(2007-04-12) — Just a day after MSNBC dropped its televised simulcast of WFAN’s Imus in the Morning radio program, the Rev. Al Sharpton called for the termination of every member of the news media who repeated, reprinted or replayed Don Imus’ derogatory remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
“It’s a civil rights issue,” said Mr. Sharpton, a professional former presidential candidate. “Everybody needs to be fired immediately, with no exceptions. The reporters who repeated the insult are worse than Imus, because people actually pay attention to some of them.”
Mr. Sharpton said that he should not be fired, however, despite his own frequent repetition of the insult on his national radio show, because he’s “a victim by definition and not a member of the oppressor class.”
“Every time I repeat that disgusting phrase, I’m personally offended and deeply hurt,” said Mr. Sharpton. “The pain is intensified by the fact that a white man has forced me to take those awful words into my mouth, thereby drawing even more attention to me. This is not about me. It’s about those brilliant, eloquent, highly-educated, physically-powerful young ladies at Rutgers who need me to defend them.”
MSNBC executives said they have already begun the search for a replacement show with “low production costs and no visual appeal, hosted by someone who’s crude and immature, but not insensitive, off-color but not insulting to people of color, and risqué without risking our advertising revenue.”
20 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Ott // Apr 12, 2007 at 6:55 am
Sharpton: Fire Everyone Who Repeated Imus Remarks…
by Scott Ott(2007-04-12) — Just a day after MSNBC dropped its televised simulcast of WFAN’s Imus in the Morning radio program, the Rev. Al Sharpton called for the termination of every member of the news media who repeated, reprinted or replayed Don…
2 Rock Slatestone // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:20 am
God Bless America
3 gafisher // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:22 am
‘… a replacement show with “low production costs and no visual appeal, hosted by someone who’s crude and immature, but not insensitive, off-color but not insulting to people of color, and risque without risking our advertising revenue.”‘
“Paging Mr. Franken, paging Mr. Franken …”
4 Darthmeister // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:24 am
By now Sharpton and the rest of the racebaiters have probably said the phrase ten million times.
It’s like the “progressyve” pinhead Colorado journalist who called Bill O’Reilly a racist because he referred to an illegal alien, who killed two young ladies while driving drunk, as an “illegal immigrant.” When she was being interviewed as to why she would call O’Reilly a racist for calling this dirtbag an “illegal immigrant”, she must have said the term three or four times herself. But, of course, she’s a progressyve, and so she can use it with impunity because “she means well.” Kind of like Robert Byrd using the “n”-word with impunity because he’s a LibDonk and “means well.”
5 gafisher // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:27 am
Don Imus is fairly ambivalent about the matter. He and aspiring humorist Andy Borowitz are putting together a weekly radio show. All they need is a name; “Don and Borowitz” just doesn’t cut it.
6 Darthmeister // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:30 am
BTW, where’s the liberal outrage that three innocent young men were railroaded by Democrat Nifong, the Duke faculty, the black community, and the racebaiters al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? What a spectacle that was a year ago when Nifong used this case to get himself elected and he and other black leaders were talking about the “racist undertones” of the case. Yeah, it was racist alright. (crickets chirping)
Hey, al Sharpton, I guess it takes practice to do what you do. First it was Tawana Brawley, now this. And you’re supposed to be a man of the cloth! Quick to repent and quick to forgive. There’s a special place for self-righteous charlatans like you, sir.
7 upnorthlurkin // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:33 am
Good Morning Scrapplers!!
Couldn’t any of the popular (?) rappers fit the bill?! Oh wait, there’s that advertising revenue to worry about.
8 upnorthlurkin // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:41 am
Heh, heh…professional former presidential candidate! You do know how to turn a phrase, Scott!! Kudos!
9 Fred Sinclair // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:41 am
We have freedom of speech in America with a few rational exceptions such as not screaming “FIRE” in a crowded theater and it probably isn’t a good idea to greet your friend Jack on an airplane with a booming “Hi Jack!” or not saying “Yes” when your wife asks “Does this dress make me look fat?”
Other than that, you are constitionally free to say anything you wish, so long as you are not white. However if you are white the frequent use of words such as “diversity”; “sensitivity”; “sensitivity training”; “dialogue”, “I’m sorry” and “I sincerely apologize if anything I’ve said might have offended you.” should make up a significant portion of your allowable vocabulary.
Heirborn Ranger
10 Shelly // Apr 12, 2007 at 7:55 am
If the other news outlets hadn’t reported MSNBC dropping Imus, I wonder if anyone would have noticed.
11 Shelly // Apr 12, 2007 at 8:03 am
BTW, Ann Coulter weighs in with this opening zinger:
“The only person happier than Larry Birkhead about the big announcement that he is the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby is Don Imus. By the way, what’s the word for a woman who gives birth to a child of uncertain paternity?”
Don’t miss her column this week.
12 upnorthlurkin // Apr 12, 2007 at 8:12 am
Shelly, re: # 10…NO!
13 Anonymous // Apr 12, 2007 at 8:32 am
Does Hawaiian crooner Don Ho gets a bump
from millions of people who hear of the Imus flap and say “Don Who?” ?
Oops, I said Ho.
14 Just Ranting // Apr 12, 2007 at 8:44 am
I have listen to Don Imus on occasions, and enjoyed him immensely when I was in high school. That was more than 30 years ago when he was young and brash, which we all wanted to be. In those days he was into phone pranks, and cracking wise on musicians and celebrities. He played good music and had (and still does) an infectious laugh. Like so many other celeb’s he went through rehab, and found out who his true friends were. Charles McCord, his side kick for all this time, saw him through his many career highs and lows. I’m sure despite all the negative publicity, Mr. McCord will still be there.
I am diametrically opposed to most of Imus’ points of view these days, especially his stand on the Iraq War. He seems to have blindly picked up the “Bush lied, people died!” scream of the radical left. But I also remember him blasting Clinton to his face at a Radio and TV Correspondent’s dinner over his womanizing. Regardless of your opinion of the man, you have to say he’s got the guts to speak his mind.
The Rutger’s Lady Knights basketball team had a remarkable season. They beat Duke who was/is arguably the best women’s basketball team ever to play the game. Their accomplishments are not diminished by the rantings of an over the hill shock jock.
As to the overreaction by some to his comments, I think they need to remove the timber from their own eye before removing the speck from his. My guess is that most of the women and probably the coaches on the Rutger’s basketball team listen to rap music frequently. The phrase Imus used, while repugnant, is nothing compared to what rappers call women and the things they’d like to do to them. Their problem is that the phrase came out of the mouth of an old white guy with political connections.
I can’t understand the desire by some to silence people who make an ass of themselves. Do they think if they silence people that that their hearts will change? I’d rather people be who they are. If they are a racist or a bigot, say it so we all know it. Then we will know to avoid that person, whether they are black or white.
15 camojack // Apr 12, 2007 at 9:15 am
Nappy-headed hos!
So there!!! Fire me, why don’t ya?! Got double standards?
16 Anonymous // Apr 12, 2007 at 9:44 am
C’mon everyone who is everyone knows that White Conservatives had their First Amendment Rights pulled by the Clinton Administration.
Unfortunately, six years of “W” and a “spineless” majority of BOTH houses did little to get these rights reinstated.
17 NightTwister // Apr 12, 2007 at 1:27 pm
“Dan and Borowitz” just doesn’t cut it.
There’s a perfect name. How about “Imus & Andy”?
18 antodav // Apr 12, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Thanks for pointing out the hypocritical double standard, Scott. I’ve been trying to do that every time the subject comes up myself. Too bad for Imus, even though I never listened to his program.
19 Hawkeye // Apr 12, 2007 at 9:48 pm
So what’s the big deal?
Everyone knows that African-Americans have more “equality” than the rest of us. Everyone knows that African-Americans have a greater right to “free speech” than the rest of us. Everyone knows that African-Americans have absolutely no sense of humor when it comes to laughing at themselves.
I’m an American of Polish ancestry. You can’t imagine how many times I was called a “dumb Polack”. My long last name has been a source of jokes all 55 years of my life. And I know plenty of people who were called “Guineas” or “WOPs” or “Micks” or “Spics” or “ragheads” or “camel-drivers” or “kikes” or “dot-heads”. But I didn’t see any of them taking to the streets demanding action. I didn’t see any of them with a “spokesman” like Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson to stir up the pot and create even deeper divisions than already exist.
No, most of the people I know in America who faced ethnic or racial slurs either ignored it or laughed it off. Most of them wanted to be accepted and therefore downplayed the slights.
It’s only the RACISTS who highlight and exacerbate their divisions within American society. Let’s face it, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are in the “segregation” business. They DON’T WANT African-Americans to be integrated into American society. In order for Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson to be “important”, they must have a constituency. And how can they have a constituenecy, if African-Americans become fully integrated. If African-Americans become wealthy, happy & contented, Sharpton and Jackson have no constituency.
I repeat, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are “SEGREGATIONISTS”.
20 Tonto // Apr 13, 2007 at 11:13 am
Anything this racist puke suggests is suspect. This idiot makes noise with his mouth cause “that what he do”. Sharpton and Jackson are “reverends” from what churches? Where do they preach, besides the street and blathering in the media? Are they Christian?
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