Al Sharpton demands Imus's dismissal, says he'll picket WFAN if he's not gone in a week

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Sharpton, Critics Demand Imus Ouster
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 7, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- Unimpressed by his on-air apology or corporate promises of a tighter leash, angry critics of nationally syndicated radio host Don Imus called Saturday for his dismissal over his racially charged comments about the mostly black Rutgers women's basketball team.

''I accept his apology, just as I want his bosses to accept his resignation,'' said the Rev. Al Sharpton. He promised to picket Imus' New York radio home, WFAN-AM, unless the veteran of nearly 40 years of anything-goes broadcasting is gone within a week.

Sharpton was not alone in his anger over Imus' description of the Rutgers' women as ''nappy headed hos'' during a Wednesday morning segment of his show, which airs for millions of listeners on more than 70 stations and the MSNBC television network.

On Friday, after Imus delivered an on-air apology, both WFAN and MSNBC condemned his remarks. WFAN issued a statement promising to ''monitor the program's content'' but Imus, a member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, was not publicly disciplined....

***

''This is not some unemployed comic like Michael Richards,'' Sharpton said, referring to the ''Seinfeld'' actor who used the N-word and referred to lynching in a rant last year. ''This is an established figure, allowed to use the airwaves for sexist and racist remarks.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Imus-Apology.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. If not for DUers hating him, I wouldn't know who Imus is.

I had not heard this story until this moment. But this...

''That's some nappy headed hos there, I'm going to tell you that,'' Imus said.

My god.

Give 'em hell, Al.

[Captain Hilts]

2. TWICE Imus's side man called HillaryC a "Tuna licking twat." Where were the protests? nt

[papau]

8. DU seems to allow dumps on Hillary - curious how hypocrisy works n/t

n/t

[eleny]

28. If someone called her that here, it would be gone

Unless you can post a link.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

29. Nope, don't count on a link.

You see, anybody who opposes the coronation of St. Hillary is a misogynistic pig. Doesn't matter if you disagree with her on various issues such as war, and violent video games being the downfall of our western civilization. Were supposed to fall in line! Because after all she has the magic surname! Lawd knows anything and everything Clinton is the best us Democrats can hope for!


Sorry I understand this isn't the best spot to post this rant. If you can't see the difference between opposing her because she's a woman, but due to her stance on important issues, your beyond help IMO.

[eleny]

30. DU rules don't preclude opposing a candidate for their positions

What I've seen here are discussions of all candidates. My only point was that when things get vile, those comments are deleted.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

31. I'm sorry

Looks like I could have worded my reply better. The reply was to both you and Papau. I agree with what you said above, just adding my $0.02. :)

[eleny]

51. Don't worry

[msongs]

9. day? time? place? links? nt

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Take a look at this from Media Matters that oldgrowth posted downthread --

http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/shows/imusinthemorning?sort=default&offset=0

[Catherine Vincent]

20. Since I don't watch that vile human being, I didn't know he said this.

But I disliked Imus ever since he said mean and hateful things about President Clinton, so I believe he would say that about Sen. Clinton. He and his partner have said horrible things on air and I will never understand why MSNBC allow this to continue.

[Swamp Rat]

25. There's a market for racism and racists in this country.

Just look at that bigot Glen Beck talking smack about black women in New Orleans (Katrina victims), Rash Limpballs, and that neo-nazi John Gibson who wants whites to make more babies. These monsters are able to sell hatred on TV and radio because there is a sizable group of bigots in this country who will pay for it.

[orleans]

27. "There's a market for racism"

HOWEVER (we're sick to death of it!)

after hearing about this story i began thinking about those radio shows, those public airwaves that belong to the people, and since there are still regulations about what can be said or what can't be said (the f word, the s word, etc) isn't there some type of regulation to ban hate speech, thereby banning these fucking bigots & racists from my/your/our "public" airwaves?

i guess my brain is starting to twist up, but i'm wondering why in the hell do we have to put up with this crap anymore??

(what congressional committee oversees the fcc?)

i don't know if cable shows are considered the public airwaves--but i know radio is.

so...i agree that there is a market for racism--but i don't think the general public should have to own that market. (let those freaks get a website and get off spewing their crap where i don't have to hear it)

[Swamp Rat]

32. What makes me sick is the violence on TV.

I mean, the violence done to Americans disguised as news.

It is a weapon used by fascists to destroy us from within.

[DemBones DemBones]

39. Beck needs to go, too. I can't watch him at all. Just looking at him,

you can see what an egotistical bigot he is. Just like the first time I ever saw *, I thought "Smart-ass frat boy." I've known smart-ass frat boys and I know how they treat women. Many will remember what * said when asked by reporters what he and his father talked about besides politics (this was during the campaign when Bill beat Poppy.) Suffice it to say I'm not repeating it here because it would, and should, be deleted. Use the Googles if you don't know what I'm talking about.

[peacetalksforall]

23. Where were the males when B & D insulted females with horrendously

sexist remarks while C sat and laughed? Including Hillary and many, many female guests and celebrities, including female co-worker news people (except Mitchell and O'Donnell).

I would be thrilled to turn on MSNBC Monday morning and find them gone - all three of them. If any two deserved to go, it's D & B. C should go for sanctioning it.

If they're not gone - pay attention - if the subject comes up again Imus will say something about being sorry then he will immediately, immediately start to excuse it, explain it, downplay it, or demean or attack the target. They are some sick people there. Really sick.

So Al, are you going to say something also about sexism? Would he have ever called male players nappy?

[DemBones DemBones]

41. This female never heard them, no doubt because

she doesn't listen to them. So maybe many of the males haven't heard them either. Who are these misogynistic initials??? Are they on the Imus show?


"If they're not gone - pay attention - if the subject comes up again Imus will say something about being sorry then he will immediately, immediately start to excuse it, explain it, downplay it, or demean or attack the target. They are some sick people there. Really sick."

I agree, just from watching parts of his show a few times.


I would think Sharpton would stand up against sexism if he knew about it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it would be worth contacting him about what you've heard these people say, especially if you get transcripts from the archives. Hmmmm. . . Does MSNBC archive all shows? We could find a lot in the Imus archives, I'm sure.

[peacetalksforall]

49. D is Don Imus, B is Bernard, C is Charles.

I think contacting Sharpton would be a good idea, but I don't have transcripts. I can no longer bare to watch it. I kind of use it as a guage. On weekday mornings afer rituals, I turn on the TV to Imus. I know that if he is there saying someing inane, that we have not been subject to a real or calculated attack on New York or some other place. (Sometimes it stays on if there is someone on WJ that I don't want to listen to (because I know what they are going to say) and Democracy Now hasn't started).

I have to admit I am also fascinated about the way let him sell HIS OWN products on the show. It's jaw dropping transparent. When I think about it - brought to us by GE and Microsfot and pitching things he and his wife are selling. He'll talk about it for what seems to be endless minutes. I'm not sure about what's going on currently -I've decided not to wreck my day anymore, but he would get his NBC guests to talk about his products.

The way Gregory, Mitchell, O'Donnell, Barnicle, etc. suck up to him about everything is amazing to watch.

There was a period where MSNBC wanted more professionsal news readers providing the news (?) - as well as present or participating throughout the show (sitting there with head phones. One was Amy ??? I recognized faces, but don't remember their names). He treated them with insults. If those women, as employees, couldn't or didn't do anything - I am not about to do more other than the messages I've sent.

But, some could say he isn't sexist since he berates and insults whoever sits in the sports news chair, also - mostly males.

All in all, watching that program is a study in sickness. A person can observe raw abuse and professionals taking it.

The content is typical right wing family values as we've come to know it - obsessions with private sex - and determinations to expose their own. Pumping for war. Giving passes and accolades to a mad adminsitration.

[goclark]

52. You really nailed him ~ scum of the earth!

Who are is sponsors?

I sure would like to let them know how I feel about their products.

[DemBones DemBones]

56. Thanks, I don't even know who Bernard and Charles are, have

watched it so little.

Seein Barnicle on "news" shows is really insulting

[DemBones DemBones]

38. Well, I never heard that, since I don't listen to Imus, and never read it anywhere.

I don't doubt your word -- I'm just saying that maybe a lot of us never knew about it. It's impossible to read everything at DU or listen to news 24/7.

That's definitely another reason he should go.

I have watched Imus a few times, when I couldn't stand another minute of CNN and C-SPAN had a horrible guest. One of his side men does, or used to do, a bit where he put a FedEx envelope on his head and pretended he was Cardinal Egan. Some of what he said was hilarious but it included a lot of profanity and eventually some blasphemous comments.

It basically started out funny because we got in the habit for a couple of weeks of watching just to see the bit. (Nobody loves poking fun at Catholics more than Catholics!) But it got uglier as time went on until finally he said something so outrageous that we quit watching. I don't remember what it was but it went more than a bridge too far. Like the comment about Hillary, like the comment about the baskeball players.

Why was Howard Stern fired if the Imus show has gotten away with that {expletive deleted} reference to Hillary Clinton? :wtf: I never listened to Stern much but he seemed to be mostly about getting women to undress for him, which they participated in. That's a lot different from insulting people who aren't there to give you the kick in the balls Imus should have gotten for several remarks made by him or one of the side men.

I think Imus is a mean-spirited SOB and as I said, I never have watched him much. It was purely an accident that we ever saw the "Cardinal Egan" bit. Mr. Bones would be flipping back and forth between channels, trying to catch a bit of news on another channels while Imus was talking and flipping back during commercials or stories he'd already seen to see if "Cardinal Egan" was up. But from the little bit I've watched, I've seen enough of Imus to think I'd never want to meet him. He seems to be a misogynist.

Edited out offensive phrase, though it was a quote from the poster who said Imus said it.

[Truthiness Inspector]

58. That's naaaaasty

Imus and his crew have no limits.

Al Sharpton is absolutely right, although I would prefer to see Imus ignored into oblivion where he is all alone in his shriveled shell of ugliness and misery.

[napi21]

3. I love Al Sharpton, and he's usually a very articulate guy and calls

everything just like it is, but the only thing that's going to get Imus fired is ratings. Stop listening to this AH, and he'll soon be GONE!

[SusanaMontana41]

6. Also, stop buying products from companies that advertise during IITM

and let those companies know that Imus is the reason you aren't buying.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. This may spell doom for Anus in the Morning

Al Sharpton is one hell of a protest organizer, and he knows how to get the media's attention. More than threats of boycott or angry letters to WFAN & MSNBC, this may prove to be the cadaverous old bastard's undoing.

[goclark]

5. Let the door hit him for his sexist and racist comments

and he can take his "good old boys with him!"

Who has a link to his sponsors?

[NI4NI]

13. I hope MSNBC's cable competitors will pick up on it

I'm surprised FOX hasn't already.
If Rev. Al starts protesting outside NBC, they might.

Imus is despised by the left but especially by the right for constantly calling ChuckleNutz and Cheney "war criminals".

But, he won't get fired mainly because, like KO's "Countdown", the "Imus in the Morning" ratings have also risen higher.

[Major Hogwash]

7. Who is Al Sharpton?

Or more to the point, who does Al Sharpton think he is?

If Al thinks picketing is so effective, then why doesn't he have his ass down in Texas picketing with Cindy Sheehan?

Bush is a much bigger racist than Imus ever was - besides Imus apologized.
This is Easter, whatever happened to forgiving someone?

Didn't Sharpton used to refer to himself as Reverend Sharpton?

[movonne]

10. Why should he be forgiven..I'm getting so tired of these racist remarks...

these goes for all of them...O'Rilley, Colter,Beck. limbaugh, etc. then they think it is all right to apologize and that takes care of the problem,but the damage is already done.

[DemBones DemBones]

42. Of course people should be forgive if they truly repent and atone for

their sins. But I seriously doubt that Imus will do that. He said he's sorry to get his ass out of a sling, period.

Christians are not required to be doormats, even on Easter.

Jesus stood up and protested against the Pharisees and other sinners and literally threw the moneychangers out of the Temple.

[dogday]

48. When one make the same "mistake" over and over

again, me thinks it is not a mistake, but a deliberate attempt to be the way they are.. Screw his apologies, it is time for his job to end....

[Solo_in_MD]

66. He is an ineffective dolt who makes much of the liberal side look bad and is in it for the media

coverage.

Not that I have strong feelings about the fool

[BeyondGeography]

11. This won't get Imus off the radio but MSNBC might pull the plug

at least that's my hope.

[Unvanguard]

12. This guy has a long history of supposedly "humorous" sexism and racism

and it's time to stop him.

[oldgrowth]

14. It's not just Imus there's his producer Bernard McGuirk

He has people on for shock like Bo Dietl ,there's ton of video and audio clips at media matters you have to see them to believe them!!!!!!!
http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/shows/imusinthemorning?sort=default&offset=0

[DeepModem Mom]

16. Oh, boy. This stuff deserves a separate thread, oldgrowth. nt nt

[SharonAnn]

15. Good. If I were near NY, I'd be picketing too. There's no exuse for that. None!

[Catherine Vincent]

18. I wish I could be there to picket with Sharpton.

Fire that dried up bastard!

[Beausoir]

47. Me too! This is outrageous and disgusting. This must not be tolerated.

When will this end?

[goclark]

53. It is a trash can with a pill popping drug habit!

I sure would love to march with Al on his trash can words and ways.

[frogcycle]

19. Go get him Al

I heard about this earlier, sort of thought "that's that dumbass Imus again" and moved on, but the more I think about it the more pissed I get.

It isn't JUST racist and sexist, as if that weren't enough.

These are kids who played their hearts out; they upset two higher-seeded teams to get to the final. It was their coach, C Vivian Stringer's* first appearance in the championship game after a 35-year very successful career. The Rutgers team has no seniors - mostly freshmen - and of course there were tears as the final minutes wound down and MY LADY VOLS won the championship. But the Rutgers kids did great, outperformed all expectations, and after the initial disappointment I am sure were starting to try to get over that and be proud of their accomplishments. And I am sure coach Stringer did a great job of cheering them up. I saw her postgame interview, and she was disappointed, of course, but she is a class act and there was plenty of "good sportsmanship" around.

So next morning this beat up old racist pig gets on the radio in their market and calls them a bunch of "nappy headed hos?"

Fuck him. We don't need that sort of divisiveness in this country. We have far too much of it. And as Sharpton said, it wasn't some out of work comic in a nightclub - it was someone on radio in NYC and on MSNBC nationwide. He is pondscum. He is just another Howard Stern.

Apologies don't always make it right.


http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/stringer329
*Named one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” by Sports Illustrated, Stringer was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. Her accolades -- too many to list -- include the third most victories in women’s basketball with an overall win-loss record of 750-215 (.749 winning percentage), three National Coach of the Year honors, and an Olympic gold medal as an assistant to the U.S. Women’s team at the 2004 Games in Greece.

[DeepModem Mom]

21. I just recommended your excellent post about how this all came to pass --

and this is another great post. Picking up on your generational take, I think there was a time when Imus's schtick was accepted, then a time when it was tolerated. Those times are gone. I can't imagine my Gen Y kid finding these words about a team of Gen Y girls acceptable, not to speak of funny. It's time to shut Imus down, and move on.

[frogcycle]

22. roger that

and thanks for the feedback

[Clark2008]

24. Love those Lady Vols!

[frogcycle]

26. check em out

Lady Vols

[qanda]

36. Very well said!

:applause: :applause:

[frogcycle]

61. watched him grovelling this morning

he is certainly falling on his sword

went on about all the good he does (and I assume its true) for kids, and the supportive things hes done and said for African Americans. Admitted to stupidity; says he's going on Sharpton's show and has asked to meet with the Rutgers team.

Sometimes you can't put the genie back in the bottle. I don't know if this will be one of those times or not. Maybe he's learned a lesson (that he should not have had to learn) and will change. Maybe that does not matter, and the lesson needs to go out to everyone else, that when you cross the line there are consequences. Maybe the flap itself is sufficient consequence. He thinks that being "shocking" is funny - and it sure gets him ratings. I guess I'd rather see limbaugh get the "death penalty" than him, if I had my choice.

The fact is, when you are focused more on what something will do for you than on what it will do to others, you are likely to be pretty offensive to a lot of people. It's the same attitude that most of the media, and the whole bushco crowd has. They say things for effect regardless of truth or hurtfulness. Imus' comments were pretty similar to cheney calling 70% of the country terrorists. Said for effect and personal gain, regardless of truth or hurtfulness.

I just don't know if Imus is necessarily the ideal "example" to make. If it looks like he got canned unnecessarily, there could be a backlash.

Then I think of those players and the kind of continuing racist crap people have to live with and say nail the bastard.

I don't know too much about the Rutgers players, but two of the Tennessee players are from New York, and one was very heavily recruited by Rutgers. Pat Summit won out. There is a story that she was shy, nervous about leaving the NY area, playing so far from home. Pat visited her at her home in Staten Island several times. She is 6-5, and a top student. She is carrying a triple major at UT, and is on the academic honor roll, with something like a 3.7 GPA. She does volunteer work in the community; I read once about her singing Christmas carols at a retirement home I am familiar with in the western suburbs - some of my relatives have lived out their last years there. I doubt there are any African Americans living there; certainly not more than a couple. So this player missed being called a "nappy headed ho" on national TV and radio because Pat Summitt pursuaded her to overcome her shyness, take a chance and play for Tennessee. Imus was just outrageously thoughtless, stupid, trying to be cute, and, as I said, sometimes you can't put the genie back in the bottle. There have to be limits. I guess I wish him well in his attempt to undo it. It cannot be forgiven, but perhaps it can be dismissed.

edit: My point in describing the Tn player is that the remarks did not just affect the Rutgers players - they affect EVERY African American as yet another reminder of the racism that lurks barely beneath the surface (when it IS beneath) in our society. It does not just hurt the Rutgers players - it demeans everyone with dark skin, and it demeans those of us with light skin who try damned hard not to perpetuate such crap even inadvertently.

[Vinca]

33. Imus will love this. It'll give him material for the next 5 years. nt

[MrSlayer]

34. This is far more publicity than the no-talent fuck deserves.

This will only work in his favor.

[madokie]

35. I'll have to say Thank you Al

I think the Women should sue the imus

[Kolesar]

37. Has anybody pressured Keith Olbermann about Don Imus?

Someone on DU told me that Imus called the tennis players Venus Williams and Serena Williams "apes" or something like that.

[Nikki Stone1]

40. Hey, if Sharpton is the one to bring down this scumbag, so be it.

Go Al!

[DemBones DemBones]

44. Exactly! This could be the tipping point that brings Imus down,

and it's well-deserved from what I'm reading here. I've watched him very little but enough to see him go too far, and allow his minions to go too far as well.

People suggesting boycotting Imus's sponsors but Sharpton's protests may bring Imus down without a boycott.

It would be a good idea for those who have heard Imus or his side men make bigoted "jokes" in the past to write MSNBC and say you agree with Al Sharpton, that this has been going too long and they could do better.

The best comics make fun of their own foibles and/or get their material from human foibles in general, instead of focusing on race, sex, religion, ethnicity, etc.

[Eurobabe]

43. My letter to the idiot IMUS

Your apology over the "nappy-hoes" comment isn't enough. What part of the word racist don't you understand? And why do you subject the listening audience to such invectives?

This isn't the first time that your off-colored 'jokes' have offended people.

Do us all a favor, go spend more time on your ranch, and free up the 6-9am time slot for someone that doesn't make us wish we were still asleep.

[DemBones DemBones]

45. Good! But did you write to MSNBC management?

That's what we should do, if we've heard Imus be offensive, which we have if we've heard Imus!

[Eurobabe]

46. Just fired off an email to viewer services

Today is my take action against RACISM day.

[durrrty libby]

50. Wow so much outrage in this thread. It is amazing

Imus calls Senator Clinton "Satan" several times a week

Where's the outrage for that?

The hypocricy at DU knows no bounds

[goclark]

54. The outrage is here for IMUS all the time

This is not the first Imus thread at DU.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

55. Well

He also calls Rep. Joe Barton(R-TX) a "lying thieving dirty scumbag" and heaps praise on Senator John Kerry as "a great man".

Pick your sides......pick your sides.

[Catherine Vincent]

59. Being that most of us don't watch his show, we didn't know that he

calls Ms. Clinton "Satan" several times a week. If no one came on DU to report it, how can you fault DU for not being outraged? Stop tripping and raise hell for that racist/sexist asshole.

[durrrty libby]

60. I don't take orders from fools

BTW he is not racist

That is just how so many simpletons interpret

[in_cog_ni_to]

64. He's not a racist?

Yes he is and calling DUers fools and 'simpletons' is against DU rules...just in case you haven't bothered to read the rules.:eyes:

[in_cog_ni_to]

57. Go Al Go! I so hope he gets that gasbag fired!

''I accept his apology, just as I want his bosses to accept his resignation,'' said the Rev. Al Sharpton.

:rofl: Sharpton is never at a loss for a comeback.:rofl:

[durrrty libby]

65. "I so hope he gets that gasbag fired!"

Ah...it takes one to recognize one

Birds of a feather an all

[theboss]

62. I've never understood why Imus is still considered this big star

He has, like, ten listeners.

[Carni]

63. I hold his celeb political guests at fault!

At least PARTIALLY at fault

First of all I have watched ImanASS for about six months...why?

Because if you want to watch something in the morning with political guests giving interviews, that's about all there is on!

I cannot hack the Today show, CNN or the other chatty talk show format crap.

Do I like Don Imus?

No, I think he's a horse's ass and quite frankly I have wondered for months...
not only, how he stays on air, but how he gets the top name guests on, because this is not the first time I have heard he, or Bernard, say something jaw droppingly innappropriate, bigoted, or sexist.

WHY do the big name guests gravitate to that show?

After all the nasty snarky things IMUS said about John and Theresa Kerry -- Kerry STILL appeared with Theresa on Imanass like two weeks ago!

This is the trouble with our politicians, no one wants to set an example they're too busy just trying to get their faces in a camera somewhere (and I don't mean this just as a commentary on Kerry--he is just one example of many who kiss Imus's ass to get air time)