Imus: 'Embarrassed' by racial comments

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Associated Press

CNN/AP: Imus: 'Embarrassed' by racial comments
April 9, 2007


Don Imus referred to Rutgers women's basketball players as "nappy-headed hos" on his radio show last week.

NEW 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."

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

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.

"It's not going to be easy, but I'm not looking for it to be easy," Imus said....

LINK TO CNN VIDEO SEGMENT ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY: http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2007/04/08/acosta.imus.fall.cnn

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

[NormanYorkstein]

1. Imus: Afraid he'll lose his job

too bad so sad

[Buzz Clik]

2. LOL! grovel grovel grovel

[MikeNearMcChord]

3. No, he is embarrassed that he is being called out.

Dump the bigot!

[ryanmuegge]

84. Exactly.

His contrition is so artificial.

A person doesn't just let such a vile insult come out.

Because Imus is a right-wing idiot, though, he only gets suspended. Bill Mahr and Donahue get axed immediately for saying things that aren't even bigoted.

The way I see it, Imus is expressing an opinion that is shared by the upper managment of General Electric.

[Donnachaidh]

4. he's only embarrassed because someone pointed out his racism.

It's time for Imus to be sent to a nursing home. We don't need voices like HIS on the airwaves.

[marylanddem]

5. NOW website has easy Imus-firing link

Makes it real easy to demand of broadcasters the racist, sexist a-hole be fired.
http://now.org/

[Rose Siding]

6. Where's McGuirk's apology?

He fed Imus the lead for this latest crap-

"Some hardcore hos," McGuirk said.

"That's some nappy-headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that," Imus said.

[Ilsa]

7. And the tattoo remark also shows how far behind they are in

understanding our culture now. Many people have tattoos, and it doesn't make them bikers or criminals or "hard core". I personally have decided not to get one because they are permanent, but sometimes it is tempting. And I am not a 20-something.

[peacetalksforall]

21. What about 'Jigaboos'?

IMUS: That's some rough girls from Rutgers. Man, they got tattoos and --

BERNARD McGUIRK: Some hard-core hos.

IMUS: That's some nappy-headed hos there. I'm gonna tell you that now, man, that's some -- woo. And the girls from Tennessee, they all look cute, you know, so, like -- kinda like -- I don't know.

McGUIRK: A Spike Lee thing.

IMUS: Yeah.

McGUIRK: The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes -- that movie that he had.

(Snipped from Media Matters transcript)

[Carni]

22. "Jigaboos"??? Jesus--that idiot McGuirk actually said that!?!?

Why in the hell hasn't HE had to issue an apology?

This whole issue boggles the mind--aside from the fact that they leveled inexcusable racist slurs...are they completely stupid to boot?!?!

[AngryOldDem]

51. They should can McGuirk

He spews more offensive shit in one show than Imus does in a week.

[Carni]

59. I totally agree

I have heard him say stuff as "Father Egan" that left me picking my jaw up off of the floor. IMUS is objectionable but McGuirk is way worse.

[AngryOldDem]

64. And Imus's pretend indignation is just as insulting

As if anyone believes his half-hearted "Now, we don't need to go there," or "Now, that's enough" lines, as he laughs just as loud as anybody else in the studio.

It was only a matter of time that he was called out for stuff like this. I'm just sorry that it had to come at the expense of college kids who in no way, shape, or form deserved it, or the attention they're now getting from it.

ON EDIT: I don't know how badly MSNBC needs Imus in the Morning, but I really don't think it can afford the negative publicity, either. It will be interesting to see what the network does.

[Carni]

69. I agree here as well!

I hope I didn't sound like I was giving IManASS a pass on his BS, because I think his conduct is reprehensible and I don't like him in general.

The fact that he insulted random college people is beyond the pale.

[Ilsa]

25. Ugh. Two ugly souls yapping on the radio. nt

[Marie26]

31. Because that's McGuirk's JOB.

He says the most blatant insults & racist jokes so that Imus can have a bit of cover. Imus has said as much.

[sutz12]

8. I think he "misspoke"......he must have meant "proud. of" nt

[Dhalgren]

9. How can you call any young woman, who is doing her best in college

and in top-tier athletics a "whore" and not do it with "malice"? Imus did not know any of these young women, so referring to them as "whores" is nothing but malicious. To make disparaging remarks about their hair is one thing, but to call them "whores"? No apology can be made that would be adequate; Imus is done...

[marylanddem]

10. Right on - And what about little girls, black AND white,

who might be aspiring to athletic careers and heard this kind of hate speech? What impact on those young people who don't understand the concept of a "shock jock" - or, for that matter, young boys listening to Imus thinking that this kind of hateful attitude is not only acceptable but richly rewarded by the major media?

[MsUnderstood]

14. well we don't have to split and categorize the insults

By calling the player's "nappy head" he wasn't talking about their hair, he was talking about them being black (in an EXTREMELY stereotypical and derogatory manner).

By calling the players "hos" he wasn't talking about their sex life, he was talking about their gender (in an EXTREMELY stereotypical and derogatory manner).

I'd be surprised anyone would diminish the name calling by saying "He just meant they needed new hair products"

[Carni]

23. Yeah and check the accent/dialect they spoke in...

When they were making their remarks--it was offensive as hell.

They sounded like a couple of old klan members chuckling amongst themselves.

I don't see how he'll weasel out of this.

[RobinA]

39. I Totally Believe

he did it without malice. That's the sad part. He's such a total ignoramus and moral degenerate that he thinks calling women whores is funny. He's like a person who would beat up a handicapped person for fun (no, I'm not comparing female basketball players to handicapped people, I'm talking about the mindset) and then say, "But I didn't mean anything by it." It would be less scary if he DID mean something by it.

[vi5]

11. Where are all the Imus fans/updaters now?

Can we finally dispense with the notion that this guy is anything less than a sub-limbaugh hack? Can we finally get democratic politicians to stop appearing on his show? And more importantly can we stop with the "So and so on Imus now....saying this....saying that...blah blah blah." Who gives a rats ass about Imus. And no the "I'm just trying to find out what the other side is saying" cannard doesn't hold true.

The guy is an idiot. I don't think he should lose his job since you know, free speech and all. But can we finally get otherwise respectable politicians and public figures to stop appearing on his show?

[marylanddem]

13. Hopefully, soon his show will not be there for them to visit...

[Dhalgren]

16. There are numerous "sources" that are not accepted on DU,

Imus should be on that list.

[babylonsister]

19. Here's one. Imus was wrong with this; he's too careless with the words

he spews, obviously. He's being deservedly lambasted, and it could end his career. (Add Bernard to that mix, who is always too over-the-top imo)

He also cares, RE: Walter Reed, kids w/cancer, the environment (sort of) and is willing to talk about issues when others won't, and garner lots of attention (and money) for those issues that need attention.

So can I say I'm torn?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

47. I agree Sister that he does a lot of good work through his show.

I was one that sent in a donation to fund the new rehab facility for our soldiers returning from war zones, and that was because Imus was on a drive to collect this money. Otherwise I wouldn't have heard about it. Likewise, his involvement, along with Robert Kennedy Jr., against mercury based innoculations in children has brought great attention to autism-linked studies. Then there are his efforts to remove chemical cleaners from the environment, a known cause of asthma and other diseases in children and adults. And certainly everyone is aware of the ranch program that he runs for children with cancer.

Imus was a schmuck last week and quite possibly his stupidity will destroy so much of the good that he does during the year. Very sad for the charities that rely on him.

On Edit...About Bernard? There are no words. This is a small, small man. I have never heard a decent or kind word come out of his mouth.

[pretzel4gore]

73. he said 'that criminal in the whitehouse!'

last week, and, well...next thing he's saying this about the Rutgers team...i sent him an email saying 'Don! Don! mygod guy, how can you break those poor kids hearts like that; even my racist friends were offended...' etc...
bush wins again

[JoFerret]

74. You are going to have to mend that tear

this man is a sexist racist homophobic loudmouth.

[bemildred]

12. I really do not understand why anyone listens to that self-serving weasel.

Rush in a wig.

[peacetalksforall]

15. They played it smart. They have focused on 'him'. He can

claim 'he' was the good person who did a bad thing.

THE REALITY IS that the venom comes from and is directed towards Bernard, the (producer - I think he's called that) who is horrendously bigoted.

THE REALITY IS that they have a near daily impersonator who reeks of bigoted remarks around which his act is created.

THE REALITY IS that they have been doing this ALL the time I have been aware of the program - back to the 90's.

The reality is that MSNBC condones this.

The reality is that MSNBC pays THEM for this.

Is someone from MSNBC going to go with him to Al Sharpton's studio?

Is someone from GE/Microsfot going to issue an apology?

Is someone from GE/Microsft going to fire anyone?

Is Bernard going to issue an apology.

It would be smart of them to close down the show, take a look at themselves, ponder the family values of an early morning show, ponder their total hypocrisy as a facilitator of the right wing message.

Yes, they are smart for targeting Imus. He and GE/Micorsoft will go free. But, I hope people will be able to see the hypocrisy of the Republican Party as it exists in this production that aids the RNC as it spreads their entire lying, unholy agenda.

[goclark]

18. How right you are !all of them are bigots to allow it to happen

each and every day.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

27. You just hit on the tactic.

Don't pressure MSNBC, pressure Microsoft. They twitch at the least bad PR issue. Hit 'em from that side.

All that said, I think that the best tactic would be to go after Bernard. He is the straw that stirs this toxic drink. A real knucklehead, whenever one of these things occurs, you can bet Bernard is behind it. The guy need to go back to pushing faders in a 500 watt station in Nebraska. Get rid of Bernard, you put the fear of God in the rest of them and the show goes away in 2 years, tops.

You know, for all the criticism that Howard Stern gets(note: I am NOT a Howeird fan), you never hear such stuff on his show. To his credit.

[Bake]

33. Is Microsoft still affilliated with MSNBC?

I thought they had pulled out some time back, but I could be wrong. ANybody know?

Bake

[peacetalksforall]

38. Gates signed the deal the GE - Gates pulled out of MS. Is that

what you're connecting?

[shanti]

17. yeah right, just like that seinfeld guy

he "made a mistake". the light's shining on the closet racists and they are now exposed.

btw, by that photo of him, who's he calling nappy headed?!?

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

20. I'm Embarrassed I have to share a planet with this guy n/t

[nealmhughes]

24. Despicable. Craven. Coward. Time for rehab?

Don Imus, you were safe in your studio saying that, try it on the street or in the student union at Rutgers. . . or even better, go to Spellman College and say it.

[Matamoros]

26. He should not be embarassed. He should be fired.

Fire him.
Racist scum.

[bunkerbuster1]

28. Oh, he'll be fired. Just like Bill Bennet. Like Neal Boortz.

Claim that aborting all the black babies will reduce crime, and say that Cynthia McKinney looks like a "ghetto slut," and your ass is out of a job!

right?

[MidwestTransplant]

29. Countdown until he enters rehab....

[Marie26]

30. Oh, I'm sure

Imus has been a racist, sexist jerk for years, and suddenly he's sorry about it? I don't understand why he's still on the air, or why the Washington elite still jump to be on his asinine show.

[SayitAintSo]

32. He did a bad thing ... BUT

Remember he is an equal opportunity badmouther... not many folks are exempt if you watch Imus as I do - that is his game - see it in context. I can't count the times I have really appreciated him giving Cheney hell and many others over this war in Iraq. He is not afraid to speak his mind on ANY issue. Regarding his recent comments - I don't think he is a bad man and he appears sincerely contrite. I also have to admire him for all the good he has done for many causes that other have failed to put their words or energy behind (environment, kids with cancer, autism, health care for war vets, the list goes on). To me, it would be a great loss to lose his voice on these issues, despite the recent controversy.

O.K go ahead and flame me if you must!

[Marie26]

34. Not a flame, but

If you're a regular viewer, you must know that he has a long history of making comments like this? Imus is a racist & a misogynist & anyone else would've been booted off the air long ago.

Imus may be past his peak in popularity, but his show is on 92 stations and still reaches enough white males to be a potent magnet for politicians. The magnet is so strong they forget that throughout the 1990s, Imus became known for racist humor and for creating an atmosphere where guests felt comfortable to test drive their meaner spirits.


Imus and former US senator Alfonse D'Amato mocked Lance Ito, the judge in the O.J. Simpson trial, with a fake Asian accent even though Ito himself spoke perfect English. Imus and Donald Trump have mocked American Indian customs. The show had obscene songs about Hillary Rodham Clinton going to ''state dinners with her lesbian friends.'' Senator John Kerry once joked on Imus about former governor William Weld, ''this guy takes more vacations than the people on welfare.''

Imus said of an African-American New York Times White House reporter: ''Isn't the Times wonderful? It lets the cleaning lady cover the White House.'' Imus called a top Washington Post media critic a ''boner-nosed, beanie-wearing Jew boy.''

Several African-American women, such as Oprah Winfrey, Aretha Franklin, and Serena and Venus Williams, have been denigrated as whores for their body dimensions. A Mexican tennis player was called a ''little dishwasher,'' the friendship between entertainer Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson was declared a case of ''jungle retardation,'' and black people from the Knicks to diseased Africans are joked about as gorillas and monkey eaters.

In 1998 on CBS's ''60 Minutes,'' Mike Wallace asked Imus if the specific purpose of sidekick Bernard McGuirk was to do ''nigger jokes.'' When Imus denied using the word, his own producer, Tom Addison, said, ''I recall you using that word.''

Sick Relationship: Media Stars, Racist Imus -

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1751

One time might be a "context issue", but over & over again for twenty years? That's a continuing pattern of racism and sexism, for which Imus has never apologized in the past. If he's apologizing now, it's not because he's "contrite", but because he's "scared" that he might finally be fired. And good riddance, IMO.

[SayitAintSo]

45. I respect your opinion and appreciate your response

I have long wondered how he has gotten away with some of the stuff that goes on on the show.... Cardinal Egan being one of them. It will be interesting to watch where this goes. For me, while I do think some of his and his staff's comments do go well over the top, I hate to see anyone fully defined by their worst mistakes.

Thanks for your response.

[yellowcanine]

35. The problem with this argument is that there is a history on this with Imus.

If this were the first time and it would be "out of character" for Imus it would be one thing. But it is not. He has a history of insensitive and boorish remarks about gays, blacks, Jews, women, etc. He does not just trash people who "deserve" it like Cheney et al. He trashes people he doesn't even know for superficial reasons, like appearance, etc. His sthick has gotten old. It's time for him to do something else. He can still raise money for his ranch, sell his salsa, or whatever. And if he can find sponsors to fund his inane babbling, fine. But networks should pull the national syndication and responsible journalists and politicians only sully their own reputations by appearing on his show. He is just not funny anymore. Careless repeated bigotry is still bigotry and doesn't need to be tolerated.

[RobinA]

40. He Called

a bunch of young women whores. That's "speaking his mind"? Public figures (Cheney) are fair game in their political life. There's simply no reason to call a bunch of college basketball players whores.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

44. ...he appears sincerely contrite.

I'll preface my comments by stating that I despise the P.C. police.

I watch Imus every morning for yuks and to hear his guests, not all of whom are as moronic or asinine as a Ricky Santorum or a Joementum Loserman. For the purpose of this discussion, I'll likened Imus to, say, Carlos Mencia, who doesn't apologize for being "an equal opportunity bad mouther." And, no, Imus doesn't have a greater responsibility than Mencia simply because Carlos is on Comedy Central: I give you Limbarf, Stern, et. al. But, my gawd, contrite?! He was reduced to a whimpering, wounded, babbling-brook of a baby this morning--unbearably so. No matter how many times you repeat yourself, one cannot wish people will accept your apology. But he blathered on and on like a fool trying, IMO, to convince only himself that he's not a bad guy. I found it interesting that Bernie was M.I.A. The only guest I heard, Howard Fineman (amongst my favorites), was applying band-aids to the cowboy's owie.

Truly pathetic this morning. Do what you've got to do to try to make things right. In the meantime, get back on the horsie you just fell off and ride, cowboy, or go away and snivel. Besides, isn't this your job--acting like a jerk? Well, today must be one of your finest hours because you are everywhere. And that's good for ratings according to Howard Stern.

One last note: I often feel sorry for Chris Carlin...but I don't know why. When he signed on, he did so knowing that his place was to be the butt of every fat joke. Even nice guys like Chris Carlin (he comes across as a nice guy, anyway) make idiotic (life) decisions.

[SayitAintSo]

48. I only saw a little bit this morning...

He did appear a bit wimpy - I only heard a little of the last interview and the guy - (can't remember his name) but he was effusive in his support. I want to hear the interview with Sharpton... bet that will be all over the news. And I agree with you on Carlin - I feel sorry for him at times, but he also make that choice knowing the price for that career move.

[IADEMO2004]

50. If Chris had been there and not slimey Sid

what would we talk about today

[minkyboodle]

53. hmmm

likening Imus to Carlos Mencia (aka Carlos Menstealia aka his real name Ned Holness) They
are both hacks, racist and unfunny so I personally like the comparison. Thats just me though.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

54. Hmmmmmmm...

Dave Chappelle????

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

61. Dave Chappelle is worth a thousand Carlos Mencias. He is much more talented,

perceptive and funny. He pushes boundaries, but he doesn't rely on spewing racist names on a constant basis, as does Mencia.

Chappelle's "kinder, gentler KKK" sketch is one of my favorites, because it so deliciously skewers the idiocy of that group. Mencia sounds, sometimes, like he could be an ad hoc member. MKJ

[minkyboodle]

66. exactly

the fact that Ned rode Chappelle's coat tails with that time
slot is a disgrace, considering that Chappelle left his show
because he was afraid of stepping over the line and enforcing
stereotypes instead of playing with them. The exact cheap laughs
that Mencia desperately tries to deliver. Menstealia is worthless
and straight up not funny. Him and Larry The Cable Guy are both
frauds who are reviled by their peers, contrast that with the
respect a guy like Chappelle gets from his fellow stand ups.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

76. Chappelle over Mencia every time with more comments about Imus.

One of Chappelle's final episodes was a town-hall meeting to promote a discussion of racial stereotyping and social responsibility. The final speaker, a black woman, gave an eloquent summation. I wish I could quote her, but I'll have to rely upon my own words.

(my words) It's healthy to laugh at ourselves and one another. Comedy shortens the distance between races and laughter is a healthy remedy.

I'll give Carlos his props, tho. I've seen his stand-up, and he adimantly states that if you can't make a joke about people--be it about race, sexual orientation, a physical handicap, or other--in front of those people, you have no business making those jokes at all. No, he's not nearly as funny as Chappelle, not by a large margin. But I respect him for his approach to comedy.

This brings me back to Imus, who's now behaving like a servile baby. Apparently, the cowboy doesn't live by Carlos' rule: he now wants to offer a mea culpa to the Rutgers basketball team and their families.

I've only been watching Imus a few years, and considering the myriad distinguished guests that line up to be on air with him, I had given him the benefit of the doubt. Specifically, that he is, as Tim Russert asserts, a lovable curmudgeon. I realize that the M.O. of "Imus in the Morning" is to be the Anti-Today Show: "we're not happy until you're not happy." And for that I am grateful, because I, like Imus, think "they" are a bunch of phonies.

This evening, however, I learned through Jesse Jackson that this wasn't Imus' first mea culpa. O.K., that changes things. A person should be judged not by their words but by their deeds. Imus does a lot of good for a lot of people in need. That cannot be denied. But as a recovering addict, an area I can speak to, my susposition is that he got drunk off his growing ability to influence others (power). I can't imagine what a "revamped" version of the "Imus in the Morning" show might look like... the Today Show hosted by a dry drunk???? Should be fun to watch him squirm... but only for a few days. Perhaps someone higher up the MSNBC food chain will perform a mercy killing.

[RobinA]

56. This Has Nothing To Do With PC

It has to do with decency. I can't speak to Mencia, as I don't know anything about him. Badmouthing is not the same as name calling, and frankly, I just don't see that hilarity in name calling. As a female, I don't accept Imus' reported whimpering. There's just no excuse for calling a bunch of girls "whores," unless they are, indeed, prostitutes, and even then.... It wasn't a slip odd the tongue or a fit of pique, it was typical, ages old misogynism. Spouted, as it often is, to seem cool, like one of the guys, funny, badass, or what have you. There is no contrition, it wasn't an accident or even a momentary slip. It was the blathering of an ignorant jerk, of which there are many on the airwaves. And don't get me started on that female-phobic Stern.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

58. calling a bunch of girls "whores," unless they are, indeed, prostitutes...

That's gem. It made me laugh. I don't care if you're offended.

Stay out of my comedy, and I'll let you work yourself into a hissy fit playing yard duty.

One last note: I've heard it said that one person's tragedy is another person's comedy. I'm sure many of you are delighting in Imus' self-inflicted wound. (wink)

[uppityperson]

36. Sure you can make fun of anyone and everyone, just don't do it by bigotted means.

"wow, I can't believe you could make a basket" would make fun of a bb team, while calling them what he did is racist bigotted. Perhaps he needs to go to humor school rehab?

[Old Vet]

37. I never paid imus much attention until.............

He started calling out those bastards at Walter Reed, And hes been straight up in Bushs face for a long time. Hes been an good advocate for vets and his work with children at his ranch, But what he said was bullshit. Shit.

[bamacrat]

41. A question to black DUers....

Does it make you feel better when Imus, Richards etc. go and apologize to Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson? I understand the symbolism of it but I also think it seems insincere to think that by appologizing to and meeting with two people who play the race card more than most it make it better or ok with all black people. Just curious

[Karenina]

55. Get bent.

:puke:

[BronxBoy]

62. Not Particularly...

Personally I think the RNC plays the race card more than most but that's a matter for another discussion.

Listen, I can understand some people having issues with Al and Jesse. And I'm not saying that those issues don't have merit. But the thing you have to understand is that I believe a majority of Black Americans don't take any solace in the fact that they are going to these individuals to apologize.

I think that we are more disturbed that shit like this can get said again and again by White people who have power and nothing ever gets done about it.

I will feel better if Jackson and Sharpton use this incident to address some issues within our own community that this incident highlights.

I hope this answers the curious question of a poster who thinks that all of us Black folk worship at the alter of Sharpton and Jackson. God forbid we can separate issues from personalities

[FredScuttle]

75. Fuck you

two times. Thanks for your interest

[onehandle]

42. Ann Coulter has said things a thousand times worse on many occasions.

And is constantly rewards by the networks.

Imus is a pig and makes a piggish comment and it's the end of the world.

His career should be over for this and many other reasons.

What are we doing wrong with Coulter?

All I can think is that she is towing the Bush line and is protected for her support.

[codnerbill]

43. Don Imus

Who is Al Sharpton to accuse anybody of being racist. He seems to be one of the worst racists I have ever seen when he spews all that hatred across the airways on the national news channels. He is for quotas, he's constantly bellicose about raising the taxes on the producers to pay the non producers. He needs to take a deep breath and realize just what he is before demanding the demise of Don Imus for being a racist. Anybody who knows Imus, knows he's no racist. I am not a big fan of his, used to be, but I didn't like his remarks to President Bill Clinton and I don't like some of the names he uses describing our President today. I prefer to watch another station when he's on although I do find him funny from time to time.

As far as "nabby headed hos", there is probably a rap artist trying to figure out a way of using that terminology in his next release. Rap artists use far worse descriptions of black women than "nappy headed hos," and where is Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and the rest of the black racists as their big contributors use far worse language, hate, and violence. I would say, Al, put your money where your mouth is and quit acting like a hypocrite.

[IADEMO2004]

46. Welcome to DU, I support Imus too

Now "DUCK"

[mvd]

60. This doesn't excuse what Imus said

And actually, Sharpton has gone after rappers before, trying to get the FCC on them for their violent acts and lyrics. He's also spoken against sexist lyrics:

http://www.bet.com/Music/Archives/BET.com+-+Al+Sharpton+Disses+Rap+Against+Women+1081.htm

[BronxBoy]

63. You Know

I was with you until you used the term "Our President"

Now there is a lot of disagreement about Imus on this board. That's allowed here unlike the land you hail from. But I'm pretty sure, not too many on DU are going to get bothered by Al's remarks about "oUR pRESIDENT"

And you're right, a rap artisit is trying to figure out the terminology because not many people in the Black community knows what a "nabby headed hos" is.

LOL

They just crawl out of the woodwork, don't they?





:rofl: :rofl:

[Doremus]

68. He's for "quotas"?? Raising "producers" taxes to pay "non-producers"?

Enjoy your stay. I'm sure it will be short.

[fishwax]

70. very short. one post, in fact

already tombstoned. :rofl:

[0rganism]

49. firing Imus would be a net loss, though

Imus is doing the right thing by apologizing profusely -- he made a disgusting and hurtful comment, and that can't be overlooked. But we should temper the natural urge to remove him from the airwaves entirely for that reason alone. When a major media personality has their job jeopardized on that basis, there's a definite pull to reincarnate as Ann Coulter wannabes, and they start by demonizing their accusers. Push these guys into a corner, and they'll fight back somehow. Give Imus room to make changes, which (going by the quotes in this article) it's pretty obvious he's willing to make, and his show might actually improve.

He could become a media model for the apologetic racist, and there are plenty out there with that problem, make no mistake. His contrition -- I'm not sure whether its artificial or genuine, always hard to tell with the rich & famous who have something major to lose or gain through their public actions -- will make for interesting material in its own right. Let him squirm under the microscope for a while, and let it go.

Just don't drive him over to the other side.

[Jersey Ginny]

57. Rutgers fan here - Take him up on his offer to meet the coach and team

He's apologized. He obviously made a big mistake. He likely harbors racism that he doesn't even know about. Call me a liberal, but meeting the coach and team and talking with them and LISTENING to them would be the best outcome. They are wonderful people. He'll have the chance to see how his remarks really hurt and that will likely have more of an impact over firing him.

[AngryOldDem]

71. I think he should go one step farther....

Have him spend some **quality** time with the team -- have him get to know them as people, and not just fodder for his show. Have him sit on the bench with them next season.

This offer of a meeting, to me, is just window dressing. I would hope that he's learned something from this, but with Imus you never know.

[yellowcanine]

72. Why should he get to meet the team and the coach? They have suffered enough without having him

smarm all over them about how sorry he is. Who wants to look at his ugly face in person anyway? They can do what they want but I wouldn't "make nice" with the racist boor. If he wants to show his sincerity, let him make a large personal contribution to a Rutgers scholarship fund.

[MissMillie]

52. Rule of thumb when making public comments

Answer the question:

"Would I say this about someone I love?"

If the answer is no, don't say it.

That is not to say that constructive criticism is off limits.

[Joe Chi Minh]

65. "But these young women deserve to know it was not said with malice,"

he said."

Such magnanimity.

He needs jail, not making nice. It's happened too often by all accounts.

When you create a pattern of doing "bad thinsg", Mr Imus, you are a "bad man". "By their fruit, you shall know them."

[Old Vet]

67. "JAIL" Please bring the discussion..............

Back to reality!

[Joe Chi Minh]

80. See post below.

[Joe Chi Minh]

81. Don't you have anti-racist laws in the US? He's not Joe Soap, you know.

And if he's not the origin of that racist culture he's pandering to, as a broadcaster, he's in the best position to encourage it.

In the UK, one of the greatest of the many failings of our government and the penal system it is reponsible for is that very little account is paid to the degree of malice underlying a person's behaviour, when he is punished by the courts. It is not so bad in the US by any means, but I'd be greatly cheered if broadcasters in the US were subject to severe penalties such as imprisonment for repeated racist remarks.

One thing I should say in our favour in the UK, is that Imus would never get away with it here. The whole of the media came down on a former football manager, then working as a broadcaster, like a ton of bricks, after he was overheard using a racist word about black members of his team. Daily Mail tries to get away with a racist slant whenever it can, but it too, had to come it loudly and unequivocally in that affair, on the side of the angels. He was immediately sacked, and if he's been reinstated in broadcasting, at any level since then, he sure has a low profile.

[Skittles]

77. you're black whores, but I'm saying it without malice

why can't these freaks just admit they are racist assholes?

[Frank Cannon]

78. I can't believe people still listen to this coke-addled idiot

I don't know how anyone can even understand a word the mumbling twit says.

[Old Vet]

79. I dont get it?

Coulter,Malkin,Rush,etc... Spew hate daily and people arent nailing there asses to crosses. Damn,he fucked up. And In my opinion he is sincerely sorry. And dont get me going Mr Gannon on people who did drugs, Theres alot of us who indulged and STOPPED.

[Frank Cannon]

82. I can barely understand a word he says

He mutters and mumbles like his jaw is wired shut. On the rare occasion when I can almost understand him, he doesn't make any sense anyway.

[oneinok]

83. Where is the outrage?

Where is the outrage? Why isn't NOW marching in protest like they did at Duke? This was a huge slap in the face for women. Where is the huge group of people demanding his firing like they demanding the entire Duke team be arrested? How NOW demanded the entire season be cancelled? Where is the justice?

[pretzel4gore]

86. c'mon, this is georgebushamerica...no justice...

but if Don Imus wasn't basically a liberal, he would just ignore the hullabaloo and go on, taking his 2 weeks forced vacation etc...and nudge/winking the pigs at foxnews and cnn etc...he'd do like coulter (coulter and limbah humbug are too smart ever to get nailed making an outright racist joke...too bad, in a way)

[mbee]

85. Imus should be embarrassed by his remarks, but

if Sharpton and others were really interested in our country they would have tried to get our votes counted. That is all glossed over now and we have Hillary. Al Gore was denied his Presidency and we have struggled for all the past 6 years the criminals have occupied the White House. People are being evicted from there homes, losing their jobs and can barely make ends meet. Imus is not the problem he is an symptom of a problem we have. We don't stand up for what is due us in this country. We are too complacent. If Imus loses his job tomorrow what have we gained? We are still a Corporate Country!