Imus regular Tim Russert yet to speak out on racial slur
According to a Media Matters for America review*, as of the time of this posting, NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert, a regular guest on MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, had not commented on host Don Imus' April 4 reference to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." An NBC spokeswoman told The New York Times on April 7 that a statement issued by MSNBC "expressing regret about the remarks reflected Mr. Russert's feelings about the matter as well." That statement read in full: "While simulcast by MSNBC, 'Imus in the Morning' is not a production of the cable network and is produced by WFAN Radio. As Imus makes clear every day, his views are not those of MSNBC. We regret that his remarks were aired on MSNBC and apologize for these offensive comments."
On the evening of April 11, MSNBC.com announced that MSNBC TV would no longer simulcast Imus in the Morning.
Russert appeared on the April 6 edition of Imus but said nothing about Imus' April 4 remarks, even though Imus himself had apologized for them earlier in the show. Russert discussed 2008 presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) fundraising, former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), the 15 captured (now released) British sailors, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Imus' son, Wyatt, among other topics.
As Media Matters has noted, Russert has appeared on Imus' program seven times this year alone. As The Imus Show Blog (not affiliated with the Imus program) noted, Russert was such a frequent guest that a segment highlighting "the best" of Russert's appearances aired on the December 20 "Best of Imus" program. Russert has been a regular Imus guest since at least August 2000. An article in the July/August 2000 Columbia Journalism Review noted an April 4, 2000, appearance in which "Imus said that he was 'troubled' by research on homosexuality and Russert suggested that Imus is a closet case himself."
Numerous media repotrs have also noted that Russert is a regular on Imus:
- An April 11 Baltimore Sun article reported that "[f]ormer presidential candidate [Sen.] John Kerry [D-MA], a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and journalism heavyweights such as NBC's Tim Russert and Brian Williams, and New York Times columnist Frank Rich have appeared often on the show. It was unclear yesterday whether they would do so again."
- An April 11 Los Angeles Times article noted that "[i]t remains to be seen whether disgust over Imus' comments will translate into a boycott of his program by NBC correspondents and anchors, such as Tim Russert, Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams, who have frequented 'Imus in the Morning,' which is simulcast on MSNBC."
- An April 11 USA Today article observed that "Adding to Imus' special status is his popularity among the political and media elite. Elected officials such as Republican Sen. John McCain [AZ] and journalists such as NBC's Tim Russert regularly visit the quick-witted, cowboy-hat-wearing former DJ."
An April 11 Washington Post article said that Russert, McCain, and CBS' Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer were part of a "a stable of regular guests," who "call in every few weeks and spend 15 or 20 minutes batting around the issues of the day after some light banter." In the article, Schieffer was quoted as saying: "Will I go back on? ... If it were anyone else, I wouldn't have anything to do with them. But I'm not going to sever a relationship with someone who has apologized for what he said. He's my friend. I hate what he did, but he's still my friend."
* Search terms (Imus AND Russert)
Don't get comfy, Ann. You're next.
Stop it Snoop, you sound like the Gestapo!
Now to the topic:
Why must every Tom, Dick, Harry & Tim comment on this?
How about commenting on how 3 Duke Lax players could have gone to prison because of a false accusation & a corrupt D.A? Just as important BUT taking a backseat to this Imus story.
The man apologized, got booted off of MSNBC, will likely lose his radio show as well.
We don't need to hear from every journalist or politician who ever appeared on his program.
The Duke story is nowhere near as important as the Imus/Rutgers story. Thank you MMFA for ignoring it.
The Gestapo was a white racist organization, Ann Coulter is a white racist individual, Snoop is anti-racist. Poor comparision.
thank you thank you!
Now, would this be a good time to tell that "racist" joke I told savagerocks some weeks ago? ;)
Actually Heru...
The Gestapo [Geheime StaatsPolizei, “secret state police”] was the German secret police under Nazi rule. It ruthlessly suppressed [read: “murdered” opposition to the Nazis in Germany, occupied Europe and sent Jews and others to concentration camps. From 1936, Heinrich Himmler headed that monstrous abomination.
Actually Heru...
The Gestapo [Geheime StaatsPolizei, “secret state police”] was the German secret police under Nazi rule. It ruthlessly suppressed [read: “murdered”] opposition to the Nazis in Germany, occupied Europe and sent Jews and others to concentration camps. From 1936, Heinrich Himmler headed that monstrous abomination.
Actually Native, the Gestapo was the backbone of a white racist Nazi police state.
"white racist"
Do any other color racists exist in your world?
No, whites pretty much 'perfected' that concept.
Mmmmm let's see 3 young men could have been imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit vs. a slur, that while hurtful, will not take away anyone's freedom.
Yeah heru what was I thinking?
Lord please stop me from telling this guy what an ass he is.
Awww too late.
Oh Lawdy, 3 privileged white men beat prosecution in North Carolina. What a story - I bet that never happened before! Somebody call CNN quick! You can't beat down a white racist and not give them some good ol' boy pablum within an hour!
Oh lawdy one black woman lied and one corrupt white prosecutor desperate to win an election pandered to the black voters.
That's the real story buddy, not your fairy-tale.
Truth hurts don't it?
Oh sweet Jesus, 3 white boys got off the hook for their black stripper party in North Carolina. How heartwarming. What kind of programming director couldn't see how this would trump a racist attack on a team which played for a national championship in a real sport?
Lawd have mercy, the African American Sean Bell walks out of a bachelor party to go get married and law enforcement shoots him dead 50 times for no reason. White boys emerge from a stripper party in Dixie, are charged with a crime, do no time and beat the rap. Is there no justice for white men in this world? Waaaa Waaaa
Some person on another blog (the topic was about National Security Letters) pointed out that the team members got off [again] and I responded: this is important because...?
White boys emerge from a stripper party in Dixie, are charged with a crime, do no time and beat the rap....by heru
They didn't beat any rap, there was no crime. Are you really this clueless???
Heru that chip on your shoulder must be awfully heavy.
Why are you bringing this up? You want Media Matters to call for the stripper’s firing?
Its never a crime when white boys decide to sexually exploit a black woman in Dixie. What's new Kemosabe?
Get a clue, nobody cares.
The police didn't search the alleged crime scene until a week after the incident, when evidence was either washed away or tainted beyond serviceability.
Now, if the situation had been reversed, and a white woman had accused three black athletes of the same actions, do you think the police would have waited a week to check things out?
Is Kemosabe supposed to be some sort of slur against my tribe?
No sir, we meant no harm. Please don't let Gilgamesh beat us up, we have no beef with the Sumerians!
I dont see how since by your nick I would put your 'tribe' as Sumerian or Akkadian. And the tem Kemo Sabe if it isnt just made up would be Native America word.
Now there's someone who mediamaters worships- miss Crystal Gale! She may be a lying criminally insane bigot " exotic dancer", but don't you dare insult her! The Single Standard applies! What Liberal Media says is correct- is correct; all others must be silenced! That is the obvious purpose of MediaMatters
We don't care who is affected-No!- the real point here is Re-education... The object lesson of it all. American White dogs- especially the lowest form- the male- must be trained!! So a few must be destroyed along the way- well they are filthy trash anyway!
Apparently, the DA looked at the case and saw there was no way he could get a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Did the DA announce any charges against the woman for lying?
I didn't hear a word about "reasonable doubt". Try lack of any credible evidence. The AG pronounced them INNOCENT, instead of Not Guilty. A huge difference.
Excerpts below, then the link.
=====
We believe that these cases were the result of a tragic rush to accuse and a failure to verify serious allegations. Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent of these charges.
We approached this case with the understanding that rape and sexual assault victims often have some inconsistencies in their accounts of a traumatic event. However, in this case, the inconsistencies were so significant and so contrary to the evidence that we have no credible evidence that an attack occurred in that house that night.
Our investigation shows that:
The eyewitness identification procedures were faulty and unreliable. No DNA confirms the accuser's story. No other witness confirms her story. Other evidence contradicts her story. She contradicts herself. Next week, we'll be providing a written summary of the important factual findings and some of the specific contradictions that have led us to the conclusion that no attack occurred.
AG Roy Cooper's Statement
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5200238
I don't know much about the case (I haven't followed it; it’s not important to me). I didn't know she was Black until you brought up her race. I don't how you come up w/ the prosecutor did it to win an election; I would have thought bringing charges against these white kids in North Carolina would hurt his election prospects. When is the woman or as Imus would call her, "nappy-headed hoe" being prosecuted for making false charges?
DA was a Democrat in a heavily African-American district.
Loon,
After all this, I can't believe you typed that last sentence!
You are as guilty as Imus.
Very true abouthe duke case, but lets go back and take a look at all of the Men falsely of accused of rape who have been found innocent. To extend that a bit :
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16862643/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17842849/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10995872/
and there are far more incidents. What happened to these boys is a shame and the girl should face some punishment. Just like we shouldn't soully be focusing on Imus for his gaffe, let's not forget the that duke players weren't the first, did not in fact get the most raw deal and won't be the last. Jackson and Sharpton owe those boys apologies along with everyone else who jump the cgun in coming to there conclusion.
I hate to even bring this up but if some of the parameters in this story were reversed, it wouldn't even be a blip on the radar and a lot of folks realize this.
Gotta make it about race, don't you?
Troll.
Heru,
I beleive you're way out of line here. This kind of rhetoric that inflames loud mouths like Hannity and Limbaugh and then they play it up to rile up and send their bigots on a mad dash to the polls. There can't be a double standard, simply because it's the fair thing to do and secondly it is not in the best interest of the AA community to have a double standard. So referring to these young men as 3 priveledge White boys is disrespectful and I know If someone came on here calling the accuser a nutty/sl-utty Black girl both you and I would make comment about the inappropriateness of this. Were these young men behaving badly probably, but being a jerk is not a jailable offense nor should they be prosecuted to atone for anyone elses past sins. This had to be a horrific experence for these boys and their families, and I for one am glad it's over for them. I hope they can move on and I hope that they heal without becoming too bitter.
Oh Lawd, forgive me for referring to the Duke 3 as "privileged." Even worse, when I referred to a young male student as a boy, what was I thinking? That's almost as bad as referring to a female youth as a "girl" (You listening Girl Scouts?) That's way worse than what you just said even though MMFA won't even let me re-post it.
Come on Heru,
We're from the same place and you know as well as I know that the terms "White Boy" and "priveledged White Boy" have a certain and intended connotation.
No, we're not from the same place. I have no idea what you're talking about. Even the Duke 3 admit that they're privileged, even you referred to them as boys, and nobody contests that they're white. I don't get your issue.
This had to be a horrific experence for these boys and their families, and I for one am glad it's over for them. I hope they can move on and I hope that they heal without becoming too bitter. - Lynn
-------------------------------------------------
Don't worry, since their horrific experience with this "mentally ill" black exotic dancer, these young men only buy their happy ending from white strippers.
Wait a minute, did you just call them "boys"? You need to give yourself a tongue lashing lady. That's way out of line.
Heru,
You sound a tad racist to me.
Shut up. If I hear one more white racist complain about being a victim of racism or lynching, I'm gonna puke.
The Duke story is very important and one angle I'd like to see Media Matters pursue is these idiot cable shows bringing on the insane Wendy Murphy over and over, telling lies to the viewers.
But we can walk and chew gum. Right now, the topic is the big journalists and politicians (virtually all white, middle-aged and older males) who are regulars on his show and pander to him. They have been exposed by this story. They never had any business going on a shock jock radio show. What were they thinking?
You are dreaming if you think MMFA will cover this. Don't you realize they are a far left wing and completely agenda driven. MMFA is not concerned with the truth, but only sticking it to conservatives and propping up their leftist agenda and candidates.
but hey.. thats what make it fun. :-)
Hey Jeter,
I agree with you a wrong is a wrong, and false prosecution for anyone White, Black, otherwise is a horrific experience. I understand that with so many prosecutors it’s all about a win and not about the application of justice maybe that was this guy’s problem. I don't think there was a classical racial motivation on the prosecutor’s part, but I certainly believe it was probably a political motivation, although people both White and Black made it a racial issue. I understand that this women's story was full of holes from the get go and it has been alluded to that there may be some mental illness in the women who made the claim since they are not pursuing bring the woman up for making false charges. If she isn’t mentally ill I believe that she should be prosecuted. I disagree vehemently with Heru on this, everyone the privileged and the unprivileged must receive the same level of fairness and this has to be applied across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic lines. I am sick of the over racialization of every single issue coming from all sides at times. I hope that one day we can both celebrate our individual and unique heritages while simultaneously seeing each other as human beings with shared universal traits and interests and focus on that that unites us in this life. I guess this may sound a little preachy or maybe even naïve, but I believe that one day we will achieve that, at least I hope so.How Rodney King of you Aww
I know Heru you think me the fool, but we both have a desire for the same outcome I HOPE.
I never side with white racists. I have no desire to see the world from the devils' point of view. The only outcome I wish for them is the one IMUS got.
Hey Lynn,
I'm sorry heru has shown you disrespect in the way he replied to you. The guy is obviously very angry. Since I've never walked a day in his shoes I'm not going to even suggest I understand. He hates White people and sees racism in everything. That's his cross to bear. There are Whites who hate Blacks for no other reason than they are Black. It's unfortunate either way.
I blame the prosecutor for what happen with the Duke case. And I do agree that Nifong's motives were clearly racial. He wanted to win an election and thought he could do so by delivering the scalps of 3 White young men to the largely African-American populated district. He played the "race card".
I'm not going to let the young woman off the hook here, her accusations could have sent 3 innocent young men to prison BUT it was because of a corrupt D.A that this case went forward.
I know heru thinks the idea of us all "getting along" is somehow funny, but it's his loss.
I hope that one day we can both celebrate our individual and unique heritages while simultaneously seeing each other as human beings with shared universal traits and interests and focus on that that unites us in this life. I guess this may sound a little preachy or maybe even naïve, but I believe that one day we will achieve that, at least I hope so...by Lynn
Very well said. Wouldn't it be nice to see it in our lifetimes :-)
It is and is done daily by most people.
I am trying to figure out the race angle here.
Was Nifong a racist against white affluent young men? No.
Did Nifong pander to Black people by offering a potential sacrifice of white affluent young men to assuage the impression of many black people that black young men have been and are sacrificed on the justice scales of imbalance?Maybe.
Was he an incomprehensibly incompetent, political opportunistic dumb-ass, and the fact that he actually held office as a prosecutor is a disgrace to whatever process put him in there in the first place?Yes. Definitely.
In any case saying that a white man prosecuting white men on the behalf of black people for the white mans selfish gain is really stretching the definition of racism beyond recognition. You can call what Nifong did alot of bad things, racism is not one.
I'm sorry heru has shown you disrespect in the way he replied to you. The guy is obviously very angry. Since I've never walked a day in his shoes I'm not going to even suggest I understand. He hates White people and sees racism in everything. That's his cross to bear. There are Whites who hate Blacks for no other reason than they are Black. It's unfortunate either way.
Jeter
----------------------------------
I'm not angry skeeter, I'm happy IMUS got fired and look forward to the demise of more white racist pigs. I don't hate white people, I am disgusted by white racists and their apologists.
Oh my God, there are whites who hate blacks for no reason? Wow, that must explain 500 years of white enslavement of Africans across the globe! Golly gee thanks for helping me understand Kemosabe.
couldn't help myself!
I did read about the lacross story, there are even a great bunch of political comics on it on cagle. I know, not quite the groundswell you asked for, but more than you might be thinking.
I mus be dreaming. The racist is history. You're next Limbaugh.
Tim Russert Needs to Resign
For his affiliation to this show. I also feel Andrea Mitchell needs to resign. It is a disgrace.
Ok Doris, then should Chris Dodd resign? Afterall he announced his candidacy on this "racist" show.
http://www.chrisdodd.com/node/750
I'm just glad Don Imus is gone. I was wrong. I didn't think anything would happen to him. He got his just desserts.
Isn't it great and the truth is, its a great day for capitalism because it ws the advertisers who pulled the plug on that ugly, nasty old fart and his crew. Proctor and Gamble cut their advertising from MSNBC's entire daytime programming. Ditech, GM, GlaxoSmithKline, American Express, Staples, Bigelow Tea, etc. - you are shining!
NBC is trying to spin this that they did it for the employees and the integrity of NBC News. What baloney. It took them a whole week to figure out that their integrity was hurt by association with a man who called college athletes "nappy haired ho's."
Don Imus is a meaningless old fart. Period.
What I don't get is the flat-out free pass given to Coach C. Vivian Stringer. Why is nobody talking of the spectacle of victimhood she potrayed upon us?
What kind of message is she sending to her supposedly impressionable girls by defending their character when, in fact, it was never questioned?
Every young woman on that team would have been better served if their coach had stated simply, and not in a pre-arranged press conference, "it's just words. We (Rutgers Women's Basketball) have survived bigger challanges."
THAT would have sent the right message.
FPTSGC, What their coach did is exactly what she was suppose to do. She defended her athlete's. She did not portray "victim hood" at least from my point of view. She defended 10 girls all who will be back next year and 5 who were freshman. I can remember being that young (without the ability to speak to the national media) and would love to have some one stand up for me if I were in these girls position. I can also appreciate as a parent of a freshman girl in college for the first time having someone speak as eloquently as their coach did for my daughter as well. I have found during this conversations regarding Imus their are always different points of view but if I had entrusted my daughter to a college I would hope that someone would speak, and speak as well as their coach did on my daughters behalf.
I agree with you, pearlene. Women have had to put up with so much of that kind of crap from men (and some women), not to mention non-whites having to put up with it, that it's great to have someone stand up for these girls to show how it's done. The hate speech is really getting on everyone's last nerve, which is a good thing.
It's a lot like what happens to women bloggers with comments. For some reason people think they can just be as asinine as they want to be. Makes you wonder why they want to show their idiocy so much.
I am kind of a Stringer fan. She did say that she teaches the girls that name-calling is only words and words cannot deter your determination to succeed. So she started out well.
but then she went right for the victimhood routine which greatly disappointed me. I was disappointed that she didn't say that forgiveness is a positive character trait also.
The coach is getting a little carried away. I never want to be any where's near a news story and would hope to have the sense not to do interviews if I was. Its like the Libby jurors who went on cable TV and said they thought he should be pardoned. They just convicted the man of a serious crime and they don't want him to be punished!
But thats how it is when people get to be on TV. Everyone turns into Joe Biden.
It's actually nothing at all like the Libby jurors, but thanks for playing.
Oh, btw…
Did anyone stop to ponder what the Rutgers University Media/Public Relations department might have discussed with the university’s administration prior to contacting coach Stringer regarding her upcoming press coinference…?
PS — Tis a pity some would rather run away, & stick their heads in the sand and not speak the truth… Especially when their “Freudian slip,” slips out for all the world to realize… They were only talking about themselves, using a lame excuse as justification. However…
PEARLENE_SCOTT1602…you wrote The Truth.
Hey, isn't Russert the guy that Cheney liked to use as an outlet for his talking points in interviews? You know, when there was that trial or emails or something?
No, that is Brit Hume of the Fox Noise Channel.
Chiming in on this Duke case one thing that has come out of this is I am personally happy that these guys were cleared.I am also peronally sad that somewhere in this country someone is waking up this morning as I write this and as you read this post in the same situation as these three guys,but don't have the resources to do what these familys were able to do.Cases in point I think the freedom project(I think that is the name of the orginization)they are at the 200 mark for freeing people eho have been convicted of things they didn't do.I know these guys have an appreciation of those situations.
This thread is an extension of the same issue surrounding Imus/Rutgers, hip-hop music, the Duke Lax case, etc. Cry wolf, cry it every time it shows up, not just when it eats your sheep.
Now that the misogyny, homophobia and trashtalk of the Imus show is being acted upon...whether you agree with MSNBC's cancellation or not...isn't it time for other media outlets to act accordingly? What about a few of these:
o BET and MTV (Viacom), et al: Their daily barrage of women as sex objects and black self-loathing.
o Neil Bortz, Rush LImbaugh, (and Coulter et. al.) Limbaugh's use alone of the term 'feminazi' is wore than cheap grammar. It's clumsy attempt at under the radar misogyny. Last time I looked, the term Nazi, --which is used so loosely to describe any slightly fascist-appearing action these days --referred to of or having the characteristics of the German Nazi party. No one needs a leeson in what they did in WWII. If that doesn't qualify for using the ariwaves to spew vile hate, what on earth does?
Yes, I watched Imus for the Frank Rich, Tom Friedman interviews, etc. But I cringed at his crude cracks. I'm all for the expulsion of the Imus (and don't forgert McGuirk -- see today's NYTimes) but only if there's a wholesale cleanikng of house starting with the record companies and media outlets from BET to CNN. Won't happen or will it?
Kam,
A small point but feminazi is used as a derisive political term for feminists who act like fascists.
A small illustration. Planned Parenthood and N.O.W. say they is for "choice" but objects when pro-lifers offer a choice different than abortion.
Feminists have shown that they try to stifle dissenting opinions and prefer using judicial fiat to impose their political agenda rather than relying on democracy.
(okay. I'm off my soapbox...)
I am again humbled by my poor grammer. I changed from singular to plural with Planned Parenthood and N.O.W. but missed changing the "is" to "are" in the second sentence. My apologies.
Why should Russert comment? Not everybody drinks the kool-aid you guys do? You didn't take down your target nemesis. Imus is far from that..He supported Kerry 4 Prez, against the Iraq War...has made Walter Reed's atrocious conditions mainstream and given voice to reporters from Washington Post, NY Times and Newsweek. He has called Rumsfeld and Cheney 'War Criminals'. Brought to light and fought for Government/private sector importance of Parents dealing w/ Autism. Hosts children w/ Cancer at his ranch. Raised money for US Soldiers returning from Iraq that are limbless, injured and psychiatrically undercared for.
As opposed to Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson he is constructive not destructive. Yes, you all succeeded in ending his career on MSNBC..But, now what? He is an equal opportunity basher...not a racist..Imus calls his wife the 'green' ho...He makes fun of his own hair..
Having said that, my belief is that Imus is a has been and should have left long time ago. His jokes along w/ his memory are Alzheimer like..This website and its followers FEEL rather than THINK..As is evidenced by this website's president..
Now, what will Russert add to this conversation? Why ask him to comment?
Russert, Gregory and Olbermann should all be fired for their connection to Imus and for not denouncing the racial slurs.
MMFA should be shut down and David Brock sent to prison for supporting Olbermannan, an Imus accomplice, thus a racist.
I guess all the "friends" of Imus, pundits like Russert, Matthews, and others including politicians of all stripes, now are all caught with their pants down.
Poor dears. How embarassing. Their bare asses are out there for all to see and thay have nowhere to hide.
CBS just canceled Imus too. Imus is toast. Until someone else hires him. But I get a feeling you won't be seeing any media pundits or politicians on his new show anymore.
Ajwan posted:
"I get a feeling you won't be seeing any media pundits or politicians on his new show anymore."
I wouldn't bet on that AJ. Imus helped more than a few authors climb to the top of the NYTimes best seller list making them and their publishing house lots-0-money. There is a lot of goodwill towards the good Imus has done as listed in a post above by Jacob.
Imus was must do radio/tv for beltway politicians and they fawned over his approval. If my time observing the political and pop culture of America is correct there are two certainties: 1) we have a short memory 2) people will tend to be loyal to people that have helped them especially with the influence he has/had.
One more thing. Im sure there is a struggling station out there that when this furor dies down will snap up the likes of Imus.
Alright, MM, you better not go after Russert for remaining silent, because that is apparently what you want. Are you going to undermine the 1st and 5th amendment too? I used to love MM, but it has obviously gotten too tied in with special interests.
Russert is silent because NBC wants him silent. He's nothing but a General Electric Lapdog.
Jesus. Media Matters is worse than Imus for targeting Russert because he doesn't jump on the bandwagon now.
When are you going to realize the power you have abused MM?
Thank God For MMFA
MM may have done some good, but so did Imus. MM needs to criticize itself for once.
Racial slur?? What exactly was the "racial slur". I know I'm in dangerous terrority, but most of you have lost your fuqqing minds.
Imus slurred a basketball team, most of whom are black. He commented that they were Ho's and had nappy hair. Again I know I'm a lone wolf, but he didn't use a racial slur. He said something stupid, he didn't mean it and he was just making a joke. I'm not heart broken that he got his azz fired, but John Kerry slandered all of the American Military and you libs said it was just a botched joke.
No one(of importance) is safe in making a comment on this. Obama gave a so-so anti-Imus statement the other day. Many black's feel it wasn't strong enough and yet as a former, fiancial Obama supporter I think he should have kept his mouth shut...his position unfortunately aligned him with both Sharpton and Jackson...two racists I don't want to see standing at his side.
**an aside: I wonder how much Ned Lamont's defeat to Liberman last fall fueled the Reverands against Imus..after Lamont won the Conn. primary they were standing with beaming faces on Lamont's victory dias...then Imus took up Liberman's Ind. Dem. campaign with a lot of free airtime. Lamont went down. and
hell, I would be the very last person to tell someone who to be friends with, but could guilt by association apply? and besides, how many black friends does Shcieffer have anyway? none? this is one of the most basic of problems in the racial divide, the fact that whites can't even be bothered to have black friends in the first place to have a dialogue with, as how can you have one with somebody you don't know? how can you have a dialogue if you don't at least attempt to bridge the gap betweenh the two races? how can you even attempt to do anything when you don't even have or want black neighbors in the 'hoods you live in? your apartment complexes? or even work with to a great degree? the one thing whites must do is stop fronting, stop talking the talk and not walking the walk. did it ever occur to many whites that if you promoted better friendships, better understanding, discuss the past instead of trying to hide and run from it, feel guilty about it, that things might go better between us? there is of course more to it than that, but if you don't begin somewhere we only get further behind.
oh, and as for Pumpkin Head, look who you're talking about.
I also see by some of the comments on this board that we really aren't going to get anywhere. most of the whites seem not to know what was wrong with the Imus comments so let me explain. at the end of the day most of you will retire to your white suburbs, in your white neighborhoods, having come from the jobs you wanted, knowing there's a paycheck coming, and that no one is going to call you any name at all other than man or woman. you will not have spent your day fighting to look intelligent before people you know think you're not, battling racism and descrimination and not getting either the job or payraise you needed to maintain, nor will you have spent the day being judged by your race instead or you worthiness which you know to be nil in the eyes of the whites who judge you. our hair style, if natural, without having been chemically treated, is kinky and may be in a cloud around our heads, or cut close, freeing you from having to deal with the chemicals used to keep it straight. it makes you happy to be able to almost be able to wash and go in an instant. but the image we think whites see of us is vastly different, many of them split between those of slavery and those ignorant hiphop/video images that are out there. Imus named what he saw, young black women as nappy headed whores, not that damned cuteyfied 'ho. nappyheaded whores. branding us with all the images we know whites conjure up of us, black, ugly, nappy headed, bringing these images to white mind's eye of us, thus once again halting us in the tracks of progress. please don't tell me that some of you don't see us that way because I can tell that you do, if you spoke in favor or Imus. why is it you think that a 67 year old white man was forced to say those things or thought that he could just because black hiphoppers say it? doesn't he have a damned mind to operate with? doesn't he know saying those things are wrong? didn't he know it before he spoke it? if he said such things did he not believe them? tell me something, if you were my white friends and I all of sudden started spewing horrifying negative images of whites would you continue to be my friends if I told you that none of it was directed at you but at others? what would you think of me? would you ever view me the same. don't worry, I know that some of you are freepers, just coming to media matters boards to try and counteract some of the thoughts you know to be here, and I hope the rest of you think about what this nappy headed whore is saying. I have been a voice in the wilderness for the last five years, combating the things hiphoppers say about black women, as well as some other things going on out there that aren't right. and there have been other movements out there doing the same, but where is the media on this? essence magazine started a movement three years ago called take back the music. Nellie seems to have bbeen out of commission ever since the infamous card swipe incident. hiphopper doe need to be worked on, but please, no one is responsible for what comes out of your mouth but you, not someone else.