Gwen Ifill Calls Out Russert, Brooks For Their Silence On Imus
Gwen Ifill Calls Out Russert, Brooks For Their Silence On Imus
This morning on NBC’s Meet the Press, PBS anchor Gwen Ifill directly called out host Tim Russert and fellow guest David Brooks for failing to speak out against Don Imus’ offensive remarks.
“There has been radio silence from a lot of people who have done this program who could have spoken up and said, I find this offensive or I didn’t know,” Ifill said. “These people didn’t speak up.” She then turned Russert and Brooks, frequest guests on Imus’s show. “Tim, we didn’t hear from you. David, we didn’t hear from you.”
Ifill added, “A lot of people did know and a lot of people were listening and they just decided it was okay. They decided this culture of meanness was fine — until they got caught. My concern about Mr. Imus and a lot of people and a lot of the debate in this society is not that people are sorry that they say these things, they are sorry that someone catches them.”
Watch it:
Despite being called out by Ifill, Russert said little during the show about his frequent appearances on Imus’ show. Intead, he suggested that Imus will launch a new show dedicated to “racial reconciliation and healing,” which Russert said he would “absolutely” listen to.
Transcript:
And yet, you write this: “Why do my journalistic colleagues appear on Mr. Imus’ show? That’s for them to defend and others to argue about. I certainly don’t know any black journalists who will.”
Yow know, it’s interesting to me. This has been an interesting week. The people who have spoken, the people who issued statements and the people who haven’t. There has been radio silence from a lot of people who have done this program who could have spoken up and said, I find this offensive or I didn’t know. These people didn’t speak up. Tim, we didn’t hear from you. David, we didn’t hear from you. What was missing in this debate was someone saying, you know, I understand that this is offensive. You know, I have a 7-year-old god daughter. Yesterday she went out shopping with her mom for high-Thetop basketball shoes so she can play basketball. The offense, the slur that Imus directed at me happened more than 10 years ago. I would like to think that 10 years from now, that Asia isn’t going to be deciding that she wants to get recruited for the college basketball team or be a tennis pro or go to medical school and that she is still vulnerable to those kinds of casual slurs and insults that I got 10 years ago, and that people will say, I didn’t know, or people will say, I wasn’t listening. A lot of people did know and a lot of people were listening and they just decided it was okay. They decided this culture of meanness was fine — until they got caught. My concern about Mr. Imus and a lot of people and a lot of the debate in this society is not that people are sorry that they say these things, they are sorry that someone catches them. When Don Imus said this about me when I worked here at NBC, when I found out about it, his producer called because Don said he wants to apologize. Well, now he says he never said it. What was he apologizing for? He was apologizing for getting caught, not apologizing for having said it in the first place. And that to me is the debate we need to have, David is right, about the culture of meanness, about the culture of racial complaint, about the internal culture within our community about how we talk to one another. But just this week it was finally saying, enough.
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I’m just throwing out a thought here…
Could it be that Imus got more media attention for his remarks than the countless other commentators and comedians, and pundits because he chose to specifically offend a select group of people, rather than just speaking about the race in general?
Granted speaking about blacks in general isn’t good either, but I wonder if this just worked as a story to be reported on. I mean, he didn’t just talk about any black people, he talked about bright, young, talented, athletic girls who go to a nice school.
Maybe the media came out to defend them, because they are “safe” black people to defend. You know, they are professional, and bright, young, etc… etc. A perfect group of blacks to show on the TV.
And maybe black leaders came out to defend them for the same reasons. If you’ve got to defend your race, you might as well pick the ones who you think will appeal the most to the whites in this country.
Other pundits HAVE come out against specific people before, but they were of some celebrity status. And in this country it’s alright to make fun of celebrities; they are in public domain. So there is no need to be offended by the racist humor to them, and no need to defend the celebrities. They have money, they are famous… they’ll get over it.
Never mind how the insult which was directed at the celebrity effected all the non-celebrities. But whatever…
April 15th, 2007 at 11:53 amI think the bottom atrocity is that people like Imus ever had an audience, sponsors and a history.
What is wrong with a society where people find Don Imus interesting in the first place?
April 15th, 2007 at 11:53 amShouldn’t that read, “Because of being called out by Ifill, Russert said little during the show…?”
April 15th, 2007 at 11:54 amOy vey, the “good ole boys” are melting as fast as the Republican Party. Gwenn gave old David Brooksie some withering glares as Brooks tried to muddy the waters, pooh-pooh and spread the blame on Imus overt racisim.
-GSD
April 15th, 2007 at 11:54 amI’m glad someone finally said something to Russert. Of course, he showed what an incredible weenie he is.
Does anyone know what Imus said about Gwen Ifill 10 years ago?
April 15th, 2007 at 11:59 amwhen is the last time Gwen attacked rap music?
oh that’s right.. never.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:02 pmShame them all Gwen!
April 15th, 2007 at 12:03 pmzooey…..imus called her “the cleaning woman” nbc sent to cover the white house
April 15th, 2007 at 12:03 pmDid you hear Juan Williams blame blacks for racists rants against blacks? He did it on NPR with Steve Innskeep.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:03 pmYou know what’s the biggest shame in all of this? That Big Russ wasn’t around to hear I-man’s latest joke. He loved that stuff! Maybe the Big Guy is watching down from heaven, chuckling to himself, “Good one I-man. It’s so funny, ’cause it’s so true.”
April 15th, 2007 at 12:03 pmImus has shown during 40 years that he’s not a racist.He has shown he’s somewhat stupid.All this opportunists overflying imus media corpse remind me all those blood thirsty sectarians who demanded Jesus to be immediately crucified 2000 years ago.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:04 pmHe said her network “let the cleaning lady read the news.” This, after she declined to appear on his show bc she was too busy.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:04 pmzooey…..imus called her “the cleaning woman†nbc sent to cover the white house
Comment by mr. irony
Holy shit.
Imus should have been fired for THAT!
Wow.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pmO great,Timmy is going to listen to Imus’ new show about racial reconciliation.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:06 pmI won’t, I can’t stand the sound of that bastards voice,or his endless self promotion,or his daily talks with his braindead brother sponsored by JEEP,or that Bo Diddle jerk.
Any Imus show is trash.
hALLO ALL!!!(again)
April 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pmZooey, I think you would get a kick out of my postings on the Webb thread, starting with #71(or 72, i forget..)
unbelievable>salutations to you…
Thing is that Russert remaining closed mouth when this woman puts herself out there in an institutionally racist environment to say something meaningful about the incipient and acidic impact Imus and Coulter and Rush and Beck’s bullshit brings down on innocent children of color… is committing a rather classic act of racism itself…to let her words hang there and just wait for them to dissipate when you hold the kind of privilege and power that pumkin head does is akin to turning up your radio so you don’t hear the lynch mob go by your house looking for a tree. fuck him.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pmhallo I WORFEUS! I hope your day is going well…
Are you talking about perhaps, when she worked for FOX NOISE?
April 15th, 2007 at 12:09 pmRussturd Sux.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:16 pm“unbelievable>salutations to you…
Comment by whiteyfresh — April 15, 2007 @ 12:07 pm”
Howdy – how’s it going?
April 15th, 2007 at 12:17 pmI think I might have some insights into the phenomenon of Don Imus:
http://homepage.mac.com/petergillis/iblog/
April 15th, 2007 at 12:17 pmhallo I WORFEUS! I hope your day is going well…
Are you talking about perhaps, when she worked for FOX NOISE?
TP is REALLY pi$$ing me off today….
April 15th, 2007 at 12:18 pmDidn’t Imus point out that he appropriated the expression from
April 15th, 2007 at 12:19 pmlingo of black men? Isn’t there a statistic that a large number of black men leave behind there women and family. Point being that if you dig a little deeper here there are underlying issues with all this nonsense as
a surface reflection. Don’t all ethic groups have the negative aspects. Take a look at the culture of white Republican men or white progressive liberal men. Should Imus have used the expression ‘corporate dicks’ or ‘girly men?’ We are a society riddled by ethnic smears. Racism is pervasive at all levels. Is Imus fall guy? If your thinking is is absolute then your are going to be paying legal fees that will exceed the national debt.
if TP was actually a FUnCTIONING web site I’d be a lot better…
April 15th, 2007 at 12:21 pmDid you hear Juan Williams blame blacks for racists rants against blacks? He did it on NPR with Steve Innskeep.
I am a black woman. Juan Williams is dead-on. A disgusting double standard exists in this country. The black community needs to address it. I am “supposed” to get mad about Don Imus calling black women “nappy-headed hos”, but I am “supposed” to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names? Please, that logic is flawed, at best!!!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 12:21 pmHey whitey,
I left you a message on the Webb thread. Nice real-time ranting. Heh.
You’re talking to Worfeus, but I don’t see him. Did he get deleted?
April 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pmT.P.
You have some serious posting problems going on.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pmI wonder if Judd would have let it go on this long?
I think I’ll just move along;maybe I’ll check back in in a couple of days to see if it’s been fixed.
according to Al Sharpton you are, notimpressedwithUS….
April 15th, 2007 at 12:25 pmif TP was actually a FUnCTIONING web site I’d be a lot better…
Comment by whiteyfresh
TP is making me nuts this weekend. Yesterday was worse!
April 15th, 2007 at 12:28 pmIMUS got lynched ~ OJ is playing golf.
What’s your next question?
April 15th, 2007 at 12:29 pm“but I am “supposed†to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names?
Comment by notimpressedwithUS — April 15, 2007 @ 12:21 pm”
You shouldn’t…
I don’t understand why they do to begin with, and why they have an audience. Though, the bulk of their audience is 13-25 year old WHITE males.
I think our generation of women has been way too complacent about our lack of equality…
April 15th, 2007 at 12:30 pmFred,
Equating the misogyny of rappers with the misogyny of corporate media, both wrong, is simplistic.
It would be like comparing the death of a Jewish person at the hands of a mugger with the death of a Jewish person during the Holocaust.
When the racist misogyny of the established elites raises it’s ugly head, even when it’s teh funny, the underlying message is “nothing’s changed since the 1860’s, we still ‘own’ youâ€
When a rapper does it. He’s just being a dickhead. Like you
April 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pmMSNBC hasn’t always done enough to disipline pundits when it comes to demeaning anyone, especially fellow employees. Remember the time when Michael “Weiner” Savage blasted then MSNBC anchor Ashleigh Banfield for her non-biased coverage of the War in Afghanistan following 9/11. That was when Savage had his own show on MSNBC. And the powers that be, before Dan Abrams took over, were to chickenshit to call him out on it or boot his flabby ass out of the studio. Of course it took an anti-gay remark to end it all for him. But it would have been nice if he had bothered to recognize that Banfield,now on Court TV, risked her life to bring stories that covered the fighting as well as how both the US soldiers and Afghans feel about the so-called War on Terror. Was Weiner jealous that a woman was covering stories and presenting them without the usual Faux Noise crap? Probably.
Let’s only hope that this is the beginning. The Limbaughs, Coulters, Boortzs, Hannitys, Becks, etc. should be taken account for some of the rhetoric that allows their less than sophisticated listeners to drop the kind of manners taught to them by Mom and Dad. The right-wing rhetoric of hate is only setting back this country 50 years and threatens to suppress America as what it was supposed to be, a truly diverse country.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pmI am “supposed†to get mad about Don Imus calling black women “nappy-headed hosâ€, but I am “supposed†to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names? Please, that logic is flawed, at best!!!!!
Comment by notimpressedwithUS
You shouldn’t have to put up with either one.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:32 pmI honestly believe Don Imus is NOT a bigot.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:34 pmNo, he is worse.
He spews hate to encourage ratings and spurs others on to bigotry.
That is why he had to be fired.
Curious how, toward the end of today’s MTP, practicing Roman Catholic Tim Russert admitted to having been offended by a piece of shtick McGuirk once performed on Imus’ show, putting a Fed Ex box on his head to mock a member of the Catholic clerical hierarchy.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:36 pmgo gwen go. i wish we had a reaction shot of russert as ifill called him out. the tight lipped shots of corny david brooks were priceless.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:38 pmRonald (deregulator) Reagan gave us the likes of Imus, Limbaugh, Hannity, OReilley, Beck, etc., and the rest of the “hate” crowd, when he removed the FCC equal time provision, and provided a platform for these hate-mongers.
Limbaugh was even made an honorary member of the GOP controlled ‘94 House of Representatives.
There are always plenty of ignorant people out there who love to have someone to hate — liberals, democrats, college professors, the “elite” media, etc. These right wing lunatics have been able to use the publicly owned air-waves to spread their gospel of hate, and we have Ronald Reagan to thank for it.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:39 pmhallo I WORFEUS! I hope your day is going well…
Are you talking about perhaps, when she worked for FOX NOISE?
Comment by whiteyfresh — April 15, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Well TP is deleting my comments as soon as I type them, so I am surprised you even saw that comment.
ThinkProgress is going to accuse me of “overposting” in the Franken thread, but the fact is I was merely responding to comments attacking me, and trying to speak the truth.
But I am not sure ThinkProgress is interested in the truth.
They just want to perpetuate this LIE.
Imus did NOT insult those girls.
That is a LIE.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:39 pmWhy when ish like this happens the first thing whites do is yell out “well blacks do it too” it’s sounds like a Dred Scott defense, you know a black man has no rights that a white man must respect, instead it’s black people cant say anything that I can’t say because I’m free, white, and 21.
We deal with this in the Army all the time and it’s a joke. Your telling me that all of the sudden Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent, and all of the rest of the BS rappers all have the same status and power as Imus, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Haniity, Coulter, Savage, Beck, Ingraham, Malkin, you have got to be kidding.
These people get summoned to the White House when the WH needs a talking point to get out, they get paid to promote failing and downright wrong policies by writing and reporting them favorably, they go to parties and golf trips with the policy makers, and they in-bed themselves with the elite.
Now I for one as a Black Man am as sick and tired of the BS RAP (as opposed to Hip Hop, there is a difference) as the rest of you, but when Hip Hop was educational, inspirational, fun, and empowerment of mind, body self, and community, it was the greatest threat to all of civilization (where have I heard that before?).
When Public Enemy was telling you to fight for your right to fight, and saying boycott Arizona because of it’s late to recognize MLK day, or when KRS 1 was telling us to stop the violence because it was leading us to self destruction, and Run DMC was walkin this way with Aerosmith, WE had to be STOPPED!!!
But now that its all about shakin’ ya ass, killin this n, and killin that n, and bitch this, ho that, and its profitable it’s all good now. And the fact is that now White people love it, because we no longer are rappin’about being pulled over and having our Fourth Amendment rights violated (Sir Mix-A-Lot. oh yea he made more than just baby got back, but I’m sure that’s all some remember), or F a War (Geto Boys) talking about the Gulf War and the then President Bush close ties to big oil, or how Chuck D was ordered to join the Army but said no and was jailed and sentenced to be executed (Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos) something that if done now will get you elected to office as a Republican or you can get your own radio or tv show on Fox, CNN, or MSNBC.
So stop the they do it too excuse, it’s transparent, you know just as I do that the two levels are about as equal as liberty and justice for all (tell me who said that).
Imus said this about 12 women who just did the unthinkable in their sport, they made it to the Championship in Women’s College Basketball, they should have been celebrated not berated and that has nothing to do with some dumb-ass rapper. PERIOD
RIP
SGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Or as the POTUS, with the full backing and approval from his supporters and enablers calls him,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,comma #1462
April 15th, 2007 at 12:43 pmComment by ∞Ω — April 15, 2007 @ 12:06 pm]
Precisely . . . . . . never, NEVER understood the draw; after this week I have an inkling.
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April 15th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I didn’t think I could take another lengthy discussion of the Imus affair, so I was not paying full attention to MTP at first, but I soon began to pay full attention because Gwen Ifill was quietly, yet passionately, expressing the meaning of the case this morning. If you missed it, I recommend the post-broadcast later tonight on MSNBC.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:49 pmDavid Brooks made a case for humor vs. mean-spirited, ad hominem attacks, and he has a point, but ….he was still somewhat lame in his defense.
Russert must have been stung by some of Ifill’s words, and he deserved it.
Where is Gwen’s ‘concern’ when it comes to Al Sharpton? Call beginning to have his show yanked as well.
here
April 15th, 2007 at 12:49 pmComment by Enuff Already!!
Well said, as always.
I’m learning a lot about the different viewpoints on this issue.
Thank you.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:54 pmSuch irony.
“The culture of meanness” = thinkprogress.org
This site exists to spew bile and propaganda.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:54 pm“Comment by Enuff Already!! — April 15, 2007 @ 12:43 pm”
Not only do not all white people say ‘blacks do it too’, but suggesting that we do is why some white people don’t listen to you.
Absolutes are not credible. Talk specifically about the white people who do this, and don’t stereotype us all. Thank you.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:54 pm#37 EA
April 15th, 2007 at 1:04 pmExcellent post.
I’d like to know Bill Cosby’s take on this whole issue, since he has been a lightning rod in criticism of the African-American community.
What Imus said is repulsive, degrading, and racist/sexist……He deserves to face consequences and he is/has. What is starting to bother me, is the pandering of the those calling themselves men of God. You have the Panderer’s In Chief……Rev. Al and Rev. Jesse……But then you have Rev. Soaries, who has started talking about REPARATIONS to these young women! REPARATIONS! I find that in itself to be outrageous! These talented, gifted young women were handling themselves with class, grace, and dignity. Now, they’re being used for this media circus……And the backlash against Don Imus is being used for those who have to have someone to blame for the state of racism/sexism in this country. They are shouldn’t be used as pawns in a twisted game of payback.
Shame on Gwen Ifill for using them to exact her personal payback, for settling a score she’s long waited for. Then, to go on MTP and diminish what influence the Hip-Hop/Rap community has on this country. To use the excuse that it’s White Corporate America who is making money off these artists? How much money has Robert Johnson made? How much money has Russel Simmons made? How much money has Jay-Z made? Are these members of White Corporate America?
Some of you need to read Jason Whitlock’s column in the Kansas City Star……He hits it on the head. Or read Jim Hicks column in the Washington Post. No one is condoning what Imus said, but the whole public stoning of one white man for society’s ills, is overkill.
And no, I’m not a troll. I’m a proud, liberal Democrat……One who is terribly disappointed that we’ve found a scapegoat for the hate and anger we have inside ourselves……It’s easy to judge others, but harder to judge ourselves.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:05 pmUSA Patriot,
Quick, don’t miss Ann Coulter on Fox Noise.
Run along with your bag of Government Approved talking points.
-GSD
April 15th, 2007 at 1:05 pmgreat post, enuffalready.
It IS a copout.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:06 pm“And maybe black leaders came out to defend them for the same reasons. If you’ve got to defend your race, you might as well pick the ones who you think will appeal the most to the whites in this country.”
the ones who “will appeal the most to whites in this country”? why then, out of 535 members of the house and senate, are there only 10 african-american representatives?
April 15th, 2007 at 1:06 pmAbsolutes are not credible. Talk specifically about the white people who do this, and don’t stereotype us all. Thank you.
Comment by unbelievable
Agreed
If I were to list all of the names the site will crash, but point well taken, and by the way when I talk about Whites I’m including half of me as well.
RIP
SGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Or as the POTUS calls him comma #1462
April 15th, 2007 at 1:07 pm“This site exists to EXPOSED THOSE WHO spew bile and propaganda.
Comment by USA_Patriot — April 15, 2007 @ 12:54 pm”
There, I fixed it for you.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:08 pm“Quick, don’t miss Ann Coulter on Fox Noise.
Run along with your bag of Government Approved talking points.”
This is exactly the kind of empty-headed idiocy normal people expect from the moonbat left on websites like this one.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:08 pmSgt. Sherman,
Amen to that.
Notice the responses of most white middle aged men is similar to that of a teenaged boy caught smoking weed.
Jimmy down the street does it too.
Well, if Jimmy down the street jumped off a bridge, would you do that?
Gwenn Ifull and Condi Rice are both high level establishment black women and they don’t find it very funny or cute at all.
-GSD
April 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pmEnuff Already I don’t know ask Juan Williams. He’s a black blamer. And a FOX stooge.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:11 pmI hate Imus and am glad to see him gone.
But, what he said was a joke, a joke in the manner of most talk radio, most college humor, most rap. He said nothing that most kids or adults, black or white, wouldn’t say during idle chatter in the world of talk radio, college humor, rap music.
To explain further, the context of what he was saying, was that these were some tough women. And he said it, in the language of rap. This is how Rap guys would describe them, and the humor of it was actually him using this phrase too. He was saying they looked like tough ghetto girls in the manner of black rap language. yuk yuk yuk. hardy har har.
Is this funny? No, not really. And while I’m not sad to see Imus go. (In the end, he really just isn’t that funny or entertaining), I think everyone involved with this, from Imus apologizing, to Gwen analyzing, to good ol’ Al prophetizing, should all just get a life.
There is just more important things in the world than people calling other people names, especially in the context of a stupid comedy radio show and I’m amazed that with people dying in Iraq, we are wasting time with this BS.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pmRussert and Brooks are afraid of getting their red neck audience mad at them. They showed their brand of “tolerance” by their narrow rationalization for participating in the show. Politicians are always ready to sell out values to promote themselves. Any woman or minority that chose to be a guest on that Imus program, enabled it. It’s a bargain with the devil. Will future leaders in waiting choose a less toxic forum to have a platform, or will the next round of Imus be reborn?
April 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pmRussert and Brooks are afraid of getting their red neck audience mad at them. They showed their brand of “tolerance” by their narrow rationalization for participating in the show. Politicians and celebrity wanna-be types are always ready to sell out values to promote themselves. Any woman or minority that chose to be a guest on that Imus program, enabled it. It’s a bargain with the devil. Will future leaders in waiting choose a less toxic forum to have a platform, or will the next round of Imus be reborn?
April 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pmWhat a crock this theme is that Don Imus could do so much good and should have been left on the air because he’d dedicate himself to doing good. The man had a producer on the show specifically to “do ni**er jokes” per his own admission to Mike Wallace in 1998 (Bob Herbert’s NY Times column)!
If MSNBC and CBS hadn’t canned the old creep, Imus and his fans would have been triumphant. It would have been their victory over blacks and women. The sponsors did the right thing forcing MSNBC and CBS to take that program off the air.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pm“There, I fixed it for you.”
Wow, how unbelievably clever and witty!
April 15th, 2007 at 1:14 pm“One who is terribly disappointed that we’ve found a scapegoat for the hate and anger we have inside ourselves……
Comment by Lizard — April 15, 2007 @ 1:05 pm”
Hmmm…. Trolls say that exact line ALL the time…
I don’t hate myself. Not as a liberal anyway. I did as a conservative, because that’s what The Jesus Club tells you you should do – and, well,because how can you be selfish and uncaring and feel otherwise? It’s why you trolls project your self-contempt on us – because YOU are the ones who have it. Not us.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:15 pm“the ones who “will appeal the most to whites in this countryâ€? why then, out of 535 members of the house and senate, are there only 10 african-american representatives”
sorry, that should be “10 african-american women representatives”
April 15th, 2007 at 1:20 pmGwen was brilliant, uncompromising, unflinching, inspiring, and gives true meaning to the words “Hall of Fame Broadcaster” … give Russert credit for ditching the canned conversations about 2008 in favor of a rarity among the punditry….live television talk that really mattered and got beyond the trite television we’ve come to expect. Over at ABC, Torri Clarke was candid in a different way when she said, on the same topic, that elites paraded onto Imus “because you could get 10-15 minutes of air time, visibility.” In a corsening culture that is over done by celebrity, how refreshing to see talking heads admit they crave the visibility.
But then again, this is just the mainstream media doing what it really does best …. Talk about itself.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:20 pmThank You and AMEN, Enuff Already (aka #37)! Couldn’t have said it better, with the song quotes!
Lesseeee, who else could we name as women haters?
Hank Williams
Led Zeppelin
Almost every 80’s Hair Metal and Heavy Metal band
ex. Howard Stern actually convinces women to PERFORM ACTS that Fiddy and Diddy only talk about. ON THE AIR.
All this little boys club stuff from Timmaw and Co. protecting Imusss; heard it all in elementary school. Nothing new. Just the last straw.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:21 pmhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9564620
Allow me to clarify. Juan Williams does not blame black people for Imus’s comments, he blames Jesse Jackson. My bad.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:22 pm“If I were to list all of the names the site will crash, but point well taken, and by the way when I talk about Whites I’m including half of me as well.
Comment by Enuff Already!! — April 15, 2007 @ 1:07 pm”
Then you know that there are whites who think black America has gotten a raw deal from the day their ancestors were forced on that ship… And that those whites who say that they/you should ‘get over it’ say so out of ignorance and a lack of empathy for anything to which they cannot relate. I’d like to believe it’s a minority who fit that club of white racists, but the fact that men like Imus, Limbaugh and their ilk have a job and an audience tells me that I’m fooling myself.
Personally, I think blacks and women should realize our common ground and work together to get equal rights for all “minorities”, because I’m pretty sure that we’re now the majority combined.
By the way, I liked the rest of your post and agree that rap music was better before it sold out to the horney white boys of suburbia… :D
April 15th, 2007 at 1:24 pmAlso to be featured on the new Imus show: A regular segment starring Mel Gibson, called “Why I Love the Jews,” and a weekly apology by Michael Richards.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:26 pm“the ones who “will appeal the most to whites in this countryâ€? why then, out of 535 members of the house and senate, are there only 10 african-american representatives?”
sorry. that should be “only 10 african-american women representatives”
April 15th, 2007 at 1:27 pmIf Rutgers had beaten Tennessee, I bet none of this would have boiled over. Just saying; it’s a carefully preserved American tradition that we praise the winner, but take care not to insult the losers.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:29 pmMisogyny didn’t start in the black community. The misogynistic lyrics in rap is just a reflection/extention of our male-dominated culture and its general contempt for women. (The glass ceiling and the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment come to mind immediately.) Everyone who has the chance should set an example by not giving into it or perpetuating it, and that includes Imus.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:32 pmUSA_Patriot: Your stunningly accurate and clever analysis has won me over. Where do I join up?
April 15th, 2007 at 1:33 pm“it’s a carefully preserved American tradition that we praise the winner, but take care not to insult the losers.
Comment by lampwick — April 15, 2007 @ 1:29 pm”
A useful tradition… wow…
April 15th, 2007 at 1:33 pmWATCH THESE.
“Jason Whitlock, reporter Kansas City Star, About Imus”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ZQXaXmCW4
“Jason Whitlock – Imus firing was overreaction”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PP-ucZqu1U&NR=1
So now Al Sharpton is back-pedalling on CNN when Jason Whitlock comes up against him and accuses him of lighting fires across the country
“Jason Whitlock and Al Sharpton – ‘Imus is insignificant’”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qpaM5bA7Z0&NR=1
“Michael Meyers About Imus”
Michael Meyers is the Director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, and Assistant National Director of the NAACP
“. . . this was a wanton surrender of the principles of free speech.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CRRgRGi8I8&NR=1
Jason Whitlock – Imus cannot steal your joy
April 15th, 2007 at 1:40 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CCS7kTLUZM&NR=1
I am a black woman. Juan Williams is dead-on. A disgusting double standard exists in this country. The black community needs to address it. I am “supposed†to get mad about Don Imus calling black women “nappy-headed hosâ€, but I am “supposed†to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names? Please, that logic is flawed, at best!!!!!
Comment by notimpressedwithUS
****Who asked you to accept 50 cents or Ludacris BS ?And please let’s get this straight,all black people do not use the N-word or call their women h.es OK.When are folks going to get this fact: All blacks don’t think alike.So please.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:41 pmGwen Ifill was terrific! She has never been one of my favorites and may not ever be again. But for today, for this moment she most certainly did herself proud.
Imus is responsible for what he said. Just because someone else says the same kind of thing doesn’t excuse him. That kind of thinking should end once you pass puberty. Imus just struck a nerve and in the end, the marketplace did him in. It isn’t as if he was censored by the FCC or the PC Police. The sponsors dropped him and that did him in.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:41 pmGwen, you rock!!!
I agree 100% with Ms. Ifill
The truth of the matter is the Market place did decide Imus’ fate. And free speech has never been stronger. As a fierce advocate of free speech, I used my right of free speech by calling the advertiser and telling them that I would boycott their products if the didn’t pull their ads from the Imus show. I used MY free speech to let the maket know that Imus’ comments were hurtful, sexist, rascist, and wrong. Case closed! Free speech rules the day!!
April 15th, 2007 at 1:45 pm[...] To view the clip of Ifill, click here. [...]
April 15th, 2007 at 1:49 pmNonsense! We put a man to the cross (Imus) for all our sins. Plus, it is time to say this! “It is time the Black community stop bitching and get off the asses, and stop abusing their own, grow up, and be one community/culture that respects the dignity of life.” That is enough sell absorb pity as a people that have been stepped on. Same goes for Jews, who as a people are the most well off in the America (i.e., let the Jewish lobbyist grouops “go and protect Israel” ), and Hispanics. I am Hispanic and proud of it! Fight for the dignity that is yours and all of mankind.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:53 pmBy the way, I liked the rest of your post and agree that rap music was better before it sold out to the horney white boys of suburbia… :D
Comment by unbelievable
THX Friend
RIP
SGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
OR as the POTUS calls him comma #1462
April 15th, 2007 at 1:54 pm“Misogyny didn’t start in the black community.
Comment by Republicans Are The Fear And Smear Party — April 15, 2007 @ 1:32 pm”
Excellent post.
Well it is Sunday, so let’s talk about the roots of mysogyny. Oh yeah – religion!
And specifically – Christianity in our U.S. culture. Read the bible. Talk about a play book for oppressing the female gender! A woman, in our predominantly Christian culture, is taught to define herself in terms of a MAN… Not her own thoughts, accomplishments or self, but those of a man… And even women, in this 21st, century help perpetuate this problem… So why should we dingle out that black men do it as well?
I maintain that women and blacks need to stop assisting the stereotypes… But what do I know.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:55 pmGwen was dead right. Imus should have been fired years ago. Imus targets specific people with derogatory langauge. This isn’t about rap music, black comedians or Sharpton/Jackson. It’s about Imus. Did any rappers call Ifill “the cleaning lady?” Of course not. I don’t know why people keep making excuses for Imus.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:56 pm“it’s a carefully preserved American tradition that we praise the winner, but take care not to insult the losers.
Comment by lampwick — April 15, 2007 @ 1:29 pmâ€
Then why didn’t Imus insult the Ohio State MEN’s basketball team, who lost their NCAA Final game, too? Uh, maybe because they’re not female?
April 15th, 2007 at 2:00 pmPerhaps Don I. can open his new show with two words. Tawana Brawley. That should set the switchboard alight.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:12 pmWhat about Limpbrain, Savage, Boortz and Glenn Beck?
April 15th, 2007 at 3:13 pmWhat’s being done about the SUPER-NAZIS OF TALK RADIO?
I think the problem with Hip Hop lies strictly with the white suburban community. This is the area that Hip Hop is marketed at – albums don’t go platinum selling in urban areas. Hence, if we want to stop the (admittedly shocking) attitude towards women then the suburbs need to stop buying music that promotes that sort of attitude. Then the market will speak and artists who write lyrics that are negative towards women will not be signed, as they won’t sell.
That’s the market working.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:14 pmGwen was absolutely right. What made Imus’s comments so awful wasn’t just the comments themselves, but the corporate and pundit silence that followed.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:15 pmNor do I recall hearing from you Ms. Ifill when actor Isaiah Washington was shouting hate-filled epithets at the Golden Globes. This was a big story. Did you have a reaction? Did you try to lessen this culture of hate? Are you a member of the N.A.A.C.P. which gave the bigot Washington an “IMAGE AWARD (!!!!) after he came out of “re-hab”? Did you then resign from the N.A.A.C.P.? Did you or any prominent African Americans demand that ABC fire this jerK? I sincerely doubt it. Because while it is not O.k. to make racially motivated comments, gay bashing is still allowed with ZERO consequences. Ask Ann Coulter
April 15th, 2007 at 3:15 pmThe subject of racism stirs our emotions in such a way that it can easily distract us from see the real issue.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:19 pmIn spite of his shock jock antics which I distained, I watched Imus regularly because throughout most of his show he was relentless in shedding light on important topics whose format and content I did not see elsewhere. He never stopped talking about the underlying causes of the epidemic of autism. As a veteran himself, he constantly made us aware of exactly what veterans of this war are going through and why. He put his money and his time where is mouth is regarding childhood cancers and their causes and effects. In true Imus fashion, he made no bones about calling a politician to task on their viewpoint, yet they’d remain on hold on the phone waiting to talk to him again and again. And he did it all with his unique style, his knowledge of the topics, as well as his authoritative guest list which read as a who’s who of television, radio, and newspaper journalist; inside and outside the beltway politicians; Pulitzer prized authors; historians; and, more.
I doubt these admirable Rutgers women basketball players have time to listen to Imus, and I doubt Jessie or Al has listen much either. My guess is that something or someone other than racism has stirred this pot to silence the I-man with an agenda very different from the one we have been discussing. Our country’s raw emotions of racism just made it easy for them to do.
Anyone out there want to delve a little deeper? Or was Imus the only vehicle we had to speak the otherwise unspoken on commercial television and radio?
Ifill calls Russert out on his shit…about time someone did.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:19 pmGwen is right on in her calling out of Russert and Brooks. As a society we may have reached the point where a Communication Czar is needed to protect the minority of us who don’t have the financial resources to challenge a Don Imus. The positon could be filled by appointment of the President or through election. By having an ultimate authority over evildoers such as Imus and others of his ilk we would all be better off.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:28 pmI think Gwen Ifill was right on in calling out Russert and Brooks. As a society I feel we may have reached a point where a Communication Czar is needed to censor people like Don Imus before they act. Such a position could filled by appointment of the President or through election. It would go a long way to insure that hate mongers like Imus and Limbaugh were stopped in their tracks.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:37 pmpanhandler
These people are proud to call themselves pundits. Riding in on others shirt tails. Most have never done a creative thing in their life.
Imus spoke in a very narrow negative, sexist, racist manner about people who he should have been heralding. He did it on a very wide podium. He is old, narrow minded and obviously bigoted.. ‘Nuff said.
I’m certain he regrets his statement, but not in the way we might think. He regrets losing his income and the podium that feeds his ego.
Years ago I first heard of him when he released an LP of his crank calls, this was in the early 70’s. I thought it was funny.
He has to start over somewhere, maybe he can take the same bend in the road that Oprah did from shock TV to culturally positive influence. She was extremely successful I doubt this old man could be as successful. My wife says, by his looks, he is very sick.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:39 pmI am “supposed†to get mad about Don Imus calling black women “nappy-headed hosâ€, but I am “supposed†to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names? Please, that logic is flawed, at best!!!!!
Comment by notimpressedwithUS #70
…please provide an example of…
…”50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names”…
…than “nappy-headed hos”…
April 15th, 2007 at 3:40 pmBecause while it is not O.k. to make racially motivated comments, gay bashing is still allowed with ZERO consequences. Ask Ann Coulter
Comment by Charlie Trainer — April 15, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Ask her about what? Her “Raghead” comments? What price did she pay for uttering those? Increased book sales — oh, the shame!
April 15th, 2007 at 3:42 pmGwen Ifill was on point as usual. The only time black journalist are invited to these types of shows is when there is a quote unquote “Black Issue.”
She was right to call out Russert and Brroks, and any other person who stayed silent and this issue. Great Job Gwen Ifill!
April 15th, 2007 at 3:52 pmAnd maybe black leaders came out to defend them for the same reasons. If you’ve got to defend your race, you might as well pick the ones who you think will appeal the most to the whites in this country.
Comment by Anonymous By Choice #1
…IGNORANT, ARROGANT, and RACIST…
…White people are SO MUCH BETTER than everyone else…
…that to which we all aspire…NOT!
…I typed a long more thoughtful response…
…but TP (Thought Police)…
…nixed it…
…yet this Anonymous By Choice…
…gets to post this CRAP…
…Amerikkka is TRULY on its last leg…
…and I suspect unless they “fix” their posting problems…
…TP is too…
April 15th, 2007 at 3:56 pmComment by Thomas Umpleby — April 15, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
It’s a slippery, slippery slope mate. I’d much rather have the public police talk radio than a Czar.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:59 pmGwen Ifill was her usual graceous self even when speaking to Tim R and David B about their failure to speak out on the Imus matter. Tim R particularly by the end of the show should have stepped out of his leader chair and spoken to the audience about his true reaction to Imus over the years and answered the question as to why he stayed on such a program with such frequent abusive comments. He missed his chance once again.
As I listed to Gwen during the program and again now on reading her words I am reminded of another era when people said: “I didn’t know” and the like. The people who did nothing to help those who had no power to fight back. It was a much, much different crime against humanity but then most crimes against humanity start with small acts of cruelty, acts overlooked by so many. Left unanswered those acts can grow and spread like a metastatic disease.
Thank you Gwen for your courage and grace.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:04 pmOne thing I see about Imus is that he was a softer target than Limp or Beck or the other hate-radio/hate-tv talkiing heads. Limbaugh has done much worse in his time. Imus should be just the begnning. We need to clean the airwaves of the people who espouse hate and foster stereotypes. They can hide behind the First Amendment to do it but they can’t survive everybody boycotting the advertisers of all of these programs.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:09 pmTim R particularly by the end of the show should have stepped out of his leader chair and spoken to the audience about his true reaction to Imus over the years and answered the question as to why he stayed on such a program with such frequent abusive comments. He missed his chance once again.
Comment by carole
Timmeh probably would have said what a great guy he think Imus is, what a great friend he’s been over the years, and how he’ll be there for his friend during this difficult time.
Then we’d be all pissed off again…..
I think Big Russ might be terribly disappointed in Little Russ.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:12 pmAlbert Memmi, a Tunisian Jew and social critic, defines racism as aggression justification by those who have already committed aggression against the victim. Some of the posters today ask the question about why there was so little initial pundit/corporate media/corporate/politician expressed revulsion against Imus’ remarks and even McCain and Giuliani stating they would continue to go on hsi program. Racism, as opposed to persoonal prejudice, is the institutionalizing of personal prejudice by those who have the POWER to do so. Imus, as a person, appears to be a complex guy with all the flaws and positive characteristics of many. But as a media personality of enormous influence, his personal prejudcie and meanspritedness have an impact well beyond those rappers who use the language of hatred and misogyny. His firing was long overdue and Gwen Ifill hit the spot with her critique. The cozy apologists for the racist and sexist order like Russert and Brooks and Addubato and Carlson and Juan Williams all play their usual “blame the vicitim” games from their perches of privilege and power. No skin color required here, just collusion, conscious and unconscious, with the status quo and those who would also like to take us back to the Dark Ages of human relations.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:13 pmThey can hide behind the First Amendment to do it but they can’t survive everybody boycotting the advertisers of all of these programs.
Comment by gogreen
Do you know where we can go to find out who sponsors Limbaugh, Beck, and the like?
April 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pmThey’re all hypocrits, of course. Why this public self-humiliation? Gwen was thoroughly enjoying herself; as was Sharpton and Jackson, by the way. Watching the white pundits stammer and grovel is hilarious, as well. The entire episode was one of hypocrisy, egoism, guilt and latent racism. By both black and white. Imus should go back to work, and Americans should grow up and stop wallowing in self-pity and guilt. Finally, Mister Sharpton and Mister Jackson have way too much time on their hands.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:15 pmApril 15th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Gwen rocks!
What does seem to be missing from the talking head crowd is the observation that the rise in vitriol in our public political discourse parallels the rise of right wing conservativism. Their penchant for playing fast and loose with the facts and behavior of shouting louder to get their dominate air time may finally be seen for what it is–a cancer on democracy.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:20 pmLimbaugh has done much worse in his time. Imus should be just the begnning. We need to clean the airwaves of the people who espouse hate and foster stereotypes. They can hide behind the First Amendment to do it but they can’t survive everybody boycotting the advertisers of all of these programs.
Comment by gogreen #94
WORTH REPEATING…
…HEAL the World…
…EXPOSE then DESTROY racism…
April 15th, 2007 at 4:20 pmSorry, but there is no ThinkFast today, so I’m going to post this here. This just popped up on Huffingtonpost:
Domenici Sought Iglesias Ouster
By Mike Gallagher
Albuquerque Journal; Journal Investigative Reporter
Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias was fired after Sen. Pete Domenici, who had been unhappy with Iglesias for some time, made a personal appeal to the White House, the Journal has learned.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:21 pmDomenici had complained about Iglesias before, at one point going to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before taking his request to the president as a last resort.
The senior senator from New Mexico had listened to criticism of Iglesias going back to 2003 from sources ranging from law enforcement officials to Republican Party activists.
Domenici, who submitted Iglesias’ name for the job and guided him through the confirmation process in 2001, had tried at various times to get more white-collar crime help for the U.S. Attorney’s Office— even if Iglesias didn’t want it.
At one point, the six-term Republican senator tried to get Iglesias moved to a Justice Department post in Washington, D.C., but Iglesias told Justice officials he wasn’t interested.
In the spring of 2006, Domenici told Gonzales he wanted Iglesias out.
Gonzales refused. He told Domenici he would fire Iglesias only on orders from the president.
At some point after the election last Nov. 6, Domenici called Bush’s senior political adviser, Karl Rove, and told him he wanted Iglesias out and asked Rove to take his request directly to the president.
Domenici and Bush subsequently had a telephone conversation about the issue.
The conversation between Bush and Domenici occurred sometime after the election but before the firings of Iglesias and six other U.S. attorneys were announced on Dec. 7.
Iglesias’ name first showed up on a Nov. 15 list of federal prosecutors who would be asked to resign. It was not on a similar list prepared in October.
The Journal confirmed the sequence of events through a variety of sources familiar with the firing of Iglesias, including sources close to Domenici. The senator’s office declined comment. [. . .]
Comment by Mack #98
RACIST PIG ALERT!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pmZooey, there are websites devoted to boycotting Rush. I can’t seem to post links here, but one such site is topplebush.com
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pmI agree with Mack. Last thing we need is GOVERNMENT enfringing free speech.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pmWhat about 9/11 silence?
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pmIt’s not just about race…Imus has been hostile to women for many years. Part of the reason that there was so much reaction to his comments was women deciding that they’ve just HAD ENOUGH!!! He can do a show about race relations, fine, but he’d better change his attitudes towards women in general–perhaps that will be harder for him.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pmI think Big Russ might be terribly disappointed in Little Russ.
Comment by Zooey
He ain’t the only one.
And oral sex from Tim is like riding a lop-sided pumpkin. Thank God for the Energizer Bunny . . .
April 15th, 2007 at 4:25 pmComment by Zooey #97
Zooey,
…I’m going to admit MY IGNORANCE up front…
..I never imagined there were any decent and OPEN people in Idaho…
…’til I read your posts…
…I HEART Zooey…
:-)
April 15th, 2007 at 4:27 pmI agree with Mack. Last thing we need is GOVERNMENT enfringing free speech.
Comment by Jake — April 15, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
The government you support does exactly that, by suppressing media content damaging to their ambitions, and with gag-orders against whistleblowers, and secret policy meetings protected from the public by the myth of executive privilege, and editing of scientific reports to remove politically damaging content. Your speech is free, not because of the government you support, but in spite of it.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:27 pmgogreen:
None of that violates the First Amendment — someone above proposed a a Communication Czar appointed by the President — such prior restraint would clearly violate the First Amendment.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:34 pmTheir penchant for playing fast and loose with the facts and behavior of shouting louder to …..
Comment by Cecil Myers — April 15, 2007 @ 4:20
In college I took a course in social psychology. I don’t remember much from it, except a peculiar experiment called “Bale’s Groups”. One of the interesting and repugnant facts about human behavior is that in groups, or herds or mobs or whatever, the people that take charge or “win” control are not the wise ones or the experienced ones or even the well-meaning ones. Its always the person or group that drowns out the others, like Goodall’s chimpanzees with the empty gas cans. The rethugs are just like Goodall’s chimps, but not as honest.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:34 pmZooey, there are websites devoted to boycotting Rush. I can’t seem to post links here, but one such site is topplebush.com
Comment by gogreen
Thank you, gogreen. I don’t want to be supporting those idiots.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:36 pmComment by big papa — April 15, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Zooey pure rules big papa!
April 15th, 2007 at 4:36 pmhe suggested that Imus will launch a new show dedicated to “racial reconciliation and healing,†which Russert said he would “absolutely†listen to.
Racial reconciliation and healing???!!! HA!!! yeah right!!!!!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 4:42 pmZooey,
…I’m going to admit MY IGNORANCE up front…
..I never imagined there were any decent and OPEN people in Idaho…
…’til I read your posts…
…I HEART Zooey…
:-)
Comment by big papa
You’re so sweet, big papa. Thank you. :)
We are few, but we exist. I live in a university town, so people are a bit more open-minded. Unfortunately, we have no representation in congress.
I’ve lived a lot of places in this country, and sadly, Idaho is the worst in terms of fearful idiots. As soon as I’m done with school, hopefully, I’ll be out of here.
You’re a great guy, big papa.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:42 pmThe comments about “Borat” were interesting as well. Whatever you think about Tim, he has a thought-provoking pogrom at least.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pmAmericano, Don’t you have a sheet to go iron? Oh, I forgot, the Klan wouldn’t want your ethnicity in its membership, either.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pmYep, the real tragedy is that hate makes money. What Imus said is as indicative that misogyny can make you famous and blond girls go missing a lot more often than black girls.
Is it such a big surprise that girls can play basketball, become doctors, and dance backwards in high heels?
Big difference between poisoning the well and dredging the swamp. But we do need to make the distinction between the freedom to say anything and the value of such speech in the marketplace. Fox has been losing money for years, but it’s propped up by those who want that hate to divide us.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pmAnonymous By Choice: You’re STILL not getting it…
April 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pmWhen you call a group of people “NAPPY-HEADED” … you ARE dealing
with a race… not just a specific group of people. Although his comments concerned the Rutgers B-ball team…. included in those comments were
slurs against blacks in general….. the adjective “nappy-headed”…
This is not rocket science, ABChoice, but I think some people will never understand their own racism.
I really never understood why Russert and Brooks stayed silent??
April 15th, 2007 at 4:47 pmMy post with a link to the actual MTP transcript didn’t work, so let me try it again:
At least they ran out of time to talk about AG Gonzales. For the record, however, Russert did NOT suggest that Imus is going to launch a new show — he posed a HYPOTHETICAL question:
MR. RUSSERT: And if Don Imus takes time off and comes back and says, you know, “I was an addict, and I embraced that and tried to educate people about that and educate people about Autism. I’m now going to dedicate my life to racial reconciliation and healing, and I’m going to talk about that on my new program�
MR. ROBINSON: Well, people will decide whether they want to sponsor, you know, whether they want to put it on the air, and whether they…
MS. IFILL: Would you go back on his program if he did that?
MR. ROBINSON: …want to sponsor it, and whether they want to listen to it.
MR. RUSSERT: I’d certainly listen to it. Absolutely. I mean, if he is dedicating himself—if the Rutgers women’s basketball team said they have forgiven him and they’re trying to seek reconciliation, and he dedicates himself to racial healing, that is, to me, is a very positive step.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:47 pmBTW: I thought Retired Gen. Anthony Zinni did a great job too — he emphatically rejected the notion that we can leave Iraq:
MR. RUSSERT: The Democrats have proposed legislation which would set benchmarks or guidelines for the Iraqis to meet in terms of stepping up, but also a firm date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Is that wise?
GEN. ZINNI: No. I mean, you know, people that talk about benchmarks and withdrawals, what are we going to do, disband Centcom? You know, this was created in the, in the early ‘70s when we assumed most of the foundation for the security in this region. Centcom was created by President Carter because of our interests in this region—economic, political, security interests. They haven’t changed. If anything else, at the end of the Cold War, they were actually, I think, heightened in many respects.
We’re going to be in this part of the world. We aren’t going to leave. Now, we can readjust our strategy for Iraq. We can extricate our troops from the sectarian violence. But we’re going to have to contain the problems that could spill over and the—and cause this critical part of the world to spin out of control . . .
April 15th, 2007 at 4:49 pmP.G. — neither Russert not Brooks stayed silent.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:50 pmI can’t wait till they go after the white / right wing nutcase racist manifest destiny crowd like , Rush, or Glenn or Con Hannity or the Shrill O’Reilly types …
April 15th, 2007 at 4:55 pmnot = nor
April 15th, 2007 at 4:58 pmgene Russell Key:
I think it’s Sharpton’s turn to be fired first.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:59 pmWas Ifill nappy headed this morning?
April 15th, 2007 at 5:01 pmIt is just a matter of time till we go after the white / right wing nutcase manifest destiny crowd …..… It is about time ….
April 15th, 2007 at 5:01 pmA lot of people are asking, “Why now?” since Imus has been taling like this for a long time. A lot of comics and pundits are worried about a “chilling effect” on other comics and pundits.
Let me offer that “this time” it was not funny it was mean. It was cheap and low and disrespectful and “this time”, the target was personal against a group of young American heroes … and because they were black, Imus took their triumph away from them.
Fianally it may be that for all the above reasons, “this time” enough was just about enough! The past offenses don’t lessen this if you are just sick and tired of hearing this kind of sh*t.
It is such a Rorschach moment as well. It reveals so much about us. I especially like all the people who are praising the girls for their deportment and class in handling this .. almost as if it were a surprise. As of they really were …
What Imus does, what Stern does, what Micheal Richards did, what Andrew Dice Clay once did … what lots of comics do, is not borderline First Amendment, it’s borderline racism. That “joke” showed contempt, the way calling a black man “boy” attempts to subordinate him. That joke wasn’t just lame as some comics have said. It wasn’t even a joke. It was a racist slur. It was a put-down.
The real issue is how much people (us) will be able to contemplate it and recognize it as a symptom of the disease we deny courses through our social fabric — racism.
There is good in this, if we recognize it. Imus is rich, he won’t suffer. His new show might be great if he tackles our demons while making us laugh.
Or it could be boring depending on how much he wants to “bleed” on the air.
Imus has devolved into an unmitigated a**hole over the years but Imus is not stupid, nor is he a bad guy. In the end it was good. It got us talking again .. about what we refuse to talk about. Maybe it will do the same for him.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:01 pmmedia matters should take note that not one word was mentioned of the other ‘targets’ in their attempt to use Imus as an example. By watching this segue you’d think Imus was the only perp and the worst of broadcast radio rather then the truth that he was the least of the filth on the right wings radio dial. Just as all of us trying to defend free speech have been saying.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:01 pmIT’S SAD TOO THAT NOONE SPOKE OUT WHEN PHIL DONAGHUE WAS FIRED FOR FREE SPEECH. ALSO RADIO STATIONS STOPPED PLAYING MUSIC BY THE DIXIE CHICKS WHEN THEY ENGAGED IN FREE SPEECH.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:04 pmThe culture of meanness which Imus is simply a part of must be addressed. We do not have to censor left and right but lets take a look at some developments. White guys are attacking black rappers now but ignoring Limbaugh, Savage, Coulter and the whole right-wing crew, Beck etc…… but the right is also going after Rosie O’Donnell and Bill Maher.
Messed up.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:05 pmP.G.:
MR. BROOKS: Well, you know, I did the show about a half a dozen times, and Gwen and I have talked about this. But I have the lamest excuse for why I did it, which is I didn’t know what he said. And when I did the show, it was like C-SPAN. You’d go on, you’d talk about Iraq. And I confess, I didn’t listen to the show except for the five minutes before when I went on, I’d hear it over the phone. And what struck me—the last time I was on, which was, like, three or four weeks ago, his wife was on with his kid. And he insults his wife as a moron, and he—his wife insults him as an idiot, and his kid is, is laughing there. And what struck me is how much of the show was not literal. And I think the audience was sort of playing. But that’s not much of a defense, because he was spewing racist stuff. I’m not sure whether he meant it or not. I personally think he didn’t mean it. But as Mark Shields, my buddy, said you know his defense is “I’m not a racist, I just play one on TV.†Not much of a defense, but I think that there is some element of truth to that.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:06 pmI’m astonished by how many people have bemoaned ab attack on 1st amendment rights as regards the Imus shut down. They just don’t get the 1st amendment ~ anyone who starts that thought should first go to the constitution (google “constitution” and read it in the original ~ it is pretty easy to understand but at time hard to interpret as the courts have demonstrated)
What was done to Imus in no way prohibits his right to stand in times square and say whatever he wants to. When he get’s into trouble is when he goes on the airwaves, airwaves for which his sponsors have paid MSNBC and CBS, he is subject to rights of the sponsors and his employers. It is really that simple. The first amendment simply says the government cannot pass laws that interfere with free speech thus he can go to times square as long as he doesn’t tie up traffic!
April 15th, 2007 at 5:07 pmJOHN:
Someone on MTP noted that this is not really a free speech issue. Imus has a right to say anything he wants. He doesn’t have the right to get millions of dollars from major broadcast companies to say those things. And I kind of suspect at the end of the day Don Imus is going to come out OK despite what has happened here.
Secondly, there is complexity in the issue of different media forms, things that blend comedy and news. What exactly is it? When is somebody lampooning the prejudices of the culture? When is somebody amplifying the prejudices of the culture? The problem is, when you start talking about specific people, especially specific people like these incredibly amazing women on the Rutgers basketball team, then, when people read the words and look the individuals, it looks terrible and there’s no way to defend it. The other thing I wanted to say is it’s not just people on the left. I’ve heard a lot of commentary, “Wow, how did Al Sharpton become the moral authority to demand Don Imus get off the air.†I was talking to one of the major religious right figures in Iowa on Friday who said, “Look, we need more love and respect in the culture. What happened to Don Imus is exactly what should have happened. We need less of that.â€
April 15th, 2007 at 5:09 pmI caught that. Ifill caught Russert flatfooted and he didn’t know what to do so he did nothing. I have to wonder what Big Russ would think now with his son getting caught up as a witness in the Libby trial and now as a regular for the racist Imus.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:10 pmMR. EUGENE ROBINSON: Well, first of all, this isn’t a free speech issue. There’s lots of constitutionally protected speech that gets you tossed off the air. You could pull out an American flag right now and set it on fire and that would be protected by the Constitution, but you would soon be the former host of MEET THE PRESS. So, so…
MR. JOHN HARWOOD: Oh, you know he could survive that.
MR. ROBINSON: Well, maybe Tim could, but…
MR. RUSSERT: I don’t think so.
MR. ROBINSON: But, this was an issue of offensive speech — speech that offended a lot of people. And I think, most crucially, it offended a lot of people who work at NBC and who work at CBS and who work at the major corporations that advertised on Imus’ show. So what we have here, really, is a story about how the country has changed — about diversity — this could not have happened 50 years ago in quite the way it happened this week.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:12 pmThank you, carole.
P.S. to DallasNE — I didn’t think Tim was caught flatfooted at all. Which part of MTP were you referring to?
April 15th, 2007 at 5:14 pmTP,
We need new threads. Jake is filling up this one with transcripts.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:15 pm**eyes rolling**
Hey Bushites!
…the “MARKET” fired Don Imus…
…it works…
April 15th, 2007 at 5:18 pmBravo, Gwen. Unfortunately, the “culture of meaness” goes way beyond our radio and TV personalities. What does it say about our entire country when we provoke a war against a country under false premises and then, by our very presence, CONTINUE to cause destruction and the death of innocent people there? There are many of us who deplore this cruelty, but the mainstream media gives us no chance to express our views. It is sickening, and our whole society is sick.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:18 pmI apologize to anyone NOT on the “Ignore List” who does not want to discuss this thread topic about “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert. I will see you on any other threads as well.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:18 pmLet’s not forget Imus’ history of misogyny… while his comments were called out largely due to their racist nature, his sexist attacks on female politicians like Hillary, and the fact that he called these young women hos–essentially attacking them in a sexual way, speaks to a serious underlying problem. It’s interesting that his attacks against women have been less in the spotlight than the race stuff, maybe because the comments were less categorical and more a long-term pattern of vilifying females for the sin of being in the spotlight.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:24 pmComment by Zooey #139
Zooey,
…the bright side is…
…that it’s ONLY “desperate Jake”…
…clogging the threads with Bushit…
…the right wingers are getting fewer and fewer…
…I watch c-Span religiously…
…the right wingers are calling in…
…to complain about…
…the right wingers NOT being right wingers…
…and I love it!
…soon it’ll be TREASON to be a right wing criminal Bushite…
April 15th, 2007 at 5:30 pm#
I apologize to anyone NOT on the “Ignore List†who does not want to discuss this thread topic about “Meet the Press†with Tim Russert. I will see you on any other threads as well.
Comment by Jake — April 15, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
#
Jake,
Have you apologized to Donald Vance yet for supporting the administration that tortured him?
April 15th, 2007 at 5:31 pmFor the record, boycotts and other market manipulations are not part of the “free market” — if Imus was fired because he lost all his rating share, THAT would be the “free market” at work — you people don’t know what “free speech” means either.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:32 pmFor the record, boycotts and other market manipulations are not part of the “free marketâ€
Comment by Jake — April 15, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Then which market are market manipulations a part of, if not the”free market”?
April 15th, 2007 at 5:37 pmyou people don’t know what “free speech†means either.
Comment by Jake — April 15, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Main Entry: free speech
April 15th, 2007 at 5:41 pmFunction: noun
: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; also : the right to such speech
“you people”?
…who people?
…”Imus, is dat you?”
April 15th, 2007 at 5:45 pm…I watch c-Span religiously…
…the right wingers are calling in…
…to complain about…
…the right wingers NOT being right wingers…
…and I love it!
…soon it’ll be TREASON to be a right wing criminal Bushite…
Comment by big papa
I do miss C-Span — I never thought I’d say that. :)
We have to watch out, because when these wingnuts get scared we’re all in deep shit. We need to keep them in check.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:48 pmImus articles remind me of Rosie. Check out online petition to boycott The View:
http://www.stoprosie.com
Contains some videos of Hate Speech by Rosie.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:48 pmLooking past the fog of blame for mysogonist and racial slurs, the blame lays mostly upon the “mainstream” media personal. These highly paid and highly profiled media stars have legitimized Imus by sharing the same studio and mike, without any protest of his on-air offensive diatribe. The media personalities from NBC, Washington Post and the NY Times who repeatedly entertained the likes of Imus will forever be one of tarnished reputation and disappointment.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:50 pm“you people�
…who people?
…â€Imus, is dat you?â€
Comment by big papa
That’s frickin’ funny.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:51 pmBarfly, Domenici has already lawyered up – he knows he is in trouble.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:51 pmGoodling may be granted immunity if she forgoes the 5th and agrees to testity. (Wouldn’t it be ironic if Bush&Co are brought down by another “monica?”
This judge matter is very serious, despite conservative attempts to minimize its importance. This undermines the very justice system we all live under – if it is totally politicizedl, then there is no justice – there is dictatorship. It’s one thing to clean the slate when a new pres. takes office, it’s quite something else to select to remove those who have not acted politically in your party’s favor, and then, insultingly, replace them with others who are unqualified, but politically connected.
For the record, someone else above proposed a Communication Czar APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT — such prior restraint would clearly violate the First Amendment. The LAST thing we need is GOVERNMENT enfringing free speech.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:52 pmDid TP get “repaired?” It seems to be working better.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:52 pmWe have to watch out, because when these wingnuts get scared we’re all in deep shit. We need to keep them in check.
Comment by Zooey #150
…I too fear for the future of our country (seriously)…
…the criminalbushites have gone too far…
…stolen too much…
…and caused too much political and economic divisiveness…
…Unless we get a UNITER in the White house in ‘08…
…we might better be prepared for Civil War…
…in Iraq AND America…
…forewarned IS fore-armed (hint)…
April 15th, 2007 at 5:56 pmMarie and Barfly,
…I caught the tail end of a report on Heather Wilson as well…
…something about her contacting the Arizona (or NM) U.S. attorney…
…on voter-fraud prosecution…
…the report said she’sin trouble having been elected by asmallish margin…
…didn’t she JUST get re-elected?
…how can she be in trouble?
…is there a recall effort underway?
April 15th, 2007 at 6:03 pm…Unless we get a UNITER in the White house in ‘08…
…we might better be prepared for Civil War…
…in Iraq AND America…
…forewarned IS fore-armed (hint)…
Comment by big papa
That’s why I don’t support Hillary Clinton for president. I’m not sure that she’d be much of a uniter. Not because she wouldn’t try, but because the wingnuts have such a strong negative reaction to her. And she supports this war, which was the first nail in her coffin, IMHO.
I really like Barack Obama, I hope he comes out strong — soon.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:07 pmDid TP get “repaired?†It seems to be working better.
Comment by Marie
Yeah, it’s not taking a week and a half to post a comment. Nice. :)
April 15th, 2007 at 6:09 pmThe trolls like it, too.
I can’t figure out why it was okay for Donald Trump to calle Rosie O’Donnell a pig face, fat pig..etc. The media gave him a stage and carried every insult he put out there. I was deeply offended by Trump’s attacks as well as the media’s insistence of force feeding us each new attack dreamed up by “The Donald”.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:09 pmSo, why is this different than Imus’s passing remarks? It’s still MEAN AS HELL and Imus feels shame while Donald Trump has ZERO humility.
Those who support Imus are having a hard time dealing with the fact that he is gone and good riddence to the bastard bigot.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:10 pm#158 Bp
April 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pmI think that Wilson won by a very slim margin in her state in 2006 and it wasn’t until the last minute that she squeaked it out – voter fraud?
Hmm, I think I will have to do some research.
Comment by Lizard — April 15, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
April 15th, 2007 at 6:14 pm——-
on behalf of Gwen and all of us who have been called nigger to our faces by white men who will not be punished: FUCK YOU AND THE MOTHER WHO BIRTHED YOUR SORRY ASS!
—–
Frank Zappa would not approve.
Ok Imus has the right to stand in time square and rantr racial slurs- as you would see it.
What about the right of the millions who watched his show to have a voice through him? Because their ideas arent sanatized they don’t deserve to have someone to be their voice?
The punishment doesnt fit the crime. I find it funny that she allowed the debate to go straight from Imus to hardcore rap not leading the debate into the more pressing issue of the far more distasteful behavior by the true perps which Media Matters has been hoping in vein for, and stood as an appologist for Snoop who has done far more degrading acts against Black women then Imus could ever do with just words. Snoop makes videos of women in his back yard degrading themselves.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:15 pmI really like Barack Obama, I hope he comes out strong — soon.
Comment by Zooey #159
It’s still early in the process…
…I really FEAR the influence of the msm…
…I’ll NEVER forget what they did to Howard Dean…
…whom I STILL believe would make a GREAT president…
… I too have high hopes for Senator Obama, but am cautiously pessimistic…
…this IS DUHmerica, ’til Bushiva and L’il Dick are brought to justice…
in OTHER NEWS…
…CNN just flashed a report that Secretary of the Treasury Snow owns interest in a paper company…
…entangled in the criminal Bushite junta’s WTO trade violation filing against China…
…DAMN!
…do conflicts of interest…
…still exist?
April 15th, 2007 at 6:17 pmI watched it (and I saw the show when he uttered those words, I cringed, even as a “white male”). I have watched Imus over the years (and yes, sometimes he should have been called Imass), but I put up with his infantile behavior, his rants, his endless hawiking of his products (albeit for a good cause), his anti-catholic cardboard hat skits, rascist comments uttered from his mouth (and idiots like Bo Deedle) and his blind allegiance to turncoat/nutball/republican-in-sheeps-clothing Lie-berman… BUT I watched because of who he had on, and morever what they would say. Face it, MOST of the news today is either scripted, puff pieces, endless naval gazing about Anna-Nicole, Duke Rape, Jon-Bonet (fill in your own blank), this was unscripted commentary that was usually more inciteful than the so-called news. I didn’t always (or often agree), but I watched him for who came on, and what they had to say. I have watched the “pundits” turn silent, when the issue comes to rap/hip-hop culture. THEY should have spoken out long-ago, but did not. When folks like Bill Cosby have the balls to say father-less families are a problem facing his race, he gets attacked. When folks like Jessie Jackson call NYC Hymie-town, he gets a pass. Al Sharpton, who I had grown to respect, has lost mine for now. If the Rutgers girls can ACCEPT his apology, then who is he to NOT do so. It is after all, the Christian thing to do, isn’t it? So, give a pass to everyone else (Colter on fags & rag-heads, frothing Bill Donahue on gook-jokes or anything else he ratnts, “hard out there for a pimp” wins an award, and the myraid of crazy stuff that comes out of Pat Robertsons mouth…), but draw a line at Imus’s comment? And BTW, did Gwen find humor in the Catholic cardboard when Russert it up, or am I mistaken? I might have to watch it again, to see if I am wrong on that. May the person who has no sin cast the first stone, but we never seem to listen to that part did we. BTW, I went to Rutgers as well, so I was offended on many levels BUT it is FREE SPEECH, and you can always CHOOSE not to listen (but free speech never seems to apply when you don’t like what the person is saying). I do not condone what he said, but I will wait and see how far our new standards will go. Look out Glen Beck, Bill Donahue, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Rielly, Rush Limbaugh, and all you rap/hip hop artists as well.. I am sure you too will be called to account for what you say. I will not hold my breath. Well I am sure there is something here to offend everyone, sorry for the rant. Cheers.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:18 pmPrediction: President Obama will appoint Hillary Clinton to the new cabinet level position as Communication Czar.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:18 pmAs Imus said himself, if he had not said the stupid remarks, he would not be in the position he finds himself in now.
The initial outrage over the Imus comments came from black journalists. It wasn’t until a few days later that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson jumped on the bandwagon. Although the Imus comments were racist and sexist, the primary message being pushed was that there must be certain media standards and accountability for what is said on the public airwaves.
This is where it gets interesting.
Rather than the media focusing the discussion on their own ethics and standards, and taking responsibility to examine others in their own media who might not be living up to those standards, they focused instead on the racial aspects of the Imus comments. Like a mantra, the media repeated the phrase, “Nappy-headed ho” and painted Imus as a racist.
Like the administration’s Scooter Libby, the media was more than willing to sacrifice Imus to save the ship and divert attention away from themselves. With Imus out of the way, and the spotlight turned away from the media ethics and standards, the media morphed the issue entirely into an issue of race, and soon began questioning the standards of rap music. And to finally close the issue, the media once again began dredging up the checkered past of Sharpton and Jackson, as they so often do after they’ve served their purpose.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:22 pmI, too, hope Obama wins – I think he is a rare candidate who can unite people — but I know the media will skewer him at any opportunity – even if it means lying about him.
OT -
Did you guys see Face the Naiton today? I flipped back and forth between that and This week — but I did catch Cheney saying that he has NOT SPOKEN to Scooter Libby since the trial. He refused to talk about an “on going case” (it’s going on to appeal).
The un-dead one said he hasn’t had the occasion to talk to Scooter.
Libby took a bullet for him, but he doesn’t have time to talk to him!
Libby is used up – he can’t help Cheney any more, so he is discarded.
It’s hard to believe a person can be so rotten as Dick the prick.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:26 pmYou never heard all this big talk in defense of the poor black people in New Orleans during the Katrina debacle,from Gwen Ifil.Not one word about the Bush incompetent mess and neglect.She is so obviously one of the posh preppy republicon crowd.I wonder just how she felt to be one of the looked down upon crowd for a change.She would never have had a chance to have the job she has now if it wasnt for the social programs enacted by the Democratic Party.She is a disgrace to her race and a betrayal to the very people who helped her to advance to her present position.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:33 pmWhen folks like Bill Cosby have the balls to say father-less families are a problem facing his race, he gets attacked.
If the Rutgers girls can ACCEPT his apology, then who is he to NOT do so. It is after all, the Christian thing to do, isn’t it?
Look out Glen Beck, Bill Donahue, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Rielly, Rush Limbaugh, and all you rap/hip hop artists as well.. I am sure you too will be called to account for what you say.
Comment by MLBL #166
I forgive Imus…
…and am glad he’s gone…
…as for Cosby…
…his is a case of…
…don’t air dirty (Family) laundry…
…in mixed company…
…as for P(B)ecker, Limpballs, and the rest…
…I certainly HOPE and PRAY they lose their jobs…
…I DESPISE them…
…and any REASONABLE, human-being would…
…a word of caution…
…the witch hunt to KILL Black rappers, comedians and edgy entertainers…
…must be embarked upon very gingerly…
…there is a “HEALING” side to rap…
…80% of rap music purchases come from White suburbia…
…MUSIC seems to be building a “bridge” of sorts…
…narrowing the racial divide…
…there is an unprecedented racial intimacy transpiring among/btwn…
…Generation X and Y’ers…
…particulary BECAUSE of rap and Black entertainment…
…WHO the HELL is Bill Donahue?
April 15th, 2007 at 6:37 pmComment by Lizard — April 15, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
April 15th, 2007 at 6:39 pm—————-
on behalf of Gwen and the other black people, including myself, who have been called N!&&@^ to our faces, F*&# YOU!
Comment by cincigal74 — April 15, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
—————
YOU ARE A LIAR! YOU DON’T WATCH WHEREVER SHE APPEARS!
I saw Gwen on several shows and they made a point of soliciting her as the ‘black’ opinion.
Get your facts straight, please!
April 15th, 2007 at 6:42 pmComment by big papa — April 15, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
———————–
Excellent points!
There was a rebuttal to donohue on huffpo a week or so ago. no response to donahue or msm. they’re still trotting him out!
April 15th, 2007 at 6:56 pmI have been waiting for Tim Russert to speak out for Two Weeks mainly because he was a Guest many, many times !If Big Russ was everything Little Russ said he was , then I am sure that he turning over in his Grave !! This , among other situations lately have changed my respect for Timmy Boy!! It has gone way Down !!
April 15th, 2007 at 7:22 pmImus is an idiot.
Personally I never liked the guy, it’s about time they got rid of him, he never did anything but spew hate and garbage.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:26 pmFeminism has now been scientifically proven to be a non-viable cultural idealogy, as I have been trying to warn you for years. Original source for story at bottom.
http://www.movieguide.org/index.php?s=news&id=285
Not intending to step on Gwen Ifill, who handled the Don Imus thing well, but I am calling her out to talk about the Duke LaCrosse Rape injustice perpetrated on the students by a politically motivated DA and a black female prostitute – what is Gwen afraid of?
April 15th, 2007 at 7:35 pm…as for Cosby…
…his is a case of…
…don’t air dirty (Family) laundry…
…in mixed company…
?????
That’s the problem. Seperate but equal is wrong. There shouldn’t be a “Black” Community and a “White” community. There needs to be a “human” community.
Pushing the “whites” into a group of “mixed company” is just more segregation. Believe it or not there are several “families” that are pretty “mixed”.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:36 pmFeminism has now been scientifically proven to be a non-viable cultural idealogy, as I have been trying to warn you for years.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Just because we women won’t let you f*ck us, doesn’t mean feminism is a failed ideology.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:43 pmMy wife and I watched Gwen this morning and cheered. About time someone took some of these members of the media to task. Imus might have been entertainment, but the brand of humor should have made some of his frequent guests pause before accepting the invitations. Folks such as Russert gave the show a credibility it did not deserve.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:46 pmTim clearly did not like being second-guessed. Gwen did a great job not backing down and letting Tim know his excuses were flimsy at best.
Good for her.
Hendler, You’ve got to be joking:
Population Research Institute is a pro-life educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending human life, ending human rights abuses committed in the name of family planning, and dispelling the myth of overpopulation.
Christianist freaks.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:53 pmImus got lynched. OJ plays golf. Michael Jackson is on the beach. And lying Reverend Al and anti-semitic Jesse are trying to up their radio audiences. (Did you know their shows are syndicated by the same group that represents Rush Limbaugh?) Rappers coined the phrases and Snoop Doggs community service only comes from copped pleas to felony weapons and drud distribution charges. Gwen can’s see the forest past the I-tree.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:54 pmRappers coined the phrases and Snoop Doggs community service only comes from copped pleas to felony weapons and drud distribution charges. Gwen can’s see the forest past the I-tree.
Comment by TnTom
You must live in a bubble. That kind of language is used in the South by Whites every day.
What do you think about Coulter slamming all muslims?
April 15th, 2007 at 7:58 pmImus got lynched. Comment by TnTom
Really funny. Maybe you could be the warm-up act at the next Klan rally? There’s your audience!
April 15th, 2007 at 8:02 pmIn every crisis there is an entity that profits, not from opportunism–like Al & Jesse, but by simply being in the right place at the right time.
And so, I’d just like to give a shout out to the good people in the thesaurus industry, who haven’t seen this much action in ages.
Without you good people, all this hysteria would have had to rely on the limited vocabularies of folks who feel the need to express outrage (whether they actually feel it or not) but lack the words that give this outrage pizazz…
And so, as an homage to you, the keepers of the synonyms, let it be said, for once and for all, that Don Imus’s comments about those amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, fabulous, miraculous, prodigious, staggering, stunning, stupendous, sublime, surprising, wonderful, wondrous, incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginably extraordinary, phenomenal, rare, sensational, spectacular; singular, conspicuously notable, outstanding, remarkable; impressive, striking; animating, energizing, enlightening, enlivening, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, stimulating; alluring, attracting, attractive, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, entertaining, enthralling, fascinating, interesting — and lest we forget…ARTICULATE basketball women from Rutgers…
were absolutely base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean; atrocious, cruel, nasty; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, perverted, reprobate; banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean; disallowed; execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched; erring, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous; improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, unbecoming, appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, bloodcurdling, dire, direful, fearful, fearsome, forbidding, formidable, frightening, hair-raising, terrifying; abhorrent, deplorable, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, loathsome, nauseating, obnoxious, offensive, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, sickening; abominable, evil, foul, heinous, noxious, odious, unspeakable, vile…
…and so forth.
Now, having said this… howsabout we talk about something else for a change?
April 15th, 2007 at 8:07 pmFrom Hendler´s article:
ending human rights abuses committed in the name of family planning,
Ha ha ha ha.
What B.Fly said: Freaks.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:09 pmI’m happy to find a format to repeat what I e-mailed to Tim Russert: Watching Gwen Ifill made me proud.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:17 pmFeminism has now been scientifically proven to be a non-viable cultural idealogy, as I have been trying to warn you for years.
Scientifically? LOL You’re afraid of science!
Not intending to step on Gwen Ifill, who handled the Don Imus thing well, but I am calling her out to talk about the Duke LaCrosse Rape injustice perpetrated on the students by a politically motivated DA and a black female prostitute – what is Gwen afraid of?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — April 15, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
You’re an idiot. The woman who accused those players is taking more than one prescription for psychosis – it wasn’t an ‘evil black with thing’, like you’re trying to suggest. She is sick.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:24 pmBut, Jason, since you’re so into “Science”, and Duke University, how about proof that prayer doesn’t work. In fact, in some cases, it is harmful. And the studies were done by religious physicians…
Here you go:
The Christian bible repeatedly declares that the prayers of their followers will be heard and answered. It even offers numerous examples of specific prayers that have been answered. In fact, many of those answered prayers refer to the health of others.
Deuteronomy 4:7 (New International Version): What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
1 Samuel 1:27 (New International Version): I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
Psalm 102:17 (New International Version): He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NAB) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 21:22 (New International Version): If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Jesus)
Mark 11:24 (New International Version): Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Jesus)
John 14:13-14 (NAB) And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.
James 5:-14:15 (ASV): Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
(In fact there were 365 passages that contained the word ‘pray’ in a word search at the online BibleGateway.com)
In spite of these overt promises for divine intervention in times of need, a Duke University study on prayer, conducted solely by people of faith, found otherwise. The study was conducted with coronary patients over the course of a 3-year clinical trial. Its published results had to conclude, based on their findings, that prayer has no significant consequence on a patient’s health, despite copious biblical quotations to the contrary.
Its double-blind trials divided patients awaiting angioplasty surgery, who were selected at random by a computer, into two groups – those who received intercessory prayer from 12 different religious organizations across the planet (but did not know that they were being prayed for), and those who did not (and did not know that they weren’t being prayed for). The resulting health of the patients who received intercessory prayer was essentially the same as those who did not – which were overall similar to the usual and expected results in health of all such angioplasty patients.
Link: http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9136
Additionally – in the STEP (Study of the Therapeutic Effects of intercessory Prayer) Project, a 10 year long clinical trial authored, conducted and funded by physicians and foundations of faith, in collaboration with six medical centers (including Harvard and Mayo Clinic), the “power of prayer†was the basis for another scientific test that concluded in 2006.
In double-blind studies, 1802 CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) patients were randomly selected and divided into 3 groups: 604 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; 597 patients who did not receive intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; and 601 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they definitely would receive prayer during their surgery and recovery. At the end of the study, it was determined that the group of 604 patients had 52% post-operative complications, the group of 597 patients had 51% post-operative complications, and that the group of 601 patients had 59% post-operative complications.
The published conclusion reported that their study could not only not show that prayer improves a patient’s health, but, in fact, that in those patients who knew they would be prayed for, the risk of complications was highest.
Link:
http://web.med.harvard.edu/sites/RELEASES/html/3_31STEP.html
April 15th, 2007 at 8:25 pmBut, Jason, since you’re so into “Science”, and Duke University, how about proof that prayer doesn’t work. In fact, in some cases, it is harmful. And the studies were done by religious physicians…
Here you go:
The Christian bible repeatedly declares that the prayers of their followers will be heard and answered. It even offers numerous examples of specific prayers that have been answered. In fact, many of those answered prayers refer to the health of others.
Deuteronomy 4:7 (New International Version): What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
1 Samuel 1:27 (New International Version): I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
Psalm 102:17 (New International Version): He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NAB) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 21:22 (New International Version): If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Jesus)
Mark 11:24 (New International Version): Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Jesus)
John 14:13-14 (NAB) And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.
James 5:-14:15 (ASV): Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.
(In fact there were 365 passages that contained the word ‘pray’ in a word search at the online BibleGateway.com)
In spite of these overt promises for divine intervention in times of need, a Duke University study on prayer, conducted solely by people of faith, found otherwise. The study was conducted with coronary patients over the course of a 3-year clinical trial. Its published results had to conclude, based on their findings, that prayer has no significant consequence on a patient’s health, despite copious biblical quotations to the contrary.
Its double-blind trials divided patients awaiting angioplasty surgery, who were selected at random by a computer, into two groups – those who received intercessory prayer from 12 different religious organizations across the planet (but did not know that they were being prayed for), and those who did not (and did not know that they weren’t being prayed for). The resulting health of the patients who received intercessory prayer was essentially the same as those who did not – which were overall similar to the usual and expected results in health of all such angioplasty patients.
Additionally – in the STEP (Study of the Therapeutic Effects of intercessory Prayer) Project, a 10 year long clinical trial authored, conducted and funded by physicians and foundations of faith, in collaboration with six medical centers (including Harvard and Mayo Clinic), the “power of prayer†was the basis for another scientific test that concluded in 2006.
In double-blind studies, 1802 CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) patients were randomly selected and divided into 3 groups: 604 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; 597 patients who did not receive intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; and 601 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they definitely would receive prayer during their surgery and recovery. At the end of the study, it was determined that the group of 604 patients had 52% post-operative complications, the group of 597 patients had 51% post-operative complications, and that the group of 601 patients had 59% post-operative complications.
The published conclusion reported that their study could not only not show that prayer improves a patient’s health, but, in fact, that in those patients who knew they would be prayed for, the risk of complications was highest.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:26 pmI think that Gwen Ifill is right that there is a “culture of meanness” both in the US . There are so many critical people who say offensive things. Imus has been a leader in that culture for years and probably never should have put on the air in the first place because of it. However, the scary part to me is that so many people like him and that kind of style. Because there is a market for it, the same culture will remain, but at least it will become less racist.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:27 pmI for one hope that Imus gets back on his horse and continues broadcasting. Perhaps when he does he won’t start off with an apology, but instead with an insightful, straight forward and honest, no holds barred analysis of what he believes happened. His radio format will likely be altered, but the airwaves still needs their I-Man. By the way, here is one of the better editorial cartoons I’ve seen of the whole mess, sans Rutger’s and the “NHH” comment. It is called The Glazing of America: http://www.theweeklydonut.org/index.php/2007/04/13/the-glazing-of-america/
April 15th, 2007 at 8:30 pmImus was fired for one reason, MONEY. Imus made his show having big name politicians on it. Every one knows that once his comments about the Rutgers team was made and such a stink was raised about it, no politician in his right mind would go back on his show. Imus’ has always used racist comments, but now he would have to watch his every word. No politicians, no more shock radio. The advertisers saw this and left in droves. No advertisers, no MONEY. He had to be fired. I personally think if he had not been fired, he would have resigned soon.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:34 pmI regard the Don Imus firing as outrageous given the fact that there are any number of comedians, radio talk show hosts and others who have a track record of making statements like this but have yet to see an exit door themselves.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:10 pmHello All,
I’m a died-in-the-wool liberal underdog lover who has yearned and worked for equality for all, and reparations for those who, by birth, are disadvantaged, and whose disadvanteges have helped others (like me) to have a nice, easy life of plenty and prestige. I am a New Yorker who resigned my navy commision to protest the Viet Nam war, and live in New Orleans because I love the African-Carribean-American culture here. Never the less, in watching, listening to, and reading the offending Imus quote, I sense a strain of affection and feeling of affinity to the people whom he has supposedly victimized. The “Nappy-Headed ‘ho’” appellation sounds, to me, as though Imus was attuned to , and appreciative of, the underlying, and essential irreverance and humor that is as much a part of the African-American culture as jazz, hip-hop, and sticking-it-to-the-man. I often find myself identifying with the people whom I love so much that I make a fool of myself, acting as I think I would if I were one of them, and it seems to me that this is pretty much what poor Imus fell victim to. The problem for one of our age (Imus’s and mine) is where to draw the line between identifying with a group that we love, and dragging that group down by our identification with it. A strong, vital culture, like the black one in the US, has little use for the sympathies of old white guys (OWG), regardless of the depth and sincerities of those sympathies. We (OWG’s) cannot be part of the people we love so much, and we must treat them as the distinct individuals they want and deserve to be. This was Imus’s error: He loves and identifies with this people to the extent that it clouded his awareness of how they, and the rest of the country, would perceive his characterization of them. So, dump him. And dump me, too. We’ve both had good runs, and, I suspect, we’re both ready to be sacrificed for the greater good. But I still think Imus’s heart is in the right place, and we would all be better off for appreciating that.
John Howard
April 15th, 2007 at 9:34 pmjhoward4@tulane.edu
Imus is a big liberal and one of the only successful liberal broadcasters in the country. Interesting to see the left go after him.
It was all about money. This was the free markets at work. As I blogged about today, Imus is a shock jock and is expected to be edgy and offensive. But he hit the wrong nerve. People got mad. But it wasn’t until advertisers pulled out that he lost his job. So the free market worked.
Now these same folks will go after other radio shows and put pressure on advertisers. I don’t think they’ll be as successful, but if they are then I suppose we’ll get nothing but elevator music on the radio 24×7 as everything else will offend someone’s sensitivities.
When will they demand that rap CDs be burned?
April 15th, 2007 at 9:37 pmI gagged every time I saw respected journalists and pols on Imus’ show, especially when they called him the I-man. How could they go on when they knew the hurt Gwen Ifill must have gone through? Could it have been that there is such mean public discourse that permeates our culture that they have been desensitized?
April 15th, 2007 at 9:39 pmNever the less, in watching, listening to, and reading the offending Imus quote, I sense a strain of affection and feeling of affinity to the people whom he has supposedly victimized. The “Nappy-Headed ‘ho’†appellation sounds, to me, as though Imus was attuned to , and appreciative of, the underlying, and essential irreverance and humor that is as much a part of the African-American culture as jazz, hip-hop, and sticking-it-to-the-man. John Howard
Except “Nappy-headed Ho” is an evolution from the white appellation for black women, “nappy-headed whore,” which whites have been using for decades. It is irrelevant what it “sounds like” to you, as you have never had this slur used against you. Do you believe in cultural awareness? Perhaps you should investigate your own culture, before opining on something so obviously out of you depth.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:49 pmWhen will they demand that rap CDs be burned?
Comment by muckdog
When republicans call for the burning of Ann Coulter’s ill-conceived screeds, masking as serious literature.
I ain’t holding my breath.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:52 pmGood for you Gwen.
It’s worth asking, “didn’t anyone have a problem with this?”
While I’ll be glad when this sorry affair is over, her question is legit. Took it on in slightly less polite terms this evening.
Verifiable fact: we should have been talking about the tone of the Imus show years ago….
“Slime Us in the Morningâ€
A couple of years ago, in May of 2005 to be more precise, I tuned in to a cable news channel one morning to find out what was doing in the world. The program was wrapping up a sports segment and somehow the topic turned to Australian pop star/actress Kylie Minogue, who had recently undergone surgery for breast cancer. And the sports announcer said this to the host: “Kylie ain’t gonna be so beautiful when the bitch got bald head and one titty. 
…That story is relevant because the program that presented this vicious inventive to the public was none other than Imus in the Morning. The same program taken off MSNBC and CBSs’ airwaves this week for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team a bunch of “nappy-headed ho’s…â€
April 15th, 2007 at 10:21 pm#195 Imus is a big liberal and one of the only successful liberal broadcasters in the country. Interesting to see the left go after him.
No, he isn’t. If he were he wouldn’t support John McCain for president. Next?
April 15th, 2007 at 10:33 pmGwen Ifill was quite graceful in laying her cards on the table this morning on MTP. Yes, where was Tim and David and the rest of her colleagues after Imus labeled her a cleaning lady?
Don Imus was the voice they wanted to hear. I have never seen so much praise and reverance paid to a drugged out raging alcoholic before in my life. But it makes sense when you think about it. He became their touchstone. Preach brother Imus, preach.
Not that there was ever a doubt in my mind as to Don Imus’ mindset well before his latest racist outburst, but after viewing clips from this evenings 60 minutes episode, that question should be put to rest in everyone’s mind by now.
The man is a racist. America said, no thank you Don. We’ve heard enough.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:04 pmI agree 100% with Gwen this morning as she spoke so eloquently about IMUS remarks and how her journalist colleagues of other races did speak up until much later.
As for the black rappers and comedians, for those of us who have been guilty of being tolerant are now on a crusade to get rid of these folks. The ones who use free speech irresponsibility to bemean and belittle black women and wrongfully influence our young children. We’ve been trying to get rid of this trash from our communities, but try fighting a 4 billion a year industry. Sponsors promoting such vile language should be exposed to the public.
Thank you Gwen for being you. Thank you NBC for upholding your mission and vision.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:04 pmwhat did cleaning lady, Ifill, when OJ was found not gulity? Did she jump with joy along with the Howard Univ. students?
white people don’t picket – they quitely stop listen to non-sense..
NBC, CBS, tell the sponsors when no one buys there crap – they can have thier morals to keep them company.
Obama give back the Ludricaous rapper (everybody, say ho..) money
Ifill said nothing about the NBA all-star ‘hood event.., so in my mind – she aint got no cred on this issue.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:20 pm#203 Everything you just said was ignorant.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:32 pmPerhaps if we all cool down and try to look at all this rationally….We would see that we are all human and make mistakes….Let it go… It is over….
April 15th, 2007 at 11:38 pmTo continue in this vein only leads to more “meanness”.
Did anyone notice whether the three commercial networks aired any footage from the Sunday talk shows (including Gwen Ifill’s challenge to Russert and Brooks on NBC) on tonight’s evening newscasts? Often they carry clips from their own and even one another’s talk shows, but tonight I didn’t see any at all, least of all Ms. Ifill’s star turn.
Anyone want to bet that she’s put on all three networks’ “Do Not Invite” list for the Sunday talk shows now? I just hope she doesn’t lose her job at PBS over this, because no network likes seeing its moderators called out (especially when it’s so justified and lots of viewers agree with her).
April 15th, 2007 at 11:40 pmThere are more non racism in America. Imus and others are few but the media makes it seem like there more. Let’s talk about those who aren’t racist for a change. Gwen was right to tell Russert and Brooks as both look for minority viewers. Brooks is just a suck up and will do anything for money so it’s no surprise. But Tim looked for all his viewers support during his attack during the Libby trial. Yet when it comes to speak up he’s silent. So much for supporting those who support you. Like Imus and the O’Reillys of the US just live in their own hell and the rest of Americans can move on to work together. NBC and CBS can’t afford to pay a racist and still ask for minority support. 60 years ago today Jackie Robinson broke the color line and look at how much we’ve learned in 60 years. Most young people could care less about color they don’t relate to the old ideas.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:41 pm#204 – JPark
Wow. No kidding. Sounds like a Fox “News” sound byte.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:42 pmFor the record, neither Brooks nor Russert were “silent” (see transcript above). They talked so much about Imus that they never even got to Gonzales and the Dems run for the White House (just like Rove planned it ; )
April 15th, 2007 at 11:53 pmI watched meet the press this morning. I don’t think we should make too much out of her calling them out. It was only a side issue to her making a larger point about many people not speaking out before she thinks they should. They were in agreement on most issues related to this controversy most of the show. I thought they had a pretty interesting conversation. And I don’t think Russert was quiet because of what Ifill said, I think the conversation went so well without him that he kind of let it go by itself. They even skipped Iraq and the attorney scandal to keep talking about this issue.
Personally, I like Russert’s show. I don’t see why some people hate him so much. He is not perfect, but he asks a lot harder questions than most news programs. He has always seemed pretty fair to me.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:02 amStop, stop, stop with the rap references. It has nothing to do with what Imus said. Guns and Roses had a song that blasted blacks and homosexuals, Michael Richards didn’t use that in his defense. Imus’s issues predates rap, but the genre does serve for a convenient cover. Rap artists say awful things, therefore I can say whatever I like with impunity. Uh, no. It’s not to say he should have been fired; that’s NBC’s and CBS’s call. His comments were racist and wrong whether or not any black person every called another the n word or a ho.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:19 amI agree, Paul W.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:29 amApril 16th, 2007 at 12:56 am
If race relationsis at an all time low how come statictics show that black and white marriages are at an all time high?
I still say Don Imus looks like Howard Hughes when he was on his death bed.
April 16th, 2007 at 1:49 amI think Gwen Ifill is one of the most brilliant women I have ever seen and I have enjoyed her over and over on the Lehrer Report. To have anyone refer to her as “the cleaning lady” shows a total lack of respect for a black woman. It is tantamount to calling a black man “boy” and as far as I am concerned no different that using the “n” word, merely to get a cheap laugh. Our public spends hours listening to canned laughter. Some programs inject it after every line. It is as if it were a sip of coffee or a bite of food for the TV audience. We are used to it. We are also used to the put downs and crude remarks that no one “used to say” out loud in the presence of women. We’ve come a long way, baby. If we were to fire everyone who has dropped these zingers, there would be few people left on T.V. However, that does not mean that it is acceptable from an ethical or moral point of view. I merely say what we all know is there but how we deal with this hateful type of language, presents us with a real dilemma. I feel certain rumblings in the direction of changing all that, but I am afraid that it is too ingrained now and the efforts will go the way of all other good intentions which pave the way to that place we are all going if Jerry and Pat are right.
April 16th, 2007 at 5:33 amIfill needs to get over her faux indignation and quit wallowing in self pity,
April 16th, 2007 at 7:04 amAll of this is further evidence that all of the DC reporters and pundits have been at it too long.
Time for new people everywhere…
April 16th, 2007 at 7:20 am“Did you hear Juan Williams blame blacks for racists rants against blacks? He did it on NPR with Steve Innskeep.
“I am a black woman. Juan Williams is dead-on. A disgusting double standard exists in this country. The black community needs to address it. I am “supposed†to get mad about Don Imus calling black women “nappy-headed hosâ€, but I am “supposed†to accept 50 cent or Ludacris calling black women, much, much worse names? Please, that logic is flawed, at best!!!!!”
Comment by notimpressedwithUS
Who ever said you are supposed to accept 50 cent or Ludacris? Seriously, has anyone actually ever said that to you? You know, I don’t feel so inadequate and self-hating that I’m compelled to join anti-black racists in demonizing other blacks. It’s absolutely pathetic that you and Juan Williams are. Listen, it one day, rap suddenly went away, or was “cleaned up”, the white people here defending Imus, you, Juan Williams, and other black people like you will be about as pleased as the LAPD was with the gang truce.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:19 am#216 – Comment by nuDavidll — April 16, 2007 @ 7:04 am
“faux indignation”? Her indignation seemed genuine to me.
Maybe your inferior status as a cleaning woman makes you incapable of enough intelligent thought to discern “faux” from “genuine, nuDavidll. Troll.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:25 am“notimpressedwithUS”? what do you mean, “us”? You’re not “us”. You are “them”.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:27 amThe noticeable difference between this thread on Gwen Ifill and the thread on “PBS’s Gwen Ifill speaks out on Imus,” Posted by Nico April 10, 2007 9:43 am| Comment (352), is the absence of I Worfeus from the conversation.
It is like a breath of fresh air!
.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:46 amYou’re all pathetic ….while you sit in here playing the blame game, all you are doing is providing cover for our dear dick-tator Bush, sitting in the Oval Office, thinking to himself …“Thank heavens, let these idiots throw their racist taunts at each other, this way I can screw the American public just a little more each day without any oversight as to what I am doing …it sure is grand being the Great Dick-Tator.” Wake up people…
April 16th, 2007 at 8:49 am“You’re all pathetic ….while you sit in here playing the blame game, all you are doing is providing cover for our dear dick-tator Bush, sitting in the Oval Office, thinking to himself …“Thank heavens, let these idiots throw their racist taunts at each other, this way I can screw the American public just a little more each day without any oversight as to what I am doing …it sure is grand being the Great Dick-Tator.†Wake up people…”
Comment by notimpressedwithanyofyou — April 16, 2007 @ 8:49 am
You know, comments like that, and variations on comments like that sound real good. Very clear-minded and sensible. But isn’t it interesting that to do what you want us to do would involve black folks shutting their mouths about racism? You’re not fooling anyone, you know. Sorry.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:58 amI did not see any other Imus threads, did I miss them? I wanted to see where you people stood. I consider Imus to be a bleeding heart liberal POS. But I do not think he should loose his job because Sharpton and Jackson, two of the biggest racists on the planet, say so. I do not call them Reverends since a Reverend is suppose to forgive. Especially after repentance has been made.
I hate Imus and I found his comment repugnant. But to take away a man career because he made a bad joke is too much. I just wanted to see where this group stands. Since you normally crucify conservatives when they say something stupid but give liberals a pass.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:00 amSee? there’a another one.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:03 amI didn’t say failed ideology. I said non-viable. In direct competition with cultures in which women support their men, feminized cultures are eventually displaced, through apathy (what is there for men to fight for) and through demographic shift (feminist households are literally out-bred by other cultures). So while you may enjoy the benefits of a culture fought for and created by men for your benefit, your daughters and grand-daughters will not.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:09 amIf two certain black folks …namely al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would shut their friggin mouths about racism, we’d have a lot less of it in this country; maybe not entirely, but quite a lot less…
April 16th, 2007 at 9:10 amIfill and Robinson got this and communicated the issues clearly and accurately. Russert and Brooks were bloviating through their own guilt. Russert and Brooks and their colleagues in the Media Establishment really keep taking this personally, and that is effecting their reporting. Here’s the deal: More diversity is in corporate America in News Corporations, Boards, on Staffs than even 10 years ago. Imus was not telling a joke when he DEHUMANIZED these women by talking about their race, gender and sexuality. He simply has a pre-Integration mindset. His generation is dying away—just like the generations who supported slavery, Jim Crow laws, denying women the vote, and segregation. How many in this country were raised in integrated schools?? How many of those are aging and getting powerful jobs in the media? The times they are a-changing. Also, Sharpton and Jackson jumped out in front of this after the National Association of Black journalists took the lead. Whenever anyone starts blaming those two leaders or Hip Hop, listen carefully—they are trying to change the subject and protect Imus and themselves!!
April 16th, 2007 at 9:10 am#186, Juanita,
…. so, come out from behind women’s skirts to echo their taunts? You are such a woman.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:10 amImus comes across as VERY red-state, until he blasts Bush, the failed Iraq war, and calls Cheney a War Criminal. Imus can’t be labeled politically!!! Be careful with making Imus removal political—cannot be done with much credibility.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:14 amJuan Williams is at least backing up his beliefs with action, both through his book “Enough”, and his comments on NPR and Fox News Sunday.
Gwen is quick (albeit elegent) in her voicing concerns with the Don Imus issue, but where is she when the tables are turned, and a black woman falsely accuses 3 white young men of rape? Her silence makes her NO better than Jackson, Sharpton and every other opportunist.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am“If two certain black folks …namely al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would shut their friggin mouths about racism, we’d have a lot less of it in this country; maybe not entirely, but quite a lot less…”
Comment by notimpressedwithanyofyou — April 16, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Amazing. I didn’t expect to have my point proven so vividly. Thanks.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:18 am#226 – Jason M. Hendler — April 16, 2007 @ 9:09 am
In direct competition with cultures in which women support their men, feminized cultures are eventually displaced…
So while you may enjoy the benefits of a culture fought for and created by men for your benefit, your daughters and grand-daughters will not.
Heavens to Betsy, Mr. Hendler! Where did you get the technology to time-travel from the 19th century to the 21st?
If the “culture created by men” was of such a benefit to women, why did it take more than a century after the signing of the U.S. Constitution for women to win the vote?
I bet you have a difficult time getting women to “support” you, with your attitude. Most women live in the 21st century and 19th century thinking, like yours, usually doesn’t go over so well.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:23 amWow, Jason…10 years is “quick”?
April 16th, 2007 at 9:24 amGwen Ifill challenged Russert and Brooks about the Imus appearances because Imus denigrated a group of accomplished and gracious young black women, and Ms. Ifill is herself a black woman, and so is her young goddaughter whom she invoked so touchingly.
There are lots more white males than black females in the US, so let the white men defend the Duke lacrosse players, if they think they’re worthy of it. It’s not Gwen Ifill’s fight, nor Juan Williams’.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:30 amMany of you people can’t see the ‘forest thru the trees’. You’ve ‘cut off your nose to spite your face’. How many other metaphors can I use. Don Imus’ actions over the years should have spoken far greater than his words. You’ve let three misplaced words speak greater than all the good this man has done for minorities and underpriviledged in this country. Be it autism, death benefits for GIs, kids with cancer, wounded vets, etc., this man has raised awareness and accomplished so much good in this country. A lot of this good would not have happened without Imus. He has been an outspoken critic of this war and this administration, he tells it like it is, and speaks for many of us. He has failings, who doesn’t? But this man did not deserve what he got from ill-informed and single-minded people in this country. WE, this country, are far worse off without Imus on the air. I truly believe that black people have made their situation worse by their attitude toward Imus. If people like me are pissed off and passionate enough to actually spend the time to type these words, then their agenda is in trouble. As a Democrat and supporter of many liberal causes, I’m appalled by what’s happened. I can only think that if this event has effected other like-minded people as me, then we truly have taken many steps backward in our goal for racial equality in this nation!
April 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am#233, hterrya,
You single out the USA as if women around the world were all holding political office in numbers equal to men. For that matter, dredge up the existence of slavery in the 19th century, which was a worldwide trade / commodity.
It was the greatest generation of men who fought the great wars to end tyranny, and create a world stable / safe enough to allow women to emerge and prosper. It was the greatest generation that held office when they passed civil rights legislation in the ’60’s. Is it no suprise that little else has been done since?
My views are throw-back to some bygone era. They are merely pointing out the trends of where we are headed. Europe is unable to handle the rapid growth of muslim populations and their corresponding political power in their nations. You will, in your lifetimes, witness some of these nations being supplanted with governments following sharia law, much the way north african states have fallen.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:36 am#235, Shoe,
… so by your logic, the white abolutionists shouldn’t have fought to end slavery? It really wasn’t their problem, was it?
April 16th, 2007 at 9:38 amGwen is right. There is a long and growing list of white men telling black women that they should not be offended by this. It’s disgusting. We should hear from more black women on this subject.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:39 amI’ll bet you can think of individuals and organizations who do lots of good works, yet their messages are so deplorable that they outweigh the good works.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:40 amJoe, don’t bore us with your trumped up excuse for hating black folks. You have every right to hate us for any reason. You don’t have to make one up any more than you have to make up a reason for becoming a rightist. It’s fine, man. Don’t worry about it.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:42 am#228 – Comment by benjamin — April 16, 2007 @ 9:10 am:
He (Imus) simply has a pre-Integration mindset. His generation is dying away—just like the generations who supported slavery, Jim Crow laws, denying women the vote, and segregation.
Sadly, by his comments, Imus has been training younger generations to adopt his “pre-Integration mindset.”
A quick look at the comments by the trolls on this thread convinces me that the “pre-Integration mindset” ain’t dead yet, by a long shot! It needs a stake through its heart, and Gwen Ifill is just the lady to do it!
April 16th, 2007 at 9:43 amTribe before ideology, right, Joe?
April 16th, 2007 at 9:46 amWhite abolitionists were advocating for the freedom of black slaves, who were by the very definition of slavery oppressed. The white Duke lacrosse players are not comparably oppressed by social institutions; after all, they’re not slaves, they’re even not in jail, they’re free.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:51 amPlantsman1, You saw right through me… I don’t give a damn about you, I just miss my ‘I’ man in the morning! Does this mean I have to move to Howard Stern? He don’t hate you… do he!
April 16th, 2007 at 9:53 amGood start, Joe. Now, you just have to learn to say “Democrat” instead of “Democratic”.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:59 amBut then again, you don’t really have to become a conservative if you don’t want to. You can be one of those “insider liberals” like your beloved I-man. Pro abortion, yet anti-black. The best of both worlds!
April 16th, 2007 at 10:06 amWhat a crock. This is as 2 faced/double standard as you can get. It is unthinkable that Don Imus is held to a standard that other entertainers are not held to. Jackson, Sharpton, Let’s not forget our “Choclate City, mayor”, and others use as bad, or worse in their comments. Lets also not forget all the rap artists that say MUCH worse. How many RAP artists raise money just for children with Cancer???
I am NOT saying what he did was right, and I do believe he owes an apology to the ladies of the rutgers bb team.
This man however has led the way for getting out of Iraq, taking care of Vets, raising money for REAL charities, SIDS/Cancer/more. So while he says a lot of stupid inconsiderate things, the GOOD he has done far overshadows the bad.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, NO filthy fould rap lyrics should be allowed, or the DJ’s get fired for playing them, the rap artists that use the foul abusive words/items should all be turned out to the streets, and their contracts cancelled of they keep it up. HOLD EVERYONE TO THE SAME STANDARDS!!!
April 16th, 2007 at 10:38 amI would like to back up about 92 steps here. My question is: Can anyone take a joke anymore?
It was a joke. Forget your ideologies and self-righteousness for a second, and see the context for what it was: A JOKE.
Blowing this up into a huge racial issue will, if anything, set back the progress of racial equality in our country.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:41 amohhhh, context…okay
April 16th, 2007 at 10:44 amYeah, context. Without context, how would I know that anyone repeating the “N.H.H.” comment wasn’t just repeating Imus’ words?
April 16th, 2007 at 10:49 amFor every “anti-black” comment Imus made, he made far more “pro-black comments.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:51 amJoe’s comment #236 is dead on. I know you all must think that Imus spent all of his airtime spewing racist remarks while praising John McCain. This is totally wrong. It shows ignorance on your part. Sure, you can point out 1 or 2 quotes from his past that are inappropriate. But since those are the only quotes that get national coverage, all of the postive things he said are lost.
Imus was (in my opinion) the most vehement and vocal opponent of the Bush administration. Everyone now knows that Imus has a sharp tongue. He used it to point out the crooks and liars that are running our country. If you ever listened to him trashing Bush & Co., you would cheer.
I am pointing all of this out not to defend his comment, but to defend the truth about what Imus stood for. He should not be lumped in with Ann Coulter and Limbaugh.
I hope you are all happy to be losing the most influential voice for progressive causes you had (even though you didn’t know it). See #236 for a list of these causes. I challenge someone here to prove me wrong (that he wasn’t the most influential and got the most done).
April 16th, 2007 at 10:51 amTry this on for size:
April 16th, 2007 at 10:55 amImus is a Lefty. Despite his manner, his philosophy was liberal. Corporate America saw this as an opportunity to rid themselves of a thorn in their paw and took advantage of it. There is no other explanation. Or, explain to me how the other shock jocks remain on air despite repeated flare-ups form their verbal indiscretions.
To be serious, it won’t set the state of race relations back. It will still be exactly where it is now. The only difference might be that we’ll stop BS’ing each other about the actual state of race relations. That way, people like Juan Williams and “notimpressedwithUS” will be disabused of their delusion that trying to curry favor with people who don’t quite see them as fully human will earn them respect. That’ll be one of the best things that could happen to us as a people.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:59 amHmm, this is kinda like 9/11, except nobody died. And blacks are Muslims. I’m cool with it.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:04 amI saw Ifil yesterday and observed the interaction by her, and I was simply sickened by her self righteous attitude. In fact her performance cemented “cleaning lady” as the perfect description for her.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:06 amFace it folks, her resentment of the phrase proves that in her heart she believes it to be an accurate description of her. Otherwise she would wear the term as a badge of honor. And if she thinks that of herself, that is not Imus’s fault.
I mean grow up people. I am not famous, not seen hosting Presidential debates, not as wealthy, and guess what, I have had to endure worse usage without a hope of a famous person ever considering sliming me. And I can survive as do all of us really, unless we are so egotistical as to consider ourselves too sacred to be critiqued or are too ignorant as to understand that words are only symbols to describe reality, but have absolutely no power to create reality.
Juan Williams is at least backing up his beliefs with action, both through his book “Enoughâ€, and his comments on NPR and Fox News Sunday.
Gwen is quick (albeit elegent) in her voicing concerns with the Don Imus issue, but where is she when the tables are turned, and a black woman falsely accuses 3 white young men of rape? Her silence makes her NO better than Jackson, Sharpton and every other opportunist.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — April 16, 2007 @ 9:17 am
The accuser did not bring charges, the DA, the police and forensic personnel ensured that the charges were leveled. Its amazing how those who want to rant only against blacks will look past the whites in this case and lay the blame at the feet of this woman. Also, these men who all hail from upper middle class backgrounds chose to pick up the phone and bring this situation to their door. The main question is what were these men doing requesting the services of these 2 black woman? Why not request white females? Were they expecting different services because they were deemed ’sexual’ in nature, and the level of respect afforded by them to these woman could be thrown out of the door?
And, as I watched these men make their way around the morning news programs, not one anchor asked them if they requested specifically black females or if their decision had anything to do with their perception of black as ‘loose or easy.’ Some here are quick to give their pointed attack as an explanation, while ignoring the history of white men who sterotyped black females, as they elevated white females on pedistals. Perceptions are reality, and it is so much like reality for the MSM to ignore this history , that makes some in the black community recall the thousands of cases where these things were committed by whites and never investigated.
And, the audacity of some to decry for blacks to renounce this female points to the cause in the difference of white and black folks attitudes, whereas many whites seem to have little direct knowledge of the behavior of those in its community who openly abused black females while knowing they would not be prosecuted. Or they are tangently aware, but are too defensive to put a matter like the Duke case in its proper historical perspective.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:24 amEntitlement, entitlement, entitlement. That’s what it’s all about. People who didn’t even know they thought of themselves as entitled, and would have hated to think of themselves that way are suddenly discovering that goddamn it to hell, I AM entitled by virtue of my race and gender, and how DARE those people question it? Not only that- it’s cutting across ideological lines. Pretty interesting, actually. I’m intrigued.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:37 am#235, Shoe,
… so by your logic, the white abolutionists shouldn’t have fought to end slavery? It really wasn’t their problem, was it?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — April 16, 2007 @ 9:38 am
It was everyone’s problem who chose to live in a Christian nation.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:41 amGWEN IFIL SHOULD TAKE OVER MEET THE PRESS AND SEND RUSSERT OVER TO IMUS’S NEW SHOW……WHEREVER THAT IS.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:50 amSubtract the “so by your logic”, replace the question mark after “slavery” with a period, and you’ll know what Jason is really trying to say:).
April 16th, 2007 at 11:54 amInteresting how many posters are trying to make what Imus said “OK”. Either by saying things like “when is the last time Gwen attacked rap music?
oh that’s right.. never”, a feeble effort to say “why come down on Imus when they say the same thing”?
Or by trying to conflate other issues with what Imus said.
You people just don’t want any grief for spouting racist slurs. Your roundabout defense of Imus speaks volumes.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:46 pmI have been called “Cracker” by several of my African-American friends. Is this acceptable? Can I get them fired from their jobs?
April 16th, 2007 at 1:06 pmTo Terry, the Cracker…
April 16th, 2007 at 1:25 pmIf they are your friends, why would you want to have them fired? Or are you just a cracker after all, making up sh*t just because you can’t accept the fact that harm WAS done in this Imus mess?
Or are you just a fun guy who can’t understand why everyone has such strong opinions on this BS and you are really just pimping everyone?
I vote for C … I don’t think you have any African American friends anyways ~!
Tony, can you take a joke?
That’s the point Terry is trying to make, I think. We (as a country) are too politically-correct and uptight that we can’t poke fun at each other without making a huge controversy about it.
April 16th, 2007 at 1:29 pm“nappy-headed hos”
April 16th, 2007 at 1:48 pmThis is supposed to be such a horrible thing to say?
Where is the reality check?
Duh, like does anyone really think the girls are hos? I mean they are hos or they aren’t. Some of them may be, or become such. Who knows? (And you can say that about any group of girls white too, especially these days) But if those words by imus actually hurt them, they are some pretty weak minded girls I got to tell you. They never heard worse things said about them by people who actually know them?
Duh, also, they have nappy hair or they don’t don’t. If they do, they do, if they don’t, I suspect Imus was being funny, which duh, was part of his job you all know.
Do they have tattoos? Are they a tough looking group which was really Imus’s main point? I don’t know because I didn’t watch the game, and I don’t really care anyway. But people got eyeballs don’t they? If Imus was distorting, then people would see that, and the people who would buy into the distortion, or simply take his word for it, will have had those thoughts whether Imus said them or not.
Where were the black pundits who have tried to stop the offensive remarks by rappers,comedians etc. who use the offensive terms cracker,honkey,wetbacks,the M.F. words these are wrong words and equally as bad as the N. word.The usual suspects get all the air time Jackson and Sharpton grab the head lines instead of the young ladies who were wronged.If you laughed at Richard Priyer or the black comedians you are as guilty as Imus.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:08 pmWay to stand up and take the heat for one of your friends Tim.This is a great message your sending.I will support you until the gong gets tough and then I am out of here!!Go have someone else help you sell your next stupid book.I am throwing my copy of Big Russ out.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:09 pmI watched the show and I must say that Ifill came across as merely a chastising old prig. Like an elderly schoolmarm she bristled and pursed her lips whenever another panelist would give an opinion she considered “wrong”. It was sad to watch none of the others take her prissy attitude on directly and forcefully. No doubt because she is black and a woman.
I don’t understand why so many here are so taken with this twit. Do your homework and you’ll discover she is a Bush apologist and the one majorly responsible for the turn to the right of the News Hour.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:11 pmnull is correct! Where the hell was Harold Ford Jr., Tim Russert, Jon Meacham, and the rest. I only saw Carville, Begala, Matalin and Crawford stepping up to the plate for the I-man. They’re the ones who know what loyalty and ’stickin’ are all about.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pmI hear people making excuses for Imus’ coments by blaming rap music. However, I do not hear these same people blame heavy metal music for sucides in teenagers and music that are demeaning to women and various religions. If you are going to call out rappers why not heavy metal music and some country music that have racist overtones. This is hypocritical!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:48 pmThere’s the point Trish… where do you draw the line? You can’t… there is no line… everyone has a different line. You can’t shut down Imus, cause then you have to shut down everybody!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:54 pm#273 – Comment by joe — April 16, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
You can’t shut down Imus, cause then you have to shut down everybody!
NEWS FLASH!, Joe: Imus was shut down, and everyone else is still talking!
Shutting down Imus was not the end of the world. Listening (and watching) Imus was just an opportunity for people to excuse denigrating people of color, to feel superior to those with whom they disagree, and to remain in hebetude. That opportunity is over. No big loss in my opinion.
Anyway, Imus’ firing has given lots of trolls in here the opportunity to denigrate Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jackson, Gwen Ifill and everyone in here who agrees with Ms. Ifill’s comments about Russert and NHH Brooks. The trolls in here have had a field day. The virulent spirit of Imus lives on. You trolls can take some small solace in that!
By the way, there is little chance of Russert and Brooks being “shut down,” so you can still your hysteria, Joe.
April 16th, 2007 at 3:24 pmhterrya:
April 16th, 2007 at 3:44 pmYou are so righteously opposed to people saying cruel, perhaps unfounded things about others?
Hmmm, is that why you are so free to call people trolls without a hic-cup? Without a shred of evidence beyond the fact they don’t agree with you?
Name calling is name calling is name calling!
yes I do
April 16th, 2007 at 4:38 pm#275 – Comment by Rex — April 16, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
You are absolutely right, Rex. The word “troll” goes out of my vocabulary.
Attempts to distract and derail this thread from its topic are simply that: attempts by people, not trolls. Whatever their intent those people need to be confronted on the content of what they say, without derogatory labels.
So let me rephrase my comment to Joe in #274:
Anyway, Imus’ firing has given lots of folks who post on this thread the opportunity to denigrate Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jackson, Gwen Ifill and everyone in here who agrees with Ms. Ifill’s comments about Russert and Brooks. They have had a field day. The virulent spirit of Imus lives on. You folks defending Imus can take some small solace in that!
April 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pmWhat’s so bad about calling young women “ho’s,” Rex? I guess that means that your mama must be a ho if the word is so OK with you. And your wife, your sister and all your aunts. Now, how do you like it?
Just because low-life rap musicians make millions from fools who buy their records, doesn’t mean that their vocabulary is acceptable to anyone else. It is certainly not acceptable in describing outstanding young college women or any other women, for that matter.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:05 pmThere are a lot of thin skins in this country. Everybody wants to be a victim.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:35 pm#275 – Comment by hterrya — April 16, 2007 @ 4:52 pm`
My hat is off to you hterrya for amending your language. Very commendable and mature I think most people will agree! Thanks!
On the question of what is off track as far as posting, I don’t agree with your view that attacking Ifill et al is off base. Isn’t Ifill being praised for her attacks? Does she get a free pass?
April 16th, 2007 at 9:30 pmI was personally sickened by her attitude yesterday, and will never see her as a legitimate source of information again. She may not have jumped up and yelled “I am a hate filled person” but it was clear that she is.
Don’t get me wrong. being hate filled is not a crime. But trying to destroy another while pretending your heart is pure and righteous, when it isn’t, is disgusting. At least to me.
#279 – Comment by Andrew — April 16, 2007 @ 8:35 pm:
Everybody wants to be a victim.
Sorry Andrew, I don’t buy it.
I don’t buy that everybody wants to be publicly victimized by loudmouthed representatives hired by publicly-franchised communications networks with denigrating descriptions and racial slurs.
I am sure that Gwen Ifill wasn’t hoping that Imus would call her a putdown like “cleaning lady, ” just so she could feel like a “victim.” I wouldn’t want that to happen to me. Would you want that to happen to you? Why would you consider her less than you are, and thus consider yourself to be superior to Ms. Ifill? Or Rev. Sharpton? Or Rev. Jackson? Or anyone else?
The fact that folks consider themselves to be superior to other people, seems to me to be a BIG contributor to the racial divide plaguing this country.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:49 pm#280 – Comment by Rex — April 16, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
She (Ms. Ifill) may not have jumped up and yelled “I am a hate filled person†but it was clear that she is.
You know, Rex, your statement startled me! I thought, what did Rex see or hear that I didn’t? So I played the video again.
To me, Ms. Ifill seemed anything but hate-filled. There was no sneer in her voice or on her face, as there was with Imus, when he made his now infamous remark about the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team.
Seems to me that this issue varies in the eye (and the mind, and the heart) of the beholder. I view Ms. Ifill very positively. Many on this thread agree with me. Some agree with you, Rex. You and those who agree with you have been very clear about how you feel. I hope I have been as clear about how I feeal as you and those who agree with you have been.
My hope is that your protestation that your feelings that are very negative with regard to Ms. Ifill do not flow from a judgement on your part that you are somehow superior to Ms. Ifill. If that is the source of your feelings about her, you can be sure that I don’t agree with your judgement.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:12 pmComment by Rex #280
Rex,
Why do i get the feeling that had Gwen Ifilpleaded on behalf of Imus…
…you would have STILL found a reason to”HATE” her?
…admit what you are…
…a hate filled al Cr**ka racist…
…don’t project YOUR shortcoming onto Ms ifil…
April 16th, 2007 at 10:56 pm#280 – Comment by hterrya — April 16, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Well I read what you said and I wondered if you could be correct. See I didn’t watch the video on this site today before I posted, so I did so just now after I saw what you said. And so I know why you saw something different from what I did. Simply, we didn’t see the same program!!!!!!`
I watched the original hour long Tim Russert show yesterday. You don’t see her true colors from the tiny little bit posted here. But you do if you saw the whole show.
I will grant that of course my statement that she is hate filled is impossible to prove objectively, but it is how I saw her and some other Blacks. I know that as an objective matter, hers and some other Black spokes people by their performance, caused me to see Blacks in a more negative light than I did prior to it. If Blacks want to act as a class in a movement, then of course their actions are going to reflect on that class. They can’t have it both ways, race shouldn’t be an issue, while they make an issue of it.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:21 pmTheir saying they did not like Imus comments is fine. Their mob mentality and drive to get him fired, combined with a constant sliming and dismissal of all his apologies as if Imus was not even a human being, and all this for a remark made on a comedy show, just is way over the top.
Think of this. I don’t and never have watched him. Not my thing. So if there was half a million people watching, that would mean say around 200 million or more in the US including myself, that would have no clue that the really unremarkable words had ever been uttered. Wow, that is like most people. But some blacks decided to make a big deal out of it, and they did it deliberately in order to make an attack, so now say maybe 2 billion people could have heard those words.
And those people wanted blood. Never had any other purpose than that. That is not a noble cause, and did not help their cause.
#280 – Comment by big papa — April 16, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
big papa, I can only guess you get that feeling because you want to get that feeling. But it’s your fantasy, and has nothing to do with me or who I am.
April 16th, 2007 at 11:54 pmI really am sorry you would say such a thing because it is a total waste of time for everybody. It is better to say things with reality content rather than mere speculation.
OK?
Think of it this way. Even if you were right about me, your language and tone would make you exactly like me, not a righteous judge of me!
#284 – Comment by Rex — April 16, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
In #282, I said, “My hope is that your protestation that your feelings that are very negative with regard to Ms. Ifill do not flow from a judgement on your part that you are somehow superior to Ms. Ifill. If that is the source of your feelings about her, you can be sure that I don’t agree with your judgement.”
Well, your long “explanation” smashed my hope. You do, in fact, judge that you are superior to Ms. Ifill. WRONG!
You don’t make a pimple on her butt with an attitude of superiority like yours.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:26 amGwen Ifel is as much a racist as Don Imus, I listened to her on MSNBC and she defended Sharpton, Jackson and the rappers language as ok because they were black.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:42 am#295 – Comment by hterrya — April 17, 2007 @ 2:26 am
I did earlier notice your superiority, inferiority comment and thought it came perilously close to you returning to the mentality that caused you to previously use the word ‘Trolls’. But I chose to ignore it. Yet you return to it.
This is sad. The issue, at least for me, has nothing to do with personal inferiority/inferiority. Surely talking about pimples on butts is demeaning both to yourself, and the person/people you think you defend.
Unfortunately, most people cannot debate. So they turn to the personal attack. I do not oppose such attacks per se, but they should be backed up with evidence. Like you could show exactly how my long answer demonstrates I am feeling superior to Ifill, and should it be possible to do that, you need to demonstrate what relevance that has to the question of whether Ifill’s attack on Imus and many others (I think the whole cognoscenti of the whole east cost has been implicated) was fair or reasonable.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:47 pmFor an example of the excesses of the attack on Imus, one of the biggest repeated lies has gone, “Imus stole these poor girls moment in the sun and blemished it!”
April 17th, 2007 at 1:33 pmNo, the team that got robbed was… say who did actually win that game. Well whoever it was that is the team that beat Rutgers, the team I never saw one time on TV once the Imus mob attack started, that is who got robbed by the hysteria!
And I will repeat what I said previously. One has to be real weak minded to be hurt by what Imus said on a putative comedy show.
If those girls aren’t tough enough to be able to simply say something back like ” Well us nappy-heads could sleep all week, and still hoe more rows of corn, if yah all can digg it, than the poor ol’ I-man could think about without slumpin’ even further down in that chair of his!” , then they deserved to lose the game. Which they did.
#298 – Comment by Rex — April 17, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
One has to be real weak minded to be hurt by what Imus said on a putative comedy show.
The Rutgers Women’s Basketball team is “weak minded,” but you and Imus are not weak minded, because you can see this and they obviously can’t.
Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson make the racial divide worse, but you and Imus are innocent of perpetuating the racial divide.
Gwen Ifill is hate-filled, but you and Imus are pure as the driven snow.
SUPERIORITY. You just REEK of it, Rex.
You come off that way in every post to me. Too bad your posts can’t be seen by Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jackson, Ms. Ifill, and the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team. I expect they would have something to say about your attitude of superiority, and you would say something demeaning about them once more.
There is nothing so demeaning you can say, Rex, that could make Gwen Ifill anything but a class act, and those who try to demean her something less than a class act because of their attempt to demean and denigrate her.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:21 pmWhen did I say the Rutgers team members are weak minded? Never did. I don’t think they are weak minded, although of course I have no personal info.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:24 pmWhat I really think, is that the victim card was played by Blacks. The team members were in an awkward place, because if they didn’t buy into the silly idea Imus had magic powers to hurt them, their fellow Blacks would have attacked them for not playing along.
I don’t suppose you heard the question asked, “Is Obama Black enough.?” I don’t suppose you ever heard of Blacks being accused by their fellow Blacks, of acting too white, like it’s some kind of crime? I don’t suppose you heard of the fact that lighter skinned Blacks are regarded more highly than darker Blacks by many if not all Blacks?
And finally, to give another example, it has occurred that some whites have been known to look down the nose at other whites they considered inferior. And to develop and use language to support such an attitude.
Or to add another example. wetback is considered a racist term. But the fact is the race has nothing to do with the term wetback. If it was only whites of exactly the identical racial makeup as their Northern neighbors, sneaking across a river (hence ‘wet’) to get jobs for the identical economic reason, wetback would still be the derogatory term
coined to express the hostility they would receive from many.
In fact, wetback could have possibly been coined by those doing the sneaking, as a badge of honor for themselves. After all they were brave enough, ingenious enough, and family oriented and hard working enough to get off their butts and fight for survival of themselves and their family!!!!!!
So you see all people are “racist”, even when that supposed mental crime of racism, isn’t actually having anything to do with racism, nor amounting to anything more than one political constituency simply using name calling to gain the advantage in a battle for power and wealth.
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April 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm