MSNBC and CBS fire Imus over controversy

[Extremeweatherguy]

seems like the majority of Americans believe this was an overreaction as well. An MSNBC poll on their website shows that 74% of the voters thus far believe that Imus should not have been fired.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18080360/

[kevin]

Imus should be fired for being too stupid generally to appear on radio, not to even mention television.

[Brent]

Imus should be fired for being too stupid generally to appear on radio, not to even mention television.

Not to mention freaky looking. Who wants to look at THAT at 6am?

[Ptarmigan]

Double standards indeed. I know too many people who said worse things, who didn't apologize for what they said and who got away with it.

Funny thing is Imus does this all the time.

[Ptarmigan]

Imus should be fired for being too stupid generally to appear on radio, not to even mention television.

I never cared for Imus either. I have listened to him a few times. Never was impressed.

[coriolis]

There's no use getting worked up about this. It's all so predictable as if its following a script. Stupid people do stupid things then other stupid people react to it and then you have the usual chorus of commentary, counter commentary, and counter counter commentary. People with a financial stake will always cover their butts, and people who have no stake in it whatsoever will argue as if they do. I think that this whole country has ADHD.

[HollynLA]

America has become a bunch of pansies. Some radio host calls some girls a name and now they need counseling over it and meetings at the governor's mansion while shedding tears, gimme a freakin' break! I'm sorry, but this is so absurd, it's actually kinda funny. Look out though, now that Shapton and Jackson feel they got their way (whether it had anything to do with them or not), they will be on a witch hunt, so to speak.

[Dustin]

Although I HATE racism, I do think firing was a bit over the line as he did apologize.

[abajan]

seems like the majority of Americans believe this was an overreaction as well. An MSNBC poll on their website shows that 74% of the voters thus far believe that Imus should not have been fired.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18080360/

You can include me in that 74% (except that I'm not an American LOL).

Look, this thing is being blown way out of proportion. Okay, what Imus said was in poor taste but when I viewed the video with his accompanying comment, it was obvious that nothing racist was intended. One could plainly see that he gave little thought about what he was about to say about the Rutgers team, and on the spur of the moment just blurted out something he thought might have been humorous.

I've been monitoring a blog about this issue and most people there basically share my sentiments.

The general feeling there is that it seems like Blacks (especially rappers) can say just about anything degrading about anybody (Black, White or whoever) and get away with it. But Whites had better choose their words very carefully when even just seeming to be referring to Blacks, less they feel the full wrath of God, Rev. Jackson, Rev. Sharpton et al!

AMEN to that!

[Category 5]

Am I the only one sick of hearing about this on the news 24/7?

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

Am I the only one sick of hearing about this on the news 24/7?

In another "nappy-headed ho"-related story, New Jersey governor Tom Corzine was injured Thursday in a car accident on his way to host a meeting between radio personality Don Imus and the Rutgers University women's basketball team..... http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/12/corzine.crash/index.html

[Janie2006]

I've never watched Imus and never listened to him.

Maybe he'll get a job selling aluminum siding...but I doubt it.

[Regit]

Don Imus has a long tradition of being an equal opportunity offender. However, his comment was in particularly poor taste. That being said, it was not anymore offensive than other things he has said. Imus' problem is that he simply puts out insults. Other radio personalities often make fun of people based on sex, race, etc. The difference is that members of those groups regularly take part in the comedy on other shows. For instance, if Howard Stern has a bit that pokes fun at black people, it's taken as good fun as he includes black people in the bit. In Imus' case, it was just a bunch of old white guys making fun of young black girls. Some people don't get the difference, but it's vast.

But if Imus always does this, why the controversy? Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson saw an opportunity to make an issue out of something and get themselves in the news. On top of that, Fox News saw an opportunity to jump on an MSNBC personality.

People who would be offended do not really listen to him as they know what to expect. I'd be surprised if anyone on the Rutgers team was listening. However, to say that it shouldn't be offensive to any black people just shows intolerance for THEIR views. Clearly, it could be taken as offensive. Also, don't give me this "black people call each other the n-word" crap. A racial term is almost never taken as offensive if it comes from a member of your own race. If a white person calls another white person a cracker, it's not taken seriously, as that would make the person saying it a cracker as well. If a black person uses it, it's clearly intended to be offensive.

A lot of people think that Imus' firing shows some big racial divide in the country. It doesn't. Most people agree on the issue. What it shows is:

1) that major corporations like GM and Proctor and Gamble are too spineless to last through a controversy. Their pulling their ads is why he was cancelled. It wasn't a moral decision by CBS or NBC.

2) Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are now even more marginalized from the American moral and political discussion.

3) Censorship in America will become even more severe as entertainers will be afraid to make a statement that be taken as offensive on any level.

[Ptarmigan]

Am I the only one sick of hearing about this on the news 24/7?

I am too. I was sick of it when it first broke.

[Yarrah]

3) Censorship in America will become even more severe as entertainers will be afraid to make a statement that be taken as offensive on any level.

And that will lead to a whole lot of other problems. The problems with immigrants here are just an example of that.

[Category 5]

Am I the only one sick of hearing about this on the news 24/7?

In another "nappy-headed ho"-related story, New Jersey governor Tom Corzine was injured Thursday in a car accident on his way to host a meeting between radio personality Don Imus and the Rutgers University women's basketball team..... http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/12/corzine.crash/index.html

Looks like he'll be fine

[gtalum]

Imus should be fired for being too stupid generally to appear on radio, not to even mention television.

And for looking like the Crypt Keeper



You be the judge.

[Category 5]

Imus should be fired for being too stupid generally to appear on radio, not to even mention television.

And for looking like the Crypt Keeper



You be the judge.

So I'm not crazy for thinking he looks like the crypt keeper. Good to see that someone agrees.

[gtalum]

Don Imus is an idiot. However, I really wonder if the racist wonder twins Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton pounced on this because they knew that they would be in the spotlight regarding the Duke rape case this week... This Imus flap has taken a lot of the attention away from their role in that mess.

[kevin]

Why does he wear such a ridiculous hat? That has always been my question. Is he going to go round up cattle after the show?