The Imus Controversy
I’m no fan of Don Imus. I know his show is carried on MSNBC, but I never listen to it. The uproar is over him referring to the Rutgers women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos.” This comment was admittedly out of line and Imus has apologized over it.
Today Imus appeared on Al Sharpton’s radio show and publicly apologized, yet again. But the good Reverend says he just can’t forgive him. Jesse Jackson is busily organizing protests marches demanding for Imus to lose his job. I haven’t heard whether or not Jackson has forgiven him but if the marches are being organized, I’d guess not.
And the hypocrisy of it is glaring to me. Here we have two men of the cloth who seem to be willing to accept nothing less than the head of Don Imus. Al Sharpton, you will recall, was involved in the Tawana Brawley affair years ago — all too willing to accept the word of a liar because she accused white boys of assaulting her. I don’t recall that he ever apologized. The Reverend Jackson was forgiven for his famous “Hymie Town” remark.
Now let’s turn to the words that Imus used. He was clearly looking for a laugh as radio personalities try to do, but from where did the the idea for the expression come? I think we need look no further than rap music as the source of the degradation of women. Lyrics often refer to women as bitches and “hos.” We should not be surprised that the terminology has slipped into everyday usage.
If the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton want to protest anything or anyone, they ought to be looking at the music industry that promotes this kind of talk. But Imus is an old white guy and he’s the one they go after. It was just announced that MSNBC is suspending the Imus show for two weeks. Will that be enough for these two? I somehow doubt it.
But I guess if one is missing any kind of controversy in their lives, there’s still Rosie O’Donnell to watch. After all, she can spout offensive things out of her mouth if the target is right. To remove her from the airwaves would be a violation of the first amendment, wouldn’t it? I get it now — Imus bad, O’Donnell good.
Sheez! We have gone PC crazy in this country.
Posted by COgirl
April 9th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Where do these “reverends” have churches? Are they Christian reverends? If so, when was the last time they preached about Christ? And if they are Christians, they they must know that when someone asks for forgiveness with a contrite heart, YOU FORGIVE HIM.
If they are Christian ministers and do not forgive, then Jackson and Sharpton do not deserve the honorific of “reverend” and are nothing more than poverty pimps and race hustlers.
Think anyone in the MSM would have the guts to say that?
April 9th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
No, Big Mo. That’s why you had to say it here.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Honestly, I would have fired him the same afternoon.
Someone his age should have had more brains and class than to do something like that.
Sure, Sharpton is a preening buffoon, and there are those who will hypocritically try to exploit this, but if it’s my radio station…
“Clean out your desk. Now.”
FWIW
April 9th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I don’t disagree with you, MFG, I just note the hypocrisy that abounds. He must pull in some good ratings otherwise they probably would have shown him the door.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I don’t personally care for Imus, Sharpton, Jackson, or any of the media companies involved in this mess. If anyone apologizes to anyone, it should be to the Rutgers team, their coach, and school.
I do find it interesting that many of the media I’ve seen are circling the wagons around Imus. Two week suspensions are nothing but perfunctory. If this was a conservative public figure rather than a liberal media personality, there would be a head on a pike.
Hipocrasy as usual.
April 9th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
“Imus” could end this tomorrow morning…
Create a Rap/Hip Hop CD and Music Video…
Hire Rapper Chicks to dress-up in Rutgers Girls uniforms ((only tighter & shorter))…
Repeat those exact same comments @ 200 times…but add something like…
“”Gonna git Bush–Gonna git Bush–ahuh–ahuh–I say, ahuh…”"
Make $$$…Keep his job…
Everybody’s happy…Hip Hop Happy…ahuh…I say, ahuh…
April 9th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
I must be the only person who doesn’t think his comments were offensive.
April 9th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
I must be the only person who doesn’t think his comments were offensive.
Comment by Rory
Mild to what they call themselves. Imus the lefty is hung on his own petard, poetic justice.
April 10th, 2007 at 12:15 am
His remarks are inexcusable, HOWEVER, the whole aftermath is just a cya stunt. I believe the television industry should suspend MSNBC permanently. The entire network is nothing but a waste. I believe Imus is entirely involved in this aftermath, and is laughing all the way to his ranch (via his bank). Others on that network have said some pretty gross stuff and some have outright lied. What to do….make an example of Imus?? Give me a break.
April 10th, 2007 at 2:20 am
Don Imus Suspended for Mysterious Comment
Don Imus has been twisting for days as an avalanche of criticism is leveled at him for a muffled comment made into a microphone that I am too obtuse to even understand. Video below. In an effort to blunt calls for his firing, CBS Radio and MSNBC hav…
April 10th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Sharpton and Jackson are bunch of hypocrites. They are both racist and bigots. Imus is not what I care for but he is a shock jock during the time of Howard Stern. Yes, its wrong, but aren’t we protected by the free speech. Or is it only if your part of the mainstream hollywood leftwing media you get a pass. It was a mistake. Move on. So bring it on. This time I want to see them try to get rid of Imus. I highly doubt it. GE and Viacom is too strong of a corporation to be pushed around. Men of the cloth, indeed! Sharpton and Jackson are jerks!
April 10th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
The biggest problem that I have is that Jackson and Sharpton are going after Imus because he’s the “easy target”. They need to be going after the rappers too if they are to be taken seriously.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Perfect COgirl. These insane men of the cloth should go after the root cause of women hate and that are rap song in the music industry. Why punish those who follow such poison. Punish those who are the disease that distroys society.