On the February 13 edition of Imus in the Morning, during a segment referred to as the second episode of “Imus in the Morning Radio Theater on the Air,” regular guest, comedian, and impersonator Rob Bartlett played the character of “former president Billy Clayton” and left a message for “Kelsey Clayton,” his daughter. During the message, Billy Clayton referred to “this pineapple-eatin' [Borat] Ohana” and asked Kelsey Clayton to “campaign for” her mother -- Hailey Clayton, a “New York Senator” and “onetime front-runner for the Democratic nomination” -- and “have sex with” delegates.
In character as “Billy Clayton,” Bartlett said:
Hello, Puddin' Pop? It's Daddy. Listen, Love Bug, Mommy and me need you to do us a favor. If she's ever gonna beat this pineapple-eatin' Ohana, we need you to campaign for her, help her get some delegates. Now, I want you to understand that we don't want to exploit you. We don't want you buying them drinks or taking them to dinner or getting them gifts. We just want you to have sex with them.
On the February 7 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, correspondent David Shuster said regarding Chelsea Clinton that “doesn't it seem like Chelsea's sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way” by Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign. Shuster subsequently apologized and has been suspended by MSNBC for the comments.
Despite Imus' firing from MSNBC and CBS in April 2007 -- the show is now syndicated by ABC Radio Networks and simulcast on RFD-TV -- Imus continues to attract prominent guests.
From the February 13 edition of ABC Radio Networks' Imus in the Morning:
ANNOUNCER [CHARLES McCORD, news announcer]: And now, Imus GTC Laundry Detergent presents “Imus in the Morning Radio Theater on the Air.” This week, episode 2 of the “Woman Who Would Be King.” When last we left you faithful listeners, media giant Harpo Winstead had endorsed Hawaiian-American Senator Borat Ohana for president, much to the chagrin of New York Senator Hailey Clayton, onetime front-runner for the Democratic nomination and wife to former president Billy Clayton. We join Billy in a private meeting with a loyal Clayton campaign staff member, Willy Magwums.
BILLY [ROB BARTLETT, contributor]: OK, here's the deal. The media keeps saying Ohana's being Hawaiian shouldn't be a factor in his campaign, and yet in the very same reports, they cite what percentage of the Hawaiian vote he's nailed down. Everybody says, “You can't play the race card, you can't play the race card.” Meanwhile, it's the big Hawaiian monk seal in the room that nobody wants to talk about. That's where you come in.
WILLY [KARITH FOSTER, contributor]: Um, but I'm not Hawaiian. I'm actually American Samoan.
BILLY: Whatever. Who cares? All you Polynesians look alike.
ANNOUNCER: Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Senator Ohana sits on the veranda of the governor's mansion in California sipping lemonade with the former action film star and California governor, Armand Braunschweiger.
ARMAND: So, Borat, what kind of name is Ohana?
BORAT [TONY POWELL, contributor]: Um, it's Borat. Borat Ohana. It's [pause] Hawaiian. It means “extended family,” which kind of fits because I wasn't actually born in [pause] Hawaii.
ARMAND: Wow, me too. I was not born in California. My family is extended from Austria. It's a lot like California, except no Jews.
BORAT: I need to ask for your advice, Governor. I have [pause] skeletons in my closet.
ARMAND: Baking soda, that's what my grandfather used. Keeps them clean and fresh and white.
BORAT: No, I mean I used to have a [pause] a drug problem.
ARNOLD: Drug problem? You're from Hawaii. You can get that primo Maui wowie super swazy skunk weed all the time, no problem.
ANNOUNCER: Tune in next time for episode 3, when Billy and Hailey make a desperate call to their daughter.
KELSEY [KARITH FOSTER]: Hi, this is Kelsey, I'm not here right now, leave a message -- beep!
BILLY: Hello, Puddin' Pop? It's Daddy. Listen, Love Bug, Mommy and me need you to do us a favor. If she's ever gonna beat this pineapple-eatin' Ohana, we need you to campaign for her, help her get some delegates. Now, I want you to understand that we don't want to exploit you. We don't want you buying them drinks or taking them to dinner or getting them gifts. We just want you to have sex with them.
ANNOUNCER: This has been “Imus in the Morning Radio Theater on the Air,” brought to you by Imus GTC Laundry Detergent, because everybody in politics has dirty laundry.