutgers.

Such facts, however, do not clear the way for a mottled standard of speech based on the color ones skin and to whom the commentary is addressed. Such an assertion belittles the seriousness of the situation Zo.

[Alonzo]

Conversation is about much more than simply the words that are spoken. Context plays a tremendous role in commnication. You seem to be ignoring that.

[BoogyMan]

Conversation is about much more than simply the words that are spoken. Context plays a tremendous role in commnication. You seem to be ignoring that.


Gads, context that is hypocritical is problematic Zo, you know that.

Imus got a royal reaming at the behest of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. This is the equivalent of the pot calling the kettle black.

[wonder cow]

he called those women "ho's!" In my book, that is downright disgusting!

So sensitive. I would think that if he called them "stank ass lezbo slutmongering crack heads" it would qualify as "downright disgusting".Â*Â*"ho's?" Meh....

[Alonzo]

Conversation is about much more than simply the words that are spoken. Context plays a tremendous role in commnication. You seem to be ignoring that.


Gads, context that is hypocritical is problematic Zo, you know that.

Imus got a royal reaming at the behest of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.Â*Â*This is the equivalent of the pot calling the kettle black.


So you think if Imus called a black person a niger, and a black guy says "what up nigga?" there isn't any difference?

[sbannon]

I don't know Zo, I have to agree with Boogy to the extent that by reconstituting any label into a term of endearment in order to own it, to me seems to imply an equal ignorance for it's origin as to use it in the derogatory displays.

[Alonzo]

The whole point is to try to rob it of its power.

Though I found this article interesting:

In her first public remarks on the controversy, Rice said Imus had insulted not only female athletes but all young black women by referring to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy headed hos."

Radio host Don Imus arrives at his Manhattan residence Friday, April 13, 2007 in New York. Rutgers women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer said Friday the team had accepted radio host Don Imus' apology. She said he deserves a chance to move on but hopes the furor his racist and sexist insult caused will be a catalyst for change. (AP Photo/David Karp) (David Karp - AP)

World Bank President Paul D. Wolfowitz addressed staffers until they began to chant for him to resign. (Alex Wong -- Getty Images)

"They're 18- and 19-year-old women," she said. "And what were they doing except showing that they're really fine athletes, playing under extraordinary pressure in which for them was a dream season.

"And it gets ruined by this disgusting _ and I'll use the word 'disgusting' _ comment which doesn't belong in any polite company and certainly doesn't belong on any radio station that I would listen to," Rice told talk show host Michael Medved.

"I just thought that it was an attack on women's sports, first of all, and secondly an attack on very accomplished young black women in a way that was really offensive," she said, according to a transcript of the interview released by the State Department.

Rice declined to offer an opinion on Imus's firing but said she was "very glad that there was, in fact, a consequence" for the remarks.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/13/AR2007041301624.html