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 5 of 25)
61. Mario?
My My, Black men wake up,There are Mario's in this world, some of you are Amazing. Imus reference his remarks toward young college Women/Girls/KIDs.
Anthony at 2:09PM on Apr 24th 2007
62. Well, kudos to you John Mullaney! I'm glad that someone else has gotten past the political agendas of others to acknowledge that this was just plain and simple wrong. It's not that Imus has an off handed sense of humor, it's that his attacks are on those who don't deserve them. It's when they attain the achievement to stand out from others of any race, that Imus attacks them. When you compare rappers to Gwen Ifill or the Rutger's team, then you're really comparing apples to oranges. The only thing that really links the two, could be race or sex. But careers and education of the two are totally different. Now, educated people would understand if Imus chose rappers, but he didn't. We'd understand if he smarted off about the team, but HE chose to make his remarks "racially slanted". As for the low amount of black listeners to his show, just how many of HIS LISTENERS were "Rutger's Womens Basketball" fans?
Now I agree with most everyone when it comes to Sharpton or Jackson. They'd show up in my bathroom for a toilet paper opening, if they thought they could get some press off of it. But that means NOTHING to the Imus scandle. I believed he should be fired before Sharpton ever got involved. HE CHOSE to placate to Sharpton. So now, Sharpton gets the credit. No, I believe "good taste, respect, tolerance, and manners" should rule supreme here. It was those who possessed them, that got Imus fired!
Lastly John, another kudos to you! For being able to say "I was wrong" publically. It's not bad to be wrong, unless you learn nothing from it. But it takes a REAL man/woman to stand up and say it afterwards. Today, there just don't seem to be that many standing up, let alone saying it. Kudos John!
Grace at 8:43PM on Apr 16th 2007
63. I think Imus has shown a total lack of respect for women as a whole! I've watched and been a little offended before and then sometimes, a lot offended. I chalked it up to "the boy gang" mentality. This remark, and other remarks I've learned he said, indicates he has a problem with women in general. I think he's threatened by them and particularly by successful women, powerful women. I think its time he retires to his ranch, finish raising his son; maybe have a daughter, so he can have more empathy toward women (maybe he hated his mother). He's accomplished some great things in his children's hospital and rehab ctr for vets. I was disappointed to realize how deep his disregard for women really is. I couldn't believe he would be so vile toward young, talented women just beginning to deal with adult life.....
mollymguire at 8:45PM on Apr 16th 2007
64. To the ones that think color is more important because they can only see BLACKS as being bumb they need to look in their homes and see what they really have that they got from being true and honest. Only white sheets with holes in them. But guess what we Black People are here to stay so wake up FOOLS.
Theresa at 8:47PM on Apr 16th 2007
65. To Mario Hepp
You are racist.
To Steve Bonomo
I agree that people deserve chances to change their behavior but their comes a time where you have to stop giving people more chances, and that time for Imus has been here for quite some time.
JT at 8:47PM on Apr 16th 2007
66. The wonderful thing about America is freedom of speech and the freedom of the airways to say anything you want. With that said, the other great thing is that no matter how great and powerful you think you are, you can(and many times will) be held accountable for what you say in ways that surprise even the great and powerful. The public sets the limits on what is acceptable to the majority of us and the public determines whether an offended party is justified in its offense, whether we the public will continue to reward the offender, and what the
appropriate responce should be. The high and the mighty need to remember that.
darrell at 8:49PM on Apr 16th 2007
67. Sorry, I accidentally posted my comment twice.
Becki at 8:52PM on Apr 16th 2007
68. When we learn that varied skin pigment depth does not define a human being any more than the color of one's eyes or hair, perhaps we can stop this madness. Teach your children well.... what defines a person is the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
Mary Kay at 8:53PM on Apr 16th 2007
69. I think we're all forgetting something. Youn women on the Rutgers team was debased and they did not deserve those comments made about them. I am sure it was a very painful and humilating experience. However, we need to do more than just target Imus for what he said. We need to voice our outrage and intolerance for every male... or anyone else that dares to use such derogatory names in singing, talking to and about women. We need to speak out and demand that the content of lyrics in songs about women change. If songsters refused to do so and persist in continuing to use such demaning expressions of women, then we need to hit them where it hurts -- their pockets. Let us all not point fingers at one another because we disagree with the outcome of what happened to Don Imus, let us do something more constructive such as getting our children, friends, relatives, etc to stop supporting any artists that speaks so negatively about women. I think if you really give this thought you will see that such lyrical content contributes to violence against women and society. So let's stop bashing each other and put our energies towards doing something constructive, like writing letters and demanding that better music with more favorable content be put out on our airwaves. Let me just say even if we don't tune in to this music -- we hear it coming at us from every direction via loud blaring car stereos, open windows and people playing such and singing such at bus stops and trains stations. Let's work towards getting better music play -- period.
Sylvia at 8:54PM on Apr 16th 2007
70. When we learn that the depth of a person's skin pigment no more defines them than the color of one's eyes or hair, perhaps this insanity will stop. Skin pigment is nature's protection - what does that have to do with the worth of an individual? Teach your children well.....what matters most is the content of a person's character. Somehow, we have to make that clear.
Mary Kay at 9:00PM on Apr 16th 2007
71. Something in the Bible (or another God Book), about "Evil not knowing they are"!
So too, here. many European heritaged folks don't know the evil nature of the words such as Imus have spewed (nor can they understand it, according tot he programs this writer has viewed).
Kinda remember Grandma (and I'm sure a lot of European -heritaged Southern grandmoms said it,too)," If you can't say something nice about somebody, don't say nuthin' at all."
Words to live by. No one, should call anyone names for any reason.
BlackMalelaw
BlackMaleLaw at 9:10PM on Apr 16th 2007
72. Just an added comment to what I stated before. If Imus did not hear such language used in almost every rap song being played today, perhaps the word 'ho' would not have been something he felt smugly confident to say in regard to those Rutgers women. The language of today, especially when referencing women need to change. Most of it is debasing, degrading and derogatory. Women need to look at this, as well as their fathers and brothers and speak out and refuse to buy and cd or listen to any artists who has nothing positive to say about the women that gave birth to them.
Sylvia at 9:08PM on Apr 16th 2007
73. Emmitt Till was a 14 yr old child who whistled at a white woman and was killed and mutilated by hateful white men. He was one of hundreds in our history who were killed for ANY infraction or lack or respect towards whites AS INTERPRETED BY WHITES. And you Imus fans wonder why his comments are unacceptable. Where is your common sense of respect? These young ladies are good girls, good students, good athletes and NOT on welfare or anything else negative. They worked hard to come from last place to the national championship in ONE SEASON. Why are Blacks critized for DOING THE RIGHT THING? He was wrong. But he's living and can get on with his life - unlike my ancestors who were lynched for FAR LESS infractions. I predicted before the firing that we as Blacks will PROTECT OUR CHILDREN...and we did. Yeah to NBC, CBS, General Motors, and the other sponsors who know right from wrong. Sorry racists...you lose this round. Thank you God Almighty for your help in this situation.
jeansand at 9:06PM on Apr 16th 2007
74. Putting aside a few hate filled comments for the most part my heart was filled with hope. The majority of people posting seem to agree that its time to stop accepting bigotry and racism in any form...and ignorance as well.
Should Imus have been fired? I hope for the day when people like him aren't ever hired! Had it not been for his recent comment I probably never would have heard of him. When Howard Stern moved to satellite he literally left the planet as far as I'm concerned. If only people would stop listening to hate and contempt disguised has humor. When that happens this country will be really making progress.
I've stopped and hope more people will also.
Terri at 9:09PM on Apr 16th 2007
75. This has gone way to far. First thing I learned growing up was!!!!!!! stickand stones will brake your bone But Names will never hirt you!!!!!!!!!!!.What are we teaching are kids that when someone calls them a name that they should rebell! I do not listen to Imus but did hear the clip.He was talking with a second person. Now this is live and sometimes you say thing that if you had time to write it down you may change your mind. But lets discus the two words he used.Now being white I know that black americans hair is much stiffer and yes it is called nappy. So if some one called me baldy than he should get fired.Give me a brake!!!. Now Hoe is used in this day and time by everyone. Listen to the music of the time. Most your black performer use Hoe to discribe women. So get over it.Now Al and Jess they love attention and they will cry Racism any chance they can.They both need to get a job.I think they create more Racism than they help. But Imus did stay he couldn't believe they lost being how tough they where. So coach teach you team to be tough and not to let names bother them. Also if they do have tattoes well that doesn't look so lady like.But you are what you believe you are .Not what any body else thinks. Sorry but not no english major so if I missed spelled be free to call me what you want because I know who I am!!!!!!!!
Old Timer at 9:12PM on Apr 16th 2007