Imus on MSNBC

[malaise]

David Gregory carrying parts of his radio program with his comments.

[IronScorpio5]

1. I guess I'm the only one here who feels he got a raw deal....

i'm no fan of his but i know from listening to him he is not a racist. He's a shock jock who told a lousy joke.....with words that can be heard on every other GANGSTA RAP video and most of those a far worse than what he said.


NO, i dont think he got a fair deal.

[Bluebear]

2. Not at all! There are many people concerned & troubled. They have profiles similar to yours

And they all bring up gangsta rap.

[trumad]

3. All these newbies and the same talking points

[Bluebear]

4. These were real young ladies that this idiot called whores on national TV

Not some rap composition. And I am goddamn glad somebody FINALLY took a stand on it.

[malaise]

12. There's a great article on this

at Tom Paine.
<snip>
But this is not just about Imus. It may be too much to expect that the dozens of radio and TV personalities who serve up on-air bigotry as pseudo-news and entertainment will be reasonably constrained by the corporations that sign their paychecks. But what we can do is deny them continued legitimacy. Politicians who want our votes and journalists who want our trust should not be appearing on their shows; if they do, ask why they consented to be on a program that has regularly broadcast slurs against people of color, women and gays and lesbians. Make advertisers feel uncomfortable for being associated with such shows, especially those that have refused to support progressive radio alternatives.

Finally, the next time Imus or another one of these jocks utters a slur, let’s not leave the targets of the slur alone to fend for themselves. When Imus slandered those Rutgers players, he wasn’t simply denigrating young women on a basketball court with one of the foulest of slurs. Anyone who believes that every person should be treated with dignity should feel the defamation and be moved to act on their outrage. That’s what progressives do.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/04/11/imus_and_beyond.php
-
Further none of that disgusting rap music would receive airplay without corporate enablers like Time-Life Water and Viacom. The bottom line is that institutional racism and the peomotion of stereotypes are facilitated by the most powerful institutions.

The guests and advertisers on Imus' program speak volumes about who enables what. Now to deal with the other promoters of hate.
I'm all for free speech but promoting hate is an altogether different story.

I can see the right wing heading for Rosie, but Rosie's views on 9/11 simply challenges the official view of that tragedy. That has nothing to do with hate.

MSM and its sponsors must now examine themselves beyond hate talk, because they have also enabled and bankrolled the lies and war crimes of George Bush.
Sp.

[annabanana]

5. "a lousy joke"

He's been telling this "joke" (and others of its ilk) for decades. It is nothing but verbal bullying of the powerful at the expense of the powerless. It has never been "funny". It alway was and has been hurtful, and meant to demean.

[Bluebear]

6. Where did this meme start that it was a "joke" anyhow?

Or that Imus does "comedy sketches"? We won one and man, the apologists just can't stand it can they?

[City Lights]

18. Actually that's the defense Imus used.

Who knew he was a comedian? :shrug:

[IADEMO2004]

7. You don't get a divorce when your spouse farts in bed.

Yell cuss say don't do it again.

[Bluebear]

9. Calling young women whores on TV is not a fart.

Sorry his firing troubles you. I hope CBS radio follows suit.

[wicket]

10. Let me know when politicians or every stripe start cohorting with hip hoppers

Until then, it's just not comparable.

[INdemo]

14. If Imus deserved the firing by NBC than why are hosts like

Slimbaugh,O'reilly, Beck and others allowed to stay on the air.....Because they are sponsored by the right wing corporations..
Actually its more like they are subsidized by corporations and somewhere hidden in the mix the RNC is probably involved with these right wing echos..
The Imus issue is way overblown and but NBC was forced to act because of the obvious..
Had Imus been on the Fox network would this have happen? It's doubtful

[LostinVA]

16. He was contimnually racist, sexist, and homophobic

Whether he himself said it or had his minions say it.

A "lousy joke," huh? Wow. Unreal.

Hey, nice profile, btw.

[City Lights]

17. The raw deal he got should be given to many others too.

Rusty Limpdick, Sean Insanity, Billo, Michael "Savage" Weiner, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, et. al.

The only raw thing in Imus' deal is that he'll be the only one to get it.

[Eric J in MN]

20. I don't think Don Imus is racist, either.

Shock jocks do racial humor.

I wouldn't say anything like what Imus said, but I'm not a shock jock.

I'm glad Imus is off MSNBC because I never liked his show. I didn't want MSNBC to drop the simulcast over this controversy in particular. If it were up to me, they would have given a show to Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo instead years ago.

[mduffy31]

21. No I'm with you

I just saw a lot of this as a chance for Sharpton to get on the air again.

[Bluebear]

22. Yeah, Sharpton was just waiting for 10 young women to be called whores

So he could get 'on the air'. :eyes:

[Skidmore]

8. Gregory will be taking calls from the public.

Hopefully some DUers will call in. I have to leave shortly. But post if you give Gregory an opinion.

[Bluebear]

11. Have a great day! :)

[Major Hogwash]

13. Holy smokes, did you just see that?

If MSNBC doesn't replace Imus with a black talk show host - by implication tbe entire network is racist!?

That's what that commentator is implying this morning.

[michaz]

15. Who said that?

[ShortnFiery]

19. That would be one small step. How about a panel comprising of

all peoples? That would be a good start.

But yes, we've had our fill on Cable TV of middle aged WHITE men only. :thumbsdown:

Hell, as easy on the eyes :blush: as Mr. David Gregory is on now, please consider facing the fact that we are lacking diversity on hosts of Cable News Shows? :hi: