In the realm of “much ado about nothing” is the story of Imus in the Morning - a radio show I never watch.  I’ve happened past it on TV at times and wondered who the goofball in the cowboy hat who always looks down and mumbles was, but it was too boring to stop surfing channels and find out.

Now it seems that he said something that was offensive to African Americans.  So, of course, the usual perpetually outraged voices are raised in protest demanding that Imus be fired.   While I agree that he was really stupid and crass in what he said, I wonder where all this politically correct censorship will end. 

There was just a news story on TV that Imus has been “temporarily” yanked from the air. It’s amazing how effective the PC censors can be.

Critics Demand Imus Be Fired Over Remarks

He Discusses Racist Statements on Air With Al Sharpton

AP

(April 9) — Don Imus had a hot seat on the other side of the microphone Monday, appearing on the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio show and enduring more criticism for his offensive comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

Imus issued another apology for referring to members of the team as “nappy-headed hos.” Sharpton called the comments “abominable” and “racist” and repeated his demand that Imus be fired.

“Our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far,” Imus said on “The Al Sharpton Show.”

Earlier Monday, on his own radio show, Imus called himself “a good person” who made a bad mistake.

“Here’s what I’ve learned: that you can’t make fun of everybody, because some people don’t deserve it,” he said on his show, which is nationally syndicated to millions of listeners. “And because the climate on this program has been what it’s been for 30 years doesn’t mean that it has to be that way for the next five years or whatever because that has to change, and I understand that.”

He pointed to his involvement with the Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch for children with cancer and blood disorders in New Mexico. Ten percent of the children who come to the ranch are black, he said.

“I’m not a white man who doesn’t know any African-Americans,” he said

Imus said he hoped to meet the Rutgers players and their parents and coaches, and that he was grateful for the appearance on Sharpton’s nationally syndicated show.

“It’s not going to be easy, but I’m not looking for it to be easy,” Imus said.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and about 50 people marched Monday outside Chicago’s NBC tower to protest Imus’ comments, and an NAACP official called for the broadcaster’s ouster.

Imus made the now infamous remark during his show Wednesday.

The Rutgers team, which includes eight black women, had lost the day before in the NCAA women’s championship game. Imus was speaking with producer Bernard McGuirk about the game when the exchange began on “Imus in the Morning.” The show is broadcast on more than 70 stations and MSNBC, which is owned by General Electric Co.’s NBC cable unit.

“That’s some rough girls from Rutgers,” Imus said. “Man, they got tattoos …”

“Some hardcore hos,” McGuirk said.
That’s some nappy-headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that,” Imus said.

Imus apologized on the air Friday, but his mea culpa has not quieted the uproar.

James E. Harris, president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, demanded Sunday that Imus “resign or be terminated immediately.”

Allison Gollust, a spokeswoman for MSNBC, said the network considers Imus’ comments “deplorable” and was reviewing the matter.

Karen Mateo, a spokeswoman for CBS Radio - Imus’ employer and the owner of his New York radio home, WFAN-AM - said the company was “disappointed” in Imus’ actions and characterized his comments as “completely inappropriate.”

I’ve never understood why the term “ho” is so freely tossed about in some cultures.  The way I’ve heard it used so casually, apparently it doesn’t necessarily equate with “whore,”  but it’s still a nasty-sounding word.   However, radio and TV hosts make their money by being outrageous.  Imus crossed the line. His remarks aren’t criminal and they don’t warrant his being fired.  They only mark him as insensitive and stupid.  And those aren’t necessarily bad personality traits for a radio host.  There are lots of radio stations out there.  If Imus offends you - turn the dial.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 8:37 pm and is filed under Headlines/Current Events, Liberal Insanity, Life's Absurdities, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.