This morning, I had a chance to listen to Tim Russert on Meet the Press. One of his guests was Gwen Ifill. I have watched her presentations on PBS over the years. She was good. Today, she was great. Her comments were controlled and not emotional. She didn't throw bouquets at Tim Russert before telling him that he was part of the club.
The guests on the show brought up all the points that have been articulated on the blogs. Others do it. We listen to it. He has been doing it for years and finally that "shock jocks" are successful because of how politically incorrect they are. Despite how hateful their comments might be. Gwen Ifill threw it right back on Russert and one of his other guests, David Brooks, She said: "There has been radio silence from a lot of people who have done this program who could have spoken up and said, I find this offensive or I didn't know. These people didn't speak up. Tim, we didn't hear from you. David, we didn't hear from you."
In a recent article, Ms. Ifill wrote about how she had been a target of Imus. Many years ago, it has been alleged that Imus said, "Isn't The Times wonderful, it lets the cleaning lady cover the White House."
A couple of days ago, I wrote that the firing of Don Imus was wrong. Today, I listed to Gwen Ifill and realized that I was wrong. It was not all about Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. Long ago, Don Imus crossed the line and in the past he took care of his mistakes by apologizing. This time, the apology didn't work. You see, after apologies of the past, Imus never changed. He continued to say hurtful things about people and races that were just not true. Yes, Imus should have been fired.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 25)
16. You know, it's rednecks like Mario Hepp that really embarrass the hell out of this country... Why do rednecks always want to shoot somebody? I bet anyone that Mario is a Republican! Who wants to take bets?
Darlene at 3:48PM on Apr 16th 2007
17. I don't know why everyone is hating on Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson. They stood up for the honor of those young ladies. If they did it for some kind of profit, please explain to me how they profited? When something happens to those who belong to the black community, who the hell do white people think they are telling us who should step forward? We may not agree with everything Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson say, but when there are injustices, these men step up, and we appreciate it!
Darlene at 3:55PM on Apr 16th 2007
18. Yes,read something!Visit your local library.
John Taube at 4:00PM on Apr 16th 2007
19. Amazing. Like I always say, "Who gives a rats what you say behind a keyboard or a microphone"; would you say it TO MY FACE!
I can guarantee 99 out of 100 of the negatives, wouldn't dare say this to a BLACK PERSON'S FACE!
I'd bet my house, that you would never say that to a BLACK CO-WORKER at your job! I'm sure your boss would understand, "Freedom of Speech!" Why not give it a try and let me know what happens.
*smh*
Before you jump on the bandwagon, get your facts straight. Sharpton and Jackson came in after "The Association of Black Journalists" and a "Women's Group!"
And to Mario -- let me give you spellcheck, a dictionary and a thesaurus. Did you even graduate high school?
My prayers go out to the students, family and friends at Virginia Tech. May you rest in peace!
You Can't Be That Stupid at 4:04PM on Apr 16th 2007
20.
WELL WELL WELL! I AM SO SICK OF THIS I SCOULD SCREAM.. HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT ME WAH WAH WAH.
HAS ANYONE EVER LISTENED HOW THEY CRY AND CARRY ON,., IT LASTS LONGER THAN A FRIDGID WINTER.
I GUESS PEOPLE DONT REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO BUT . I DO LEAVING THESE BOARDS AGAIN TODAY SICK OF THIS.. ANNE NICOLE SMITH IS STILL GOING ON AND SHE IS ROTTED BY NOW.
Doris at 4:59PM on Apr 16th 2007
21. Mario .... Sharpton has received a death threat. I think we should forward your information to the authorities, as soon as possible.
You Can\\\'t Be That Stupid at 4:09PM on Apr 16th 2007
22. Imus is no more a bigot than Tom Joyner or Sharpton. The only thing, and the big thing, is refering to these college women as hos. That was totally and absolutely disgusting and low.
I don't know why the comment on nappy hair would be so objected to. Maybe because I was college age in the 60s, but there is nothing at all wrong with nappy hair. No black woman should feel she has to straighten her hair or try to have white looking hair. I look forward to the time that black society allows young woman to wear their hair the way nature made it. Some women look lovely with a halo of dark hair surrounding their face. Imus' hair isn't drop dead gorgeous by any means.
Woman at 9:52PM on Apr 16th 2007
23. imus made a mistake,he got caught up with his cohorts trying to be funny. his show stinks anyway. all morning tv stinks. i do believe he doesnt feel this way in his heart, you can tell that by the good works he has done for so many people, black, white etc.
t jones at 4:19PM on Apr 16th 2007
24. Mario is correct about Jackson and Sharpton. They are supposed to be reverends? They are two leeches on our society. Sharpton talks stupid and Jackson talks out of both sides of his pie-hole. I am tired of blacks jumping on the white people for every little thing they say and due. I am not a racist as I have many black friends and they agree that this has gone to far. Get rid of Sharpton and Jackson, they are the black peoples number on enemy. And, didn't the wonderful Jackson have an affair on his wife?
Lynne
Lynne at 4:36PM on Apr 16th 2007
25. Hey Mario, I just wanted to add(AFTER reading your very ill informed IGNORANT comments), Whereas i do not feel that J. Jackson and Al Sharpton are reprrsentatives of the entire African-American community....on THIS issue, they were and ARE on the correct track....and IF ALL YOU DO IS WATCH MYV, i humbly suggest, you get a library card, and check out some books....you(and others like you) are the reason(or part of it anyway) that this country has the racist problem that is present today, and for the "bobster," who doesn't feel there is a racial problem in this country, i say to you, PLEASE, come walk in OUR shoes for simply one day, and check it out for yourself....see how it feels to be followed around in a store(and MY credit rating is 825,btw!) when u have the money and the means to afford ANYTHING the store has to offer, and to be pulled over, simply because you are seen driving in the AFFLUENT neighborhood in which you live! and then, ONLY then may you be ALLOWED to say, that racism does NOT exist in America!
Carole at 6:31PM on Apr 16th 2007
26. I wanted to say how disappointed I am at some of the bigotry comments that is on this blog. I am a working, voting, paying taxes, African-American male from Sweet Home Alabama and can't believe some of the comments I've read today.
Some of you need to look at a mirror and ask yourself "Am I a Racist? Am I a Bigot?" Some of you need to realize that "Shock Jock Radio" is only good when you talk about a person, group, event, or demographic THAT YOU IDENTIFY WITH PERIOD. It is a shame that Don Imus didn't see this. I AM LOOKING AT THE SPONSORS TO MAKE SURE THEY PULL FROM THE SHOW.
And to show my bigotry, I had to point out that I am a working, paying taxes, African-American for you to finish reading my comments. So Again, I ask "Are you A Racist? Are You A Bigot?"
paul b at 11:57PM on Apr 18th 2007
27. I second the motion of Imus' firing.
imforunc2009 at 4:49PM on Apr 16th 2007
28. I believe what Imus said was wrong, however I don't believe it will hurt Rutgers Ladies Basketball Team.......If Sharpton and Jackson are so vocal about Imus getting fired, then why don't they apologise and step down after they accused the 3 Duke Lacrosse players of Rape before they were judge. Nobody knows the names of the Rutgers players, however eveyone knows the names and faces of the 3 Duke players. Judging the these two incidents together, who should lose there job more......at least Imus apologised and lost his job......now it is time for Sharpton and Jackson to do the same.......we are equal or not?
mistaway at 4:49PM on Apr 16th 2007
29. As Ann Coulter says,
we need a book of rules.
To that, I add:
Where does free speech end
and the public nose begin?
I recently attended a Second City
comedy club in Chicago and there
was not one person or group of persons,
Christian, Muslim, Jews, Republicans,
Democrats, Homosexuals, Straights, Lesbians-- race, creed, gender--left unscathed.
They could have said what Imus said and these
actors with their brash, crude, sarcastic comic humor would not have caused the raising
of an eyebrow. I went there with family having
been told in advance, "Mom, you need to have
'thick skin'for we are all probably going to be
offended by something that is said or done during
the performance." I felt like a target many times, for I happen to be Christian, Conservative, Republican, Pro Life, anti-gay marriage, Southern, ( from the State of Florida) a senior citizen, retired English
instructor, on social security and state retirement, as well as one who voted for
George (Dubya) Bush in Florida! Was I feeling
castigated that night. You know I was. But theirs,to me,was free speech in action. I was prepared. And all who have ever listened to Imus knows what kind of humor (brash, crude, disrespectful) that they are going to hear. It is his MO.
Imus has paid a high price--too high--for his blunder. CBS and MSNBC will soon begin to pay
for theirs--in the form that matters most to
them, in their ratings!
saralouise at 5:22PM on Apr 16th 2007
30. I find it very unbelievable that Imus lost his job. Does anyone remeber when Wendy William made that remark about the Tsumani victims, she is still working. What Imus said was wrong and very hurtful, but so are all of the lyrics in those rap songs. There does seem to be a double standard.I am so tired of hearing our young people greet each other using the N word. There is nothing affectionate about it. In a room full of people a group of black men greet each other, "What up My N, laughter, a white guy says the exact same thing, silence. What is wrong with that picture. Black men wake up, you are disrespecting yourself and your women.You call us ho's and bitches and think it is ok. Well it is wrong. You would not want anyone saying those words to your. Mother.
CATHERINE at 2:18AM on Apr 17th 2007