The Don Imus circus....

[freedom78]

The Rutgers team met with Imus today and accepted his apology.

Our long national nightmare is over!

Thank God.  Now that racism has been soundly defeated, we can go back to fixing social security!

[Booker Floyd]

i am in the broadcast business...I don't need it explained to me...

Apparently you do, or else you wouldnt have declared "there is no such thing as freedom of speech in this country."

[pilferk]

[
i am in the broadcast business...I don't need it explained to me...I understand that it is a business...and I wasnt even shocked..some co-workers and I were expecting this for about a ?week...I am arguing that it DOES in fact impose on his free speech...Is he going to get thrown in prison? no(but with the way this country is headed I dont think that is too far off at this point)..The bottom line is that while he might not be prosecuted..his livelihood has been taken from him...doesnt anyone see something wrong with that? ?The bottom line is this..whites are treated completely different in this business than blacks...Al Sharpton can say whatever ignorant racist bullshit he wants, and NOTHING happens.... ?If ALL people were treated like Imus was I would have NO problem whatesover with what happened to him..But they arent, there is a double standard..This isnt so much about the broadcast business as it is a reflection on where are society is ...and it is pretty sad.....

You seem to not understand what free speech is, then. ?Because all the constitutional provision of free speech mean is that the govt will not make a law preventing you from saying (within reason....in other words, excepting dangerous speech, slander, etc) whatever you want.

It does not promise you the right to, in your place of business, to say things that employer finds objectionable or thinks will damage it's business. ?Period. end of story.

It doesn't take away his ability to earn a living.....it simply means he can't work for that company any more. ?It doesn't prevent him from selling cattle, working at Walmart, whatever. ?Now, other businesses may decide THEY don't want Imus on their air, either.....for exactly the same reasons CBS or MSNBC wouldn't. ?And, FYI, if that's the case it's IMUS's fault.

On the double standard, I just don't see much evidence of it. ?I can see the "black people can say it about themselves but whites can't" claim of a double standard, but fall on the same side of the argument other have brought up: If it's happening TO you, you can say whatever you want. ?If not, be respectful. ?But I don't see evidence of a difference in the broadcast industry. ?I think if Sharpton got on CBS or MSNBC and called Imus a honkey, he'd quickly be fired, too.

And it absolutely, 100% is about the broadcast business. ?That's why he ultimately got fired....business.

[pilferk]

I agree with you on your first 2 points...but it was not the desire for profit that caused his demise...Just about every poll taken was in FAVOR of Imus KEEPING his job...His ratings if anything were going to go up for a little bit after he came back...and the sponsors would be there....he doenst have a large audience anyway..and the only people who were pissed about this whole thing probably never even heard of him.....you'll see him on the radio again in a few months.....I hate his show by the way, and Im not too fond of him..so I can care less that he is off the air....its the principle of the whole thing

If you think the decision from CBS and MSNBC was not completely driven by the financial impact, you're wildly mistaken.

It doesn't matter what the polls said, it matters how the sponsers felt.  When Ford, Procter and Gamble, etc all tell you they're bolting, and you're paying a guy around 10 million a year.....how many companies, given the current climate, do you think are going to fill those rather large holes?

He doesn't have a large audience, but his audience is a "big spender" demo...that's why he gets the sponsers, and the $$ per ad, that he gets.

IF Imus doesn't just retire, it'll be a year or so before we see him on any airwaves.  And you can probably forget satellite.  Karmezan hates him, and with the Sirius/XM merger going on, it's not likely you'll see much in the way of high profile talent signings until after that.

[pilferk]

general public...and trust me when I tell you, as soon as his ratings went up which they definitely would have when he came back, you would be amazed at how forgiving and forgetful the sponsors are.....

It would be a long wait, because the media, and the black community, would make sure it was.  People much better informed than you and I came to the conclusion that the sponsers would NOT come back, and this would NOT blow over with a quick 2 week suspension.  I think, all things considered, they might have more info coming directly from the sponsers than anyone else.

[Surfrider]

[
i am in the broadcast business...I don't need it explained to me...I understand that it is a business...and I wasnt even shocked..some co-workers and I were expecting this for about a ?week...I am arguing that it DOES in fact impose on his free speech...Is he going to get thrown in prison? no(but with the way this country is headed I dont think that is too far off at this point)..The bottom line is that while he might not be prosecuted..his livelihood has been taken from him...doesnt anyone see something wrong with that? ?The bottom line is this..whites are treated completely different in this business than blacks...Al Sharpton can say whatever ignorant racist bullshit he wants, and NOTHING happens.... ?If ALL people were treated like Imus was I would have NO problem whatesover with what happened to him..But they arent, there is a double standard..This isnt so much about the broadcast business as it is a reflection on where are society is ...and it is pretty sad.....

You seem to not understand what free speech is, then. ?Because all the constitutional provision of free speech mean is that the govt will not make a law preventing you from saying (within reason....in other words, excepting dangerous speech, slander, etc) whatever you want.

It does not promise you the right to, in your place of business, to say things that employer finds objectionable or thinks will damage it's business. ?Period. end of story.

It doesn't take away his ability to earn a living.....it simply means he can't work for that company any more. ?It doesn't prevent him from selling cattle, working at Walmart, whatever. ?Now, other businesses may decide THEY don't want Imus on their air, either.....for exactly the same reasons CBS or MSNBC wouldn't. ?And, FYI, if that's the case it's IMUS's fault.

On the double standard, I just don't see much evidence of it. ?I can see the "black people can say it about themselves but whites can't" claim of a double standard, but fall on the same side of the argument other have brought up: If it's happening TO you, you can say whatever you want. ?If not, be respectful. ?But I don't see evidence of a difference in the broadcast industry. ?I think if Sharpton got on CBS or MSNBC and called Imus a honkey, he'd quickly be fired, too.

And it absolutely, 100% is about the broadcast business. ?That's why he ultimately got fired....business.

I agree with all of your comments except your assertion that Sharpton would be fired for calling Imus a honkey.  Rightly or wrongly, comments to different groups are not all treated the same.  You can criticize white and christians with, in my opinion, little repercussion.  It happens all of the time.  As you rightly indicated in one of your other posts, money drives everything.  I don't think whites are likely to collectively protest to get someone fired for making a comment derrogatory comment to whites in a manner similar as to what happened to Imus.

Although certainly not as bad as Imus' comments - although Imus seemed to be joking where Gumble was not - does anyone recall Brian Gumble's comments regarding the winter Olympics?  If white person made those comments about black people and the NBA, there would have been absolute outrage.  Of course, I am cognizant of the fact that whites have not suffered the discrimination that blacks have endured in this country.

[Bodhi]

i am in the broadcast business...I don't need it explained to me...

Apparently you do, or else you wouldnt have declared "there is no such thing as freedom of speech in this country."

thats true you are right...Al Sharpton does have freedom of speech in this country...so I guess it does exist...My point is that Imus was not fired for financial reasons....CBS gave in to the outcry from the black community...who doesnt even listen to his show and up to a week ago didnt know he existed...A world where certain groups can dictate who gets fired is a scary one....my point is you guys are hiding behind the business aspect of this...and so is CBS..thats not what it was about....if thats what it was about I would have no problem with it....they are hiding behind it...

[pilferk]

I agree with all of your comments except your assertion that Sharpton would be fired for calling Imus a honkey.? Rightly or wrongly, comments to different groups are not all treated the same.? You can criticize white and christians with, in my opinion, little repercussion.? It happens all of the time.? As you rightly indicated in one of your other posts, money drives everything.? I don't think whites are likely to collectively protest to get someone fired for making a comment derrogatory comment to whites in a manner similar as to what happened to Imus.

Although certainly not as bad as Imus' comments - although Imus seemed to be joking where Gumble was not - does anyone recall Brian Gumble's comments regarding the winter Olympics?? If white person made those comments about black people and the NBA, there would have been absolute outrage.? Of course, I am cognizant of the fact that whites have not suffered the discrimination that blacks have endured in this country.

Then I'll respectfully disagree. ?I don't think any black broadcaster (note: not stand up comedian, etc) would get away with calling a white person or group of white people honkeys, crackers, etc and not face some pretty severe penalties.

Of course, I haven't seen examples of either scenario (getting away with it vs getting punished)....meaning I've never heard of a black broadcaster hurling those kinds of racial epithets around, so I have nothing concrete to provide as example. ?Does anyone else? ?I'm not talking about stuff like Sharpton's racially charged show full of percieved injustices committed against the black community. ?I'm talking about actual racial insults being hurled by anyone other than a white broadcaster against some minority.

[pilferk]

thats true you are right...Al Sharpton does have freedom of speech in this country...so I guess it does exist...My point is that Imus was not fired for financial reasons....CBS gave in to the outcry from the black community...who doesnt even listen to his show and up to a week ago didnt know he existed...A world where certain groups can dictate who gets fired is a scary one....my point is you guys are hiding behind the business aspect of this...and so is CBS..thats not what it was about....if thats what it was about I would have no problem with it....they are hiding behind it...

You have proof of that?? Because every "inside source" being quoted by eveyone reporting on this is saying that, in the meetings where Moonves was present, the primary point of discussion was.....loss of revenue.? I've heard it on Mike and Mike, Mike and the Mad Dog, and ESPN Radio.? I've not heard a single person, other than you, suggest otherwise.

You'll excuse everyone if they take the word of the journalists over yours....

As for CBS hiding, that's patently untrue.? They're actually saying they fired Imus because they were "reprehensed at his comments".? They're actually expressing moral outrage in their Press Relase.? So to say their "hiding behind the money issue" isn't accurate.? But it's what was, reportedly, mostly discussed in the meetings on the subject.

Not thinking money was the primary focus is naive'.? Moonves, and more importantly Sumner Redstone, stood up for Stern MANY time, because the sponsers didn't run away from Stern's show no matter what outrageous comment he made.? If not money, why would Imus be different?? And why would MSNBC and CBS FIRST suspend Imus and THEN, after the sponsers notified them they were going to pull out, fire Imus?? Why wait so long (the outcry hasn't gotten a whole lot louder since the suspension was handed down). You think the timing is purely coincidence?? I think that would be shortsighted.

It's all about the Benjamins, baby.

[Booker Floyd]

Then I'll respectfully disagree.  I don't think any black broadcaster (note: not stand up comedian, etc) would get away with calling a white person or group of white people honkeys, crackers, etc and not face some pretty severe penalties.

It all depends, of course.  While people are declaring that freedom of speech is dead, its worth noting that plenty of broadcasters have gotten away with racist humor.  I listen to Opie & Anthony (a lot less than I used to as their racial attitudes, among other things, have become too much to bear) and theyve gone way beyond anything Imus has said.  Theres no counting the number of times theyve likened black people to apes/gorillas/monkeys.  Its always done more cleverly than Imus, and often said for pure shock value, so the effect was usually softened; but its at least as offensive and theyve always gotten away with it because theyre so-called shock jocks and its expected.  Imus walked  the line between serious political commentator and "light" shock jock, which made him an easier target.  Whether his firing changes the landscape remains to be seen.

As for a black broadcaster saying racist things, Im not sure.  First of all, theres not a great deal of high-profile black broadcasters.  Second, I cant recall any such instances taking place in recent memory.  White racism toward blacks and black racism toward whites arent viewed equally in America, for obvious reasons, so Im not sure the penalties would be equal. 

[D]

A black head coach from the CBA "Continental basketball association" also recently got fired for remarks he made about Jewish people.

He said something of the effect of how Jews run and own everything.

So its not just Imus making Black slurs, its guys making jewish remarks etc and I just think its totally overblown and everyone overreacts way too much over every little thing.


On a side note:

I was in a family restaurant last night picking up some pizza and 5 black teenagers were behind me in line.

Every other word out of their mouth was Nigga this Nigger that and I was like WOW these kids have no idea.

So to me black people are their own worst enemy in a lot of ways.

U use the word and make it seem "cool" u really have no right to criticize or blame anyone else for using it.

How can black people expect white people to stop being racist when they do everything to hold their race down themselves?

[difleha]

A black head coach from the CBA "Continental basketball association" also recently got fired for remarks he made about Jewish people.

Wow, that's funny. How come I've never heard of that on the news?

[freedom78]

A black head coach from the CBA "Continental basketball association" also recently got fired for remarks he made about Jewish people.

Wow, that's funny. How come I've never heard of that on the news?

Because Don Imus is famous, and the CBA is relatively unknown.

[Verse Chorus Verse]

A radio DJ got fired in Northeast PA recently for making "nappy headed hoes" the "Phrase that Pays." Callers had to repeat the phrase as many times as possible in one minute in order to recieve a cash prize.

What a douche.

(700th post)

Calling someone a douche is a sexist remark against women with odor issues.

Oh well, Political Correctness is a sham that makes me sick, to quote Duff.

[TAP]

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/89728-0

In a clear sign of its intent to reign in dissident American media personalities, and their growing influence in American culture, US War Leaders this past week launched an unprecedented attack upon one of their most politically 'connected', and legendary, radio hosts named Don Imus after his threats to release information relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks upon that country.

[freedom78]

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/89728-0

In a clear sign of its intent to reign in dissident American media personalities, and their growing influence in American culture, US War Leaders this past week launched an unprecedented attack upon one of their most politically 'connected', and legendary, radio hosts named Don Imus after his threats to release information relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks upon that country.

What a load of drivel that was.  Are these really the sorts of conspiracy theories floated about America?    

[Booker Floyd]

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/89728-0

In a clear sign of its intent to reign in dissident American media personalities, and their growing influence in American culture, US War Leaders this past week launched an unprecedented attack upon one of their most politically 'connected', and legendary, radio hosts named Don Imus after his threats to release information relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks upon that country.

This reads like an article from an alternate reality.

[Axl_GNR]

It was a joke, which I thought was actually pretty funny when I saw the vid on youtube.  I think Imus fucked up by apologizing in the first place.  He makes fun of lots of people...black, white...everyone; its what shock jocks do.  The whole thing was blown out of proportion.

[Booker Floyd]

It was a joke, which I thought was actually pretty funny when I saw the vid on youtube.

1. What was the joke?

2. Why was it funny?

[freedom78]

And Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get to further their agendas.

I was disgusted to see that Jesse Jackson was in attendance for Jackie Robinson day celebrations at Dodger Stadium.  It's sad that no other true civil rights leaders have risen into the spotlight, so that attention whores and money grubbers like Jackson and Sharpton can be pushed out of the limelight.