quote: Pravin Ratnam

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If I am the basketball players, I would have turned the tables on him and called him a has been old cracker.

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Which would have put them on his level.

Regardless how you feel about these comments being broadcast across the globe, I think the point is that these are kids he's talking about. It's doubtful he'd have said the same thing about a team of white kids from Mercer Island. If my daughters had been the target of a comparison like that, I'd have been pissed, too.

Past that, I think it's revealing how many people pile on when something like this happens. Imus has done this kind of "cruel humor slapstick" his whole career. He went overboard and is getting slapped for it, but it's amazing how many other talk hosts and politicos are now "righteouosly indignant". A week ago, most of them would have jumped at the chance to be interviewed on his program.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2007, 10:41 AM:
 
It may have been good for those Rutgers basketball players to respond by calling Imus a has-been cracker. Who really cares about what some old radio host has to say?

This was just a chance for guys like Al Sharpton to get lots of TV interview time and turn what really is a non-story into something that actually leads some newscasts over far more important events around the world.

My own gut feeling is that Imus didn't really intend to come off as racist as much as he was in trying to use commonly heard black terminology in an attempt to sound more hip in describing the female basketball players. The ploy blew up in his face. I've heard black people all the time putting down each other, using "nappy" as a common insult.

It never plays well when white people try to use black slang. It just sounds goofy and pretentious. Probably the most goofy example of this currently is country singer Trace Adkins' song Honky Tonk Badonkadonk. My skin just crawls whenever that song plays on the radio. The fact that lots of white people like that song is just sad. It's also really stupid when white kids try to act black and talk black. I can't think of many things more fake than that. Jamie Kennedy is trying to turn his whole career into lampooning the subject. He already did Malibu's Most Wanted and now has Kickin' It Old School on the way. That'll probably suck too.

Imus may actually wind up profiting from this episode due to all the publicity he is getting. For one thing, I was surprised to hear Howard Stern, of all people, say anything in defense of Imus. The two are normally really bitter rivals.

There's also a growing, yet still silent, backlash brewing in all this type of controversy. Over the past couple years we've seen white people who are public figures or even private citizens lose their jobs or at least have their careers seriously harmed by racially toned verbal gaffes. Lots of white people are wondering why whites are the only ones paying any penalty for that kind of behavior. Just about every black comedian and many other black entertainers say racist things about white people and do so with impunity.

I think if one guy from one race has to lose his job for a bigoted comment, then NO one regardless of race should have any immunity at all from the same penalty.

The better solution would be for lots of people to get the giant stick out of their uptight asses. There is a knob on that radio or TV set. Don't like something some entertainer says? Don't watch it! Duh!

And when media whores like Al Sharpton keep getting lots of press and interviews over this sort of thing all it does is stir the pot and make matters worse.
 

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Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 04-12-2007, 10:50 AM:
 
I have never listened to Don Imus. I have been told that he is just a skeleton wearing a cowboy hat.

I think this whole thing is extremely blown out of proportion. This type of thing should serve as a warning of things to come.
 

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Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 04-12-2007, 10:58 AM:
 
I find it interesting that an old white guy makes a comment and gets taken to task for it when black leaders, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton come especially to mind, FREQUENTLY make similar and worse remarks and they get richer and even more the darlings of the press. It works BOTH ways.
 

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Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 04-12-2007, 11:16 AM:
 
Sounds like Imus needs to break his broadcast contract. XM Radio, is reportedly interested in hiring him. Will "work" on pay radio. Louis
 

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Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-12-2007, 11:19 AM:
 
What I dont get is why anyone who finds themselves in the shoes of Michael Richards, Don Imus, etc, go straight to Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton... these guys are the worst two bottom feeders just looking to push their own agendas and get publicity. Jackson once referred to New York as Hymie Town, and on stern the other day, they played a clip of a recent interview where teh person asked him about that, and Jackson just deflected it and ranted about Imus.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2007, 11:57 AM:
 
Well, yeah. That's how it goes. When a white celebrity shoots his mouth off the wrong way he needs to be fired for it, sued and maybe even thrown in jail. When a black celebrity says something bigoted it is deemed "intelligent social commentary."

 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 04-12-2007, 11:59 AM:
 
As a non-Christian, I find it educational as to how Reverend Jackson and Reverend Sharpton implement the worthy Christian ideal of turning the other cheek and forgiveness.
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 04-12-2007, 01:13 PM:
 
Like I said, I would not have fired him despite my dislike for this guy. But I would not say it was an innocuous comment. The guy has been saying stuff like this on air and in private for a while now. And there is a difference when someone in your own community makes an offtaste joke using a racist term against one's own race. Context does matter. And to a smaller extent, numbers matter too. I think a black racist has more ability to do more harm to a white minority(example: ZImbabwe) with words than a black bigot can do the same with the same words to a white majority, if one is to assume words can hurt. I come from the school where if you use words on me, I will not whine, but then dont complain to the cops when I slug you in the face or complain to someone else if I insult you in a worse way. Obviously Imus is not from that school either. Also I do not think rappers language is a valid analogy.

Rappers these days indulge in a lot of crap. But we got a lot of "extreme" entertainment mostly by white guys and gals in other areas where there is a lot of derogatory stuff against women. Are we going to censor these people just because a national radio host won't be permitted to engage in similar mysogyny? THe difference is also the type of program you are pitching. And you look at Imus's guest list, no wonder he will get scrutiny. You ever wonder why Howard went to satellite and never gets this level of protests from black leaders? There is a lot of racial humor on his show too.

I think Jesse Jackson saying hymietown is a more valid point to compare this to. It's like my jewish friends will make some really bad jewish jokes, but it is different if a non jewish person made a holocaust or nazi related joke on them. I see nothing hypocritical about allowing people from one race to use a racist term on their own terms. And I do not think white people can say it is all in the past. A lot of the people who used these racist terms are still alive now.

FWIW, I was more concerned when Jimmy The Greek got fired. What he said about black slaves and breeding was a little cringeworthy, but I doubt he did it in an intentionally derogatory way. For him to lose his job over some clumsy attempt at explaining a theory was ridiculous. The guy is an old guy. And there were no other examples cites of his past behavior. And it wasn't even a racist statement. Ignorant, possibly, but not racist or even prejudiced. On any of those factors alone, it was an unjustified firing by CBS. and Based on all those factors, it was a very PC decision.
 

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Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 04-12-2007, 01:28 PM:
 

quote: Mitchell Dvoskin

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As a non-Christian, I find it educational as to how Reverend Jackson and Reverend Sharpton implement the worthy Christian ideal of turning the other cheek and forgiveness

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As a christian all I can say in these two folks cases, It is piculiar how money seems to do that very thing for them.
 

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Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 04-12-2007, 01:28 PM:
 
Pravin, Imus wasn't completely fired...yet at least...

He was dropped by MSNBC and in suspended from CBS at the moment...
 

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Posted by Brett G. Sherris (Member # 3543) on 04-12-2007, 01:40 PM:
 
Actually I think Anthony's comment on yesterday's Opie & Anthony show summed it up pretty well.

Speaking on the subject of our rapidly evaporating First Amendment rights here in the US, he analogized that when some public figure says something politically incorrect, they metaphorically get bashed in the head by the media. So, while they do have the RIGHT to say what they want, they get bashed again and again for each comment they make. The constant societal pummelings effectively silence the individual.

The "Thought Police" ware growing stronger by the day folks...and if somebody doesn't stand up to the pressure imposed by the Sharptons and the Jacksons, we are soon going to find ourselves scared to express even the most benign criticisms.

The fact of the matter is that if "people of color" would collectively reject the patronizing characterization of themselves as victims espoused by "Reverend" Sharpton, he would lose his power faster than Freddy at the end of Elm Street 1!

In short, it is well past time that Sharpton's "constituants" put him on the unemployment line! They would be all better for it!
 

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Posted by Mark Strube (Member # 4190) on 04-12-2007, 01:48 PM:
 
That whole thing is laughable and being blown out of proportion. I can't stand Imus (or Limbaugh, or most of those national talk shows), but really... neither "nappy" nor "ho" are race-specific. Leave it to the attention whore "Reverends" to jump out and demand he get thrown off the air. If you look up the word "ho" 650 rap songs come up... "nappy" brings up another 150... there's even a band called the Nappy Roots. The Reverends should look at their own race before they really make themselves look ridiculous. If they want such far-reaching equality, they need to treat everyone equal, and not just act like it. Saying that only a certain race can use a certain word is just another form of racism, but of course since they're both of that race, and hypocrites, they can't seem to realize that. Pathetic.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 04-12-2007, 02:07 PM:
 
There is a chain of "Nappy" hair salons...one here in LA I sometimes see when I drive is: "OH! My Nappy Hair Salon".

Check out their logo... and YOU thought "Song of the South" was demeaning. HA!



Oh wait! I forgot! It's OK since it's a Black-owned biz. And, don't forget "White Men Can't Jump".

I just LUV the double standard.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 04-12-2007, 02:19 PM:
 

quote: "Pravin Ratnam"

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It's like my jewish friends will make some really bad jewish jokes, but it is different if a non jewish person made a holocaust or nazi related joke on them.

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quote: "Pravid Ratnam"

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Context does matter.

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quote:

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Pennsylvania DJ fired for repeating Imus’ comments as part of contest
From Associated Press
April 11, 2007

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A radio station fired its longtime morning DJ Wednesday after he encouraged listeners to repeat talk-show host Don Imus' racially charged comments in an on-air contest.

Gary Smith told WSBG-FM listeners to call and say "I'm a nappy-headed ho" for Tuesday's "Phrase that Pays" contest, said Rick Musselman, executive vice president of station owner Nassau Broadcasting Partners L.P.

Musselman said three of the listeners who called were awarded tickets to a NASCAR promotion at a local club.

Station management reviewed a tape of the broadcast of the "Gary in the Morning" show and fired Smith, Musselman said.

Musselman said that Smith was fired and not suspended because he uttered the slur in a premeditated manner, "with full knowledge of the reaction to Don Imus' use of the exact same phrase."

The nationally syndicated Imus was suspended for two weeks by CBS Radio and MSNBC after he called members of the mostly black Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos." Civil rights groups have demanded his firing.

Smith has an unlisted number and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

WSBG 93.5, a 3,000-watt rock station, is based in Stroudsburg, about 40 miles northeast of Allentown. The Princeton, N.J.-based Nassau is privately held with more than 50 radio stations in the Northeast.

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quote: Matt Fields

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Freedom of speech includes insulting anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any reason, reguardless of how much it hurts the persons feelings.

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quote:

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Put that to a test by walking into one of your full auditoriums and yell "Fire!"

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quote: Jim Bedford

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call a cop that pulls you over a mother-fucker

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It isn't illegal to say that, you'd probably have a good chance at receiving a ticket though

quote: Jim Bedford

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say "cocksucker" on TV or radio

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quote: Jim Bedford

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utter treasonous remarks, or say you're going to harm the President, or talk about bombs while you're in an airport security line

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quote: Jim Bedford

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even speak "fighting words" and get cited for disturbing the peace and you'll be singing a different tune.

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quote: Jim Bedford

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Part of the problem is that there really isn't a "double standard" for TV and radio shock-jocks because more than 90% of them are white males (just like more than 90% of the posters on Film-Tech).

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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That, right at the core, creates "us versus them" separation

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quote: Jim Bedford

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or say "cocksucker" on TV or radio

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quote: Bobby

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Only white people can be racist.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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Only white people can be racist.

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I think only white people are PERCEIVED as racists. There are blacks that don't like whites...what do you call them?
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2007, 06:24 PM:
 
Racists.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-12-2007, 07:03 PM:
 
OMG...Richard actually got most of it right (see page 2)

The statement of "FIRE" in a crowded theatre IS protected under amendment 1 but what is not is inciting a riot or creating a panic that brings harm to others. That is, you pop open the door to a crowded theatre, scream "FIRE" (when there isn't one), and everyone stampedes over one another to get out...hurting some people along the way. You will be found reasonable for causing the harm. However, it wasn't the word FIRE that was at fault.

It may or may not be illegal to call what would be considered abusive remarks at law enforcement personnel...it certainly would not help your cause. I'm not sure if the constitutionality of any such laws has been tested, if in fact they exist. After all, if the cop may have indeed fucked someone's mother!

As Richard has stated, it isn't illegal to say dirty words on TV or other broadcast mediums...you wouldn't even be fined...it is the station that holds the FCC license to comply with FCC rules or have them changed...that is contract law...it has nothing to do with the person uttering their filth.

I'm pretty sure the discussion of bombs in the airport security line rule has not been constitutionally tested. Until it has been tested by the Supreme Court, one can't say for certain if that free speech is Constitutionally protected. However, like the fire in a crowded theatre example, discussing bombs while in line would make people arround you reasonably nervous (depending on your conversation) that you would probably affect their travel plans or possibly start some sort of skirmish. Mind you, testing the constitution is not a fast and cheap proposition and it often will consume your time and even freedom to test and even come out with a favorable decision.

While you do not have a Constitutional Right to travel by airplane specifically, it is the Federal Government that now runs TSA...which means that your Constitutional Rights are in FULL force. I'm waiting to see if some crackerjack lawyer tests the constitutionality of the whole security screening system at airports. Constitutionally, "Stop and Frisk" has been tested and found not Constitutional (4th Amendment). One has to have a "reasonable" suspicion to stop/frisk someone. Why in an airport is EVERY reasonably suspected of carrying and using illegal weapons or other forms of distruction? This is a case of having to prove one's innocence without any probable cause of guilt. There is no way you can read the constitution and find it otherwise and the Government HAS to uphold and follow the Constitution.

As to IMUS...I never cared for him. I think his "joke" was unfunny regardless of who it was directed at (my take on his "humor").

This country is way too PC and the response to this poorly delivered and conceived joke is way out of proportion. That said, it has no affect on me and I have no problem with people voicing their disdain over it...that is free speech too. It cuts both ways. This includes forming a boycott of his show(s) and the advertisers of his shows(s)...again that is free speech. If the advertisers feel that advertising on his shows will bring them more revenue than that they will loose by offending a group of people, then he would keep his job...conversely, if advertisers pull their adds, then IMUS won't bring in the revenue that supports the network(s) and thus he is no longer valuable...that is simple business. IMUS is not entitled to his job(s).

I don't agree with what has happened but I don't think there is anything either illegal or unAmerican about it either.

What people who are offended don't get about these "outrages" is that people like/dislike other people for any one of many reasons...it can be race or appearance....you name it. I would MUCH rather everyone be open about their opinions so I know who I'm dealing with rather than them always smiling and saying the PC thing while all the while they really feel a different way. One should know both thy friends and thy enimies.

Steve
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 04-12-2007, 07:09 PM:
 
I think IMUS got canned because all of the sponsors were pulling out. The sponsors pull-out was a PC move. CBS firing IMUS was probably more financial. If his show doesn't have any sponsors, then there is no show.

I agree that people try WAY to hard to be PC...I don't. That being said, I still didn't find IMUS'S remarks funny, intelligent, meaningful, or even descriptive of their target. That only leaves one description for his statement....STUPID. He just isn't funny; intellectually or otherwise.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-12-2007, 08:41 PM:
 
As usual, "follow the money." The advertisers were jumping ship, so the network fired him. If the advertisers had stayed on board, nothing would have happened.

He'll probably write a tell-all book, get a show on "SiriXM" or whatever they decide to call it, go on Larry King, and proceed to make more money than ever. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 04-12-2007, 09:20 PM:
 
I couldn't say it any better than Bobby did on the first page.

As soon as I saw Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton on the news, I knew this was not about race but about getting their faces on tv. Let's face it, they are media whores and just want to keep their names in the news.

When I heard the comments Imus made I was just trying to understand what all this media frenzy was about. I have heard WAY more racist comments by entertainers and others on tv and the radio. As a matter of fact, I would not have even drawn a parallel between the word "nappy" and blacks. I have heard many blacks use it but it has become one of those commonplace words in society. I think Imus was victim to a slow news day and that is what this is really all about.

What REALLY pisses me off about this whole thing is that by MSNBC's and CBS's actions, they are only giving credence to these assholes and letting them run the show. What will happen next time?! Unfortunately we live in a society where the majority no longer rules. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?
 

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Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 04-12-2007, 09:22 PM:
 
Jim is right...there are obvious things you cannot say. I was mostly reacting to Jims comment:

quote: Jim Bedford

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Constitutional rights are not absolute, especially when they are used to put people down in spiteful, hurtful ways.

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quote: Chad Souder

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Why does everyone yell "freedom of speech!" and analyze the first amendment when something of this nature happens?

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quote: Chad Souder

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This issue has absolutely nothing to do with the first amendment.

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Oh it sure as hell does. This issue is bigger than Don Imus and shock jock antics.

Here's exactly how bad things are now in this country. If some eavesdropping dick happens to hear me tell a tasteless joke to one of my friends, relays that to a newspaper and they feel like running a story from it, I can end up losing my job. That's right. Me. A non-celebrity. I'm no entertainer. I'm no public figure. But over the last couple of years there's been a healthy number of stories about white, private citizens who have been tossed from their jobs over a tasteless choice of words overheard from private conversation. Every one of these people I read about in news releases weren't even business owners or managers either.

If you're white and you say anything that anybody might find offensive you better be sure no one with attachments to the media will hear about it. Reverend Al will be showing up to evict you from your job.

If you're not white, say what you like. Who cares? White people are pussies. We won't take issue with it, much less demand anyone have their career wrecked over it.
 

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Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 04-12-2007, 09:52 PM:
 
Michael Medved is under the impression that the sponsors who left Imus would have been replaced by new sponsors.
Medved, Glen Beck and the fellow who subbed for Bill O'Reilly in his Radio Factor complained of a "chill" in the air, pondering which white radio host will get the axe next for something said off the cuff or something misconstrued. None of them wanted him fired.
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 04-12-2007, 10:06 PM:
 
I watched the press conference the other day with the women from the basketball team. The player that was speaking said that they should have been celebrating their accomplishments for the year but Imus's comments stole that from them. What a load! I was so disgusted that I had to turn it off.

What have we become? A society of whiners and cry babies. The "It's all about me" attitude prevails. Look at the military for example. 99% of my friends in high school went in the military. They all told me basic training was nothing like it was fifty years ago. So many parents have complained about the way the military treats their sons that the restrictions on how they train keep getting tighter all the time. I went to a recruiter once and he told me he hated mothers. He said "If they all had their way there would be no more military". What a bunch of pussies we have become.
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 04-12-2007, 10:09 PM:
 
This all just makes me wonder why in the hell "we" as in the USA give so much creedence to what to two religious black leaders have to say. Who in the hell are these two to that they think they can open their big ass collective mouths and expect the county to bow down to what they think. Sharpton and Jackson need to just go away. I more sick of those two idiots than what any shock jock could ever dream up.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-12-2007, 10:13 PM:
 
Well, if I have to say it, I'll do it:

Who gives a shit about Rutgers University womens basketball?
Doubly put, who gives a shit about Don Imus?

No one took anything from those basketball players. No one stole their thunder. Hardly any was really there to begin with. Exactly who else is a fan of Rutgers Womens Basketball besides female students of Rutgers University? If Imus had said nothing no one would have paid any notice to them or him.

What it took was some news guy, probably bored off his ass from all the IED bombings in Iraq he normally has to write about, seeing a glimmer of something different in a stupid choice of words on Imus' part. I guarantee you Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would not have found out about this stuff on their own. Same goes for all those basketball players and just about anyone else pretending to have been hurt by Imus' comments.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-12-2007, 10:42 PM:
 
When did we start letting women play basketball? Shouldn't they be in the kitchen where they belong?
 

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Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 04-12-2007, 10:54 PM:
 
Oh my God, Joe...YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-12-2007, 11:30 PM:
 
Never for one day in my life have I liked Don Imus. I always wondered how he got a gig in the New York market, mumbling as he does. All you hear is, "Mummm mugph maafmpj mummumhhmum."

Regardless, he was canned because spots were being pulled. If CBS had just left it alone (the controversy), it would've went away on its own. But the big clients hollered and CBS blinked.

Doubtless, Imus' phone is probably ringing off the hook as we speak, with offers. He'll pop back up on the air again soon, somewhere.
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 04-13-2007, 12:00 AM:
 

quote: Tim Reed

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He'll pop back up on the air again soon, somewhere.

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quote: Matt Fields

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This is where we diasagree. Does anyone really think that saying spiteful, harmful things should be banned as a matter of law?

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Define 'spiteful' and 'harmful'.

Should I be able to say that you are ugly? Probably; you might not like it, you may feel that you are not, but I wouldn't be doing you any real harm by saying it.

Should I be able to say (without any evidence to support it) that you are a child rapist? Probably not. Firstly, I would be making what I claimed was a statement of fact, which was incorrect, and assuming that I knew it to be incorrect, a lie. By saying that you were ugly, I would just be expressing an opinion. Secondly, there would be a real possibility of you suffering real harm, you could be attacked, even killed, by an angry mob. Suppose I was to go even further, and encourage the angry mob to attack you; should I be able to do that?
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 04-13-2007, 06:20 AM:
 
I agree with Joe to a certain extent. I love music and so when I get tired of listening to my limited number of cd's that I can take in my car (they don't have a fm broadcaster for MP3 players yet that isn't totally full of static), then I like to listen to the radio. Only problem is there is no music there either. Just a bunch of morons talking about how they got wasted over the weekend and yadda, yadda, yadda.

Now we even have afternoon shows with nothing but talking on the radio. Reminds me of MTV. Doesn't MTV stand for MUSIC TELEVISION? The key word here being MUSIC. Then they started putting all of those reality shows on and you had to wait for hours just to see a video.

I have rented a couple of cars in the past with satellite radio and I was not impressed with that either. Still have to listen to ads and DJ's so what is the advantage? No way I would pay a monthly fee for that.
 

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Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 04-13-2007, 07:48 AM:
 
Yahoo!/AP News Story

quote:

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Imus' wife steps in after CBS fires host

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK - Don Imus' wife took over his radio fundraiser Friday after CBS fired the host for racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. She described Imus' brief meeting with the team the night before and praised the women as "beautiful and courageous."

"They gave us the opportunity to listen to what they had to say and why they're hurting and how awful this is," author Deirdre Imus said as she co-hosted the fundraiser for children's charities.

"He feels awful," she said. "He asked them, 'I want to know the pain I caused, and I want to know how to fix this and change this.'"

"I have to say that these women are unbelievably courageous and beautiful women," she said.

The two-day radio fundraiser had been scheduled long before Don Imus' on-air description of team members as "nappy-headed hos" set off a national debate about taste and tolerance.

On Wednesday, a week after the remark and after advertisers began pulling their support, MSNBC said it would no longer televise the show. CBS fired Imus Thursday from the radio show that he has hosted for nearly 30 years.

"He has flourished in a culture that permits a certain level of objectionable expression that hurts and demeans a wide range of people," CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves said in a memo to his staff.

"In taking him off the air, I believe we take an important and necessary step not just in solving a unique problem, but in changing that culture, which extends far beyond the walls of our company," Moonves said.

C. Vivian Stringer, the Rutgers team's coach, spoke briefly Thursday night after meeting with Imus and his wife at the governor's mansion.

"We had a very productive meeting," she said. "Hopefully, we can put all of this behind us."

She did not say if the team forgave Imus for his remark.

Critics said the host's remarks about the women were just the latest in a line of objectionable statements by the ringmaster of a show that mixed high-minded talk about politics and culture with crude, locker-room humor.

The cantankerous Imus, once named one of the 25 Most Influential People in America by Time magazine and a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, was one of radio's original shock jocks. His career took flight in the 1970s and with a cocaine- and vodka-fueled outrageous humor. After sobering up, he settled into a mix of highbrow talk about politics and culture, with locker room humor sprinkled in.

Imus apologized on his show late last week after getting complaints about the Rutgers comment. He also tried to explain himself before the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio audience, appearing alternately contrite and combative. But many of his advertisers bailed in disgust, particularly after the Rutgers women spoke of their hurt.

On Friday, Sharpton praised Moonves' decision to can Imus and said it was time to change the culture of publicly degrading other people.

"I think we've got to really used this to really stop this across the board," Sharpton told CBS's "The Early Show."

Some Imus fans considered the radio host's punishment too harsh.

WFAN DJ Mike Francesa, whose sports show with partner Chris Russo is considered a likely successor to Imus in the morning, said he was embarrassed by the company. "I'm embarrassed by their decision. It shows, really, the worst lack of taste I've ever seen," he said.

Losing Imus will be a financial hit to CBS Radio, which also suffered when Howard Stern left for satellite radio. The program earns about $15 million in annual revenue for CBS, which owns Imus' home radio station WFAN-AM and manages Westwood One, the company that syndicates the show nationally WFAN.

The show's charity fundraiser had raised more than $1.3 million Thursday before Imus learned he had lost his job. The annual event has raised more than $40 million since 1990.

"This may be our last radiothon, so we need to raise about $100 million," Imus cracked at the start of the event.

Volunteers were getting about 200 more pledges per hour Thursday than they did last year, with most callers expressing support for Imus, said phone bank supervisor Tony Gonzalez. The event benefited Tomorrows Children's Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS and the Imus Ranch.

Imus' troubles have also affected his wife, whose book "Green This!" came out this week. Her promotional tour has been called off "because of the enormous pressure that Deirdre and her family are under," said Simon & Schuster publicist Victoria Meyer.
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Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana, Karen Matthews, Warren Levinson, Seth Sutel, Tara Burghart, Colleen Long and Hillel Italie contributed to this report.

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quote:

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"He feels awful," she said. "He asked them, 'I want to know the pain I caused, and I want to know how to fix this and change this.'"

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I have watched Imus a few times on MSNBC. I always turned the channel not because of offensive behavior but because he was just plain boring. I think Imus has come out looking like the bigger man in this. He has apologized and paid the price for his "mistake". What have the other people done? Have they forgiven him? Absolutely not. They just continue to grill him over it. They have to keep the press focused on themselves.

Sometimes I just want to bitch slap these people on tv.
 

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Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 04-13-2007, 01:41 PM:
 
You would have thought Imus would be a good program to drift off to sleep to, as I used to leave my TV on MSNBC to sleep to. I had to stop doing this (and find another channel to drift off to) as Imus woke me up with his infantile screaming rants at either his engineer, his producer or someone in the studio regarding the temperature of the studio, someone bringing him the wrong coffee to drink, or something nonsensical.
I'm not going to miss him.
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 04-13-2007, 02:23 PM:
 
Here's my theory.

A majority of people in the media and general public have quietly known for some time now that the likes of Don Imus go too far at times. But there's the freedom of speech argument, and that carries a lot of weight to Americans (it's a bogus argument in this case in my opinion). And, more importantly, there's money to be made in shock-jock controversy. So at some point the shock jock train left the station and became this intertia-driven entity that we all tolerated, even though in the back of our minds we knew it was not "good".

So there's a pent-up feeling that "Things have gone too far but we don't know how to stop this train and besides we're making lots of money and people are tuning in and it's funny in a guilty-pleasure sort of way, so waddaya gonna do?"

Then suddenly Don Imus provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to focus their collective feelings and cleanse their conscience by railing against that which they've silently condoned for so long. "Fire the racist bastard!"

Really, Don Imus just facilitated the perfect storm.

Now let's see if Carlos Mencia etc. suffer the same fate. They probably deserve to. But I'm guessing they won't.
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-13-2007, 02:24 PM:
 

quote:

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Don Imus' on-air description of team members as "nappy-headed hos"

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Just what the hell is a "nappy head," anyway?
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 04-13-2007, 02:56 PM:
 
Why is any of this even an issue? If you don't like the programming on a particular radio station, listen to a different one or turn the radio off. Simple. Easy.

I like radio as a concept and enjoy listening to it, but I agree with the other comments that most commercial stations leave much to be desired. NPR and some college stations are worth listening to, at least.
 

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Posted by Chris Dugan (Member # 3893) on 04-13-2007, 03:00 PM:
 
It's an issue because according to the PC crowd, things need to be regulated more. Everything has to be censored because they don't want to take the responsibility to teach the rights and wrongs of the world.

It's just too damn hard to turn the channel.
 

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Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 04-13-2007, 03:19 PM:
 

quote: Bobby Henderson

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Oh it sure as hell does.

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quote: Chad Souder

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No, I'm sorry but it does not. The first amendment, and the freedom of speech clause within, like the rest of the constitution, protect citizens from the government. The constitution does not protect us from each other. There has not even been a hint of government action regarding Imus's comments. He did nothing illegal. Therefore, this does not have anything to do with freedom of speech.

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Your statement is contradicting itself. You just said Imus did nothing illegal? OK. So why is OK for him to get fired?

I think you're fooling yourself if you don't think this issue is ultimately a constitutional one regarding freedom of speech. It is an unavoidable fact two very unequal standards exist for what white people can say compared to those who are not white. Imus' case is yet another example of that. If Imus was black and said some racist & sexist comments about some white female basketball players no one would have cried foul over it. He would have kept his job. And that's partly because most white people would have been too scared to raise the issue.

This condition exists because of rampant political correctness that has run fully unchecked in our society. White people have had to hold their tongues on many issues and walk on eggshells regarding anything else. If they deviate from that repressed standpoint, then, "you're fired!"

There's not a lot of people coming to Imus' defense out of fear of also being branded as a racist and losing their own jobs as well. If a controversial black celebrity came under fire for racist comments, he would have lots of supporters holding rallies on his behalf and likely even calling the entertainer's accusers racists for challenging the issue.

While these uneven standards continue to exist issues regarding race aren't going to improve any further. If Imus needs to be fired for his actions then that same standard should apply across the board to everyone. If we are going to demand certain standards of verbal decency those standards need to be enforced fairly and consistently.

I have said the best thing for people to do is work that channel selector on their radio or TV if they don't like what is playing. Watch or listen to something else. The trouble is, that's really already happening. The public uproar on Imus is generated more by media outlets looking to stir the pot and media whores looking for face time in front of the cameras to vainly promote their own careers.
 

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Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-13-2007, 06:28 PM:
 

 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 04-13-2007, 06:36 PM:
 
Bobby, have you heard of Isiah Washington and his "rehab" sting regarding his gay bashing? Same with Hardaway and his gay bashing. The NBA banned him from the All Star game. Black celebs get targeted too.

I am personally for freedom of speech. But such thing unfortunately hasnt existed in its true form. Imagine if a prominent political talk show host on a network made a crude joke making fun of Mary's so called viriginity and make a snide comment about her virginity. And no, I am not talking about South Park type shows(which are analogous to the rappers comparison with Imus). Imagine if a political talk show host on a network did that. He would be fired too. But South Park will still stay on the air because it is viewed in a different context. And there are other shows as offensive as South Park without the genius of South Park which are allowed to be distributed freely on tape.

And let's not forget whites who have to walk on eggshells are paying for the sins of their fathers, metaphorically. The 50s and 60s mean that a lot of white racists from that era are still alive now. Hell, I hear the nigger word and other racial insults from a few of my Steelers fans EVEN NOW which shocks me because I would expect such stuff from the south, but not from a PIttsburgher(maybe they let their guard down around me since some Indians harbor bigoted tendencies towards blacks in America). I am no saying it is right to curb free speech, but there are reasons why political correctness has gone amuck even if I do not support PCness. John Edwards had to have two of his blogging staff "resign" because of past statements about religion on their own personal blogs way before they even joined his campaign. SOme of the people defending Imus in the media were some of the same people asking why they werent fired.

It could be worse. You could be in Europe where free speech is even more controlled. Or in India where even a fact based documentary is censored.

And Imus has exhausted his quota of freebies. How can you say a guy who has called Gwen Ifill a respectable woman a cleaning lady has no racist intentions in calling a mainly black basketball team nappy headed hos? He just said that based on a visual, not because there were reports of thuggery on that team. THere was no humor in that.

Howard Stern has no problems with Sharpton calling for a boycott despite his racial humor. I think it was Imus's tone and his track record that really made the shit hit the fan. He has this dour attitude and a racial comment will just come across as nastier.

Like I said, they should not have fired him. I just wish political guests did the Cal Ripken thing making him irrelevant over time. And they could have taken out Imus's call screeners to make him feel the wrath of real free speech. All this does is make a martyr of him. I write all of this not to defend the firing but to say that it is understandable to "some" extent why blacks are thin skinned in our country. I dont agree with the PCness because I believe they should learn to hit back without having a show get canceled midterm, but I can understand why their fuse is short.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-13-2007, 06:58 PM:
 

quote: Pravin Ratnam

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Bobby, have you heard of Isiah Washington and his "rehab" sting regarding his gay bashing? Same with Hardaway and his gay bashing. The NBA banned him from the All Star game.

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quote: Pravin Ratnam

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And let's not forget whites who have to walk on eggshells are paying for the sins of their fathers, metaphorically. The 50s and 60s mean that a lot of white racists from that era are still alive now.

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quote: Pravin Ratnam

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I understand a lot of us on this forum tend to be more of a libertarian mindset which is similar to mine.

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 04-13-2007, 07:56 PM:
 
Sorry Bobby...Chad got it right...it is NOT a constitutional thing. The Government did not fire him...the government did not have anything to do with his removal.

In fact, it was the very free speech you love that lead to his dismissal. That is, the speech of the "outraged."

It is certainly a company's place to decide what is in their best interest and if they feel that firing IMUS is in their best interests, then unless he has some sort of contract that guarantees him that job or salary in lieu their of, then he probably has an "at will" job. More than likely, he has a contract that CBS is paying off unless he violated some term in the contract.

There is nothing Constitutional about it. The Constitution was/is about limiting the powers of government...not how companys interact with their employees. There are many things that a company can do that the US government can't. A company is governed by the law of the land, not by the Constitution of the land.

If you want to march down Park Avenue demanding equal treatment of public figures regardless of skin color or ethnic origin, then the government can't silence you...you may need to have the proper permits if this is an offical march in which you might end up conflicting with another's freedom to move about. The government does have the power to maintain order to ensure public safety (the government is entrusted to keep the peace). Heck the government has to ensure your safety. They can't silence you to do it though...even if the likelihood is that you will cause people to be upset (research "Prior Restraint" which was found unConstitutional). Prior restraint is one of my bugaboos...the government practices it way too much and they should be called on it. In its most obvious sense...seat belt laws violate prior-restraint....you only will get hurt IF you get into an accident AND the circumstances are that the seat belt would have stopped you from injuring or killing yourself...the likelihood of a problem is not sufficient for one to apply prior-restraint...at least not according to the Constitution. No one has tested the seat-belt laws for prior-restraint violations like free-speech has been tested (and found to trump prior-restraint). Mind, you I've always worn a seat belt...but I don't think it is government's job to play nanny.

I still couldn't give two sh*ts about IMUS being canned and I think the outraged are as full of crap as IMUS is...UNLESS you were on that team or are related/know the people insulted by it...nobody wants to be called something bad or be thought of something bad...it doesn't make it illegal but I can understand about being upset.

It certainly isn't worth the amount of attention it has brought.
 

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Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 04-13-2007, 08:21 PM:
 
A couple of things here:

As far as the "PC" business. Karl Marx said that every society must consider going to socialism in it's existence (or something to that affect.) I see all this political correct BS as part of that path our government and our culture is taking on our way to that type of society structure. Anyone ever heard the song "The Trees" by Rush? Yeah - this would be the part of the song where the ax is being taken out to chop all the trees to be the same height. Instead of our government being behind it - it's the DAMN MEDIA. Think about it - it only is a big deal when the media makes it a big deal. I bet some media executives have betting pools what the next big story will be and how it will affect our society. I will leave the rest of my opinion to myself on this - because I can go on and on........

Three media stories come to mind: Rodney King, OJ Simpson, and now Don Imus. What do these three media stories have in common? If there was no media coverage (or little to none) we wouldn't be having this conversation right now........

Right?
 

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Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 04-15-2007, 10:40 AM:
 

quote: Bobby Henderson

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Your statement is contradicting itself. You just said Imus did nothing illegal? OK. So why is OK for him to get fired?

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quote:

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As far as the "PC" business. Karl Marx said that every society must consider going to socialism in it's existence (or something to that affect.) I see all this political correct BS as part of that path our government and our culture is taking on our way to that type of society structure. Anyone ever heard the song "The Trees" by Rush? Yeah - this would be the part of the song where the ax is being taken out to chop all the trees to be the same height. Instead of our government being behind it - it's the DAMN MEDIA. Think about it - it only is a big deal when the media makes it a big deal. I bet some media executives have betting pools what the next big story will be and how it will affect our society.

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