Imus: Obama is "almost a bigger pussy than" Clinton

Summary: On Imus in the Morning, while discussing the April 16 Democratic debate, Don Imus said, "I thought Senator [Barack] Obama was on the defensive most of the night. But they're both sissy boys or sissy girls, or whatever. Because they talk big when they're out on the campaign trail, wolfing on each other." Charles McCord interjected, "But then," and Imus continued: "And then when they show up at the debate, they fold up like a couple of cheap lawn chairs. I mean, I don't understand that. And he's almost a bigger pussy than she is."

During the April 17 edition of Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus asserted that Sen. Barack Obama is "almost a bigger pussy than" Sen. Hillary Clinton. While discussing the April 16 Democratic debate, Imus said he thought that co-moderator George Stephanopoulos was "great" and that the debate was "fine," adding: "I thought Senator Obama was on the defensive most of the night. But they're both sissy boys or sissy girls, or whatever. Because they talk big when they're out on the campaign trail, wolfing on each other." News anchor Charles McCord interjected, "But then," and Imus continued: "And then when they show up at the debate, they fold up like a couple of cheap lawn chairs. I mean, I don't understand that. And he's almost a bigger pussy than she is."

As Media Matters for America noted, on the March 7 edition of Imus in the Morning, Imus asserted that Clinton won her campaign for a U.S. Senate seat due to "a sympathy vote," adding, "She came here, everybody felt sorry for her 'cause her fat ..." At that point, guest and Fox News host Alan Colmes interjected, asking, "[W]hy did she get re-elected?" Imus continued: " 'Cause her fat, stupid husband was getting BJs from the poor little intern there in the Oval Office."

Despite his being fired by MSNBC and CBS in April 2007 -- his show is now syndicated by ABC Radio Networks and simulcast on RFD-TV -- Imus continues to attract prominent guests. From April 1 to April 17, Imus hosted Sen. John McCain, NBC Washington bureau chief Tim Russert, CBS anchor Bob Schieffer, Washington Post media critic and host of CNN's Reliable Sources Howard Kurtz, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and Congressional Quarterly columnist Craig Crawford.

From the April 17 edition of ABC Radio Networks' Imus in the Morning:

IMUS: Five minutes after the hour here at the Imus in the Morning program, on the radio all over the country and on RFD-TV, RFD-HD, and prime time. Craig Crawford, from out where the buses don't run, will be on here in a little bit. George Stephanopoulos, who co-anchored the debate last night. And what I saw of it, I got home a little late, but -- of course, I mean, it's obvious I like him or he wouldn't be on the program all the time --

McCORD: True.

IMUS: -- but I thought he was great.

McCORD: He was.

IMUS: You know, I keep thinking, I mean, he's been doing this for 10 years. You know, This Week with David, not with David Brinkley, but George Stephanopoulos.

McCORD: Right.

IMUS: But he's gotten really good.

McCORD: Yup.

IMUS: Charlie Gibson, however. What is the deal with the glasses down on the end of his nose?

McCORD: I don't --

IMUS: What is this thing? I don't know. I don't have my regular glasses [unintelligible], so I have to wear my dark glasses because I don't -- I left the other ones somewhere. But I mean, he's tedious. Anyway.

McCORD: It's his attempt to look very professorial.

IMUS: Stephanopoulos I thought was great, and the debate was fine. I thought Senator Obama was on the defensive most of the night. But they're both sissy boys or sissy girls, or whatever. Because they talk big when they're out on the campaign trail, wolfing on each other.

McCORD: But then --

IMUS: And then when they show up at the debate, they fold up like a couple of cheap lawn chairs. I mean, I don't understand that. And he's almost a bigger pussy than she is.

BERNARD McGUIRK (executive producer): Whoa.

McCORD: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

IMUS: And then another -- and then I was on the treadmill yes-- this is kind of funny. I thought it was funny. I was on the treadmill, but I was watching Fox News. And -- but I didn't have the sound on because the sound makes me nervous.

—A.J.W.