Media Matters Statement on Two Week Suspension of Imus in the Morning Simulcast
Suspension Comes on Heals of Racist Comments by Don Imus & Producer
Washington, DC - This evening, Media Matters for America released the following statement regarding NBC News' and CBS Radio's decision to suspend MSNBC's simulcast of Imus in the Morning for two weeks.
"This appears to be nothing more than an effort by NBC News and CBS Radio to make the controversy go away," said Karl Frisch spokesman for Media Matters for America. "They must take responsibility for continuing to air Don Imus after years of similarly bigoted language."
More on Don Imus from Media Matters for America...
Imus
called women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200704040011
Wed, Apr 4, 2007
On the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which is comprised of eight African-American and two white players, as "nappy-headed hos" immediately after the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the team "hard-core hos." Later, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg, who was filling in for sportscaster Chris Carlin, said: "The more I look at Rutgers, they look exactly like the [National Basketball Association's] Toronto Raptors."
He's
back? Rosenberg
alluded to previous racially insensitive remarks that first got him fired from
Imus
http://mediamatters.org/items/200703280001
Wed, Mar 28, 2007
On the March 27 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg appeared on the program and referenced a story in the New York Daily News headlined "Serena Shocked by Racist Heckler." Rosenberg commented, "I was on an airplane," suggesting that he could not have been the one heckling professional tennis player Serena Williams.
Imus'
McGuirk on "young colored fellah" Obama "pretty much deckin' the
old bag from New York"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200703160007
Fri, Mar 16, 2007
On the March 16 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk, performing as his character "Cardinal Egan," said that "the whole nation is talking about" reports of a "young colored fellah pretty much deckin' the old bag from New York and takin' away some of her money." McGuirk continued: "I'm speaking, of course, about [Sens.] Barack Obama [D-IL] and Hillary Clinton [D-NY]."
On
Imus, McGuirk said that "bitch" Clinton
will "have cornrows and gold teeth"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200703070009
Wed, Mar 7, 2007
On the March 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk said that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was "trying to sound black in front of a black audience" when she gave a speech on March 4 in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march. McGuirk added that Clinton "will have cornrows and gold teeth before this fight with [Sen. Barack] Obama [D-IL] is over." Earlier in the program, in reference to Clinton's speech, McGuirk had said, "Bitch is gonna be wearing cornrows." McGuirk also said that Clinton will be "giving Crips signs during speeches." The Crips are a Los Angeles-based street gang.
Imus:
"[I]t was Bernard who said, 'Besa mi culo' ... not me"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200702090002
Thu, Feb 8, 2007
On the February 8 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, during a discussion with Newsweek magazine chief political correspondent Howard Fineman, host Don Imus falsely claimed that "it was [executive producer] Bernard [McGuirk] who said, 'Besa mi culo ... Gordo, [to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson] not me." The phrase loosely translates to "kiss my ass, fat one," in Spanish. As Media Matters for America noted at the time, however, Imus echoed McGuirk -- labeled by Media Matters as "unidentified" -- saying "besa mi culo" at least twice himself on the February 1 edition of Imus. Richardson's mother is Mexican.
Imus
touted Giuliani as willing to "drop [a nuclear weapon] on Mecca"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200702070014
Wed, Feb 7, 2007
On the February 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus claimed that "if we're gonna be fighting these terrorists through the lives of [8-year-old son] Wyatt Imus' children," then "it might be good to start with somebody who is willing to take three big ones and drop one on Mecca, one on Jeddah, and one on Saudi -- one on Riyadh," all cities in Saudi Arabia. Imus made the point in response to co-host Charles McCord, who claimed that Imus had "Leon Klinghoffered John McCain ... in favor of Rudolph Giuliani" during a private conversation they had the previous evening. Imus has previously claimed that he is voting for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in 2008.
Imus
producer referred to Obama's "Jew-hating name"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200702020009
Fri, Feb 2, 2007
On the February 2 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, claimed that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has "a Jew-hating name." The remark followed a flurry of other negative comments from host Don Imus, McGuirk, and co-host Charles McCord about the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, calling Obama a "creep," "a wind-watching wimp," and "a flip-flopping weasel."
Imus sat by as
McCain said Nelson resigned RNC over Ford ad
http://mediamatters.org/items/200701040008
Thu,
Jan 4, 2007
Summary: Don Imus didn't challenge John McCain's claim that his 2008 presidential campaign manager, Terry Nelson, while serving as head of the independent expenditure unit of the Republican National Committee, "realized it was a mistake" to sign off on an ad attacking Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. and that Nelson subsequently "resigned from the group of people who approved of it." In fact, Nelson has publicly defended the ad, and there is no apparent evidence that Nelson "resigned" from his RNC position in protest over the ad.
MSNBC's
Imus referred to "Jewish management" of CBS Radio as "money-grubbing
bastards"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200612080006
Fri, Dec 8, 2006
As the Forward newspaper reported in a December 8 online article, Don Imus referred to the "Jewish management" of CBS Radio as "money-grubbing bastards" on the November 30 broadcast of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning. Imus was discussing a past conflict with his bosses about hosting the musical group the Blind Boys of Alabama. Executive producer Bernard McGuirk asked, "Even if you wear a beanie, how can you not love the Blind Boys?" Imus continued, "I said, 'They're handicapped, they're black, and they're blind. How do we lose here?' And then a light bulb just went off over [the managers'] scummy little heads." CBS Radio owns WFAN, the New York station that is the flagship for Imus' radio show.
NBC's Mitchell
hosted segment that falsely asserted Kerry "refus[ed] to apologize"
for "botched joke," even while mentioning Kerry's appearance on Imus in which he did
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611010011
Wed,
Nov 1, 2006
During the 11 a.m. ET hour of the November 1 edition of MSNBC News Live, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell aired a portion of comments made by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on that day's edition of Imus in the Morning, but left out the part in which he said he was "sorry."
Buchanan book
featured on Today: For
nation to "survive[ ]," U.S. must keep "Americans of
European descent" from becoming "minority"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200608230002
Tue,
Aug 22, 2006
Summary: On NBC's Today, David Gregory provided Pat Buchanan a forum to discuss Buchanan's newly released book, which includes a claim that the United States must keep "Americans of European descent" from becoming the "minority" in order to "survive[]."
Echoing producer,
Imus declared: "We thought" man who confessed to killing Ramsey
"was Ned Lamont," added: "[W]e're supporting Lieberman, if you
did not know that"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200608180005
Fri,
Aug 18, 2006
Summary: On MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, Don Imus echoed his executive producer Bernard McGuirk's claim that John Mark Karr, the man who reportedly confessed to killing JonBenet Ramsey, "looks like Ned Lamont."
Imus producer on man who admitted killing
Ramsey: "He looks like Ned Lamont, actually. Is that who you want
representing you, Connecticut?"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200608170003
Thu,
Aug 17, 2006
On the August 17 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk said that John Mark Karr, the man who reportedly admitted to killing 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey in 1996, "looks like Ned Lamont, actually." McGuirk then asked: "Is that who you want representing you, Connecticut?"
MSNBC's Imus:
"Maybe Dennis Kucinich could" replace al-Zarqawi
http://mediamatters.org/items/200606090012
Fri,
Jun 9, 2006
Summary: On MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus suggested "[Rep.] Dennis Kucinich [D-OH] could" replace Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Matthews cited
Savage's "Bareback Mounting"
characterization of Brokeback Mountain;
Imus cited producer's "Fudgepack Mountain"
remark
http://mediamatters.org/items/200601200002
Thu,
Jan 19, 2006
Summary: Appearing on MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, Chris Matthews quoted "the wonderful Michael Savage" referring to award-winning film Brokeback Mountain as "Bareback Mounting."
Imus anchor on Palestinians: "Stinking
animals. They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill 'em all right now"
http://mediamatters.org/items/200411190009
Fri,
Nov 19, 2004
MSNBC's Imus in the Morning offered derisive, racist commentary about Palestinians during the November 12 funeral of deceased Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat. Regular Imus guest and sports anchor Sid Rosenberg referred to Palestinians as "stinking animals" and suggested: "They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill 'em all right now." On November 19, the program broadcast a radio segment featuring a guest -- parodying General George S. Patton, Jr. -- who said that the recent report of a U.S. Marine shooting an unarmed, injured Iraqi insurgent provided the enemy "with another cozy 'al Jazeera moment' for the Muslim masses to respond to with their routine pack-of-rabid-sheep mentality." The guest also referred to a deceased Iraqi insurgent as "a booby-trapped raghead cadaver."
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OK, Everyone take a deep breath! part 1
You know if we keep going, adults won't have comedy as an escape and release from all the stress and terrible travesties ( war, homelessness, starving people, debt...) going on in this country. We all read jokes that are far more disturbing. I love edgy comedy yet some comedians, e-mails, songs, that are far more disturbing.
I watch the Imus show almost every morning and have listened to Imus for years. Not anything that went on last Wednesday, was any different than any other show, but their joking went to far over the line. If any of you are a real Imus Show follower, and I was listening when that took place, it was normal banter, until the statement went to far. I am not saying it is right, I am saying the Imus program has always been edgy and funny. So why is this so different? I find it very hard to believe that a true fan of this show found it anything other than pushing the envelope. Imus and the rest of the Imus show team say much worse to each other or other's that come on the show. I can turn on one of the HBO channels and watch a movie, then the next thing I know there are naked people going having sex. Now it is my choice to watch it or turn the channel. That is cable, you hear well-respected News Anchors using language you won't hear on other stations. You have your personal preferences as what you watch, and what you listen to.
part2
Here you want to jump on a soapbox and get outraged start here. I think we are a country in mourning. All of our senses and feelings are raw. We are tired, frightened, confused, angry, lonely and many more emotions than we know how to deal with. We have a "war" going on half way around the world in 2 countries that we have lost 3289 (DOD), last I read was reported was of a 21 Year old male only being in Iraq for 1 and1/2 months. There are 26,188 that is being reported (DOD) as wounded, yet there are 205,000 from Iraq and Afghanistan currently in the Military Medical System ( V.A.). In the 50 months we have been in Iraq, the lowest U.S. military number of deaths per month is 20 (2/04) and the highest being 137 (11/04). In the last 28 months and 10 days since that horrible number of lost troops we have lost 2025 (DOD) more. In the first 10 days of this month of April we have already lost 41, 42 with the 21 year old I just read about. That is not to mention the wounded which is not listed per month, just the 26,188 as above. So now we know we are not in Iraq fighting because of imminent threat of a mushroom cloud, WMD, Hussein and Bin Laden and September 11th, 2001. We know we remain there to fix what was broken. We know there is a Civil War and we know OUR Troops are right there in the middle of. I have not even talked about Afghanistan where the Taliban is about to resurface in a big way. We are sending in more troops, too many without any desert training. We have carriers in the Persian Gulf fueling tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Why are we in Iraq?
Part3
But hey lets talk about Don Imus, Britney Spears, Anna Nichole (RIP), the way the Brits handled their kidnapping, and the rest of the horror like this. We even have Presidential Candidates starting out early…hmmm! 25, 26 million for the 1st quarter. That is insane. We have 2 Wars going, we have a failed Medical System, we have New Orleans that needs to STILL be rebuilt, how are those levees! We have people having their homes foreclosed on because of bad loans, rates, and inflated property values. We already have million plus homeless. Now remember census shows that 1 out of 3 are Vietnam Veterans. We have a multitude of issues both at the Federal and Sate Level that needs OUR attention. Then we have Bush, Rove, Cheney, Gonzales to many to mention. The Patriot Act vs the United States Constitution. We have people that degrade the widows of September 11, 2001. We have grieving Mothers, Fathers, Wives, children and grandparents from September 11th and from the 2 Wars.
All that can be discussed is that a rough, edgy broadcaster went to far. Who is clearly taking responsibility for his comments that most saw on youtube or heard or read about. Oh and don't forget today you can find out who the daddy of Anna Nichols baby is. Just maybe it is time that people take a long deep breath, close your eyes and remember where you were September 11. 2001. Remember how you felt. You were not Republican, you were not a Democrat! You were a full blooded AMERICAN that day. Now keep that feeling and look around at what is really going on in this country. What do you see? Do you see a country that is divided and needs to be healed? Ask yourself why, write it down. Keep those feelings and continue to listen to the MEDIA. Now pay attention to what you are not HEARING ABOUT! WHY? God Bless You All and God Bless this Great Country. Last but by far least, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS and bring them home to us and their Loving Families. Update as I am finishing this, 4 more US troops were Killed in Iraq today!Barbara Dietrich