Imus is a lying SOB, this 2 week suspension is BS, drop the comparison to rap music

[wndycty]

I'll keep it short and sweet

On the Ifill situation
Imus was just on THE TODAY SHOW and just said the Gwen Ifill thing happened during the Reagan administration, he lied it happened in 1993. He is a weak SOB who is trying to downplay his racist track record and he got away with it.

On the 2 week suspension
That two week suspension if it were to have any integrity would begin IMMEDIATELY. He gets the who week to do get PR and have his fundraiser and then to make nice before taking his punishment BS!

Comparison to rap
Let's quit allowing the behavior of others to excuse Imus. Last I saw, John McCain, Tim Russert, Joe Lieberman, Andrea Mitchell, etc. were not doing the 50 Cent or Jay Z show, hell they don't do even do Stern. Rappers, shockjocks and comedians have all said worst, however they are not legitimized by the MSM and politicians they that Imus is.

BTW his TODAY SHOW appearance made him look even worse.

[ellacott]

1. I missed it

Was he comparing the language used in rap?

[jzodda]

2. Yep time for him to move to HBO or Sat radio I guess

Because apologies are meaningless and being politically correct is the only thing that matters. So another shock jock has to move to where the viewers and/or listeners have to pay for content. Thats the future of TV and radio. If you don't mind people saying stupid things as jokes (in good taste or in bad taste) then its time to move to where you have to pay to listen to it.

Could a show like "All in the Family" be made today where the premise poked fun at the ignorance of a racist white guy and his anti-war son-in-law? Nope...Too many people offended so have to make that show on HBO only. Disgusting...

[ellacott]

5. I think the term politically correct is overused

This was about political correctness. Ho is not a word that should be used. To feel comfortable using that word has more to do with what rappers are saying. He claims he calls his wife a ho. That indicates a problem that goes further than racism. I doubt Archie Bunker would have been able to get away with that word.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. If political correctness means treating people with respect

and accountability for one's words, I'm all for it.

The white victim class is exceedingly shrill. Poor white victims, unable to deride others and perpetuate racism without accountability any more! Wah! Our hearts go out to the white victims, oppressed by "political correctness." Wah...

[wndycty]

11. Amen to that.

I'm not a fan of political correctness myself, however the backlash against it is very appalling. I never understood what was wrong with expecting people to be treated with respect.

[jzodda]

14. So again, to escape accountability one must move to pay for content

And thats exactly whats happening. So be it-but be careful what you wish for. Some of you people are holding this guy up as more then a shock jock but thats all he is. Do you have any idea of what Stern has said over the years? You know what Stern said today? He said Imus should have said F you to people who are angry. How does he escape accountability for his words? Hes on Sat radio where he can say whatever he wants.

We have a war going on, we have a declining middle class, poor getting poorer situation and a lousy country in general now and so this old, white shock jock makes a tasteless joke and this is the national story?

[ellacott]

15. Yes this is a national story and it should be

I just wish people would go after Fox and Ann Coulter with this much enegry.

He's not just a shock jock. If that were true he wouldn't get the types of guests on his show. His show has been legitimized and he has become part of the political dialogue.

What he said doesn't affect you therefore it's not a problem for you but that's not true for everyone.

There are women and minorities who face these words and mindsets on a regular basis. He is more than a shock and jock and his show is more than just an entertainment show.

[jzodda]

17. All I am saying is be careful for what you wish for

We are getting to the point in this country where people have to fear anything they say in public, regardless of how mistaken they are or stupid. Apologies don't count anymore and everything must be 100% squeaky clean. I understand and respect your anger and position and of course I don't condone what he said. I am looking at a bigger picture as I see it. Hate speech as defined by the US Supreme Court has meant anything that could cause people to take action based on that speech against another. All other speech, whether we like it or not is protected. Over the years the definition of hate speech has been widening ever more and its not due to any court decisions, its just the way it has evolved with help from the FCC. The net effect is that you can very rarely watch anything controversial on network TV anymore, and the more risker you get the more likely you will have to pay extra to watch it.

When I say I look at the big picture I am looking beyond his show, and his comments. Had he not apologized then it would be one thing, but since he did why must he now lose his job?

[ellacott]

19. I do agree with you about him losing his job

I am appalled by his comments but I don't feel he should be fired. I do think he needs to be held accountable for his words and I feel there are other ways to accomplish this. I don't think Jimmy the Greek should have been fired either.

Imus' words were so shameful and I think what he said puts him in a different category. This wasn't just anything.

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. Don Imus is perfectly free to say whatever he wants

So is Howard Stern.

[jzodda]

26. I disagree...Stern can but Imus can not. Not on free radio/TV

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. He's free to say it

Whether consequences attend his statements is another matter.

[Venus Dog]

3. Don Anus is a proud member of the He-Man Woman Hater's Club

He ain't going nowhere until hell freezes over. :evilgrin:

[KharmaTrain]

4. He Keeps Digging Deeper

A black friend once described the real problem with rap music...that blacks have to experience the hatred and violence that is the root of the gangsta rap. Now would Imus like them to take out pick-up trucks from his beloved country music? Also, my friend would also relate that the use of "homeboy" words were a constant reminder to them all how far removed they were from the projects and the neighborhoods...or how little removed they are. How they are still singled out in white society and still face a glass curtain of discrimination.

Someone brought up the fact that Imus not only knew the term "Natty Ho" but felt free to use it must have come from somewhere. That he chose those specific words is more telling than any mea culpa or excuse he tries to squirm around with.

The sad irony is there are many Imus' on sports and hate radio these days...who feel they have to be "funny" which now means to demean and slime people...especially those you don't know or have no way of rebutting. It's also a sad indictment on the cronyism in corporate media who are intollerant of us "dirty fuckin' hippies" on the internets, but want us to give their buddy a pass cause he's got a great PR vehicle that will sell their books and make them the talk of the drinkie-drinkie parties.

Cheers...

:hi:

[ellacott]

7. What I think the biggest irony with rap music is that blacks are the majority consumers

70% of rap music is sold to white youth. Black music is so diverse, much broader that ganster rap. I don't like the the lyrics in rap music and speak out against it whenever I can.

I hate that people try to use the excuse that someone else does it to justify their actions. That still doesn't excuse Imus.

[Karenina]

20. To all those waxing philosophical about gangsta rap

There is a REASON the market is flooded with that detritus which is the same reason that it's likely NONE of you have heard of Anthony DeMore and only a few are familiar with Michael Franti...

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Imus should be grateful for the two-week suspension. The network is

hoping the whole controversy will die down and disappear by the time that Imus returns, "repentent" and the matter in the past. I don't think this is going away. This situation is akin to Lonesome Roads in "A Face In The Crowd" going to far, his derogatory remarks about how he thinks his listeners are idiots being used as his downfall. I predict Imus will be back but without the same number and type of sponsors and "guests" will be reticent about appearing on the show except for diehards like Joe Lieberman.

[KharmaTrain]

8. How About These Offensive Lyrics...

This is playing in my head this morning:

Woman is the nigger of
the world
Yes she is...think about it
Woman is the nigger of
the world
Think about it...do
something about it

We make her paint her
face and dance
If she won't be slave ,we
say that she don't love us
If she's real, we say she's
trying to be a man
While putting her down we
pretend that she is above us
Woman is the nigger of
the world...yes she is
If you don't belive me take a
look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of
the slaves
Ah yeah...better screem
about it
We make her bear and raise
our children
And then we leave her flat for
being a fat old mother hen
We tell her home is the only
place she would be
Then we complain that she's
too unworldly to be our friend
Woman is the nigger of
the world...yes she is
If you don't belive me take a
look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of
the slaves
Yeah (think about it)

We insult her everyday on TV
And wonder why she has no
guts or confidence
When she's young we kill her
will to be free
While telling her not to be so
smart we put her down for being so dumb
Woman is the nigger of
the world...yes she is
If you don't belive me take a
look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of
the slaves
Yes she is...if you belive me,
you better screem about it.

Repeat:
We make her paint her
face and dance
We make her paint her
face and dance We make her paint her
face and dance

[chimpymustgo]

12. Yoko Ono, IIRC? Speaking some truth. But imagine being a black woman.

What the hell does that make you?

[karynnj]

21. No, John Lennon

It is also completely obvious that this is in defense of equal treatment of women - the whole point was that they were (per the song) treated as second class citizens. The album that was on "Sometime in NYC" (I think) was the most political stuff Lennon did. I am a woman and Paul was my favorite Beatle - but I NEVER had a problem with this song though I have never used that word.

[bluestateguy]

9. I think this story is turning into the next Anna Nicole

Let's Move on. This nation is at war. Nothing else should be in the news but that.

[ellacott]

13. That's not true

This may not affect you personally but it does affect many people on a regular basis.

There are segments of our population who feel they have been at war with this issue for a long time.

The was is a catastrophic disaster and a moral disgrace but please don't discount other issues because it doesn't personally impact you.

[durrrty libby]

16. Please, just condemn him to the eclectric chair already. You wolves need to be fed.

[ellacott]

18. This is precisely why this is still an issue

Why do you feel the neccesity to call people wolves? It impossible for many to have a dialogue because many people are only concerned with those issues that directly affect them.

Why should he be condemned to the electric chair. That type of sarcasm is part of the problem.

I personally don't feel he should be fired but since we can't get past the sarcasm we will cotinue to have these issues come up again.

[durrrty libby]

24. You are wrong.The electric chair reference is not sarcasm

Electric chair mentality is all too frequent here and in society in general

I call people wolves because they are wolves.

[ellacott]

25. You're using a pretty broad brush

There have been many posts, in this section alone, that have called for alternatives for firing him(or putting him in the electric chair). These obviously are not important to many who aren't interested in a dialogue.

Still don't get the wolves thing.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. Yes, poor victim Don Imus is being lynched

That's what's happening.

:sarcasm:

[yellowcanine]

27. And where are McCain, Lieberman, Russert, Mitchell et al on this?

The silence is deafening. Seems to me they have helped lend respectibility to Imus by appearing on his show, even though they know he goes over the line frequently. So they should say SOMETHING.

[ellacott]

28. McCain released a statement saying that he's a believer of redemption

http://news.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=444672