Apr 11 2007
Imus Fired From MSNBC
I am glad to hear Imus has been dumpod by MSNBC and is probably at risk to lose his whole franchise. The man does some good things, but no one should be allowed to taint the once-in-a-life-time crowning achievement of those young woman on the Rutger’s champion basketball team. That is the sin of of Imus. My opionion of him has only mellowed slightly from my first post on the matter. But we can demand, through our support or lack of it, a modicum of decorum from those who wish to make money off the time we take from our lives to listen and watch some of these buffoons. Imus is going to be the first of many adjustments we make.
Just because you can do something (exercise your free speech in a cruel manner) doesn’t mean you should or that you should get paid for it. Rosie and others better watch out. We have the right to lots of things. Rosie can go pick her nose in a busy intersection if she wants. But if she did I doubt sponsors would still support her. Imus did much worse than that. He did not hurt himself, he hurt young ladies who did nothing to him and were trying to celebrate their accomplishments at being the best in the country. Goodbye Imus – we will be a better country without you. You can still speak out and be a jerk, just not over OUR airwaves.
MSNBC fired Imus strickly because he is a loose cannon in regard to Russert and Mitchell. They were just looking for a reason to fire him. He does not toe the mark and is not a team player. Which means he does not push NBC’s liberal agenda.
It made me sick to see Imus abasing himself to Sharpton. He is a race baiting slug. He and Jesse Jackson are two of the reasons there is still too much racism in this country. People resent them jumping on the bandwagon whenever anything controversable is said or done. I resent them for extorting millions from large corporations. Who do you think pays for this?
Everybody has a point … of course there’s freedom of speech, but words can have consequences. Whether Imus is simulcast by MSNBC or not, he can say whatever he damn well pleases, but also must be prepared for the backlash, which in this case could be his franchise. And of course, MSNBC is making a business decision as they should. Fact is, Imus’ numbers are not that good, and haven’t been for quite some time. Why all these pols & beltway pundits (mostly libs) did his show, and seemed to enjoy doing it, is somewhat peculiar given his low ratings. Wonder if we’ll ever hear from his regulars — Russert, David Gregory, Chris Mathews, Andrea Mitchell, Howard Fineman, John Kerry, Harold Ford, Frank Rich, etc. — so far their silence speaks loudly.
One other point. What Imus said is deplorable and he deserves his skewering, but this non-stop page headlines is a bit overblown. It pales next to the Duke travesty and to some of the shameful episodes Sharpton has been a part of (& never aplogized for). But it is also related to the coarsening & debasing of our culture. Being a semi-comedian, I think Imus was trying to be funny & hip in his attempt to describe the Rutgers team who’s appearance and mannerisms seemed to be “tougher”. “Hos” and “bitches” & other hip-hop/rap phrasing are becoming common-place in society, and Imus thought nothing of using these same terms. Little did he know that it doesn’t work for a 67 year-old, white, cowboy wanna-be … and/or, maybe he is a bigot (based on past comments), but not any more than Jesse & Al.
Imus could very well make the same deal Stern did with Sirius if they think he is worth the money.
And it is not the same thing as the rappers. I don’t like their music, I think it is demeaning to women and violent and all that, but they do not work for a network with rules either. Not the same thing.
Look at painters, they can paint nudes and those nudes will be shown in public, but that does not mean that TV can show naked people without some kind of cover. We might know they are naked…but full frontal nudity is something we just don’t tend to see everyday.
My 2cents: Imus is an idiot Leftist, who attacks the President all the time, so I don’t give a damn what happens to him; same for MSNBC!
That said, I categorically REFUSE to get outraged over what he said, until I see the same level of outrage, generated over the very overt racism that takes place every day, by Rappers, so-called “black leaders” like Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, Farrakan, every day blacks who use the “N”-word with impunity, and a frequency that make Klan members look like Sunday School teachers, etc.!
Bill Clinton’s brother using the “N”-word dozens of times on a tape, generated no controvesy, because he’s a Democrat. Same with Robert Byrd’s recent usage; but Trent Lott gets excoricated!
Sorry, NO OUTRAGE here, and there will not be, until we level the playing field!
According to an article posted at lucianne.com Imus was fired because the black employees at msnbc had a fit.
I am with retired on this one. When the black culture rids itself of every single rapper who uses the vilest language TO MAKE BILLIONS for years then maybe I’ll listen to what they have to say.
I have had enough of their thinned skins and it’s time for them to realize that EVERYONE in America from every race, creed and color has had some form of persecution in their histories. The difference is that the Al and Jesse shucksters use this for their personal power grabs and the democrats need to keep blacks as victims so they can keep their voting base.
Be careful of the “thought police” putting together campaigns to “get” people. I’m not excusing what Imus said but let’s be aware that Keith Olbermann is now putting together a list of people he wants fired for their political beliefs. PBS is stopping the airing of a documentary on Islamists and quote told the director of the project “don’t you check the political associations of the people you hire.” This may be one time that liberal and conservative pundits get together because any of them could be next.
I don’t think it is fair to say the Rutgers basketball team has to tolerate this crap until the black culture “rids itself” of rappers. They are not the Borg.
Terrye, I agree. I think that the apology belongs to them and only them. My point is the Justice Brothers jumping in to garner power-I don’t want to hear a thing they have to say.
And frankly, I don’t know too many people who care one bit about what Imus calls them. It’s his shtick. He insults everyone. Usually what happens is he has the ones he has offended on his show and gives them lots of PR and face time that they wouldn’t have had and he apologizes. Or he doesn’t. He is arrogant and crazy, really. I don’t watch him anymore for several years as he became too hard left for me…but I don’t think he should be fired.
And I think it is important to say that Imus does not define these girls. No one defines them but themselves individually. He doesn’t have that power, imho.