Imus smeared Hillary Clinton, "that buck-toothed witch, Satan," and Gore, "the phoniest bastard on the planet"

Summary: On Imus in the Morning, Don Imus referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as "Satan" 11 times, once calling her "that buck-tooth witch, Satan." He also called Al Gore "the phoniest bastard on the planet," adding that Gore is "a horrid human being."

On the May 24 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) as "Satan" 11 times, once calling her "that buck-tooted witch, Satan." During an interview with NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell, Imus even claimed that Clinton was "worse than" Osama bin Laden, but then partially retracted his statement, saying: "Well, that's a little strong." During the same interview, Imus called former Vice President Al Gore "the phoniest bastard on the planet," adding that Gore is "a horrid human being."

Imus has repeatedly and unapologetically referred to Clinton as "Satan," most recently during the May 22, 23, and 24 editions of his radio program. During a conversation with co-host Charles McCord and executive producer Bernard McGuirk on May 22, Imus admitted that he "wouldn't have a job based on stuff" he had said in the past, adding that, however, he had never had to apologize for insulting former President Bill Clinton and his "fat ugly wife, Satan."

From the May 24 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning:

IMUS: Senator Chris Dodd [D-CT] is going to run for the presidency. He's going to come on this morning.

McGUIRK: Great.

IMUS: And he's the kind of Democrat -- Dodd is -- he's the kind of Democrat that actually Bernard and Charles like.

McCORD: Very much so.

McGUIRK: He's a great man.

IMUS: So --

McGUIRK: I'd go drinking with him.

McCORD: Absolutely. I don't know if I'd vote for him but he's a terrific guy.

IMUS: As long as -- why wouldn't you vote for him?

McCORD: I don't know. I haven't assessed all the candidates.

McGUIRK: You got to see his platform.

McCORD: Sure.

IMUS: Right.

IMUS: As long as he doesn't go around the country and patronize everybody like Satan is doing, Hillary, or some of these other people, then -

McGUIRK: He's a wonderful guy.

IMUS: Keeping it real.

McGUIRK: Yeah.

IMUS: If he keeps it, you know, he's -- he's a formidable candidate.

McGUIRK: Yes, he is.

[...]

MIKE BARNICLE (columnist for the Boston Herald and the New York Daily News): I can guarantee you this: He will be the only candidate on either side of the isle who travels each day carrying on his person a copy of the United States Constitution and a pair of rosary beads. That's the truth.

IMUS: If he's -- if he goes around the country and says what he thinks and doesn't do what that buck-tooth witch Satan, Hillary Clinton, is doing and patronize everybody on the planet or some -- or these other folks -- I mean, is Al Gore thinking about running?

BARNICLE: Yes, he is.

IMUS: Oh, God! Oh, God! Please. Please.

McCORD: Yeah. In fact, that's part of [New York Times columnist] Maureen's [Dowd] column this morning, isn't it?

BARNICLE: Yeah.

McCORD: Mr. Gore and Hillary.

BARNICLE: That's -- that's -- you want that. You want that.

IMUS: OK.

McCORD: And how they're both vying for the attentions of President Clinton.

BARNICLE: Right. And they both despise one another.

McCORD: Yeah.

BARNICLE: And the two of them despise him, President Clinton. This is what we want. This is what we're looking for.

[...]

IMUS: Let's talk to Andrea and see what she thinks. Good morning, Andrea?

MITCHELL: Good morning. How are you guys?

IMUS: Fine, baby, how are you doing?

MITCHELL: OK. I don't know how you're going to pick between Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. I mean, that's -- that's tough.

IMUS: You mean, whose Satan?

MITCHELL: I thought you were supporting them both.

IMUS: No, I'm not supporting them both.

MITCHELL: No?

IMUS: They're evil people. You're supporting them both. I'm not.

MITCHELL: Oh right, that's [Sen.] Joe Biden [D-DE] and Chris Dodd.

IMUS: You and the rest of your liberal weenie friends.

MITCHELL: No, it's Chris Dodd and Joe Biden that are your -- your favorites. I keep getting confused. Not that you ever switch.

IMUS: No, she is a -- she is a -- Oh, God! She is evil.

MITCHELL: Yeah.

IMUS: She is -- Lance Morrow wrote a book about her. She is the personification of evil.

MITCHELL: She just chose the week of Al Gore's movie and book launch to come out with her first big speech on the environment.

IMUS: Well, he's --

MITCHELL: I don't -- I just don't understand why you and Maureen and everybody else are so suspicious. What's the matter? Charles --

IMUS: He's the phoniest bastard on the planet -- Al Gore. What a horrid human being. Anyway, but we have good people --

MITCHELL: There's a more horrid person than any of the favored politicians in your -- you know -- pantheon and that is Osama bin Laden out with his new tape.

IMUS: She's worse than he is.

MITCHELL: No way. Come on.

McCORD: Now, wait a minute.

IMUS: Well, that's a little strong.

From the May 22 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning:

IMUS: But I mean, to ruin their careers and hang them [the Dixie Chicks] for it doesn't -- I mean, then I'd be out -- if that were the case, I wouldn't have a job based on stuff I've said. Would I, Charles?

McCORD: Probably not.

IMUS: No.

McCORD: I mean, this is --

McGUIRK: Unless you kept saying it.

IMUS: Well, I --

McGUIRK: You know, before you get paroled, you have to admit that you did something wrong and you're -- you're sorry for it.

IMUS: I never admitted it when I went down there and got in all that big jam, insulting Bill Clinton and his fat ugly wife, Satan. Did I? Did I ever say I was sorry for that?

—B.F.