Posted by Frank James at 7:30 am CDT
There's been speculation, to which I've tried to contribute, about what Washington's political and journalistic elite would do regarding future appearances on the Don Imus Show in the wake of his "nappy-headed hos" comment about the Rutgers University womens basketball team.
Unlike some of his sponsors, some Washington types are throwing Imus a life-line. As my colleague in the Tribune Washington Bureau Dave Lightman notes in a story in today's Hartford Courant, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says Imus has apologized and that's good enough for him. "I am a great believer in redemption," is the quote from McCain in David's story. McCain say he'll go back on the Imus show.
Another presidential candidate, Sen. Chris Dodd, didn't say whether he would go on Imus again or not. The best he would do was to say the comments were "wrong and unacceptable" which was the safe path.
The following is from David's piece:
The Connecticut senator appeared on the show again last week, calling in from New Hampshire. It was the same program during which Imus called the Rutgers women "nappy-headed 'ho's," though Dodd later said he was unaware of the remark.
Yet the senator, a longtime friend of Imus, said nothing publicly about the insults until pressed to do so late Tuesday - and then he didn't say much.
"As the father of two young girls, I can imagine how hurtful these comments were to these young women and their parents," Dodd said in a statement. "The comments were wrong and unacceptable."
Wayne Lesperance, associate professor of political science at New England College in New Hampshire, said, "If you were outraged, you should have been outraged when it happened, not after the media has been reporting all about it for six days."
A number of commentators and scholars pointed out that Imus is a prime example of how political influence can trump political correctness.
"Imus has the influence of the airwaves and that influence is ratified by the powerful political and media figures who appear on his show," said Elizabeth Alexander, a professor of African American Studies at Yale. "That is why we have to pay more attention to this than to regular racist comments."
"I wish the focus would come off Imus," said University of Connecticut sociology Professor Noel Cazenave, who still teaches the "White Racism" course that once made him a controversial figure. What's more important, he said, is politicians' reactions and those of media companies.
"They are not color-blind. They know what they are doing when they get someone like Imus to say hurtful things," he said.
"We need to do a Connecticut watch of Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd and check the date they go back on that show," Cazenave said. Political figures are Imus' life blood. "Without them, he cannot exist."
The Washington Post's Sridhar Pappu has a piece in which Bob Schieffer of CBS News, a friend of Imus, says, like McCain that he would go back on Imus too.
Schieffer essentially assert that in the contest between principle and friendship, friendship wins, which actually can be argued as the more honorable approach.
Isn't it a virtue to stand by a friend in trouble, especially in Washington where everyone knows the old Harry Truman saying about getting a dog if you want a real friend in the nation's capital?
"Will I go back on?" said Schieffer, who called Imus's description of the team as "nappy-headed hos" indefensible. "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't have anything to do with them. But I'm not going to sever a relationship with someone who has apologized for what he said. He's my friend. I hate what he did, but he's still my friend."
But as Pappu notes, there are those who are going to keep a safe distance for a while.
Others can't be so certain. This is particularly true of Newsweek (owned by The Washington Post Co.), which has a "cooperative" relationship with NBC and MSNBC. Several of the magazine's writers have "contributor" contracts with the network. And while none have formal, paying gigs with Imus, Newsweekers including Jonathan Alter, Evan Thomas, Howard Fineman and top editor Jon Meacham have become frequent contributors. Newsweek now has its brand to consider in deliberating whether to allow its people to joust once again with the "I-Man."
"He said a hateful, despicable thing," Meacham said, "and he was rightly suspended. He appears genuine about changing the tone of the show so that nothing like this happens again. And if he follows through, then we're open to going back on. We're going to watch and learn, as the first President Bush used to say.
"We don't want to rush to judgment," Meacham continued. "At the same time, he's on serious probation here. It's a very big deal. We take this seriously. . . . CBS and NBC clearly want to see if he can reform, and we do, too. Imus appears genuine about changing the tone, but if there's any backsliding, then it's over as far as we're concerned."
That's far from a ringing "we believe in redemption," statement a la McCain. It's has more of an "Imus, it's been nice and we'll see you when we see you" quality to it.
As far as politicians, some who might've been inclined to do Imus before just won't now, especially if the African American vote plays any role in their electoral chances.
But they won't necessarily say for public consumption that they won't go on Imus for fear that they might lose many of his white male listeners who will see them as caving into the politically correct crowd.
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Comments
Have thse politicians lost their minds? With everyones run for the Whitehouse under the microscope, this would be one more foolish thing to bring criticism to them that could easily be avoided.
Posted by: bill r. | April 11, 2007 8:08 AM
It will be fun to watch all these guys run. This one is not going away. Women's groups and all black leadership must make Imus disappear. Their lack of power and influence will be exposed if they fail. Their noise will make all sponsors run for cover. This has started this week as several have left already. Those chicken politicos have a finger in the wind. The public will get tired of Imus when his only guests of note are McCain and Schieffer. Rudy will be long gone.
Posted by: c, perry | April 11, 2007 8:35 AM
Interesting that black rap stars routinely depict black women as "hos" in their music videos, and in their lyrics.
But the problem arises when a European-American adds a drop to this ocean?
Why?
There are great problems within the black community, high illegitimacy rate, crime rate, drug addiction, drop out rate, and low performance of black schools.
But what is the source for black problems, black suffering, black malaise....?
Don Imus!
Posted by: Joe Morgan | April 11, 2007 8:36 AM
I'm still waiting for Comcast to apologize for stereotyping Poles as slow (as in dumb) with their "Slowski's" ads. I'm waiting for notable figures in either society, the media or politicians to take-up the cause agianst Comcast slandering & belittling Poles with their version of a Polish joke. I'm waiting to hear how Americans should protest by refusing Comcast's services, or for that matter, cable tv.
OK, how many people read this & rolled their eyes? How many people had a good chuckle? How many people thought I was off-base? How many people thought this isn't the same?
See, being Polish in this country, I've learned all the nuances, stereotyping, jokes, & all the overt disdain given to Poles. I've learned that people like Jackson aren't going to take up any casues agianst crude Polish jokes. I know the national media isn't going to have any specials about discrimination agianst Poles.
The national spotlight is on a radio host most people never heard of because he said a few dumb things & is grabbing front-page headlines.
A nationwide ad campaign stereotypes Poles with their Polish jokes about how slow we are & I'm the only one who seems to notice.
Posted by: RomanB | April 11, 2007 8:53 AM
Joe Morgan got it right! Chris Rock's latest stand-up on HBO was full of slights and put downs about white people, yet no one ever calls a black comedian to task over the words "cracker" "whitey" or "honky" or allusions to whites having no rhythm, etc. There are always going to be racial stereotypes, there are always going to be insensitive comments, there are always going to be people who are offended. BUT...there are so many more important issues in the world to spend our energy discussing, so let's accept Imus's apology and go on to the next newsworthy slip of the tongue.
Posted by: Holly | April 11, 2007 9:13 AM
Interesting that black rap stars routinely depict black women as "hos" in their music videos, and in their lyrics.
Posted by: Joe Morgan | Apr 11, 2007 8:36:35 AM
Interesting that you would think rap stars represent the black community. I would believe this is an issue that the black community has issues with and is trying to deal with, but to say that one makes the other right is absurd.
Posted by: bill r. | April 11, 2007 9:57 AM
Leave it to Joe Morgan and Holly to throw a couple of red herrings to distract attention from Don Imus's offensive remarks. That is the issue not hip hop singers.
Posted by: jethro | April 11, 2007 10:30 AM
Morgan didn't point out a red herring, he pointed out hypocrisy, as did Roman. It's like there is a contest going on to see who can be the most offended about some boneheaded comment from some guy no one heard of two weeks ago. Jethro, I'm sure your concern for these women is sincere, and you are not just piling on a political correctness bandwagon.
Posted by: Herbie H. | April 11, 2007 11:19 AM
My problem with Imus is - like he stated,
Not everyone deserves to be joked about.
When I saw the ladies on the team - I realized that was not fair to talk about these girls like that. They did appeared as decent, hardworking and classy - soon the lead the country upon graduation.
Now if you had said that statement regarding the
"I love NY" show or the girls on the reality TV shows - You might have been on target. Let alone the "Girls Gone Wild" College girls??
Those girls did not remind me of of any of this.
I AGREE, that all of this racial joking across the board is something - I just love it - but you have to be able to take it while you dish it out.
I enjoy comics - black or white or anything else -who bring out all of our faults as humans. Who knows, maybe this can actually make us more tolerant of each other.
Posted by: EFoster | April 11, 2007 11:23 AM
Imus has been on the air waves for I believe 30 or so years, he should have known what he was getting himself into with the comments he made, and if he doesn’t all I can say is he must be a complete idiot. As for politicians associating themselves with him, I think it would be political suicide.
Posted by: Rory M | April 11, 2007 11:24 AM
Everyone constantly makes the comparison to what certain Rappers have said in their songs about women and how that may have effected Imus’s statement. Since when did the lower rung, uneducated population set the standard for how a woman should be addressed? This sort of language is inflammatory, unprofessional and more importantly unacceptable. Imus is old enough to know what is socially acceptable and he’s needs to learn how to censor himself. Just because you think it Bud, doesn’t mean that it should always be said.
Posted by: Patrice | April 11, 2007 11:24 AM
Mr.Imus,
If you want this to go away just fill Jesse and Al's pockets with some green. You have been apologizing for over a week and they won't accept it....get to the bank!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | April 11, 2007 11:56 AM
I think Joe and Holly are merely pointing out that the outrage when someone like Imus makes a single racist slip is far worse than when members of minority communities make equally offensive comments (and with more regularity). No one is saying one justifies the other, but Imus is being called out because he happens to be white.
Think of it this way: if he had left out the "nappy haired" part and simply said "hos", would the outrage be the same? If not, does that mean it's worse to put down minorities than women? If so, why is this outrage directed at him but not the countless others who routinely use the term. Either way, there's a screaming inconsistency here.
Imus said something stupid and ignorant, but any way you look at it, Imus is being held to a higher standard than other entertainers. Why?
Posted by: frosty | April 11, 2007 12:13 PM
"I would believe this is an issue that the black community has issues with and is trying to deal with ..." - Bill R.
Really?
Can you tell me when and where Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be protesting?
Posted by: McVicker | April 11, 2007 12:15 PM
Really?
Can you tell me when and where Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be protesting?
Posted by: McVicker | Apr 11, 2007 12:15:45 PM
You can google all you want to find out. You'll have to go back pretty far on the pages because this has been the talking points of whites who want to somehow point out hypocrisy instead of dealing with the real issue. Go back to before the comment to find out. I hate to remind you, but Sharpton and Jackson aren't the only voice for all of the black community. Unfortunately bigotry is what has made them relevant. There are many black leaders who have addressed this issue, Oprah for one. Can you tell me who the leader of the white community is?
No, because there are many. You have a problem with Sharpton and Jackson, I can understand that
but when stupid comments are made, the first thing they do is run right to Sharpton. I would say the best course would be to deal with the core issue and not not try to make two wrongs into a right.
Posted by: bill r. | April 11, 2007 1:05 PM
Regardless of Mr Imus' philanthropic deeds--it's essential that CBS/NBC make a strong statement: "Imus...You're Fired !" Good folks get canned everyday. If you have talent someone will hire you. But there must be repercussions when people--specifically media icons--exercise their Free Speech card irresponsibly.
Kudos to P & G, Staples and Bigelows Tea! They have, at least for the time being, turned off the money spigot. (Hmmmm, anyone notice only the Repub nominees have said they'll continue to appear on his show?) Btw, this socailly responsible response would have NEVER happened 20, 30 or so years ago! So, even though racism is still alive and thriving, we have made significant progress in achieving racial equality/harmony. And I'm continually heartened that so many of my white breathren agree that this type of racist behavior is no longer acceptable. As for you Neanderthals stuck in a time warp, well, put your clubs down, leave your caves and try standing upright.
Posted by: Rus Styles | April 11, 2007 1:05 PM
Herbie H,
His remarks were beyond politically incorrect. Do I think he hates black people? No. Do I think he said something offensive and did not realize it until the story reached critical mass? Yes. You may see a hypocrisy but this story is not about hip hop singers use of the word ho and the n-word. It's about what Don Imus said. Bringing up hip hop singers is a red herring. Google red herring if you don't know what that means.
Posted by: jethro | April 11, 2007 1:07 PM
The Slowski's are not depicted as dumb. Carolyn Slowski is a fiend for Sudoku. This is quite clearly a game of the mind. No one asserts that they're stupid - they just don't move fast. That commerical isn't a Polish joke - they don't even seem stupid, they seem like the CAN'T MOVE FAST.
Posted by: tbounce | April 11, 2007 1:12 PM
frosty,
Why is he held to a higher standard? Because he is using public airways to broadcast these statements.
Posted by: jethro | April 11, 2007 1:12 PM
Imus really blew it this time, his constant misogyny has been one of his trademarks, ie his blasting MSNBC on air anchor Contessa Brewer last year. Funny, he never got suspended when he went after her in even worse terms! And he went on and on about her. But she is white.
I heard today on the news some pundit said that if a black man had said that same thing that Imus had said, he would have been fired immediately. I tend to disagree, he might have been fired, but unfortunately then you would have had Al Sharpton leading some protest march that some black man had been fired for no good reason, after all, the rappers say stuff like that all the time about their women etc etc. Al Sharpton being involved in this makes it much less credible IMO.
Frankly, until I see Jesse Jackson and Sharpton leading protests and demanding that all rap videos using that language, all rap songs using that language are IMMEDIATELY pulled from broadcast on places like MTV or public radio waves, and the executives of such companies fired themselves, then I can't believe they are being honest in their attempt to have Imus fired. They can sit there on TV and state they have wanted these songs/videos stopped all they want, but apparently it is not worth any big push or effort or protest on their part to follow up on like they are doing with Imus. Somehow I think young black (and white) children like to watch and emulate Ludicris rather than Imus.
Posted by: Vee Brower | April 11, 2007 1:19 PM
It offends me that people say that those women on that team didn't deserve to be called "Hos" because they are all remarkable, intelligent, hard-working, high-achieving young women.
What are we saying? That if a women is not as intelligent, as high-achieving as the women on that team she deserves to be insulted in public with sexist and racist comments.
I would like to remind people of Don Quixote, who responded to an actual "whore" with decency, respect and humanity.
Posted by: Alison | April 11, 2007 1:25 PM
Keep Imus
Posted by: Marianne | April 11, 2007 1:49 PM
Now we understand how those Cavemen feel in the Geico commercials. Why cant we all just get along!
Posted by: Paige | April 11, 2007 1:50 PM
I dont believe it is right for rap artists to use those terms either. Their music reaches a lot more people than Don Imus does. It affects the thinking of our children who will be running things one day. Don Imus has an audience, but I bet most of them dont listen to rap music.
Posted by: Paige | April 11, 2007 1:56 PM
Jethro, first I know what a red herring is. Second, I admire your work on the Beverly Hillbillies. Third, I happen to think running a comparison between how some racial comments are acceptable, while others are intollerable naturally flows from this discussion, and it is not up to you to frame the issues for debate.
Posted by: Herbie H. | April 11, 2007 1:57 PM
We are deeply offended and insulted for being compared to the Rutgers Basketball Team. This Imus guy has got to go.
- Nappy headed hos
Posted by: Herbie H. | April 11, 2007 2:03 PM
Imus for the post of US ambassador to the UN
Posted by: c swinford | April 11, 2007 2:54 PM
- Nappy headed hos
Posted by: Herbie H. | Apr 11, 2007 2:03:24 PM
Could you remind me again why there is a race issue?
Posted by: bill r. | April 11, 2007 3:00 PM
This just in: Obama calls for Imus' firing!
"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's show two years ago, and "I have no intention of returning."
"He didn't just cross the line," Obama said, "he fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them makes them less beautiful or less important, it was a degrading comment, it's one that I'm not interested in supporting."
Though every major presidential candidate has decried the racist remarks, Obama is the first presidential candidate to say Imus should lose his job for them.
His proclamation was the latest in an ever-expanding list of bad news for Imus.
Sponsors including from American Express Co., General Motors Corp, Procter & Gamble Co., and Staples Inc. — have announced they are pulling advertisements from the show for the indefinite future.
"What we've been seeing around this country is this constant ratcheting up of a coarsening of the culture that all of us have to think about," Obama said.
Watch HRC try to figure out a way to chime in without looking like she's following Obama.
Posted by: Rus Styles | April 11, 2007 4:08 PM
Don Imus' comment speaks for itself, but what I want to know is who elected Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton the President and vice-president of the United States of Black people. The Reverend Jackson led 500 protesters (some of whom were white). There are 20 million plus Blacks in the U.S. I did not even know that the Reverend Sharpton had a radio show. Oh, by the way I'm a fairly typical black man and these people do not speak for me. It's the media who seems to hold the Jackson/Sharpton opinion in high regard.
Posted by: Bryan | April 11, 2007 4:14 PM
Don Imus' comment speaks for itself, but what I want to know is who elected Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton the President and vice-president of the United States of Black people.
Posted by: Bryan | Apr 11, 2007 4:14:57 PM
This has been my point all along. If anyone has given Sharpton and Jackson relevence, it has been the idiotic rants and statements that are made by whites who then run off to Sharptons'radio station to ask forgiveness. There are more black leaders in this country that are better to deal with than these guys. But "they" give these guys the juice. Believe me, Sharpton isn't the one who will decide Imus' fate. It will be the ones who advertise and the owners who make the money off his show.
Posted by: bill r. | April 11, 2007 4:35 PM
First off he was talking about women's college basketball on the radio and on national TV! And not on a sports show just a general talk show --female basketball players have come a long way. Can he get some points for being one of many who have helped that happen? Or are they too successful to be grateful for that anymore...He was interested, his terminology was a bit odd, offensive to some, but the fact was he and his guy were just saying the Rutgers female basketball players were tough basketball players and looked it. And not too concerned with looking "cute" (In his opinion)when playing basketball. So I guess you can't point out a difference between styles or "looks". I'm surprised that they allow differences still. Just have a rule that all the girls have to look "pretty" or they all have to look tough (tattoos & natural hairstyles) That would take pressure off Imus to point out distinctions. And Vivian please! Your'e gals haven't been allowed to celebrate anything?? How about all those wins leading to the final four. And the win in the first game there. I bet (hope)there was a bunch of celebrating. And who cares if Imus doesn't think think they're likely to win Miss America or some other charm/beauty school contest. Or did she mean since they lost? Well they didn't have to dwell on it either, big distraction huh? As to hurting recruiting it's a bit early to tell besides I think your type of gal probably likes a challenge...so maybe it will help. And to those who think this was an attack on African Americans I saw some on Tennessee and a few other teams didn't I? I think he was impressed by just how tough these girls were and looked...perhaps he'd seen just how well they's played in the games leading up to the final. Well okay maybe I'm giving him too much credit
but it might be true.
Posted by: Tom | April 12, 2007 12:31 AM
Tom....What part of ho don't you understand?
Posted by: bill r. | April 12, 2007 9:35 AM
What Joe Morgan and others who bring up hip hop singers seem to be saying is that they would like to be allowed to call women ho's and use the n-word. I can't see any other reason why they contributed to this post because it wasn't to say they thought the remarks were offensive and wrong. The only thing I see him and the other people who brought up rap singers saying is, "they do it why can't we".
Posted by: jethro | April 12, 2007 9:44 AM
I first learned about Imus’ comments by word of mouth. My first thought was, “where have I been to not have heard about this until now!?” My immediate feelings were sparks of pain, disgust, anger… My first response was to search the internet for anything I could find out about the incident. Having gotten through all these “steps,” I decided to search my heart (in an effort to learn what I thought should be the best recourse for his actions as well as whether I believed the comments to be truly racist) and dissect a few possible points of view about the incident as a civilized human being and as a Black woman.
Point of view #1 (Imus’ employer): Whether the radio station privately shares his views is not as important as what the station appears to stand for, the heavies that keep the station on air, and possible long-term effects of Imus’ behavior. Best option: Termination.
Point of view #2 (In the interest of the constitutional right to freedom of speech): I’m no expert on the Bill of Rights, but I can think of few other things that are as ambiguous and relative as “…right to freedom of speech…” My views linger on “right” and “free.” Do I believe it’s right to have the right? “Yes!” I believe if God can give us our own free will, certainly it’s our right to say things we believe. Is it really “free” speech? When I think of “free,” I think of something without cost, something afforded to all? With this in mind, his comments weren’t free at all, and if Imus were a Black man who made some hugely tasteless race-colored joke about Nicole (from the O.J. drama) or the President of the United States, I doubt he would have successfully dodged the chopping block. Best option: Termination.
Point of view #3 (The loyal listeners of the station): I think it’s fair to say that their opinions about the entire incident, and whether they would continue listening to Imus’ show if he remained employed, do matter and should perhaps be reasonably polled and taken into consideration. Best option: Depends on the listeners’ vote.
Point of view #4 (A civilized human being): Okay, in our day and time, “civilized” is as relative of a concept as they come. Here are just a few dictionary phrases to define “civil:” “Applying to ordinary citizens, not rude, marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages…, in a condition of social manner, etc.” I’m not as offended that Imus has what I believe are racist beliefs, but that he actually felt the need to make them. Is he so barbaric to think that such remarks could be in jest or that those targeted would not feel deeply offended or affected in a way that only people from one of the most disenfranchised races could know? Did he care? Better yet, and more disheartening, did he simply voice the suppressed or hidden opinions of many Whites today? I think our thoughts are indeed our own, but I believe our responsibility as civilized human beings is to decide whether the world is a better place with them voiced or without them. Best option: Termination.
Point of view #5 (As a Black American woman): I feel the need to tread lightly here because I hope to be truly heard and not labeled “the angry Black woman, the race card puller, the nappy-headed ho….” I realize Imus made other comments, but my feelings about “nappy-headed hos” will suffice. “Nappy” and “ho???” I am ashamed to say that I honestly do not know when, where, and how these words originated. What I do know and have always felt is that “nappy” defined “bad” hair, hair not good enough to be considered normal or beautiful. I’ll never forget the first time I heard a White person say “nappy.” This person (she), me, and some other White coworkers were standing in an office peering out of the window. We saw some young White boys practicing with bagpipes. She said, seemingly as though she’d forgotten I was standing in the midst, “Why do they have nappy hair!?” The boys had thick curly hair. Her face quickly reddened as I turned to her and asked, “What does nappy mean!?” She stumbled so much that I could barely understand her. And even more interesting to me was that the other White people were frozen, not in disbelief but in what seemed to be a “What’s the big deal type of attitude!?”
And “ho,” considered Black slang, in addition to the obvious, translates into an image of a woman who is not fit to be treated with respect and honor and who is deserving of mistreatment from those who are more superior and “clean.” Assuming that Imus did not know the young women at Rutgers, and that he even knows how deep-cutting such words go, what do his comments mirror about Blacks, women, and human beings as God created them? Bigger picture: So if he were not chastised or punished for voicing such feelings on a radio station about people he doesn’t even know, where would he have drawn the line? And no matter how you feel about him, would you care if a precedent may have been set that could have re-introduced the ugliness of past freedom of speech and helped to initiate a setback of race and gender relations between Blacks & Whites and women and men? Do you care? Best option for you: Let him stay. Best option for America: That’s a wrap!
Posted by: Kim M. Dupree | April 12, 2007 7:43 PM
no Imus? cold turkey?
i have the shakes already.
Posted by: judy | April 13, 2007 6:12 AM
We need Imus back on the air.( too many people thank they can play God.) I belive he has apologized from his heart.------God looks at the heart,this will make him a better man.Put Imus back on the air, we need him.
Posted by: ronnie davis | April 13, 2007 9:43 AM
Lighten up world, if he didn't say what he did we would not be here, or at least I would not. With all the good things he's done before this and now with his stupid remark he may done another. Any idea what that is?
Let things cool down but bring him back.
Posted by: Arnold P. | April 13, 2007 9:45 AM