New Imus Issue: Context, People, Context

The Left is going bonkers over another comment by Don Imus. And I'm disappointed to see that even some conservative blogs are weighing in without any real perspective at all. One of Imus's fairly consistent themes is that police regularly stop and or arrest blacks more often than whites - particularly in the South and Southwest. The explanation offered by Imus, that that's what he meant, makes perfect sense.

If Libertarians and even conservatives fail to defend him by pointing out that context, they're just caving in to a hyper-politically correct mentality in media that could result in hardly anything being able to be said without fear of being attacked on similar grounds. Or are we there, already?

It's beginning to look as though there's no such thing as free speech left in American entertainment media unless you stick to the late Carlin's seven dirty words. Now ain't that a revoltin' development?

During the show, conversation turned to a story about how suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones now wants to drop his well-known nickname. In the course of the segment, Imus is told that Jones has “been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005.”

Imus asks: “What color is he?”

“He’s African-American,” the host is informed by one of his on-air sidekicks.

Comments

[seekeronos]

Yep. I'd say that for the sake of Imus's career, he'd be better off never even tangentially referring to any member of any "Exalted Protected Victim Class".

For that matter, he might as well hang up his hat and just stick with sports talk and shilling for NetJets.

'Tis a shame that free speech has been abolished.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Discussion: Comments from Left Field, Hot Air, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Macsmind, Wake up America, Donklephant, Think Progress, Scared Monkeys, Blue Girl, Red State and Associated Press --"

Aight, so that's two left wing sites worth mentioning. A bunch of nobodies. The AP (presumable also super-fringe left wing, right?). Hot Air, and Red State.

Let's see what those frothing lefties are saying:

"-- Yep, there you go…again.

Frankly, I think this is dumber than his nappy-headed comment --"

"-- This morning on his show “Imus in the Morning,” host Don Imus “made a racially freighted comment” about an African-American athlete. Imus and his colleagues were discussing Adam “Pacman” Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and how he wants to now drop his nickname. --"

"-- When I first read this story earlier, I have to admit it didn’t seem like a huge deal. But once you listen to the audio, it’s pretty clear Imus asked the question knowing that Jones was black, like it somehow proved whatever point he was trying to make. You knew it was only a matter of time before he dug himself another hole. --"

Oh yeah. Feel the froth. Feel the heat. Feel the rage baby!

"-- It's beginning to look as though there's no such thing as free speech left in American entertainment media unless you stick to the late Carlin's seven dirty words. Now ain't that a revoltin' development? --"

ZOMG! The Gov'ment gonna take 'way ouwah woids! Gonna sweep in onna black heli and zoom!

Remind me again of which government agency was involved in the first Imus embarrassment. Was the FCC called down to fine him? Was the radio station's license threatened? George Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words" got called all the way to the Supreme Court. Which court did Imus get dragged before?

If I remember correctly, the radio station moved quickly to censor itself because it felt ratings and ad dollars were at risk. They were afraid they'd lose money. In short: capitalism, bitches! Now Imus sticks his foot in his mouth again - to the surprise of no one - and people notice. Of course, I imagine he's already purged himself of large chunks of his original African American audience and cost himself the listenership of the more racially sensitive ages ago. So he's not going to lose his spot because he's not going to lose his audience. And he's not going to feel the FCC breath down his neck because Bush's FCC doesn't give a crap about conservative radio hosts.

So what freedom of speech issue are you referring to, exactly? He's not being arrested or fined. He's not going to get fired. The worst he's going to suffer is another round of media masturbation. What on earth are you whining about?

[templar knight]

Let me see if I understand this. Imus made another racially-charged statement, and everyone is jumping on his butt about it, and he is probably going to lose his job. The facts, gentlemen, are that in America today, if you work for the public and are white and a male, you are not allowed to make racial statements and keep your job. Imus should have been aware of that.

Luckily, I don't work for the public, and I can speak my mind. The guy Imus referred to is a thug, a black thug, if you will. The facts say that blacks are more likely to commit violent crimes. I let the facts speak for themselves.

[Anne]

quoting Islamollama

quote
So he's not going to lose his spot because he's not going to lose his audience. And he's not going to feel the FCC breath down his neck because Bush's FCC doesn't give a crap about conservative radio hosts.
unquote

Imus is a Conservative radio host?

[seekeronos]

"--- Imus is a Conservative radio host? ---"

I'd consider him a left-leaning libertarian moderate, though he seems to be more or less leaning toward McCain.

Nothing like a Hannity or O'Reilly to say the least.

[Anne]

From ABC News 2007

Obama: Fire Imus
Obama First White House Contender to Call for Imus' Firing Over Racial Slur
By JAKE TAPPER
April 11, 2007

In an interview with ABC News Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., called for the firing of talk radio host Don Imus. Obama said he would never again appear on Imus' show, which is broadcast on CBS Radio and MSNBC television.
Obama Imus

"I understand MSNBC has suspended Mr. Imus," Obama told ABC News, "but I would also say that there's nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude."

Obama said he appeared once on Imus' show two years ago, and "I have no intention of returning."

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

Help! Help! I'm being oppressed!

[jharp]

If I was his boss I'd fire him for being an idiot.

After the first incident why he would even get close to saying something inappropriate befuddles my mind.

[Michael]

Imus's explanation about what he said is more offensive then any perceived harm to feelings done with his original comment.

He stated "What people should be outraged about is that they arrest blacks for no reason," and "I mean, there's no reason to arrest this kid six times. Maybe he did something once, but everyone does something once."

What an idiot!

[libocrat]

Did Obama call for Jeremiah Wright to be fired.
Of course not.

Obama is an empty suit. His whole candidacy is about race.
And liberals are suckers.

[gus]

He merely asked what color Jones was.

He didn't say nigger.
He didn't point out that Jones is a thug.
He didn't call Jones hair Nappy.

He merely asked what color Jones was.

Jones is black.

[libocrat]

I thought "Pacman" was yellow.

[seekeronos]

"--- I thought "Pacman" was yellow. ---"

C'mon, now... let us use the correct liberally-approved nomenclature:

Pac-Man was a "Amarillo-Spheroid-American".

[joeb]

I figure it this way. He did this to get some publicity. I think Imus should go on The View and get down with the ladies.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- I figure it this way. He did this to get some publicity. --"

And that's what he'll receive. It's a great system - conservative wacko says something stupid, all news must stop to report on said stupid comment, issue gets highly politicized, wacko may or may not apologize depending on how his boss leans on him, wacko goes back to spewing stupid statements. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Honestly, this shouldn't be news. If you care what Imus says, tune into his show. Obama is taking the most intelligent approach by simply snubbing the guy. There. Problem solved. If everyone snubs him, he's out of a job. If only the whiny "save my white America" wingnuts tune in... well, Imus gets to compete with the rest of AM radio and he can wander father off the mainstream than he already has.

However, given that Glenn Beck still has a show I fail to see who's going to drop the hammer on Imus. All this "freedom of speech" bullshit is just so much standard wingnut fare. Act like a complete jackhole, then cry in public because you've become radioactive and no one wants to stand next to you.

The only "Exalted Protected Victim Class" in America is the class of media hacks that can piss on their own audience on a daily basis and keep getting paid like a prince to do it.

[Anne]

Why does Islamollama keep referring to Imus as a Conservative?

[SacTownMan]

"Why does Islamollama keep referring to Imus as a Conservative?"

Because he is a clueless idiot?

[templar knight]

"Because he is a clueless idiot."

Quite possibly true, although I ascribe different motives to it. He tries to make everything that can possibly be construed as bad to be conservative. A liberal could rape a child, and Islamo would accuse the guy of being a stealth conservative. He is nothing more, nor less, than a propagandist. There are many of them on the net, including another one on this blog who is smarter and smoother than the llama. And I don't mean chris/Boob, as he is transparent in his hate.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Why does Islamollama keep referring to Imus as a Conservative? --"

Fair enough. His racially provocative comments were conservatively tinged. His faux-cowboy demeanor is reminiscent of GOP wanna-be cattle rustlers in multi-million dollar businesses. And his loudest defenders - in this case - seem to come invertibly from wingnut hacks who wouldn't know the meaning of "free speech" if they spent a weekend with the Founding Fathers to hash it over.

But I'll note that his political agenda leans more libertarian than conservative and he certainly hasn't been drinking the kool-aid like so many others. So if you guys don't want him, I guess you're free to call him whatever you want. When he starts taking cheap shots at black people, however, he comes across as decidedly conservative to anyone listening. The GOP has long defended the rights of old rich white establishment-types to smear anyone not in their country club. So he's lining up with all the right people to earn himself the distinction.

[seekeronos]

"--- When he starts taking cheap shots at black people, however, he comes across as decidedly conservative to anyone listening. The GOP has long defended the rights of old rich white establishment-types to smear anyone not in their country club. So he's lining up with all the right people to earn himself the distinction. ---"

Shorter Llama:

"Conservatives = racist old white men. Especial rich old white men in cowboy get-up."

[templar knight]

seek, I see that the animal from the mountains of S. America had no problem with the Boob's racist comments directed at your Asian wife. Yep, just another liberal hypocrite.

[Anne]

The guests I remember Imus having were Bill Clinton (who, it is said, owes his election to his appearance on Imus), Harold Ford, Jr., Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, Al Gore.

A finer bunch of Conservatives couldn't be found anywhere.

[seekeronos]

"--- seek, I see that the animal from the mountains of S. America had no problem with the Boob's racist comments directed at your Asian wife. Yep, just another liberal hypocrite. ---"

I suspect that like a great many other liberals, race is only a tool used to beat down people who disagree with the liberal Dogma.

But behind closed doors at the Liberal Country Club, they are ever the able handlers of slurs and dealers of degradation upon people they consider themselves to be the social betters of.

But since the Boob's only recourse is to belittle my wife's ethnicity, it must mean that he has nothing of any further value to discuss. Therefore, I don't even bother to read much of anything he has to say.

[Ralph]

Hey islamo-whatever. He was taking your (the liberal) side in this dumb argument. I thought only conservatives eat their own.

On a side note if blacks would stop committing so many crimes this wouldn't be an issue.

[syn]

Speaking of American entertainment media; a couple years ago back when I was still pursuing my acting career a friend of mine who was 23 at the time and quite talented was called in by NBC's Law and Order casting for the role of a crack-addicted teenage prostitute. She was informed (to her face by the way) that her skin color wasn't quite black enough to play a crack-addicted teenage prostitute instead they cast her in the part of a 35 year old mother of two whose very successful husband was prime suspect for the murder of a gay guy he was having a secret affair. The plot twist NBC was capitalizing on was that taboo topic that African-American men really do have gay sex but society forces them to hide which causes them to kill as the way to cover-up.

Of course, when one is young and desperate to land any part which will the key which opens the monolithic Hollywood door one will abandon all integrity to get it. My friend would not take her case to SAG since any disclosure of racist events would prevent her from ever getting that key.

This incident was one of many reasons why I left that world forever, I simply could no longer be a part of that which hides behind a tolerant, liberally-inclined mask which is used to hide their racist, sexist, homophobic and classist ways.

There is a reason why Obama is adored by Hollywood, his skin color is just light enough that he cannot be perceived the type-cast Hollywood black criminal and is just dark enough to flame accusation of racism towards anyone who questions him.

Obama is the perfect type-cast for the American entertainment media.

And ladies, don't get trapped into the illusion of youth portrayed by the women on tv since they're under 25 even if the character is 35.

[bobInStamford]

Are you sure you didn't leave acting because, well, you weren't very successful at it? You should commiserate with the resident Jesus freak, he's a 1st class loser. After you're done, you'll be sure to feel better about things.

[Yoda]

"His racially provocative comments were conservatively tinged."

I guess Jesse Jackson's "Hymetown" remark was "conservatively" tinged too, right?

[seekeronos]

"--- Are you sure you didn't leave acting because, well, you weren't very successful at it? You should commiserate with the resident Jesus freak, he's a 1st class loser. After you're done, you'll be sure to feel better about things. ---"

Bob, you should really lighten up a bit. All that bile and ill-will exuding from you can't be good for your health.

And if that doesn't help you out, here is something that might:

"-----
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
-----"
(Matthew 12:34-36, KJV)

[syn]

"Are you sure you didn't leave acting because, well, you weren't very successful at it?"

Now what makes you think I wasn't successful at it? That said, given your brainless comment it is obvious you have no idea how the industry is run. Do you know what points are or how SAG operates or about Hollywood nepotism or how A-list actors are created? Have you ever asked yourself why Tom Cruise is a bigger star that is an actor's actor such as Al Pacino? Ever wonder why most Hollywood celebrities would never act on Broadway and if they did they always pick those roles which are easy to handle? Ever wonder why there are only under 25 year old females and over 50 year old females? Ever wonder why the only free speech allowed these days is the freedom to mock the 'backward Puritians, non-Hollywood caucasion males and everything republican.'

Please spare me your jesus freak attacks because you know prior to 9/11/2001 I was just like you..utterly ignorant, myopic and completly arrogant towards anything not of the groupthink; Boob all you do is remind me of just how ugly I used to be.

BobinStamford, it took Change which I Hope will happen to you otherwise for the rest of your existence on this planet you will remain arrogantly stuck on stupid.

[seekeronos]

Syn: Could you elaborate on these peculiar things you pointed out about Hollywood in your last post?

I've always considered Hollywood to be a den of hyper-liberalism and anti-Christianity.

I'd like to know an insider's take on it, if you would care to share your experiences on it.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Shorter Llama:

"Conservatives = racist old white men. Especial rich old white men in cowboy get-up." --"

Seek wins, and receives a cookie.

[chris]

Please, oh disgruntled former thespian, please expound. The religious nutball doesn't do any work all day and is eager to hear your sad tale of how you almost made it big and then the Iraqis attacked our fair city and ruined it all.

[Capitalist Infidel]

Dan, Imus is far left wing fanatical nut job. Liberals are inherently racist so I don't see anything wrong with them eating one of their own.

[Scrapiron]

Imus is a BFD in the liberal world because they have nothing productive to offer, but have plenty of time to watch 'days of our lives' and think life is like that, while drawing the monthly welfare check.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

I love watching honkies get all bent out of shape with their faux outrage. "We need to have a serious discussion on race in Amerika".......Just dont question what I say.

[joeb]

Ralph Nader and his recent comments are much more interesting than Don Imus. Nader at least has a brain. Imus is a dumb dumb. Who cares what he says. He is just trying to stir the pot to get some listeners. Since he lost his big gig on radio and TV he has been a nobody. Persona non grata.

[seekeronos]

Racism is very much alive and well in America.

Notwithstanding Obama's actual politics (mostly stuff that would make Karl Marx gurgle with glee)... the white elites will keep pointing to how "totally non-racist they are" by making an enormously huge deal over how they are not voting for Obama because he's (partially) black.

And the black elites like Rev. Wright and his ilk just can't shut up about how bad whitey is/was, and worse.

Nope. If we were really "over racism" as much as we like to deceive ourselves as being, Obama's race would never be mentioned nor would anyone even blink an eye at his run as being an event where the race cards will be dealt out like a poker game.

So, when (not if) Obama wins in November, whites will largely clap themselves on the back for being "so progressive", and believe that most if not all of their 400 years of accumulated "guilt" will be absolved once the Obamassiah ascends his throne on 20 January 2009.

As for Blacks, the plans to collect reparations and further seek entitlements from "the man" will kick off.

Now the rub in all of this is what will come in 20 or 30 years from now when Latinos are the majority "race", and whites can start playing the minority identity politics game. And I can't reckon that the Blacks will have much success collecting from the new Latino majority, who just might cut that gravy train off for their own benefit.

[CINDI]

Anyone seen sharpton or jessie?

[chris]

"As for Blacks, the plans to collect reparations and further seek entitlements from "the man" will kick off."

Such broad generalizations from Jesus' #1 fan, tsk tsk. Funny how it's all different for Ms. Pacman and her 'advanced' culture.

[joeb]

The US Supreme Court just struck down the DC handgun ban. Now citizens in DC can legally own and keep in thier homes a handgun for their protection. Finally justice prevails. And no the criminals will not now go get handguns. They already had them.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- Notwithstanding Obama's actual politics (mostly stuff that would make Karl Marx gurgle with glee)... the white elites will keep pointing to how "totally non-racist they are" by making an enormously huge deal over how they are not voting for Obama because he's (partially) black. --"

I like this line of argument. Either Seek is so well versed in the beliefs of Karl Marx that his brain has been irreparably compromised and tainted by the foul ideas of the socialist agenda, or he's just blowing smoke out his ass without the faintest clue as to what a Marxist political position would look like.

I challenge Seek to give me one solid correlation between Marx and Obama. Give me a pair of quotes, a pair of specific policy positions (not simple "Marx and Obama both want to raise your taxes" bullshit, but actual health care plans or immigration positions or education platforms that match), something that gives a solid link between a 19th century European political philosopher and the 21st century Democratic Presidential Candidate.

"-- And the black elites like Rev. Wright and his ilk just can't shut up about how bad whitey is/was, and worse.

Nope. If we were really "over racism" as much as we like to deceive ourselves as being, Obama's race would never be mentioned nor would anyone even blink an eye at his run as being an event where the race cards will be dealt out like a poker game. --"

Lols. And if there were no ageism in America, no one would mention John McCain is 71. And if there were no misogyny in America, no one would notice that Hillary Clinton is a woman. And if there was no heightism, Dennis Kucinich would be the presumptive nominee. Yeah, right.

The only way to keep people from being racist jackasses will be for us all to poke out our eyes, right Seek? Cause there's just no way for someone to note Barack Obama is black without either hating black people or hating white people.

Hehe. So dumb.

"-- So, when (not if) Obama wins in November, whites will largely clap themselves on the back for being "so progressive", and believe that most if not all of their 400 years of accumulated "guilt" will be absolved once the Obamassiah ascends his throne on 20 January 2009. --"

YOU'RE ONLY VOTING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE IS BLACK! IF JOHN KERRY OR AL GORE WERE BLACK, THEY'D HAVE WON FLORIDA AND OHIO IN 2000 AND 2004 RESPECTIVELY! IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE!

"-- As for Blacks, the plans to collect reparations and further seek entitlements from "the man" will kick off.

Now the rub in all of this is what will come in 20 or 30 years from now when Latinos are the majority "race", and whites can start playing the minority identity politics game. And I can't reckon that the Blacks will have much success collecting from the new Latino majority, who just might cut that gravy train off for their own benefit. --"

ZOMG! Bill Richardson for President! The horror. The horror.

/me hands Seek his Valium.
Take a load off, old man. You're gonna get yourself all worked up and set off that heart condition again.

[seekeronos]

"--- The US Supreme Court just struck down the DC handgun ban. Now citizens in DC can legally own and keep in thier homes a handgun for their protection. Finally justice prevails. And no the criminals will not now go get handguns. They already had them. ---"

FINALLY! Something good coming from the "Selected" branch of Government.

Sometimes I just don't know what to make of our SCOTUS. It's almost as if they use a dartboard or they flip a coin to get some of these decisions.

Hopefully this will clear the way for more home owners to feel safer in their homes as they can now legally acquire firearms to protect themselves with.

[jharp]

seeker,

Handguns are dam poor home defense weapons. Get yourself a shotgun.

[jharp]

seeker,

Handguns are dam poor home defense weapons. Get yourself a shotgun.

[seekeronos]

"--- Handguns are dam poor home defense weapons. Get yourself a shotgun. ---"

Shotguns would be better if your marksmanship is of average or under average experience/quality.

If you know what you are doing with a handgun, you can drop a perp at close (under 20') range fairly easily.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

If you two nimrods are going to be popping off pistola rounds in the house. Please get the proper ammunition so as not to send one through a wall and into a loved one.

[jharp]

If you two nimrods are going to be popping off pistola rounds in the house. Please get the proper ammunition so as not to send one through a wall and into a loved one.

Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 02:02 PM

I beg your pardon, Mr. Willie. I have no intention of popping ant pistol rounds in the house. My guns are safely locked away.

"If you know what you are doing with a handgun, you can drop a perp at close (under 20') range fairly easily."

you've got to be pretty darn good to do that. It's unlikely the guy is going to be facing straight at you or holding still. And it's probably unlikely to have good lighting. And even you hit the dude it had better be more than a 38 or 9 mm.

Myself, I think the shotgun is tough to beat. Difficult to miss and will blow the guy backwards, not just put a hole in him.

And a little bragging. I once shot a woodchuck at 60 yards with a handgun and another woodchuck at 317 yards with a 243. And let me tell you, 317 yards is a long way.

[seekeronos]

WW:

I'm just saying that a handgun - in teh hands of an experienced user - could be just as effective. Also if you consider maneuverability and portability factors.

I personally prefer the Mossberg 500 (it is inexpensive, fairly maneuverable -- at least more so than the Remington 1100 goose gun -- and easy to get to if needed).

Since I am not really *that* great with a handgun, especially if it is o'dark-thirty when the unwanted guest shows up... my chances are better with that shotgun. I'll save the pistol for when that's appropriate (concealed carry).

For more skillful marksmen, they might want to use a pistol instead.

It is after all a balance: Miss with a handgun and you get a hole in the wall or three walls, and if you are really unlucky, a dead or wounded loved one... depending upon the round.

Miss with a shotgun at close range, and you are both probably a lousy shot no matter what, and you get a hole buncha de holes in the walls.

Here's to responsible firearms handling, and training, and practice... practice... practice.

[seekeronos]

"--- And a little bragging. I once shot a woodchuck at 60 yards with a handgun and another woodchuck at 317 yards with a 243. And let me tell you, 317 yards is a long way. ---"

For the liberal you make yourself out to be, you sound like a pretty good shot. Good to know that not all of y'all are rabid anti-gun nuts. :P

[jharp]

"you sound like a pretty good shot."

Used to be. Can't see too good anymore.

I figure my plinking at squirrels in my backyard I hit about 1 out 15. Though it is with a not very accurate pellet gun.