The Media Seven Years On

Here's a quick interesting read from 3/1/00.

Why Does Tim Russert Associate With Don Imus' Bigotry?

Regarding a Russert / Bush interview:

Russert wondered if Bush's appearance at a school with a history of anti-Catholic bigotry and racial discrimination was "giving affirmation to that institution." He asked Bush: "But people who know you and respect you and like you say, 'George W. Bush, Thomas Burch and Bob Jones III aren't your kind of people. Why are you associating with them?'"

and

Among the cream of the press who regularly beat a path to Imus' golden door are Tom Brokaw, Tim Russert, Dan Rather, Cokie Roberts, Howard Fineman, Frank Rich, Jonathan Alter and Jeff Greenfield.

Let's include David Gregory - nearly all of these media figures road the Imus train until the day it crashed. Mark Levin invited Russert and Gregory, among others, onto his radio show tonight to discuss the Imus firing. Not a one had anything to say. Their support for their friend Imus almost rivals their support for our troops.

Perhaps we should assume they were confortable having Sharpton and Jackson do the talking for them.

Comments

[nova]

The only friends of Imus that stood by him were: Bo Dietl,Mike Barnacle,Craig Crawford,Paul Begala,James Carville(and he was cut off with a bad phone connection???). Imus supported Harold Ford all the way in his Senate race. Ford never spoke up. In fact he was silent like all the rest of the politicians and media types who had been on the Imus show for the last 11 years. McCain may have said something early on in support but then he went silent. Imus stood by some of these people when they were in trouble but seems he could not find any of his fair weather friends when he needed them. What a bunch of cowards.

[Drew]

One irony in this, among many, is that it was Imus who did more than anyone to rehabilitate Al Sharpton a dozen or so years ago in the aftermath to the Tawan Brawley affair. He had Sharpton on his program any number of times. Race-baiting charlatanism trumps concepts of loyalty anyday.

[Purple Avenger]

"'George W. Bush, Thomas Burch and Bob Jones III aren't your kind of people. Why are you associating with them?'"

I think I'd have said: "Well Tim, you're a jackass as well and I'm here talking with you too."

[Phoenix]

PA.....took the words right out of my mouth! :) Exactly!

Oh, just once, just once I wish Bush would do something like that. His numbers would skyrocket. Well, maybe not considering the climate of people refusing to stand for what they believe is right.

Sad stuff. I hope Imus writes one hell of a book and calls foul on his 'friends'. He could title it: "Nappy Headed Ho's" and it would cover all bases - just like he included everyone. White, black, Hispanic, celebrity, political wannabes......All phonies.

[Buzzy]

If only he had entered rehab, this didn't need to happen.

[bloodrage bob]

after 40,000 years in the business, if imus was fool enough to actually believe that his political/media "dear friends" would come to his aid.....would actually take a small risk by standing up for him...would do *anything* that might be seen as 'PC controversial'.....

then he's just a damn fool who hadn't been paying attention. it's like the 'scorpion & frog cross the river' fable: being gutless wonders with no honor is what politicians/media assholes DO.

good luck there, imus. saaaaay, how'd that chickenshit strategy of "kiss sharpton's ass & hope for the best" work out for ya? looking back on it now, do you maybe wish you'd mustered up a set and told 'em to take a hike? at least you'd have gone out like a man. instead, you hopped into the sack to service rev. race pimp: and then he didn't even pay you. pity.

[effit12]

hey the truth hurts....fix your hair and present yourself better they all are nappy haired hos......but the term can be applied to anyone ...get over it

[nova]

Imus's comment was not only racist and sexist it was elitist. The powerful picking on the unpowerful. So it was a class issue as well. He has been too rich too long to remember how it feels to be a "little" person.
This has been going on for a long long time on his show and nobody called him on it. Why? $$$$$$$$ is the answer. Racism is a no no on the airwaves for white people. Sexism is a no no on the airwaves for males. And rich people picking on nobodies is also not allowed apparently.
Class is always a factor in American. It is not cool for the elite to trash the poor nobodies. Sooner or later they will jump back and bite you and make you eat "cake".

[tk]

Imus made a mistake thinking he could use Spike Lee's line from his movie. And talking to Sharpton was stupid. He should have apologized to the young ladies but that's all.

[tk]

I am listening to msnbc and they are saying blacks can call each other "nigger" but white and Hispanics can't. I hope the give us a list of all the other thinks we non blacks can say.

[tk]

I am listening to msnbc and they are saying blacks can call each other "nigger" but white and Hispanics can't. I hope the give us a list of all the other things we non blacks can say.

[nova]

Imus's sidekick Bernard "Bernie" McGuirk is the one who made that Spike Lee remark not Imus. Bernard was the producer of the show and the writer of the racist "humor" material. He did satires and parodies of New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin that were very funny if you like that kind of stuff. But they also were an equal opportunity insulter. No one was spared. However, Bernie and Imus went over the line this time insulting black females who were little people. If they had kept to insulting public figures like Ray Nagin and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and all the politicos they would have gotten away with it. There was no reason to insult a girls basketball team. And it wan NOT funny either. Bernard MGuirk deserves much of the blame for this. And also all the big shots at MSNBC that let this go on for years. Shock radio belongs on the radio not TV. Rush and Stern both had failed tv shows as I recall. As did Savage. That stuff just doesnt make it on tv. Imus tried to mix serious journalism with racist comedy and those things dont mix.

[Hard Right]

Nova-Nappy headed Ho's isn't racist. Sleazy and misogynistic, but not racist. If you want racist watch Zif's posts.

[nova]

Well then if not racist how about black ethnic humor. Bernard McGuirk did a terrific imitation of New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin. Amos and Andy like material on the Imus show quite often. Many would consider it racist since it was white men doing it.
I think Imus forgot where he came from. How it was to be poor and a nobody. I see him on tv getting out of a long black limo. With a guy to hold an umbrella over his head since it was raining. He looks like a rich powerful white guy who used other people to walk on like it was his carpet.
Bernard McGuirk got away with his black humor for 11 years. How and why did the liberals on the show give him a pass on that? The Amos and Andy days are over. Didnt Imus know that? I guess not.
Imus should have had his wife defend him like Bill Clinton had Hillary defend him on 60 minutes. Everyone who screws up needs a mouthpiece to speak for them.

[Phoenix]

"I see him on tv getting out of a long black limo. With a guy to hold an umbrella over his head since it was raining. He looks like a rich powerful white guy who used other people to walk on like it was his carpet."

He also looks like a guy who has a farm for poor kids and like a guy who uses his mediocre status to raise a hell of a lot of money for charity.

Damn that umbrella. Don't it jus' take away his creds......

"Nappy headed ho's" is blackspeak used by a white guy to get a laugh. It sure isn't Hillary Clinton talking 'black' to score votes.

[nova]

But his remark is not even funny. Just dumb. Yes he did many good things for charity. That doesnt excuse his racist remarks, he sexist remarks, and his elitist remarks. Imus and his gang were like a bunch of unruly 12 year olds. Or maybe slightly older juvenile delinqents. I should know. I was a Juvenile Probation Officer.

[bloodrage bob]

so imus' remarks are dumb, nova. and hokey; and juvenile; and not funny.

so what? does that mean liberals get to drive him from the air? while equally unfunny idiots like olbermann stay on the air? and highly talented musicians like 50 cent serenade us with complex, multi-layered grunts and chants?

oh, i see. it's ok when *THEY* do stuff like that: just not anyone who *ever* suggests that black folks aren't living gods. got it. whoo! good thing imus didn't point out the amazingly-infrequently reported statistical analysis that shows blacks commit - on a per-capita basis - blacks commit about 800% more murders than white folks.

geez, they'd have had to HANG him *then*, huh?

[nova]

A friend told me today that Hillary Clinton and Media Watch are behind exposing Imus and getting him fired.
And yes it would appear that the rules are a white man cannot tell a joke on air about black people. or even say something that can be misunderstood such as what Al Campanis and Jimmy the Greek said. Here in DC a couple of years ago there was a big furor because some white man used the word niggardly and the blacks took offense not know what the word really means.
Of course it is not right that he was fired. I dont think I said that. But then again maybe he had it coming.
I guess comedy is what you can get away with.