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 4 of 25)
46. To Mario Hepp
I think your comments are offensive and I disagree with you. However, I think it would be a good idea for you to use 'spell check' or a dictionary (you do know what that is, yes?) before exhibiting your ignorance on line.
joann at 8:14PM on Apr 16th 2007
47. Hey Mario,
Who the hell cares about being accepted by the likes
of you.Spare Me. You're a nobody. You're not import-
ant.Don't flatter yourself.By the way,My White wife
accepts me.
Sam
Samuel Smith at 8:16PM on Apr 16th 2007
48. Three words..."Freedom of speech". You don't have to like it or agree with it.
Some countries don't have it.
And pf it was up to the likes of Sharpton and Jackson, we wouldn't have it in this country.
Imus's comment was wrong and hurtful. The "outrage" was calculated and in the long run it'll hurt more than Imus's remarks if it's allowed to run it's course.
pjhafey at 8:16PM on Apr 16th 2007
49. I, too, saw the Meet the Press interview. What a great commentary by the author on what was a very poised and intelligent rebuff of Imus and the establishment. The knee jerk reaction by those opposed to Imus' firing to label this a "free speech" issue have completely missed the point - Imus has persisted as a thinly veiled bigot towards many different types of people over the years. As a pseudo-anchor of a major network news-type broadcast, his words carry too much weight to be ignored. He uses the "comedy" moniker when it suits his purpose and/or his apology of the moment. The moment for this type of humor as subsidized by major corporations has passed. Free speech stands! Imus may say what he wishes. He may lose support for saying it. Gwen Ifill pointed that out beautifully and called the media to task. Those with a truly inclusive viewpoint and consciousness cannot lose the story here...it is important for one day YOU may be on the receiving end!
rich at 8:22PM on Apr 16th 2007
50. Can you turn your radio and tv off? So he said some things about these girls, what about all the other radio talk shows, comedy shows, tv shows. etc. that make fun of everyone no matter what race or religion they are? Are we to fire them too. I don't like the comedy shows that are on BET because they say some mean things about white people, I turn it off. I'm not calling up a press conference to fire these people. It has turned into such a double standard. A "white" person can not talk about any other race and not be called a racest but any other color, especially black (I am sorry to say) can say whatever he or she chooses and they are not racest. Stop being so politically correct and get over it.
KT at 8:22PM on Apr 16th 2007
51. It is amazing that virtually every poster above lacks an understanding of the basic rules of grammar and punctuation. Thus, they ALL sound ignorant. Unfortunately, this a commentary on the state of our schools.
I might add that, in urban high schools, young blacks aren't taught proper English, due to political correctness. I work in an employment agency, and have never had a black applicant under 40 who could correctly parse an English sentence.
Fred at 8:21PM on Apr 16th 2007
52. WEll...well...well. This debate still rages on and look how both blacks and whites attack each other and call names. Just stop and have a discussion without name calling. There are good white people, good African Americans, and good people in all the races. In fact, I would say there are many more good people in all the races than there are bad people. Keep your comments to the discussion without the name calling and labeling. I have to wonder how many of the respondants above ever really listened in their psycology class?
"Treat other people like you would like to be treated".
Bonnie at 8:22PM on Apr 16th 2007
53. The fact that Don Imus made hurtful, racial comments doesn't surprise me. He's ALWAYS made comments of that sort. What surprises me is that it's taken so long for the public to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak! He's "shock jock" & has made his living as such for many years, along side such as Howard Stern and "the Greaseman." His employers were only too happy to rake in the cash at the expense of the targets of his insults. After all, its so funny to so many people and so many tune in to see what will be next. Ratings go up, sponsors make money, everyone's happy. Only now that someone has turned up the heat on them, do they bow to the outcry. Of course a major network and major sponsor must distance themselves once a bright light is shown on their Cash Cow and its turned out to be dung covered. Sure, fire Don Imus, because the public is getting wiser to such trash on the air and will no longer tolerate it. Make him a scapegoat, so that no one sees how they profited from his show for many years. Perhaps they should also look to some their other programming, before it comes under closer scrutiny. If shock jocks and the filth they spew are going to be tolerated by the public, then Don Imus shouldn't have lost his job. Its what we ask for & what we deserve.
Becki at 8:49PM on Apr 16th 2007
54. If Reverend Sharpton and Jackson are so concerned about black injustice, why aren't they in Darfur, Africa. I'd like to see these two fat-mouths strut their stuff over there. The only people from this country I see actually over there are white celebrities. If the Rutgers team was predominantly white, and Imus had called them a bunch of tatooed white diesel dikes, would Sharpton and Jackson care? Would anyone? Time for these two to go help the motherland.
linda at 8:50PM on Apr 16th 2007
55. yeah, Darlene, we sure appreciated Jackson and Sharpton speaking up and defaming the Duke LaCrosse players... where is their apology?
Imus was just doing what he has always done...a tiger is a tiger...not saying it is right, but let's let the public decide whether he has an audience anymore.
Which begs the question... are these the same people that wanted Imus fired, that chastised those who did not care to hear the Dixie Chicks after Natalie's rude statement on foreign soil about our president?
nellrr1 at 8:35PM on Apr 16th 2007
56. Words and pictures matter, especially when spoken by or displayed in a public forum. The holocaust started long before the 6 Million were killed. Words
lead to bigotry, isolation, intolerance; which grows
into mob action and hate. Freedom of speech is wonderful, however it must be protected through
responsibility of action and deed. It is long overdue for corporate America to deal with the Imus
issue. The public forum is not a place for ridicule
and demeaning words and acts. Evil flourish when good
people do or say nothing.
Dene Winstead at 8:37PM on Apr 16th 2007
57. Remember when Sharpton was running for the Senate?
He called those running against him "REcycled White
Trash." Also his rant about the Duke players.
How is it Rush Limbough has gotten away
with his crap every day, when he refers to Obama
and Haley Barry as "Halfricans"
This whole thing is bogus anyway. No one said
or did anything for a few days after, untill Sharpton figured it was a way to get back on TV.
He is using the black people to futher his agenda,
hoping that some thing will stick, and the Brawly
and Duke debacles will be forgotten.
dick dutton at 11:57PM on Apr 16th 2007
58. Everyone has been a target for someone somewhere, my dear Miss Gwen. I was totally offended by the derogative and threatening comments made by Basketball Tim Hardaway said, "I hate gay people"
This is more offensive than anything Imus or Rosie has said. To hate someone because they are not like you is clearly an ism like racism and sexism. This is a double standard for some black people like Sharpton & Jackson which bring the races further apart. We are all shairing the planet my friend. Although I know my history books said there was slavery in the US many years ago, I am not nor will ever be a slave owner and am tired of being penilized and accused of such nonesense!
hairdisc at 8:38PM on Apr 16th 2007
59. Darlene, you wrote:
"We may not agree with everything Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson say, but when there are injustices, these men step up, and we appreciate it!"
Why don't these men step up when the black community say or do things that are wrong? It's only when the white community does something wrong, do they make a big deal about it. People likes that create more separation and bigotry between the races, not the other way around.
Frank at 8:40PM on Apr 16th 2007
60. I would also like to agree with pretty much everyone else here and say that this Mario Hepp person is the real "animal" (As he referred to the black race). Ignorant comments come from the mouths of ignorant people. But did anyone see the comment from "thebobster"? I have not seen this particular comment addressed yet. What does black on black crime have to do with someone making racist statements on a radio show? People who kill their fellow man (same race or otherwise), do not speak for that race as a whole and should not be treated as such. White people, Hispanic people and every other race commit crimes everyday against their own as well. This does not mean that black people or anyone else cannot speak out against a wrong-doing. Perhaps if Mario Hepp or thebobster had to deal with Jim Crow laws, segregation and other injustices, they would not say such uneducated things. "thebobster" used the phrase " Grow up Black America", as if someone were throwing a tantrum! For your sake, I hope the tables never turn in this world where you have to be the victim of rights violations, bigotry and prejudice.
La Toya at 7:57PM on Apr 17th 2007